Alpine confirms Hitech GP boss as new Team Principal

Hitech founder Oliver Oakes will take over as Alpine's Team Principal after the summer break. Bruno Famin, who has held the role for a year, will return to overseeing operations at Viry-Chatillon in September. At 36, Oakes becomes one of the youngest F1 Team Principals and aims to improve Alpine's current eighth place in the Constructors' standings. Oakes will work closely with Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo and Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore.

Click here to read the full article at motorsportweek.com

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McLaren's new rear wing signals future changes

McLaren introduced a new rear wing at the Belgian Grand Prix, similar to Red Bull's design. This wing is the lowest downforce variant used by McLaren's MCL38 and is part of new options for different tracks. Changes include a square transition zone, a more uniform shape, and a redesigned upper flap for better DRS performance. The V-shaped notch and endplate design were also modified, which affects the beam wing and rear brake duct winglets.

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

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How Binotto's appointment changed the driver market

Audi announced that Andreas Seidl is leaving, and Mattia Binotto will take over as the F1 team boss starting August 1. Sauber, which will become Audi’s main team in 2026, has already signed Nico Hulkenberg for 2025, but they are still deciding on the second driver. Valtteri Bottas was surprised by the sudden changes but welcomed Binotto and mentioned the team needs improvements. Carlos Sainz, who will join Williams next year, said Binotto’s arrival won’t change his plans.

Click here to read the full article by Balazs Szabo (f1technical.net)

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Did Russell benefit from his underweight car?

George Russell’s Belgian Grand Prix victory was stripped after his car was found 1.5 kg underweight. Despite a strong race and a one-stop strategy that seemed to secure his win, post-race checks revealed the technical infringement. The FIA disqualified Russell after the car failed to meet the minimum weight requirement. Mercedes is investigating the cause, with possible tire rubber loss during the race considered a contributing factor.

Click here to read the full article by Balazs Szabo (f1technical.net)

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Meet Alpine's new Team Principal

Oliver Oakes, a former karting world champion and Red Bull junior driver, is taking over as the head of Alpine's Formula 1 team. This will be his first job in F1 management after his Hitech GP team did not make it to the F1 grid last year. Previously, Oakes had a brief career in car racing and then shifted to team management, leading Hitech GP to success in various junior categories but not in Formula 1.

Click here to read the full article by Valentin Khorounzhiy (the-race.com)