2024 Formula 1 Preview & Review.

[Fortitude]

Hulkenberg hit with three-place grid penalty for Abu Dhabi GP.
After producing his best qualifying result of the season in Abu Dhabi, Nico Hulkenberg has been hit with a three-place grid drop for failing to follow the race director's instructions by overtaking two cars on the pit exit road.
7 Dec 2024
Formula One - Official Site

In a document published by the FIA, the stewards explained: "The driver did not dispute during the hearing that he did not follow the Race Director’s instructions, but stated that he had no other option but to breach the rules in order to get a lap in.”

"Whilst the Stewards acknowledge that the position of the team’s garages limits their options to send the cars out on track, this can never be used as an excuse to breach any regulations.”

"The prohibition of overtaking in certain areas as the pit lane or, in this case, the pit exit, is implemented to prevent potentially dangerous situations and therefore the Stewards determine that a grid drop is warranted in this case."

‘Three-place grid penalty’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...YeWQ7VCUwLYVo0


Adjusted 2024 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix starting grid after multiple penalties
Check out who starts where for the final race in the 2024 F1 season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix!
7 Dec 2024
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

NOTE: Grid remains provisional until officially confirmed by the FIA.

Adjusted 2024 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix starting grid
Position Driver Team
1st Lando Norris McLaren
2nd Oscar Piastri McLaren
3rd Carlos Sainz Ferrari
4th Max Verstappen Red Bull
5th Pierre Gasly Alpine
6th George Russell Mercedes
7th Nico Hulkenberg - penalty Haas
8th Fernando Alonso Aston Martin
9th Valtteri Bottas Stake
10th Sergio Perez Red Bull

‘Grid remains provisional’;

https://racingnews365.com/adjusted-2...eclerc-penalty


Abu Dhabi GP: Starting Grid
Provisional starting grid for the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina.
8 Dec 2024
Mat Coch
F1 Oversteer

Provisional starting grid for the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina.

1. Lando Norris
McLaren
2. Oscar Piastri
McLaren
3. Carlos Sainz
Ferrari
4. Max Verstappen
Red Bull Racing
5. Pierre Gasly
Alpine
6. George Russell
Mercedes
7. Nico Hulkenberg
Haas
8. Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin
9. Valtteri Bottas
Sauber
10. Sergio Perez
Red Bull Racing

‘Provisional starting grid’;

https://speedcafe.com/abu-dhabi-gp-starting-grid/


Nico Hulkenberg handed three-place grid penalty for F1 Abu Dhabi GP
7 Dec 2024
Dan Lawrence
Motorsport Week

Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg has received a three-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, dropping him to seventh on the grid. Hulkenberg had a sensational qualifying for Haas, setting the fourth-fastest time in the top-10 Q3 shootout.

The performance was vital as Haas trails Alpine by five points in the battle for sixth in the F1 Constructors’ standings and their best qualifying effort was sixth courtesy of Pierre Gasly.

However, Hulkenberg was summoned to the stewards post-qualifying after he overtook two cars in the tunnel that comprises the pit-lane exit at the Yas Marina Circuit.

‘Three-place grid penalty’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...-abu-dhabi-gp/


'Go backwards': Anthony Davidson details his ‘only concern’ for Haas after what he spotted at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
7 Dec 2024
Luke-John Buckle
F1 Oversteer

Haas are fighting for sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but need to outscore Alpine. The American team sit in seventh place in the standings and need to overturn their rival’s five-point advantage in the final round of the season.

They were sliding throughout the final few turns as the rear tyres overheated, which doesn’t point to a balanced car over a race distance. They kept up the good performance in qualifying, as Hulkenberg broke into the top 10 to set the seventh-quickest time on the grid.

Magnussen had a slightly more difficult day as he could only manage 15th place during his final weekend for the Haas team. He hit a bollard in the first part of qualifying, which damaged the floor and overall performance.

‘Doesn’t point to a balanced car over a race distance’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ant...bi-grand-prix/

[Fortitude]

Furious Toto Wolff spotted ‘angrily yelling’ at key Mercedes chief after Lewis Hamilton Q1 exit.
Wolff was spotted on TV cameras ‘angrily telling’ at Shovlin after Hamilton failed to make it through to the second session of qualifying in Abu Dhabi.
8 Dec 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

The report from F1 Insider highlights that Wolff couldn’t control his emotions in the garage.

Wolff apologised to Hamilton after the session and when speaking to the press, he said: “We need to apologise to Lewis and everyone in the team who has worked so hard to deliver a great final weekend for him here in Abu Dhabi. Lewis was then additionally compromised by a bollard becoming stuck under his car. Without that, he would likely have got through, but we shouldn’t have been risking so much in Q1.”

“He has been quick across all three practice sessions and was looking good for a strong result tomorrow. Sadly, we totally let him down at the end of Q1. We made the mistake of not sending the drivers out early enough. That compromised both their out laps and then their final push laps as they wrestled through traffic.”

‘Angrily yelling’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fur...ilton-q1-exit/


Mercedes boss slams team over 'inexcusable' Hamilton flop
Abu Dhabi (AFP) – An irate Toto Wolff slammed his own Mercedes team on Saturday for an "inexcusable" decision that led to seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton flopping in qualifying at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
07/12/2024
France 24

"I just need to apologise to Lewis," said Wolff. "And also to everyone in the team that worked so hard in making it a great end for him. He was the quicker guy with the set-up we chose. We totally let him down. An idiotic mistake not to go earlier. Inexcusable, inexcusable! I’ve rarely been so down about what has happened.”

"Maybe it summarises the last races we’ve had with him, but this is the worst part of it because it was just idiotic. Maybe without the bollard, it would have worked. You don't risk so much in Q1, where we easily had the pace to make it out there.”

"Our most valuable racing driver ever, the most valuable, greatest driver of this sport goes out in Q1 because we make a mistake. It doesn’t ruin the legacy we have, but I can only say sorry to him."

‘Mercedes boss slams team over 'inexcusable' Hamilton flop’;

https://www.france24.com/en/live-new...-hamilton-flop


Emotional Wolff furious after dramatic final Hamilton qualifying
Mercedes team principal was furious following qualifying at the Yas Marina Circuit with Lewis Hamilton robbed of a fairytale after being knocked out in Q1.
7 Dec 2024
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Toto Wolff has lamented the "inexcusable" decisions at Mercedes that led to Lewis Hamilton being eliminated in the first part of qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Austrian was clearly aggrieved by the situation, with the British driver only finishing Q1 in P18. He will be elevated to P16 due to grid penalties for Alexander Albon and Charles Leclerc.

The seven-time F1 drivers' champion will head to Ferrari at the end of the year, with the events that unfolding at the Yas Marina Circuit putting a dark mark on his farewell weekend.

