McLaren have confirmed that Zak Brown has extended his contract as the team’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), with the new deal seeing him stay in the role until 2030.
Brown first joined McLaren back in 2016 as the Executive Director of McLaren Technology Group before going on to become CEO in April 2018.
Since assuming his position, Brown has overseen operations across all of McLaren’s race teams and has shaped the strategic direction of McLaren Racing, as well as driving the outfit’s marketing and commercial development. McLaren are now involved in IndyCar, Extreme E, Formula E and obviously Formula 1.
The American has been crucial to the regeneration of the team including hiring a number of top-end staff such as Ferrari’s David Sanchez and Red Bull’s Rob Marshal. As well as opening their new windtunnel at their factory in Woking last year.
Earlier this year, Brown secured the future of Lando Norris on a new multi-year deal, while Oscar Piastri is also tied down for many years to come.
Zak has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and has been instrumental in driving McLaren Racing forward. His extension reflects our confidence in his ability to lead the team to even greater success in the years to come.
Paul Walsh – McLaren Group’s Executive Chairman.
I am thrilled to continue leading McLaren Racing and to be a part of such a historic race team. It is a privilege to work alongside the talented men and women across McLaren Racing’s different race series. Together, we will continue to push the boundaries of motorsport and strive for the highest performance on and off the track.
Well Australia always provides some drama in the race and we certainly got some of that!
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz took his and the team’s first win of the season, taking advantage of Max Verstappen’s technical trouble which resulted in the first non-Red Bull win of the season.
Bidding for a record-equalling 10th victory in a row, Verstappen converted his pole position advantage as the race got under way but soon reported issues, with a compromised second lap which opened the door for Sainz to take the lead. From there, Verstappen’s brake-related woes got worse and with plumes of smoke exiting the rear of his RB20 he then returned to the pits and retired for the first time in two years.
Carlos Sainz was followed closely by his teammate, Charles Leclerc making it a 1-2 for the Italian team! And rounding out the podium places is Mr Lando Norris, his first of the season.
The full top 10 is- P1: Sainz, P2: Leclerc, P3: Norris, P4: Piastri, P5: Perez, P6: Alonso, P7: Stroll, P8: Tsunoda, P9: Hulkenberg and P10: Magnussen.
What a drive from Carlos Sainz, who is still not feeling 100% performed a drive which should really secure him a seat next year!
Obviously very gutting for Max Verstappen, it’s very rare for him to have a DNF due to something wrong on the car, I had no doubt he would of been fighting for the win if it didn’t happen, but it’s racing that is just the way it goes sometimes.
Points for Tsunoda!! He pretty much stayed in the top 10 all race unless he pitted, the team and Japanese driver will be happy with that after their start to the season.
Double points for Haas aswell! They had a really good race today, good pit stops and it benefited them as they were there incase anything happened within the top teams which it did.
A disappointing day for Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton had a mechanical issue which saw him pull over to the side and then on the last lap George Russell was chasing Fernando Alonso down for P6 and ended up spinning and crashing which was a nasty crash but luckily he is all okay. Mercedes will be wanting to forget this weekend and just move onto the next race.
However due to the crash with Russell, Fernando Alonso has been given a 20 second time penalty ( drive through) as the stewards determined the Spanish drivers driving was “potentially dangerous” which has dropped the driver down to P8.
Now looking onto Round 4, we head to Japan for the Japanese Grand Prix from the 5th to 7th of April!
Max Verstappen claimed an assured pole position in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix with Carlos Sainz following closely behind in second and Sergio Perez in third.
After setting a time of 1m 16.048s in the first runs of Q3, the Dutchman improved on his effort in his final laps with a 1,15.915s. This put him 0.270s clear of Sainz, who looked impressive in his first qualifying since returning following surgery for appendicitis two weeks ago.
The full top 10 are- Pole: Verstappen, P2: Sainz, P3: Perez, P4: Norris, P5: Leclerc, P6: Piastri, P7: Russell, P8: Tsunoda, P9: Stroll and P10: Alonso.
However, Sergio Perez has been handed a three place grid penalty for impeding Hulkenberg. So he will now be starting from P6, and Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri all move up a place.
A great result from Carlos Sainz, just what the Spanish driver needed especially after missing the previous race, plus his also on a search for a seat for next season so a great performance from him.
Yuki Tsunodaaaa, in Q3! Great result from him, him and the team will be wanting to score some points this weekend and that means capitalize on his great qualifying position. However for his teammate, not a great day at all, Daniel Ricciardo qualifying P18 at his home race, he will be wanting to make up as many positions as possible.
A decent result from George Russell, unfortunately for Lewis Hamilton, he was pushed out of the top 10 in the final moments of Q2 and will be starting P11 tomorrow, which isn’t the worst place but he is in the middle of the pack so he will want to take it easy and not get in any trouble.
Esteban Ocon got into Q2 and qualified P15, after he brushed the wall in Q1. Another little mention to Valtteri Bottas a keen fan of Australia will be starting from P13.
The McLaren duo had a good qualifying aswell, they will be looking to score a podium this weekend, especially because of Oscar Piastri a podium at home? Any driver would want that!
Williams have announced that Alex Albon will be taking over the car of his teammate Logan Sargeant for the remainder of the 2024 Australian Grand Prix weekend, following his crash in Free Practice 1.
Towards the end of FP1, Albon lost control of his Williams FW46 at the exit of Turn 6 at Albert Park, running over the kerbs and then spinning out into the wall on the other side of the track.
Luckily Albon was unharmed but he was forced to sit out of Free Practice 2 as Williams confirmed they have no third chassis available this weekend so they had to assess the damage to the car.
With that damage to have been too significant to continue using the chassis, the team made the call for Albon to take over the car of teammate Sargeant. The Thai driver, last season claimed 27 of the team’s 28 points helped the team to finish P7 in the constructors’ championship.
For Logan, he will now sit on the sidelines for the rest of the weekend, as Albon jumps into the American’s chassis from Free Practice 3 onwards.
Due to the extensive damage sustained, [Williams are] forced to withdraw the chassis for the remainder of the Grand Prix. This chassis will be returned to the team’s HQ at Grove for repair. Due to the fact that a third chassis is unavailable, the team can confirm it has taken the decision for Alex to compete for the remainder of the weekend in the chassis that Logan Sargeant drove in FP1 and FP2.
