2024 Formula 1 Preview & Review.

[Fortitude]

Hamilton looks forward to GP in Las Vegas: 'It will be even better than in '23''.
“One of the cool things is, I feel like I maybe play a tiny role in these races that appear," said the Mercedes Briton.
16 Nov 2024
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com

The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix was one that has gone down in the history books. Of course, there were the problems on the opening day, when covers came loose and destroyed Carlos Sainz's Ferrari, for example. Only deep into the night and with no fans could FP2 be completed. But that was offset by a great Grand Prix on Sunday, with Max Verstappen winning.

According to Hamilton, lessons were learned after the first edition. "I think what happened with the fans and I can't remember exactly, but it wasn't the smoothest of weekends, but the race was incredible. And so going back now, I think they would have made so many changes and it would be even better. But yeah, definitely dancing under the nightlights was just incredible."

‘Cool’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31292...las-vegas.html


Report: Why Mercedes has blocked Lewis Hamilton from taking part in post-season test with Ferrari in Abu Dhabi
13 Nov 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

With Lewis Hamilton switching to Ferrari for the 2025 season, the possibility of him running for the team in a post-season Abu Dhabi test lingered. Beyond a filming day, a run in a 2025 or 2024 car outside of official tests is forbidden to F1 teams prior to the test in Bahrain next year.

Ferrari had plans to run Hamilton in one of their cars to bed himself in the team before making his full race weekend debut, however, this looks set to be postponed after Mercedes decided to block the seven-time world champion.

According to a report from Autosport, this looks set to happen at the start of next year with an appearance in the Abu Dhabi post-season test also ruled out. This means Ferrari will need to wait until next year when it plans to run him in a 2022 car as part of the ‘Testing of Previous Cars’ rules set out in the regulations.

‘Mercedes has blocked Lewis Hamilton’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/why...-in-abu-dhabi/


Mercedes announce special Lewis Hamilton livery plans for final race together
14 Nov 2024
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Mercedes are giving fans the chance to have their name on the W15 driven by Lewis Hamilton as he contests his final race with the team. 150 fans to have their name on Mercedes W15 of Lewis Hamilton

‘150 fans’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/merced...n-names-livery


Mercedes drop hint of what’s next for Valtteri Bottas after Sauber axe
Bottas has been a part of the team since 2022 but will leave at the end of the 2024 season
15 Nov 2024
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

What’s next for Valtteri Bottas? But he may not be out of the sport for long with a move to back to the Silver Arrows potentially on the cards as a reserve and development driver to offer some vital experience and technical input that the 26-year-old Russell and 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli may lack.

And it seems as though the link could be true, as Mercedes drop a cryptic hint on social media of a reunion with the man who helped guide them to five consecutive constructors’ championships between 2017-2021.

‘Mercedes drop hint’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...er-sauber-axe/


‘Not good enough’… The moment Toto Wolff felt ‘embarrassment’ as the team principal of Mercedes
12 Nov 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

The 2023 Formula 1 season didn’t go to plan for Mercedes and team principal Toto Wolff. After winning the Constructors’ Championship in 2021 but cruelly missing out on helping Lewis Hamilton win his 8th title in Abu Dhabi, Mercedes set about tackling the next era of regulations in F1.

Author Matt Whyman followed the Brackley-based team for his book Inside Mercedes F1 and shared what happened in the briefing after pre-season testing in Bahrain. He shared what Wolff told the team ahead of the campaign and the ‘embarrassment’ he felt when comparing Mercedes’s performance to their rivals.

After pre-season testing, Mercedes are debriefing ahead of the season’s opening race. Hamilton’s race engineer Pete Bonnington said: “It wasn’t long ago that we were kings of winter testing, It feels like we’ve slipped.” Wolff injected and said: “This is just not good enough. We need to feel a certain degree of embarrassment here. We blame the problem not the person, but nevertheless…come on!”

‘Not good enough’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/not...l-of-mercedes/

[Fortitude]

Slow Car Led To Dan Fallows’ Aston Exit.
Dan Fallows lost his job at Aston Martin because of the team’s performance struggles, according to Ralf Schumacher.
Nov 18, 2024
Media
F1 Chronicle

Fallows only started work as the Silverstone-based team’s technical director in 2022, having been poached from the ultra-successful Red Bull. Aston Martin had a meteoric start to the 2023 season, but car development then stalled. The team also started quite strongly this year, but Fernando Alonso now thinks Aston Martin has one of the slowest cars of all.

1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve picked up the theme in conversation with Grosvenor Sport: “It is no surprise that Dan Fallows is leaving Aston Martin, if you look at the development of that car. It just gets worse and worse,” he said. “Fallows left Red Bull to claim this better role, but I can imagine that it was not a good fit between him and Aston Martin. And now Adrian is arriving.”

Schumacher admits he isn’t sure if Newey, who worked closely with Fallows at Red Bull, asked for his former colleague to be ousted. “I don’t know what happened,” said the German, “but I will ask Adrian when I see him next.” Indeed, Schumacher and Newey both often spend time in South Africa along with Eddie Jordan.

‘Slow Car’;

https://f1chronicle.com/slow-car-led.../?nowprocket=1


Aston Martin outline F1 direction after major team restructure
Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has detailed how the Silverstone squad is addressing the development of its team, outlining a preference for longer-term thinking.
17 Nov 2024
Samuel Coop & Aaron Deckers
RcingNews365

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack says that re-building the Silverstone squad is a task that must be assessed from a long-term perspective.

When speaking to media including RacingNews365, Krack was asked if the internal structure at Aston Martin had become too complex and if that has led the team from punching above its weight to punching below it. "You have a team to develop, and you have a car team," he replied. "And you must be careful not to mix them too much.”

"When it is the car is very short term. We speak [in] zero to eight, or 10 or 12 weeks; when you develop a team, [it is] maybe months and years. You need to isolate them, not mixing them too much, because very often you can be influenced by a bad result, but also you can be influenced by good results."

‘Re-building’;

https://racingnews365.com/aston-mart...am-restructure


Alonso relentlessly driven by ‘hope’ amid Aston Martin’s struggles
17/11/2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Fernando Alonso says his belief that his experience and feedback will help Aston Martin turn around its fortunes is the main fuel powering his motivation as his team navigates its way through a difficult period.

Speaking to the media recently, Alonso reflected on what keeps him motivated even when competing for positions far below his aspirations. “It's the hope that is always there,” he said, quoted by Motorsport Week. “Obviously, in terms of positions and efforts, you will say that it's not worth fighting for P12,” he admitted.

“But if that P12 gives the team any insight into what we are missing, if you are fighting with other cars and you see some weaknesses, some strengths, you can feed back to the team and you can improve for the next race or next year.”

