2024 Formula 1 Preview & Review.

[Fortitude]

Mercedes-AMG Unveils W15 Formula 1 Car Rocking Dual-Tone Silver and Black Like a Champ.
One visible difference between the W15 and its predecessor is the new livery, which helps mark the 90th anniversary of the Silver Arrows.
Published: 14 Feb 2024, 11:11 UTC
Sergiu Tudose
autoevolution

There are two types of No Man’s Land scenarios in Formula 1. The first is when you’re not quite the worst team on the grid, but you’re hardly good enough to keep with the midfield. The other is where Mercedes have been for these past few years – good enough to score podiums, but not to win races.

The German outfit’s weapon of choice for the 2024 F1 season is dubbed the W15 E Performance, and it features a new chassis, new gearbox casing, a more “predictable” rear axle design, and better DRS efficiency. The team worked hard to ensure that the rear axle in particular retains better control of the tires than on the W14.

Still, the magic happens underneath, as explained by technical director James Allison: “With this current generation of cars, so much of the performance comes from how the floor interacts with the road. Whether or not a car is effective is down to how well that floor is permitted to behave aerodynamically.”

‘Mercedes-AMG Unveils W15 Formula 1 Car’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/m...mp-229238.html


Everything that's changed on Mercedes' revamped W15 F1 car
Explaining the changes Mercedes have made to their 2024 F1 car.
14 Feb 2024
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Mercedes have made some sizeable alterations to their long-awaited 2024 F1 car which was presented to the world on Wednesday. Mercedes have redesigned the chassis and gearbox casing on the W15, something that was not possible during the 2023 season due to the constraints of the F1 cost cap.

“A new chassis and a gearbox were standard for every year, pre-cost cap. And there'll be several other teams who have done both things in a single year,” Allison explained. “But the cost cap does force you to pick and choose your battles, and there's no doubt that having a new outer casing as well as at the same time as having a new chassis are two big projects that are going to take a chunk of our available firepower.”

“That is what we have done this year. It does mean that in other parts of the car we have not tried to reinvent the wheel. But it has allowed us to undertake a couple of big projects without breaking the bank and we believe that this is a good and important use of our efforts.”

‘Sizeable alterations’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104422...ped-w15-f1-car


Mercedes unveils W15
The Mercedes Formula 1 team showed its 2024 challenger before testing in Bahrain next week.
FEBRUARY 14, 2024
GrandPrix.com

Team principal Toto Wolff said, “We know we have a mountain to climb to fight at the very front. There are no miracles in this sport. But our ambition and determination are strong. Since charting this new course, development has progressed well. We had several items on our priority list for this car. We will soon see if we've made the step we've aimed for.”

Technical Director James Allison said, “The design of any car is an iterative process. And a long one at that. It stretches back to last year. A new car enables the team to make bigger alterations that are not possible during the season. These are decisions that are taken during the preceding summer.”

We feel like we have had a good winter, but F1 is a relative game and only time will tell how big a step we've made. We're focused on getting the most from the car we launch, but we are excited by the development race that will follow as the regulations are still young and opportunities abound,”

‘Design of any car is an iterative process’;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/merce...veils-w15.html


Wolff: Mercedes has 'mountain to climb' to win again in F1
14 February 11:46AM
Author Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has stated that his squad has a “mountain to climb” in order to return to the front of the Formula 1 grid. Previewing his team's year ahead, Wolff said: “I am excited that we’re about to go racing again and, of course, curious and excited to see how the car will perform. I think we will get an early indication of whether we have solved some of the inherent problems that we had on the chassis side last year. We have a mountain to climb to get to the front of the field, but we are focused on doing so.”

While it hopes to maintain its position over its rivals, Wolff highlighted his desire to close the gap to Red Bull following its dominant campaign last season. “Formula 1 is a constant relative competition against the other teams,” he said. “You can have a great car, but if you're running around in circles alone, you will never know if it’s the best.”

“We were in a tough fight last season with Ferrari and McLaren, at times Aston Martin, with a big gap between Red Bull and the rest. I would hope we are in the chasing pack at the beginning of the season and hopefully a step closer to Red Bull.”

'Mountain to climb';

https://racingnews365.com/wolff-merc...in-again-in-f1


Mercedes unveil eagerly-anticipated, overhauled W15 F1 car
Mercedes' eagerly-anticipated W15 challenger has been launched ahead of the new F1 season.
14 Feb 2024
Lewis Larkam

Mercedes have revealed their eagerly-anticipated 2024 F1 challenger, the W15. The W15 - which will be driven by Lewis Hamilton and George Russell - represents a drastic change to its predecessor, the W14, which was effectively an evolution of Mercedes’ troubled 2022 machine.

"The design of any car is an iterative process. And a long one at that," Mercedes technical director James Allison explained. "It stretches back to last year. A new car enables the team to make bigger alterations that are not possible during the season. These are decisions that are taken during the preceding summer.”

Hamilton and Russell will shakedown the new W15 today at Silverstone. Whether the changes will be enough to bring Mercedes on a level par with Red Bull, who have dominated the last two F1 campaigns, remains to be seen.

‘Eagerly-anticipated, overhauled W15 F1 car’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104421...led-w15-f1-car

[Fortitude]

Gary Anderson's verdict on 2024 McLaren and its 'surprise' change.
For McLaren, the 2024 Formula 1 season is about keeping the momentum from 2023 - when it properly joined the battle to be best of the rest behind Red Bull.
Feb 14, 2024
by Gary Anderson
The Race

Front wing: It is a bolt-on unit, so it is an area which you might leave to develop once you see what the others have come up with.
Sidepod inlet: McLaren has gone off at a tangent to all the other cars we’ve seen so far this year by switching from a Red Bull ‘duckbill’-style inlet - also a McLaren development in 2023 - to a more forward-facing inlet

Floor edge: There are just small changes to the floor edge detail. The side view body profile is again very similar to last season.
Rear suspension: Rear suspension-wise, the layout is similar to last year. McLaren has retained the pushrod system.

Conclusion: No real pictures of the rear of the car for me to get my teeth into, but from what I can see aerodynamically, other than the radiator inlet change which I would question, it is all fairly similar to what McLaren finished with last season. McLaren will obviously focus on the aerodynamics with development updates as the team learns more about how the car responds on track to these changes, but that means starting the season on a steep learning and development curve and catching up as the season unfolds.

‘Gary Anderson's verdict’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/g...8-2024-f1-car/


McLaren boss Zak Brown sets ambitious target as they launch their 2024 challenger... with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri hoping to build on a strong end to last season
McLaren took eight podium finishes last season but failed to win a race
They are hopeful of picking up their first win since 2021 in the upcoming season
Published: 13:38, 14 February 2024
By Press Association Sport Staff
Mail Online

McLaren's car for the 2024 season made its track debut at a soggy Silverstone on Wednesday with team chief executive Zak Brown setting out a target of wins as well as podiums. 'We feel good, it's been a good winter. We're happy with the development,' Brown told Sky Sports after they launched their car. 'It feels like we've continued on our development pace from where we were in the second half of last year.

'So as long as the data is accurate I think we should start pretty strong. Of course you never know what the competition is doing but we definitely feel we've taken a step forward. I think I'd say ambition versus expect because you ultimately don't know what the competition has done and no-one's standing still,' Brown said when asked what he expected from the team.

'Our hopes, our goals, our ambition is definitely to take a step forward. We finished fourth in the championship last year but in the second half of the year we were the second or third quickest team. So our ambition is to move forward from there. We see no reason why... we can't be winning races at some point over the year. So lots of podiums and some wins or certainly the ambition.'

‘Zak Brown sets ambitious target’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...nd-season.html


The new directions McLaren has found with its evolutionary MCL38
14th February 2024, 12:42
AUTHORMatt Somerfield
Motorsport.com

McLaren surged up Formula 1's pecking order last year as multiple large-scale update packages helped rejuvenate a launch car that had proved to be a disappointment.

