• APEX Bite
  • Posts
  • 🇭🇺 F1 is Hungry for Hungary

🇭🇺 F1 is Hungry for Hungary

Silly season started! Get all the high-speed action with the latest juicy gossip

Hey there, F1 fanatics! 👋

Welcome to the latest edition of our F1 newsletter, where we bring you all the exhilarating updates from the world of Formula 1. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual observer, we've got you covered with the hottest news straight from the paddock.

First of all, welcome to the 325 of you who decided to join in the last week. We're thrilled to have you in the garage!

First things first, let's talk about the comeback of a true racing superstar – Daniel Ricciardo is back in the game! The honey badger may be all smiles about his F1 race, but he will face a brutal reality check when he hits the track in Hungary.

And speaking of reshuffling, silly season has officially begun! It's that time of the year when rumors, negotiations, and driver swaps dominate the headlines.

In today’s email:

  1. Pit Stop Talks - Latest in-depth news ahead of Hungarian GP

  2. In-depth education: From Pit Stops to Plot Twists: Unveiling the F1's Silly Season

  3. Fast Lane News - We're here to keep you in the fast lane when it comes to F1 news, ensuring you never miss a beat.

  4. The Hungarian GP - Weekend schedule and track details

    Lights out, and away we go!

f1 race reviewPit Stop Talks

🏆 Verstappen doesn’t need to win anymore

Max Verstappen is soaring to new heights! He doesn't have to win another race in 2023 to be crowned champion. He’d claim the title even if he finishes in P2 for the rest of the season.

In the race for second place, Hamilton is closing in on Perez and Alonso. This battle is the one that will keep us on the edge of our seats.

Russel and Leclerc were locked in an intense battle, tied in points like a pair of well-matched socks before the British GP, but now Russel is breathing down the neck of Sainz with just one point behind.

🔵 Thin line between the veteran and the youngster at AlphaTauri

By the end of 2023, either Daniel Ricciardo or Yuki Tsunoda could be waving goodbye to their Formula 1 careers.

With just 12 Grand Prix left on the calendar, it's now or never for these drivers to prove their mettle and secure their spots in the F1 hall of fame.

One currently has nothing to lose and everything to gain while the other has everything to lose and nothing to gain.

In other words, Ricciardo will end Tsunoda's career in F1 racing or vice versa.

This clash may not get as much airtime as the flashy front-runners, but it's a subplot worth keeping an eye on. - Read more

🗓️ F1 bosses say 24 races are a breaking point

Originally, the 2023 calendar had us revved up with anticipation for 24 thrilling races, but the Chinese GP had to take a raincheck due to effects of COVID-19. However, Shanghai is back in the game for 2024.

Team bosses are feeling the pressure and agree that 24 races might just be the breaking point.

“I think, all in all, it is probably not far from the limit of what we can do or what we can accept. But I think it is down to the teams to find ways of making this sustainable for their employees.”

It's a balancing act between thrilling fans around the world and keeping the teams sane. Other bosses agree on introducing more rotations for their employees. - Read more

"The life is much easier for me than for the mechanics. First of all we have to keep this in mind, that if someone could complain, it's more the mechanics than the team principals. For them we are trying to start rotation, and to have this kind of story.”

🌧️🏁 Does F1 have a solution for wet-weather danger?

Formula 1 is on a mission to tackle the wet-weather dangers and make sure the drama unfolds safely on the track

You know, those rain-soaked races always bring an extra thrill to the weekends, but let's face it, sometimes the spray from the cars in front turns visibility into a soggy mess.

Mercedes and McLaren have tested some nifty contraptions called wheel arches, which are designed to reduce the amount of spray that cars throw up, keeping the track clearer than a polished trophy.

Now, let's rewind a bit. Remember the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix? It was a rainy day, and unfortunately, Jules Bianchi had a tragic accident colliding with a crane.

It was a wake-up call for the sport to address the dangers of wet conditions. Fast forward to last season, and Pierre Gasly narrowly escaped a crane incident in similar wet conditions at the same circuit.

