A nonetheless-unresolved investigation into the boss of Formula 1’s champion group is overshadowing the beginning of the brand new season this week on the Bahrain Grand Prix.
It’s been three weeks since Red Bull group principal Christian Horner was confirmed to be beneath investigation over alleged misconduct towards a group worker. No timeline has been given for a call on his future.
The group’s father or mother firm is dealing with calls from senior F1 figures corresponding to Mercedes group principal Toto Wolff and McLaren counterpart Zak Brown for the investigation — performed by an exterior lawyer — to be dealt with transparently.
In a letter to the group, Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley insisted on a decision and stated Ford was “frustrated by the lack of full transparency surrounding this matter.” Ford is ready to develop into Red Bull’s engine provider in 2026.
The Red Bull drinks firm stated on Feb. 5 it was investigating Horner however didn’t give any particulars. Horner denies any wrongdoing and has not been suspended from his position. He has continued to be the face of the F1 group, declaring “business as normal.”
Horner has led Red Bull since its 2005 debut in F1, and had a outstanding position on the group’s automotive launch — much more seen than three-time defending champion driver Max Verstappen or his teammate Sergio Perez. Horner was on web site for 3 days of preseason testing in Bahrain final week.
“For everyone, it’s nice, of course, when things are resolved,” Verstappen stated Friday at testing.
On the observe, Red Bull once more appears to be the group to beat after a season through which Verstappen and Perez received all however one race. Verstappen completed with a file 19 wins. While most groups appear to have used the 2023 Red Bull as inspiration for his or her new automobiles, Red Bull has developed, utilizing a slim sidepod design that Mercedes beforehand tried with little success.
Red Bull was sturdy all through the three days of testing, although Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc posted the quickest instances on the second and third days. Times set in testing are usually thought-about a poor information for racing.
HAMILTON’S SWITCH
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton goes into his final season with Mercedes forward of becoming a member of Ferrari subsequent 12 months.
For the 39-12 months-outdated Hamilton, there’s the hope that Ferrari enable him to struggle for an eighth title after Mercedes was uncompetitive within the final two years. It’s additionally making a childhood dream come true. At testing in Bahrain, Hamilton reminisced about driving Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari in a online game as a toddler.
“We’ve had an absolutely incredible journey together, we’ve created history within the sport, and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved,” Hamilton stated of his time with Mercedes. “I’m writing my story and I felt like it was time to start a new chapter.”
The sudden announcement shook up F1 and leaves some main drivers uncertain of their locations for subsequent 12 months. Sainz was anticipating a contract extension at Ferrari however is making means for Hamilton to associate Leclerc.
The open seat at Mercedes has fueled hypothesis about drivers starting from 41-12 months-outdated two-time champion Fernando Alonso, nonetheless at Aston Martin, to the 17-12 months-outdated Mercedes junior driver Kimi Antonelli, who’s making his Formula 2 debut this week.
ANDRETTI’S FIGHT
Michael Andretti and General Motors are nonetheless growing a automotive for F1 however they don’t have a spot on the grid but.
The governing physique, the FIA, has authorised Andretti’s utility to develop into the eleventh group however F1 rejected the proposed U.S. group for 2025 and 2026, arguing it might not be aggressive — one thing Andretti and GM dispute.
In GM and its Cadillac model, Andretti has the backing of one of many world’s main auto producers, and GM has utilized to be an F1 engine provider from 2028. “Our joint teams are continuing to develop our car at pace,” GM Racing director Jim Campbell stated this month.
The collection’ present American group, Haas, seems to be headed for a tough season, its first since Guenther Steiner — a star of the “Drive To Survive” collection on Netflix — was dropped as group principal final month. Haas drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg had been persistently among the many slowest over the three days of testing.
SATURDAY START
Don’t tune in on a Sunday to look at the race. The Bahrain GP and the next week’s race in Saudi Arabia are being held on Saturday, with qualifying on Friday.
That’s as a result of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins on March 10, the Sunday of the race week in Saudi Arabia, and that race was moved ahead a day. F1 guidelines stipulate there must be per week between races, so the Bahrain Grand Prix needed to transfer up, too.
Last 12 months’s race in Las Vegas set a precedent when it was held on a Saturday to maximise the viewers within the U.S. and around the globe. That was the primary F1 race held on a day aside from Sunday since 1985.
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
