F1 2023

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Red Bull ‘expected to sign deal with Ford’ ahead of 2023 car launch​

Formula 1 is often the home of numerous massive car brands, with the likes of Ford, Honda and Audi making up the past, present and future of the sport. Ford have been a large part of Formula 1’s rich history, being involved in Cosworth engines and being a part of the Jaguar team until 2004, where they left the sport supposedly for good. Rumours are now ramping up that the car manufacturer could reverse its decision and return to Formula 1 with Red Bull, with 2026 being the year this it could come to fruition. Red Bull Powertrains will be the Red Bull’s official engine provider under the new regulations in 2026 and Ford are reportedly in talks with the team over badging the team’s power units.

Ford performance boss Mark Rushbrook has refused to confirm Ford’s exact plans for the future but has admitted that the growth of F1 makes it an appealing project. “Formula 1 is certainly strong and growing, both in the United States and globally,” he told Motorsport.com. “What they have done well is create great racing and great competition. It’s still the pinnacle, but they’ve been able to reach new audiences with things like ‘Drive to Survive. As a company we go racing for innovation, tech transfer, the learning opportunity, but also for marketing reasons as well. It’s shifted for sure, and it definitely requires consideration. We don’t comment on speculation, but it’s the same with all these series that are out there. It’s our responsibility to study them and understand them, and then make decisions on whether it makes sense or doesn’t make sense.”

There is some controversy surrounding Red Bull’s plans under the new engine regulations, with Ferrari in particular raising their concerns to the FIA. As Red Bull Powertrains will technically be a new entrant under the new rules, they will be entitled to the bonuses than new team receive, such as extra testing time. Ferrari argue that this is not fair as the team have all of their understanding from their years with Honda, meaning that these bonuses would give them and extra unfair advantage. These extra benefits are designed to help the likes of Audi, who will be completely new to Formula 1 when they enter the sport in 2026.

 

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F1 bosses want to get rid of Mohammed Ben Sulayem, with replacement lined up​

F1 bosses reportedly want to oust FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and already have a potential successor lined up. F1's owners Liberty Media want Ben Sulayem removed from his position as head of the governing body amid an escalating civil war between the two parties, according to a report by Sport1. Former BAR and Benetton team principal and Motorsport UK chairman David Richards has been suggested as a replacement. The 70-year-old Briton is supposedly “not averse” to the idea.

However, in order for Ben Sulayem to be overthrown, “real misconduct” must be proved, as per Sport1. Ben Sulayem has found himself at the centre of several controversies since taking over from Jean Todt in December 2021. The FIA was forced to defend Ben Sulayem on Friday after sexist remarks attributed to the president were published by The Times. Ben Sulayem is quoted on an archived version of his old website saying he does “not like women who think they are smarter than men.”

An FIA spokesperson responded: "The remarks in this archived website from 2001 do not reflect the president's beliefs. He has a strong record on promoting women and equality in sport, which he is happy to be judged on. It was a central part of his manifesto and actions taken this year and the many years he served as vice-president for sport prove this.” F1 also accused Ben Sulayem of making “unacceptable” comments about the value of the sport in an explosive letter to the FIA. The two parties remain at loggerheads over several topics, including the potential future expansion of the F1 grid.

 

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F1 bosses want to get rid of Mohammed Ben Sulayem, with replacement lined up​

F1 bosses reportedly want to oust FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and already have a potential successor lined up. F1's owners Liberty Media want Ben Sulayem removed from his position as head of the governing body amid an escalating civil war between the two parties, according to a report by Sport1. Former BAR and Benetton team principal and Motorsport UK chairman David Richards has been suggested as a replacement. The 70-year-old Briton is supposedly “not averse” to the idea.

However, in order for Ben Sulayem to be overthrown, “real misconduct” must be proved, as per Sport1. Ben Sulayem has found himself at the centre of several controversies since taking over from Jean Todt in December 2021. The FIA was forced to defend Ben Sulayem on Friday after sexist remarks attributed to the president were published by The Times. Ben Sulayem is quoted on an archived version of his old website saying he does “not like women who think they are smarter than men.”

An FIA spokesperson responded: "The remarks in this archived website from 2001 do not reflect the president's beliefs. He has a strong record on promoting women and equality in sport, which he is happy to be judged on. It was a central part of his manifesto and actions taken this year and the many years he served as vice-president for sport prove this.” F1 also accused Ben Sulayem of making “unacceptable” comments about the value of the sport in an explosive letter to the FIA. The two parties remain at loggerheads over several topics, including the potential future expansion of the F1 grid.

I'm not fully up to speed on who is pushing what agenda within the FIA but I would bet a pound to a penny he is the driving force behind the clamp down on driver's political statements. So he can do one as far as I'm concerned.