Statement from Williams.
We are hugely disappointed that the damage sustained to the chassis has meant we need to withdraw it from the weekend. It’s unacceptable in modern day Formula 1 not to have a spare chassis, but it is a reflection of how behind we were in the winter period and an illustration of why we need to go through significant change in order to get ourselves in a better position for the future. As a result, we have had some very difficult decisions to make this afternoon. While Logan should not have to suffer from a mistake that he did not make, every race counts when the midfield is tighter than ever, so we have made the call based on our best potential to score points this weekend. This decision was not made lightly, and we cannot thank Logan enough for his graceful acceptance, demonstrating his dedication to the team; he is a true team player. This will prove a tough weekend for Williams, and this situation is not one that we will put ourselves in again.
James Vowles, Team Principal on the news.
I have to be totally honest and say that no driver would want to give up his seat. I would never want anything like this to happen. Logan has always been a consummate professional and a team player from day one, and this won’t be an easy one for him to take. At this point though, I cannot dwell on the situation and my only job now is to maximise our potential this weekend and work with the whole team to make sure we do the best job possible.
Ferrari have provided an update on Carlos Sainz’s health ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, after the Spanish driver was forced to miss the previous race in Jeddah.
Sainz was withdrawn from the F1 weekend at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with the two-time race winner forced to undergo surgery after being diagnosed with appendicitis.
Ollie Bearman stepped into his place as Ferrari’s reserve driver, who caused a sensation with a P7 in the race.
However, ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, Ferrari confirmed that Sainz was looking likely to return to the cockpit of the SF-24 with Bearman remaining on call as reserve driver, alongside his Formula 2 duties with PREMA racing in Melbourne this weekend.
Should he not be required to step in for Sainz, Bearman will be keen to kick-start his F2 campaign, with the Brit currently on zero points after failing to score in Bahrain, before being withdrawn from the event in Jeddah.
Fred Vasseur, Ferrari team principal, predicted that Ferrari would be “front runners” at the Australian circuit, with the team having provided the sternest challenge so far to Red Bull having been able to grab two podiums in the first two races.
Carlos Sainz is expected to be back in the car, having had to miss Jeddah with appendicitis. He and team mate Charles Leclerc will most likely be fighting at the front of the field, as they have done in the first two rounds.
The team in a pre-race statement.
I’ll let you know tomorrow when I get back in the car and the G-forces throw me around a bit. But I feel ready. I’ve done as much as possible to recover and you cannot imagine the effort and logistics that I have done to be fit for this race. Progress, I’m very happy with the progress I’ve made and now, as I said, it’s time to jump in the car and see how I feel.
Sainz on how much of a challenge it would be to get back in the car.
Pirelli’s C5 tyre – the softest of the five compounds – will make its debut this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix. This has been nominated alongside the C4 and the C3.
This is a softer selection compared to last year, when the C2, C3 and C4 were chosen. But it’s not the first time that the softest compound has been seen in Melbourne as back in 2022 Pirelli brought the C5 to Albert Park.
The decision to go with a softer compound was taken after analysing last year’s race which centred around the C2 tyre. The C2 tyre last year was used for 46 out of 58 laps by 10 drivers, and three drivers running it for more than 50 laps. The Grand Prix last year was characterised by numerous stoppages which included three safety car and three red flag with two restarts and a rolling start aswell.
The Albert Park track is made up of 14 corners, having recently been redesigned to make it more flowing. Historically, a one-stop strategy has been the favoured option but the move to a softer tyre may change that. The track isn’t too hard on tyres, with degradation being a bigger factor than wear. In Australia currently it’s the beginning of autumn and there could be some weather-related surprises, with temperature swings and rain having made their mark on the race weekend in the past.
We also have a packed programme as Formula 2 and Formula 3 are supporting F1 this weekend.
The Australian Grand Prix is a firm favourite in the world of F1, thanks to its stunning location and the buzzy atmosphere of host city Melbourne. Pirelli's C5 compound makes its debut this weekend. 🇦🇺#Fit4F1#Formula1#Pirelli@F1pic.twitter.com/4OZPkvdPAc
Seeing as the season is in full swing, driver contracts are always a big topic, but I think this year’s silly season is going to be one to remember as it already kicked off before the season even started!
However, we know that sometimes contracts mean nothing, and there is always a way to get out of them early… 12 drivers contracts are up at the end of the season.
Red Bull-
Max Verstappen – 2028 Sergio Perez – 2024
Mercedes-
Lewis Hamilton – 2024 George Russell – 2025
Ferrari-
Charles Leclerc – “Several more seasons” Carlos Sainz – 2024
McLaren-
Lando Norris – 2026 Oscar Piastri – 2026
Aston Martin-
Fernando Alonso – 2024 Lance Stroll – Rolling
Alpine-
Esteban Ocon – 2024 Pierre Gasly – 2024
Williams-
Alex Albon – 2025 Logan Sargeant – 2024
RB-
Daniel Ricciardo – 2024 Yuki Tsunoda – 2024
Sauber-
Valtteri Bottas – 2024 Guanyu Zhou – 2024
Haas-
Kevin Magnussen – 2024 Nico Hulkenberg – 2024
That’s all 20 drivers contract lengths, obviously we know Lewis is moving to Ferrari next season, so there is a vacant seat at Mercedes which definitely doesn’t come around too often… There are also a few junior drivers and drivers sitting on the sideline waiting for an opportunity.
Those being, Liam Lawson, Felipe Drugovich, Ollie Bearman, Frederik Vesti and Theo Pourchaire. All five drivers are linked to F1 teams and I could possibly see maybe one or two of them coming in for the 2025 season. Not only this but looking at Formula 2 aswell, depending on how the drivers go in this season they could maybe be a possibility aswell.
Now all we have to do is wait until the next team announces whether they are sticking with their drivers or going to have a little bit of a switch around…
Alpine’s unsettled 12 months have continued with the announcement that Technical Director Matt Harman and head of Aerodynamics Dirk de beer have left the team, with Alpine announcing a subsequent technical re-shuffle.