So, after some serious head-scratching and brain-storming, the FIA decided it was time for action. They're taking inspiration from the mishaps and the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix washout. - Read more

⚙️ F1 cars development competition

The British Grand Prix just pulled out all the stops. 10 teams battling it out on the legendary Silverstone circuit, each hoping to give Red Bull a run for their money, and nine out of those ten teams stepped up their game and made improvements to the car.

McLaren showcased a fresh chrome livery and introduced several upgraded components, including revamped sidepods, a redesigned floor, an upgraded halo, and an engine cover. They also unveiled a new front wing aimed at improving aerodynamics.

Mercedes made changes to their front wing, adopting a more rounded contour, and transformed the shape of the car's nose.

Ferrari introduced a new beam wing design, similar to Red Bull's, to enhance rear stability and airflow dynamics.- Read more

Do you enjoy the newsletter?

Don’t forget to follow us and stay on the fast track with the latest news, updates and analysis both on and off-track.

f1 race review From Pit Stops to Plot Twists: Unveiling the F1's Silly Season

Formula 1 never fails to enthrall fans with its high-speed action and intense rivalries. As the 2023 season reaches its halfway point, the drama is not limited to the circuits alone. It's time for the silly season.

Now, when you hear the term "silly season," you probably think of all the absurdity that reality TV, Hollywood, and the media throw at you. You know, those remarkably ridiculous moments that leave us scratching our heads and questioning the state of humanity.

Well, Formula 1 has its own version of this madness.

Source: thejudge13.com

🤪 What is silly season?

This is the time when uncertainty about next year's grid spreads like wildfire. It's like a real-life soap opera, but we have F1 drivers taking center stage instead of glamorous divas and petty drama.

The season usually begins around the summer break, when rumors begin to appear about potential driver moves for the start of the next season. The rumors are largely unsubstantiated and are fueled by the press and fans having no on-track action to talk about.

However, the silly season can really begin at any time. Usually, fans will say it has started when there is a contract signing or a big driver move, such as Ricciardo coming back to AlphaTauri.

Examples of the silly season

In the past, you could see what the silly season really was on several occasions.

Back in 1993, there were many huge changes in Formula 1 teams.

Alain Prost made a surprise comeback with Williams. Nigel Mansell, the 1992 champion, decided he's had enough of playing second fiddle. He packed his bags and stormed out of the team cause he wanted to be numero uno.

Meanwhile, the McLaren driver, Ayrton Senna, also threatened to hit the road. But then, out of the blue, he signed a contract. Crisis averted! Well, except for the whole Honda fiasco. They decide to bail, leaving McLaren with an engine as competitive as a tortoise in a rabbit race.

Gerhard Berger waved goodbye to McLaren and hopped over to Ferrari. Also, some drivers said, "See ya!" to their teams and never looked back.

Fast forward to more recent times. In 2016, Nico Rosberg became the champion and then, out of the blue, decided to retire. Mercedes was left scratching their heads with an empty driver's seat. They snatch up Williams driver Valtteri Bottas, which left Williams high and dry.

Williams reached out to their recently retired driver, Felipe Massa, and asked him for one more spin. They had to act fast because all the other great drivers were already locked into contracts.

Still, the drama of all dramas happened last year.

Fernando Alonso pulled a fast one and ditched Alpine for Aston Martin, leaving everyone with their jaws on the floor. But Alpine had a plan up their sleeve. They announced that Oscar Piastri, their reserve driver, will take the wheel in 2023.

Just when you thought you had the scoop, Piastri storms in with a Twitter tornado saying he never signed a contract with Alpine for 2023.

Alpine never retracted their original statement or addressed Piastri's sassy refusal.

🔥 2023 silly season

The 2023 F1 "silly season" was expected to be peaceful, with most drivers locked into contracts for 2024. But rumors have erupted like fireworks, and they involve none other than Lewis Hamilton.

Before we start speculating about Sir Hamilton, let's dive into the driver situation for next season at each team.