‘Relentlessly’;

https://f1i.com/news/524697-alonso-r...struggles.html


How Aston Martin went from podium to slowest in only a year
Nov 17, 2024
Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race

Few would have imagined, even when the peak of Aston Martin’s stunning podium-laden start to 2023 had long since passed, it would have the slowest Formula 1 car at some point in 2024. Its decline since has been persistent and is best illustrated by having the slowest car at the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix, just 12 months on from its most recent podium finish - although the reality of that podium was more an opportunistic, well-executed race weekend by Aston Martin and some Fernando Alonso heroics than the car being genuinely that fast by the end of 2023.

But it is important that whatever Aston Martin is able to get right in 2025 doesn’t just repeat the cycle of developing well with a good lead time for a new season and then slipping back once it begins. Especially as 2025 will mark the arrival of two major recruits: Enrico Cardile as chief technical officer and Adrian Newey as technical managing partner.

Such arrivals are the elephants in the room where Fallows is concerned. There are two people already slotting in above where he was in the food chain, and that’s without factoring in Andy Cowell recently arriving as Group CEO and Bob Bell joining earlier in 2024 as executive director - both with much wider remits than the day-to-day technical leadership.

‘Podium to slowest’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/a...ear-explained/


After sacking its technical director, Aston Martin is all out of excuses in pursuit of F1 greatness
Nov 15th, 2024
Michael Lamonato
Fox Sports (Australia)

It’s an unusual time for a team to be making big personnel changes with the end of the season so near on the horizon, but Aston Martin has no time to wait.

It’s why it released technical director Dan Fallows, once heralded as a defining acquisition from the clutches of Red Bull Racing, via a no-fuss press release this week with just three rounds to go for the season.

“I would like to thank Dan for his contribution to Aston Martin in the last two years,” Aston Martin group CEO Andy Cowell said in an extremely brief statement. “Dan led the team to the success of the AMR23 which secured eight podiums last season.”

‘Out of excuses’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...8fb7d1222d83a3


Why Fallows' farewell at Aston Martin was already in the air
12 Nov 2024
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com

How many captains can you have on the same ship? Aston Martin apparently came to the conclusion that there are now too many bright minds to head the technical departments of the ambitious British team. Dan Fallows has fallen victim to this, with news emerging earlier on Tuesday that the Brit will leave his post as technical director this month.

The departure of Fallows - who will take up another, as yet unknown, position within the Group - is certainly not unexpected. A few months ago, Aston Martin announced that Enrico Cardile was coming over from Ferrari to take up the role of chief technical officer, meaning that Fallows would report directly to the Italian.

Lawrence Stroll, the (co-)owner of the Aston Martin F1 team, has never made a secret of aiming for the highest goals with his team, looking for Grand Prix victories and even championships. Apparently, Fallows was not seen as the man who could bring that next step to the team. The current season did not help his cause either, with a brilliant 2023 season in which Aston Martin seemed a regular on the podium becoming a failed 2024 season, unable to capture a single trophy.

‘Already in the air’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31249...martin-f1.html


The ‘superteam’ of geniuses Adrian Newey will lead at Aston Martin
Adrian Newey will form part of a 'superteam' technical department when he joins Aston Martin in F1 2025.
12 Nov 2024
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Adrian Newey will work with several esteemed F1 figures when he joins Aston Martin’s technical line-up.
Andy Cowell: One of those is former Mercedes engine mastermind Andy Cowell, who will join Aston Martin as their new group chief executive officer on October 1.

Enrico Cardile Another major coup for Aston Martin was the signing of Enciro Cardile - a key pillar of Ferrari’s F1 technical team.
Bob Bell: The capture of Bob Bell marked another highly experienced signing for Aston Martin after the F1 veteran left his advisory role for the struggling Alpine team earlier this year.

Tom McCullough: Unlike the above arrivals, Tom McCullough has been a core member of Aston Martin’s technical department for years, having initially joined the team under their previous Force India guise a decade ago.
Luca Furbatto: Former Sauber chief designer Luca Furbatto was signed by Aston Martin as their new engineering director ahead of the 2022 season

‘Superteam’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/105527...d-aston-martin

[Fortitude]

Jeremy Clarkson delivers free Hawkstone to Alpine F1 team.
And this week he congratulated Mr Gasly in person when he turned up at the team's Enstone headquarters, a few miles from Diddly Squat Farm, with a sports car full of crates of Hawstone.
15 Nov 2024
Miranda Norris
Oxford Mail

Jeremy Clarkson has delivered a fresh batch of beer to the Oxfordshire-based Alpine F1 team to celebrate their success in the Brazilian Grand Prix. French drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly finished second and third respectively in a rain-soaked, chaotic and crash-strewn race in Sao Paulo.

The two drivers scored more than twice as many points as in all their previous 20 races. Alpine is based in Enstone. Mr Clarkson, who lives in nearby Chipping Norton, publicly stated after the race: "Brilliant work from Alpine in Brazil today.

"Fantastic result for the Chipping Norton people." While inspecting cars in the team's HQ, he said: "While the entire Alpine team is distracted by their free Hawkstone beer I thought I'd give their car a new sponsor."

‘Crates of Hawstone’;

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24...lpine-f1-team/


Briatore urges underpowered Alpine to field ‘better car’ in 2025
18/11/2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore has made clear to the French team that it must develop a significantly improved chassis for 2025 to compensate for its Renault engine’s current three-tenths-per-lap power deficit.

To bridge this gap, Briatore emphasizes the need for a significant improvement in the car's aerodynamic performance and tyre management. “In the wet the discussion relating to engine power is reset, so even in 2025 we will have to make up for these three tenths that we are missing by making a better car,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“We must not worry because we know that it is like this, and we will have to try to do well using better aerodynamics and studying the tyres. Without feeling sorry for ourselves.”

‘Aerodynamic performance and tyre management’;

https://f1i.com/news/524766-briatore...r-in-2025.html


Clarkson’s beer run: A malty Alpine tradition
17 Nov 2024
F1i.com

The occasion? Celebrating Alpine’s sensational double-podium finish in São Paulo.

This malty tradition began after the Monaco Grand Prix in 2023, when Clarkson marked Esteban Ocon’s podium with the delivery of 1,000 pints to the team, vowing to repeat the gesture for every Alpine top-three finish.

True to his word, the former Top Gear UK star shared a celebratory toast with Pierre Gasly—because nothing says ‘team spirit’ like beer and banter. If Alpine keeps up its Brazilian form, Clarkson might need to trade his trailer for a tanker!