But, having placed so much emphasis on improvements last year, has McLaren reached the limit of its gains or is there still plenty of potential left in its package?

"There are a number of innovations on the car, but not all the areas we want to address have been completed for our launch-spec car," Andrea Stella said. "Those areas now become the focus of our in-season development, which is already in progress."

‘The new directions’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/t...cl38/10575734/


McLaren targeting wins as well as podiums, says Brown
Updated: Feb 14, 2024, 06:32 PM
The Straits Times

McLaren's new MCL38 Formula One car made its track debut at a soggy Silverstone on Wednesday with team chief executive Zak Brown setting out a target of wins as well as podiums this season.

"We feel good, it's been a good winter. We're happy with the development," Brown told Sky Sports television. "It feels like we've continued on our development pace from where we were in the second half of last year.”

"We see no reason why... we can't be winning races at some point over the year. So lots of podiums and some wins or certainly the ambition."

‘McLaren targeting wins’;

https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...ums-says-brown


McLaren Debuts New MCL38 F1 Car, a Papaya Orange Red Bull Hunter Meant for Greatness
Published: 14 Feb 2024, 12:27 UTC
By: Sergiu Tudose
autoevolution

McLaren has just unveiled the MCL38, the team’s brand-new challenger for the upcoming 2024 FIA Formula 1 Championship. Much like its predecessor, the MCL38 is predominantly Papaya Orange, with heavy black (or anthracite) accents.

Back to the MCL38, the new car looks like an evolution of the MCL37, and we’re 100% certain that these launch images don’t represent the final specification. We do see some sidepod trickery going on, while the floor, as seen here, is most certainly generic. “Before we hit the track for competitive sessions, we have a lot of work to do, including putting the MCL38 through its paces during the Bahrain pre-season test,” said team principal Andrea Stella.

“The team has done a good job over the winter, and we are confident we can hit the ground running, but we know we have important tasks at hand before the season starts. There are a number of innovations on the car, but not all the areas we want to address have been completed for our launch-spec car. Those areas now become the focus of our in-season development, which is already in progress.”
It’s precisely those innovations that seem difficult to spot, but we should get a closer look once the MCL38 hits the track at Silverstone later today for a short run.

‘Some sidepod trickery going on’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/m...ss-229243.html


McLaren offer first glimpse of MCL38 on track
14 February 4:31PM
RacingNews365

McLaren has offered the first glimpse of its MCL38 heading out to track ahead of the 2024 Formula 1 season. The team took part in a shakedown at Silverstone where Lando Norris drove the car around the National Loop section. Team Principal Andrea Stella insisted that there remains "a lot of work to do" ahead of the opening race of the season after the launch of the MCL38.

‘First glimpse of MCL38’;

https://racingnews365.com/mclaren-of...mcl38-on-track


Lando Norris sets bold McLaren target for F1 2024 after first MCL38 laps
14 Feb 2024 3:47 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

While battling Red Bull straight out of the blocks in F1 2024 may be a stretch, Lando Norris has targeted keeping pace with Mercedes and Ferrari after his first laps at the wheel of the McLaren MCL38. Following the launch of McLaren’s F1 2024 car, Norris got the opportunity to put it through its initial paces in a shakedown run at Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix.

Speaking to the official Formula 1 website after the MCL38 shakedown, where a maximum of 200km of running was permitted, Norris said McLaren are coming into the F1 2024 campaign “prepared as we should be” for “the first time in a while” as he set out a bold yet realistic starting point.

“Compared to the last few years, I think we’re in a much better position,” said Norris. “So good for myself, good for the whole team, just for the confidence, the motivation for everyone. You never want to go into a season not expecting to kind of do well, and I think for the first time in a while we’re coming in here just prepared as we should be as a Formula 1 team.”

‘Bold McLaren target for F1 2024’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-...cl38-shakedown

[Fortitude]

Red Bull F1 2024 Season Launch.
Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 team unveils their 2024 Formula 1 World Championship challenger, the RB20.
20:30 Wed, 14 Feb 2024
Motorsport.com

Join defending triple World Champion, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez from the Red Bull Technology Campus in Milton Keynes.

‘RB20’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/video/...launch/646762/


Max Verstappen's Red Bull claim appears correct as 'new car' spotted for first time.
Max Verstappen is building up to the new F1 season, in which the Dutchman looking to win his fourth successive championship, with the star being given the chance to drive his new car on Tuesday.
• 17:19, 13 Feb 2024
By Jacob Leeks Sports Reporter
The Mirror

Max Verstappen's tip about the livery of Red Bull 's car for the 2024 season appears to have been proven correct. The new car, named the RB20, has been pictured on track at Silverstone as the team gears up for its official launch on Thursday. Verstappen and team-mate Perez were able to give the new challenger a shakedown on Tuesday to get some lap-time before the launch.

Those pictures show the RB20 looks strikingly similar to the team's previous dominant car. That will come as little surprise to Verstappen, who had told fans during a live stream: “Oh yeah, it’s going to look exactly the same.” One of his friends responded: “Well no, everyone else who has already released their car doesn’t have any paint on their car, just carbon.” But Verstappen reiterated his claims, stating with a chuckle: “Yeah I tell you, it’s going to look exactly the same."

‘'New car' spotted’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...l-car-32117347


Can anyone in F1 catch Red Bull in 2024?
Feb 14, 2024, 09:14 AM ET
Laurence Edmondson, F1 Editor
ESPN.com

How do you beat a team like Red Bull? That's the question facing Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin this season, and the one Formula One desperately hopes will be answered in order to inject some excitement back into its championship after two dominant championship victories for Max Verstappen.

Red Bull won 21 of 22 races in 2023, and in Verstappen's hands the all-conquering RB19 rarely looked under threat. Based on the results of the past two seasons, the current set of technical regulations, which were introduced in 2022 and will run until the end of 2025, appear to belong to Red Bull, just as the previous sets dating to 2014 belonged to Mercedes and the early 2000s belonged to Ferrari.

There is hope for Red Bull's rivals… It might sound like wishful thinking given that Red Bull shifted its focus from 2023 to 2024 relatively early in its campaign last season in order to focus on another big step this year, but some rival engineers believe the law of diminishing returns could apply to Red Bull's progress. If they're right, development of this year's RB20 could plateau while those behind are still making big gains.

‘Wishful thinking’;

https://www.espn.com/racing/story/_/...-red-bull-2024


Max Verstappen hits the track at Silverstone with RB20 ahead of Red Bull launch
13 Feb 2024 11:46
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

Red Bull hit the track for a shakedown filming day at Silverstone on Tuesday, ahead of the launch of the new RB20. The eagerly awaited Red Bull RB20, the successor to RB19 – F1’s most dominant car ever – will be unveiled at a special launch ceremony at Milton Keynes on Thursday, February 15th, with PlanetF1.com in attendance.

Ahead of that launch, Red Bull has headed to Silverstone to carry out a filming day shakedown of the new car which, for this year, allows teams to carry out 200 kilometres of driving with the latest spec F1 cars in order to carry out filming and promotional work.

The cars must be fitted with special Pirelli tyres which prevent the teams from being able to exploit the filming day for any sort of performance learning, with the only advantage of running such shakedowns being able to ensure the car is firing up and all systems are communicating properly.

‘RB20 hits the track at Silverstone’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/red-bu...-1-silverstone


Max Verstappen’s Biggest Challengers for the 2024 F1 Season
10:23 Wed, 14 Feb 2024.
Toby Reynolds, Emile Nuh
Sports Gazette

On this podcast, Toby is joined by the Sports Gazette’s Motorsport Editor, Emile Nuh, to discuss the upcoming 2024 F1 season and who Max Verstappen’s biggest challengers could be.

