Sad News: Red Bull Best Driver Has Been Accident’When He Was Trying To…
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has insisted the team’s new car is “completely different” from Red Bull-designed machinery.
The Woking-based outfit enjoyed a productive test despite a scattering of gremlins across the three days of running at the Bahrain International Circuit, with fortunes far improved compared to pre-season in the previous two years.
McLaren’s MCL38 is an evolution of the car it finished last season with, a concept seemingly based heavily on the dominant Red Bull RB19, which saw a huge turnaround in performance when initially introduced at the Austrian Grand Prix with Lando Norris.
Yet despite the distinctive features displayed on the new car, Stella has downplayed the likeliness to F1’s Constructors’ champion.
“It is completely different,” Stella told media including RacingNews365 when asked about similarities to Red Bull.
“Let’s say there are some areas of the car in the launch specification that have significantly evolved compared to last year – some of them very noticeable.
“There are some other areas that are only incrementally improved, but we see in development, there is actually quite a lot of potential that we didn’t exploit in time to put on the launch car.
“It has nothing to do with a major redesign which would be required to achieve what Red Bull has done. Ok, we are confident in our development, we are confident in the concepts we have in the car, but if anything, it is a matter of how far you are in the journey.
“Clearly, they have been ahead in the tourney and they sort of keep this margin in terms of where they are positioned.”
The nominations for the awards come following a dominant season in F1 for the partnership.
The Dutchman secured a third F1 Drivers’ title in sublime fashion last season, breaking his own record for most wins in a single season.
Verstappen, who won the 2022 award following his first championship triumph, is shortlisted alongside tennis star Novak Djokovic, Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, sprinter Noah Lyles and Argentine superstar Lionel Messi – who won the award last year.
The 75th Formula 1 world championship will officially begin this weekend with the first grand prix of the 2024 season in Bahrain – the first of a record 24 rounds.
In almost every respect, Red Bull enter the new season in strong shape. They produced one of the most successful seasons any team has ever enjoyed in the history of the sport last year. Through pre-season testing they never seemed to break a sweat, leaving an impression they have plenty of untapped potential in the new RB20.
But off-track the team’s leadership is under huge pressure. Three weeks ago owners Red Bull Austria confirmed they had initiated an independent investigation into long-time team principal Christian Horner due to allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
Heading into the week of the first grand prix of the season, the investigation remains open with no conclusion and no action taken. Horner has consistently denied any allegations against him and has remained active in his role throughout the investigation, telling media including RaceFans that it was “business as usual” for him and the team.
However Horner also admitted the situation has been a distraction. Its impact on the team will be much greater if the investigation concludes he should not remain in his position.
In the meantime there is considerable disquiet over the length of time Red Bull is taking to conclude its investigation. Formula One Management have stated their eagerness to see a resolution and yesterday it emerged Red Bull’s future engine partner Ford has been leaning on them as well.
After losing the drivers’ title in brutal circumstances at the end of the 2021 season, Mercedes vowed to strike back with a vengeance as the sport entered a brand new era of ground effect downforce for 2022.
However, in back-to-back seasons, the multiple world champions have not been able to offer a challenge to fierce rivals Red Bull. While Red Bull have won 38 of the 44 grands prix held under the current technical regulations, Mercedes have been victorious only once.
After failing to make a winner out of their second attempt at their aerodynamic concept introduced in 2022, Mercedes have abandoned it entirely in favour of a more Red Bull styled approach. But while they are set to race it for the first time this weekend, their rivals have two years’ of experience and development under their belts with it. Will Mercedes leave Bahrain with a smile or a grimace on their faces this year?
For the first time in many decades, the Formula 1 season will not be starting on a Sunday. Rather, this week’s Bahrain Grand Prix will take place on Saturday evening, local time, with qualifying on Friday and opening practice on Thursday.
It is the second time in the last three grands prix that the race will run on a Saturday, following the alternative schedule that was first used at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the penultimate round of last season.
The move a day earlier is due to the start of Ramadan which is set to begin immediately following the weekend of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. With the race in Jeddah moving to a Saturday and the FIA’s regulations insisting there be at least a seven day separation between races on the calendar, Bahrain has been moved a day earlier to accommodate.
While the different schedule will make no material difference to proceedings, it’s almost certain to catch out some fans who will naturally expect the season-opener on Sunday. Make sure you don’t become one of them.
Last year was especially difficult, as Lando Norris had to make several pit stops over the race to top up his cars pneumatic due to a leak, finishing over two laps down. His debutante team mate Oscar Piastri also was unable to enjoy his first ever grand prix, retiring after just 13 laps with an electrical failure.
McLaren’s end to the 2023 season will give them plenty of reason to feel more confident heading into the new year, while they successfully covered more ground in the three-days of testing last week than they had at the previous two Bahrain tests. Will they finally start the season on a strong note?
