F1 Fast Five: Ferrari poach potential Wolff successor from Mercedes, How Verstappen's future is tied to Marko's, other big updates

Ferrari poach potential Wolff successor from Mercedes

Jerome d'Ambrosio is leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari next year, reportedly due to personal reasons. He's expected to oversee Ferrari's young driver program, coinciding with Lewis Hamilton's move to the team, providing a familiar face during this transition.

Click here to read the full article by Jonathan Noble (motorsport.com)

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How Verstappen's future is tied to Marko's

Max Verstappen explicitly stated that he cannot continue with Red Bull if his mentor, Helmut Marko, is ousted, emphasizing Marko's importance to him and the team's future. Verstappen's father, Jos, echoed this sentiment, prioritizing Max's happiness. Verstappen hinted at contract clauses allowing him to leave if key team figures depart, including Marko. He stressed the significance of maintaining important team relationships and communication. Verstappen diplomatically addressed the rift between Marko and team boss Christian Horner, emphasizing the need for effective communication to resolve conflicts.

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

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What tire strategies will be deployed in Saudi Arabia?

Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc alongside him on the front row. The track's low degradation means a one-stop strategy is favored, with the C3 tire for the start and a switch to the harder C2 between laps 18 and 25 considered the fastest approach. However, starting on the C4 compound and switching to C2 later or starting on C2 and hoping for a Safety Car intervention are also viable strategies, given the high likelihood of Safety Car deployments on the circuit.

Click here to read the full article by Fergal Walsh (racingnews365.com)

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Renault's tough start in 2024

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Renault's Formula 1 team warned of a tough start in 2024 with the launch of the new Alpine A524. But even team principal Bruno Famin couldn't have expected how bad it would be. To make matters worse, technical director Matt Harman and head of aerodynamics Dirk de Beer resigned, prompting a quick reorganization of the team's technical leadership.

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F1 drivers personal wheels

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You probably know what F1 drivers drive on track, but what do they actually drive at home? Valtteri Bottas owns a Mercedes AMG GT Black Series, which he got in August 2021. Lewis Hamilton has two AMG ONEs, one for himself and one for his dad, and he also has an Agusta Brutale RR LH44, which he has driven to some races.