There was no racing this week, with Formula One taking a break ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, but there was still some drama in the headlines this week thanks largely to Felipe Massa and Red Bull. Plus, there may be a chance for some of the well-funded F1 fans to buy a piece of F1 history.
The seemingly never ending controversy within Red Bull continued this week, with Christian Horner’s accuser filing an appeal against the decision that cleared the Red Bull team principal of any wrongdoing. She has also lodged an official complaint with the FIA, Formula One regulatory body. The female employee, whose identity remains a secret, was suspended with pay after the independent investigation was completed. If her appeal to Red Bull is denied, she may have the legal right to sue both Red Bull and Horner.
Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa has filed a lawsuit against the sport for the 2008 controversy that cost him the World Drivers’ Championship title. The lawsuit filed in the London High Court names the FIA, FOM, and Bernie Ecclestone for their involvement in the infamous “Crashgate” scandal. At the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr. helped then teammate Fernando Alonso win the race by deliberately crashing to trigger the safety car. Had the results of the race been voided, Massa would not have gone on to lose the championship to then McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton by a single point int he final corner of a wet Brazilian Grand Prix. Massa’s renewed interest in the season was sparked last year when Ecclestone gave an interview claiming there was sufficient evidence to have the result thrown out, but the decision was made to wait to investigate until after the season was over and the results could not be thrown out. Massa is now seeking a £64m (~$82m) compensation package, consisting of income he could have earned if he had won the championship.
If you’ve ever wanted to own a classic Formula One, now may be your chance, as Jody Scheckter has put 12 cars from his personal collection up for auction in the RM Sotheby’s Monaco sale. Most notable of these cars in the Ferrari 312 T4 which he used to win the World Drivers’ Championship back in 1979. Having purchased the car from Ferrari in 1982, it now has an estimated pre-sale value of up to £5m (~$6.4m). Other cars in the auction from his collection include the Tyrrell P34, Tyrrell 007, McLaren M23, McLaren M19A, Wolf WR1, F2 Rondel Motul M1, F5000 Trojan T101, Formula Ford Merlyn Mk11a, Formula Ford Merlyn Mk21, and Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ sports car.
Fans who can’t afford to spend a few million dollars on a genuine Formula One car shouldn’t feel left out of the action, as a Ferrari 312 T2 prop car has also been listed up for sale at a much more affordable $75,000 (~£59,000). The car has been listed by the Ohio car dealer Switchcars and was one of nine prop cars used in Ron Howard’s blockbuster Rush. However, it’s important to note that the car is being sold in “rolling-only” condition, as the car does not have any fluids in the engine and does not have a battery.
Former F1 driver Kamui Kobayashi will race in his second career NASCAR Cup Series race at the Circuit of the Americas. The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix will be held on March 24. The Japanese driver, who raced in F1 from 2009 to 2014 and currently races in the World Endurance Championship, previously raced in the 2023 Verison 200 at the road course layout of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last year where he finished 33rd. Fellow WEC competitor and former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat will also be participating in the race weekend at CoTA, racign in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race a day earlier. Kvyat also has NASCAR experience, having previously raced in four NASCAR races in 2022.
F1 will continue using 18-inch tyre rims from 2026 onward, despite a push to change to a smaller 16-inch rim. The sport switched from the 13-inch rims to 18-inch rims for 2022, but the idea of using a 16-inch rim has been explored as a potential way to reduce the weight of the cars. The proposed change was opposed by Pirelli mostly due to the technical challenges involved in developing and producing a new size of rim. Instead, it’s understood that focus has been shifted to changing the size and shape of the tyre itself.
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.