Together they look at Mercedes’ chances at getting close to Red Bull in Lewis Hamilton’s last season, whether Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have what it takes to become World Champions and if McLaren can continue their upward trajectory from last season, as well as some predictions for the season ahead.

‘Max Verstappen’s Biggest Challengers’;

https://sportsgazette.co.uk/9-max-ve...son-emile-nuh/

[Fortitude]

Carlos Sainz to Audi? “They’re years away, I see him on the phone to Toto Wolff”.
“The reality is, I can see him going to Aston Martin. I can see him on the phone to Toto. He wants to be winning now, he’s in his 30s, he can’t wait for years for Audi to get there.” Karun Chandhok
11 Feb 2024
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net

“…this isn’t a sport about making friends.” Karun Chandhok. “Ultimately Carlos has been booted out of one of the top three cars on the grid. A car that gave him victory at the Singapore Grand Prix. That’s bad news.”

“Audi? They are not going to arrive and be at the front of the grid. It’s years away. Everyone is connecting him to Audi because of the connection with his dad.”

Martin Brundle added: “I’m a big fan of his, Carlos Jr. I think he’s got the tenacity of his dad. I don’t think he’s got the speed of Leclerc, but he’s always there at the end of a grand prix. He’s very smart. The way he won in Singapore was outstanding. He’d be a great catch for Aston Martin or for Mercedes. He’s got to be on their list.”

“On the phone to Toto Wolff”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104414...one-toto-wolff


Sainz’s options for 2025 are open following Hamilton joining Ferrari.
But where does Sainz go moving forward? According to Formula 1 journalist, Lawrence Barretto, many teams have shown interest in Sainz.
21:03 Sat, 10 Feb 2024.
Alejandra Guajardo Lozano
FormulaNerds

Mercedes: First up, Mercedes. A straight swap between the two teams would probably be the best option for Sainz. A seat in a team that dominated between 2014 and 2020 is a clear top spot for the Spaniard.
Aston Martin: Aston Martin have been a team with a vision for the future. The Silverstone-based outfit gave us a demonstration of their determination in the 2023 season, where they finished fifth with 280 points. This is a significant improvement from 2022, where Aston Martin just managed to score 55 points and get seventh place.

Sauber: Currently undergoing a rename, the team has bigger plans ahead. The 2026 season will see Sauber transform into Audi. The Spanish driver has been a strong contender for a seat on this team. Many rumours sparked on this topic, with Carlos Sainz Sr., who recently won Dakar with Audi, even speaking on the matter.
Red Bull: Sergio Perez was voted as most likely to defeat Verstappen, his teammate, at the start of the season. This hope disappeared when Max went on to win the next 17/18 races, leaving Perez winless and struggling. With the Mexican’s contract ending in 2024, the team might look for options to replace him.

‘Sainz’s options’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/sa...ining-ferrari/


Carlos Sainz had time to ‘digest’ Lewis Hamilton news
February 13, 2024 12:21 PM
Field Level Media
The Wichita Eagle, Kansas City

Carlos Sainz acknowledged he was surprised to learn that Lewis Hamilton will be taking his seat in 2025, but the Spaniard said he was aware of the move ahead of Ferrari's announcement on Feb. 1.

"Everyone was surprised in a way with what happened and from my side, I got to know the news a bit earlier than everyone else," Sainz told reporters at Ferrari's launch of its SF-24 car on Tuesday. "It's true that I have had some weeks to reflect, to prepare and also get ready for the car launch and the first race of the season.”

"So it gives you a bit of time to digest it, to take your own conclusions and to focus on the 2024 season and the race ahead. But the fact it was a surprise to the whole F1 world is no news and it was obviously also for me. There's plenty of options out there and there is time to take an important decision in the next few months," he said.

‘Time to ‘digest’’;

https://www.kansas.com/sports/nascar...mainstage_card


There are plenty of options, says Sainz
14/02/2024
NEWS STORY
Pitpass

Asked about the future, having been strongly linked with Audi, he said: "My next team I don't know yet, and I have a bit of time now to decide where that will happen. There's plenty of options out there and it's time to take an important decision in the next few months. As much as I said I wanted to get my future sorted before the first race, now the scenario has changed quite a bit as you can imagine," he admitted. "It is going to be probably a longer process ahead of me.”

"Probably my most important three or four years of my career," he continued, "where I want to make sure I'm in the right place at the right time. I want to make sure I pick the right next destination for me so I want to take my time to think about it, to listen to all the options, have a look at all the options. Then I can just feel calm that when I take the decision I have given myself enough time with enough information.”

"Having said that, it is impossible to separate one thing from the other. I have a good management team that also will take care of that so my focus always will be Bahrain this year and I'm going to start the year as strong as I can, putting all my effort into being quick straight from the go. The other thing will sort itself out as time goes by.”

“I want to make sure I'm in the right place at the right time”;

https://www.pitpass.com/76996/There-...ons-says-Sainz


Sainz says he has 'plenty of options' when he leaves Ferrari in 2025
Published: 16:12, 13 February 2024
By Associated Press
Mail Online

MARANELLO, Italy (AP) - Carlos Sainz Jr. believes he has "plenty of options" in Formula 1 next year when he leaves Ferrari to make way for Lewis Hamilton, the Spaniard said Tuesday.

"There's plenty of options out there" for 2025, Sainz said as Ferrari launched its 2024 car Tuesday, adding he had some advance notice that Hamilton was taking his Ferrari seat but was surprised all the same.” Sainz said he plans to take his time before signing for any other team.

'Plenty of options';

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap...rari-2025.html


Does Sainz have anything left to prove in his final Ferrari year?
13 February 2:54PM
Author Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

Sainz's value: Sainz’s performances over the last number of years have placed a solid reputation on his head. Last year, he ranked sixth on RacingNews365’s end-of-season driver rankings. Consistent point-scoring form and using his machinery to the best of his abilities kept his stock high and ultimately landed him a spot at F1's most lucrative team.

Sainz's strategic calls and interventions over the radio also showcase his maturity and understanding of a race situation, even amid the pressure to perform. That performance level should be enough to attract several teams to the possibility of adding him to their arsenal, and there will likely be no shortage of suitors chasing his signature. But where could he end up?

An obvious candidate is Mercedes, who is looking to resurge itself back to title contention following two years of disappointment. A direct swap between Hamilton and Sainz would be a solid landing spot for Sainz, but Mercedes may have other ideas over who it wishes to fit into the drive… Whatever fate befalls Sainz, there will be no shortage of interest for a driver that has long proven his worth in F1.

‘Solid reputation on his head’;

https://racingnews365.com/does-sainz...l-ferrari-year

[Fortitude]

EXCLUSIVE: Red Bull’s Pierre Wache on the team’s 2024 – ‘We didn't do an amazing job last year’.
In his role as Technical Director of Red Bull Racing, last year saw Pierre Wache oversee the most dominant season in the history of Formula 1. But the Frenchman believes there’s still more to come from his team in 2024…
Greg Stuart
Senior Editor
Formula One - Official Site

All of that success makes what Wache says, when asked about the success of Red Bull in 2023, all the more surprising. “We did a good job – but we didn't do an amazing job,” says the Frenchman, with no hint of irony.

“I think we identified multiple weaknesses in [RB]18” – Red Bull’s previously-dominant car in 2022 – “and we pushed for [the RB19] to solve them. We didn't solve all of them, but fortunately the team were able to reduce the weaknesses we had and be able to deliver on track.”

“The strength of our car is also the weakness of the competitors, because I'm not sure we expected to be alone there,” he chuckles. “What I mean is, when you look at the lap time and the behaviour compared to [2022], some people went backwards more than forwards.