‘Emotional Wolff furious’;

https://racingnews365.com/emotional-...ton-qualifying


Toto Wolff apologises to Lewis Hamilton after Mercedes made ‘idiotic’ Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying mistake
7 Dec 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

Toto Wolff has apologised publicly to Lewis Hamilton after his Mercedes team made an ‘idiotic’ mistake that forced him to exit qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix early.

The seven-time world champion was eliminated at the end of Q1 after failing to improve his final lap time, leaving him 18th fastest. Hamilton was sent out late by his Mercedes team to complete his final run but was caught up in a lot of traffic, with a mix of cars completing their runs and on slow-down laps.

Lewis Hamilton hopeful for comeback to send off Mercedes career. Hamilton and Mercedes conclude their 11-year partnership in Abu Dhabi, which has seen them win six world championships and 84 race victories. The Mercedes driver is expected to start from 16th place on the grid with the penalties from both Williams drivers and Charles Leclerc applied.

‘Lewis Hamilton hopeful for comeback’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/tot...fying-mistake/


Wolff acknowledges Mercedes let Hamilton down in Abu Dhabi qualifying
8 Dec 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Following a promising performance across the practice session, Lewis Hamilton endured a shock elimination in Q1, prompting Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff to say that his outfit has let the seven-time world champion down.

"It will be very difficult for Lewis to get back to where he should have been racing tomorrow. Nevertheless, I know he will be giving it absolutely everything to do so. That is his character and always has been.

"With George starting P7, we will also be looking forward, but we must be realistic. The cars ahead of him have looked quick and it will be challenging to make progress. Hopefully we can enjoy a better day than today though and end the season on a high," concluded the Austrian.

‘Mercedes let Hamilton down’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/26048


'That was bad!': Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff bemused after bizarre bollard mix up during Q1 in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
7 Dec 2024
Sky Sports

Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff were left bemused after a bollard scuppered his lap during Q1 in Abu Dhabi, leaving him 18th for Sunday's Grand Prix.

'That was bad!';

https://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...abi-grand-prix

[Fortitude]

F1's $20million battle is set to upstage Ferrari vs McLaren.
With over $10million extra in prize money per position in the constructors’ championship, the midfield battle is set up to be the most dramatic and high-stakes of tomorrow’s race given the sting has been taken out of the tail of the McLaren versus Ferrari fight in qualifying.
Dec 7, 2024
Edd Straw
The Race

he edge may have been taken off Nico Hulkenberg’s qualifying performance by a three-place grid penalty, but the pace of the “in the sweet spot” Haas in Abu Dhabi means the team remains a threat in the battle for sixth in the constructors’ championship with a potential $20million-plus prize money swing at stake.

It is on course to be a bigger draw on Sunday than the actual constructors' title fight, McLaren versus Ferrari, if only because in that duel the team that's ahead in the standings is ahead by a lot more, will have a better position on the grid and looks faster.

Hulkenberg’s penalty drops him from fourth to seventh on the grid, but while the starting position is worse that doesn't change the fact the Haas has been seriously fast this weekend. Dropping behind Alpine spearhead Pierre Gasly, who now starts fifth, is a blow, but Hulkenberg could still prevail in the midfield fight in tomorrow’s race.

‘F1's $20million battle’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/h...f1-2024-fight/


The $20m fight behind McLaren-Ferrari F1 title showdown
Behind F1's constructors' title battle another huge fight brews, writes Lewis Larkam in Abu Dhabi.
8 Dec 2024
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

The F1 constructors’ championship duel between McLaren and Ferrari will understandably capture most of the attention during Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. For McLaren, who hold a 21-point advantage and a front-row lockout going into the race, it would be their first constructors’ triumph since 1998, and a first title of any form since 2008. Glory for Ferrari would end a 16-year wait for the teams’ title.

However, slightly further back on the grid, there is another massively important battle for constructors’ championship honours. That is the tussle to secure P6 in the championship. Alpine currently hold the coveted spot but are just four points clear of Haas. RB are not mathematically out of contention - 13 points further adrift - but they would need a seemingly unlikely points swing, especially given both their drivers start outside the top-10 and behind their rivals.

As such, the attention is on the Alpine-Haas battle. Pierre Gasly starts fifth for Alpine, with Nico Hulkenberg just two places behind in seventh. The German had turned in a stunning lap on Saturday night to grab P4 on the grid, only to be hit with a three-place penalty.

‘$20m fight’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/106137...title-showdown


McLaren to remind drivers ‘the first interest is the team’ in Abu Dhabi F1 title showdown
8 Dec 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week

McLaren boss Andrea Stella will remind his drivers that the “first interest is the team” as it aims to clinch the Formula 1 Constructors’ title in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “When we deal with drivers, we always need to be very conscious that they are wired to win races,” said Stella. “They grow from karting thinking like that.”

“They always think like that, and then at some stage in their career, you tell them, like, ‘Oh no, here is not about you guys winning. Here is about the team winning.’ So first of all, awareness. We are very aware.”

“During the season, we already had a conversation, more than one conversation with our two drivers, and we said to them that this is the only situation in which the interests of us three is not the same. So we cannot face something just staying totally united because the two drivers: each of them wants to win.”

“First interest is the team”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...itle-showdown/


How “painful” experience of 2010 Abu Dhabi defeat shaped Andrea Stella
8 Dec 2024
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella admits that losing the 2010 World Championship at the final round in Abu Dhabi was the “most painful day” of his career – but the defeat helped him became the leader he is today.

Stella was Fernando Alonso’s engineer at Ferrari at the time, and the Spaniard arrived at the finale leading from Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.

However a bad strategy call by the team saw Alonso trapped behind Renault driver Vitaly Petrov and unable to better seventh place – allowing race winner Vettel to snatch the title.

“Painful”;

https://adamcooperf1.com/2024/12/08/...andrea-stella/


Sainz: Abu Dhabi GP last chance of winning in F1 ‘for a few years’
08/12/2024
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Carlos Sainz is gearing up for a final push at glory with Ferrari in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi, a race that will bring an end to his four-year tenue with the Scuderia and which he admits will likely be his last chance of winning in F1 “for a few years”.

“I felt like I did some very good, very clean laps in Q1 and Q2,” commented the Spaniard after the session, quoted by Motorsport Week. “Probably finding the limit of the car very early on in qualifying and then giving myself and giving maybe the team a bit of hope that we could fight for pole position. But I think as soon as these two guys started putting, I think, a good lap together in Q3… I think my lap was pretty good.”

“Obviously, there’s always little things here and there that you would like to change. But when Lando talks about that he didn’t quite nail Turn 9 or he did a small mistake, then you realise that it’s the same for everyone. We’ve been a weekend three to four-tenths behind. I’ll take being two-tenths off in quali and hopefully we can match their race pace and get in the fight tomorrow.”