Following the Bahrain Grand Prix – which saw Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly start from the back of the gird, with neither driver managing to score points – it was then announced that Harman and De Beer would leave the team.
The announcement comes in the wake of a slew of high-level changes in 2023, with Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer, Sporting Director Alan Permane, Chief Technical Officer Pat Fry and CEO Laurent Rossi all departing with Bruno Famin confirmed as full-time Team Principal earlier this year.
Alpine will move to a structure of having a trio of Technical Directors, with Joe Burnell as Technical Director (Engineering) David Wheater as Technical Director (Aerodynamics) and Ciaron Pilbeam as Technical Director (Performance).
We have decided to make these organisational changes as we can clearly see that we are not where we want nor need to be in terms of performance level and it is time to take another step in terms of organisation and people. The new three-pillared structure with three Technical Directors, each specialising in different areas, will bring better work and collaboration across our technical areas and contribute to delivering performance from the factories to the race track. I trust fully in the abilities of Joe, David and Ciaron to work closely together in bringing the team the performance and improvements that it needs. Finally, I would like to thank Matt and Dirk for their efforts over the last couple of years at the team and wish them the very best in the next chapter of their careers.
Aston Martin have announced that 18 year old American Jak Crawford will be joining their Young Driver Development programme for 2024.
Crawford will be going into his second year in F2 with DAMS, having previously raced for Hitech alongside Isack Hadjar. Both drivers were previously both part of the Red Bull junior programme, but now Crawford has made his way across to the green of Aston Martin.
Aston Martin’s junior programme gives talented young drivers the opportunity to test older F1 machinery, with Crawford set for a stint in the AMR22 later this year. Not only this, he will also be tasked with simulator work to give valuable feedback to the team, as well as getting a taste for media duties and the marketing commitments that go in hand with the F1 world.
I am proud to take this next step in my career. The Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team is a great place to learn and grow, and the programme ahead sounds exciting. I cannot wait to start working with everyone – especially on the simulator where I can make a contribution to the team’s performance on race weekends. I’m thrilled to get the chance to drive the AMR22 car later this year. It is a big motivator for me to work hard and make the most of this great opportunity.
Crawford on the news.
As part of the growth of the team we want to offer talented young drivers a valuable development programme and I have no doubt Jak will flourish in this environment. As part of the growth of the team we want to offer talented young drivers a valuable development programme and I have no doubt Jak will flourish in this environment. He has shown great potential throughout his junior career and we look forward to supporting his learning and development as he steps into the AMR22 for the first time.
The second race week is complete! And when you think about it we’ve had a bit of a crazy week including Carlos Sainz being ruled out of the Grand Prix meaning Ferrari Academy Driver Oliver Bearman stepping in to make his debut!
But Max Verstappen remained dominant to make it two from two victories so far as he enjoyed a strong start from pole, with an early Safety Car making an appearance aswell. Sergio Perez makes it a second consecutive one-two result for Red Bull, however it wasn’t all smooth sailing as he was handed a five-second time penalty for an unsafe release. And Charles Leclerc rounding out the top three.
The full top 10 are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Perez, P3: Leclerc, P4: Piastri, P5: Alonso, P6: Russell, P7: Bearman, P8: Norris, P9: Hamilton and P10: Hulkenberg.
A great result from Piastri! P4, the Australian driver had spent a significant portion of the race trying to get past the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton.
P7 on debut for Mr Ollie Bearman! What a drive from the Brit, definitely one to be proud of. Hopefully this will be the drive to show teams what he can do for an F1 seat next year…
A good result from Fernando Alonso! However his teammate had been the cause of the Safety Car as he crashed into the barriers on Lap 7 unable to continue in the race.
Points for Haas! Hulkenberg scored their first points of the season, he was helped out by Magnusssen as he kept a pack of drivers at bay behind in order to give Hulkenberg space when returning to the track from his pit stop. It’s nice to see a bit of teamwork from the two drivers.
Alpine, Esteban Ocon finished in P13, however Pierre Gasly race was practically over before it started. The Frenchman retired soon after the start, as he reported a gearbox issue on the formation lap.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen made it two pole positions from two in 2024, as rookie Oliver Bearman impressed on his debut as a stand in for Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
Championship leader Verstappen has looked in complete control so far, with his best lap time being a 1:27.472s which was 0.3s clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. With Sergio Perez rounding out the top three.
The full top 10 is- Pole: Verstappen, P2: Leclerc, P3: Perez, P4: Alonso, P5: Piastri, P6: Norris, P7: Russell, P8: Hamilton, P9: Tsunoda and P10: Stroll.
First of all we have to mention Ollie Bearman, he qualified P11 after only having one practice session. Obviously he would be disappointed himself after being so close to Q3 but I think everyone is really impressed with him, as it’s no easy job filling in the Ferrari seat! Hopefully he could potentially score some points in the race…
A good result from Alonso, starting on the second row, he will be hoping to turn that into some good points this weekend. However his teammate starting 10th, an improvement from last week but still not very good.
A decent result from the McLaren boys, and just behind them is both Mercedes’ who failed to improve on their second runs. So with those four drivers that will be an interesting battle when the lights go out.
A little shoutout to Yuki Tsunoda, P9! Makes up for a frustrating end to the Bahrain Grand Prix last week, the team will be looking to see if they could score some points this weekend.
Looking a bit further back, Nico Hulkenberg couldn’t replicate what he done last week, due to a power issued which ended his session early, his set to start the race 15th.
Alpine’s struggled continue as both drivers exited Q1, with no improvement from the week before. The team will be hoping upgrades will soon come…
Just a few days on from the opening race of the season, Formula 1 has decamped from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia for round 2. From a track with a very abrasive asphalt, where degradation is high and stability under braking and traction are key factors, we now move to a track with quite a smooth surface and very high speeds.
At 6.174 kilometre in length, it is the second longest track on the calendar with 27 twisty corners, the most of any circuit and the drivers will tackle it 50 times on Saturday.
Based on the experience of the previous three races here, Pirelli has chosen its three mid-range compounds, the C2 Hard, C3 Medium and C4 Soft. In Jeddah, it is quite possible to have a one-stop race with the drivers swapping between Medium and Hard depending on their grid positions.