 

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This is the new livery look for Haas 2023​

This is reported to be the new look for Haas, not the 2023 car that will come later

 

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George Russell and Lewis Hamilton kick off 2023 track action with tyre test​

Mercedes have headed to Paul Ricard for a two-day test of Pirelli’s 2023 tyre compounds, with both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in action. Paul Ricard plays host to the first meaningful track action of the 2023 Formula 1 season, as Pirelli are carrying out the first of three planned tyre tests ahead of the start of official pre-season testing. As revealed in November 2022, Pirelli have worked with the FIA to put together some additional tyre testing for their 2023 compounds, having been unable to fit in enough sessions during the frantic second half of the 2022 schedule. All 10 F1 teams are offered the opportunity to carry out tests on behalf of Pirelli over the course of the season, with Mercedes carrying out a two-day test at Paul Ricard on February 1st and 2nd.

George Russell will take the wheel of the Mercedes W13 for Wednesday’s track time, with seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton getting the opportunity to blow off the winter cobwebs on Thursday. Pirelli’s plan for the two days is to further evaluate and learn about their dry-weather compounds, while AlphaTauri head to Paul Ricard for two days of wet-weather running on February 3rd and 4th. The third and final test will take place at Jerez in southern Spain on February 7th and 8th, with Mercedes and Aston Martin testing the dry compounds. Meanwhile, in Barcelona, McLaren have also kicked off their 2023 track action, albeit with the 2020 car – Lando Norris is carrying out a pre-season warm-up with the MCL35M at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Why are Pirelli holding extra tyre testing?

Speaking to media in Abu Dhabi at the end of November, Pirelli’s head of motorsport Mario Isola explained why the extra test sessions are required. “We realised it was impossible with the 2022 calendar, and also with next year’s calendar, to organise all the test sessions we needed,” he said. “In the regulations, we can use the current cars until December 15 and from February 1 to the first race of next year’s championship, using the 2022 cars. They cannot use the tests in February to develop the 2023 car.” Isola confirmed that, as the rules decree, the FIA are sending an observer to each test to ensure the configuration and parts used on the cars have been used in a grand prix during 2022 – teams are not permitted to carry out any setup experimentation or introduce new parts.

 

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FIA invites applications for up to two new teams to enter F1 from 2025​

The FIA has started the process for up to two new teams to enter F1 as early as 2025. F1’s governing body announced on Thursday “the official launch of an application process to identify prospective teams seeking to participate at a competitive level in the FIA Formula One World Championship”. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem revealed at the start of the year that he was planning to launch a formal process for expressions of interest for perspective new teams in F1. The FIA intend to identify “one or more new F1 teams” to enter the world championship from the start of the 2025, 2026 or 2027 season.

All applications will be assessed on technical capabilities, experience, funding and resources, as well as addressing how they would manage F1’s sustainability challenge and plans to be net zero carbon by 2030. They would also be required to “illustrate how they intend to achieve a positive societal impact through its participation in the sport” to help meet “the mutual aims of the FIA and Formula One Management.” Prospective applications would need to pay a non-refundable $20,000 admin fee when expressing interest. The deadline for formal applications is April 30 with a decision expected to be made by June 30 at the latest.

Speaking about the launch of the process, Ben Sulayam said: “The growth and appeal of the FIA Formula One World Championship is at unprecedented levels. The FIA believes the conditions are right for interested parties, which meet the selection criteria, to express a formal interest in entering the Championship. For the first time ever, as part of the selection conditions, we are requesting that candidates set out how they would meet the FIA’s sustainability benchmarks and how they would make a positive societal impact through sport. The process is a logical extension of the positive acceptance of the FIA’s 2026 F1 Power Unit Regulations from engine manufacturers which has attracted Audi to Formula 1 and created interest among other potential entrants.”

The FIA has shown support towards Andretti’s proposed entry alongside Cadillac, though they are yet to win over current teams or F1 owners Liberty Media. It comes at a time of growing tensions between F1 and the FIA amid several controversies surrounding Ben Sulayem.

 

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McLaren complete Schumacher hat-trick with Mick reserve deal...sort of​

The union of a Schumacher and McLaren may seem like a somewhat unholy partnership but it isn't as uncomment as you may have thought. Mick Schumacher signed as the reserve driver to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell at Mercedes after Haas elected against fielding the German for a third season, instead replacing him with Nico Hulkenberg. In a move that came as little surprise, McLaren confirmed on Wednesday that Schumacher would also act as its reserve option, a move that mirrors previous campaigns with Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne previously shared by Mercedes. There will, of course, be those that salivate at the thought of seeing a Schumacher driving a McLaren given the historic rivalry between seven-time champion Michael Schumacher and the outfit. However, this would not be the first time that a Schumacher has featured in a McLaren.

Michael Schumacher's McLaren assist
The oldest Schumacher to have featured in F1 never actually drove for McLaren and instead spent much of his time at Ferrari battling the team for championship honours. But you could have been forgiven for thinking that he had, in fact, driven for the team on one occasion. This confusion was caused at the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix when the damp conditions caused David Coulthard's visor to fog during the morning warmup. As he and Schumacher shared helmet suppliers, Coulthard approached the Ferrari driver with a request to borrow a helmet for the race. Although Schumacher's personal sponsors had to be covered, as both Ferrari and McLaren were sponsored by the same cigarette brand, minimal changes were required and this resulted in the bizarre illusion of the German being in another car.