‘Final push at glory’;

https://f1i.com/news/527109-sainz-ab...few-years.html


One last ‘papaya rules’ fight for Piastri after Ferrari flop; Aussie’s debut misleading - F1 Talking Pts
Dec 8th, 2024
Michael Lamonato
Fox Sports (Australia)

Ferrari has taken the constructors championship down to the wire and is doing its best to trip itself up over it. Needing to overhaul a 21-point gap, Ferrari will start third and 19th behind a McLaren front-row, with Lando Norris ahead of Oscar Piastri. The mountain has never looked so steep, and Ferrari now needs a miracle to climb it.

With Carlos Sainz starting third behind a McLaren front-row lockout, Ferrari will need either deep misfortune to befall Norris and Piastri or what would have to be the most remarkable race of the season to win the championship from here. Or, of course, a miracle. “I believe in miracles,” Leclerc said, per ESPN.

“It makes our life very difficult, that’s for sure, but with the 10-place grid penalty, it was always going to be difficult. But I see an opportunity to do something very special, and I’ll do my best to do it. My goal remains the same: it’s to win the constructors championship. I still believe in it as much as I did yesterday, even though on paper obviously it’s going to be hard. I’ll believe in it until the very last lap. Anything can happen.”

“I believe in miracles”;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...9e0c2232355cfa

[Fortitude]

Norris takes fine victory in Abu Dhabi to seal McLaren constructors' title.
Lando Norris took a fine victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that sealed McLaren's first constructors' championship since 1998. That victory meant the papaya-coloured team just held on to the title, with the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc rounding out the podium to close the gap in the standings, but ultimately unable to claw the 21-point deficit before the race began.
8 Dec 2024
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

McLaren were first and second on the grid before the Grand Prix got underway at the Yas Marina Circuit, but as a result of a collision between Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen, it saw the Australian tumble all the way down the field and to the back of the grid. A ten-second penalty was then given for causing a collision with Franco Colapinto and that meant the chance to score a good haul of points to seal the title was gone, putting huge pressure on Norris and McLaren.

However, the Brit did not waver, holding onto the lead of the race from the first to the last lap, showing great poise and race pace over the Ferraris, with the tyre degradation of the Scuderia letting them down in the second phase of the race. Sainz took P2, while Leclerc drove a sublime race to finish on the podium after starting in P19. In his final race with Mercedes, before he moves to Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton went from P16 to P4 with a great drive, with teammate George Russell finishing behind in fifth after being overtaken on the last lap.

‘Just held on to the title’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31785...ors-title.html


Abu Dhabi GP: Race Results
Full results from the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina.
9 Dec 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe

Full results from the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina.

Pos Num Driver Team Laps/Diff
1 4 Lando Norris McLaren 58
2 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 5.832
3 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 31.928
4 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 36.483
5 63 George Russell Mercedes 37.538
6 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 49.847
7 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine 72.56
8 27 Nico Hulkenberg Haas 75.554
9 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 82.373
10 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 83.821

‘Full results’;

https://speedcafe.com/abu-dhabi-gp-race-results/


McLaren seal F1 Constructors’ title as Lando Norris wins Abu Dhabi GP
8 Dec 2024
Motorsport Week
Motorsport Week

Lando Norris converted pole position into the win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to clinch the Formula 1 Constructors’ title for McLaren, despite Ferrari’s double podium.

Norris aced his start to remain unopposed into the opening turn, but there was chaos behind him as Max Verstappen clashed with Oscar Piastri’s McLaren on the exit. The stewards noted the collision between the two and Verstappen, who was now down in 11th place, was given a 10-second time penalty much to his dissatisfaction.

Sergio Perez headed into the race with speculation mounting over his position and his potential final Red Bull appearance ended in a retirement with a clash at Turn 6. Valtteri Bottas, who had qualified his Sauber up inside the top 10, turned Perez around at the chicane when Kevin Magnussen’s Haas had come charging up his inside.

‘Pole position into the win’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...-abu-dhabi-gp/


Abu Dhabi GP: Norris breaks Ferrari hearts as McLaren return to title glory
08 Dec 2024
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Lando Norris clinched the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix victory to hand McLaren a first Constructors’ title since 1988, the Briton having to fly the flag alone after Oscar Piastri’s early drama. McLaren’s two car hunt was reduced to one when Piastri was hit by Max Verstappen out of Turn 1 and spun out of contention. But for McLaren, Norris’ victory ahead of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc was enough to give McLaren by 13 points.

Norris into the final lap of the championship eight seconds ahead with the Constructors’ Championship victory within his grasp. He took the chequered flag, his fourth win of the season and sealed the teams’ title for McLaren. Sainz was second ahead of Leclerc while a late pass from Hamilton put him P4 ahead of Russell.

Verstappen was sixth ahead of Gasly, Hulkenberg, Alonso and Piastri with a solitary point. Jack Doohan finished P15 on his Alpine debut as he prepares for his first full campaign in F1 2025. There was late drama for Lawson as his smoking VCARB broke down on the final lap.

‘Norris breaks Ferrari hearts’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/abu-dh...24-race-report


Perez hands Red Bull defiant message after season-ending shunt
Sergio Perez is not backing down to Red Bull's supposed wishes as the situation teeters precariously close to a contract stand-off between the two parties.
8 Dec 2024
Samuel Coop & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Speaking to media including RacingNews365 after his retirement for the race, the six-time grand prix winner struck a defiant tone, reiterating that he holds a contract for 2025 and beyond. "Well, at the moment, I don't know," he said when asked about the situation for next year.

"I just know that I've got a contract to race next year, and unless something changes in the coming days, that's going to be the situation for next year. When it was then queried with him as to why the Red Bull bosses were holding talks with other drivers, he replied: "That's something you need to ask them."

"Like I said, we're going to be talking in the coming days and we will discuss the situation from both parties, and see if we are able to reach an agreement," he explained. "If not, like I said, I've got a contract for next year." When asked if he was considering resigning from his race seat, he replied: "No." At no point did he mention retirement from F1.

“I've got a contract to race next year”;

https://racingnews365.com/perez-hand...n-ending-shunt


Why should they let Perez go? Montoya thinks Red Bull should keep him
8 Dec 2024
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com

Rumour has it that it is very likely that Sergio Perez will be driving his last Grand Prix for Red Bull Racing this Sunday. Maybe even the last of his career, as it is well known that Helmut Marko and Christian Horner are evaluating the Mexican's performance after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Juan Pablo Montoya spoke to Vision4Sport and told them what his thoughts were on the whole ordeal.

The former F1 driver has not failed to notice that Red Bull Racing will finish third in the constructors' championship despite Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen winning the Drivers' championship. Montoya thinks Red Bull doesn't care at all. That they have a long-term vision. "Funnily enough, by them finishing third, they're going to get more wind tunnel time and everything for the 2026 car," says Montoya.