Red Bull

2023 lineup: Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez
2024 drivers under contract: Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez

Mercedes

2023 lineup: Lewis Hamilton, George Russell
2024 drivers under contract: George Russell

Aston Martin

2023 lineup: Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll
2024 drivers under contract: Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso

Ferrari

2023 lineup: Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc
2024 drivers under contract: Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz

Alpine

2023 lineup: Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon
2024 drivers under contract: Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly

McLaren

2023 lineup: Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri
2024 drivers under contract: Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri

Alfa Romeo

2023 lineup: Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu
2024 drivers under contract: Valtteri Bottas

Haas

2023 lineup: Nico Hulkenberg, Kevin Magnussen
2024 drivers under contract: None

Williams

2023 lineup: Alex Albon, Logan Sargeant
2024 drivers under contract: Alex Albon

AlphaTauri

2023 lineup: Yuki Tsunoda, Daniel Ricciardo
2024 drivers under contract: None

🤫 2023 Rumors

🔵 Checo has failed to reach the podium in three straight races before the Austrian GP, and rumors are heating up that his seat isn't secure. Daniel Ricciardo could be in line as his replacement.

Red Bull's Helmut Marko told the Austrian site ORF they are keeping their options open. On the other side, Checo is not worried.

"I have full support from Helmut and Christian. The whole team is fully backing me, and they know what I can do. They know my potential, and they are fully behind me.

We're making progress, because the pace is there on Sundays. But it's just the whole weekend overall – we've had a few bad weekends. But at the end of the day it only matters where we finish in Abu Dhabi. So, it's a long season still, and I fully believe that I can get my season back on track.

Sergio Perez

⚫️ On the other hand, Hamilton has been tangled up in negotiations with Mercedes for what feels like forever. They've been going back and forth, trying to lock down an extension to his current contract that's set to expire at the end of the 2023 season.

Hamilton himself and Mercedes's big boss, Toto Wolff, have been singing the same tune. However, we're still waiting for that official confirmation.

Rumors say that the coming years could see a lot of big-name driver moves, with Ferrari losing both of their current drivers but signing Lando Norris as a replacement.

According to the journalist Joe Saward, there's some serious buzz in the paddock about Lando Norris potentially moving to the Scuderia Ferrari. However, this won't happen until 2026, as McLaren insists that Norris will honor the full duration of his current contract.

Rumor has it that Carlos Sainz might be bidding arrivederci to the Prancing Horse. Apparently, Sainz could join Audi a year before their official F1 debut.

And let's not forget about the Mercedes. They've got their sights set on none other than Charles Leclerc as the potential heir to Lewis Hamilton's throne.

f1 race reviewFast Lane News

🇪🇸 Madrid GP is happening! The President of the Executive Committee of IFEMA says they know when they will sign the contract with F1. - Read more

💼 Teams are not convinced as the meeting which will decide the future of tire warmers in the next season approaches. - Read more

🇫🇷 French President Emmanuel Macron wants Formula 1 to return to his country – with a street race in Nice as a possible candidate. - Read more

🏫 The F1 in Schools initiative has announced a record number of entries for its 2023 world finals, which it claims reflects growth in the championship’s younger audience categories. - Read more

📖 Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer says that Renault is happy with the 2026 Formula 1 power unit regulations and doesn't back the push for an adjustment.

☠️ Toto Wolff addresses F1-FIA division danger. - Read more

🤞 F1 hopes this small tweak can avoid a Spa 2021 repeat - Read more

🟠 Mick Schumacher wouldn’t say no to another test with McLaren after getting behind the wheel of one of the team's F1 cars for the first time. - Read more

f1 race review THE HUNGARIAN GP

🇭🇺 Scheduled July 21th – July 23th

Hungaroing in Hungary

TLDR;

1️⃣ Circuit length: 4.381km
2️⃣ Number of laps: 70
3️⃣ Lap record: 1:16.627 Lewis Hamilton (2020)
4️⃣ Corners & DRS: 14 with 1 DRS zone 

f1 race review MEME OF THE DAY