🚨 Mercedes F1 Win

Hey there, Speed Lover 👋

David here. I’m finally back after a long time and things are finally back on track for more F1 action, news & analysis.

Now let’s get into it.

🔥 Austrian GP Analysis: What happened between Lando & Max and what should we expect from future races?

✍️ F1 Aero Allocation Updates: Mercedes wins more wind tunnel time. Will they manage to turn it into more podiums?

🤔 Contract Talks: Ollie Bearman signs with Haas and what is Sainz waiting for?

So grab your helmet and hang on tight, because this F1 season is shaping up to be more unpredictable than a rain-soaked Silverstone GP. Let's hit the track! 🏁

🏁 Russell Triumphs in Austria

George Russell clinched victory at the Austrian GP, benefiting from a dramatic clash between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.

What’s next

• Russell’s win marks a significant moment in his career.

• Verstappen and Norris’s collision reshapes the championship battle.

• Teams and drivers will now re-evaluate strategies for upcoming races.

Go deeper

The Austrian Grand Prix saw George Russell taking full advantage of a dramatic incident involving Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. The clash between the two frontrunners allowed Russell to navigate his Mercedes to the top of the podium, marking a pivotal win in his Formula 1 career. Verstappen, who started from pole, was locked in a fierce battle with Norris when contact was made, resulting in damage that compromised both of their races.

Russell, starting from a strong position, maintained a consistent pace and strategically avoided the fray, ultimately leading to his victory. This win not only boosts his confidence but also shakes up the drivers’ standings, adding a new dynamic to the championship fight. The incident has also triggered discussions among teams about potential strategy adjustments and the importance of managing on-track rivalries.

Read More

And a detailed analysis of Max’s onboards from Twitter

📊 Austrian GP analysis

1. Race pace analysis of the Austrian GP (up to Lap 64)

🔵 Verstappen 0.05s/lap quicker than 🟠 Norris, but lost more time in the pits.

Team pace (s/lap, faster driver on 2 stops)

🥇Red Bull

🥈McLaren +0.05s

🥉Mercedes +0.30s

4️⃣ Ferrari +0.35s
5️⃣ Haas +0.97s
6️⃣ RacingBulls +1.09s
7️⃣ Alpine +1.10s
8️⃣ Williams +1.27s
9️⃣ Aston +1.28s (‼)
🔟 Sauber +1.45s

🟠 McLaren’s New Front Wing Innovation

McLaren introduces a crucial front wing modification aimed at maintaining their recent performance surge.

What we’re watching

• McLaren aims to consolidate recent gains with a key front wing change.

• This technical adjustment could be pivotal in the upcoming races.

• Rivals are likely to analyze and possibly copy McLaren’s innovation.

Go deeper

McLaren has unveiled a significant front wing modification designed to sustain and enhance their recent competitive form in Formula 1. This change, revealed ahead of the British Grand Prix, is part of McLaren’s ongoing efforts to optimize their car’s aerodynamic efficiency and maintain the momentum gained from recent races.

The new front wing features subtle yet impactful adjustments aimed at improving airflow and downforce. These changes are expected to enhance the car’s stability and handling, particularly in high-speed corners—a critical factor at circuits like Silverstone. McLaren’s engineering team has focused on refining the wing’s endplates and flaps, which are crucial for managing the airflow around the tires and under the car.

McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella confirmed in Austria that this was the desired direction guiding the development of the wing.

↗️ Mercedes Gets 10% Aero Boost as F1 Allocations Reset

Mercedes has gained a 10% increase in aerodynamic testing time as Formula 1’s allocations reset, following their shift in the constructors’ standings after the Austrian Grand Prix.

Catch Up Quick:

• Mercedes Boost: Gains 10% more aero testing time, now at 85%.

• Red Bull Static: Remains at 70% due to leading the championship.

• Haas and Red Bull: Biggest losers, with Haas dropping to the baseline.

• Russell’s Suggestion: Advocates for point-based rather than position-based allocation.

Go Deeper:

Mercedes Benefits from Rule Reset

Mercedes, which began the season with 75% of the baseline allowance due to finishing second in last year’s championship, has slipped to fourth place, thus increasing their allocation to 85%.

This boost translates into 32 more wind tunnel runs, eight additional hours of “wind-on” time, 200 more allowable geometries, and an extra 40 hours of wind tunnel occupancy. Additionally, their CFD computer resource capacity sees an increase of 0.6 MAuh.

Sliding Scale Rules

Formula 1’s aerodynamic testing regulations (ATR) operate on a sliding scale, where teams receive testing time based on their championship positions. The leader starts with 70% of the baseline allowance, increasing incrementally up to 115% for the team in the last position. This allocation is reset mid-season, following the Austrian Grand Prix results, to reflect the current standings  .

Impact on Other Teams

Red Bull, maintaining its lead, continues at the 70% bracket, while Ferrari and McLaren move up to 75% and 80%, respectively. Haas, having improved from last to seventh place, now works with the baseline allocation instead of their previous 115%.

Read More

Mazepin’s Testing Comeback: EU Sanctions Lifted

Nikita Mazepin, the former F1 driver, is back in action after the EU General Court lifted sanctions against him, enabling him to test in Europe.

Catch Up Quick:

• Sanctions Lifted: EU sanctions on Mazepin were lifted due to insufficient grounds linking him to his father’s political activities.

• Testing Resumes: Mazepin has begun testing in Europe, aiming for a return to competitive racing.

• Court Ruling: The court found family ties alone weren’t enough to justify the sanctions.

• Previous Career: Known for his troubled F1 season with Haas, Mazepin is eager for a comeback.

