This Week – 10/11/2024
Hello welcome to This Week, the row about swearing shows no sign of ending as the GPDA launched a condemnation of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s leadership three years into his term. With three races to go and off the back of a wet and wild Sao Paulo will that be the defining moments of 2024? Lewis Hamilton would he really miss his final three races after thirteen years with Mercedes?
General News
The trade union of drivers the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) has called out FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in response to swearing saga. The union which represents all twenty drivers called on Ben Sulayem to “consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in public forum or otherwise”.
In a statement, it said “With regards to swearing, there is a difference between swearing intended to insult others and more casual swearing, such as you might use to describe bad weather or indeed an inanimate object such as an F1 car or driving situation.”
“We urge the FIA President to also consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in a public forum or otherwise. Further, our members are adults, they do not need to be given instructions via the media about matters as trivial as wearing of jewellery and underpants.”
“The GPDA has, on countless occasions, expressed its view that driver monetary fines are not appropriate for our sport. For the past three years, we have called upon the FIA President to share the details and strategy regarding how the FIA’s financial fines are allocated and where the funds are spent. We have also relayed our concerns about the negative image financial fines bring to the sport.”
The swearing row began on the eve of the Singapore GP, when Ben Sulayem said he wanted to see less foul language, which is bleeped from radio feeds aired on F1’s world TV feed. He said F1 should “differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music” which Lewis Hamilton thought was “stereotypical” language with a “racial element”.
Ben Sulayem term as president has seen many controversies including the fallout over the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, allegations he tried to get FIA officials to declare the Las Vegas circuit unsafe for racing. Ben Sulayem is also under investigation for allegedly attempting to intervene in the results of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. As well as sexist comments made in 2001.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says that an unspecified number of European grands prix face the prospect of hosting races on a rotational basis sooner rather than later. Although its expected not to include Monaco, Italy (either Monza or Imola, which could rotate) or Silverstone, as Italy and the UK has hosted races in every season since 1950 and Monaco being the one of the most important and prestigious races in the world.
Domenicali has previously suggested rotating European races would be an option but now he has said such a move is on the cards. Domenicali said on a Liberty Media investors call “We have some news to share very, very soon with regard to the possibility in the mid-term to have some rotational European Grand Prix and some other new options coming later. This is something that, of course, we will clarify in the due course.”
“It is true that we have a large demand of new possible venues that want to come in and our choice will always be balanced between the right economical benefits that we can have as a system and also to leverage the growth on the market that we can see potential that will be beneficial for us to grow even further our business.”
There are reports that Spa, Zandvoort and Paul Ricard, which dropped off the calendar in 2023 could seek one of these agreements. The sport continues to seek the balance between protecting its less profitable European heartlands and new more profitable races in the US, Asia and the middle east, as well as a return to Africa. Las Vegas filled Russia’s slot following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
with F1 currently riding high in terms of interest and revenue, plenty of venues are keen to get a slice of the action by getting their own race added to the calendar. Domenicali stressed that there would be no expansion of the calendar beyond twenty-four races, in the short to medium term.
Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton suggested he would prefer to “take a holiday” than drive his Mercedes for the remainder of the season after a hugely disappointing Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The seven-time champion finished tenth after failing to get through to either SQ3 or Q3, Hamilton was out performed as well by teammate George Russell.
Russell who qualified second and appeared to have a strong chance of victory before losing the lead in a questionable pit stop call by the Silver Arrows. Hamilton told Sky Sports, “We were just slow. The car was really, really tough. The team could have won also today, so at least one car was behaving a lot better.”
Hamilton now has just three races remaining with Mercedes before he moves to Ferrari next season, with emotional scenes expected as the twenty-year partnership comes to an end. It somewhat surprising to hear a despondent Hamilton admit he has little desire to keep driving the W15 at the remaining races in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
He added “It’s bouncing on the tyres everywhere and you can’t get on the power anywhere. It’s just the worst ride, I think the worst ride that we’ve definitely ever had, particularly through corners. It’s just so stiff.”
But there was a very special moment for Hamilton at Interlagos, he drove one of his hero Ayrton Senna’s old McLarens ahead of the race around the legendary Brazilian’s home track. Hamilton, who has a special affinity with Brazil and was in 2022 awarded honorary citizenship of the country, drove the McLaren MP4/5B from 1990 – the year Senna won his second of three world titles
After receiving a huge ovation from the crowd. said Hamilton, “It’s very, very emotional, naturally I was just revisiting my childhood as I was watching [Ayrton] race here as a kid. Hearing that sound and… watching him drive here, winning that race, I just couldn’t believe that I just had that chance to do that.”