Ralf Schumacher tests for McLaren
Also in 1996, McLaren granted a test to the younger brother of Michael, Ralf Schumacher. The future race winner was at the time involved in talks with McLaren, Jordan, Benetton and Ligier about a potential drive for the following season, the former clearly demonstrating its interest in granting the test. Schumacher completed 79 laps for the team at Silverstone and made his F1 debut the following year with Jordan.

 

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Ford Returns To Formula 1​

Automotive giant Ford will return to Formula 1 in 2026, the company confirmed on Friday, ahead of an expected tie-up with Red Bull Racing. The partnership, which is poised to be announced later today, is set to bring Ford back into association with a team that it previously operated in Formula 1. Ford’s return was announced ahead of the launch of Red Bull’s 2023 season in New York City on Friday. “This is the start of a thrilling new chapter in Ford’s motorsports story that began when my great-grandfather won a race that helped launch our company,” said Bill Ford, executive chair. “Ford is returning to the pinnacle of the sport, bringing Ford’s long tradition of innovation, sustainability and electrification to one of the world’s most visible stages.”

“The news today that Ford is coming to Formula 1 from 2026 is great for the sport, and we are excited to see them join the incredible automotive partners already in Formula 1,” said Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. “We believe that our sport provides the opportunity and reach unlike any other and we cannot wait for the Ford logo to be racing around F1’s iconic circuits from 2026.” Ford had a major presence in Formula 1 from the late 1960s and the Cosworth DFV V8 engine it funded was the most successful in history. Its last victory came in 2003, when Ford was engine supplier to Jordan.

Ford also had a brief five-year spell as a constructor from 2000 through 2004 after acquiring the Stewart Grand Prix team and running it under the Jaguar Racing marque. The team was never able to lift itself from Formula 1’s midfield and peaked with a handful of podiums. Ford withdrew from Formula 1 after 2004 and sold the team to Red Bull. Red Bull has since gone on to establish itself as a Formula 1 front-runner and last year cruised to both world titles.

The arrangement between Red Bull and Ford is set to begin in 2026, when Formula 1 will introduce new engine regulations, which will feature fully sustainable fuels and an increase of electrical power. Ford is set to provide its expertise and funding to Red Bull Powertrains, with the power units supplied to Red Bull and AlphaTauri named under the Blue Oval badge. Red Bull Powertrains’ power unit for the 2026 regulations will be the first designed in-house by the company.

Red Bull has been seeking opportunities to partner with a manufacturer in the wake of Honda’s official exit at the end of 2021 – though the Japanese marque has retained a presence. Honda has continued to collaborate with the Red Bull Powertrains company which Red Bull set up ahead of the 2022 season, and Red Bull will continue to run those power units through the current regulatory cycle that runs until 2025. Red Bull was in discussions with Porsche over a collaboration from 2026 for several months but the two parties could not reach an agreement due to control issues, while it is also understood that talks were held with Honda.

 

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‘Everyone thinks he’s got to go’ – F1 team bosses criticise Ben Sulayem​

Formula 1 Team Principals are calling for Mohammed Ben Sulayem to be replaced as the president of the FIA amid a series of controversies. That’s according to BBC Sport, with some team bosses expressing their dissatisfaction over Ben Sulayem’s position. “Everyone thinks he’s got to go,” an anonymous F1 team boss told BBC. “That is definitely the general view.” F1 squads and the FIA are at odds over expanding the grid beyond 10 teams amid interest from various new parties, with the FIA opening the formal application process on Thursday.

The anonymous boss stated that Andretti Global’s possible F1 entry was one of many “irritants”. F1 is also unhappy after Ben Sulayem took to Twitter to label an alleged $20 billion price tag on the sport as “inflated”, which resulted in lawyers issuing a letter to the FIA accusing Ben Sulayem of over-stepping his remit. Old comments made on Ben Sulayem’s personal website from 2001 resurfaced recently, in which he is quoted as saying he does “not like women who think they are smarter than men”.

A senior F1 source told BBC “there has been widespread disgust” over the comment. “Those kind of comments bring down CEOs every day,” the individual added. “What he really should be doing is back-pedalling and apologising ‘I made those comments 21 years ago. I regret them,’ … whatever he wants to say.” Another F1 ‘insider’ suggested to BBC that his position is currently hanging by a thread. “What will be interesting will be does he change his game at all? If he makes one more mis-step, I don’t know how he survives.” Another said: “[This] is going to be pretty interesting even the dynamic between [F1 president] Stefano [Domenicali] and Mohammed. I get the sense they will come in not aligned.”

Motorsport UK, a governing body that is recognised by the FIA, issued a statement to BBC when asked if it thought Ben Sulayem was still fit to be president. “Motorsport should be an environment where everyone can participate, spectate, or volunteer their time in an inclusive environment that is safe, fair and fun,” they said. ”There is a great deal more to be done in changing the culture within the sport to ensure that motorsport is more representative of society’s demographics and champions best behaviours. For any queries or comments on the FIA, please speak directly to their media office.”

Ben Sulayem took up the position of FIA president in December 2021, replacing Jean Todt.

