Fast Five: Ex-F1 racer van der Garde announces retirement, How 20kg weight purge for RB19 unlocked 2023 dominance, and other big updates

Ex-F1 racer van der Garde announces retirement

Former Formula 1 driver Giedo van der Garde, aged 38, has retired from racing, marking the end of his career a decade after his sole F1 season with Caterham in 2013. Despite a credible performance in his rookie year, the team never scored points. After a legal dispute with Sauber in 2015 over a contract dispute, van der Garde transitioned to sports cars, winning the European Le Mans Series in 2016. He announced his retirement in a social media video, expressing pride in his F1 journey and happiness in his family-centric life, now working as an F1 pundit.

Click here to read the full article by Valentin Khorounzhiy (the-race.com)

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How 20kg weight purge for "cut and shut" RB19 unlocked 2023 dominance

Christian Horner attributes Red Bull's dominance in the 2023 F1 season to weight-saving improvements in the RB19 car, which was 20 kilograms lighter than its predecessor. Despite utilizing many components from the RB18, including the gearbox, suspension, and half of the chassis, the emphasis on shedding weight significantly contributed to their success. Horner explained that the RB18 had been overweight in 2022 due to the team's focus on the 2021 Championship battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The weight reduction, coupled with marginal gains in various areas, distinguished the 2023 car from its predecessor, resulting in a record-breaking season with 19 wins for Verstappen.

Click here to read the full article by Oliver Harden (planetf1.com)

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Former Alpine boss exposes cost cap gap

Former Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer revealed that when he took over as team principal before the 2022 season, Alpine was "double-digit" millions below the Formula 1 cost cap. This information emerged amid a significant senior staff departure, including sporting director Alan Permane and chief technical officer Pat Fry. Szafnauer explained that during his tenure, the team had the financial flexibility to hire due to being below the cost cap and focused on strengthening areas lacking, such as creating a separate aerodynamic performance group.

Click here to read the full article by Jamie Wodhouse (planetf1.com)

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Early glimpse at the 2025 driver market

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Unlike typical Formula One seasons with driver switches, the 2024 season is notable for maintaining the exact driver lineup from the previous year, indicating an uncommon absence of off-season driver changes. Looking ahead, the 2025 driver market looks unpredictable, as only two teams officially have both their drivers tied down. So, with eight teams all having seats available, the 2025 driver market might be chaotic.

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Was the Las Vegas GP a bust?

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Before the inaugural F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix on the Las Vegas street circuit, there was a fair share of negative F1 news. Some anticipated failure, while others were cautiously optimistic. The race attracted over 315,000 attendees, a departure from other races as F1 served as the promoter. But how did the race turn out overall?