‘Double-podium finish’;

https://f1i.com/images/524706-clarks...tradition.html


FIA could not 'twist Renault's arm' over 2026 F1 quit decision
Renault has become the first 2026 power unit supplier to withdraw from F1.
16 Nov 2024
Jake Nichol & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

FIA single-seater technical chief Nikolas Tombazis insists it would not "twist somebody's arm" to stay as an F1 power unit manufacturer after Renault's withdrawal. Tombazis feels that despite the work Renault had put in to help design the rules, the FIA could not make it stay in F1 if it wanted to leave.

"We discussed when we defined the registration process that the registration was intended to cover the FIA costs of policing the PU manufacturers in creating these regulations," Tombazis told select media including RacingNews365. "But they are not intended to twist somebody's arm to continue to work in the sport.”

"It is 120, 130, 140 million and taken over five years, it is approaching a billion, and I don't think the FIA would ever constrain an OEM to having a $1 billion investment because they've registered and paid a small registration fee. It was always possible for anybody to pull out, and we want people to stay because they want to, not because we are forceful."

‘$1 billion investment’;


https://racingnews365.com/fia-could-...-quit-decision


Alpine ready to fire Jack Doohan to land Franco Colapinto
Doohan’s Formula 1 career could be over as few as five rounds into the 2025 season.
14 Nov 2024
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Briatore is not sold on the ex-Formula 2 driver and reports suggest his contract includes a five-race probationary period, allowing the team to make a swift change if his performances fall short of expectations

Alpine are said to be ready to fire Jack Doohan just a handful of races into the 2025 Formula 1 season to land Franco Colapinto, as Flavio Briatore remains unconvinced by the 21-year-old Australian driver.

His interest in Colapinto stems from the Argentine driver’s impressive late-season performances for Williams, where he replaced Logan Sargeant, and scored points twice in six races as he mirrors the pace of Alex Albon.

‘Five-race probationary period’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...nco-colapinto/


Alpine confirm Mercedes F1 engine deal from 2026 season
Team to stop producing engines at end of 2025 having manufactured power units at French base since 1977.
Nov 13, 2024
Cian Brittle
BlackBook Motorsport

The Alpine Formula One team have confirmed their long-rumoured engine supply deal with Mercedes from the 2026 season. Mercedes will supply the Enstone-based outfit with power units until the 2030 season and the agreement also includes a supply of Mercedes gearboxes from the 2026 season.

It won’t be the first time that the Enstone-based outfit has been supplied by Mercedes engines, having agreed a one-year deal back in 2015 when the team ran under Lotus branding. Ultimately, it is hoped this move will provide significant cost savings for a team that saw profits fall 70 per cent to UK£7.8 million (US$10.4 million) in 2023, which will likely drop further when its 2024 financial results are confirmed next year.

It also makes Alpine a more attractive proposition for a sale if Renault Group executives lose patience with the entire programme, although de Meo previously ruled this out in June.

‘Manufactured power units at French base since 1977’;

https://www.blackbookmotorsport.com/...november-2024/


Alpine being prepared for F1 team sale says Plooij
Dutch F1 journalist Jack Plooij thinks Alpine is clearly being prepared for sale.
NOV 18, 2024
GrandPrix.com

“The Alpine team is going to be transferred to Hitech”, Plooij predicts to Ziggo Sport. “There was a lot of unrest, and it is clear that something is happening, thanks to Flavio Briatore”, he added, suggesting Alpine will now be much more attractive to buyers and investors.

Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers agrees. “It looks like Renault are slowly preparing an exit”, he said. “They're not leaving all at once, but first the team switched from Renault to Alpine, now Alpine is getting a Mercedes engine. This exit is happening in a filtered way.”

‘Being prepared’;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/alpin...ys-plooij.html

[Fortitude]

Komatsu: Haas has to “regroup” after losing place to Alpine.
Haas Formula 1 boss Ayao Komatsu says his team has to “regroup” and “refocus” after a frustrating weekend in Brazil saw it lose a place in the constructors’ championship lost to Alpine.
17 Nov 2024
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog

Komatsu accepted that a big score for a midfield team in a chaotic race was always a possibility. “This can happen any time,” Komatsu told me. “Of course, I wasn’t expecting a double podium from any of our rival teams, as in Alpine, RB and Williams. But it happened, so it is what it is.”

“We’ve got three races left, we’ve got to really regroup and refocus, and then just try to do the best job we can for the last three races. So congratulations to Alpine, they were quick, really quick.”

“Regroup”;

https://adamcooperf1.com/2024/11/17/...ace-to-alpine/


Romain Grosjean lauds Ayao Komatsu for Haas revival: ‘The team is back to a better level’
"It almost makes me feel like I want to race for them again!"
15 Nov 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Ex-F1 driver Romain Grosjean has hailed Ayao Komatsu for the job he’s done as Haas team principal in 2024. He told F1’s official website: “I’m so proud of Ayao and what he’s been doing with Haas, bringing the team back to a much better level – just making the most of it and working as he does.”

“I was lucky to know before the official announcement [that Komatsu would become Haas’s team boss]; I got a text from Ayao. I told him that I was very proud of him, very proud of everything he’s done, and very happy for him.”

‘Better level’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/106007...k-better-level


Haas hits out at planned customer team clampdown
NOV 18, 2024
GrandPrix.com

The boss of F1's smallest team, Haas, has hit out at a proposal to limit the way the outfit operates. And according to Auto Motor und Sport, a proposal in the 2026 regulations is that when 'customer teams' like Haas and RB finish fifth or higher in the constructors' standings, that team then has three years to become a full F1 constructor.

The rule is not set in stone, but it is expected a majority vote will push it through. “It would be a killer for the small teams”, Haas boss Ayao Komatsu insists. “If Formula 1 wants as many teams as possible to be competitive, then we will all reject this rule. What better thing could happen to the sport than David winning against Goliath?”

‘Not set in stone’;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/haas-...clampdown.html


Report: Toyota secured key clause in Haas deal putting Bearman and Ocon under instant pressure
16 Nov 2024
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Toyota returned to Formula 1 after 15 years by securing a technical partnership with Haas, which also puts Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon under immediate pressure. Toyota can veto Haas’ future driver moves after securing a technical partnership.

The American-owned squad will unleash a new driver line-up for the 2025 season after Haas signed Bearman and Ocon to replace Nico Hulkenberg plus Kevin Magnussen. Both agreed to multi-year contracts as the Briton graduates to F1 and the Frenchman joins from Alpine.

But for how long Ferrari Driver Academy prospect Bearman and one-time Grand Prix winner Ocon stay at Haas could be up in the air following the team’s partnership with Toyota. That’s because Formu1a.uno reports that Toyota also secured a veto on Haas’ future driver moves.

