Fast Five: Today’s Top Motorsports News
Verstappen may face a five-place grid drop in Brazil, Aston Martin backtracks on upgrades after Mexican GP, IndyCar and more.
- Verstappen may face a five-place grid drop in Brazil
- Aston Martin backtracks on upgrades after Mexican GP
- Horner challenges Verstappen's penalty with telemetry data
- Colapinto refutes RB seat rumors
- McLaren teams up with TDK for Formula E and sim racing
Verstappen may face a five-place grid drop in Brazil
Max Verstappen could face a grid penalty at the Brazilian Grand Prix, which might hurt his chances for the F1 2024 title. He had engine problems during the Mexican Grand Prix, where a leak made Red Bull change his engine, leaving him with less power and a sixth-place finish. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko said that a five-place penalty in Brazil wouldn’t be as serious because the track allows for easier overtaking. This news could help Lando Norris, who is trying to catch up in the championship standings.
Click here to read the full article by Oliver Harden (planetf1.com)
Aston Martin backtracks on upgrades after Mexican GP
Aston Martin rolled back some car upgrades during the Mexican GP after not seeing improvements from their recent changes. They introduced a major upgrade in Austin, but it didn’t help their performance, and team boss Mike Krack said they had to revert some parts in Mexico. The team tried different aerodynamic setups but chose not to keep all the new parts from Austin. Krack mentioned that the Austin upgrades would probably be the last for 2024, and they need to focus on making next year's car better while managing costs.
Click here to read the full article at f1chronicle.com
Horner challenges Verstappen's penalty with telemetry data
Christian Horner said the stewards made a mistake in handling Max Verstappen's penalty at the Mexican GP. He used telemetry data to show that Lando Norris was faster before their clash but didn't mention that Norris had help from DRS and slipstream. Although Horner claimed Norris braked later, analysis showed he actually did not, and his throttle control was different. Horner's comments suggest he is frustrated with the overtaking rules now that Verstappen has more competition from drivers like Norris.
Click here to read the full article by Pablo Hidalgo (planetf1.com)
Colapinto refutes RB seat rumors
Franco Colapinto has done well since joining Formula 1 as a replacement for Logan Sargeant, scoring points in Baku and finishing in the top 10 in Austin. However, he will lose his seat for 2025, as Williams is bringing in Carlos Sainz to race with Alex Albon. Although there are rumors about him moving to Red Bull, Colapinto said he expects to be out of F1 next year while aiming for a full-time seat in 2026. Williams's boss, James Vowles, thinks Colapinto deserves a place in F1, but his long contract with Williams makes it hard for him to race for another team.
Click here to read the full article by Taylor Powling (motorsportweek.com)
McLaren teams up with TDK for Formula E and sim racing
McLaren has announced a new partnership with TDK, which will be the official technology partner for its Formula E and sim racing teams. TDK is known for its work in electric solutions and wants to promote its focus on electric vehicles and gaming through this partnership. TDK branding will appear on McLaren's Nissan e-4ORCE 05 cars and at the Woking base, and some of TDK's components will be used in the new car during pre-season testing in Valencia. McLaren CEO Zak Brown mentioned that both companies are committed to innovation and look forward to working together in motorsport.
Click here to read the full article by Nick Holding (racingnews365.com)