Posts

How Bearman's F1 debut will help Mercedes on its Hamilton replacement call

An average speed of 155mph, around 27 corners, all lined with walls. All told, the Jeddah Corniche circuit is “super hard to jump in on”, per triple Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen. Let alone with no testing in a new car, run by the championship’s most storied squad. That’s exactly the situation in which 18-year-old British Formula 2 star Oliver Bearman shone last weekend in Saudi Arabia. He'd been called up by Ferrari after what was originally thought to be food poisoning suffered by regular driver Carlos Sainz turned out to be appendicitis and the Spaniard required surgery. Just two hours before FP3 for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, while he was on his way into the track to line up 10th for Prema Racing having topped F2 qualifying the previous day, Ferrari Academy driver Bearman got the call: Sainz’s SF-24 was his to hustle. Source: https://thefoxposts.com/how-bearman-s-f1-debut-will-help-mercedes-on-its-hamil

Vasseur “optimistic” on Sainz F1 return ahead of decision next week

Image
If Sainz is not able to race Oliver Bearman is once again scheduled to be the Maranello team’s reserve in Melbourne, alongside his F2 duties. Sainz felt unwell in the early part of the Jeddah event and on Friday morning it was confirmed that he had appendicitis and would have to miss the race, giving Bearman a chance to make his sensational F1 debut. Sainz had an operation immediately but still managed to attend Saturday's race, albeit walking with extreme care. He flew back to Europe on Sunday. All efforts are now focused on getting him fit for the next race in Australia. “This I don't know, honestly,” said Vasseur when asked after the Jeddah race about Sainz’s potential return . “The recovery so far is amazing, the fact he was able to come today to be with the team is a very good sign, and a very good support for us. “Now, he will fly back with me tomorrow [Sunday] and he will have one week of complete rest, and we will take a decision on

Red Bull will not "force" Verstappen to stay if he wants to leave F1 team

Image
Verstappen currently has a contract to race with the Milton Keynes-based squad until 2028, but his future has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks off the back of the turmoil at the top of Red Bull. Amid what appears to be a power battle for control of the Red Bull empire and its F1 team, suggestions at the weekend that the company's motorsport advisor Helmut Marko could be force d out prompted some strong words from Verstappen. He suggested that if Marko went, Red Bull would have a "problem" as that could also leave him deciding that he no longer wished to remain at the squad. Speaking in Saudi Arabia, Verstappen said: "I've always clearly indicated that he [Marko] has to stay. I can't continue without him." Verstappen's strong words on the matter were viewed by many as a clear political message to Red Bull's senior management about the consequences of taking action against Marko. The Dutch

Vasseur: Bearman's mistake-free F1 Saudi GP so good it's "unrealistic"

Image
Bearman was called upon just a few hours before FP3 on Friday after it became clear that regular driver Carlos Sainz had appendicitis. Having qualified 11th, the young Brit had a problem-free maiden start and pitstop, and he didn’t put a foot wrong despite Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton threatening him on soft tyres in the closing laps.  He eventually finished seventh, just behind George Russell . Read Also: Formula 1 Leclerc hails "incredible" Bearman after drive to P7 in Saudi F1 GP Vasseur said that while being on the pace so quickly was an achievement, the fact that Bearman avoided mi stake s at a tricky venue such as the Jeddah street circuit was particularly impressive. “I think in this situation – and we've had a couple of times good young drivers into the car, not only at Ferrari, but on the grid – I would say the pace is, I don't want to say easy to have, but it's something they can achieve,” he said. “And the f

Video: The Red Bull machine powers on at the F1 Saudi Arabian GP

While Red Bull remains in the spotlight off the track for different reasons, Verstappen notched up his 56th career F1 win and his 100th podium in total as he comfortably won in Jeddah ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez. Elsewhere Oliver Bearman impressed on his surprise F1 debut as stand-in for Carlos Sainz who was ruled out with appendicitis, while Kevin Magnussen picked up two in-race penalties but was still able to aid Haas team-mate Nico Hulkenberg’s charge to 10th and the team’s first point of the season. Byrn Lucas is joined by Matt Kew and Jonathan Noble as they break down the race result in Jeddah.   Source: https://thefoxposts.com/video-the-red-bull-machine-powers-on-at-the-f1-saudi-arabian-gp-TheFOXposts-53382.html?utm_source=blogger_source&utm_medium=blogger_medium&utm_campaign=blogger_cam Category: F1 News Post by: TheFOXposts.Com

Wolff would “love” to lure Verstappen from Red Bull’s F1 team

Image
While Verstappen has signed a contract at Red Bull that carries him through until 2028, the recent internal turmoil at the Milton Keynes-based squad has opened up the prospect of him potentially walking away. Those chances increased over the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend when, after it emerged there was a possibility that Verstappen ally Helmut Marko could be forced out, the Dutch driver threatened to quit too. Read Also: Formula 1 Wolff makes offer to Marko amid Red Bull F1 future doubts Wolff, whose team is looking for a replacement for Lewis Hamilton for 2025, has been keeping a watching brief over the developments surrounding Verstappen and the Red Bull team. He had already been spotted several times over the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend in talks with Jos Verstappen and driver manager Raymond Vermeulen. Jos Verstappen with Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Photo by: Jon Noble But while eager to get Verstappe

Rating the 2024 F1 Saudi Arabian GP race

Amid turmoil at Red Bull, the double world champion continued where he left off a week ago in Bahrain to lead another 1-2 ahead of Sergio Perez. Charles Leclerc led the charge for Ferrari, finishing third on a weekend where his regular team-mate Carlos Sainz was replaced by Oliver Bearman, who made his F1 debut and finished in seventh place as one of the stars of the race. Our writers give their verdict on the second round of the 2024 season. Better... but that's not saying much : 4/10 - Matt Kew Better than the spectacularly unspectacular benchmark set in the Bahrain opener – at this rate of improvement, we'll be due a proper blockbuster come the European rounds. To truly be thrilled by Formula 1 in its current state, it feels like we must simply make our peace with the fact that Verstappen will very probably lead from the front and drawn-out battles for the lead will be in short supply. Only then can lower-stake fights in the midfield stand

2024 F1 Saudi Arabian GP results: Max Verstappen wins

Image
Verstappen beat his team-mate Sergio Perez, who incurred a penalty during the pitstops that didn’t impact the finishing order, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. 2024 F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix results Cla   Nº   Driver   Car / Engine   Laps   Gap  1  1 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 50 - 2  11 Sergio Pérez Red Bull/Honda RBPT 50 -13.643 3  16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 50 -18.639 4  81 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 50 -32.007 5  14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 50 -35.759 6  63 George Russell Mercedes 50 -39.936 7  38 Ollie Bearman Ferrari 50 -42.679 8  4 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 50 -45.708 9  44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 50 -47.391 10  27 Nico Hülkenberg Haas/Ferrari 50 -1'16.996 11  23 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 50 -1'28.354 12  20 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 50 -1'45.737 13  31 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 49