Zhou Guanyu is unlikely to secure a Formula 1 seat for 2025 but is hoping for a turnaround this season. He struggles against teammate Valtteri Bottas, with a significant gap in performance. Recent team changes, including the appointment of Mattia Binotto, offer Zhou some hope for improvement. Despite facing racial prejudice and harsh scrutiny, Zhou is determined to stay in F1 and remains optimistic about the future of Chinese drivers in the sport.
Click here to read the full article by Samarth Kanal (the-race.com)
With Formula 1 in its summer break, it's an ideal time to evaluate how the 2024 teammates have fared, particularly through their qualifying performances. Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly are the most evenly matched, with only a 0.015-second gap, while the gaps between teammates at Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull remain close but significant. Alonso's recent performance slump has slightly widened his gap to Stroll, though he's still ahead. The bottom four teams show substantial gaps, which could impact their constructors' points and put certain drivers' F1 careers at risk.
Click here to read the full article by Kevin Turner (motorsport.com)
Since the Miami GP, McLaren has done really well with new upgrades, which has made their car better than Red Bull and Mercedes. Before these changes, McLaren had problems with drag and turning. The upgrades, like a new front suspension and better aerodynamics, helped Lando Norris win and made the car faster. Now, McLaren is always in the fight and leads in points for the championship.
Click here to read the full article by Pablo Hidalgo (planetf1.com)
Haas F1 team principal Ayao Komatsu said the team's recent success came from using their funds wisely, not from needing more money, which former boss Guenther Steiner thought was necessary. After finishing last in the 2023 season, Gene Haas was ready to invest more if the team improved, which led to Steiner's departure. With ten races left, Haas has already done better than last year and is in seventh place with 27 points. Komatsu pointed out that the team did this with the same budget by being smart with their resources and taking advantage of other team's mistakes.
Click here to read the full article by Saajan Jogia (si.com)
Audi's F1 project is changing its leadership, with Mattia Binotto replacing Oliver Hoffmann and Andreas Seidl. This switch is affecting driver decisions, even before Audi officially takes over the Sauber team next year. Nico Hulkenberg has already been signed, but drivers like Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas face uncertainty. Binotto's track record suggests the team might choose new drivers, which might lead to big changes in the lineup.
Click here to read the full article by Thomas Maher (planetf1.com)