‘Veto’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/toy...tant-pressure/


No rush to decide non-racing Haas role for Magnussen
NOVEMBER 18, 2024
18 Nov 2024
GrandPrix.com

It is emerging that Valtteri Bottas, having lost his Audi-Sauber seat for 2025, may return to Mercedes next year to be reserve driver and special advisor to Toto Wolff.

Magnussen, not retained by his current team Haas, could have a similar role at the Ayao Komatsu-led outfit. In July, the Haas boss admitted he was looking to “find a way to continue working together in some way.”

Four months on, Komatsu is quoted as saying by France's Auto Hebdo: “Yes, we are still working on it.”

‘No rush’;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/no-ru...magnussen.html

[Fortitude]

VCARB make major Red Bull change ahead of Las Vegas Grand Prix.
VCARB will be running with an updated rear on its car for the final three races, taking on components from Red Bull’s RB20 for the rest of the season.
11 Nov 2024
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

With Red Bull and VCARB becoming more closely technically aligned, the VCARB01 will receive the rear suspension and gearbox from the Red Bull RB20 for the final three races of the F1 2024 season.

With VCARB having had a season of sporadic form in 2024, the final trio of races represents the last chance for the Faenza-based squad to secure sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship – a formidable challenge as Haas and Alpine are each within five points, and ahead of VCARB.

For the final triple-header, VCARB will repeat last year’s assimilation of current Red Bull components. Known as AlphaTauri in 2023, the AT04 received the rear suspension of the dominant RB19 from the Singapore Grand Prix – with an uptick in form immediately ensuing.

‘Updated rear on its car’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/vcarb-...gas-grand-prix


Tsunoda reveals life event happened between races in Brazil and Las Vegas
18 Nov 2024
Matt Gretton
GPblog.com

Yuki Tsunoda reports he has moved house between the Brazilian Grand Prix and the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Formula 1 had two off weekends, separating the two triple headers, which will end the 2024 F1 season. The Japanese driver has also explained how he worked on the simulator to prepare for the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix.

"The slightly longer break since Brazil means I’ve had time to move house and I also had a couple of simulator sessions to prepare for this final triple-header of the season," Tsunoda said. "It’s an unusual track, very long for a street circuit, with mainly slow corners, so the car set-up is a compromise between having enough downforce to help with heavy braking at the end of the three long straights and to have good traction out of the turns, while also not having so much drag it affects your top speed on the very fast straights," the Japanese driver continued.

‘Couple of simulator sessions’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31315...-f1-races.html


Yuki Tsunoda: Red Bull promotion unlikely, despite strong results
Nov 9, 2024
Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Motorsport Week

For several seasons, the Japanese driver has performed at a consistently high level for VCARB. Even before comfortably dispatching of Nyck De Vries in the first half of 2023, Tsunoda was already matching Pierre Gasly in their second season as teammates.

The 24-year-old’s progression is difficult to dispute. His outstanding P3 result in Brazil qualifying (followed by P7 on race day) is the latest evidence of his growth. However, none of this information is relevant in Red Bull’s current perception.

Even at the beginning of this season, when Tsunoda was regularly outperforming Daniel Ricciardo, the disparity between the two drivers was not seen as a triumph for Tsunoda – but instead a failure on Ricciardo’s behalf. In a similar way, Yuki Tsunoda finds himself in a lose-lose scenario against Liam Lawson.

‘Red Bull promotion unlikely’;

https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...trong-results/


Yuki Tsunoda gives verdict on Red Bull’s Franco Colapinto interest
14 Nov 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week

Yuki Tsunoda has admitted that Red Bull’s interest in Franco Colapinto is not a “surprise” amid rumours the two could become team-mates in Formula 1 at RB in 2025. “I mean, he’s definitely doing a good job,” Tsunoda told media including Motorsport Week. “To be honest, I don’t know much about those things. I didn’t see much.

“If it’s not an option, I’ll be surprised, right? Because he’s doing well and he don’t have a seat so far for next season. And if he’s fast, I’m thinking for all the teams he will be an option who don’t have selected a seat yet for next year. So yeah, I think so.”

‘Verdict’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...into-interest/


'Don't know what game': Juan Pablo Montoya criticises Liam Lawson approach that might impact his Red Bull chances
10 Nov 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

Liam Lawson drew some attention to his Formula 1 comeback when he got into a few on-track skirmishes with Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez. The 21-year-old first got into a heated battle with Fernando Alonso on track during the US GP weekend, which led to a moment in parc ferme between the pair.

Lawson would next get into a battle on track with Sergio Perez at the Mexican GP, whereby the Red Bull driver made contact with him and damaged his sidepod. This effectively ruined his race, with Perez voicing his anger at Lawson over team radio. Juan Pablo Montoya has criticised Lawson when speaking on W Radio Columbia, outlining why he thinks it was not a smart move to race Perez hard.

Juan Pablo Montoya says Liam Lawson is costing Red Bull points. “I don’t know what game Liam plays. I understand that he wants to show that he is better than Checo, but the only thing Liam is doing is taking points from Red Bull,” said Montoya.

'Don't know what game';

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jua...-bull-chances/

[Fortitude]

Williams masterpiece: How were their two cars rebuilt in record time?
The cars had to be brought back to the UK, and now they have to be shipped to the US. In such a short amount of time, Williams worked day and night for five days.
19 Nov 2024
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

The last Grand Prix, which was hosted in Sao Paulo, did not go as planned for Williams. Over the course of that Sunday, Alexander Albon and Franco Colapinto have both completely destroyed their cars, that the team had to rebuild in extremely short time. In a video, the team now show the enormous work that has been completed to repair their cars.

In large crates, the pieces were returned to Groves, where mechanics examined each part and decided on what could be reused, and afterwards, the new parts had to be manufactured at their factory. Just in time, the team finished ahead of the Las Vegas GP, that is scheduled to be hosted this weekend. A report of five days of hard work was posted by Williams' YouTube channel.

‘Williams masterpiece’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31328...sao-paulo.html


Here’s How Williams Rebuilt Two Trashed F1 Cars In Time For The Las Vegas Grand Prix
Both Williams Formula 1 drivers suffered enormous crashes in Brazil that destroyed their races, now the cars have been repaired and are ready to race once again
19 Nov 2024
Owen Bellwood
Jalopnik

The team has lifted the lid on how it repairs and rebuilds cars that are destroyed on a race weekend. The process begins with crates and crates of parts arriving at the Williams base. From there, the fragments of F1 car are sorted into piles of parts that can still be used and parts that belong in the trash. Mechanics haul hastily packed fragments of carbon fiber out of a huge crate, and others hold up exhaust pipes to show the damage they sustained. From an outsider’s perspective, it looks like almost everything is destined for the trash.

