F1 Fast Five: Guenther Steiner lands new job in the paddock, Sunoco returns to F1 after nearly half a century, and other big updates

Guenther Steiner lands new job in the paddock

Guenther Steiner, the former Haas team principal known for his role in Netflix's Drive to Survive series, will make a prompt return to the F1 paddock as a pundit for German TV RTL, beginning at the Bahrain Grand Prix. He'll provide insights for seven race weekends, offering current perspectives and analysis. While he's open to future opportunities, he's not hastily seeking a full-time F1 return after departing from Haas, where he felt he didn't have a proper farewell.

Click here to read the full article by Henry Valantine (planetf1.com)

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Sunoco returns to F1 after nearly half a century

Sunoco, a renowned American oil brand deeply entrenched in motorsport, is rejoining Formula 1 after a 48-year hiatus through a partnership with Sauber. Sunoco's iconic blue and yellow colors will grace the Sauber C44 race car and driver attire at the Miami and Las Vegas Grand Prix, a nostalgic moment for American race enthusiasts. Sunoco boasts a legendary history in motorsport, notably as NASCAR's official fuel supplier and in partnership with Roger Penske, resulting in numerous victories, including Mark Donohue's iconic wins fueled by Sunoco blends. 

Click here to read the full article by Michael Delaney (f1i.com)

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RB confirms Bicester facility closure for Milton Keynes move

RB Team Principal Laurent Mekies announced the closure of the team's UK facility in Bicester, citing inadequate infrastructure. They plan to relocate to a new purpose-built facility in Milton Keynes near the Red Bull campus, aiming to attract UK-based engineers and forge closer ties with the main Red Bull squad. Mekies emphasized the need for a modern facility and hopes to capitalize on the changing landscape of F1 operations by splitting departments across two locations and leveraging people's preferences for working in Italy or the UK.

Click here to read the full article by Jake Nichol & Ian Parkes (racingnews365.com)

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Sainz seeks to secure future

After Ferrari opted not to extend his contract, Carlos Sainz is exploring options across Formula 1 teams, including Audi's 2026 project, following Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari for 2025. Sainz clarified he won't assist Ferrari with their 2025 car, focusing instead on maximizing performance in 2024. The news of Hamilton's arrival came as a surprise to Sainz, who had anticipated contract renewal. Despite the setback, he feels confident about his future prospects in Formula 1.

Click here to read the full article by Rory Mitchell (racingnews365.com)

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Quick look at the 2024 cars

F1 TV's Sam Collins looks at some of the more intriguing changes to the cars he spotted on the first day of testing in Bahrain. He kicked off with an analysis of the RB20, highlighting its resemblances to specific features found in other cars on the grid. Moving on to Mercedes, he acknowledged that Red Bull replicated elements from Mercedes, which they have since abandoned. Click here to watch the video.