F1 Fast Five: Verstappen denies rift speculation with Horner amid Red Bull probe, Alonso decries unfair shortening of winter testing, and other big updates

Verstappen denies rift speculation with Horner amid Red Bull probe

Despite an ongoing investigation into Christian Horner's conduct within Red Bull, Max Verstappen has affirmed that his relationship with the team principal remains unaffected, emphasizing that it remains unchanged and unaffected by speculation. Verstappen, who has clinched the world championship for Red Bull for the past three years, rejected any notion that the investigation has impacted their dynamic, stating that it's business as usual between him and Horner. While the duration of the investigation and its implications remain uncertain, Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez emphasized the importance of unity within the team, expressing the collective desire to maintain focus on racing despite the distraction.

Click here to read the full article by Keith Collantine (racefans.net)

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Alonso decries unfair shortening of winter testing

Fernando Alonso criticizes Formula 1's reduced winter testing format, deeming it unfair to drivers. With only one and a half days of testing in Bahrain, Alonso argues that this limited time doesn't adequately prepare drivers for the upcoming season. He suggests increasing testing days or utilizing two cars per team to address the issue, a sentiment echoed by Mercedes' George Russell, who compares the sparse testing to insufficient training in other sports.

Click here to read the full article by Filip cleeren (motorsport.com)

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Red Bull sidepod innovation unveiled

Red Bull Racing has introduced a new design for their RB20 Formula 1 car, moving away from their previous underbite inlet and undercut solution to an overbite arrangement with a vertical inlet beside the chassis, reminiscent of Mercedes and Ferrari's past designs. This shift suggests that the previous underbite solution had reached its limits due to regulatory constraints and challenges in balancing aerodynamics with cooling needs. The new design features a wider, high-waisted undercut and an overbite arrangement, improving airflow and flow separation, inspired by Alpine and Mercedes concepts. Additionally, the RB20's engine cover design enhances aerodynamics with a deep waterslide gully and an extremely high waist, contributing to overall performance improvements.

Click here to read the full article by Matt Somerfield (motorsport.com)

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McLaren drivers set to take on Red Bull

McLaren revealed the MCL38 before the car took to the track at Silverstone. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris shared their early impressions of the F1 car, both sounding optimistic. Norris feels comfortable like he hadn't been away from the car, while Piastri believes they can challenge Red Bull. Click here to watch the video.

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Red Bull takes cover off RB20

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Red Bull has taken the covers off its RB20 challenger for the upcoming F1 season as it aims to continue its recent domination of the sport. Last season's RB19 secured victory in every event other than the Singapore Grand Prix, which Ferrari's Carlos Sainz won, and the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint, won by McLaren's Oscar Piastri.

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