‘He chuckles’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...KEufyUQr1.html


The big question mark hanging over Red Bull in 2024
15 February 1:00PM
Author Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

There are three important factors when it comes to determining how successful a Formula 1 team will be in the coming season. One, and perhaps the most important, is the car itself. Have you been able to find improvements here and enhance performance there to keep yourself ahead of the competition, especially coming off the back of a season where you won 21 of 22 races, got 860 points and left the rest scatching their heads about what to do next?

For Red Bull heading into 2024, it has two of the three ticked off and will be of no concern. Given the pace advantage it held in 2023, Red Bull's rivals will not be able to make up all of it in one winter. Chunks can certainly be taken out of the advantage, but closing the chasm in one go would need a miracle from Mercedes, Ferrari or McLaren and an implosion of a scale rarely seen by Red Bull. As for the drivers, one of them has just come off the most dominant campaign by any driver in history with 19 wins, 575 points and 1,003 laps led.

Like Rubens Barrichello, Mark Webber and Valtteri Bottas before him, Perez is realising that in a straight fight, he is not going to beat the all-time great across the garage over the course of a season. That is not what Red Bull need him to do. Perez's job is to simply be the number two, finish on the podium and hoover up when the car or Verstappen fail. F1 is now in the Verstappen-era, and Perez will not be the driver to break the now three-time World Champion, and the vultures are circling to grab the most prized (and poisoned) seat in F1, alongside Verstappen. The seat at Red Bull is Perez's to lose, and to retain it, he must win the battle with himself by losing the war.

‘Big question mark’;

https://racingnews365.com/the-big-qu...d-bull-in-2024


Marko worried about F1 rival discovering special trick
FEBRUARY 15, 2024
GrandPrix.com

Dr Helmut Marko admits it's possible one of Red Bull's closest rivals could beat the dominant Formula 1 team this year with a "special trick".

Insiders believe Mercedes has discovered a loophole so that the uppermost flap of the front wing is technically connected to the nose - with a single, thin carbon wire. Wolff, however, doubts Red Bull can be caught and overtaken with just a single year-on-year introduction of a new car. “There are no miracles in sport”, he said.

However, Red Bull's Marko is wary. “What we can say now is that our new car is an evolution of last year's car, and we had the best package”, the energy drink brand's top F1 consultant told Osterreich newspaper. “If we eliminate the few weak points, not much should go wrong. But who knows - maybe a competitor has found a special trick during development”, Marko added.

‘Special trick’;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/marko...ial-trick.html


Wolff: No ‘crystal ball’ for Mercedes timeline to beat Red Bull
15/02/2024 at 10:24
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

The launch of Mercedes’ 2024 contender has created a buzz within the Brackley squad, but team boss Toto Wolff admits he lacks a "crystal ball" to predict when they can dethrone reigning champions Red Bull. Mercedes unveiled its heavily revised W15 design on Wednesday at Silverstone, a static launch that was followed by shakedown runs at the track for George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

"There are no miracles in the sport. On the other hand, our ambition is strong. It is Red Bull and a very successful car that are the benchmark we are aiming to beat. I do not know when that will happen, we do not have any crystal ball. But we will know soon enough how far ahead they are and the task in front of us."

‘Red Bull and a very successful car that are the benchmark we are aiming to beat’;

https://f1i.com/news/499566-no-cryst...l-unclear.html


Should Red Bull be worried yet? Our verdict on 2024 rivals
Feb 15, 2024
The Race

“Ferrari's lack of ambition won't worry Red Bull” Mark Hughes.
“Ferrari might be missing a trick” Scott Mitchell-Malm.
“Mercedes' aggressive changes have potential” Mark Hughes.
“... but Mercedes isn't getting ahead of itself” Matt Beer.

“McLaren gives rivals reasons to fear it” Scott Mitchell-Malm.
“McLaren has all the right ingredients” Matt Beer.
“No free pass will hurt Aston Martin” Ben Anderson.

“This time it might keep up” Josh Suttill.
“RB won't worry Red Bull - but might nip at rivals” Scott Mitchell-Malm.
“Red Bull isn't standing still...” Gary Anderson.

‘Our verdict on 2024 rivals’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/r...in-mclaren-rb/


2024 Red Bull F1 car launch: live stream the RB20 reveal at 7.30pm
February 15th 2024
Motor Sport Magazine

Live stream Red Bull's 2024 F1 car launch this evening. Watch the reveal at 7.30pm here, plus driver line-up and key personnel

‘Red Bull 2024 F1 car live stream;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#

[Fortitude]

Video: The car that should scare Red Bull's F1 rivals.
Secrecy and innovation have been cornerstones of Red Bull's approach to the Formula 1 pre-season schedule since the start of the ground effect era in 2022.
Feb 15, 2024
The Race

That made a full-scale launch of the bona fide 2024 Red Bull, and the fact it emerged with ideas that look similar to the ones now abandoned by Mercedes, hugely surprising. Such a shift in concept caught even its drivers off-guard, so is this just the start of rival teams' realisations that their fears about RB20 were well founded?

Our video looks at what's new on the car for 2024 and why it was such a handy time for Red Bull to buck its trend of not showing a real car given the RB20's striking details helped prevent the launch from being overrun by the controversy surrounding team principal Christian Horner.

‘The car that should scare Red Bull's F1 rivals’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/s...are-f1-rivals/


Red Bull launch 'brave' and 'innovative' RB20 for 2024 season
Feb 15, 2024, 08:00 PM
Laurence Edmondson, F1 Editor
ESPN.co.uk

Red Bull says it has "pushed the boundaries" with the design of its new Formula One car, the RB20, as it prepares to defend its position as the dominant force in Formula One for a third year running. Red Bull design chief Adrian Newey insisted the new car is an evolution of last year's RB19, but a number of visual design changes -- including a couple of features reminiscent of last year's Mercedes -- suggest the team is still finding significant gains in its wind tunnel.

"We can see rival cars have been influenced by RB19, and we're expecting other teams to converge," Horner said. "I think the team have done a wonderful job on RB20, they haven't sat on their laurels and you can see that they've pushed the boundaries with the car. We'll only see when we get on track what the relative pecking order is for the start of the season.”

"There's some great innovation on the car as well which will no doubt get scrutinized over the coming weeks. Creativity has been strong in the team and you can see that in some of the solutions that they've come up with. It's not a conservative evolution, there's some great innovation on this car."

'Brave and innovative RB20’;

https://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id...rmula-1-season


Red Bull's RB20 - F1's "Brave" New Benchmark?
22:06 Thu, 15 Feb 2024.
Motorsport.com

Red Bull has finally unveiled their 2024 challenger, the RB20, closing out F1's launch season. Given their 2023 domination, the RB20 is set to be F1's benchmarker, but has Red Bull developed their car enough to fight off fresh competition? Can Max Verstappen continue his crushing momentum? And does Sergio Perez need to prove himself in 2024? Steph Wentworth chats with Alex Kalinauckas live at Red Bull's factory, as well as Jake Boxall-Legge, to discuss whether the RB20 really can be F1's next top car.

‘F1's "Brave" New Benchmark’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/video/...chmark/646832/


F1 Podcast: Our take on Red Bull launch and design surprise
Feb 15, 2024
The Race

The latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast is brought to you from the Red Bull RB20 2024 Formula 1 car launch in Milton Keynes.

In the first part of the podcast, Edd Straw is joined by special guest and Dutch TV commentator Nelson Valkenburg. He offers a view from the Netherlands about the launch of Max Verstappen's new car…

We then hear from Gary Anderson, a long time ago technical director of this team in its earlier guises as Stewart and Jaguar, who takes a close look at a car that has surprised him. Finally, Mark Hughes gives his take on the event and the direction Red Bull has gone in with the car.

‘Our take on Red Bull launch’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/r...-rb20-podcast/


MAX: 'THE RB20 LOOKS GOOD, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT NEEDS TO BE QUICK'
Published on 15 February 2024
by Niels Hendrix
Verstappen.nl

Max: “The RB20 looks good, but at the end of the day it needs to be quick” Looking at his brand new car, the Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20, which Max Verstappen will race in 2024, the three-time Formula 1 world champion says: “It\'s always exciting to launch a new car and see the work everyone has put into it. It\'s a good day.”

