Vettel thinking about a comeback
Sebastian Vettel says he has been thinking about coming out of retirement but it is not his “number one priority”. The four-time champion won all his titles at Red Bull before stints at Ferrari and Aston Martin.
With his long-time rival and political ally Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari, Mercedes has a vacant seat in 2025 and Vettel is aware of the F1 landscape.
Vettel told BBC News, “I’m having thoughts that are crossing my mind and thinking about [a return]. But at this stage, my mindset generally hasn’t changed so it really depends on what’s coming up.”
Asked specifically about Mercedes, Vettel added: “I’m following the sport and at the minute there’s quite a lot of movement when it comes to drivers, driver market and so on. I’m obviously in contact with a lot of people still. I’m speaking as well to Toto [Wolff] every now and then. It depends I guess but at the minute it’s not the number one priority.”
Mercedes has spoken about doing ‘something bold’ to replace Hamilton.
Hamilton and his Mercedes team-mate George Russell both gave their approval for Vettel’s potential return. Hamilton told a news conference at the Suzuka Circuit before the Japanese Grand Prix, “I would love for Seb to come back and I think he would be an amazing option for the team.
Russell added, “Sebastian’s a great person. For sure, his personality is missed on the grid. I’m really happy and open to have anybody as my team-mate, whether it’s a world champion or a rookie, it doesn’t change how I go about my business.”
Asked about the Allegations of inappropriate and controlling behaviour that had been made against his former boss Christian Horner, who denies wrongdoing and was cleared by an internal investigation. As well as the reports of a civil war
Vettel acknowledged he was still in contact with Horner but “doesn’t know what did happen and didn’t happen” and “you never know what source to trust” with correspondence between the pair kept to sporting matters.
He said: “There were two races at the beginning of the season and they did great so I sent him [Horner] a message and congratulated [him], like other people in the team as well.
The Dutchman dismissed claims in the media that he could be tempted to leave Red Bull for Mercedes in the wake of the Horner controversy.
Vettel added, “So many things happened in the last couple of months. I didn’t think there was any chance Lewis [Hamilton] leaves Mercedes and we were all taught wrong. Exciting for the sport that he [Hamilton] does and as for what Max is doing you’d have to ask him, but it seems like anything can happen.”
Vettel also said it was “exciting” that F1 has worked to develop a synthetic sustainable fuel to be introduced in 2026, as part of its programme to be net-zero carbon by 2030, but it was long overdue.
Verstappen responds to Alonso’s prediction
Max Verstappen insists he wants to remain “very happy” at Red Bull after Fernando Alonso claimed there’s “zero chance” the reigning world champion will change teams for 2025. While the Dutchman is committed to Red Bull the ongoing controversy, as reported above, has raised questions about his future.
After the conclusion of an investigation into Christian Horner, which resulted in allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against the team principal by a female colleague being dismissed in March, an ongoing power struggle between Red Bull’s most senior figures has become apparent.
The complainant has appealed against the decision. She was and remains suspended by Red Bull on full pay. If Verstappen were to leave Red Bull, it would have massive implications on the driver market and Alonso is one of 12 drivers without a contract for 2025.
There are also reports that Aston Martin is trying to lure Red Bull chief technical officer and design genius Adrian Newey, plus the Silverstone-based team taking on Honda engines from 2026 has brought into question whether Verstappen would move to Aston Martin in the future.
Alonso, who wants to decide on his own future before the summer break in August, has been linked to replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes and is also in discussions over a new contract with Aston Martin.
Alonso said, “If Max leaves Red Bull, maybe that has an impact (on me) but I think there is zero chance of that happening. So I think that’s something that I’m not thinking too much about. What I want to do is just concentrate on my stuff here and just this race, before, the summer, to make a decision of if I keep racing around, and if I keep racing, where will be the best possibility.”