As this is a street circuit, there are not many run-off areas and so the risk of accidents is quite high, aswell as seeing the Safety Car on track or even having the race red flagged. Overtaking here is pretty tricky, with the best opportunity coming on the entry to Turn 1.
Not only this but of course with a street circuit, track evolution can be very high and in qualifying it will be crucial to choose the right moment to go out on track to set a good time.
Formula 1 has announced that the British Grand Prix will remain on the calendar until 2034 inclusive following a 10-year extension with promoter Silverstone and its owner, the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC).
The new agreement between the three parties will see the Northamptonshire circuit race into its ninth decade, having hosted the first-ever F1 Grand Prix in 1950.
A host of famous F1 names have taken the chequered flag at Silverstone over 74 years of competition, from Giuseppe Farina in 1950 to Max Verstappen in 2023, while Lewis Hamilton holds a record eight British Grand Prix victories.
Two other members of the 2024 grid have claimed victory around the 5.89km, 18-corner circuit, including two-time winner Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, who took his maiden win at the venue in 2022.
Recent years have seen the British Grand Prix become on of the largest attended events on the F1 calendar, with 2023 attracting some of the biggest names in sport, music and culture, as the race drew in a record crowd of 480,000 across the weekend.
I am delighted to announce that the British Grand Prix will remain on the calendar for 10 more years with this agreement. Silverstone is an iconic venue at the heart of F1 history and as it approaches its ninth decade hosting Grands Prix, the event continues to attract fans from around the world for fantastic racing on track and the amazing fan experience off it. I would like to thank Peter Digby from the BRDC, Stuart Pringle and the whole Silverstone team for their hard work and dedication to take the British Grand Prix to new heights and I look forward to working closely with them as they look to further improve the facilities and fan experience over the next 10 years.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.
I am delighted we have secured a 10-year extension to host the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. This contractual security will provide a solid base for the further development of the venue as we continue to improve and transform the circuit into a year-round international motorsport and leisure destination. The 2024 Formula 1 season will start with nine BRDC Full and Honorary members on the grid and the importance of our continued support of young drivers is particularly evidenced by the success of Lewis, Lando [Norris], George [Russell] and Alex [Albon].
Peter Digby, Chairman of the British Racing Drivers’ Club.
This long-term commitment reflects the importance of the British Grand Prix to Formula 1 and their acknowledgement of our ability to deliver a world-class experience for the British fans who are among the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable in the world. The cheers of support for the home teams, and particularly for the British drivers on the grid, makes the Silverstone atmosphere unique and I am looking forward to harnessing this passion for our sport and taking the event to the next level in the coming decade.
Stuart Pringle, Chief Executive Officer, Silverstone.
Van Hoepen covered off teammate Nikola Tsolov on the run to the first corner, but the Bulgarian driver was able to sweep around the outside to take the lead. Further back, Dino Beganovic suffered damage in the opening exchanges after contact with Santiago Ramos at Turn 1, with the PREMA driver being handed a 10-second time penalty.
After losing the lead from reverse grid pole, Van Hoepen was able to stick with his ART teammate and with DRS, the Dutchman swept back through on lap 4. The battle then continued up the hill with the Bulgarian driver squeezing his way through. Whilst they was battling, it allowed Max Esterson to close back up on the pair.
Christian Mansell had been battling hard with Sami Meguetounif of lap 5, and after initially losing a spot to the Trident driver, the Aussie fought his way through into Turn 1 for seventh.
That allowed Luke Browning the momentum up the hill into Turn 4 to pull of a pass around the outside of them to take P7 himself. However, the move was completed off the track and he earned a 10 second time penalty.
Looking back towards the front, the lead battle became a five-car fight as Lindblad and Fornaroli caught up to Esterson. As the race reached the halfway point, van Hoepen retook the lead with a pass into T1 on Tsolov, once more though, the Bulgarian fought back and through and re-passed his teammate into Turn 8.
On lap 13 and after being tracked closely over several laps by Lindblad, van Hoepen got a little too wide at Turn 11, which opened the door for the Prema driver to take second place.
Lindblad didn’t stop then as he claimed the lead of the race on lap 15, with a DRS pass into the first corner. But Tsolov fought back through immediately, re-taking first on the run up to Turn 4 again. One lap on and the PREMA driver made the move stick into the first turn.
The full top 10 is- P1: Lindblad, P2: Van Hoepen, P3: Fornaroli, P4: Tsolov, P5: Tramnitz, P6: Esterson, P7: Mini, P8: Boya, P9: Goethe and P10: Meguetounif.
Day 3, Feature Race-
Dino Beganovic suffered a terrible start from pole, with a slow getaway which left Browning free to surge into the lead. Beganovic baulked the momentum of PREMA Racing teammate Gabriele Mini behind him, allowing Meguetounif to steal a march and rise to second.
Mini’s poor start allowed Mansell and Santiago Ramos in the Trident to move through for fourth and fifth places on the opening lap. The third Trident of Leonardo Fornaroli had dropped to eighth off the line but moved ahead of Nikola Tsolov out of Turn 3 on Lap 3 to move up one spot.
The fighting behind, had allowed Browning to stretch his lead to 1.2s at the one-third mark, though that advantage slipped to half a second after Mansell regained DRS behind. Despite not having the drag reduction advantage, the Hitech driver was able to keep his pursuer at arms length heading into the second half of the race.
With 10 laps to go the top eight drivers were tracking one another, separated by five seconds but within DRS range of the car ahead. A wide moment at Turn 10 for Ramos put him off track, but the Mexican driver was able to keep Mini at bay to hold fifth.
After defending for much of the race, Browning began up to his pace in the closing laps toe extend his lead slowly but surely over Mansell by a few tenths per lap.
The full top 10 are- P1: Browning, P2: Mansell, P3: Tramnitz, P4: Meguetounif, P5: Ramos, P6: Mini, P7: Fornaroli, P8: Lindblad, P9: Dunne and P10: Goethe.
The first race of 24 is complete, so let’s take a look at how it went in Bahrain!
Max Verstappen converted pole position into the race win with a controlled drive, which led home Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez and Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz to start his latest title defence.
Verstappen maintained his advantage as the race got under way, he never looked back over the 57 laps, where he crossed the line 22 second ahead of his teammate.