That’s not the case, though, and engineers sort through the piles to uncover components that can be checked over and returned to the car. Other parts are also put to one side to be repaired before they can race in anger once again. “We’re trying to separate what can be salvageable just to help us until the end of the year,” says Rob Clayton, car assembly supervisor at the team. “That’s where we come into our own.”

While the salvaged parts are sorted, serviced and made ready for the next race, the two crashed chassis are also inspected to check that they are safe to run once again. To do this, teams remove all the damaged components from the frame, such as suspension arms, and the crash structures are thoroughly inspected. To complete this task, Williams engineers have just three days as once it’s signed off as safe it has to be fitted with the gearbox, fuel cell and seat ready to go racing in Las Vegas.

‘Rebuilt Two Trashed F1 Cars’;

https://jalopnik.com/here-s-how-will...ime-1851702613


Williams clarify participation at F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix amid crash damage rumour
Crash damage is felt but Williams set the record straight
17 Nov 2024
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net

Williams have rejected claims that they could miss next weekend’s F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. “I’ve just chatted to Williams,” F1 reporter Lawrence Barretto confirmed on social media. “They tell me there’s no truth to the chatter they won’t be in Vegas after sustaining massive damage via three crashes in Brazil.”

“They say they’ll have both cars ready to race in Nevada. That’s an incredible effort from the team and suppliers.” Commentator Will Buxton added: “Seems James Vowles’ honesty in the knock on effects of the Brazilian GP have been taken to some ridiculous extremes over the past few days. “Team won’t miss Vegas. Team will have both cars.”

‘Williams clarify participation’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/106026...-damage-rumour


'All night': Williams chief makes Las Vegas claim after damaging ‘nearly all parts’ in Brazil
18 Nov 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

Williams chief mechanic claims they are in a better position for Las Vegas despite crashes Rumours suggested that Williams might have to skip the race in Las Vegas amid a shortage of spare parts, however, it has turned out not to be the case. Williams staff have worked around the clock to make repairs to parts that were damaged in Sao Paulo, while their composites department has made a new chassis for Colapinto in time for the final triple-header.

“We got the chassis back out from composites last night. All freshly painted, new bits on there which are all done. The guys in composites have worked all night to get the chassis for Franco ready. It’s been crazy. After last week, it was a bit daunting as we damaged nearly all the parts that we had and it wasn’t realistic to get everything ready,” said Howard. “But it’s been amazing, the bits that have turned up, we’ve had an abundance of them, and everybody has worked throughout to push the boundaries. I think we will turn up in Vegas in a better state than we did in the last event, so it’s credit due to everybody.”

‘Worked around the clock’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/wil...rts-in-brazil/


Williams F1 team suffered $161.6 million loss in 2023
19 Nov 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Williams have reported a huge financial loss in 2023, but the company’s financial director Matthew Savage confirmed that the company’s losses have increased compared with 2022, but it has not been surprising.

The lower revenue and the higher costs translated into a gross operating loss of AUD $153.95 million (£80.298) and a post-tax loss of AUD $161.59 million (£84.286m). It was significantly higher than what Williams recorded the year before as it was only $34.31 million in 2022. (£17.894m).

The British company also reported increased payments due to creditors, with liabilities of AUD $127.94 million the sharpest increase was due to accruals, which totalled AUD $76.64 million (up from AUD $38.1 million in 2022). Despite the significantly higher loss, wage costs increased by 10 percent, with the squad’s average salary rising from £78,000 to £85,500.

‘$161.6 million loss’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/25586


Williams reveals reason it missed out on Adrian Newey F1 return
19 Nov 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week

While Newey’s track record indicates recruiting him guarantees success, Vowles has insisted that Williams does not possess the facilities to maximise his talents. “It has nothing to do with the money, even if there was a bidder competition at the end, in which we did not want to participate,” Vowles told Auto Motor und Sport.

“I want people who believe in our project. Williams wasn’t ready for someone like Adrian yet. We still need to do so much reconstruction before we can provide the right environment for one of his class.”

“He would have overwhelmed our team, and that could have achieved the opposite effect. He would have been frustrated in the end. Furthermore, I do not want to build an infrastructure that depends on a person. Williams is not about me, a driver or an engineer.”

“We did not want to participate”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...wey-f1-return/

[Fortitude]

How Sauber lost “greatest opportunity” to end points drought in Brazil.
Sauber team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi admits that the chaotic wet Sao Paulo GP represented the “greatest opportunity” that the Swiss Formula 1 outfit has had to score points this season.
17 Nov 2024
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog

“It’s very difficult to say and to admit, but I think we lost the greatest opportunity that we had this season to score points,” Alunni Bravi told me. “Because of the excellent qualifying session done by Valtteri, and the position that was a P9 for us at the start.”

“Unfortunately, we didn’t have the pace to keep the position. The biggest problem for us was to have proper temperatures in the tyres at the beginning of each stint. And this, of course, jeopardised all the opportunities and the possibility for Valtteri and Zhou to defend and attack any position.”

“We have seen in the second part of each stint that the situation was improving, and when the tyres were working in the correct range of temperature, we were competitive. But this doesn’t cancel the big disappointment, because it was a very tough day for us. Of course, we have mixed feelings, qualifying was very positive, especially with Valtteri. But at the end what matters are points, and the race result on Sunday.”

‘ “Greatest opportunity” lost’;

https://adamcooperf1.com/2024/11/17/...ght-in-brazil/


Binotto on Sauber's difficult choice to boot Bottas: 'Young driver needed'
12 Nov 2024
Corwin Kunst
GPblog.com

In 2025, Valtteri Bottas will no longer be in action for the Stake Sauber F1 Team. The team chose Gabriel Bortoleto as his replacement. The young Brazilian currently leads the F2 championship and will be taking the 10-time F1 winner's seat. Speaking to RACER, Mattia Binotto explained why it was chosen not to renew Bottas' contract.

The former Ferrari team principal has since explained his choice to replace Bottas: “We know that the next one will be a difficult season as a team, as a journey towards the Audi F1 transformation. It’s a long journey. I think on the duration is where we mainly reflected together a lot, and it’s where I came to the conclusion that maybe we will need to have a young driver with us.”

“More than that, I would like to underline I think he has certainly been a very strong candidate. I know he’s very fast. I know that he has proven to be very fast until today, very fit, he knows the team. Certainly, he is very highly rated here, and he’s very highly rated in the paddock." The Italian concluded

‘Difficult choice’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31239...ot-bottas.html


"What's next?" for Bottas; Finnish driver teases future after F1
16 Nov 2024
Ben Stevens
GPblog.com

Bottas started these social media posts three days after the announcement, with the first captioned "In-villa-ironman. What's next?" with the accompanying video showing the Finnish driver, who has 10 Formula One wins, completing an ironman from his house. This includes a 3.9km swim, a 180.2km bike ride, and a 42.2km run.”