'No two captains on the same ship'. The Colombian asked aloud, "So, is it that bad having Checo there? They have the world champion, and they have more wind tunnel time! What they're losing by not winning the constructors, they're probably making up with Checo’s merchandise, Red Bull sales, and the money he's bringing. So where is the downside? And you have a team dedicated to one driver."

‘Montoya thinks Red Bull should keep Sergio Perez’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31767...erstappen.html

[Fortitude]

Norris admits F1 title was “not looking as likely” after Piastri spin.
Lando Norris admitted that the thought the World Championship was “not looking as likely) after team mate Oscar Piastri was nudged into a spin by Max Verstappen on the first lap in Abu Dhabi.
Dec 9, 2024
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog

The incident left Norris on his own out front with no margin for error while Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were set to bag big points. In the end victory for Norris was enough to secure the championship despite the Ferrari drivers securing the other podium places.

“Today was a very special day for all of us,” said Norris. “It was ours to lose today and I’m sure at certain moments people thought that it was not far away from being lost. Two Ferraris up there, and Charles doing a great job to get back to the podium.

“It was ours to lose today”;

https://adamcooperf1.com/2024/12/09/...-piastri-spin/


Mark Hughes: How McLaren narrowly avoided Ferrari title upset
Dec 8, 2024
Mark Hughes
The Race

In the end it was pretty straightforward for Lando Norris and McLaren to win the race and the constructors' title respectively on Sunday in Abu Dhabi. Even with the other McLaren of Oscar Piastri being spun out of contention in the opening seconds after contact with Max Verstappen. But it wasn't always that way.

A further early lap incident - hitting Franco Colapinto - for Piastri after rejoining at the back, for which he received a penalty, meant Norris didn’t ever have a rear gunner to aid his task, as Carlos Sainz tracked him.

But Norris didn’t need one, as it turned out. He always had enough of an edge to keep the Ferrari out of range, an advantage which only increased in the second stint as most traded their mediums for hards. But there were a few tense moments, not least when Norris was struggling in dirty air when lapping backmarkers with eight laps to go.

‘McLaren narrowly avoided Ferrari title upset’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...1-title-upset/


Norris battled nerves in Abu Dhabi GP after Leclerc opening lap
08/12/2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Lando Norris admitted that Charles Leclerc's stunning recovery from the back of the grid in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix rattled the McLaren team. The Ferrari driver’s incredible charge through the field, gaining 11 places in the opening lap, inevitably added a layer of tension to McLaren's title defense.

"I was watching the TV screens and I saw Charles was P8 after lap one, so I was a little bit nervous!" Norris recalled. "But I knew I just had to focus on myself, put my head down. Carlos was never far away,” he added. “I think the biggest I got the gap to was, like, 4.2 seconds in the first stint, and that's not a very nice gap in my opinion. It's a bit too close to my comfort.”

"So, it was still a tricky race, and I'm sure there was probably a lot more nervous people on the pitwall and in the garage, knowing what was at stake. I’ve got the adrenaline of the car and focused on that. For them, they're just sitting and watching the screens, and they have a lot more time to think about what can go wrong and all of that.”

“I was a little bit nervous!";

https://f1i.com/news/527215-norris-b...ening-lap.html


Norris: Leclerc's lightning start made McLaren "nervous" over title bid
A chaotic first lap at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix handed Ferrari an outside chance of defeating McLaren after all
Dec 8, 2024
Filip Cleeren
Motorsport.com

Lando Norris said Charles Leclerc's miracle recovery in Formula 1's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix made McLaren more nervous as it battled the Scuderia for the constructors' championship.

Norris said he was "incredibly proud" to play a part in McLaren getting back to winning ways for its first constructors' trophy in 26 years, while paying tribute to the team's staff across its many departments at the track and at its Woking headquarters.

"The bigger picture of us winning a championship for the first time in 26 years, you wouldn't have thought that when you say the name McLaren," he added. "It feels wrong to say that they've not won a championship in 26 years. But for me to be part of that, for Oscar to be part of it, is something we're incredibly proud of.

‘A chaotic first lap at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix handed Ferrari an outside chance’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/n...-bid/10680794/


Brown jokes that Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was "the worst two hours of my life"
8 Dec 2024
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

Speaking to Sky Sports right as the Grand Prix finished, an ecstatic Brown said: "I love everyone in Woking! What an awesome team effort, all the men and women at McLaren! Amazing! That was stressful." He was then asked about Norris delivering for the team, saying: "Man he did! Yes he did!"

The CEO then joined the Brit on the podium to celebrate the success of his team, shouting loudly in celebration. He joined the Sky Sports crew once again after celebrating in the McLaren garage, joking about the stress of the race: "That was the worst two hours of my life, by far. Lando drove brilliantly. Unfortunate what happened to Oscar at the start, but the team was flawless. They executed, the pit stop was great. I think I was the only one that was about ready to have a heart attack for two hours."

Again, the American was extremely complimentary of Norris: "In that race, he carried us. To not make any mistakes, we were worried about safety cars, I was worried about everything. He drove flawlessly, as he's done. So next, try and repeat Constructors and get the Drivers. I'll let Oscar and Lando figure that one out!"

"In that race, he carried us”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31793...-dhabi-gp.html

[Fortitude]

Vasseur: Mid-season missteps cost Ferrari ‘80 or 90 points'.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has singled out missed opportunities rather than outright pace as the primary factor behind the Scuderia's narrow defeat to McLaren in the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors' Championship.
10/12/2024
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

“A good one (season), but not enough,” commented Vasseur after last Sunday’s season finale in Abu Dhabi. “I think that if you compare with one year ago, it’s a huge step forward – pit stops, strategy, reliability… we improved everywhere, even in terms of pure performance,”

“It’s true that at the end, 14 points are missing, and I think if you are 80 or 100 points behind, you don’t feel the frustration. Tonight, I had tons of races in my mind where we lost 14 points this season, but it is like it is. McLaren also had some issues, and we have to do a better job next year, but I’m also quite proud of the step that we did.”

“I don’t want to do the list, but Canada we came back,” Vasseur recalled. “I think on paper, Canada was a good one for us, and we came back from Canada with a double zero—that was a bit harsh. Then we had three or four races in a row with the upgrade when we struggled a little bit. This period I think we lost something like 80 or 90 points on McLaren.”

‘Mid-season missteps’;

https://f1i.com/news/527456-vasseur-...90-points.html


Four moments that cost Ferrari the 2024 F1 world title
Just 14 points separated Ferrari from a sensational world championship, leaving the team to wonder what could have been
9 Dec 2024
Filip Cleeren
Motorsport.com

Canada: Ferrari's only double retirement: Both Charles Leclerc and Sainz were dumped out of Q2 after they couldn't find late improvements on old soft tyres, with the pair starting from 11th and 12th. Ferrari's weekend went from bad to worse in the race, with Leclerc retiring due to an electronical issue on the power unit while Sainz spun out in wet conditions…

Spain: Flawed new floor sends Ferrari down a development rabbit hole: A new floor launched at the Spanish Grand Prix turned out to introduce bouncing in high-speed corners. That not only cost it performance outright but also derailed its development programme as the Maranello squad first had to find and understand the root cause before it could come up with a tweaked design.