The full top 10 are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Perez, P3: Sainz, P4: Leclerc, P5: Russell, P6: Norris, P7: Hamilton, P8: Piastri, P9: Alonso and P10: Stroll.
A decent result from Ferrari, P3 and P4, especially with Leclerc as he was struggling with the car and it not responding the way he wanted as well as having a big problem with the brakes… Not a very good sign for the Italian team for the first race.
A decent result for both Mercedes and McLaren, some decent points on the board for them both. Piastri and Hamilton had a little moment where the McLaren driver was coming out the pit lane and ended up side by side with Hamilton who had stopped a lap earlier. The McLaren got his nose ahead into Turn 1 but the experienced a slide on the exit which dropped him behind the seven time world champion.
Not a good weekend at all for Alpine, a shocking qualifying result in P19 and P20, they then went on to finish P18 for Gasly and P17 for Ocon, a big change from last year. They team definitely have a lot of work to do.
There was also a bit of drama between the two VCARB’s as the team asked Tsunoda to move to the side for Ricciardo giving his alternate soft-tyre run to the finish, promoting the Japanese racer to shout “are you kidding me over the radio?” only to eventually adhere to the instruction. I can see tensions rise between Tsunoda and the team this season, for it to only be the first race and him having problems with the team it doesn’t set of the best image…
The first qualifying session of 2024 is complete, let’s take a look at how it went!
Max Verstappen grabbed pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc in second and the Mercedes of George Russell in third.
Verstappen produced a 1m 29.421s with his first run in Q3 and worked his way down to a blistering 1m 29.179s during the second runs to ultimately finish two-tenths clear of Leclerc, with Russell a tenth further back.
The full top 10 are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Leclerc, P3: Russell, P4: Sainz, P5: Perez, P6: Alonso, P7: Norris, P8: Piastri, P9: Hamilton and P10: Hulkenberg.
What a great result by Max Verstappen, just how he wants to start his title defence! I don’t think he expected the grid to have been that close and I don’t think he will expect to sail away with it in the race aswell…
Both Ferrari’s in the top four! A great start for the Italian team, hopefully they can keep it the same or even better in the race and start the season off strong.
George Russell, P3, great start by him. I believe Mercedes were actually quite shocked at their pace in practice as they topped the timesheets on Thursday. The car definitely looks more of an improvement than last year, but we will have to see what their race pace is like, and a good way for them to properly see is Lewis starting in 9th so his got some ground to make up!
A special shout out to Nico Hulkenberg! First Q3 appearance of 2024, and qualifies P10, Haas will be wanting to score some points today to start the season off strong.
VCARB – they have definitely made an improvement since last year, both drivers into Q2, Yuki just outside the top 10 in P11, and Daniel Ricciardo in P14. They are in a position where they could possibly score some points.
Now one team we have to talk about is Alpine, P19 and P20 i’m not overly surprised by this for some reason, and I don’t think they are either. Obviously they have a lot of work to do in the race, but we will have to see if this carries on throughout the season aswell…
F1 Sprint will return for a fourth season this year and a format tweak is set to make the spectacle more engaging than ever.
As confirmed in December, Brazil will host its fourth consecutive Sprint weekend, with Austria to stage its third, Austin and Qatar return for a second year, and China and Miami joining the line-up for the very first time.
The F1 Commission met to discuss a range of matters and, shorting after the gathering concluded, the Sprint format update was communicated.
For this year, the Sprint Shootout will move from Saturday to Friday, following an initial free practice session for track acclimatisation and set-up work.
The 100km Sprint will then take place on Saturday, ahead of qualifying for the Grand Prix later that day. With the Grand Prix itself sticking to Sunday.
The regulatory refinements for these changes will be presented to the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) on February 28th.
Away from the Sprint, a proposal to increase the power unit allocation to four per driver for the 2024 and 2025 season was agreed. Additionally, DRS activation for the race will be anticipated to one lap as opposed to two laps after the start of the race, or the re-start following a Safety Car.
Formula 1 returns to Bahrain for the first round of the 2024 season, with the usual grand prix weekend schedule being brought forward a day, as will be the case next week in Saudi Arabia.
The teams always come to Sakhir with plenty of information about how the car and tyre package works on this particularly abrasive track, where traction and braking stability are key to performance.
Track evolution is somewhat limited, with temperature being the biggest influence with two of three free practice sessions tale place in the heat of the day, making it harder to get a read on race data. Another factor often affecting the cars is wind, which causes sand to blow onto the track and making the balance unpredictable.
The Bahrain Grand Prix offers a number of different overtaking opportunities, particularly in Turns 1, 4 and 11. Tyre degradation also playing a part in it, with different race strategies coming into play. Last year, a two-stopper using the C1 and C3 was the favoured strategy with the C2 used by only one team (McLaren).
Formula 1 has announced a five-year extension with the Japanese Grand Prix that will see the Suzuka circuit remain on the F1 Calendar until 2029.
The high-speed 18 corner Suzuka Circuit is a favourite of drivers and fans alike, with the iconic ‘S’ Curves and 130R amongst the highlights at what is one of F1’s most celebrated tracks. Suzuka has played host to many memorable moments in Formula 1, with 12 drivers’ championships settled there, including most recently in 2022 when Max Verstappen sealed his second consecutive title.
In 2024, the Japanese Grand Prix will move to a new slot in April – between races in Australia and China – as part of F1’s effort to rationalise its calendar, creating a more efficient flow of races and reducing the distance that freight travels around the world as part of its journey to become net zero carbon by 2030.
This new slot will also see Formula 1 visit Japan during the world-famous cherry blossom season, offering fans the opportunity to take in fantastic racing and see one of the earth’s most iconic natural spectacles.
Last year’s Japanese Grand Prix was attended by 222,000 passionate fans across the race weekend, up from 200,000 in 2022. It also saw more than 20,000 people attend the first F1 Fan Festival in downtown Tokyo, with appearances by drivers including Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, Esteban Ocon and hometown hero Yuki Tsunoda.
Suzuka is a special circuit and part of the fabric of the sport, so I am delighted that F1 will continue to race there until at least 2029. As we prepare to return to Japan earlier than usual this season, I would like to express my huge gratitude to the promoter and team at Honda MobilityLand for supporting our effort towards greater calendar rationalisation as we look to make the sport more sustainable. Our fans in Japan embrace Formula 1 with a unique passion and we look forward to working with the promoter to give fans the experience they deserve for years to come.
Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1.
I am pleased that we will be able to continue hosting the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit from 2025 onwards. I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Stefano Domenicali and other related Formula 1 members. We aim to create a sustainable future and currently we are preparing to welcome many fans for the 2024 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix in April, the first time the event will be held in the spring season. We will continue to work together with the local communities and government agencies, including Mie Prefecture and Suzuka City, so that Suzuka can continue to be loved by fans around the world and contribute to the prosperity of motorsports culture and industrial development.
Tsuyoshi Saito, President and Representative Director of Honda Mobilityland Corporation.
Lewis Hamilton, seven-time F1 World Champion will be making a sensational switch from Mercedes to Ferrari next year on a multi-year contract.
Hamilton has raced for the Silver Arrows since the 2013 season and has won six of his seven world titles with the team, adding to the crown he achieved at McLaren earlier in his career.
Not only this, but he re-committed to Mercedes last summer, signing a new deal to keep him aboard through 2025, but he used the release clause which has allowed him to move to the Italian team.
Hamilton’s decision comes after two challenging seasons for the Brackley squad, who have struggled to adapt to F1’s latest ground effect era and have dropped behind Red Bull in the pecking order.
It means Hamilton will link up with Charles Leclerc, who recently agreed an extension with the Scuderia “beyond 2024” while Carlos Sainz will have to make way at the end of this year.
I have had an amazing 11 years with this team [Mercedes] and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together. Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old. It’s a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. But the time is right for me to take this step and I’m excited to be taking on a new challenge. I will be forever grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership and I want to finish on a high together. I am 100% committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember.
Lewis Hamilton on the news.
In terms of a team-driver pairing, our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful the sport has seen, and that’s something we can look back on with pride; Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes motorsport history. However, we knew our partnership would come to a natural end at some point, and that day has now come. We accept Lewis’s decision to seek a fresh challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to contemplate. But for now, we still have one season to go, and we are focused on going racing to deliver a strong 2024.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal and CEO.
Following today’s news, Scuderia Ferrari and myself will part ways at the end of 2024. We still have a long season ahead of us and, like always, I will give my absolute best for the team and for the Tifosi all around the world. News about my future will be announced in due course.
Pietro Fittipaldi and Oliver Bearman have been named as Haas’s reserve drivers for the upcoming F1 season, providing back-up to regular racers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.
Brazilian-American driver Fittipaldi, grandson of two-time world champion Emerson, has represented Haas since 2018, initially carrying out test duties before stepping up to reserve.
He also has two F1 starts to his name with the US-led operation, having replaced Romain Grosjean at the 2020 Sakhir and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix following the Frenchman’s crash in Bahrain.
A former Formula Renault, MRF Challenge and World Series Formula V8 3.5 champion, the 27 year old is preparing to embark on a full campaign in the IndyCar series in 2024, racing for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
Bearman meanwhile, is back by Haas’s power unit partner, Ferrari where he will hold similar reserve duties for 2024 after impressing in his rookie F2 season.
The Brit who also took part in FP1 with Haas in Mexico and Abu Dhabi last season, was back in action for Ferrari earlier this week when he took to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya aboard the 2022 specification F1-75 as part of a Pirelli tyre test.
I’m happy and proud to be going into my sixth season with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team. I’m looking forward to continuing our work in development and supporting the team in the best way I can throughout the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.
Fittipaldi on the news.
I’m really happy to be part of MoneyGram Haas F1 Team for the upcoming season. I had a great experience last year working with everyone at the team and I’m looking forward to building on that this year. There are several events I’ll be doing FP1s at – alongside the reserve duties, which is exciting. I’m grateful to Haas F1 Team and Scuderia Ferrari for their faith and for supporting me.
Bearman on the news.
Oliver did a tremendous job for us last season settling in well and working through both his FP1 run programs in Mexico and Abu Dhabi and then with his test program. We’re looking forward to giving him the opportunity for more outings in FP1 in 2024 – with testing at a premium this is key running time, both for us to evaluate Oliver’s progress but also to enable him seat time in a Formula 1 car. Having Pietro with us for a sixth season is valuable as he again provides continuity and he’s been a great contributor to our program over the years – both on and off-track. We’re excited he’s landed a full-time IndyCar ride this season, so he can do what he loves to do – and that’s to race, but he’s there for us too as part of the Haas family.
Formula 1 has rejected Andretti’s bid to join the grid as an 11th team in the 2025 or 2026 seasons, but the door remains ajar to a potential entry in 2028 for the American team.
Andretti’s bid, which has been headed up by former McLaren driver, Michael Andretti and his father Mario, the 1978 world champion, had been passed to F1 for commercial considerations after its application had passed the first two stages of the application process, which were run by the FIA, the sport’s governing body, in October.
But Formula One Management, as the sport’s commercial rights holder, had the final say, and after several months of detailed analysis into submission, has announced that Andretti’s application has not passed the final test for entry, at least for now.
Our assessment process has established that the presence of an 11th team would not, on its own, provide value to the Championship. The most significant way in which a new entrant would bring value is by being competitive. We do not believe that the applicant would be a competitive participant. The need for any new team to take a compulsory power unit supply, potentially over a period of several seasons, would be damaging to the prestige and standing of the Championship.
F1 explaining the steps it took to review Andretti’s case and the reason for its conclusion on the matter.
Andretti have since released a statement strongly disagreeing with the conclusions reached by Formula 1.
Andretti Cadillac has reviewed the information Formula One Management Limited has shared and strongly disagree with its contents. Andretti and Cadillac are two successful global motorsports organizations committed to placing a genuine American works team in F1, competing alongside the world’s best. We are proud of the significant progress we have already made on developing a highly competitive car and power unit with an experienced team behind it, and our work continues at pace. Andretti Cadillac would also like to acknowledge and thank the fans who have expressed their support.
Andretti on the news.
The door to entry has however, been left open for 2028 by F1 on the provision that General Motors, the American car giant whose Cadillac brand had been backing Andretti’s entry, joined the bid as full works team or customer team.