 

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Red Bull reveal 2023 RB19​

 

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Will Honda officially return to F1 in 2026?​

Red Bull and Ford‘s announcement as engine partners on Friday from the 2026 Formula 1 season will leave Honda on the sidelines as it stands. As was the case in 2022, Honda will still build Red Bull and AlphaTauri‘s power units for the next three seasons from their base in Sakura, Japan. This is despite the Japanese manufacturer officially leaving the sport at the end of 2021, citing the need to focus on their road car projects and carbon neutrality. Honda logos are set to feature on the new RB19, as was the case in the final five events last season from the Japanese Grand Prix onwards.

“Honda has invested significantly in hybrid technology over the course of our partnership,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner in October 2022. “This has ensured the supply of competitive power units to both teams, for which we are very grateful. Our combined goal is to continue to deliver dominant engines and achieve the most success possible in the following three years. To mark this, we look forward to welcoming the Honda logo back on to the car from Suzuka onwards.” There was speculation that Honda could rekindle their official partnership with Red Bull and AlphaTauri from 2026, instead Ford and Red Bull powertrains will combine when F1‘s new power unit regulations are introduced. So where does that leave Honda?

Williams the most realistic option
Well, look at it this way, there is absolutely no chance Honda will be supplying Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes or AlphaTauri. Alpine and Audi you would think no which leaves five teams. Aston Martin seem to be aligned with Mercedes in the automobile world at the moment so they can be ruled out too. We come to Williams which would probably be the best fit as Honda would surely have most of the say about the technical direction. They would provide investment to Williams too and should Honda get the new regulations right, only one team would reap the benefits. The pair parties have history of course, with Nelson Piquet winning the 1987 championship which was their last season together. During their five seasons together from 1983 to 1997, Williams-Honda had 23 wins and 19 pole positions.

McLaren
Surely not. Given how frosty things were during 2015 to 2017, a third attempt of the McLaren-Honda partnership would be a big surprise. Nothing official was actually said from Honda regarding whether they had a problem with McLaren themselves or Fernando Alonso, or both, but time is a heeler and Zak Brown seems like a person who is willing to do what’s best now rather than hold onto any past grudges. After all, it was Ron Dennis who put together the turbo-hybrid McLaren-Honda deal, not Brown. The reason McLaren-Honda part two happened in 2015 was because McLaren thought they couldn’t win championships with a Mercedes engine, since the German manufacturer would make a power unit that suited the characteristics of their own car. Perhaps Brown thinks going solo with Honda is the only chance McLaren have to get back to winning ways, even if the risk is high.

Andretti
Many many factors will have to come together to even consider the possibility of Andretti turning to Honda. First, Andretti have to get an entry on the grid, which is proving very tough, then you have to ask why would they choose Honda? Well the answer is they probably won’t, they will go with Renault power. Given Honda are rivals with Chevrolet in IndyCar, and the latter is part of the General Motors group, Andretti-Honda just isn’t realistic. Andretti will partner Cadillac, who are a General Motors brand, it would be a huge shock to see a Honda power unit in the back of an Andretti.

Return of Honda F1 works team
Even supplying a team with a power unit would require Honda to pump a lot of money and resources into its factory in Sakura. Considering the state of affairs in F1 and the sport’s apparent position to have manufacturers take over a current team, rather than adding a new team to the grid, a fully fledged Honda outfit seems unlikely. Honda haven’t done this since 2008 but it would be brilliant if it did happen. In fact, it’s more likely Honda won’t be involved in F1 at all when looking at their possible options which would be a massive shame. The Power of Dreams can throw up some wonderful things, so let’s hope Honda won’t be resting away from F1 in 2026.

 

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Red Bull reveal 2023 RB19​

good of them to give us a sneak peak of the rb20

 

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Williams reveals 2023 livery​

 

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Alfa Romeo reveal livery​

 

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Alfa Romeo reveal livery​

That's not very Alfa. Where is the white and green? And just the one four leaf clover? Rubbish!

 

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F1 team braced for ‘criminal consequences’ after revealing 2023 car​

Just 24 hours after revealing to the world their car for 2023, the C43, Sauber have found themselves potentially in serious trouble, with there possibly being “criminal consequences” for their actions. The Hinwil-based team have caused a stir following the announcement recently that their new title sponsor is Stake, a Curacao-registered online casino and gambling portal. The Stake logo was visible all over the C43 during its launch Tuesday morning, as the side revealed a new black and dark-red livery for the forthcoming season.

However, concerns have been raised that the team may have broken Swiss advertising laws during the launch, with the Stake branding having been so visible. With this in mind, it’s been speculated that Switzerland’s Federal Gaming Board (ESBK) might look into the outfit’s launch, with the side having been warned that if the ESBK do look into it, then it could result in severe action. “If the ESBK becomes aware of the case and initiates an investigation, it could have criminal consequences,” said Ruedi Schneider, the board’s deputy head.

