Pirelli claims tires are not responsible for Brazil qualifying delay, Horner's visit fuels Sainz and Colapinto rumors, and other updates

Pirelli claims tires are not responsible for Brazil qualifying delay

Pirelli said its rain tires were probably not the main reason for the Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying delay, which happened because of heavy rain and unsafe track conditions. Lewis Hamilton pushed for better wet tires, suggesting that improved tires or bringing back tire blankets would help drivers race in bad weather. Pirelli’s Mario Isola agreed the tires need improvement but explained that limited testing on tough tracks makes it hard to develop better wet tires. Isola also said other safety concerns, not just tire performance, likely led to the decision to postpone qualifying.

Click here to read the full article by Filip Cleeren (motorsport.com)

Horner's visit fuels Sainz and Colapinto rumors

Christian Horner's visit to the Williams motorhome in Brazil got people talking about Franco Colapinto possibly joining Red Bull because of his strong performances in Formula 1. Sky Sports' Karun Chandhok suggested that Horner might be trying to bring Carlos Sainz to Red Bull while letting Colapinto stay at Williams. Sergio Perez is under pressure as he struggles to score points, which has allowed McLaren and Ferrari to move ahead of Red Bull in the constructors' standings. Williams recently signed Sainz, but they might have to fight to keep him before he even starts with the team.

Click here to read the full article by James Dielhenn (crash.net)

‍

Bortoleto set to land Sauber seat

Gabriel Bortoleto is expected to be Nico Hulkenberg's teammate at Sauber for the 2025 season, with reports saying a deal is already in place. Sauber considered keeping Valtteri Bottas, but they have decided to go with the young Brazilian instead. Final details are still being worked out, and an official announcement should come before the next race in Las Vegas. If Bortoleto joins Sauber, it may end Bottas's time in F1, and he might look at options like becoming a reserve driver for Mercedes.

Click here to read the full article by Jonathan Noble (motorsport.com)

‍

Colapinto crashes out in Q1 

With eight minutes left in Q1, Franco Colapinto lost control in sector one and hit the wall hard, badly damaging his Williams car. He confirmed over the radio that he was okay, but his mechanics now had a big repair job before the Grand Prix. The Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying began with Alexander Albon as the first driver out for Williams. Later, Liam Lawson went off track at the final corner, causing a yellow flag, while Guanyu Zhou and Lance Stroll also went off but were able to continue.

Click here to read the full article by Tim Kraaij (gpblog.com)

‍

Who will be Red Bull's second driver?

Red Bull is trying to decide who will be their second F1 driver next year. This search has gone on for a while, affecting Daniel Ricciardo's career and putting pressure on Sergio Perez. It looks like Liam Lawson might step up to race with Max Verstappen, while the best option is currently with another team.