Latest news with #F1GrandPrixofMiami
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Yuki Tsunoda Handed Last-Minute Upgrade by Red Bull's New Team Principal
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Red Bull Racing Formula One driver Yuki Tsunoda received a last-minute upgrade on his RB21 F1 car ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps. New Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies took the call to boost Tsunoda's performance and confidence, which became evident with his Q3 result. Tsunoda secured his best qualifying finish since his Red Bull promotion in March, securing a P7 start for the Grand Prix on Sunday. Mekies, who replaced Christian Horner after the last race at Silverstone, noticed that Tsunoda was still running the old floor, while his teammate Max Verstappen was running the latest upgrade on the RB21. Due to the limited number of upgraded floors available with Red Bull, they were kept as a reserve for Verstappen, in case his car suffered floor damage. However, Mekies chose to run the spare on Tsunoda's car, offering him a much-needed performance gain. Although Tsunoda's RB21 won't have the upgraded front wing as Verstappen's, the new floor has made a significant difference in qualifying. Speaking to F1 TV, Mekies said: "For Yuki, it was a very, very good step forward through the weekend, so it's good to see him in Q3. Finishing there, I'm sure will give him a good boost in confidence. We upgraded his car just before qualifying as we are always pushing to the edge on our car parts quantity, but we decided to take the risk to upgrade his car. Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing is greeted by Visa Cash App RB Team Principal Laurent Mekies in the paddock during practice/Sprint qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at... Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing is greeted by Visa Cash App RB Team Principal Laurent Mekies in the paddock during practice/Sprint qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 2, 2025 in Miami, United States. More"That's why you may have seen we were nearly a bit late to go out in qualifying, but it was worth the effort from everyone. And certainly it helped in supporting his performance to get to a very, very good level." Tsunoda worked closely with Mekies at Racing Bulls before he was moved to Red Bull. Expressing his satisfaction at the upgrade, which now gives him the confidence to push his car further, the Japanese driver said: "Considering the difference I've always had in terms of laptime delta, between Max and myself, that's huge. "So I knew in myself and my engineering group, that we are in the right direction, myself to improve in the way we want happy that I approve it. "But yeah, generally, a bit more grip. The previous one was more sensitive, easier to slide. With this one, you can be aggressive, I would say." Tsunoda admitted that seeing Mekies in the Red Bull garage elevated his confidence level. He said: "Seeing Laurent at the end of Qualifying gave me flashbacks from when we worked together at Racing Bulls. "He smiled directly at me as soon as I pulled in today and it really boosted my confidence."
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Mercedes Chief Toto Wolff Fears Christian Horner Return With the FIA
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff fears a return of former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner with Formula One's governing body, the FIA. Wolff joked that he would "be in the s**t" if Horner returned with the FIA. Red Bull parted ways with Horner after the British Grand Prix with immediate effect, replacing him with former Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies. This weekend's Belgian Grand Prix will mark Red Bull's first race in F1 without Horner leading the team. Wolff and Horner are not known for their friendship. Their rivalry peaked during the 2021 season when Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen battled closely for the championship. Wolff hinted that Horner won't be away from F1 for a long time, joking that he would be in trouble if Horner joined the FIA. When asked if he was going to miss Horner, Wolff said: Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner and Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff talk in the Team Principals Press Conference during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome... Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner and Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff talk in the Team Principals Press Conference during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 05, 2023 in Miami, Florida. More Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images "In a way, yes. He was one of the main [characters] and I don't think he has gone forever, I think he's going to pop up in some kind of function. "I need to be careful, he could be rocking up at the FIA, and then I am really in the shit, so you never know. But if you look at it, he was a main protagonist, he was controversial and polarising and not soft-washed, and that is good from the entertainment factor. "From that perspective, he is going to be missed, and his track record speaks for itself." When asked if he had contacted Horner after his exit, he said: "No, not yet, I didn't find it appropriate for the time being, but I certainly will [contact him]." Wolff has been in the news recently, given reports about his talks with Verstappen for a potential future signing with Mercedes. Clearing the air, Wolff revealed at Spa that George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli will likely form Mercedes' driver lineup in 2026. He said: "Discussions have been taking place over the last weeks and months, so they are all up to date. "The direction of travel is that we want to continue with George and Kimi. That is the first priority. "But you can't look past someone like Max and the plans he has for the future. We did that, but I don't think there will be any big surprises." Dismissing reports of meeting Verstappen off the coast of Sardinia during the mini break in July, Wolff said: "What's new is that people are doing photo collages with airplanes. We've never had that before. "But if you spend your holidays close to each other, it doesn't mean that you're going to work together in Formula 1. "We have always gotten along well and by chance we like to spend our holidays at the same places."
