Fast Five: Ferrari hints at contract extensions for Leclerc and Sainz, Uncertainty surrounds Alfa Romeo's F1 sponsorship in 2024, and other big updates

Ferrari hints at contract extensions for Leclerc and Sainz

Ferrari President John Elkann confirmed the team's intention to keep Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz beyond F1 2024, despite their contracts expiring then. Rumors of tension with Leclerc persist, but he expresses a desire to stay, and Sainz, linked to Audi's F1 project, also wants to continue with Ferrari. Despite a disappointing season, Elkann sees potential, emphasizing the need to convert pole positions into wins in future championships.

Click here to read the full article by Lewis Larkam (crash.net)

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Uncertainty surrounds Alfa Romeo's F1 sponsorship in 2024

Alfa Romeo is unlikely to continue as a Formula 1 sponsor next year, having stepped down as Sauber's sponsor after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Rumors suggested a potential partnership with Haas, but negotiations have stalled due to disagreements on sponsorship terms. Alfa Romeo's previous deal with Sauber in 2019, marked by a relatively low price, does not align with the current market value in F1. Consequently, the iconic Italian car brand is expected to exit F1, with a potential focus on other motorsport classes, while still aiming to announce a new sponsorship in December.

Click here to read the full article by Aaron Deckers (racingnews365.com)

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Neft Vodka Joins F1 with Scuderia AlphaTauri partnership

Austrian vodka brand Neft has become an official partner of the Scuderia AlphaTauri Formula 1 team, with its logo prominently featured on the team's cars driven by Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda. Neft's CEO, Jeff Mahony, highlighted the partnership's alignment with the brand's global expansion and the opportunity to showcase its premium vodka's innovation and taste. Neft Vodka, known for its eco-friendly approach and clean ingredients, such as Austrian Alps spring water and ancient rye grains, fits well with Scuderia AlphaTauri's net-zero goals, according to Fabian Wrabetz, the team's director of marketing and communications.

Click here to read the full article by Rupert Hohwieler (thespiritbusiness.com)

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Max and Checo decode team radio messages

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Formula 1 Team Radio often provides interesting moments, and Red Bull has gone through the archives to select some of the best from previous years. Now it’s up to Max Verstappen and Checo Perez of Oracle Red Bull Racing to figure out who said it and maybe where it happened.

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Guess the Track Challenge

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Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda take their turn at guessing Formula 1 tracks from the 2023 season calendar, but there’s a twist. They are only allowed to use the audio from previous pole laps, putting their listening skills to the test. How well do Yuki and Daniel know the sounds of long straights and slow bends of each circuit?