“It was really the greatest honour of my career. To do it here in front of this beautiful crowd here in Brazil, who stood out in the rain all day yesterday, and then have been here since 4am or 3am this morning.”
Toto Wolff has opened up on details surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s shock move to Ferrari – and how he got an early tip-off from Carlos Sainz Sr. Hamilton told Wolff during a visit to his house at the end of January that he would be activating an exit clause in his Mercedes contract and joining Ferrari for the 2025 season.
But while Hamilton’s announcement was the first official confirmation that Wolff had of his driver’s departure, he has now spoken at length about how he had been alerted to the prospect for a little while.
Speaking to former BBC F1 presenter Jake Humphrey, on his High-Performance podcast, Wolff said, “So I heard the bells ringing two weeks before. Yeah, the old man Sainz called me and said, this is what’s happening. And then there were a few drivers’ dads rang me up that didn’t before. So, I thought, Okay…there’s something going on there.”
“And then I sent a text to [Ferrari boss] Fred Vasseur saying: ‘You’re taking our driver?’ Didn’t get any response. Very unusual for Fred. He’s a good friend. So yeah, I saw it coming.”
With his suspicion about the intention of Hamilton’s visit to his house, Wolff also revealed that he threw a curveball into their chat by first telling the seven-time champion about Mercedes having signed former Ferrari chief designer Simone Resta. Hamilton’s shock move in February, upended the 2025 driver market with one of the biggest moves in the sports history.
Wolff also made it clear that there was no temptation from his side to try to persuade Hamilton to change his mind. Adding “I think if someone decides to go, then you need to let them go.”
“I had a chat with Pep Guardiola a long time ago, and he is a friend. I said, ‘What do you do if this and that player leaves?’ And he said, ‘What do you mean I do?’ I said, ‘Well, do you try to convince them to stay?’”
Ferrari
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz admit they were at a loss to explain why they could not match the pace of their rivals last weekend in Soa Paulo. Leclerc only gained one place and was half a minute behind winner Max Verstappen and Sainz crashed twice on Sunday in GP qualifying and the Grand Prix, as well being given a reprimand for dangerous driving as he tried to drive off in his stricken Ferrari despite marshals already being on the scene.
The outcome in Brazil was as gloomy as the weekend weather, especially considering Sainz’s victory in Mexico and Leclerc’s success in Austin at the other races during F1’s latest triple-header. Sainz explained “I’ve always been a very strong driver in the wet but for some reason, ever since I’ve tried this car in the wet, I’ve never had a good feeling with it. I don’t know if we just don’t put energy into the tyres, we run it too stiff in the medium to high speed, or what it is.”
“It is clear that it is very difficult and unpredictable to drive. I’m pleased that Charles managed to bring it home in P5. I heard he was also struggling, so a bit of a nightmare the whole race, but hopefully, some dry races coming up and we will try to go for it.”
Meanwhile Leclerc was prepared to take some of the blame for the poor performances but was happy that finishing fifth kept Ferrari in second in the constructors, thirty-six points behind McLaren.
Leclerc added, “I think I’m partly to blame because obviously we decide the set-ups with together with the team. I wanted to go in a direction, however it was the wrong one, for sure. The pace was just not there, whether it was in qualifying, where I think in qualifying, we actually weren’t too bad.”
Ferrari remain mathematically in contention for the constructors with three Grands Prix and a sprint remaining this year.
McLaren
McLaren says that guiding Lando Norris to the drivers’ championship was never ultimately its main target, it has always been more focused on the constructors’ crown. Norris failed to capitalise on his main rival Max Verstappen poor qualifying as the Dutchman came from seventeenth to victory in a chaotic Sunday.
Meanwhile, Norris in the wet conditions was impacted by a combination of factors lack of pace in the wet, driving errors, brake lock-up problems and a badly timed red flag meant the Briton finished sixth, with Verstappen producing a sensational performance to win. McLaren says it changes nothing in their approach.
Asked by Motorsport.com, whether it would actually take some pressure off Norris, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said: “In terms of the constructors’ championship, I don’t think it changes anything. It was always our priority. Even when there was a call to be made to support one driver or the other, it was always secondary to maximising the constructors’ championship.”
But he also said he believes there was no pressure on Norris from the team even if the errors from the outside make it look like there is. Stella suggested that Las Vegas and Lusail, where last year Piastri won the sprint last year, look good for the team, but that depends on how good Ferrari are. McLaren remain focused on trying to take their [first constructors in twenty-five years
Alpine
Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly described an unlikely double-podium for Alpine in a dramatic, rain-hit Sao Paulo Grand Prix as “incredible” after “such a tough season” for the French team. 2024 has seen management upheaval, friction between the two teammate and parent company Renault controversial decision to end its F1 engine plans for 2026.
