Fast Five: Today’s Top Motorsports News
Williams secures $195m capital injection, Ferrari hits back at McLaren with 'not legal' rear wing claim, IndyCar and more.
- Williams secures $195m capital injection
- Ferrari hits back at McLaren with 'not legal' rear wing claim
- Drivers split on gravel traps at Circuit of the Americas
- Albon reaches 100 races with Williams
- Is Red Bull breaking rules or is McLaren stirring controversy?
Williams secures $195m capital injection
On October 11, 100 million shares of Williams Racing were sold for a nominal value of AUD $1.95, resulting in a capital injection of AUD $195 million. This investment from Dorilton Capital is part of a strategy to elevate the team's performance in a competitive market, despite Forbes ranking Williams as the least valuable F1 team last year at AUD $1.09 billion. Dorilton Capital's latest investment is the biggest since buying the team in 2020, bringing their total to AUD $826.7 million. Even with a loss of AUD $164 million in 2023, Williams is focused on long-term success by investing in technology and facilities.
Click here to read the full article by Mat Coch (speedcafe.com)
Ferrari hits back at McLaren with 'not legal' rear wing claim
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur said he thinks McLaren's rear wing used in Azerbaijan was illegal because of its "mini-DRS" feature that made the gap wider on high-speed straights. Even though McLaren's wings passed FIA tests, the governing body found the wing's behavior unacceptable, so McLaren agreed to change its design after the race. The FIA then set new rules for rear-wing designs, which led some teams to make changes, but Vasseur confirmed that Ferrari did not adjust its wing. He emphasized that the rules about wing deflection are clear and should not be open to interpretation.
Click here to read the full article by Thomas Maher (planetf1.com)
Drivers split on gravel traps at Circuit of the Americas
After the United States Grand Prix, some drivers want gravel traps added to the Circuit of the Americas, but Max Verstappen thinks this might not work well. Oscar Piastri said gravel could help reduce penalties for going off-track, but Verstappen pointed out that motorcycles also race there and don’t like gravel. He also mentioned that it could be expensive for amateur drivers if they keep spinning off the track.
Click here to read the full article by Keith Collantine (racefans.net)
Albon reaches 100 races with Williams
Alex Albon recorded his 100th race at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, and it was a milestone worth reflecting on as he remains a key player on the grid. Williams looked back at his start as a kid, his time as a rookie, and now as a main driver leading the team into 2024 and beyond.
Is Red Bull breaking rules or is McLaren stirring controversy?
Red Bull faces accusations of illegally adjusting its car's floor between qualifying and the race, with McLaren pushing for an FIA investigation. This controversy comes amid Red Bull's criticism of McLaren's flexible wings, which is believed to boost their performance. F1's competitive nature often sparks rival teams to challenge each other, making this another chapter in the ongoing technical scrutiny between the two teams.