F1 Fast Five: Ferrari hires Loic Serra as New Chassis Director, Why McLaren is delaying its new floor upgrade, and other big updates

Ferrari hires Loic Serra as New Chassis Director

Ferrari has confirmed that Loic Serra, a key figure from Mercedes, will become its technical director for the chassis department starting October 1st, 2023. Serra, who was Mercedes' performance director during their dominant era, will now oversee key areas, including chassis engineering, aerodynamics, and track operations at Ferrari. Department heads like Fabio Montecchi and Matteo Togninalli will report to Serra, who will answer to team principal Frederic Vasseur. This move follows the departure of Enrico Cardile while Enrico Gualtieri continues as technical director for the power unit.

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

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Why McLaren is delaying its new floor upgrade

McLaren is delaying a new floor upgrade for its F1 car because they are worried it might cause problems like those seen with other teams. Teams like Aston Martin and Ferrari have had issues with their new floors, so McLaren wants to avoid similar trouble. Even though McLaren has performed well recently, they prefer to wait until they are sure the new floor will work well. Team principal Andrea Stella says they are taking their time to test the upgrade thoroughly.

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

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F1 signs new sponsorship deal with Santander for 2025

Formula 1 has announced a new multi-year partnership with Spanish bank Santander, set to begin in 2025, following the bank's conclusion of its sponsorship with Ferrari. This deal will feature Santander's branding on trackside signage and exclusive fan content across key markets like Brazil, Mexico, and Spain. Ferrari will end its three-year partnership with Santander to begin a new deal with Italian bank UniCredit. Santander will also use Formula 1's growing U.S. presence to promote its fully digital bank, Openbank, which is set to launch in the U.S. later this year.

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

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Teams to choose rim suppliers from 2026

Starting in 2026, Formula One teams will be able to choose their own rim suppliers due to new regulations. Right now, BBS is the only supplier for the 18-inch forged magnesium wheels, which are 25% lighter than other options. BBS has been a major F1 partner since 1992, including during Michael Schumacher's time with Ferrari. The new rule will help teams fix issues faster and offer more chances for sponsorship deals with rim manufacturers.

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

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F1 adds support races to Vegas and Qatar events

Formula 1 will not be the sole attraction at this year's Las Vegas Grand Prix and Qatar's Losail International Circuit, both of which lacked support events in 2023. Formula One Management confirmed that the Ferrari Challenge series will join the Las Vegas event, marking its debut at the city's Strip Circuit. Scheduled across three days, the series will include practice, qualifying, and two races, each lasting approximately 35 minutes. This change aims to give fans more racing for their money and address high ticket prices.

Click here to read the full article by Keith Collantine (racefans.net)