Max continues: “I\'m excited to get back in the car to find out how competitive our car is this year. We of course had an incredible year last year. We won so many races and broke quite a few records along the way. It will be hard to achieve something similar, but that is not entirely the goal. Of course we want to win races and win the championship, but that doesn\'t necessarily mean breaking records.”

Max realizes that he is in a special environment: “I am entering my tenth year as a Red Bull driver and for me it is like a second family. I grew up here at Red Bull and I am excited for the future, what we can achieve together.” Verstappen is not yet making any predictions: “The RB20 looks good, but at the end of the day it needs to be quick. That’s what we have all been working on.”

'THE RB20 LOOKS GOOD’;

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5366/


Verstappen hails “aggressive” new RB20 as Red Bull mimics Mercedes
Formula 1
Posted on 15th February 2024, 20:10
Written by Keith Collantine
RaceFans

“I’m happy with the direction they chose,” Verstappen told media including RaceFans at the launch. “I saw the drawings at Abu Dhabi, at the last race, and I was like, wow, that’s quite different in a way. They’ve not been conservative, let’s say like that.” Verstappen said Red Bull’s ambitious approach is “what I like about the team.”

“We had a great package, but they took the chance to be innovative and go all out, I would say, and try to make it better. Of course, time will tell if it’s really, really good. But from what I see within the team, everyone is just happy with what they have achieved in the wind tunnel. But then again, we don’t know. You can’t control what the other people do.”

He does not believe the team has taken a risk with its design changes. “I think it’s controlled aggressiveness,” said Verstappen. “Everyone is just happy, it doesn’t seem like it’s a question mark, like they’re not entirely sure.” The reshaped engine cover on the RB20, which resembles the design used by Mercedes last year, is one distinctive feature of the new car. “I would still call it a Red Bull style,” said Verstappen.

“I’m happy with the direction they chose”;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/02/15/...mics-mercedes/


Red Bull round out launch season with the RB20
15th February 2024
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy

While the livery continues in the usual Red Bull colour scheme, the RB20 design has changed from last year’s incredibly dominant RB19. Instead of continuing with what had brought a phenomenal amount of success – 21 of last year’s 22 rounds were won by Red Bull – Adrian Newey, the Chief Technical Officer, and his design team haven’t rested on their laurels.

“You have to keep pushing,” Newey said. “We’ve made some improvements to the car in all areas: mechanical, vehicle dynamics and aerodynamics. Is that enough? Who knows? We still have to see.” The team’s Technical Director, Pierre Waché, added: “We just try to identify where we can gain performance on the car. Try to also understand the weakness for the driver. And after that just an evolution of what we did in the previous year.”

Perez believes that the dramatic change in concept, moving from a known dominant car to an unknown, is a “brave” move from the team and shows their hunger to keep pushing boundaries. “You can see that the team has done an incredible job,” Perez said. “We’ve gone very aggressive with the concept, so I’m looking forward to it. I think it just shows the hunger in this team, we had such a dominant car last year you wouldn’t imagine us changing the concept so much. I think it’s really brave from Red Bull to do that.”

‘ “You have to keep pushing,” Newey said’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/red-bull-r...the-rb20-83962

[Fortitude]

TECH ANALYSIS: Why Red Bull’s aggressive RB20 is likely to have alarmed their F1 rivals.
Anyone expecting Red Bull to have made relatively few changes to the car, which last year broke all records of success in F1 history, should have known better. The RB20 is a very aggressive looking upgrade, one which departs from the bodywork trends the team initiated back in 2022.
Mark Hughes
Special Contributor
Formula One - Official Site

Just as everyone has converged towards what Red Bull came up with in the first year of these regulations, so Red Bull has taken what appears to be a big evolutionary step. The most distinctive part of all in a design which seems to have minimised surface area all round is the upright radiator inlet which sits tight inboard and running to the bottom of the chassis.

In addition to the changes to the cooling layout, the re-siting and miniaturisation of the radiators has also allowed the rear upper bodywork to be very short, ramping down at a sharp angle, creating lots of volume ahead of the rear wing. That short length is matched by the sidepod, creating more volume there to enhance airflow around the diffuser.

This radical reworking of the upper bodywork are all in service to maximising the performance of the component we cannot see – the underfloor. With a more powerful airflow around the sidepods and along the floor edges, the geometry of the venturi tunnels will have been re-optimised – something which will surely strike dread in the opposition ahead of the season.

‘RB20 is likely to have alarmed their F1 rivals’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...IW1JkheZS.html


WATCH: Revealing the secrets of the upgraded Red Bull F1 car
16 February 11:30AM
Author RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Red Bull launched a new-look Formula 1 car earlier this week as it goes in the hunt for another year of championship success. Max Verstappen expressed his surprise over the car's direction and praised Red Bull for not being conservative with its approach.

The car will no doubt be heavily scrutinised by rival teams when it hits the track at pre-season testing next week. Below, you can see our initial analysis of the RB20.

‘Revealing the secrets’;

https://racingnews365.com/watch-reve...ed-bull-f1-car


MPH: New F1 cars resemble old Red Bull, but Newey's changed the game again
February 16th 2024
Author: Mark Hughes
Motor Sport Magazine

Just as the other teams were converging towards the sort of car which Red Bull produced two years ago and developed last year, the Milton Keynes outfit itself then appeared to move the game on, with an RB20 that redrew the lines. Ironically some of those lines bear a certain similarity to the original Mercedes reaction to these regulations but which Mercedes itself has now abandoned. However, the car around the similar vertical radiator inlet and high cooling shoulders is very different.

[Explanations of other team launches…] Then the RB20 happened. The suspension was much the same. But virtually nothing else was. A slim vertical radiator inlet, sited low and hugging the chassis sides, exposed a simply enormous undercut for the front of the sidepod. That sidepod itself was way smaller than before and the whole rear bodywork of the car stopped very short, revealing lots of volume for the airflows to the rear wing and diffuser to exploit. How had this been possible?

Where could the radiators be housed within such a small area? The coolers previously higher up around the centreline have been miniaturised and incredibly intricately shaped so as to be moved down – and that has seemingly opened up a whole new window of airflow-enhancing body design, enabling the underfloor to do even more powerful magic. That’s the theory anyhow. Testing in Bahrain begins next week and we’ll see if this storyline has a further twist in the tale.

‘Then the RB20 happened’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#


Red Bull Unveils Shocking New RB20 F1 Car With 2023 Mercedes-AMG Design Elements
Published: 16 Feb 2024, 08:44 UTC
By: Sergiu Tudose
autoevolution

Red Bull Racing just unveiled its all-new Formula 1 car for the 2024 season, and to everyone’s shock and amazement, the so-called RB20 appears to feature a couple of design ideas that ended up being discarded by Mercedes-AMG last year.

We’re just as shocked as you are, frankly. Look at those long cooling gulleys that run backwards from the halo over the entire lengths of the engine cover. It’s pretty much the same design used by Mercedes on the W14 last year – the German outfit kept this look even after abandoning their ‘zeropod’ sidepod design.

This isn’t the only similarity between the RB20 and one of the Mercedes cars, because the former also comes with a vertical sidepod radiator inlet, kind of like what we saw on the old W13 – back when Mercedes first introduced their ‘zeropod’ design. What on Earth should we make of this? This design philosophy clearly didn’t work for Mercedes, so will it work for Red Bull? Are they that confident? Perhaps.