Verstappen appears very happy with the direction Red Bull is going in as new regulations come in 2026, the team in collaboration with Ford will build the next generation of power units. The last major power unit regulation change in 2014 saw the pecking order change significantly, which could be the case again in 2026.
Verstappen was told about Alonso’s comments about him and said: “From my side, I’m very happy with where I’m at and we want to keep it that way.”
Horner complainant is ‘upset, scared and lonely
The woman who complained about Red Bull team principal Christian Horner’s behaviour is “very upset, angry, scared, intimidated and lonely”, a family friend has told BBC News.
In December the woman made a complaint to Red Bull’s parent company alleging coercive, abusive behaviour and sexual harassment by Horner. She “struggles to understand” how Red Bull dismissed the complaint following an investigation, the friend added.
Horner has always denied the claims and Red Bull cleared him of wrongdoing. Until now, the complaint has been described as one of inappropriate and controlling behaviour. Red Bull said they could not confirm it also included allegations of sexual harassment, but BBC News has seen evidence to that effect.
The woman is unable to talk about her claims, having signed a legal undertaking not to discuss the matter with anyone other than her father and brother, the friend said.
The friend, speaking on condition of anonymity, told BBC News, “It’s impossible for people to understand what it’s like for her. She can’t talk and she won’t talk. But I can tell you what it is doing to her.”
“Every time I have asked her something, she breaks down in tears and says she’s got no one to talk to because she’s not allowed to talk. She is very upset, very angry, very scared, very intimidated, very lonely. And I think it’s impossible for people to understand without being in her shoes what it’s like for her.”
A Red Bull spokesperson said: “Both [parties] signed a confidentiality agreement on it so they both can’t discuss it.” Red Bull have said they cannot comment further on the report and its findings because of confidentiality issues regarding employment law.
The friend also confirmed the messages leaked online as well as senior personnel and media were a genuine exchange between Horner and the complainant. But the BBC’s department of verification BBC Verify has not verified whether the messages are genuine, and attempts in early March to ask Horner to confirm it were shut down by a Red Bull PR handler.
The following week, the complainant was suspended by Red Bull. BBC Sport has previously reported that the reason given to the woman by Red Bull was she had been dishonest. Horner has described the leak as “anonymous, speculative messages from an unknown source” and refused to comment on its contents.
The row has unearthed a civil war and in-fighting within Red Bull for control of the team, between Horner, the Verstappens, the Austrian parent company and the Thai owners.
The friend said: “We can all read the WhatsApps and anybody can come to their own conclusion whether that was an appropriate relationship between a CEO and a PA. As Christian has said, he wants to draw a line under this.”
“Well, if this has been a fair and independent process and there has been no wrongdoing found, then why isn’t that being brought forward in a transparent way and why isn’t Christian denying that those WhatsApps are real?”
The friend said the woman had been badly hit by Red Bull’s response to her complaint. The complainant has appealed against Red Bull’s decision and has made F1’s governing body the FIA aware of the situation and asked it to investigate.
Now is time to “speed up” talks for 2025 – Sainz
Carlos Sainz says it is now time to “speed up” talks to secure a seat for 2025 and beyond after being ousted by Ferrari. His key win in Melbourne could put him in pole position if Max Verstappen stays with Red Bull, after being replaced by Lewis Hamilton.
While the three-time Grand Prix winner is highly rated, Mercedes has placed Verstappen, admits the civil war and junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli as its top two targets. Alternatively, moves to Aston Martin and Red Bull are plausible
Sainz said: “[I’m] talking obviously to a few because that’s what my management team and myself should do when I don’t have a job for next year yet. So, we’re talking to pretty much all of them.”
“It’s just a matter of obviously going more into detail and seeing the more realistic options and what are the best options for me and for my future, which I don’t have any news for you or nothing to say here today.”
The rumour however continues with his father winning the Dakar with Audi that he could join the team when it enters in 2026. But Mercedes CEO and team principal Toto Wolff has indicated that they will wait until closer to the summer before locking in its new driver line-up.
