The end of the summer break is almost in sight. Here are the stories making headlines as we head into F1’s final race-free week!
As quickly as it came, the mandatory two-week closure of F1 factories ends later this week. There are only seven days left until the start of race week for the Dutch Grand Prix! Catch up on all the latest F1 news…
Former F1 driver suggests details about Adrian Newey Aston Martin
Robert Doornbos, former F1 driver and current sports reporter at Viaplay, has revealed what he believes to be the terms of Adrian Newey’s new contract with Aston Martin.
Following the Italian government’s report last week AutoSprintDoornboss took to social media to present the facts as he sees them – an official confirmation from the Silverstone-based team is still pending.
“Newey was a top priority for Aston Martin and the deal is now complete,” said Doornbos.
“Newey will earn $100 million in three years, double his Red Bull salary, and will have a major influence on technical decisions.
“Aston Martin probably attracted him with its state-of-the-art factory, completed last year, and its advanced technology, which includes a new wind tunnel.
“The official announcement is expected in September.”
Read more – Report: Big $100 million deal with Adrian Newey now “completed”, “huge contribution” made
Fred Vasseur believes Ferrari will be operating outside its “comfort zone” in 2024
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur believes the Scuderia was successful in one important area last year – being bolder and taking opportunities and risks in areas where this had not been the case in the past.
“We have become more aggressive,” he said Car Motor and Sport of the last 12 months.
Vasseur pointed to a rival team that proved to be a source of inspiration for this change of heart.
“For me, this new attitude had a formative impact like nothing else,” he says.
“It means daring to step out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s the amount of fuel you need for the race, the weight, the cooling or the setup of the car. In my opinion, that was one of Red Bull’s biggest assets.”
Read more – Ferrari responds after Red Bull’s ‘big’ trump card is discovered
Mercedes made ‘Zeropod’ admission after concept change for 2024 led to understanding
After Mercedes unveiled a daring “zero sidepod” concept with its 2022 machine, a concept it continued to pursue for 2023 – with limited success – it abandoned the idea for 2024.
Andrew Shovlin is convinced that with today’s knowledge, Mercedes would have been able to get the ‘Zeropod’ working after the Brackley-based team made great progress this season and familiarised themselves with the ground effect regulations.
“Yes, in the sense that any team that knew what it knows now could go back to 2021 and try again,” he told select media, including PlanetF1.comin Belgium.
“They would have the fastest car because every team had to go through a profound learning phase.
“In that sense, we could have made those sidepods work.”
Read more – Mercedes Zero-Pod Regrets? How a Flawed Design Concept Could Have Worked
Is Max Verstappen’s radio attitude frustrating Red Bull?
After showing his more temperamental side on team radio in Hungary, Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan has now shed some light on the way Max Verstappen’s communication style is received in the garage.
“Maybe I think Max sets a pretty high bar for both himself and us,” Monaghan said in a joint interview including PlanetF1.com.
“Last year and in the races this year he has reached a level that the others have not been able to reach so far. And so if he feels that we are not meeting his high standards, we can expect comments like this.”
Read more – Behind the scenes: How Red Bull sees Max Verstappen’s blunt radio messages
FIA confirms rule change for F1 2026
After the FIA had already introduced a mandatory parts supply from BBS at the beginning of the current regulation cycle at the same time as the switch to 18-inch wheels, it is now opening up a new area in which the teams can decide for themselves when it comes to suppliers.
The change is unlikely to make a significant difference in terms of development costs or competitiveness, but will open up commercial opportunities for teams.
Read more – Further restructuring for F1 2026 looms as FIA confirms latest rule change