The double podium in Interlagos moved them into sixth in the constructors three points behind Aston Martin with three Grands Prix and a sprint remaining. Paying homage to a quote from Brazilian racing legend Ayrton Senna, who once said “you cannot overtake 15 cars in sunny weather, but you can when it’s raining”, Ocon, said
Then added, “What a day that was. After the difficult season, it’s really nice to be driving around here and having the performance a bit levelled out because of the rain. Someone very important to all of us said a long time ago that in the rain the cars are almost equal, and that phrase didn’t aged at all.”
Meanwhile, Gasly added that suggestions the team could score a double-podium seemed extremely unlikely earlier in the season. Ocon led to the restart, where he was overtaken by Verstappen, but Gasly held position to beat Russell into third.
He said: “It’s incredible for the whole team. We have had such a tough season, we’ve struggled to score points. And in these conditions, everything was possible, but we did not believe it until the end, two cars on the podium. I don’t think anyone would have got that on that bingo card! It’s just fantastic.
Italian media are reporting that Franco Colapinto could partner Gasly next season, despite the team signing Jack Doohan to partner Gasly. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore is interested in Colapinto
The report states: “It seems that Flavio Briatore has changed his mind and wants to steal from the competition the Argentine Franco Colapinto, the revelation of this part of the season. If the operation materialises, it would mean the end of the dreams of Doohan Jr., who has long been in the role of reserve of the French team.”
Colapinto since replacing Logan Sargeant at Monza has emerged as one of the surprise candidates given the way he has adapted to the sport in words of Red Bull CEO and team principal Christian Horner. Red Bull are potentially interested in Colapinto as they consider whether they finally replace Sergio Perez. Colapinto could find himself at either Red Bull or RB, or perhaps Alpine now.
Its also reported that there is a £16.6m release fee, and it is already known for the next few years Williams have locked in Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon on long term deals
Sauber
Sauber has signed McLaren junior driver Gabriel Bortoleto to partner Nico Hulkenberg next season, ahead of its transition to Audi in 2026. The Brazilian has been targeted by the Swiss team in recent months with his links to McLaren being the main obstacle to a deal, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella however made clear that he wouldn’t stand in his protege’s way if there were a chance for him to clinch a race drive.
Sauber therefore made the move for the Brazilian, having announced earlier on Wednesday that incumbents Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou were set to leave the team. Bortoleto said, “This is one of the most exciting projects in motorsport, if not in all of sports. Joining a team that combines the rich motorsport history of Sauber and Audi is a true honour.”
“Beyond simply being a member, I aim to grow with this ambitious project and reach the pinnacle of motorsport. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity given to me by the team and for the chance to work alongside an experienced driver like Nico. Both programs have a proven track record of nurturing young talent, and I am confident that together, we will write our own success story.”
Bortoleto has impressed in F3 and F2, with two races remaining in Qatar and Abu Dhabi thanks to his consistency is leading the F2 championship. Mattia Binotto, COO and CTO of Sauber Motorsport, said “Gabriel has already demonstrated in the junior categories that he has what it takes to be a winning driver. We are very pleased that he will become a team member of Sauber and Audi.”
“Together with Gabriel, we are on a journey towards success, and we will evolve into a unified force to shape a new era for Audi in motorsport. Nico and Gabriel represent the ideal combination of experience and youth, positioning us strongly for the future.”
Haas
Nico Hulkenberg has revealed how the marshals at the Senna S during last weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix were “partying” after helping the Haas driver rejoin the race after an off which led to his black flag.
Hulkenberg became beached after spinning out on a crest in the runoff areas at the first corner and because he was pushed off the kerb that was deemed as ‘outside assistance’ this breaking the regulations meaning he was disqualified. The first driver to be disqualified during a race since an equally chaotic Montreal in 2007.
Recapping his race, Hulkenberg said: “I think it was going OK on the inters actually; I was in a train with Pierre [Gasly] and Fernando [Alonso] for a long time, before we pitted. So, I think we were going OK – it wasn’t dreadful, but it wasn’t amazing either. Just after the pitstop, our race somehow… obviously it finished pretty quickly, and it all went south from there.”
On the incident that ultimately saw him disqualified, Hulkenberg explained: “They [the marshals] came out, they pushed me off and they were really happy with themselves. They were partying and pushing me on and saying, ‘come on, go, let’s go, this race isn’t finished’. In that moment, you don’t really think, you don’t care to be honest as well. You just continue and you deal with the consequences later.”