‘We’re just as shocked as you are’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/r...ts-229334.html


Unpicking the secrets of Red Bull’s brave new F1 sidepods
Red Bull is Formula 1’s trendsetter going into 2024 as rivals looked to emulate its design, but it’s moved the game on yet again.
UPDATEDFEB 16, 2024, 12:40 PM
AUTHOR: Matt Somerfield
Motorsport.com

Rival teams have been offering up their own renditions of the underbite inlet and undercut solution that Red Bull has developed over the last two seasons.

But Red Bull has ditched the underbite on the RB20 and has an overbite arrangement instead, with that high panel now forming an extension for the sidepod’s upper surface, while the inlet finds its home down below, married to a very generous undercut.

“What inlet?” you might ask, and you’d be right to do so, as the renders released by the team are devoid of one. But based on the images seen of the RB20 being shaken down at Silverstone it could just be made out that there was a vertical inlet beside the chassis.

‘Unpicking the secrets’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/r...gain/10576379/


Verstappen: New RB20 designed with ‘controlled aggressiveness'
16/02/2024 at 08:12
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Reigning F1 world champion Max Verstappen commended Red Bull’s engineers for designing the team's 2024 RB20 with a measure of “controlled aggressiveness”. While claiming that its new contender is an evolution of last year’s RB19, Red Bull have opted for several bold design choices, the team even daring to move away from several significant trends it initiated under F1’s ground effect rules and which its rivals are only starting to embrace.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner pointed to RB20 incorporating some “absolutely exquisite detail”. “There’s some great innovation in the car as well and it will no doubt get scrutinised over the coming weeks," Horner said. "Creativity has been strong in the team and you can see that in some of the solutions that they’ve come up with. It’s not a conservative evolution.”

‘Controlled aggressiveness';

https://f1i.com/news/499621-verstapp...ssiveness.html


Red Bull insists it isn't baiting with Mercedes-style RB20 solutions
Red Bull says its shift towards Mercedes-style solutions on its new RB20 Formula 1 car was not to stir the pot with its rival, but purely about chasing more performance.
UPDATEDFEB 16, 2024, 12:55 PM
AUTHORJonathan Noble
Motorsport.com

The Milton Keynes-based squad raised some eyebrows at the unveiling of its 2024 F1 challenger on Thursday night as it emerged with several concepts that Mercedes has previously used and abandoned.

This includes the full-length engine gulleys that are reminiscent of the 2023 Mercedes, plus an extreme version of sidepods that is not totally removed from the zero-pod concept that its German manufacturer competitor raced before abandoning.

Horner said that while the car did have some evolutionary aspects from its 2023 challenge, a lot of big changes had been made. "I think there's great innovation on the car as well that no doubt will be scrutinised over the coming couple of weeks," he said. "I think creativity has been strong in the team. You can see that in some of the solutions that they've come up with. So, it's not a conservative evolution. There's some great innovation."

‘RB20 Formula 1 car raised some eyebrows’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/r...ical/10576271/

[Fortitude]

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell "confrontation" likely as two F1 champions agree.
Lewis Hamilton is set to leave Mercedes for Ferrari next year and both Jacques Villeneuve and Jenson Button believe his impending switch could cause problems this season.
• 09:37, 13 Feb 2024
By Matthew Cooper Sports Writer
The Mirror

Villeneuve, who won the world title in 1997, believes "there is something wrong" inside Mercedes and he is expecting to see some "confrontation" between Hamilton and Russell this year. When asked by Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport what will entertain F1 fans this season, he replied:

"See how Mercedes will handle the confrontation between Russell and Hamilton. Inside Mercedes, there is something wrong. Lewis no longer believes in the engineers, he no longer believes in Toto. The team, after all the space and freedom they gave him, didn't expect such a farewell. It was Mercedes that created Hamilton's image. They believed he would remain an ambassador for life."

Fellow former world champion Button has echoed Villeneuve's comments, suggesting the timing of Hamilton's announcement could cause some internal problems. "It's a big deal and I cannot wait to see how he goes in the Ferrari," he said. "The weird thing is that it is quite an early call, though, to mention it this early on. It's a year before he'll be stepping into the Ferrari, so how is that atmosphere going to be at Mercedes? It's not easy. What do they hold back from Lewis? I mean, he knows the ins and outs of this team very well anyway but, when they get down to the nitty-gritty, are there going to be certain things they hold back from Lewis? Possibly.”

‘Confrontation likely’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...cedes-32112054


Wolff: Mercedes will treat Hamilton and Russell equally in 2024
Hamilton will leave the team at the end of the 2024 season, spending over a decade with the Brackley-based outfit
February 3, 2024
Nathan Hartley
FormulaNerds

Transparency is key: Wolff has already emphasised that there is no grudges against himself and Hamilon. The Austrian boss admitted that he already knew that Hamilton would leave for Ferrari eventaully. However, he was shocked at the timing of the announcement. Despite already knowing that the seven-time world champion is leaving, Wolff believes that transparency is the most important aspect for 2024:

“I think what I’ve always tried to do as a team principal, and all of us at Mercedes, is to be transparent, and fair. And nothing’s going to change in that respect in 2024. We owe it to our principles and our racing intent, how we go about, and we will respect that. And I will be sure that the drivers will respect it.”

“In terms of the development going forward, I think this is something which we need to look at. The regulations stay pretty much the same. And when it comes to 2025, we will evaluate later in the season what it means in terms of technical information, but that’s not something that bothers me at all.”

‘No grudges’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/wo...ually-in-2024/


Wolff: Mercedes will be fair to Hamilton and Russell in F1 2024
Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff says that the team will be fair to both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell as it enters the former’s final season in the camp.
UPDATEDFEB 3, 2024, 3:19 PM
Motorsport.com

Wolff says he has no concerns about potentially having to block the flow of information on future development to Hamilton, suggesting that it’s too early to make a call on how that process might work. Logic suggests that Hamilton will henceforth be frozen out of any discussions on 2026, when the new F1 regulations come in.

“In terms of the development going forward, I think this is something which we need to look at. The regulations stay pretty much the same. And when it comes to 2025, we will evaluate later in the season what it means in terms of technical information, but that's not something that bothers me at all.”

“We have engineers that leave us and go to other teams and the notice periods are sometimes as short as six months. So I don't have any doubt in Lewis' integrity, in terms of sharing information. And in that respect, we want to make sure that this is a successful season for both drivers, and a successful season for Mercedes, and all of us will give our utmost to achieve that.”

‘No concerns about potentially having to block the flow of information on future development to Hamilton’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/w...2024/10571744/


F1: Toto Wolff backs 'leader' George Russell to succeed at Mercedes after Lewis Hamilton's exit to Ferrari
PUBLISHED 05/02/2024 AT 14:34 GMT
BYARAMIDE OLADIPO
TNT Sports

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has backed George Russell to become a "leader" and the main man for the team after Lewis Hamilton moves to Ferrari for the 2025 season. The announcement that Hamilton would join Ferrari next year sent shockwaves around the sport but Wolff is confident that fellow Englishman Russell can be the face of Mercedes in the near future.

"With all the Lewis discussion, something that has not been talked about enough is George," Wolff said, per Sky Sports. "George has the potential to be the next lead driver in the team. He is of the generation of Lando [Norris] and [Charles] Leclerc and some of the others. I couldn't wish for a new team leader when Lewis leaves, no doubt about that."

"We have such a solid foundation, such a quick, talented and intelligent guy in the car that we just need to take the right choice for the second driver, and that's not something I want to be rushed in," Wolff added. "I guess that a few contracts have been signed a few weeks ago that we would have looked at that could have been interesting but timing here beat us a bit."

‘Toto Wolff backs 'leader' George Russell’;

https://www.tntsports.co.uk/formula-...95/story.shtml


Martin Brundle backs ‘brilliant’ George Russell to pick up Lewis Hamilton ‘mantle’ in 2025
10 Feb 2024 10:00 AM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Martin Brundle believes George Russell is “ready to pick up the mantle” Lewis Hamilton will leave behind at Mercedes in 2025 after he moves to Ferrari. Team principal Toto Wolff has also expressed his belief in Russell as a potential team leader at Mercedes once Hamilton departs, with the younger Briton having taken the team’s only victory of the ground effect era so far.

