Sometimes in life and Formula One it’s better to be accused of something without reply than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt. This week during the Adrian Newey roadshow, the ex-Red Bull guru engineer decided he would unburden himself over a number of topics that have clearly been eating away at him for some time.

Newey revealed he believed that Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton had developed a ‘victim complex’ over the result of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and that they were “psychologically damaged” by their response to decisions made that day. Adrian on the other hand suggested he could be very ‘grumpy’ on a Sunday when things didn’t go the way he hoped, but on Monday morning his head was back in the game.

The most successful engineer F1 has ever seen was never in contention for a role within Mercedes if Toto Wolff is to be believed:“James [Allison, Mercedes technical director] and I discussed it, elaborated about it, and came to the conclusion that the structure that we have today is the one that we have faith in and we want to continue with,” Wolff told assembled media in Baku.

 

 

 

Mercedes “passed” on Newey

“Having said that, also we have great respect for Newey, but we passed on that one because we believe in our team at that stage.”

Ferrari too passed on Newey who insisted any role at Maranello must include his ability to restructure the technical team, hire and fire at will which was something Fred Vasseur felt was a bridge too far.

In reality the decision was made for Newey. Aston Martin offered eye watering sums of money and a blank sheet of paper together with a reunion with Dan Fallows and a new collaboration with power unit guru Andy Cowell together with ex-Ferrari senior engineer Enrico Cardile.

Freed up from his duty to tow the Red Bull line, Newey also decided to add his two penneth into the TV “bias” debate. Sky F1 have been accused by fans from the continent of Europe of favouring stories which include British drivers together with spin that at times glosses over their weaknesses.

Norris: I helped Piastri win

 

 

 

Sky F1’s Kravitz banned by Red Bull

Lewis Hamilton has been a favourite of the British broadcaster for years who rarely called out his petulant outbursts over the years. Despite Max Verstappen having won the last three F1 world championships, the opening credits from Sky each weekend remain loaded with Hamilton moments which of course are now ancient history.

Ted Kravitz was called out by the Red Bull team for his persistent negative narrative over Verstappen’s first world championship. They banned all interviews with the broadcaster during the 2022 weekend at the Mexican Grand Prix because Kravitz in his previous “notebook” from Austin had perpetuated his view that Hamilton was “robbed” of an eighth world championship.

The reality was under the safety car in Abu Dhabi 20212, Red Bull pitted Max Verstappen for new tyres – Mercedes chose to retain track position for Lewis Hamilton and left him on old rubber. The result at the resort was inevitable – Verstappen blew past Hamilton to claim the race victory and the F1 drivers championship.

“I think from the outside I’m not sure people fully appreciate and understand Max, just like they didn’t with Sebastian,” said Newey on the High Performance podcast. “First of all, there’s this sort of demonisation both of them suffered at times, which I think is very unfair, and maybe that’s also a little bit of the British media, if I’m honest.”

Ricciardo mid season sacking

 

 

 

Norris lack of toughness needs calling out

David Croft who fronts most of the F1 Grand Prix commentary for Sky is a self confessed Lewis Hamilton fan and together with Martin Brundle at times their analysis of Hamilton’s ‘genius’ is utterly sycophantic. Lando Norris is receiving a similar treatment as he apparently battles with McLaren for number one driver status this year in his pursuit of Max Verstappen and an F1 world title.

The reality is a stark contrast to the ruthlessness Sebastian Vettel showed when given team orders to hold station behind his team mate Mark Webber. In Malaysia 2013 Webber was leading the race and the team instructed Sebastian to hold station (multi-21).

As any true competitor would respond, Vettel cranked up the power levels of his V8 Renault, passed his team mate and refused to give the place back. Norris by way of contrast bowed to team orders in Hungary this year to allow his team mate through to take the race win while Lando lost seven valuable points in his pursuit of Max Verstappen.

David Croft who was absent from the recent Azerbaijan Grand Prix has responded to Newey’s criticism, but it appears he and the rest of the Sky F1 team have nothing to learn.

Horner rounds on McLaren “confusion”

 

 

 

Croft blames “perception”

“I will try and follow the story, it’s as simple as that,” Croft told Speedcafe. “You try and follow the story wherever that story might be, and Formula 1 is unique in that there are many different stories that happen during the course of the race.

“You’ve also got to talk to the pictures, which we have no control over, on Sky, at all – they’re all from a world feed – so you’re reacting to what that director wants to put out there.”

This is an obvious defensive response with Croft claiming his comments are driven by others, yet the reality is the British commentator spends a significant amount of his air time discussing topical matters which are not from the pictures in front of him.

‘He protesters too much’ springs to mind regarding Croft’s self defence. Sky F1 producers a huge amount of content over a typical F1 weekend which is broadcast in the UK, Australia and a number of other markets around the world.

“I try to be as impartial as I can,” Croft added. “It’s really difficult to prove whether you’re impartial or not because we all watch with a bias,” admits Croft. “We all watch with our own bias and our own perceptions of a comment or a statement that somebody makes and when you’re trying sometimes to be neutral, someone will perceive that in a completely different way.”

F1 rookie only race – agreed by teams

 

 

 

2029 – hopefully a time for change

Again Croft is missing the point. The accusations of Sky bias are ever present I the comment sections of most F1 websites. Its not a matter of perception, but one of fact stated by thousands of F1 observers.

Croft concludes his self defence by attempting to as a rhetorical question. “Do I get more excited when a British driver wins? Possibly, you might think so, I don’t know because I’m in that moment.

“Do I get more excited when it’s been a thrilling race? Yes. Do I get more excited when there’s a great story to go with it? Yes. Do I get excited whoever wins? I try to.”

Sky won the exclusive rights to air live F1 in the UK from 2012 onwards and there has always been an air of the broadcasting team being children inside a sweet shop, or a kid meeting his super hero.

This results in soft questioning and at times down right poor journalism as the Sky F1 team don’t want to offend anyone in case they are refused further interviews. Sky’s F1 rights extend until 2029 when hopefully a new broadcaster will take over the reigns and introduce a new team of presenters as will happen in Indycar next season.

Expert SLAMS “depressed Verstappen” who “lacks fighting spirit”

 

 

 

Aston Martin chooses “ideal” Alonso replacement

Aston Martin reportedly eyeing Álex Palou as ideal successor to Fernando Alonso as the Silverstone team look to the future as Alonso approaches possible retirement – Since joining Aston Martin in 2023, two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso has become a central figure for the team, lending his experience and skill to their charge up the grid.

Alonso, now 43, recently extended his contract with the British team until the end of 2026, ensuring he will remain a key player for at least a few more seasons. However, reports suggest that Aston Martin are already looking ahead and preparing for life after Alonso’s eventual departure from the cockpit… READ MORE