F1 driver signings “in weeks” as Red Bull reveal recruitment plan. Formula One in 2024 may be remembered for many things. There’s firstly the Red Bull civicl war which erupted in January and threatened to sever the world champions from their star driver. The conclusion to this matter could yet be a year away with the female employee from Milton Keynes now having opted for a employment tribunal which are famous for their delayed outcomes.

The battle between the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 supremo Stefano Domenicali entered its next round, as a complaint was made to the FIA ethics committee that Ben Sulayem had interfered with F1 race results. The FIA president was cleared.

 

 

 

2024 turmoil in F1

Susie Wolff has lodged a criminal complaint in the French courts, who have jurisdiction over the FIA. She claims her reputation was damaged by a failed FIA investigation launched into her alleged “leaking” of confidential FOM information.

Then there is the outstanding resolution to the Andretti F1 bid which was green lighted by the FIA, but blocked by F1. Do the FIA issue the appropriate documents to Andretti which finalises their place on the grid for 2025, or has this tale got another twist to it?

2024 may not be remembered for the competition out on track, as Max Verstappen has opened his season with three wins from the four races he completed. Red Bull may even collect the constructors’ title earlier this season given that Sergio Perez now appears to be able to play wingman to his team mate.

While Red Bull and Verstappen disappear from sight, this year will see one of the biggest shakeups within the F1 driver markets in living memory. Thirteen drivers are out of contract and even Red Bull face the prospect of Max Verstappen joining those this year looking for pastures new.

Hamilton warns Mercedes not to “eff it up”

 

 

 

Red Bull dilema 

Red Bull have a reputation for acting swiftly and even ruthlessly as far as their drivers are concerned. With Perez delivering at present and Liam Lawson nailed on for 2025, there is the potential the team could merely fulfil their four driver requirements from within.

Other reports link a return for Alex Albon to Red Bull Racing, although it is believed Williams are holding him to his commitment at the end of 2025 for the moment.

Of course were Perez performances to fall off a cliff again as they did in 2023 after the first five races, then Carlos Sainz would be the prime candidate to replace the Mexican driver. Sainz is at present leading the Ferrari charge to change Red Bull Racing and has thus far this season beaten his team mate who Ferrari prefer to keep – hands down.

Outspoken consultant to Red Bull, Dr. Helmut Marko, was speaking about Red Bull’s future driver line up throughout the recent Japanese Grand Prix weekend. When asked about Red Bull’s plans, Marko was his usual candid self.

FIA urgent tyre rule change discussed

 

 

 

Marko suggests Audi pressure

“The driver market has exploded in April, and normally no one talks [about it] in April. It is ridiculous, but we won’t jump into this game ourselves. We will wait and see, and only then make the best choice later on.

“I don’t know what is going on. I have heard that Audi is making pressure, but it is a little bit strange for a newcomer to make pressure on the driver market.”

Marko is of course referring to reports over the weekend that Audi-Sauber are setting deadlines to secure their drivers for next year and they expire in just a matter of weeks. Sainz is believed to have been offered a five year deal with the team, who will fully compete as Audi from 2026, but he has just until the end of April to decide – according to Racing365.

It appears this news has fed through to Red Bull and possibly even Sergio Perez given the timescale the Mexican outlines for his own future to be resolved.

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Perez believes its just “weeks”

“I am pretty relaxed about it,” he told Sky. “It is my 14th season in F1 and whatever comes next, I am already really pleased with what I have done in the sport so far. I believe it will be a matter of time.

“Obviously the driver market is moving and in the next few weeks there are going to be a lot of movements for sure. So, I expect within a month to really know what I am doing next year.”

Yet despite the Audi pressure on Sainz, Red Bull will not be pressurised into jumping early. Perez will be given several more races before the team decide on his future and even Christian Horner has changed his tune over Checo.

The message pre-season was for him to improve his qualifying. Now the Red Bull boss says: “He needs to just keep doing what he’s doing. The whole driver market seems to be very early this year that everybody seems to be rushing around, and we’re only four races into the year.

“We’re not in a huge rush. And, obviously, there’s a significant amount of interest in our cars, as you would expect. But Checo has the priority, and it is going to be a few more races yet before we start to think about next year.”

“Clueless” Hamilton in Japan

 

 

 

Tsunoda begins to shine

Marko also praised the often uninspiring Yuki Tsunoda as he battled for the final point on offer throughout the Japanese Grand Prix.

“There are four races and Yuki has brought the car into Q3 three times,” he told Sky Germany “He is consistent and the mistakes are a thing of the past.

“His lack of control on the radio is also gone. He’s really blossomed.”

Team mate Daniel Ricciardo again piled more pressure on himself in the land of the rising sun when he was out qualified again by his team mate and the Aussie was responsible for a first lap crash at turn two, where he took out the Williams of Alex Albon resulting in both drivers’ being out of the race.

Russell reveals SHOCK issues for Mercedes

 

 

 

Hamilton criticises Mercedes race strategy

The Japanese Grand Prix proved to be another false dawn for the Mercedes AMG Formula One team. Both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton hailed the improvements in the W15 car during practice, but as is becoming a worrying trend come qualifying and the race the car was at best the fifth quickest in the field.

Fernando Alonso once again proved his powers are at their peak hauling his Aston Martin onto fifth place at the start. Having lost FP2 to rain, the teams had little long run simulation data and the front running teams had saved different tyre allocations for the race…. READ MORE