F1 Fast Five: Verstappen's protest expands as rally champion hits back at FIA's €30k fine, Robbers get 22-year sentences for stealing Leclerc's $2.8M watch, and other big updates

Verstappen's protest expands as rally champion hits back at FIA's €30k fine

Max Verstappen’s protest against the FIA at the Singapore Grand Prix has spread to Rally Chile, where WRC legend Sebastien Ogier did something similar. Verstappen was punished for swearing and responded by holding his own media sessions, which got support from drivers like Lewis Hamilton. Ogier, who was fined for criticizing rally conditions in Greece, kept his answers short and said the FIA was trying to silence drivers. Another driver, Ott Tanak, also shared his frustration, saying it’s a strange time in motorsport for how drivers can speak up.

Click here to read the full article by Oliver Harden (planetf1.com)

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Robbers get 22-year sentences for stealing Leclerc's $2.8M watch

Three men were sentenced for stealing Charles Leclerc's $2.8 million luxury watch in Viareggio, Italy, on April 18, 2022. The robbery involved careful planning, with two men confronting Leclerc while a third acted as a lookout, using a scooter and rented SUV to escape. Investigators used surveillance footage and witness interviews to catch the thieves, who also tried to steal another watch and threatened a British manager that same night. Their original sentence of 28 years was reduced to about 22 years after an appeal.

Click here to read the full article by Saajan Jogia (si.com)

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Andretti and Brown team up for new acquisition venture

Michael Andretti has stepped down as the owner of Andretti Global, and Daniel Towriss is now the new CEO. Andretti has also started a new company called Andretti Acquisition Corp II, which is a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) meant to buy or merge with other companies. Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren, has joined the board of this new company and can help make decisions on acquisitions. Both Andretti and Brown are likely looking to invest in businesses related to racing.

Click here to read the full article by Ludo van Denderen (gpblog.com)

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Was Verstappen's swearing penalty justified?

Should Max Verstappen have been punished for swearing at the 2024 Singapore GP press conference? It’s well known that he received a community service penalty for his outburst during an F1 press conference. Verstappen didn’t react positively to this penalty and chose not to answer questions during the Singapore qualifying press conference. But was the penalty for his swearing justified?

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Inside Red Bull's risky driver move

Liam Lawson will take Daniel Ricciardo's place in Red Bull's second Formula 1 team right away. This change comes with six races left in the season. Join Scott Mitchell-Malm, Edd Straw, and Ben Anderson as they talk about why this happened and what it means for Sergio Perez and Red Bull's plans for drivers in the future.