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Hamilton blocked from Ferrari dream as Red Bull change Horner investigation plans
Hamilton blocked from Ferrari dream as Red Bull change Horner investigation plans
Lewis Hamilton caused quite a stir when he announced out of the blue that he would be ditching Mercedes for Ferrari. The Brit has been with the Silver Arrows for over a decade but has decided that the time is right for him to move on at the end of the season.
Hamilton will hope the famous Scuderia can help him break Michael Schumacher’s record of seven Drivers’ World Championship titles after a few underwhelming campaigns with Mercedes – which has seen him go winless for two consecutive seasons.
However, Martin Brundle believes Hamilton will have to trust the folk in the Ferrari garage and won’t be allowed to bring any of his favourite Mercedes engineers with him next season. There had been reports that Hamilton’s long-term F1 race engineer, Peter Bonnington (Bono), could make the move with him.
But Brundle doesn’t think that’ll happen. Christian Horner, meanwhile, remains under investigation at Red Bull for alleged ‘inappropriate behaviour’ – something he has categorically denied. The Red Bull boss has vowed he’ll be in Bahrain for pre-season testing despite the investigation marring the team’s image. Red Bull’s new partner Foord have broken their silence on the matter and released a statement.
Hamilton blocked from Ferrari dream as Red Bull change Horner investigation plans
Verstappen on ‘very tough’ challenge
Max Verstappen has insisted that it will be extremely difficult for Red Bull to improve on last year despite going into the new season as the team to beat.
“These kinds of things are very tough, I think, to top,” said the Dutchman.
“I think it’s also not our goal. I think it’s just about trying to deliver another very competitive car and from my side, of course, I’ll try to deliver the best I can.
“But that depends on a lot of things that have to come together, so I guess only time will tell how quick we are. And, of course, also around us, people are learning more and more.
READ: Max Verstappen to follow Lewis Hamilton and join Ferrari
“It’s not always that it’s up to us how great the season is going to be. Because if you have more natural competition with different teams, it’s even harder to win races.”
Norris insists Red Bull are ‘beatable’
Lando Norris believes that McLaren will be able to challenge Red Bull for regular Grand Prix victories over the course of this year.
He said: “If you were to say ‘are they beatable’, you’re going to have to say yes.
“I think we want to believe to say yes, because we were very close at certain times and at certain times [last year] we did beat them.
“The question is, can we beat them over a season? I think that’s going to be the challenging thing and I think that’s going to be very difficult to do with how well they are performing.”
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H. Marko lashes out at Steiner: Defend Mick Schumacher
Helmut Marko believes Mick Schumacher deserves a return to Formula 1, naming two teams he thinks would consider the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. The 81-year-old Austrian lashes out at Guenther Steiner, who sacked the German at Haas F1 just under two years ago.
“Mick is one of the politest and nicest people in the whole paddock, which is a disadvantage for him. He also has the handicap of a big name,” Marko said in an interview with Sport1.de. “In sporting terms, he has already achieved a lot. He won the Formula 3 championship, he won the Formula 2 championship, that alone made him interesting for Formula 1 teams.”
Schumacher made his Formula 1 debut at Haas F1 in 2021. There, he lasted two seasons. After a disappointing season in 2022, Guenther Steiner showed him the door and they opted for more experience with Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.
Marko: ‘Netflix superstar’ Steiner treated Schumacher unfairly
“As far as we were concerned, there were no sporting reasons why we never got together,” Red Bull Racing’s team advisor explained. “He was a Ferrari junior at the time, but Mercedes took him into the team [afterwards]. So he wasn’t even on the market.”
“At Haas, he was not treated fairly by Netflix superstar Guenther Steiner. That’s a fact. Once you drive outside Formula 1, it becomes a difficult story. But behind the scenes, you only hear good things about him. Toto Wolff praises him to the skies. I think Alpine and Audi are seriously considering him. I wouldn’t begrudge him, because he deserves it,” Marko said.
Verstappen and Hamilton CRASH as FIA take action in Hungary
Max Verstappen was involved in a dramatic collision with Lewis Hamilton for P3 at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman attempted an overtake on his rival into Turn 1, going though the inside but locking up as Hamilton’s front right collided with Verstappen’s rear left.
In dramatic fashion the Red Bull was launched into the air, and was lucky to remain in the race, falling behind the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.
Verstappen has been placed under investigation by the stewards, with the FIA calling a 4.50pm UK time summons, where the sport’s governing body confirmed their findings.
F1 RECAP: Piastri claims STUNNING maiden victory as FIA announce Verstappen penalty verdict
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton crash in Hungary
A nightmare Hungarian GP for Max Verstappen
It was a difficult race for the champion who went wide on the opening lap, and was forced to give the position back to Lando Norris after claiming P2.
The Red Bull star accused the Brit of running him wide, and continued to deliver a series of furious radio messages to his team during the grand prix.
Verstappen’s frustrations came to the fore as he attempted to overtake Hamilton, with the pair lucky to not be embroiled in more devastating contact.
In the end Hamilton claimed P3 and a podium in Hungary, with Verstappen languishing back in fifth.
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“It’s going to be emotional for me” – Chase Briscoe on honoring Tony Stewart’s legacy
Chase Briscoe, in a recent media session, shared his emotions about racing on the oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Briscoe will be driving the No. 14 car, a number famously associated with his current team owner, Tony Stewart.
Stewart won several races and the 2011 championship with this car. He also co-owns NASCAR team Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), which will be shutting down after this season.
NASCAR first raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in 1994, which was the first race there besides the Indianapolis 500 in 1916. Since then, many different racing series have raced at IMS. As the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the Brickyard 400 after three years off, Chase Briscoe, who grew up in Mitchell, Indiana, faces an emotional weekend.
“It’s going to be emotional for me, I mean full transparency I cry every year just on the ride around deal so with it being on the oval and doing it in the 14 all that it’s going to be definitely, probably emotional,” said Briscoe.
“It’s really special to be back here at home in Indiana. Every race car driver dreams of racing at Indianapolis, but for me, it’s even more special because I grew up here,” he added.
Chase Briscoe eyes playoff spot and #14 legacy
A win this weekend will help Chase Briscoe secure a spot in the 2024 Cup playoffs. It would also be a fitting end to SHR’s legacy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Briscoe has raced at the Brickyard before, twice in the Xfinity Series and won on the road course layout in 2020.
“I didn’t know if I’d ever get a chance to race on the oval. So being able to do it this year means a lot to me,” Briscoe stated.
The #14 car has a special place in NASCAR history. After Stewart retired in 2016, Clint Bowyer took over and won two races in 2018. Chase Briscoe then drove the #14 in 2021 and earned his first win in 2022. Other notable racers like Fonty Flock, Hershel McGriff, and A.J. Foyt, also drove this famed car.
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