Baku: Sainz loses possible podium after late Perez clash: Sainz looked on for a recovery onto the podium until a late clash with Sergio Perez, sending both cars into the wall. Those 15 points for third would have gone a long way, with the caveat that behind them Norris moved up to score four extra points too.

Singapore: Pre-race favourites on the back foot after qualifying: After a disappointing qualifying session in which Sainz crashed in Q3 and Leclerc also didn't set a time, with the pair relegated to the fifth row.

‘Four moments’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...itle/10681032/


'He said': The moment Frederic Vasseur knew Ferrari had ‘messed up’ their Constructors’ Championship chances
10 Dec 2024
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Journalist Laura Winter spoke with Vasseur after the race and she says the Ferrari boss was looking back at previous races where they ‘messed up’ their title chances, including the Canadian Grand Prix where Leclerc and Sainz registered Ferrari’s first double retirement since the 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Winter said via the F1 Nation Podcast: “I actually saw Fred Vasseur outside the hospitality. I went up [to him] and you have that weird moment where you’re not sure whether to say congratulations or commiserations and I sort of said both to him.”

“And he said, I won’t repeat the word he used but it began with F, it’s not tonight that we ‘messed’ up. He said it was Spain, Canada, Silverstone. He’s already thinking back to where they dropped points, to where they’ve lost this. They’ll be looking ahead to 2025 as well.”

'He said';

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/the...nship-chances/


Ferrari issue ‘14 points are missing’ verdict after McLaren title defeat
9 Dec 2024
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur admitted to having “races in my mind” where points were on the table in 2024, after narrowly missing out on Constructors’ glory to McLaren. “It’s true that, at the end, 14 points are missing, and if you are 80 or 100 points behind, you don’t feel the frustration. Fourteen points, you have, or at least tonight, I have tons of races in my mind where we lost 14 points this season, but it is like it is.”

“McLaren also had some issues, and just that we have to do a better job next year – but I’m also quite proud of the step that we did.” As for where they lost out, Vasseur pointed to the only double DNF the team had of the season, back in Montréal, where they had been expected to be competitive, as a chance for a good points haul.

‘14 points are missing’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrar...laren-f1-title


Ferrari lost two months in F1 flexi-wing development race
16 Nov 2024
Dan Lawrence
Motorsport Week

Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur said the team lost out on “one or two months” developing a flexible front wing as it waited for Formula 1‘s governing body to deem such a device legal.

Teams had been pushing the boundaries of aero-elasticity with front wings coming into the summer break. Mercedes and McLaren were reaping the benefits of flexible front wings in the lead-up to the Belgian Grand Prix, drawing concern from the likes of Ferrari and Red Bull.

“There was frustration because at one stage we were waiting for the decision of the FIA when they installed the cameras [from Spa],” Vasseur told Motorsport.com. “We were convinced that it will go for the ‘no go’. And it went for the ‘go’! So probably we lost one or two months.”

“We were convinced that it will go for the ‘no go’.”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...elopment-race/


'They lost it': Will Buxton pinpoints the ‘catastrophic’ decision which cost Ferrari the 2024 F1 Constructors’ Championship
Mon 9 Dec 2024
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

Ferrari lost the 2024 F1 constructors’ title with ‘catastrophic upgrade’ in Spain. Ferrari’s problem certainly wasn’t the way they closed out the season, making the podium at each of the last three races – but more about what they did before that. They spent the early part of the European leg of the season recovering from a poor upgrade at the Spanish Grand Prix which hindered their car and pushed them back to being fourth fastest.

Will Buxton pointed out in F1’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Post-Race show that it may have been the reason they ended up losing the constructors’ title. “That they held on to second place in the constructors’ championship for as long as they did was a testament to just the relentless drive from them. But, they will rue that mistake, they will rue the correlation errors that led to them putting that thing on the car in the first place.”

‘Catastrophic decision’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/wil...-championship/


Ferrari highlights period that cost team 2024 F1 title to McLaren
9 Dec 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week

Frederic Vasseur had vowed that Ferrari must strive to maximise its points tally more in 2024, having rued squandered opportunities last season which denied it second place. Ferrari must ‘minimise losses’ again in 2025.

However, Ferrari managed an impressive recovery as revisions in Monza and Singapore triggered a return to competitiveness which delivered three wins in nine races. But despite the updated SF-24 hauling Ferrari back into title contention, Vasseur has acknowledged that there were still moments where the team gave up vital points.

“We had a tough weekend like Baku, even if we did a P2 with Charles [Leclerc], but I think we were in a position to do a much better job than only P2,” he added. “Then Singapore was a tough one, with the two cars ninth and 10 in quali. I think we could expect much better, but this is true also for McLaren.”

‘Rued squandered opportunities’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...le-to-mclaren/

[Fortitude]

"Lewis would have fought for the victory without the bollard," reckons Toto Wolff.
"Without the bollard getting in Lewis’s way yesterday in Qualifying, I think he could have fought for victory. He was quick throughout today and made the alternative strategy work well. He drove like a world champion.”
10 Dec 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Assessing Hamilton's last dance with the German-British outfit, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff believes that the seven-time world could have fought for the victory had the bollard not led to a disappointing result in qualifying.

Although he posted impressive sector times in the opening two segments of the Yas Marina Circuit, he lost a significant chunk of time through the last corners due to the loose bollard. It meant the seven-time world champion only qualified 18th, but he started from two places higher up on the grid due to penalties for Charles Leclerc and Alexander Albon.

"It has been 12 years that we have spent with Lewis. It is not only the longest driver and team partnership in the sport’s history, but it is also the most successful. A relationship of that length and a journey like that creates a bond, trust, and shared values that are rare nowadays.”

‘Without the bollard’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/26072


Wolff leaves Hamilton emotional Mercedes goodbye voice message
Toto Wolff has said some poignant words to Lewis Hamilton following the seven-time F1 champion's farewell from Mercedes
10 Dec 2024
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

"Hi Lewis, I’m on the go, so I thought I’d better leave you a voice note - like always," said Wolff. Yeah, the moment is here we all knew was coming. We’ve raced the last lap. The longest and most successful partnership in Formula 1 history. Who would have thought that when we started the journey?”

"It’s been a crazy ride for a boy from Stevenage who had a dream, and who shared this journey with us at Mercedes. So now you’re opening up a new chapter with Ferrari. But most importantly, remember one thing, find your people, not just the ones who work with you or sign your contract. Obviously, we know that's important.”