The second post Bottas shared was of him and his partner Tiffany Cromwell in front of a Noah's Ark sign, with the simple caption of "What's next?". The next showed Bottas and one of his friends getting a tattoo together, captioned once again with just "What's next?". The most recent bared the same caption, and showed Bottas cycling through some rocky hills.

"What's next?";

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31295...rmula-one.html


Report: Mattia Binotto told Sauber staff he wasn’t hiring Mick Schumacher for bizarre reason
12 Nov 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

The report from F1 Insider says that Binotto ‘explained internally’ that Sauber went with Bortoleto over Schumacher as their second driver as he thought having two German drivers would be ‘too many’.

It’s a strange reason not to bring in a driver and hardly makes sense given how Audi are keen to be a truly German team in the paddock. Teams have regularly used two drivers from the same country – such as Alpine and Mercedes this season – but other factors might be at play in this call from Binotto.

‘Too many’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mat...izarre-reason/


Binotto divulges Alonso influence in Bortoleto F1 decision
Gabriel Bortoleto will join the F1 grid next year, partnering Nico Hulkenberg at the Stake team ahead of its transition to Audi.
16 Nov 2024
Fergal Walsh & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Asked by media including RacingNews365 about how involved Alonso was in talks, Binotto replied: “The answer is very easy: Very little, if nothing. I know very well Fernando from past experience. We met in the paddock but he never influenced [the decision].”

“He never tried really to come to me with a convincing argument because I think what convinced me was Gabriel, nothing else. So not with Fernando. Yes, I had one chat, but really, very, very little.”

“Very little, if nothing”;

https://racingnews365.com/binotto-di...to-f1-decision

[Fortitude]

Verstappen outlines main focus for Las Vegas GP.
Max Verstappen believes tyre management will play a critical role at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, given the low temperatures expected at night in the desert city.
19 Nov 2024
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

"[Las] Vegas is the start of the final triple header of the year so this is the final push for everyone," the 62-time grand prix winner said. "We performed well here last year and it is a really fast circuit, with long straights and a lot of opportunities to overtake and go racing.”

"Once again, the temperatures look quite low so it will be about managing the tyres. We are taking each race as it comes and are looking forward to the final races of the season."

"Brazil was an incredible race for us and a really special moment for myself and the team," the three-time F1 drivers' champion reflected. "It was great to see us back to the form we were before; the team did an amazing job and we are hoping to continue this into the next few races."

‘Main focus’;

https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...r-las-vegas-gp


Lando Norris brutally waves off Red Bull threat ahead of crucial Las Vegas GP
20 Nov 2024
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

After Lando Norris saw his F1 2024 title hopes likely crushed in Brazil, the title chase goes on for McLaren in the teams’ standings with Norris abruptly playing down Red Bull as a threat. “After Miami, I already said back then our challenge is not with Red Bull, it’s with Ferrari,” said Norris.

“I’ve said it many many times since, and it was very clear, for a long time, that Ferrari were going to be our biggest contenders over Red Bull. So no, there’s almost no focus on Red Bull. There’s focus on executing our own programme, executing our own potential, the rest should take care of itself.”

The ‘focus on ourselves’ approach may come across as a little cliché, but Norris questions what there it to gain focusing on others. “But people get hung up too easily on teams,” he continued. “What can you do? How can focusing on a team change anything? It doesn’t.

“Challenge is not with Red Bull, it’s with Ferrari”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-...tructors-title


Why is the Las Vegas Grand Prix on a Saturday? The reason behind the change of day as Max Verstappen can wrap up championship this weekend
Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place at 10pm local time on Saturday
Max Verstappen can wrap-up the championship should he finish ahead of Lando Norris in the points
European fans will have an early wake-up call on Sunday morning should they want to watch the race
20 Nov 2024
SONNY COHEN
MailOnline

It will be the third race this season to take place on a Saturday after the season-opening Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races were moved due to Ramadan. But the race in Vegas has been moved for a very different reason, as they look to capitalise on the surroundings. Wanting to accommodate as many viewers as possible as well as their desire to see the track lit up by the Las Vegas strip. Due to the latter, race organisers have decided the race should take place at 10pm local time.

As a result, Saturday night was chosen in the hopes that they can accommodate both their American and European audiences as F1 aims to grow their base in the USA. There are a number of ways that Max Verstappen can wrap-up the World Drivers' Championship in Sin-City. The simplest method would simply to be to finish ahead of title rival, Lando Norris with them both scoring points.

That would be enough to see the Dutch driver lift his fourth-consecutive title in what has been a historically dominant spell. F1 officials in Las Vegas are tentatively putting together plans in the event the 27-year-old seal the title.

‘10pm local time on Saturday’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-Saturday.html


Las Vegas Grand Prix looks to win over locals after rocky start
20 Nov 2024
The Straits Times

"We had eight months building a circuit and lining the barricades and all that, and so it was an amazing accomplishment what Liberty Media and the Formula One folks did," said Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. "But it was tough on the city."

The installation of the vast grandstands along the route that block iconic views like the Bellagio Fountains began later this year, and traffic lane disruptions did not start until early October as opposed to mid-April last time.
Organizers have also responded to complaints that the race was pricing out locals by adding more than 10,000 general admission tickets, while also launching community outreach events.

"It just wears you out after a while, but this year is not last year. We've really not heard concern," he said. "It needs to work for everybody. It needs to work for the businesses, the sponsors of the race, the resort community and it needs to work for the community itself. This year I think we are much closer to that balance than we were last year.”

‘Looks to win over locals’;

https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...er-rocky-start


Las Vegas GP Is ‘Not That Great’ – Marko
Nov 20, 2024
Media
F1 Chronicle

“Things are actually not looking too bad for us,” Red Bull team advisor Marko told Osterreich newspaper. “Our car was fast in the dry in Brazil, although Max was in a class of his own in the rain.”

“If we win the title again this year, it will be mainly down to Max. With his exceptional driving skills, he has covered up the phases in which the car was really not good.”

When asked if Red Bull will have ‘world champion t-shirts’ on standby just in case, the 81-year-old smiled: “Knowing him, Max’s manager will definitely have them in his luggage. I’d gladly accept the extra hustle and bustle in Las Vegas for that.”

