Why FIA delayed deploying Safety Car in Qatar, Has Alpine betrayed Ocon's loyalty?, and other big updates

Why FIA delayed deploying Safety Car in Qatar

The FIA explained why the race director didn’t use a Safety Car right away after a piece of Alexander Albon’s wing mirror fell onto the track at the Qatar Grand Prix. Double yellow flags were shown, and Lando Norris got a 10-second penalty for not slowing down. The mirror wasn’t cleared, and Valtteri Bottas hit it, spreading more debris and causing two punctures, which led to the Safety Car being used. The FIA argued that a VSC wasn't viable due to the spread-out field, and a Safety Car was only considered necessary after the debris caused further issues. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri criticized the delayed response, suggesting a VSC or Safety Car should have been used sooner.

Click here to read the full article by Keith Collantine (racefans.net)

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Has Alpine betrayed Ocon's loyalty?

Alpine has decided that Jack Doohan will replace Esteban Ocon for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Ocon moving to Haas for the 2025 season. Ocon’s exit after five years at Alpine has raised questions about the team’s loyalty, especially since he helped secure their first win in 2021. Alpine’s decision gives Ocon time to prepare with Haas and lets Doohan race before joining the team full-time in 2025. While this move makes sense for the team, it may feel like they don’t fully appreciate Ocon’s contributions.

Click here to read the full article by Emma Fisher (lastwordonsports.com)

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How much will teams earn in 2024?

The 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the last race of the season, and Max Verstappen has already won the driver’s title. The Constructors’ Championship is still open, with McLaren leading Ferrari by 21 points. Ferrari needs a 1-2 finish and additional help to secure the title, while McLaren hopes to end their 26-year wait for a team championship. Prize money from the Constructors' Championship comes from F1’s commercial rights revenue, with the winning team set to earn about 14% of the total prize fund.

Click here to read the full article by Kieran Jackson (independent.co.uk)

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Ecclestone sells iconic 69-car F1 collection

94-year-old Bernie Ecclestone has built a remarkable collection of 69 historic Grand Prix and Formula 1 cars over the last five decades. Many of these cars, including Ferraris and Brabhams, have been locked away for over 50 years and are rarely seen. Notable cars in his collection include Ferrari F1 cars driven by Mike Hawthorn, Niki Lauda, and Michael Schumacher, and the one-off Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT46B 'fan car.' Ecclestone calls them rare works of art, saying F1 cars are the top of motorsport, and experts now call his collection the most important in the world.

Click here to read the full article by John Kirwan (motortrader.com)

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Behind the charge with Verstappen

Sponsored by Castore, Behind The Charge joined Oracle Red Bull Racing in Las Vegas as Max Verstappen aimed for his fourth consecutive Formula 1 title. Get behind the scenes with Verstappen, Perez, and the rest of the team for exclusive footage from the track as they took on the Vegas Strip.