FIA's suspicions over front bib parc ferme trick, F1 ‘myth’ busted by McLaren race engineer, and other updates

FIA's suspicions over front bib parc ferme trick

Inside sources revealed that several teams have met with the FIA to discuss concerns that one unidentified team may have found a way to adjust the front bib clearance between qualifying and the race in Parc Ferme. The ability to raise and lower the bib between qualifying and the race would deliver a difference in performance between the single lap and the heavier full distance race. However, this is clearly a breach of the FIA's technical guidelines.‍

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

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F1 ‘myth’ busted by McLaren race engineer

Tom Stallard, race engineer to Oscar Piastri, has rejected the idea that different drivers prefer different types of F1 cars. In an interview about his earlier days working with Jensen Button at McLaren, Stallard explained that, drivers all want the same basic elements of a car to perform their best. He continued to say the only thing that changes by personal preference are things that they dislike about the car. “The truth is every driver, their ideal car is the same, and what they’re looking for is the same – what varies is what they hate and what really trips them up."

Click here to read the full article by Henry Valantine (planetf1.com)

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Norris only has three races to catch Verstappen in F1 title race, not six

Currently, Norris sits 52 points behind Max Verstappen in the championship. If he were to keep up his rate of gaining 5.3 points per race for the final 6 races, he would still be behind Verstappen not counting Sprint races. If Lando hopes to become the 2024 WDC, he must cut the 52 point deficit in half before heading to Las Vegas for the final 3 races of the season - translating to an 8.6 point gain over Max per weekend in Austin, Mexico City, and Sao Paulo.

Click here to read the full article by Jake Nichol (racingnews365.com)

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Williams 'not out of woods', says Team Principal, James Vowles

Despite an upturn in recent performance of the Williams, largely thanks to their new second driver Franco Colapinto, James Vowles is still wary of their trajectory finishing the season into the 2025 season. "This isn't success today. It's just better than where we were before. Success is really being at the sharp end of the grid and we are nowhere near the end of that journey. We’re really starting it, I'm afraid."

Click here to read the full article by Andrew Benson (bbc.com)

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Bottas says last 3 years at Sauber have damaged his reputation

After Valterri Bottas' move to Sauber from the championship winning Mercedes team in 2021, he admits that being in the last place team has 'damaged' his ability to be considered a skilled driver, let alone secure a contract for 2025. Bottas says, "I can honestly say that I always gave my all. I've always enjoyed life as well, even when I was a bit more reserved or stressed." Will he be brought on to the new Audi outfit, or will this be the end of Bottas in F1?

Click here to read the full article (autoweek.com)