While former team boss Eddie Jordan was not quite sure whether or not Russell would be ready to lead Mercedes in 2025, Brundle does not feel the same way. “I don’t think so, because nothing’s forever, is it?” Brundle said on Sky Sports News when asked if Mercedes would feel ‘let down’ by Hamilton joining Ferrari. “You don’t sign a contract and one of the clauses is, ‘We will never leave you’, and the other side of it is, ‘We will never fire you or take somebody else.’
“It’s a moving thing in any sport, as you know, so I think it might just energise both sides. Mercedes have George Russell, what a brilliant young talent he is, and he’s really ready for the future. They can bring somebody else in now whether it’s a [Carlos] Sainz, an [Alex] Albon, they’ve got access to Esteban Ocon, for example. Let’s see who else they’re looking around at, but I think both Ferrari and Mercedes must see this like a reset and an opportunity.”

‘Martin Brundle backs ‘brilliant’ George Russell’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/martin...amilton-mantle


George Russell’s F1 credentials questioned: “Lewis Hamilton had too much on him”
Is George Russell the right driver to deliver Mercedes world championship success? Eddie Jordan doesn't think so.
09 Feb 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Legendary F1 team boss Eddie Jordan has questioned George Russell’s credentials of being Mercedes’ team leader when Lewis Hamilton departs at the end of 2024. Russell will become the de facto number one driver when Hamilton joins Ferrari next year. The former Williams driver out-scored Hamilton during his first year with the team in 2022, becoming only the third driver to do so - alongside Jenson Button (2011) and Nico Rosberg (2016).

2023 was trickier for Russell, who slumped to a disappointing eighth in the championship standings. Speaking on the latest episode of the Formula for Success podcast, Jordan is unsure Russell is capable of winning a world championship in the next couple of seasons. "Let’s be honest, George Russell has won one Grand Prix," Jordan said. "Do I think he can be a world champion next year or the year after? I just think that Lewis had too much on him.”

"When Lewis didn’t quite have the car that he wanted at the beginning of the year, George was able to drive around that. Lewis didn’t bother because, not that he didn’t bother, but he just didn’t feel that the car was good enough to be able to do the job."

‘George Russell’s F1 credentials questioned’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104413...d-too-much-him

[Fortitude]

Leclerc and the Tifosi: Hope ignites at Fiorano.
And perhaps, just perhaps, this season, the dream will finally become reality.
11:51 Thu, 15 Feb 2024.
F1i.com

After Tuesday’s shakedown run at Fiorano, Charles Leclerc ventured out – as is the tradition – to meet a group of Tifosi that had assembled behind the fences to witness the track debut of Ferrari’s SF-24 charger. For the Monegasque, beyond the autographs and selfies, the encounter was another reminder of a shared dream.

Since Kimi Raikkonen's triumphant 2007 season, the Prancing Horse has been tantalisingly close yet agonizingly out of reach of the ultimate prize. Drivers like Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel shouldered the expectations, but the dream remained elusive.

As Leclerc steps onto the grid, the cheers of the tifosi will propel him forward, a constant reminder that he carries not just the weight of his own talent, but the collective hope of an entire nation yearning for a return to the pinnacle of motorsport.

‘Hope ignites at Fiorano’;

https://f1i.com/images/499569-lecler...t-fiorano.html


Charles Leclerc encouraged by ‘healthier’ SF-24 after first shakedown run
14 Feb 2024 7:30 AM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

While too early to tell if it’s competitive, Charles Leclerc said the Ferrari SF-24 felt “healthier” on its opening shakedown laps compared to last year’s challenger, which was “very difficult to drive” early on.

“This year, the car feels healthier and in a better place. On the other hand, and I want to push on the point, that doesn’t mean anything on the competitiveness of the car because if other teams have done bigger steps forward in terms of lap time gains, then it can be an easier car to drive, but if it’s not fast enough, it won’t be fast enough on track.”

“So in terms of competitiveness, it’s very difficult [to say]. In terms of actual feeling of the very first laps, I will say I’ve had a better feeling this year than I did last year.”

‘Healthier SF-24’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/charle...rst-impression


Leclerc on SF24 track debut: ‘The car feels healthier’
14/02/2024 at 07:19
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Charles Leclerc says that Ferrari’s new SF-24 “feels healthier” and is already “in a better place” than its predecessor after sampling the Scuderia's new design on Tuesday at Fiorano. The Monegasque had noted “a significant step forward” when he first experienced the SF-24 in Maranello’s simulator.

Despite a run that lasted just a handful of laps, and with a car equipped with “cameras stuck all around it”, Leclerc provided an equally positive first impression, although assessing the car’s level of performance was impossible.

"Looking back at the previous year, I think you always need to wait two or three races to understand how strong of a package you have on different tracks, because sometimes you can have a very strong package on one track and then you get to another one and you are struggling much more," Leclerc explained.

‘The car feels healthier’;

https://f1i.com/news/499443-leclerc-...healthier.html


Leclerc claims he has a ‘better feeling’ about the SF-24 ahead of its Bahrain debut
Leclerc spoke about the improvements made between last year's car and the new SF-24 after its first shakedown run in Fiorano
February 14, 2024
Oliver Brindle
FormulaNerds

Leclerc is hoping for improved drivability: At the start of the 2023 season, the SF-23 struggled with its race pace and increased tyre degradation. Alongside this, Leclerc has revealed how the car’s sensitivity to wind direction made it increasingly difficult to “extract the maximum out of the car.”

“There was obviously a clear input from us drivers, which was the drivability of the 2023 car, which was extremely sensitive to wind direction changes, to outside conditions changing and that was making it very, very difficult for us to extract the maximum out of the car,” added Leclerc. “Because as soon as one of these elements would change slightly, the behaviour of the car was completely different. There’s been a lot of work and, based on the simulator, we’ve done a significant step forward on that.”

“Based on the reality, it’s still very early days to tell. I’ve done three laps this morning, but three laps with cameras stuck all around the car and not really pushing to the limit, so too early to say.” We will be able to get the first look at if the Ferrari has solved some of its technical issues with the significant changes they have made towards their design at pre-season testing in Bahrain, which will get underway at 7 am GMT (10 am local time).

‘Better feeling about the SF-24’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/le...bahrain-debut/


‘Leclerc to be more aggressive and Ferrari aiming to attract Mercedes personnel’
Total-Motorsport.com take a closer look at what to expect from Ferrari ahead of the 2024 Formula 1 season
February 14, 2024
By Joe Krishnan
Total Motorsport

Ferrari were the only team to defeat Red Bull in 2023 and they fell just three points short of beating Mercedes to second in the Constructors’ Championship. Frederic Vasseur will spend his second season in charge of Formula 1’s most famous team and all eyes will be on how Carlos Sainz handles the knowledge that Lewis Hamilton will replace him in 2025.

Joe Krishnan: Expect a more aggressive Leclerc. I think we’re going to see a less forgiving and more aggressive Leclerc this year. He’s fighting to prove he’s still Ferrari’s main man ahead of Hamilton’s arrival and, having failed to convert any of his five pole positions from last year, he has work to do.

Jasmine Hughes: Ferrari will look to attract Mercedes personnel: Ferrari appear to be coming at this season with a fresh mind and an almost-clean slate, with team principal Vasseur having described the 2024 challenger as “95% new”. Ferrari will want to avoid painting Hamilton’s audacious decision as a mistake, but equally, will seek to depict itself as a worthy destination for any Mercedes personnel it might hope to poach along with Hamilton.