“Not looking too bad for us”;

https://f1chronicle.com/las-vegas-gp.../?nowprocket=1


Las Vegas Grand Prix: How to Watch, Full Schedule and What to Expect
19 Nov 2024
Zach Koons
Sports Illustrated
Rock Hill Herald

Las Vegas still does follow a rather unorthodox schedule due to its position in the Pacific time zone and the desire from race organizers to have the event take place at night. Instead of the actual Grand Prix taking place on Sunday, the race will begin on Saturday night in local time-the only such event to do so on the calendar this season. That means the race starts very early on Sunday morning on the east coast of the United States and between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. local time for the bulk of the European audience.

‘Unorthodox schedule’;

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


Start time for the 2024 F1 Las Vegas GP
From Friday, November 22 to Sunday, November 24, the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place. Check here for all the F1 start times in Las Vegas.
20 Nov 2024
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

The schedule of the F1 GP in Las Vegas is automatically adjusted to your time zone.
Timetable Las Vegas GP

Session Date Time
Free practice 1 Friday 22 November 03:30 - 04:30
Free practice 2 Friday 22 November 07:00 - 08:00
Free practice 3 Saturday 23 November 03:30 - 04:30
Qualification Saturday 23 November 07:00 - 08:00
Race Sunday 24 November 07:00 - 09:00

‘Start time’;

https://racingnews365.com/start-time...1-las-vegas-gp


What time is the Formula 1 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix and how can I watch it?
19 Nov 2024
Formula One - Official Site

‘Global Race Start Time’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...bllajddZD3dEnT


Las Vegas Grand Prix weather forecast: Cold conditions on the way
The Las Vegas Grand Prix is hosting its second race around the Strip Circuit this weekend - but what weather conditions can we expect?
20 Nov 2024
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Our friends at WeerOnline.nl state the conditions will reach as low as 11°C or 12°C during the practice sessions that take place on Thursday evening/night. The temperatures will drop from the mid-20s that are expected during the day.

On Friday, the day during which qualifying is held, the all-important grid-setting session is predicted to see a temperature of 9°C - making it one of the coldest qualifying outings of the year.

The grand prix itself is set to be somewhat similar, with temperatures of 9°C - however, with increased cloud cover during the day, it could sit slightly higher at 11°C.

‘Weather forecast’;

https://racingnews365.com/las-vegas-...ons-on-the-way

[Fortitude]

How Max Verstappen Can Win His Fourth F1 World Championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen has been under immense pressure in 2024, but after a breathtaking win at the Brazilian Grand Prix, he has firmly planted himself at the top of the Formula One drivers' standings.
Nov 20, 2024
Zach Koons
Sports Illustrated
The Fresno Bee

86 points remain up for grabs for the drivers across the final three race weekends. To achieve maximum points, a driver would need to win the Grands Prix in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, post the fastest lap time in each of those three races and win the sprint race in Qatar.

Given that Verstappen already has a 62-point advantage, he doesn't need to be perfect down the stretch. In fact, all he needs to do is beat Norris head-to-head in Las Vegas and he would retain his world title.

Additionally, if Norris is unable to outscore Verstappen by at least three points at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, then the Red Bull driver would still win the championship. That includes a scenario in which Verstappen fails to score, meaning that Norris would need to finish eighth in the race, or ninth while also earning the point for fastest lap.

‘Beat Norris head-to-head in Las Vegas’;

https://www.fresnobee.com/sports/art...mainstage_card


'A process': Las Vegas Grand Prix chief explains ‘new protocols’ to prevent another Carlos Sainz drain cover incident
21 Nov 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

F1 will be keen to avoid any further disruptions to the race weekend this year, after identifying that it was a loose water valve cover that caused significant damage to Sainz’s Ferrari. While the Las Vegas GP promoter changed the timings of practice and qualifying this year, Miller explained that new protocols are in place for this year to prevent any similar problems from disrupting the weekend.

“Due to what occurred last year, we do have, in fact, a protocol and a process that we’ve gone through over the last five months to secure the lids, even to the point where we will do three or four visual checks of what’s going on in the roadway before and after a race event,” said Miller.

“You can never guarantee that nothing is going to happen. But you can certainly have the mitigating efforts in place to reduce the risk, and that’s what we’ve done.”

‘New protocols’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/las...over-incident/


‘Unwritten guarantee’: John Watson’s Las Vegas Grand Prix prediction for F1’s ‘unwritten guarantee’ is set to come true
20 Nov 2024
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

The inaugural Las Vegas GP marked the penultimate round of the 2023 campaign but F1 had already crowned both champions. Max Verstappen lifted his third drivers’ championship in a row at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix after Red Bull also won the team’s title at the Japanese GP. So, Watson predicted F1 would want a Las Vegas title decider before the maiden running as the 2023 race lacked tension. Instead, a drain cover destroying Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari in FP1 dominated the headlines before Verstappen overcame a penalty and won the Las Vegas GP.

Yet just a year on from Watson’s bold prediction about F1 seeking an ‘unwritten guarantee’ for a title decider at the Las Vegas GP, the Briton could see it come true as Verstappen is on course to win the title again. He is 62 points clear of Lando Norris and must leave 60 ahead.

“Those races in 1981 and 1982 had the advantage of being title deciders. This one doesn’t,” Watson told the Daily Mail ahead of the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. “It was decided three or four races ago. So, it means the event does not quite have the same spotlight on it. They love blood, sweat and tears in America, certainly tears and joy. And if I were Formula 1, I’d have an unwritten guarantee that the world championship is decided in Las Vegas.”

‘Unwritten guarantee’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/joh...-to-come-true/


Perez to finally be given ‘Verstappen upgrade’ by Red Bull
Sergio Perez is to finally be able to race Max Verstappen on an equal-footing from the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
21 Nov 2024
Jake Nichol & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

Sergio Perez will finally receive Red Bull's floor upgrade in the Las Vegas Grand Prix - putting him on an equal footing with Max Verstappen. "I will be, as far as I know, going to the spec that Max has had in the last few races with the floor," Perez told media including RacingNews365.

"I'm going to that spec for this weekend, and it makes me feel confident that going onto the different spec of floor, we can be in the mix for the weekend. At the end of the day, the team knows exactly what they get out of me, they have so much data and information, it is as simple as that and there was a reason they renewed me in the year.”

"The season has been quite difficult, we took different parts and had a difficult period, but that is just part of racing and hopefully we can close these final three races on a high."

‘Equal-footing’;

https://racingnews365.com/perez-to-f...de-by-red-bull


Toto Wolff renews Mercedes commitment to Lewis Hamilton on eve of Las Vegas GP
20 Nov 2024
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Speaking ahead of the resumption of the F1 2024 season in Vegas, Wolff insisted that Mercedes are still determined to end their time with Hamilton on a happy note.

He said: “We head to Las Vegas ready to tackle the final three races of the season. We are focused on ending this year as strongly as possible and providing some more highlights as we close out 2024.”

