F1 Fast Five: Suzuka seeks to retain Japanese GP, Why is F1 seeing a rise in team poaching and rivalry?, and other big updates

Suzuka seeks to retain Japanese GP with Osaka in the mix

Suzuka Circuit is working hard to keep its Formula 1 race for the future, with a contract in place until 2029. The president, Tsuyoshi Saito, has visited other famous tracks like Monza and Silverstone to see how they are changing to meet new F1 needs. Suzuka is also being updated, but Saito wants to keep its traditional charm while attracting new fans and tourists. Even though Osaka might compete for the Japanese GP, Saito is focused on making Suzuka's race better without losing its special character.

Click here to read the full article at f1chronicle.com

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Why is F1 seeing a rise in team poaching and rivalry?

Will Courtenay's move from Red Bull to McLaren highlights a growing trend in F1 where key personnel shift between teams. Just like drivers switch teams to find faster cars, engineers are starting to do the same, even if it's not very common. The cost cap rules make it hard for teams to give raises or promotions, so staff look for better jobs elsewhere. This has led to more teams poaching each other's personnel, causing rivalries between team bosses, like the recent back-and-forth between Christian Horner and Toto Wolff.

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

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Upgrades continue to struggle with ground-effect challenges

F1 teams used to trust that wind tunnel improvements could quickly enhance car performance, but the return of ground-effect regulations in 2022 has changed that. Now, there’s no direct correlation between added downforce and better lap times, creating uncertainty as teams near the limits of their designs. Problems have arisen with upgrades this season, such as bouncing and balance issues, partly due to difficulties in accurately simulating the cars’ performance in wind tunnels. As a result, teams continue to struggle with development, and even those like McLaren, who seem less affected, recognize the persistent challenges with the current regulations.

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

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Hamilton invests in vegan dog food startup

Lewis Hamilton has reinvested in the vegan pet food company Bramble to support plant-based diets for dogs. His bulldog, Roscoe, is now the brand's "chief taste officer" after getting healthier on a vegan diet. Hamilton believes that giving pets good food is important and that Bramble meets his high standards. As more studies show that vegan diets can be good for dogs, Hamilton wants to help spread the word about their benefits and Bramble's healthy, pesticide-free products.

Click here to read the full article by Anay Mridul (greenqueen.com)

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The ultimate drag race vs RB7

Who would win in a race between an F1 car, a Rallycross car, a drift hypercar, and a Pro4 truck? To make it fair, Red Bull built a special racetrack with both asphalt and dirt. This track is designed to show off each vehicle's strengths and create an exciting race that ends with all four cars together in the final corner.