Sauber has expanded their roster of young drivers for 2024 after revealing that Formula 2 racer, Zane Maloney is joining the team’s development programme.
A former British Formula 4 champion, and FIA Formula 3 runner-up, Maloney makes the move to the Swiss operation after leaving Red Bull’s own junior team, having placed 10th in last year’s F2 standings with four podiums to his name.
In addition to bolstering Sauber’s talent pool, the 20 year old Barbadian racer will take on the role of reserve driver for the F1 team at several Grands Prix during the upcoming season, where he will share duties with fellow Sauber Academy member and reigning F2 champion Theo Pourchaire.
Maloney will continue in F2 for a second season this year, sticking with the Rodin Motorsport team which is now supported by the Sauber Academy.
I am honoured to join the Sauber Academy, and to take on the role of one of [Sauber’s] reserve drivers. The Sauber name resonates with Formula 1, as it has been part of the sport for over 30 years, paving the way for so many drivers who went on to achieve great success. I am pleased to become part of this family, and I am looking forward to working together this season, as I move closer to my goal of becoming a Formula 1 driver.
Maloney on the news.
We are delighted to welcome Zane as the latest addition to the Sauber Academy. His path through the junior series has been remarkable so far and, with his speed and potential, he surely makes a great addition to our talented roster. On behalf of the whole team, I give him my warmest welcome onboard, and look forward to working together and achieving great success.
Ferrari have announced that Oliver Bearman and Arthur Leclerc will step up to respective reserve and development driver roles for the 2024 season, providing extra support to the iconic F1 team.
Bearman will share the reserve role with former F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi and Robert Shwartzman ready to step in should either Leclerc or Sainz be unable to race.
Arthur Leclerc, meanwhile joins Antonio Fuoco and Davide Rigon in the development driver ranks, which includes working in the simulator, car development, set up works and any updates throughout the season.
After an impressive rookie season that saw him take four race wins, six podium finishes and placed sixth in the championship standings, British driver Bearman will stay in F2 for a sophomore campaign with Prema Racing this year.
As for Leclerc, brother of Charles, the Monegasque will move from the single-seater category to the Italian GT Championship, having recently left the Ferrari Driver Academy but stayed within the manufacturer’s overall set-up.
Red Bull have become the 10th and final team to unveil their car for the 2024 Formula 1 season.
Ahead of their title defence in the year ahead, the RB20 was revealed to the world at the squad’s Milton Keynes base on Thursday, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez amongst the team members on hand as their new challenger was revealed.
There are no surprises in terms of livery, with the car continuing to carry the traditional navy blue colour scheme. The team has opted for a more aggressive concept, they will also be hoping for no big changes in regard to their car’s level of performance.
Its predecessor, the RB19, enjoyed unprecedented levels of success in 2023, netting victory in all but one of the 22 Grands Prix. With Verstappen taking 19 of those 22 wins as he sealed his third drivers’ title in Qatar with several races to spare.
The Dutchman ended the campaign with a 290 point advantage over second place Perez. Whereas in the constructors’ championship, Red Bull racked up a staggering 451 more points than nearest challengers Mercedes.
Verstappen was given his first chance to get behind the wheel this week, as they had a shakedown at Silverstone.
It does look a bit different. I think the team definitely pushed on quite a bit from last year and I think that’s very positive. I’m just looking forward to get to Bahrain, start testing and really see what the car is capable of.
Verstappen on the RB20.
You can see that the team has done an incredible job. We’ve gone very aggressive with the concept, so I’m looking forward to it. I find it great from Red Bull that we’ve had such a dominant car last year, that we just changed completely our concept. It’s something that I think requires a lot of hunger in the team, to keep pushing all the boundaries. [It] will be interesting to see how everything feels on track.
Mercedes became the penultimate team to launch for 2024 by revealing their new F1 car with a new livery.
After McLaren showed an online presentation of their 2024 car, Mercedes posted digital renders of the W15 on their social media, with an on track shakedown after.
Mercedes joined McLaren on track at Silverstone for some initial running with their new car before heading off to Bahrain for pre-season testing next week.
The team will be hoping to take a step forward in 2024 in what will be Lewis Hamilton’s final season with the team. He will again be joined by George Russell as his teammate, with the Brit entering his third campaign as a Silver Arrows driver.
After a difficult 2022 season amid the introduction of the new ground effect era in the sport, Mercedes initially stuck with their car concept entering into 2023. However, when their issues continued last season, the team started on what they called a “period of renewal”, which should put them in a new direction.
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. As the saying goes: when it stings, it sticks. I believe the previous two years were necessary for us to readjust, recalibrate and reinvent ourselves in certain areas.That root-and-branch approach is never easy. But we’ve made progress and look forward to taking the next step with the W15. It won’t be a linear path, but when we stumble, we will get back up and keep climbing.
Toto Wolff on the struggles over the past few years.
Ferrari have kept the F1 launch season rolling by showing off their eagerly anticipated new challenger in an online presentation.
Following swiftly in the footsteps of Aston Martin, the famous Italian marque virtually unveiled their SF-24 – which continues Ferrari’s recent naming tradition – via a special video and series of images.
It keeps the traditional red livery and has white and yellow stripes throughout the car. Ferrari hope it marks a return to title contention as they hunt for their first constructors’ championship since 2008 and first drivers’ crown since 2007.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will remain as teammates for a fourth consecutive season this year, however the build up to the new campaign has been dominated by the news of Lewis Hamilton joining the Italian team next year.
This means, that Sainz has had to make way for the 7 time world champion, which leaves him without a seat as Leclerc has just signed a new deal.
For now, the focus will be on the 24-race season ahead and taking another step forward with SF-24 package after Ferrari claimed the only non-Red Bull victory of 2023 in Frederic Vasseur’s first term as team boss.
Presenting a new car to the world for the first time is always a very exciting moment for me and the drivers, even if we are all already thinking about the moment we will go head to head with our rivals on track. This year, we must start off where we left off at the end of last season, when we were consistent front runners, with a view to constantly improving in all areas. The longest ever Formula 1 season awaits us and Charles, Carlos and I all agree, we must be more clinical and effective in how we manage the races, making bold choices, in order to get the best possible result at every Grand Prix. It’s often said that your fans can give you an extra gear and that will definitely be true in what will be a very closely contested championship and we are proud to know we can count on our ‘tifosi’ from around the world.
