Red Bull's sporting director, Jonathan Wheatley, will leave the team at the end of the season to become Audi's team principal. Over the years, he has been crucial in Red Bull's success, notably in pit stops and in establishing world records. His high profile also grew during the 2021 season due to his televised discussions with former race director Michael Masi. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner praised Wheatley's contributions and announced a new team structure will be revealed soon.
Click here to read the full article by Connor McDonagh (crash.net)
The FIA has updated the Formula 1 rules after issues at the Chinese Grand Prix. Now, if a driver like Alonso gets a penalty during a Sprint race and then retires, the penalty can be turned into a grid drop for the next race. The rules also changed so that if a driver like Sainz stops on track and gets help but can restart, they can continue qualifying. Lastly, if the pit lane is blocked during a red flag, cars will line up on the starting grid based on when they arrive.
Click here to read the full article by Dan Lawrence (motorsportweek.com)
Mercedes is expected to reintroduce its upgraded floor after the Formula 1 summer break at Zandvoort. The team initially tested the upgrade at Spa-Francorchamps but reverted to the previous floor specification due to unexpected performance issues. Mercedes believes these issues were related to mechanical setup rather than the floor itself. Team principal Toto Wolff is confident that the floor upgrade will be evaluated thoroughly and is optimistic about the team’s performance as the season progresses, though he remains cautious about predictions.
Click here to read the full article by Jonathan Noble (motorsport.com)
Zhou Guanyu thinks the leadership change in the Sauber/Stake F1 team is a chance to reset his career as the team transitions to Audi. Sauber, now called Stake, hasn't scored any points and will see big changes with new boss Mattia Binotto and Audi taking over in 2026. Zhou is hopeful about getting a seat next year and is eager to talk with Binotto, whom he knows from his time at Ferrari. Even with the sudden exit of Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann, Zhou feels the changes won't greatly affect his future.
Click here to read the full article by Saajan Jogia (si.com)
Guenther Steiner expects Valtteri Bottas to stay at Sauber next season since no clear alternatives are available. Mercedes is likely to replace Lewis Hamilton with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, leaving two spots open at Sauber and Alpine. With Carlos Sainz moving to Williams, Bottas appears to be the best option for Sauber, alongside Nico Hulkenberg. Steiner is unsure about Alpine's choice but mentions Jack Doohan as a potential candidate while noting other drivers like Mick Schumacher and K-Mag are also in the running.
Click here to read the full article by Connor McDonagh (crash.net)