‘Ferrari were the only team to defeat Red Bull in 2023’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/lec...des-personnel/


Leclerc provides reason for long-term Ferrari commitment
16 February 1:50PM
Author Nick Golding
Co-author Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

He was considerably more vocal on the radio and clearly disgruntled at some strategic calls, yet his love for the manufacturer remains seemingly untouched. Leclerc believes in not only what Ferrari is trying to do but also in their pursuit of having the fastest car. "Well, of course, it's part of my decision," Leclerc told select media including RacingNews365.

"I think not only because it feels like a family, but most of all, because they were the first people to believe in me straight from even before I got to Formula 1. They gave me the opportunity to get into Formula 1, they gave me the opportunity of being a Ferrari driver, and getting a car that was good enough to get my first pole position and my first win.”
"But more than anything, I think what made me sign for a longer contract is because I believe in the project. Otherwise, I wouldn't have done that. So I believe in the project fully. I love Ferrari, that's for sure, and I think that's clear to everybody. But most of all, I believe in the project, and I believe we have the best chance in order to become the best car on the grid in the next years. So this is why I renewed with Ferrari."

“I believe in the project”;

https://racingnews365.com/leclerc-pr...ari-commitment


Leclerc: Two or three wins in 2024 ‘not my target’
15/02/2024 at 16:51
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Charles Leclerc admits his ambitions with Ferrari this season go beyond a few wins but concedes that the true potential of the Scuderia will only be revealed after the first race. when asked if he would be satisfied with two or three wins as part of his team’s progress, Leclerc's response was resolute.

“No, it’s not enough,” he quipped. “I want to win as many races as possible, and we will do the count at the end of the year, to also understand where we’ll be after the first race to understand how competitive are.”

“It’s very difficult to draw a picture of where we’ll stand after the first race, it will depend on that as well, but two or three is not my target, I want to win as many races as possible. 2023 for me was no victories, I cannot wait to be back on the top step of the podium and together with Ferrari, especially. So I’m fully motivated.”

‘Two or three wins in 2024 not my target’;

https://f1i.com/news/499583-leclerc-...my-target.html

[Fortitude]

Max Verstappen speaks out on suggestions Red Bull have copied Mercedes.
Max Verstappen dominated the 2023 season in the RB19, but the RB20 appears to take some inspiration from rivals Mercedes' old design.
14:27, Fri, Feb 16, 2024
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express

Max Verstappen has batted away any claims that Red Bull have copied elements of Mercedes’ last two challengers with their design of the RB20. The reigning champions attracted some interest on Thursday when they unveiled a new car that had engine gulleys similar to those on show with the W14.

Dismissing any comments suggesting that Red Bull had copied their long-time rivals, Verstappen said: “I would still call it a Red Bull style. But I know what you mean. I'm quite happy with the direction that they chose.

“I saw the drawings I think in Abu Dhabi, the last race, and I was like, 'wow, that's quite different in a way'. They've not been conservative, let's say it like that. I think what I like about the team is that we had a great package, but they took the chance to really go all out, I would say, and try to make it better.”

'Wow, that's quite different in a way';

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-Bull-Mercedes


Max Verstappen responds to comments on his RB20’s Mercedes looks
16 Feb 2024 12:30 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Unveiling the RB20 that features some elements that are reminiscent of the Mercedes F1 cars, Max Verstappen says it’s still a “Red Bull-style” car.

The car, though, does continue with last year’s RB19’s downwash sidepod solutions further toward the rear of the car with the front end similar to the championship winning car. “I would still call it a Red Bull-style. But I know what you mean,” Verstappen told the media, including PlanetF1.com’s Thomas Maher, when the Mercedes-style parts were pointed out.

His team-mate Sergio Perez agrees it does draw inspiration from the Mercedes, but that’s a positive sign from Red Bull’s designers. Asked if he was surprised by the W14 elements on his RB20, the Mexican driver replied: “Yes! A bit! “But at the same time it just shows how much this team is looking to move forwards and pushing all the boundaries. It’s really great to see.”

‘ “Red Bull-style” car’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-ve...mercedes-looks


Max Verstappen responds to Lando Norris saying no top driver wants to be his team-mate
Max Verstappen has given his take on Lando Norris' comments
12:42, Fri, Feb 16, 2024
By Amos Murphy
Daily and Sunday Express

Verstappen is widely considered the best driver in the world right now and he is expected to make it four World Championships in a row this season. The 26-year-old appears untouchable in the world of F1, which has led to claims Verstappen wouldn’t be a good team-mate to race alongside.

“I think if I look back at myself four years ago compared to now, just a bit more calm, a bit more experienced,” Verstappen told Sky Sports. “In some scenarios that can definitely make a bit of a difference, probably winning a championship helps as well.

“But it would be quite exciting I think to have my four-year-old younger self team up against my current one. I’m not afraid of a challenge and I think it’s cool to race the best in the world. But again, also from his [Norris’] side, I don’t know what’s going on in the team there.”

‘What’s going on’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...n-Lando-Norris


Max Verstappen on why Lando Norris should remain at McLaren after Red Bull links
17 Feb 2024 12:15 PM
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen has responded to Lando Norris’ shying away from joining Red Bull while the Dutch driver is embedded within the team.

Verstappen said he could see the reasoning behind Norris’ preference not to go up against him, but put it more at the feet of Norris being comfortable within the McLaren environment rather than the British driver being afraid of going up against him.

“But from his [Lando’s] side, I don’t know what’s going on in the team there,” he said. “And when you feel really happy and confident with the people you are with, and they’ve [McLaren] been on a positive trajectory, you also think to yourself: ‘Maybe I don’t need to leave and I can make this a success.'”

‘Lando Norris should remain at McLaren’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-ve...-red-bull-link


Max Verstappen admits ‘never say never’ on leaving Red Bull for F1 rival
Sat 17 February 2024 08:00
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Max Verstappen admits ‘you should never say never’ about leaving Red Bull but he is not interested in joining Ferrari ‘at the moment’ after Lewis Hamilton quit Mercedes. The Scuderia stunned the paddock at the start of February by announcing that Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz next year. Ferrari have awarded the 39-year-old a multi-year contract to race in red after he initiated his escape clause to leave Mercedes following the 2024 season.

“In my life, I know from my experiences so far that you should never say never,” Verstappen has admitted, via quotes by Motorsport-Total. “But, for me, it’s not even in my head now.” The Dutchman continued: “I get it, it’s a nice brand that has achieved a lot in this sport. But, at the moment, my head is only with this team. That’s what I spend my time on.

“Everything else is secondary… I don’t want to sound disrespectful or anything like that. I have a lot of respect for the Ferrari brand but I’m very happy where I am at the moment. I’m comfortable in my environment, so there’s nothing for me that I want to change.”

‘You should never say never’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/max...-for-f1-rival/


Max Verstappen predicts ‘awkward, weird’ F1 2024 season for Lewis Hamilton
17 Feb 2024 7:00 AM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen believes Lewis Hamilton is in for an “awkward” and “weird” last season with Mercedes in 2024 ahead of his big move to Ferrari. And Verstappen reckons his relationship with the team – and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff – will change as his exit nears. According to the Times, he said: “I think it must have been leaked because to announce something that big that early in the season.”

“I think for sure, for the rest of the year, I would say it’s a little bit awkward. Even though you have had a lot of success together, you can’t be included into everything anymore. For sure he has a great relationship with everyone, especially Toto, but at one point Toto for sure will tell him: ‘Look, I know we’ve had all this success, but you can’t be part of certain meetings any more.’”

“That is normal in F1. It’s probably a bit weird. But you are professional enough to deal with that. It’s not like they are suddenly enemies. He has achieved so many great things with them. They are still behind him. It’s just [that] you know at one point you can’t share certain stuff. But once he’s sitting in the car they will of course go flat out for him.”

‘Awkward, weird F1 2024 season’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-ve...lewis-hamilton