Fernando Alonso reckons there is “zero chance” Verstappen will leave Red Bull despite the turmoil engulfing the F1 team’s hierarchy. Alonso has resisted pledging his future to Aston Martin, instead highlighting that he is the only one of three F1 champions on the grid who is available for 2025. This could be because he is making a play for a Red Bull or Mercedes seat.
Alonso also believes that despite the turmoil within Red Bull, there is “zero chance” the Dutch driver leaves Red Bull. he said, “If Max leaves Red Bull, maybe that has an impact [on my future]. But I think there is zero chance of that happening…”
“What I want to do is just concentrate on my stuff – I’m here just [for] this race and before summer trying to make a decision of if I keep racing or not, and if I keep racing work where will be the best possibilities.”
Sanchez leaves McLaren just three months
Leading engineer David Sanchez has left McLaren just three months after joining the team from Ferrari. The Frenchman was recruited as part of a restructure of McLaren’s technical department.
Team principal Andrea Stella will fulfil Sanchez’s role until a permanent appointment is made. Stella said, “The role, responsibilities, and ambitions associated with David’s position did not align with our original expectations,”.
As part of the changes, Rob Marshall, who signed from Red Bull earlier this year, has become chief designer. He had previously been the technical director, engineering and design.
Sanchez has not been put on gardening leave and will be free to join another team as soon as he can find a suitable position. was precipitated because Sanchez did not feel stretched in his new role because its remit was smaller than he expected when he agreed to join. His being allowed to leave is a recognition by McLaren that it was not working and was not going to work.
Stella’s restructure has split car performance into three areas aerodynamics, performance and engineering. Following Sanchez’s departure, Neil Houldley, who had been made a deputy technical director for engineering, has been made technical director.
Peter Prodromou remains as technical director for aerodynamics.
Stella told BBC News, “Following thoughtful discussions between David Sanchez and the team leadership, the mutual decision has been taken for David to leave the team.”
“Upon our joint reflection, it became apparent that the role, responsibilities, and ambitions associated with David’s position did not align with our original expectations when he agreed to join us in February 2023.” I think the fact there is no gardening leave backs up the fact this is a mutual call.
Sanchez said: “I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this team. While the role we envisioned and had agreed to was not aligned with the reality of the position I found, I leave with respect for the leadership, admiration for the dedication of my colleagues, and appreciation for the openness and honesty in which we discussed and arrived at this decision.”
Talking Points Suzuka
Round five brings F1 to Suzuka, like six months ago, Red Bull goes into this weekend having been beaten by Ferrari at the last race. The big question is whether they are now in a position to take advantage and be able to beat Max Verstappen with many expecting him still to be the driver to beat.
Verstappen retired from the Australian Grand Prix on the fourth lap with a brake fire. He had pole position in Melbourne but was passed by Sainz on the second lap as his brakes started to cause trouble. But the Dutchman dominated the race in Japan last year, setting pole by nearly six-tenths, and winning by nearly twenty seconds. This year, the race has been moved to spring from its traditional autumn date.
Suzuka and its high-speed sweeps pose a much different challenge, and will likely see the advantage swing back in Red Bull’s favour, but their DNF last time out Verstappen’s first in two years, shows that the reigning world champions are not invincible.
This is an old circuit which means it carries the risk v reward factor when it comes to overtaking, which can lead to safety cars if drivers get caught in the race also about strategy as overtaking can be more difficult. It’s going to be colder its early April so it could impact, like we saw when Shanghai moved from October to April fifteen years ago, on tyre warm-up.
While reliability has been generally good, baring Verstappen and both Mercedes retiring in Melbourne, the various factors mentioned above and the fact we are reaching the end of the gearbox cycle and this being in the second half of they cycle coupled with the high stress caused by the figure of eight nature
the Australian Grand Prix was only interrupted by a Virtual Safety Car, the chances of a full Safety Car taking to the track at Suzuka are deemed slightly more likely. Last year’s race featured an early Safety Car period following contact between cars at both the front and rear of the pack.
