With pre-season testing just a couple of weeks away, the F1 headlines were flooded with the first set of car launches. There was also a potentially large development from the Red Bull camp, although it’s really too early to say what the consequences will be. And of course we cannot forget the news about Silverstone’s Formula One future and changes to the sprint weekend format.
Christian Horner is the focus of an investigation at Red Bull as a result of allegations made by a team employee. While Red Bull have refused to disclose specifics on the allegations while the investigation is ongoing, Horner has denied any wrongdoing. There has been no indication that these allegations are sexual in nature, as has been speculated on social media. A hearing was held on Friday, which is only the first step in a process that could drag on for months. The investigation is being conducted by an external agency. Horner is the longest serving team principal in the paddock, having been with Red Bull since 2005.
The new VCARB 01 was revealed by RB this week. Now under a new identity, the team has reverted back to a blue and white livery reminiscent of the one used between 2017 and 2019 while racing under the name Toro Rosso. Although many of the design concepts have been reused from the previous AlphaTauri car, many changes have been made to bring the design closer to that of the sister Red Bull team, most notably with the front and rear suspensions.
Williams unveiled their 2024 livery. They have retained a similar blue colour palette as the 2023 car, complimenting it with bare carbon fibre, which is quickly becoming a trend as teams look for ways to save weight. They have also kept their stylish Duracell sponsored air intake. A white and red pinstripe has been added to the car’s nose and sidepods as a nod to the team’s British roots.
Sauber showed their 2024 car, the C44, to the world in a striking new livery. The car livery features bright green front and rear wings along with a black nose and sidepods. Part of the updates to this year’s car is “aggressively redesigned” aerodynamics. The team is planning to be energetic in the R&D department ahead of their deal with Audi for 2026.
Alpine launched their A524 car that they will use this season. The livery has been dramatically redesigned to jump on the trend of unpainted carbon fibre, with pink and blue accents on the nose and rear of the car. As has been the case in previous seasons, a blue livery and pink livery have been included, with the team planning to run the pink variation at an increased 8 races. The team claims the car is a “brand-new concept created for the next two seasons”, which will allow for enhanced development during that time.
Alpine has appointed John Woods to the newly created role of chief operating officer. The move is part of an ongoing management restructuring at Alpine. Woods has worked in the road car industry for many years, working at Group Lotus for more than a decade, then moving to McLaren for seven years before returning to Lotus last year.
The FIA governance and regulatory director, Pierre Ketterer, has left the organization. He will be taking a role on the International Olympic Committee in the Spring. Having joined the FIA in 2010, he represented the FIA during the Concorde Agreement negotiations and was a key player in developing the COVID-19 code of conduct responsible for allowing F1 to race during 2020.
Silverstone has extended its contract to host the British Grand Prix until at least 2034. The iconic has played host to the first ever Formula One championship race way back in 1950 and has been sole host of the British Grand Prix since 1987. It was the last circuit expiring after 2024 to agree on an extension, with Suzuka having sealed a 5-year deal last week.
The sprint weekend format is set to shuffled for 2024, with qualifying being moved to Saturday. A single free practice session will be held on Friday before qualifying for the sprint race. On Saturday, the sprint race will be held followed by qualifying for the main event in the afternoon. A complaint about 2023’s format was that car setup had to be completed after just one practice session, due to parc ferme rules. The new schedule would allow for teams make setup adjustments between the sprint race and qualifying. The changes will be presented to the World Motorsport Council for approved at the end of the month.
It can be challenging for even the most avid fans to keep up with the fast-paced world of Formula One. The Weekly F1 Recap is a series published each Monday that breaks down the action, both on and off the circuit, into bit-sized pieces. It's perfect for casual and experienced fans alike.