According to Swiss newspaper Blick, the Stake logo actually won’t be used for the vast majority of the season, with it set to feature at a “few races”. When it doesn’t feature, the Stake logo will be replaced by the branding of Stake’s gaming livestream platform ‘Kick’. Despite the potential trouble brewing for Sauber, the outfit aren’t concerned by any speculation, with the team having been told by Stake that the company has not intentions of “targeting the Swiss market”.

“Stake confirmed to us that the company is not targeting the Swiss market with its games,” Sauber said in a statement “The domain is blocked in Switzerland and further measures are being taken to prevent Swiss users from accessing the services,” Sauber added. “As a team, we always comply with all applicable local laws and FIA regulations.”

Sauber’s overall launch was, on the whole, very slick and close to perfection in regard to a car launch, had it not been for the fact that they managed to leak their own livery. During a pre-launch conversation, pictures of the C43 appeared on the live broadcast, meaning the world knew what the car looked like, before the covers were taken off by Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.

 

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Mohammed Ben Sulayem to step back from direct Formula 1 involvement​

Motorsport boss Mohammed Ben Sulayem says he will take a step back from direct involvement in Formula 1. The 61-year-old's move comes after a series of controversies since he became president of governing body the FIA in December 2021. Ben Sulayem wrote that it had been his "stated objective to be a non-executive president via the recruitment of a team of professional managers". This step, the Emirati said, "has now largely been completed".

Despite Ben Sulayem standing for election on the pledge of being a non-executive president, he has taken a direct, hands-on role in F1 for the past year. That has led to a series of controversies, including but not limited to:

• his insistence that he personally should approve changes to the cars to prevent aerodynamic "porpoising" last summer;
• his blocking for six months of an agreement between the teams and commercial rights holder F1 to double the number of 'sprint' race weekends for 2023
• Receiving a "cease-and-desist" letter from F1's lawyers following his reaction on social media to a story claiming Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund had tried to buy the sport for $20bn
• The emergence of a historic website that quoted him making misogynistic remarks.

Ben Sulayem's letter to teams said that from now on he would "focus on strategic matters with my leadership team". Their "day-to-day contact for all matters on F1" would be the FIA director of single-seater racing Nikolas Tombazis, he said. Tombazis, formerly the head of the FIA's technical department, was given his new role last month in a restructure of the body's F1 departments.

This included the recruitment of Steve Nielsen from F1 to oversee race control, with the aim of improving its running after a series of controversies in recent years. The FIA pointed to the employment of a new chief executive officer, the former automotive executive Natalie Robyn, as central to the restructure of its operations. A spokesperson said: "The president's manifesto clearly set out this plan before he was elected - it pledged 'the appointment of an FIA CEO to provide an integrated and aligned operation,' as well as to 'introduce a revised governance framework' under 'a leadership team focused on transparency, democracy, and growth.'

"These goals, as well as the announcement of the new structure of the single-seater department, have been planned since the beginning of this Presidency. The FIA president has a wide remit that covers the breadth of global motor sport and mobility, and now that the structural reorganisation in Formula 1 is complete, this is a natural next step." The spokesperson added that Robyn, an American, would oversee F1 as part of her role, and that she "participates in [legislative body] the World Council and will be in Bahrain [at the first race of the F1

 

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Initial contact made over possible McLaren-Honda F1 reunion​

Initial contact has been made between McLaren and Honda over a possible Formula 1 reunion, as both explore their options for the 2026 engine rules. McLaren and Honda worked together at the start of the V6 turbo-hybrid era from 2015 to 2017, ending their arrangement prematurely because of poor engine performance and reliability that led to increased tensions. Honda switched to supplying the Red Bull teams instead and, after making significant progress, powered Red Bull and Max Verstappen to consecutive titles in 2021 and 2022.

Any conversations over a 2026 McLaren-Honda reunion are believed to be in an extremely early phase as Honda weighs up committing to being an engine supplier under the new regulations, and who it may partner with, and McLaren considers whether to continue as a Mercedes customer beyond 2025 or pursue a new supplier. Honda decided in 2020 to officially quit F1 at the end of 2021 because of a company decision to focus financial and technical resources on developing carbon neutral technologies for its automotive business but agreed to keep supplying engines to Red Bull’s two teams until the end of 2025.

The Japanese manufacturer started to have a change of heart about walking away, though, partly because it got a new CEO between deciding to leave and officially withdrawing but also because of the significant success it began to enjoy with Red Bull. After remaining close to discussions about the 2026 rules, Honda formally registered its interest in them with the FIA at the end of last year. It is now one of six manufacturers that the FIA has gone as far as declaring will participate as a supplier from 2026 to 2030, along with Red Bull Ford, Audi, Mercedes, Ferrari and Alpine (Renault).

The next engine rules cycle could be seen as more compatible with Honda’s carbon neutrality goals given the hybrids will be run on 100% sustainable and synthetic fuels and the energy recovery systems will have a significant increase in electrical power output. Registering with the FIA just means that the manufacturers are involved in discussions and sets up a simpler entry should the manufacturers decide to proceed. All but Honda have now done that. Any uncertainty over green-lighting a new F1 programme will likely have been impacted by losing its current, extremely successful partner.