“We are looking forward to the races ahead, to ending our incredible journey with Lewis on a high and to building momentum for 2025.”

‘Mercedes commitment to Lewis Hamilton’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-...olff-statement


Williams rebuild effort for Las Vegas proves ‘what team is made of'
20/11/2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Williams sporting director Sven Smeets has hailed the team's herculean effort to rebuild two wrecked cars in time for this weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix, calling it a testament to what the Grove-based squad “is made of.”

Against the odds, the cars were rebuilt and shipped to the US in time for this weekend's round of racing in Vegas, the first event of the F1 season's closing triple header. “Everybody has worked day and night to get us back into a good position for the last three races of the season. “It shows what this team is made of.”

“We are looking forward to racing in Las Vegas where we should be competitive,” the Belgian added. “It's a track that gives plenty of opportunities, and we are sure that both drivers will be very motivated to fight for points.”

‘What team is made of';

https://f1i.com/news/524883-williams...s-made-of.html


F1 Driver Yuki Tsunoda Nearly Denied Entry Into The United States For Las Vegas Grand Prix
NOV 21, 2024
CLAY SAUERTIEG
BroBible

Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda made a surprising revelation on Thursday when he told members of the media that he was nearly denied entry into the United States for Sunday’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. Tsunoda said that he had no issues when F1 came to the U.S. earlier this season for the Miami and United States Grands Prix in Austin.

Tsunoda, 24, said that he was traveling alongside his personal trainer but that the two were separated when going through customs. He then said that he was taken aside for individual questioning which included several rounds of discussions.

“And suddenly he [the official] just put me in the room and when I had a conversation I was like: can I bring the person that I’m going to travel with? Maybe he can help a little bit to explain a bit more about myself and the situation in Formula 1? But they didn’t allow me to bring them or even call anyone. I wanted to call the team as well, or maybe F1 so they can help me. But in that room, you can’t do anything.”

‘Surprising revelation’;

https://brobible.com/sports/article/...as-grand-prix/

[Fortitude]

HIGHLIGHTS: Hamilton and Russell lead the field ahead of Norris in slippery FP1 for Las Vegas GP.
Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets in a tricky first practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, leading the way from his Mercedes team mate George Russell and McLaren's Lando Norris.
22 Nov 2024
Formula One - Official Site

Following a disheartening Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Hamilton set the pace with a time of 1m 35.001s as he got the better of Russell by just under four-tenths of a second.

Norris found himself even further back as Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz narrowly slotted in behind – the latter temporarily went fastest but had a close call with the Williams of Franco Colapinto.

The lower half of the top 10 saw Fernando Alonso ahead of Oscar Piastri, with Pierre Gasly and Sergio Perez rounding it out after setting their quickest laps on the soft tyres.

‘HIGHLIGHTS’;

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


Las Vegas GP: Free Practice 1 Results
Full results from Free Practice 1 from the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
22 Nov 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe

Full results from Free Practice 1 from the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit.

Pos Num Driver Team Laps Best Diff
1 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 25 1:35.001
2 63 George Russell Mercedes 28 1:35.397 0.396
3 4 Lando Norris McLaren 26 1:35.954 0.953
4 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 26 1:36.007 1.006
5 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 24 1:36.038 1.037
6 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 26 1:36.218 1.217
7 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 24 1:36.262 1.261
8 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 25 1:36.451 1.450
9 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine 23 1:36.478 1.477
10 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 24 1:36.536 1.535

‘Full results’;

https://speedcafe.com/las-vegas-gp-f...ice-1-results/


Hamilton leads Mercedes domination in Las Vegas dustbowl
A show of intent from Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton.
22 Nov 2024
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and George Russell surprisingly dominated the first practice session of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Hamilton's final lap in the closing seconds was a 1:35.001s, still a second slower than the leading time in practice from last year, set by Russell.

But the fact Hamilton was 0.953s ahead of third-quickest Lando Norris in his McLaren was a real statement of intent from a Mercedes team that has been off the boil since F1 returned from its summer break in late August.

‘Mercedes domination’;

https://racingnews365.com/hamilton-l...vegas-dustbowl


Mercedes dominates opening Las Vegas GP practice
Nov 22, 2024
The Race

Mercedes was comfortably fastest in first practice for Formula 1's Las Vegas Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton's pacesetting 1m35.001s lap nearly one second faster than the best non-Mercedes.

The caveat to its performance is that the first Thursday night session on a dusty track may not be especially representative for the rest of the weekend.

But in practice one at least, Mercedes held a 1-2 for most of the session, only really losing it when others went for soft tyres and regaining it when Hamilton and George Russell did likewise.

‘Mercedes dominates’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/l...des-dominates/


Las Vegas GP: Norris keeps title hopes alive as Hamilton tops FP1
22 Nov 2024
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Lewis Hamilton set the pace in a Mercedes 1-2, a whopping 0.4s up on George Russell in Practice One for the Las Vegas GP where drivers struggled with low grip. Meanwhile, the deck may be stacked against Lando Norris in Sin City as he trails Max Verstappen by 62 points, but he kept his hopes alive as he finished P3 with the Red Bull driver fifth fastest.

Making the switch to the soft Pirellis, Leclerc went quickest followed by Carlos Sainz before Lando Norris pipped the Ferrari team-mates with a 1:35.9. Verstappen went sixth, 0.8s down. He upped his pace, closing the gap to Norris to six-tenths but remained P6.

Hamilton came through with a late lap to take P1 with a 1:35.001 with Russell second. As for the title rivals, Norris was third while a late burst from Verstappen saw him finish P5, but only 0.08s down on Norris.

‘Title hopes alive’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/las-ve...024-fp1-report


F1 2024 Las Vegas GP – Free Practice 1 Results
Lewis Hamilton leads the way at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit on Friday, November 22 but what is the gap to the rivals around him?
22 Nov 2024
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

Mercedes proved to be the team to beat in FP1 at the F1 2024 Las Vegas GP as both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell looked strong whilst Max Verstappen found himself miles off the pace as Lando Norris looks to have the chance to claw some points back in the title battle. Here are the results from the session.

The Silver Arrows set a very tough time to beat on the medium tyres, even good enough to repel Ferrari‘s first efforts on the softs, before the 39-year-old Hamilton laid down a strong warning to the rest of the grid with a 1:35.001 to clear his teammate by just shy of four tenths around the Strip Circuit.

Known for preferring the cooler temperatures throughout 2024, Toto Wolff‘s team look like the only outfit who have turned up for the Grand Prix weekend after clearing McLaren‘s Norris in third by almost a second, as well as a similar margin to Charles Leclerc and Verstappen with the trio looking closely-contested as they duel for championship position.

‘Lewis Hamilton leads the way’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...ice-1-results/