"But the ones who dream with you, who fight with you, who have your back and your ear; the ones who stand with you and kneel with you; the ones who see you, including the parts you don’t want [to be] seen, who never stop believing, even when you do sometimes. Because when you find your people you don’t just beat the world, you change it. And whatever the future holds, just remember, we will always be your people, because every dream needs a team. You know it.”

"Take care my friend, see you on track. We are really looking forward to it. That’s the most important message I’ve ever sent.";

‘Poignant words’;

https://racingnews365.com/wolff-leav...-voice-message


We’ll cheer on Lewis Hamilton if Mercedes can’t win 2025 title – Toto Wolff
9 Dec 2024
pa sport staff
Yahoo! Sport

The Ferrari-bound 39-year-old won six of his seven titles with Mercedes and he departs with Wolff’s goodwill. “If we can’t win, we will cheer for him. He merits an eighth championship,” Wolff told Sky Sports.

“But obviously the team, the drivers, the brand – that is the main priority to win and we will give it everything we can. It’s been 12 years. It’s not only the longest driver-team relationship the sport has ever seen, but one of the longest relationships any sports team has had with a player.”

“And one of the longest relationships personally with a person. Obviously that creates attachment, trust and those values in this day and age are rare. That’s why it’s a period of time we will hold close to our hearts.”

“We’ll cheer on Lewis”;

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/ll-...JU-XMKY6Ro2DAL


Toto Wolff wants Lewis Hamilton to win at Ferrari if Mercedes can’t
Toto Wolff will "cheer" for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari - if Mercedes are not in contention for wins.
10 Dec 2024
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Toto Wolff says he will “cheer” for Lewis Hamilton to win with Ferrari if Mercedes are not in the F1 championship fight. Hamilton turned in a masterclass recovery drive from 16th on the grid, including a last-lap overtake on teammate George Russell, to claim fourth on his Mercedes farewell at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion is leaving Mercedes after 12 years in order to complete a blockbuster switch to Ferrari, where he will aim to claim a record-breaking eighth world title and end the Scuderia’s long title drought. Despite joining one of Mercedes’ fiercest rivals, team principal Wolff said he would love to see Hamilton win an eighth drivers’ crown with Ferrari.

‘Love to see Hamilton win an eighth drivers’ crown’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/106147...-mercedes-cant


Toto Wolff makes ‘honest’ claim about McLaren ‘customer team’ after F1 title win
8 Dec 2024
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Toto Wolff admitted that, if Mercedes cannot win the Constructors’ Championship themselves, he’d “much rather be beaten by a customer team” than a factory rival.

“To be honest, if we can’t win as a works team, I’d much rather be beaten by a customer team,” Wolff explained to media including PlanetF1.com. “I have zero problem with that, because it gives shows us where the benchmark is.”

“There’s no discussions about performance levels of the engine, no discussions about drivability of the engine, energy deployment or harvesting. None of that. World Champion is our customer team. They have equal material. We fight on same terms, and if they have a better chassis or better execution or better drivers, then that’s completely fine for us.”
“Shows us where the benchmark is”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-w...team-title-win


'When the driving ends': Toto Wolff shares whether Lewis Hamilton could ‘one day’ return to Mercedes after Ferrari move
11 Dec 2024
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Toto Wolff open to having Lewis Hamilton back at Mercedes when he leaves Ferrari. It’s unclear whether Hamilton will still be involved in F1 when he retires. He hasn’t expressed any notable interest in running a team or becoming a pundit, but few of the drivers have.

Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Toto Wolff said Hamilton could still be part of Mercedes’ future. He implicitly closed the door on a driving return after promoting 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli as George Russell’s teammate. But Wolff hinted that there are other Mercedes ‘adventures’ that may appeal to Hamilton after his F1 career has concluded. The German manufacturer have powered all 18 of the cars he’s driven across 355 races.

“There is no such thing in an end to the relationship Mercedes has with Lewis, neither what we as a team have, nor I and Susie personally,” Wolff said. “I think Lewis has decided to do something else for the last part of his career, which I understand, but he’s always going to be part of that family, and always welcome in the family. One day, maybe when the driving ends, there’s going to be plenty of adventures we’re going to embark on.”

'When the driving ends';

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/tot...-ferrari-move/

[Fortitude]

Red Bull could be forced to keep Sergio Perez despite ‘wanting to replace’ F1 driver as ‘D-day meeting’ held.
The issue, however, is that Perez is contracted for 2025, having signed a contract extension back in June.
9 Dec 2024
Ryan Smart
SPORTbible

Red Bull may have to keep Sergio Perez for 2025 despite reports that they are considering whether to replace the Mexican driver. Perez has come under increasing pressure over his poor performances and results in the second half of the 2024 season, and a DNF in Abu Dhabi - although not his fault - did little to ease that pressure.

Team principal Christian Horner confirmed that the team would hold talks with Perez about his future after the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The issue, however, is that Perez is contracted for 2025, having signed a contract extension back in June. If Red Bull are unwilling to pay an acceptable fee to get Perez out of the contract, the six-time race winner may have an upper hand in talks over his future that could potentially define whether he drives in Formula 1 again.

‘Sergio Perez is contracted for 2025’;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/sergio...29370-20241209


'He's not an idiot' - Why Verstappen's still defending Perez
9 Dec 2024
Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race

Max Verstappen says he has “always worked really well with Checo”, who he described as “a great guy”. “Honestly, it’s very rare that you have a team-mate like him,” Verstappen said. “He's always been very good and just a nice guy too.”

In THE RACE COMMENTS Section…

New Realist
·9 Dec
Poor old Checo
Maybe he didn't get it all wrong ....he may have cost RBR the Constructors this year but what he did deliver may come in very handy indeed given that it all changes again for 2026.
120 more wind-tunnel hours for the year
32 more wind-tunnel runs for the year
200 more CFD items for the year .
The RB21 and 22 may just need every ounce of it ...

‘Max Verstappen's still defending Perez’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/h...fending-perez/


Sergio Perez uncovers true cause of Abu Dhabi GP retirement, Red Bull theory dismissed
10 Dec 2024
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

It has emerged that Perez was struggling with a suspected transmission issue, which resulted in his car losing drive on the approach to the chicane. It is thought the technical problem would have resulted in his retirement regardless of the collision with Bottas moments later.

Speaking to DAZN Spain after his DNF, Perez confirmed that the issue slowed him down every time he changed gear at the start of the Abu Dhabi GP. He said: “I think the engine was damaged before the touch [with Bottas]. Every time I changed gear, the clutch slipped.”

“I think the problem came from before because on the straights I was losing a lot of time every time I changed gear. Then I had contact in the back and when I got the car back, the clutch was already engaged.”

