Ben Hunt: The uncomfortable decision facing Lawrence Stroll

You can build the most impressive factory and fill it with all the latest equipment and computer software. Construct the most sophisticated in-house wind tunnel, boosting the potential of your team’s development rate. You can hire the most successful F1 designer of all time, paying him £30 million a year to design your cars.But it doesn’t matter one bit if the biggest weakness in the whole of …Keep reading

Herbert hits back at Jos Verstappen over integrity claims

Johnny Herbert has insisted he is entitled to his opinions on reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen as a response to criticism from the Dutchman’s father, Jos.The two former F1 drivers are at loggerheads after Herbert initially remarked that the time penalties dished out to the Red Bull driver during the Mexico Grand Prix “would not stop [him] from pushing Lando Norris off the track …Keep reading

What the potential $30m constructors’ windfall from Brazil could mean for Alpine

As Formula 1 departed from a wet and windy Brazilian Grand Prix, the forecast was looking decidedly brighter for one team in particular, with Alpine’s cargo including two podium trophies.In a season which has seen Renault planning to pull out of its F1 engine programme, its drivers colliding in Monaco and another change of team principal, Alpine was finally able to toast a fine effort in Sao …Keep reading

Why McLaren brought its seventh new rear wing to Brazil

McLaren has continued to push developments of its MCL38 at the back end of the Formula 1 season, as it knuckles down to try to secure the constructors’ championship.And while its rivals pretty much steered clear of any upgrades in Brazil for what was the third race of a triple-header, it was interesting that McLaren elected to bring a new rear and beam wing arrangement.McLaren’s approach on this …Keep reading

Why the Brazilian GP had to be safety car neutralised even before Colapinto’s crash

Formula 1’s wet and wild 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix had just reached a critical strategy point when it was interrupted – first by a safety car activation, then Franco Colapinto’s red flag-causing crash.The safety car was called into action on lap 30 of 69 last Sunday, just as Alpine’s Esteban Ocon was putting chunks of time into eventual winner Max Verstappen.Lando Norris had also just finally …Keep reading

Alonso reveals back pain and brake “nightmare” that he would not let beat him

Fernando Alonso has opened up on the back pain, emotions and mystery brake problems that he battled to drag his Aston Martin to the finish in the Brazilian Grand Prix.The Spaniard had been struggling throughout last weekend with the new bumpy Interlagos surface, but matters reached a peak in the race as the repeated impacts were felt in his spine.But despite the pain, a far from competitive car …Keep reading

Seven things we learned from the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix

We were due a mad one, weren’t we? There’s usually at least one Formula 1 race per year which goes off-script, usually thanks to a few lashings of rain, and Brazil gave us this year’s instalment of a break with the usual competitive order.Despite the trials and tribulations of qualifying – held on Sunday morning thanks to the Saturday downpour – Max Verstappen transcended the conditions to eclipse …Keep reading

Hamilton reveals he is “looking forward to Christmas” before Ferrari move

Lewis Hamilton revealed he cannot wait for Christmas in what is a telling summary of his final season with Mercedes.At the start of the year, Hamilton informed boss Toto Wolff of his decision to terminate his deal with the Silver Arrows to join Ferrari for 2025.However, the Briton made it clear he wanted to end his tenure at Mercedes, who he joined in 2013 from McLaren, with a bang.He achieved …Keep reading

How brake lock-up weakness helped derail Norris’s Brazilian GP

McLaren has suggested that brake lock-up problems, rather than driving errors under pressure, were the main factor that derailed Lando Norris’s hopes in Formula 1’s Brazilian Grand Prix.Norris had a golden opportunity to cut into Max Verstappen’s championship lead at Interlagos after securing pole position in the race, with his title rival down in 17th on the grid.But it all went wrong when …Keep reading

How Verstappen can seal a fourth F1 title at the Las Vegas Grand Prix

After his dominating display in winning the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, Max Verstappen could claim his fourth Formula 1 world championship in Las Vegas.The Dutchman mastered the rain to storm from 17th on the grid to take the chequered flag and set the fastest lap in Sao Paulo, extending his lead in the drivers’ standings to 62 points.Nearest challenger Lando Norris had an afternoon to forget …Keep reading