Fast Five: How Ferrari fell into a design trap, Sauber optimistic amid an “immensely tight grid,” and other big updates

How Ferrari fell into a design trap

Ferrari entered the season with high hopes, but Red Bull's significant advancements during pre-season testing quickly dashed those aspirations. The Ferrari SF23, though securing a sole non-Red Bull victory and multiple poles, fell short compared to the Red Bull RB19. The out-washing sidepod concept faced limitations, causing unpredictable rear-end snappiness in fast corners. Ferrari, including departing Mattia Binotto and replacement Frederic Vasseur, was blindsided by Red Bull's superior aerodynamic and suspension platforms. The team's reliance on the fat-fronted sidepod concept led to challenges, and despite attempts to improve, Ferrari plans a clean-sheet approach for the 2024 season.

Click here to read the full article by Mark Hughes (the-race.com)

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Sauber optimistic amid an “immensely tight grid” 

Sauber Formula 1 technical director James Key expresses optimism for the team's 2024 prospects amid an extremely competitive grid, citing a mere 1.5% performance gap between front-runners and the midfield this year. Despite Alfa Romeo's slip to ninth in the 2023 constructors' standings, Key sees promise in the team's preparation for Audi's arrival in 2026, with improvements expected in technology and facilities. While acknowledging the need for overall improvement, Key believes the close competition on the grid allows for significant advancements, emphasizing the team's potential to move forward in the upcoming season.

Click here to read the full article by Adam Cooper (motorsport.com)

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New McLaren recruit apologizes for liking anti-Stroll ableist tweet

McLaren Academy recruit Bianca Bustamante apologized for inadvertently liking an offensive post targeting Aston Martin's Lance Stroll. The 18-year-old, the first female driver in McLaren's Driver Development program, explained it was a mistake, expressing deep regret and emphasizing her opposition to ableism. However, her subsequent video with her brother drew further criticism from the racing community, questioning the sincerity of her apology and advising her to be truthful about the incident. Bustamante, with a significant social media following, faces intensified scrutiny after the incident.

Click here to read the full article by Mark Scott (planetf1.com)

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What's next for Aston Martin?

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The news of outside investors entering Aston Martin came after much speculation about Stroll's plans for the team. This followed a season where Aston Martin had shown significant improvement in Formula 1 but also experienced a noticeable decline. Questions about Lance's future and rumors of Stroll seeking a quick exit were circulating, but the team has made it clear that both the brand and Lawrence are staying put.

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Matt’s car chat with Ricciardo

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Matt had the awesome pleasure of sharing a car with Daniel Ricciardo while out in the United States. Ricciardo started off chatting with Matt about Formula 1, specifically discussing a few races and events from the 2023 season. They also got into some quirky topics, like Danny Ric's bedtime routine!