Another contract extension is here, and this time it’s Lando Norris and McLaren, with the Brit committed his long-term future agreeing an extended multi-year contract.
The Brit took six second-place finishes in 2023 on his way to sixth in the drivers’ standings in what was his most competitive season since he made his F1 debut in 2019.
Norris’s contract was set to expire at the end of 2025 – having signed a four-year agreement in February 2022 – but following another strong campaign, both parties have moved to extend that stay. After team mate Oscar Piastri signed a new deal last September, Norris’s new agreement will see McLaren run an unchanged line-up for at least the next three seasons.
The news came just a day after Charles Leclerc signed a new multi-year deal to extend his stay at Ferrari.
McLaren hope to bring the fight to Red Bull this season, and with their drivers locked in for the next few seasons they will aim to do so.
It’s a great feeling to be staying in papaya. I’ve grown up with McLaren and feel at home here, the team are like family to me. The journey so far has been exciting, we’ve had ups and downs, but last season showed our desire to get back to competing at the front of the grid. The work Zak [Brown, McLaren Racing CEO], Andrea [Stella, McLaren Team Principal] and the whole team have put in over the last year has been incredible and I’m confident in challenging for wins with McLaren. I’m excited to create more amazing memories and continue working hard with everyone at MTC for the next few years.
Norris on the news.
I’m delighted that we’re continuing our relationship with Lando for multiple years to come. It’s been a fantastic journey over the last six years, and he has shown fantastic commitment and desire to push the team forward and get McLaren back to the front of the grid. Last season we saw the fundamental role Lando played with the impressive turnaround in results and I’m looking forward to continuing this push forward together with lots more podiums.
Brown on the news.
I’m pleased to confirm the extension of our partnership with Lando on a multi-year contract beyond 2025. This reflects the commitment and confidence we have together, with our shared ambition to ultimately win championships again in the future. Lando has grown as a driver and a person since initially joining McLaren in 2017. He impressed last season, playing an important role in our progress throughout the year, securing seven podiums with many fantastic drives. Alongside Oscar, our exciting driver pairing will play an instrumental part in our objective to move towards the front of the grid. They have impressed in their first season together and I’m looking forward to continuing the hard work with them both on this exciting journey.
Ferrari and Charles Leclerc have agreed a fresh contract extension, with the Monegasque continuing to race for the Italian team beyond the end of 2024.
Leclerc has enjoyed a long relationship with the Scuderia, having first joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016. After making his F1 debut with Sauber in 2018, he became a full-time member of the Ferrari team a year later and from there he has grabbed five race wins, as well as claiming 23 pole positions.
Now the partnership looks set to continue for several more years as Leclerc remains set on his aim of winning his first world championship with Ferrari.
Leclerc will enter into his sixth season as a Ferrari driver in 2024, where he will again by joined by team mate Carlos Sainz, who is contracted to the team until the end of the year.
The Italian outfit will launch their new challenger on February 13th, ahead of pre-season testing taking place in from February 21st-23rd in Sakhir before the first race of the season a week later.
I’m very pleased to know that I will be wearing the Scuderia Ferrari race suit for several more seasons to come. To race for this team has been my dream since I was three years old: I used to watch the Monaco Grand Prix from the window of a friend’s apartment at Ste. Devote corner and I would always look out for the red cars. This team is my second family ever since I joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 and we have achieved a lot together, fighting through thick and thin over the past five years. However, I believe the best is yet to come and I can’t wait for this season to start, to make further progress and be competitive at every race. My dream remains that of winning the World Championship with Ferrari and I’m sure that in the years ahead, we will enjoy great times together and make our fans happy.
Charles on his new contract.
Charles’ bond to the Scuderia goes beyond that of just a driver and a team, as he has been part of the Ferrari family for eight years now, dating back to a time before he first sported the Prancing Horse emblem on his race suit. His values and those of our team are intertwined and so it was natural for us to be in agreement on extending our collaboration. We know him for his incessant desire to push himself to the limit and we appreciate his extraordinary abilities when it comes to fighting and overtaking in a race. We are determined to give Charles a winning car and I know that his determination and commitment are elements that can make the difference in helping us reach our goals.
Aston Martin have become the latest team to show off their new car for the 2024 season. Following on from Haas, Williams, Kick Sauber, Alpine and RB.
Owner, Lawrence Stroll, Team Principal Mike Krack, Technical Director Dan Fallows and drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were all on hand for the unveiling of the AMR24, which once again sports a British racing green livery.
Aston Martin will head into the new campaign hoping to make a similar start to 2023, when a productive winter of development saw them shoot up the pecking order and emerge as Red Bull’s nearest challengers.
However, the added challenge for 2024 will to be achieve this level on a consistent basis, having gradually faded away as last season wore on.
F1’s launch season will continue this week as Ferrari present their new car tomorrow, followed by Mercedes and McLaren on Wednesday and Red Bull Thursday. Coincidentally, it is those four teams Aston Martin will be hoping to mix it with more frequently in 2024 as they aim to improve on their fifth place classification in last year’s constructors’ standings.
We have tried to focus on all areas of our predecessor, the AMR23, which had a great season, full of positives, last year. But then we have not left any stone unturned. We have really tried to look at every area, be it the car, be it the operations, be it reliability, to make a step forward in all directions. It has been very intense over the couple of months since we finished the [last] season and we hope we have done enough. We are sure that we will have a strong contender.
Mike Krack.
We have managed to make a step on last year’s car. We’re very pleased with what we’ve been able to achieve. Really, it’s the first step, and this season we want to make sure we’ve got a good platform for development. That’s what we’ve been really focusing on and I think we’ve managed to achieve that. We’ve made changes all over the car. It’s very different in many ways and the majority of the parts have changed on it. But it is really still essentially a strong evolution of last year’s car, so we have kind of built on the end of AMR23. The obvious things you’ll see that are different are things like the front nose and front wing, the bodywork is different, but there’s also quite a lot under the hood which hopefully you won’t see! We will obviously try and keep some of that under wraps.
Jordan's Track Talk 