Go Deeper:

The European Union’s General Court decision marks a significant turn for Nikita Mazepin. Initially sanctioned due to his association with his father, Dmitry Mazepin, who is linked to Vladimir Putin, the court ruled that these ties were insufficient to maintain the restrictions. This decision has allowed Mazepin to resume testing in Europe, potentially paving the way for his return to Formula 1 or other racing series.

Read More

Formula 1 has new racing rules this year that are already influencing stewarding decisions before becoming fully regulatory in 2025.

Several races, most recently the Miami Grand Prix, have now featured clashes between drivers that have led to the stewards referring to new guidelines that are not publicly available.

So, what’s prompted a change, and what do the new-for-2024 racing rules actually say?

WHAT'S CHANGED FOR 2024

The changes come from a 2024 initiative to define the rules of racing more specifically than ever, and essentially codify the ‘let them race’ policy that has been pushed by governing body the FIA for several years.

They are a clear step on from two years ago when, following concerns about the consistency of decision-making and drivers not knowing what was allowed, a set of informal racing guidelines was introduced and shared in F1, F2 and F3.

This is far more wide-reaching as the official ‘Driving Standards Guidelines’ will apply to all categories of circuit racing with the intention of being a consistent reference for drivers and officials, and by extension those watching.

When this was first toyed with in 2022, some drivers interpreted the guidance differently, and there were often contradictions between what was on paper and what happened in reality.

Unsurprisingly, trying to specify ‘Car X needs to be this far alongside Car Y’ was too oversimplified, especially with no emphatic requirement to leave space on the exit of the corner.

The wording always implied anything was fair game as long as you got your front wheels alongside the other car's front wheels at the apex. It did not seem to matter how much entry speed you took in, or whether you ran the other car off the road on the exit.

One of the most encouraging parts of the 2024 guidelines is a clear acknowledgement early on that “racing is a dynamic process”, which stresses that the specific relative positions cited are just one element.

☑️ FACTORS BEING CONSIDERED WHEN REVIEWING AN INCIDENT

• How did the cars get to the incident (for example late braking, diving in, moving under braking)?

• Was the manoeuvre late or optimistic?

• What could the drivers reasonably see, know, or anticipate?

• Could the manoeuvre be completed on the track?

• Was there understeer, oversteer or locking?

• Did someone position or handle their car in a way that contributed to the incident?

• Did the type of corner contribute to the incident (for example camber, kerbs, curve, or apexes)?

• What were the relative tyre compounds, age and grip levels?

All of these were relevant factors before. But now it is emphatically made clear they don’t just get overridden by basic, simplified guidance.

🎙️ Wolff Calls Austrian GP Radio Message to Russell His "Dumbest" F1 Move - Read More

🤝 Ollie Bearman will make the step up to F1 in 2025, signing a multi-year deal with Haas F1. - Read More

🟢 After leaving Mercedes in mid-2020, Cowell will replace Whitmarsh as Aston’s F1 team group CEO - Read More

🔴 Pressure from "impatient" 2025 options has not changed Sainz's approach to deciding his 2025 future - Read More

🔵 Red Bull reveal livery changes for British GP at Silverstone - See livery

💌 How an out-of-the-blue email to Horner started Ford’s F1 return - Read More

🎗️ Formula 1 has announced a collaboration with Mission 44 to help drive forward diversity in motorsport - Read More

😠 Stella questions Horner’s integrity after Norris criticism - Read More

🤔 Daniel Ricciardo in ‘negotiations’ with surprise F1 team amidst RB exit rumours - Read More

🤝 ‘We will offer him something’ – Helmut Marko’s big Liam Lawson update as F1 2025 rumours continue - Read More

🇬🇧 Scheduled July 5-7 2024

Silverstone Circuit

🛞 Tire preview from Pirelli

Silverstone: probably the most demanding track for the tyres.

• Extremely high wear (despite the hardest C1-C3 compounds)

• Cornering grip is crucial for performance here!

• Most will use medium-load wings

McL's downforce and RedBull's efficiency will turn out to be very useful.

When was the track built?

Little did those laying the perimeter road to the RAF Silverstone airfield in 1942 know that they were setting down what would become one of the world’s greatest race tracks. But, well, they were! The Silverstone circuit was first used for a proper motor race in 1947 – although sadly, a local sheep lost its life during the proceedings…

When was its first Grand Prix?

Silverstone was the first Grand Prix, hosting the inaugural Formula 1 World Championship round on May 13 1950. Old campaigner Giuseppe Farina, who’d take that year’s title, won the race in his Alfa Romeo 158.

What’s the circuit like?

At the 2018 British Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton compared a flat-out lap around Silverstone to flying a fighter jet, which should tell you all you need to know about the Northamptonshire circuit. Despite numerous layout changes over the years, Silverstone has always maintained its essential character as one of the fastest tracks on the F1 calendar, while historic corners like Maggotts, Becketts and Abbey provide some of the biggest challenges for racing drivers anywhere in the world.

🌦️ Weather Forecast

FRIDAY, JUL 5 – FP1 AND FP2

Conditions: Gloomy weather all day long with a moderate to high chance of rain, especially by the late morning. Rain amount : 3-6 mm. Light to moderate south-westerly wind with gusts up to 40 km/h in the afternoon.

Chance of rain: 60%

SATURDAY, JUL 6 – FP3 AND QUALIFYING

Conditions: Mostly sunny at first, then mix of clouds and sunny spells with a slight to moderate chance of one or two showers moving quickly around noon. Decreasing chance of rain in the afternoon. Still a moderate westerly wind with gusts up to 50km/h by mid-morning.

Chance of rain: 40%

SUNDAY, JUL 6 – RACE

Partly cloudy at first becoming mostly cloudy by late morning with a moderate chance of quick showers by noon. Lighter south-westerly wind with gusts up to 40km/h during the race.

Chance of rain: 40%