Newsweek
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Christian Horner Accused of Causing His Own Downfall Through Team Verstappen
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Sky Sports F1 presenter Karun Chandhok has revealed that former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner was responsible for his own downfall by handing too much power to "Team Verstappen." Horner was ousted by Red Bull last week, and the reason for the decision has yet to be believes Horner's excessive reliance on Max Verstappen paved the way to his departure. Red Bull's F1 car is suited to the four-time world champion to the extent that other drivers have found it challenging to adapt themselves to the car. Verstappen's current teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, is the third driver to race alongside him in the last year. Sergio Perez, who raced alongside Verstappen in 2024, struggled to score points in the RB20. Verstappen went on to secure his fourth title with the same car. Following Perez's exit after the 2024 season, Liam Lawson took his seat in the RB21 for the current season, but was demoted back to Racing Bulls after just two races due to performance concerns. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at... Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 03, 2025 in Miami, Florida. MoreFollowing Tsunoda's promotion to Red Bull, his performance has notably dropped, hinting at the probability of Red Bull's title challenger being Verstappen-centric. Chandhok believes Horner led a one-car team since it was only Verstappen who scored points consistently, while his teammates struggled with the car. This reportedly gave the Dutch driver excessive power within Red Bull. Speaking on The F1 Show podcast, Chandhok explained: "I think in some of what's happened, if you look at it in recent years, it's become a one-car team, right? We've talked about how since Daniel Ricciardo left, the way the car design has gone, the way the team has been structured, it's very much all the eggs in the Max Verstappen camp and in that basket. "And ultimately that's kind of created his downfall. It's put a disproportionate amount of power into 'Team Verstappen' to the point of which where, if you're the wider Red Bull group, you look at it and go, 'hang on a second, yes Max is on pole of the British Grand Prix, yes he's won two races this year, but the other cars nowhere.'" Chandhok believes the excessive power held by Verstappen became evident, and it was Horner who came under fire for the kind of structure he created within the team. He added: "And actually it's put a huge amount of power in Max's camp. If he leaves that team, they'd be fourth, fifth best on the grid at the moment. "So I think that has been one of the feelings, and ultimately, Christian's got to carry the can for that, because he's the man in charge, he's led that philosophy of structuring the team in that way. "Maybe it's happened by accident, but the reality is he's the man in charge, and I think there's a strong element of that is he's put a lot of power and faith into Team Verstappen. And I wonder if that ultimately comes back to bite him a bit." Related: F1 Insider Makes Bombshell Claim of Verstappen's Involvement in Christian Horner Exit
Newsweek
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Fernando Alonso Champions Max Verstappen's 'Fighting' Spirit Amid Red Bull Woes
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Aston Martin Formula One driver Fernando Alonso has commented on Max Verstappen's fighting spirit, highlighting his urge to win, despite Red Bull's RB21 F1 car holding him back. The Spaniard admitted that Red Bull has not given Verstappen the best car to fight a championship battle. Red Bull dominated the current ground effect era that began in 2022, thanks in part to cars designed by aero guru Adrian Newey. The superior performance ensured the team won all but one Grand Prix the following year in 2023. However, Red Bull began experiencing balance problems on the RB20 F1 car after Newey announced his exit in mid-2024. McLaren Racing's resurgence around the same time meant Red Bull lost out on a constructors' championship victory, but Verstappen managed to win his fourth drivers' title. Fast forward to 2025, and one can see that car problems continue to affect the team's performance. Yuki Tsunoda, who was promoted to the seat alongside Verstappen early in the season, continues to find it challenging to adapt to the RB21. Verstappen has won only two races in the first ten Grands Prix of the season so far, a stark contrast to his seven wins from the first ten races last year. He secured P5 despite having dropped to P10 after spinning out in the previous round at Silverstone. Despite the car challenges, the Dutch driver is third in the Drivers' Standings below both McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Fernando Alonso of Spain and Aston Martin F1 Team in parc ferme during Sprint qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at... Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Fernando Alonso of Spain and Aston Martin F1 Team in parc ferme during Sprint qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 02, 2025 in Miami, Florida. MoreAlonso praised Verstappen for his flawless performances while addressing his 2025 campaign. Speaking to DAZN, as quoted by Planet F1, he said: "I don't think much has changed this season compared to other seasons. I think Verstappen has had his best season to date every year. "In 2021, he stole the championship away from Lewis Hamilton and then he dominated for several years in a row. He didn't have the most dominant car last year and won the championship with several races to go. "This year, he may not even have a car that's one of the best two or three, but he's still fighting along. He always performs at the top level. It's another task for Red Bull to give him a car to fight for the championship. But there is no doubt about him." Adding to Red Bull's woes is the sudden ousting of team principal Christian Horner, who served the team for 20 years. He has been replaced by former Racing Bulls team boss Laurent Mekies. Given the problems with Red Bull's title challenger and Horner's exit last week, it remains to be seen how that will affect the team's performance for the remainder of the season, especially Verstappen, who is being linked to a potential move to Mercedes.
Newsweek
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
McLaren CEO: Max Verstappen at Mercedes Bigger Threat Than at Red Bull
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has shared his concerns about Max Verstappen's potential move to the Mercedes F1 team, saying he would be a bigger threat than he is at Red Bull. George Russell recently admitted that his contract extension was on hold amid ongoing talks between Mercedes and Verstappen. Though the four-time world champion's current Red Bull contract expires at the end of 2028, Verstappen could still part ways with his team with the help of an exit clause. Verstappen has pledged his loyalty to Red Bull, and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff admitted in Austria last weekend that there was very little chance of Verstappen becoming a Mercedes driver in 2026. Related: Mercedes Team Boss Reveals Probability of Signing Max Verstappen for 2026 However, speculation suggests that talks between the two parties have intensified lately, leading Brown to argue that Verstappen at Mercedes would be tough to compete with. Speaking to the media ahead of the British Grand Prix, he said: McLaren CEO Zak Brown looks on in the paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 1, 2025 in Miami, United States. McLaren CEO Zak Brown looks on in the paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 1, 2025 in Miami, United States."That's a bit scary. I think Mercedes is clearly on a forward trajectory, Red Bull clearly is not at the moment, and Max is an unbelievable talent. "So Max in a Mercedes - that's some pretty serious competition." Brown acknowledged that the fight for the 2025 championship is not limited just to his drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Given that there are 13 Grands Prix left until the F1 season ends, Verstappen, who is placed third in the championship, and Russell, in fourth, pose a significant threat. He added: "No, it's way too early. He's an unbelievable talent of course, and I don't think George Russell is out of the game. You know we're not even halfway through this season. "We see how quickly our season turned around last year. There's absolutely no reason why that can't happen with Max or the Mercedes specifically. "George, because of where he is in the points, and even Ferrari, so I think we've just got to keep doing what we're doing. It's great that we have a nice lead. "It's great that we extended it this last weekend but we got a lot of racing to go, so I still think you've got four drivers realistically in the fight for the drivers' championship." Brown claimed that McLaren currently has the best driver lineup in the sport and suggested that he wouldn't look anywhere else. He said: "No, I couldn't be happier with our driver lineup. I've said it from day one that I think we have the best driver lineup in Formula 1 - I think sitting here right now it would be difficult to argue that factually it's statistically true. "And because of the characters they are the talent they are on the track off the track I wouldn't trade our two drivers for any other drivers on the grid."