Red Bull Powertrains, which is the entity Ford will work with for 2026, was Red Bull’s way to secure its long-term engine future as it looked like Honda’s participation could not be salvaged. With Red Bull investing heavily in preparing itself to be able to build its own engine, any ongoing Honda collaboration would have had to have been on Red Bull’s terms: probably making a financial contribution, foregoing any meaningful real V6 input, and being a hybrid-only partner. While Ford is clearly content with such an arrangement, Honda either was not or could not give Red Bull an answer quickly enough. Either way, Red Bull has now announced it will work with Ford for the 2026 engine rules. As Red Bull-Ford discussions took place over the final part of 2022, it is highly likely Honda registered its intent for the new rules knowing full well any 2026 project would not be with Red Bull.

So, its continued interest is based on accepting it must find another team to build an engine for. Other independent teams, like Williams, have also been linked. A McLaren deal would be the most spectacular though, given how the partnership ended previously. It was revived with aims of being a world-beating force like in the late-1980s and early-1990s but that turned into no wins, no poles and no podiums. Since splitting, both McLaren and Honda have fared better. The leadership in both companies is different to how it was at the end of 2017, and the way they work has evolved too. Whether enough has changed for relations between the two companies to be good enough to work together again, though, is unknown.

Initial contact is also no guarantee it is McLaren’s preference. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown is likely canvassing all the options available given he will probably want to firm up the team’s direction for 2026 as soon as possible. For instance, he is also understood to have visited the Red Bull Powertrains facility. It may be a stretch for the new Red Bull Ford set-up to have the capacity to supply a third team beyond Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri, but Christian Horner has previously stated a desire to be equipped to supply customers. McLaren’s other options would be to scope out the fledgling Audi set-up as well at some point. Audi is building an engine for 2026 and buying the Sauber team, which is now run by Brown’s former McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl.

There is a connection there, and there were previously discussions over Audi trying to partner McLaren though McLaren outright ruled out a sale, the door was left open to an engine supply. The possibility also remains that McLaren simply continues with current supplier Mercedes, a successful partnership that was revived in 2021. “We’re very happy with Mercedes,” said Brown in November 2022 "I’m a believer that you can win a world championship with a customer engine. There’s obviously benefits to being a works team with the advanced knowledge that you get. We have a long-term contract with Mercedes, very happy with the collaboration, and aren’t really spending too much time yet thinking about 2026 and beyond.”

 

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How much Formula 1 circuits are paying to host 2023 Grands Prix​

In recent years, the Formula 1 calendar has undergone a considerable revamp with record numbers of Grands Prix and the American and Middle-Eastern markets dominating. Given the boom of F1, all some countries have to do for a spot of free advertising is say 'We're looking at hosting a Grand Prix', even if it is entirely unrealistic. Some classics such as Spa-Francorchamps find themselves under threat as F1 seeks to maximise the income from race hosting fees, with the Middle-East a prime location.

In 2023, there will be races in Bahrain (the season-opener), Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi once again in its now-traditional season finale slot. While F1 seeks to eke out the maximum bang for its buck, races in Miami and Las Vegas this year are somewhat unique as F1 itself is taking on part of the cost of each race, so important they are to continuing the "explosive" growth the series is currently enjoying.

How much does the British Grand Prix pay?
Silverstone and the British Grand Prix hold a special place in F1's history as the venue for the first-ever World Championship Grand Prix on May 13th, 1950. It has hosted the second-highest number of Grands Prix since then, only second to Monza which was only missing in 1980 when Imola stepped in. The Northamptonshire venue's deal with F1 currently runs out at the end of 2024, meaning a negotiation about a new one will be required in the next year. It is currently paying about $26 million per year for the honour of a slot on the calendar which is broadly inline with other European races.

Formula 1 Grand Prix contracts

Country​	Circuit​	Hosting Fee ($)​	Contract end​	Notes​
Bahrain​	Sakhir​	52 million​	2036​	Longest running contract​
Saudi Arabia​	Jeddah​	55 million​	2030​	May move to Qiddiya in future​
Australia​	Albert Park​	37 million​	2035​	​
Azerbaijan​	Baku​	57 million​	2024​	Planning on 10-year deal​
USA​	Miami​	Collaboration​	2031​	​
Italy​	Imola​	21 million​	2025​	​
Monaco​	Monte Carlo​	20 million*​	2025​	*10 million + percentage of tourist tax​
Spain​	Barcelona​	25 million​	2026​	​
Canada​	Montreal​	32 million​	2029​	​
Austria​	Red Bull Ring​	25 million​	2023​	Extension expected through 2026​
Great Britain​	Silverstone​	26 million​	2024​	​
Hungary​	Hungaroring​	40 million​	2027​	Most expensive European race​
Belgium​	Spa​	22 million​	2023​	Set for rotation; probably no extension​
Netherlands​	Zandvoort​	32 million​	2025​	+ option for 2 years/rotate with Spa?​
Italy​	Monza​	25 million​	2024​	​
Singapore​	Marina Bay​	35 million​	2028​	​
Japan​	Suzuka​	25 million​	2024​	​
Qatar​	Losail​	55 million​	2032​	​
USA​	Austin​	30 million​	2026​	​
Mexico​	H. Rodriguez​	30 million​	2025​	​
Brazil​	Interlagos​	25 million​	2025​	​
Las Vegas​	Las Vegas​	Collaboration​	2025​	Talked about extending through 2032​
Abu Dhabi​	Yas Marina​	42 million​	2030​	​