“Every time I changed gear, the clutch slipped”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sergio...theory-culprit


How Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull testing times compare with Sergio Perez’s Abu Dhabi qualifying lap
11 Dec 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

It has to be caveated that we’re not aware of the run plans either driver was on and whether Tsunoda was given the opportunity to complete any faster simulations. He was completing Red Bull’s 2025 Pirelli test and was handed next year’s tyres including an experimental C6 compound that would be useful at tracks like the Las Vegas street circuit.

In comparison, Perez’s best time in qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was 1:23.264, 1.425 seconds faster than Tsunoda. This highlights that Tsunoda was unlikely to have been given the opportunity to push the RB20 to its limits, given the deficit between them in qualifying this season in different cars has never been that big.

A more accurate comparison might be Perez’s best FP3 time which was 1:24.283, although this is still four-tenths quicker than Tsunoda.
Driver Session Time Gap
Sergio Perez Qualifying 1:23.264
Sergio Perez Free Practice 3 1:24.283 +1.019
Isack Hadjar Post-season test 2024 car 1:24.632 +1.368
Yuki Tsunoda Post-season test 2025 tyres 1:24.689 +1.425

‘Testing times comparison’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/how...ualifying-lap/


Red Bull shares group photo with Verstappen, Perez and Horner in England
11 Dec 2024
Estéban den Toom
GPblog.com

Red Bull Racing shared a group photo with the whole team at its campus in Milton Keynes on Wednesday after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In the middle is Max Verstappen's RB20. The brand new world champion himself, teammate Sergio Perez and team boss Christian Horner sit on the Dutchman's championship car.

The Red Bull team posed collectively on English soil, at the Milton Keynes campus. "The whole campus together for another team photo in 2024," Red Bull Racing's message on X read. On the ground in the middle was a flag with the text 'four-time world champion M4X', referring to Verstappen's fourth world title in Las Vegas this season.

‘Red Bull shares group photo’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31851...an-horner.html

‘Group photo’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31851...an-horner.html


Perez points out the best part of 2024: 'The season was looking fantastic!'
11 Dec 2024
Olly Darcy
GPBlog.com

Red Bull driver Sergio Perez has named his favourite race of the 2024 season. On Thursday at the season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Mexican was asked what his highlight of the year was. Without thinking long, the Mexican driver had his answer ready.

The second part of the season was considerably worse for Red Bull Racing than the strong start, something Perez also acknowledges: "I think definitely the start of the year was very strong. Four races, four podiums, and a couple of one-twos together. The season was looking fantastic. Unfortunately, it took a U-turn. We went south very early and we lost some direction. Then the season started to get just harder and harder," he told GPblog and others.

When Perez was asked which race was the best for him this season, he did not have to think long: "I think Suzuka. Suzuka was a very very nice moment. When the balance was together that I was nearly on pole and then the race, the decision was looking great so I have to say that that was my favourite moment of the year," the Red Bull driver said.

‘Suzuka was a very very nice moment. When the balance was together that I was nearly on pole’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31849...24-season.html


Verstappen: ‘People are too harsh on Perez – He’s not an idiot’’
11/12/2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

The four-time world champion went on to sympathize with Perez's struggles, pointing out that the difficulties weren't limited to just one driver or one race weekend. "I do have sympathy for the position he has found himself in. I work with him every weekend, week in, week out, and I find people have been very harsh on him," Verstappen added.

"Of course, there are some weekends that maybe could have been better naturally, but sometimes people have been very harsh on him, because he's not an idiot. He's always been regarded as a great driver, and it's been tough, but it's been tough for everyone in the team because sometimes it was just very difficult to drive," he explained.

“He's always been regarded as a great driver”;

https://f1i.com/news/527626-verstapp...-an-idiot.html


Juan Pablo Montoya shares what he could see in Sergio Perez’s ‘face’ as he made defiant Red Bull claim
16 Nov 2024
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Juan Pablo Montoya says he could tell Sergio Perez was ‘frustrated’ by Red Bull questions. Formula 1 legend Juan Pablo Montoya saw clips from that interview and shared his observations with AS Colombia. He says Perez was visibly ‘frustrated’ with the constant questions and gossip.

“I saw part of it and I found it interesting because you can see how frustrated his face is,” Montoya said. “Red Bull made that decision [to extend his contract] this year. So I see that [Perez leaving] as complicated on one hand. On the other hand, I’ll tell you the truth about the best rumours. It’s always what you deserve.”

ESPN journalist Nate Saunders says there are growing signs Red Bull will keep Perez. The cost, combined with the inexperience of the alternatives, might save him.

‘Defiant Red Bull claim’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jua...ed-bull-claim/

[Fortitude]

'Major sponsors will follow Perez out the door if Red Bull oust him'.
Sergio Perez could be staying at Red Bull Racing for 2025. Or so have Marca stated, anyways. Have Perez' sponsors come to his rescue?
13 Dec 2024
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Apparently the Mexican driver has found new sponsors, which in addition to Carlos Slim's backing, have tilted the escales in his favour. Perez has, according to Marca, been given the green light to start working on new apparel for the 2025 season.

The journal claims that Perez' unannounced sponsors are linked to Red Bull Racing for as long as the mexican driver still has a seat at the Austrian team. Meaning that if Perez was to be ousted from the Milton Keynes based outfit, they would follow the Mexican out the door.

‘Have Perez' sponsors come to his rescue?’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31878...-sponsors.html


Perez outlines 'biggest step' in Verstappen at Red Bull
Sergio Perez has shared what he feels is the "biggest step" Max Verstappen has made in their time as team-mates at Red Bull.
13 Dec 2024
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Sergio Perez believes 2024 is the "best season" Max Verstappen has put together of the four years they have spent in F1 together at Red Bull. In contrast to 2023, despite starting the season in much the same form, Red Bull has struggled to get on top of the RB20, which has shown itself to be a difficult and uncooperative chassis.

"Max has done his best season I've seen from him in these four years," the six-time grand prix winner told media including RacingNews365. "The way he pushed the team, out of the car, how hard he worked during this year, especially there were a lot of periods during the year where we looked really far and he would push the team in all the areas, in all the aspects.”

“Max has made very big steps out of the car. His talent and his speed has been there since day one, but out of the car, how he reads the races, how he works with the team, how he pushes the team, I think is the biggest step he has done in these past years."

'Biggest step';

https://racingnews365.com/perez-on-verstappen


Sergio Perez’s exorbitant ‘buyout sum’ as Red Bull stand-off continues
12 Dec 2024
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Never mind the 16 million Nico Rosberg spoke of, former Bridgestone engineer Kees van de Grint claims Sergio Perez is holding out for “75 million euros” in his Red Bull stand-off. Although he signed a new contract back in May, Red Bull met on Monday to discuss his future as well as their plans for their 2025 line-ups – both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls.

The decision has yet to be made public, and Viaplay’s analysts believe that’s because his “buyout sum” is being argued between both Perez and Red Bull’s legal teams. “It is not clear to me yet,” Van de Grint told Viaplay. “I think he is not leaving, he refuses to resign.”

