F1 Fast Five: Key Mercedes engineer tipped for Ferrari switch, How F1's £400m gamble paid off, and other big updates

Key Mercedes engineer tipped for Ferrari switch

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff revealed that discussions are set to take place regarding the potential move of Lewis Hamilton's race engineer, Peter Bonnington, to Ferrari as Hamilton departs for the 2025 season. It's a common practice for top drivers to facilitate their transition by bringing trusted staff from their previous teams. Wolff mentioned the need for future discussions with Bonnington, who has been with Mercedes since the early Honda era. However, a complication arises as Bonnington would need to complete the 2024 season with Mercedes before joining Ferrari for 2025, posing a tight transition challenge in terms of gardening leave.

Click here to read the full article by Adam Cooper (motorsport.com)

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How F1's £400m gamble paid off

Formula 1's rapid growth in the United States, fueled by Liberty Media's North American expansion and the popular Netflix series Drive to Survive, has led to successful races in Vegas, Austin, and Miami. The inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, backed by a $500 million investment, attracted over 316,000 attendees, with an average spending of $4,100 per spectator. The event generated a reported $800 million contribution to the U.S. economy, while F1 executives claim a global reach of 2.7 billion people. Despite these successes, the race faced challenges, including a loose drain cover damaging a Ferrari, discontent over evening scheduling, and safety concerns leading to a canceled practice session.

Click here to read the full article by Joe Krishnan (total-motorsport.com)

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Russell's resilience shines amid toughest season

George Russell has termed the Formula One 2023 season his "toughest psychologically," acknowledging mistakes like crashes and clashes. Despite the challenging year, Russell is embracing the learning experience and believes pushing himself beyond limits contributes to occasional errors. He expresses confidence that the upcoming 2024 season, especially with Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes, will be different and emphasizes personal growth from challenging seasons. As Russell prepares to take a more prominent role in Mercedes after Hamilton's departure, team boss Toto Wolff sees him as a potential lead driver.

Click here to read the full article by Alex Kalinauckas (motorsport.com)

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What's next for Sainz?

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Now, without doing a whole lot wrong, Carlos Sainz will lose his Ferrari seat at the end of the coming season to be replaced by the incoming Lewis Hamilton in a major coup for the Scuderia and chairman John Elkann. It is clear that Sainz deserves and will, in almost every circumstance, remain on the F1 grid. While Sainz deserves to stay in Formula 1, the spotlight now turns to where he will be in 2025.

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Can Lewis be competitive in a Ferrari?

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Ferrari is offering Hamilton a championship-caliber car, but considering the team's history of causing heartbreak for Leclerc and Sainz, one can only wonder about the challenges lying ahead for the seven-time world champion. Lewis may believe he can boost Ferrari's performance, but the real question is: Can he truly be competitive in a Ferrari?