 

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Bernie Ecclestone’s Eye Opening Confession Shakes Nelson Piquet’s World​

What if one day Max Verstappen is asked to give back his 2021 F1 championship to Lewis Hamilton? What if Lewis Hamilton is asked to give back his 2008 title to Felipe Massa? All for F1’s boss’ wrongdoing? All of these may not be a possibility, but a recent development has proved the F1 statistics wrong, as Nelson Piquet may have to return one of his championships. After the former F1 honcho, Bernie Ecclestone made an eye-opening confession recently, the Brazilian might have to give up on his 1981 championship.

Bernie Ecclestone and Nelson Piquet have been two of the biggest names in Formula 1. Over the years, Ecclestone and Piquet have made quite the headlines in the sport. However, this time it’s all different. Ecclestone, in a recent documentary named “Lucky!” by Star+, shared that he used illegitimate ways to give the title to Piquet and this has now created a new controversy. This incident has been dug up after 42 years, as Ecclestone himself admitted to the crime. As per Noticias, Ecclestone said in the Lucky documentary, “After the first day of practice [in 1981 Las Vegas Grand Prix] it was obvious that the drivers were going to have problems with all the neck pain. Carlos [Reutemann] spoke with the masseuse who was in the pits. I went to see this person and after a financial discussion, they decided to favor to Nelson. We won the 1981 championship, and it was the end for Carlos, who stopped racing soon after,” further stated the megalomaniac, who was accused of favoritism a while back.
Piquet, who has three F1 titles to his name, may have two as one championship is expected to be deducted, credits to Bernie Ecclestone. As for Reutemann, the F1 world might have a new world champion, but unfortunately, it’ll be too late, as the former Ferrari driver died in July 2021 at the age of 79.

Will Nelson Piquet have to give the 1981 title to Carlos Reutemann?
As Bernie Ecclestone has already confessed, this means Piquet may have to return the title to late Argentine F1 driver Carlos Reutemann. Cora Reutemann, daughter of the man from Santa Fe, is expected to claim the title on behalf of her father. Calling it “a fight for the truth,” Cora Reutemann, as per Noticias, said, “The day before dad died, I sent Bernie [Ecclestone] an audio asking him to be honest with my father and to tell him before he left that he was the true 1981 champion. Unfortunately, the next day he died, and it remained in the air. I never imagined that it would have significance as it does now. Bernie told me that I could ask him for anything I needed. I asked him to tell the truth. He did it publicly, which is much better,” Reutemann Jr. further stated. [All quotes translated from Spanish]

Piquet won the 1981 championship after he finished the season with 50 points. Compared to him, Reutemann ended his season on 49. The last race in Las Vegas proved instrumental as the Brazilian finished the race in P5, whereas the Argentine finished in P8.

 

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AlphaTauri unveils new car and revised livery for F1 2023​

 

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F1 rumours: Mercedes find ‘double digit’ horsepower gain with W14 engine​

Following on from reports Ferrari found massive engine gains during the off-season, it’s now being claimed Mercedes’ horsepower will also be up by “double digits”. Although Formula 1’s engine manufacturers are not permitted to make alterations to their power units in order to gain performance, the sport entering its second year under an engine freeze, they are allowed to make changes based on reliability. That, it is being said, has given Ferrari some 30hp extra with the Scuderia’s reliability fixes over the winter allow them to turn up the power they had to sacrifice last season with their temperamental PU.


Mercedes have reportedly also found gains through improved reliability with Formu1a.uno reporting that ‘rumours coming out of Brackley are that the German engine will gain double-digit value’. Although cautioning Mercedes to be “realistic about our expectations”, motorsport boss Toto Wolff is hopeful. “If our performance is at the level we hope they will be, we could be part of the fight at the top,” he said. “I think that would be a good starting point, but let’s not take it for granted, because it can also happen that we have a gap like we had at the end of last season. I believe that there is still so much potential in our car and its philosophy that maybe we will have a very big and steep development curve in the months to come.”

The Brackley squad will take the covers off the W14 on Wednesday, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell almost immediately into the action as they’ll put the car through its pace at Silverstone in a shakedown. The team is expected to retain the zero-pod design, the Italian publication claiming the ‘innovative philosophy that has distinguished the W13’ will remain. Mercedes, though, have made a few tweaks to the car’s design in recent weeks, leaving them in a race against time to have the car ready for Wednesday’s action.

‘In order to get ready for the presentation day, the work is very hectic as the timetable was not fully respected and so extra work was asked of the employees in the last few weeks,’ claims Formu1auno. ‘The problems involved the actual production of some parts, as late modifications were made to the W14 project.’ Like their rivals, Mercedes will also embrace the carbon look in a bid to reduce the car’s weight with black-and-grey expected to be the predominate colours.