“There are two possibilities, he drives next year or he gets an awful lot of money. The question is what such a buyout amount does to the story. I think the buyout sum is somewhere between 50 and 65 million euros,” said his fellow pundit Allard Kalff. Van de Grint disagrees: “I think it’s even more. 75 million euros seems like a good number to me. You have to buy out two years of his contract.”

‘Red Bull stand-off’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sergio...doff-continues


Sergio Perez gives unusual gift to 2,000 Red Bull staff days after F1 future meeting
Sergio Perez made an intriguing delivery to Milton Keynes in midweek.
Dec 13, 2024
Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express

Sergio Perez delivered 2,000 bottles of Patron El Alto tequila to Red Bull staff at the Red Bull factory as a Christmas gift to his team. The Mexican is currently facing a nervous wait after a meeting with shareholders about his future, which took place after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

‘Unusual gift’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-Milton-Keynes


Sergio Perez sends gift to Red Bull staff amid future uncertainty
13 Dec 2024
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Sergio Perez faced what could yet be his final Red Bull end-of-year celebration, the Mexican driver at least tried to end on a good note – 2,000 bottles of tequila. According to reports, he handed out 2,000 bottles of Patron El Alto. Patron retails for over 200 pounds a bottle, but given Perez is reportedly holding out for “75 million” to walk away from Red Bull, the Mexican racer won’t have to worry about his future going forwards.

While Perez has been insistent throughout the latter part of the championship that he would remain a Red Bull driver in F1 2025 having signed a new contract back in May, he wavered on that after Sunday night’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“Well, at the moment, I don’t know,” he told the media including PlanetF1.com after ending the year with a lap 1 retirement. “I just know that I’ve got a contract to race next year. And unless something changes in the coming days, that’s going to be the situation for next year.”

‘2,000 bottles of tequila. According to reports, he handed out 2,000 bottles of Patron El Alto. Patron retails for over 200 pounds a bottle’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sergio...re-uncertainty


Why should they let Perez go? Montoya thinks Red Bull should keep him
8 Dec 2024
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com

The former F1 driver has not failed to notice that Red Bull Racing will finish third in the constructors' championship despite Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen winning the Drivers' championship. Montoya thinks Red Bull doesn't care at all. That they have a long-term vision. "Funnily enough, by them finishing third, they're going to get more wind tunnel time and everything for the 2026 car," says Montoya.

'No two captains on the same ship': The Colombian asked aloud, "So, is it that bad having Checo there? They have the world champion, and they have more wind tunnel time! What they're losing by not winning the constructors, they're probably making up with Checo’s merchandise, Red Bull sales, and the money he's bringing. So where is the downside? And you have a team dedicated to one driver."

‘Finishing third, they're going to get more wind tunnel time and everything for the 2026 car’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31767...erstappen.html

[Fortitude]

Fernando Alonso explains ‘miraculous’ change Aston Martin made to reach Q3 at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“We made more changes before this night session and this time we have found a little window where the car is most happy, let’s say, the temperatures, the tyres, everything more in line and the car has revived a little and we have miraculously entered Q3.”
7 Dec 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

Fernando Alonso explains Aston Martin improvements led to Abu Dhabi top ten. Alonso was heard during FP3 telling his team that he thought it would be a “good day” indicating that the changes they made overnight had immediately made an impression.

The Spaniard explained that they went in a different setup direction, which eventually led to them unlocking a working ‘window’ with the AMR24. “We have improved for qualifying. We have made many changes last night to the car and the truth is that it has not worked very well because in FP3 we were still 17th and 19th [fastest],” said Alonso.

‘Miraculous’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fer...bi-grand-prix/


Fernando Alonso: McLaren F1 turnaround an ‘example’ for Aston Martin to pursue
14 Dec 2024
Motorsport Week

Fernando Alonso has urged Aston Martin to treat McLaren’s turnaround in Formula 1 as a “good example” as the team bids to rebound from an underwhelming 2024.

Alonso has admitted that McLaren’s remarkable comeback has provided a template that should encourage Aston Martin that it can recover from its recent difficulties. “They started last [in 2023] and then won races in the mid-season and we need to learn from them,” Alonso told media including Motorsport Week.

“This is a good example of how things can be done. In Austria they introduced a package, they gained six, seven-tenths or whatever, and that was the beginning of a series of packages that put their car as the fastest. So that Austria package, if we want to call it that, is something we need to work on.”

“Good example”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...tin-to-pursue/


Alonso points to 'last chance' for 'dream' third F1 title
Fernando Alonso is approaching 20 years since he won his second F1 drivers' title.
11 Dec 2024
Nick Golding
RacingNews365

Alonso is excited for Newey's arrival, but recognises that 2026 could be his final season in F1. "Expectations will be high because it is a new car, change of regulations, car made by Adrian," Alonso said. "Probably - or at least to start - it will be my last season in F1. Because my contract finishes at the end of 2026. It is the time of delivering and the time of truth. High expectations."

'Last chance';

https://racingnews365.com/alonso-det...third-f1-title


Fernando Alonso just used one word to describe his feelings on Adrian Newey joining Aston Martin
11 Dec 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

Aston Martin is set to be one of the teams to watch in the future following the arrival of leganadary designer Adrian Newey next year. Newey’s next move was one of the main talking points of the 2024 season, following the stunning announcement that he was set to leave Red Bull at the end of the year.

Alonso is excited for the partnership and explained why he thinks the time has finally come, having missed out on a drive at Red Bull. “Destiny,” Alonso says. “It seems like destiny, always, I was missing the opportunity. But he came now at the end of my career and I will still enjoy as much as I can, try to learn from him.”

“We have this mutual respect. We exchanged some messages and spoke from time to time and it seems like we connected always. We never worked together but we were always in the same frequency when we talked in the past. I am looking forward.”

“Destiny”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fer...-aston-martin/


Alonso ‘ready to go’ in 2025 after 'important points' in Abu Dhabi
12/12/2024
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Fernando Alonso is already looking ahead with enthusiasm to the 2025 Formula 1 season after concluding a challenging 2024 campaign with back-to-back points finishes for Aston Martin.

Speaking after the finale at Yas Marina, Alonso praised the Silverstone-based outfit for their unrelenting effort throughout the season and expressed optimism for the future. “Yeah, they were important,” Alonso said, referring to the points in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. “I think to finish on a positive note in Qatar and Abu Dhabi – two double points – feels good.”

“I think [it’s] well deserved as well because the team here on trackside never stopped working and extracting the maximum from the cars so, yeah, [I] did enjoy today’s race. [There was] quite a lot of action, especially on the first lap and, yeah, ready to go for 2025 with a little bit of a reset on things.”

‘Alonso ‘ready to go’ in 2025’;

https://f1i.com/news/527695-alonso-r...abu-dhabi.html