Ferrari will however look to see how close they really are given the advantage that Red Bull had in the opening race, but Melbourne did show that they are on top of their biggest weakness in recent years, and has got on top of the tyre issues.
I think that they are now able to fight in races but the question remains about Red Bull’s strength and what that means going through the season. There is only four points between Red Bull and Ferrari, while McLaren was not far behind Carlos Sainz in Melbourne.
McLaren six months ago had a very competitive weekend, and in Melbourne, Lando Norris was not far off Carlos Sainz in Melbourne and felt he should have finished second, so multiple threats are emerging if Red Bull doesn’t get everything right.
Sargeant to race in repaired car
Williams expects to finally have a spare chassis ready for the Miami Grand Prix, with Logan Sargeant racing in Japan using the chassis Alex Albon crashed in Australia.
The team controversially withdrew the American following the crash in FP1 by Albon which meant Williams was forced to enter only one car from Saturday onwards while the damaged FW46 was flown back to the UK for initial investigation and repairs.
To maximise its chances of scoring points in the ultra-competitive midfield, Williams withdrew Sargeant from the event so it could place Albon in the American’s car. While the damaged monocoque has been repaired in time for this weekend’s Suzuka event, Williams does not expect to have a spare tub on-site until Miami in early May.
Sargeant will also remain in the repaired ex-Albon car this weekend, given the time constraints of refitting both chassis to accommodate another driver change.
When asked which car he will run this weekend, said Sargeant “It’s the repaired one. Just because the workload to switch the cars back over would just be far too much for the mechanics. But the chassis repair went better than expected.”
Team principal James Vowles says the chassis damage was to a suspension insert and there was no crack in the tub, so a driver is not expected to notice a difference between the two cars. Sargeant in Melbourne did reflect on how tight the team are on spares.
He explained: “I don’t think we really, at least I, hadn’t thought about it before that. If I’m honest, when I see Alex crash, the first thing that goes through my head is, ‘I know that we’re down on spares’.”
“Of course, I was a little bit concerned for where we stood as a team. But it’s one of the hard parts that we’ve had to deal with through the start of this season – not having those big safety nets.”
However, the lack of a standby car will not alter his driving: “It’s, again, a situation that we had to deal with through the first three races. We went to Saudi with the same situation. And of course, it’s one of those things that you have to be careful. But at the same time, you can’t be.”
I think Williams is going to have to be careful, and Suzuka is an unforgiving circuit though being short on spares might be a big lesson going forwards. You can’t start the year like this if you want to challenge in the midfield.
The Weekend Ahead
I think the big question is whether Red Bull are beatable when reliability isn’t the issue, while practice in Melbourne gave hope the retirement of Max Verstappen meant we didn’t see how it would have played out in the race. We know that Red Bull dominated the opening race but they weren’t comfortable and confident going into the last race.
Another team looking to bounce back is Mercedes who had a double retirement in Melbourne, which is incredibly rare in modern times, they also didn’t look comfortable which could be bad news as Ferrari has got on top of the tyre issues which has been a big downfall over the last two years.
Suzuka is one of the most challenging circuits both physically and mentally, there is also little room for error as this is a circuit where costly mistakes can happen. This means that some flexibility is needed with strategy, also mistakes can happen and that can lead to safety cars, red flags etc as we don’t have the huge tarmac run off and the grass and gravel.
That means it could be a very interesting weekend as we are early on in the season to come to a physically demanding circuit meaning the drivers have no time to build physical fitness. I think that could create another variable and we know how tight it’s been between those chasing Red Bull this season.
Carlos Sainz who won in Melbourne is still recovering from having his appendicitis removed, he will look to capitalise on that and see if he can fight Red Bull this weekend and put in strong results and beat Charles Leclerc as that will help his case as we already seen.
