Fast Five: Tsunoda closes in on new AlphaTauri deal, Aston Martin demands FIA penalty consistency, and other big updates

Tsunoda closes in on new AlphaTauri deal

Yuki Tsunoda is set to secure a new deal with AlphaTauri for the 2024 Formula 1 season, and the announcement is expected at the Japanese Grand Prix. Despite Liam Lawson's strong performance, Tsunoda is likely to be retained, and Daniel Ricciardo is expected to be his teammate next year. Ricciardo, who replaced Nyck de Vries earlier, suffered a wrist injury and will miss multiple races, including Japan. Lawson may not have a seat for next year, but there is a possibility at Williams, as Logan Sargeant has not impressed. Mick Schumacher is not an option, as he's linked to Alpine's WEC project.

Click here to read the full article by Connor McDonagh (crash.net)

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Aston Martin demands FIA penalty consistency

Aston Martin has called for consistency in FIA punishments, expressing concern over Max Verstappen receiving only reprimands and a fine for impeding incidents during Singapore Grand Prix qualifying. Two of Verstappen's three alleged impeding incidents happened on the track, with critics expecting a grid penalty instead of just reprimands, given previous season penalties. Despite speculation about collusion between Red Bull-owned teams, it was clarified that AlphaTauri wasn't formally summoned. Aston Martin's performance director, Tom McCullough, emphasized the need for consistent penalties, as they endured a challenging weekend, failing to score points for the first time this season.

Click here to read the full article by Sam Cooper (planetf1.com)

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Lusail Circuit to host Qatar's first sprint

The Lusail International Circuit in Qatar has undergone renovations and upgrades to prepare for the upcoming Formula 1 race. It will host the country's first-ever F1 Sprint event from October 6-8, featuring a 100km high-intensity dash. Qatar joins a select group of countries hosting the F1 Sprint this season. The result of the F1 Sprint will no longer determine the Grand Prix grid; instead, it will be decided by Friday's qualifying session, with the fastest car starting from the pole on Sunday. The circuit's extensive renovation, the largest since its opening in 2004, did not alter the track layout.

Click here to read the full article by Mohamed Eltayeb (dohanews.co)

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What happened to F1’s most dominant car

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Following his 11th-place qualification at the Singapore GP, Max Verstappen admitted he expected a challenging race but didn't foresee the car becoming undrivable. Red Bull has won a record 15 consecutive races in a row, and they’ve been extremely dominant. But what went wrong in Singapore? What really happened with the RB19?

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Behind the Scenes at the Singapore GP

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Ferrari's last F1 victory was in Austria in 2022, so Carlos's win in Singapore was a big deal. Popular F1 photographer Kym Illman later shares some interesting behind-the-scenes moments, such as drivers arriving in classic cars that suited them and the McLaren boys, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri practicing their golf swings.