 

[Ax^]

hmm ok so i'm not max biggest fan but he been complaining how much his super license cost him

"Absurd": Scharfe Kritik an hohen Lizenzgebühren der FIA

"I find the sum absurd," says reigning title holder Max Verstappen. He doesn't want to complain at all - and he has no reason to. His FIA super license costs almost a million dollars. But the team pays: "I'm afraid we'll have to pay if I have our contract in mind," confirms Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko.


The super license fee consists of a base fee of $16,236 (including insurance) that all drivers must pay, plus $2,100 for each championship point earned in the 2022 Formula 1 season.

poor max not offering any support to his team mate and generally being an asshat to his team mate has cost him and the team money

surely he blame Perez for this slight and hold it against him all season

 

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McLaren unveils 60th anniversary MCL60​

 

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Aston Martin pull covers off AMR23​

 

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Ferrari SF-23, 2023​

 

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Ferrari to face FIA investigation​

Having spent the majority of the 2022 season attempting to overcome their major porpoising issue, Mercedes were finally able to bring major upgrades to the United States Grand Prix in Austin. The team mainly focused on the underfloor and these upgrades paid dividends in Brazil, were George Russell picked up the Silver Arrows’ only win of the season. One upgrade that the team were forced to scrap however was a new front wing, which featured a large number of slot gap separators. The intended purpose of these slot gap separators is to maintain the distance between the different levels of the front wing, keeping the gap for the air to flow through the same. Eyebrows were raised when this front wing was spotted in the paddock, with many suspecting that Mercedes were attempting to use these slot gap separators to divert airflow, rather than using them for their intended purpose.

The FIA seemed to agree with these accusations and launched an investigation surrounding the front wing, which never made it onto the track as Mercedes feared a punishment. Ferrari revealed the SF23 this week and to the surprise of many, the car appears to feature a number of these slot gap separators on part of the front wing. Following Mercedes experiment last season, the FIA rewrote the regulations to limit the quantity, size and curvature of these components. This means that Ferrari have not necessarily done anything wrong by including these features on their front wing, as it would be assumed that they have carefully followed the FIA regulations in their design. It does appear a little suspicious how the slot gap separators are angled however, as it certainly appears that they have been put there to redirect airflow, which is obviously not their intended purpose.

The FIA will most likely launch an investigation into the SF23’s front wing, with Ferrari’s intentions being key to their verdict. Should Ferrari be found guilty of attempting to uses these separators to gain an advantage via a different purpose, the team will most likely be asked to remove them before the Bahrain Grand Prix.

 

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do we all believe this will be the car that are tested in Bahrain but got to see protest season has begun in F1

 

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Mercedes new W14

 

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One word removed from the rules could make Ferrari SF-23’s slot gap separators legal​

Ferrari could be courting controversy even before the first laps of pre-season testing having fitted the brand new SF-23 with a similar front wing to Mercedes’ banned Austin design. Mercedes arrived at last year’s United States Grand Prix with a brand new front wing, but it was one that didn’t go any further than the pit lane. The wing caught the attention of Mercedes’ rivals as it featured five new stabilisers that had a more aerodynamic design, and function, than permitted in the spirit of the regulations.

According to Sky Sports reporter Ted Kravitz, rival outfits felt the “slot gap separators which are masquerading as air flow conditioners around the front to create an outwash”. That is “not allowed”, he explained, “any of the old front wing furniture that used to direct air flow in any direction you wanted to put it” is not allowed any more. It breached Article 3.9.8 of F1’s Technical Regulations that limits the scope for such components to deliver an aero boost.

As such Mercedes did not run the wing in Austin but, after “an exchange with the FIA” as Toto Wolff put it, a revised version was on the car in Friday’s first practice at the following race in Mexico. Fast forward a few months and eagled-eye fans spotted that Ferrari’s new SF-23, which was unveiled at the team’s Fiorano race track on Tuesday, was sporting a very similar design. It too had the aerodynamically shaped front wing slot gap separators but according to reports this year the design could be legal this season after the FIA removed the word ‘primarily’ from the regulations.

According to Motorsport.com, as ‘part of revised technical regulations for 2023 that were published in early December, the FIA removed the key sentence that laid down the requirement for such strakes to be ‘primarily’ for mechanical, structural or measurement reasons. ‘This means that as long as the slot gap separators provide a ‘structural connection’ between consecutive front wing profiles, and comply with strict measurement requirements, then they are now fully legal – no matter how much of an aerodynamic boost they deliver.’

The front wing, though, is not the only difference on the new Ferrari compared to last year’s race-winning car. “Our 2023 car is an evolution of the one we raced last year,” explained Ferrari’s head of chassis Enrico Cardile. “But, in reality, it has been completely redesigned. On the aerodynamic side, we increased vertical downforce, to adapt further to the new aero regulations and achieve the desired balance characteristics. The suspension has also been redesigned, to support aerodynamics and increase the range of adjustments that can be made to the car at the track. The most obvious changes are in the area of the front suspension where we have moved to a low track rod. The front wing is also different, as is the construction of the nose, while the bodywork is a more extreme version of what we saw last season.”