$5 Million Las Vegas GP Package

Hey guys, this week I changed up the format a lot to see how you like it. Let me know what you think, see the poll at the end of the email. For all of the new readers let me know what you think too. Would really appreciate it!

Here’s what we got this week:

• 🚀 Around Formula 1: Teams’ values skyrocket • Las Vegas GP pricing is insane • F1 sustainability

• 🏎 Drivers: Is hiring experienced drivers best? • Danny pumped to be back • Hamilton contract talks

• 🤥 Teams: Teams lying about sidepods • F1 boss wants bigger fines • Mercedes and AI combined

• 🇭🇺 Hungarian GP Preview: Interesting stats • Race strategy • Iconic moments

• Standings: Here’s what it looks like before the Hungarian GP

Around Formula 1

🚀 F1 Team Values Skyrocket - Values since the introduction of a cost cap in 2021 have exploded, Ferrari is leading the way at $3.9 billion and Mercedes close behind at $3.8 billion. The cost cap has made teams more profitable, attracting investors and driving up team revenues, resulting in a 276% increase in team values since 2019.

👑 Las Vegas Experience - Caesars is promoting a once-in-a-lifetime experience during the Las Vegas GP, with the exclusive "Emperor Package" from Nobu and F1. Priced at $5 million, the package offers a five-night stay in the luxurious Nobu Hotel Villa, complete with a massive 4,700 sf terrace, providing unmatched views of the racing for up to 75 guests. A measly $66,666 per person lol.

♻️ Sustainability Future - Formula E Chief, Jeff Dodds, expressed doubts about F1's sustainability, even with its plans for sustainable fuels. While F1 aims to incorporate fully-sustainable fuels alongside electrical power by 2026, Dodds believes there’s still a long way to go to be considered truly sustainable. Red Bull is also concerned about the impact of these changes on racing, further complicating F1's path to a greener future.

Drivers

📓 AlphaTauri Stealing from Haas - Gunther has said AlphaTauri's decision to replace struggling rookie Nyck de Vries with experienced driver Daniel Ricciardo echoes Haas' playbook. While acknowledging the difficulty of the decision, Steiner believes bringing in experienced drivers to boost their team's performance seems to be a trend in F1, similar to when Haas brought in Hulkenberg last year.

🍯 🦡 Honey Badger is Back - Danny Ricciardo is excited to be back in Formula 1. He’s rediscovered his love for the sport ahead of his return with AlphaTauri at the Hungarian GP. Despite his desire to return to Red Bull, Ricciardo is focused on the moment and performing, with no guarantees about his future in the championship-winning team. His presence on the grid also puts pressure on Checo, who is struggling compared to Verstappen.

📜 Hamilton Contract Talks - Lewis is currently in talks with Mercedes regarding a new contract as his current deal expires at the end of the 2023 season. Despite being 39 years old by the start of the 2024 season, Hamilton remains determined to secure an eighth title. Red Bull’s dominance, combined with Mercedes' struggles, have presented challenges, but Hamilton has "100% faith" in the team's capabilities. Discussions about Hamilton's future role with the team are still underway. The contract negotiations are expected to be concluded before the end of the season, with both parties keen to reach an agreement.

Teams

🤖 Mercedes + AI = Winning? - Abu Dhabi's AI organization, G42, and Mercedes have launched a multi-year strategic partnership, with the aim of harnessing AI and big data analytics to enhance Mercedes' performance on the track. Toto expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing the importance of marginal gains in the competitive sport, while Peng Xiao, CEO of G42, saw this partnership as a significant step in understanding human behavior through AI, particularly in high-stress environments like F1.

🚩 Red Bull’s Wrist Slap - Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali has called for sporting sanctions, like points deductions, to be imposed by the FIA on teams that breach the budget cap, instead of financial penalties. This comes after Red Bull received a $7 million fine and a 10% reduction in wind tunnel testing time for a budget cap breach in 2021, a penalty considered by some rival teams as too lenient.

🤥 Teams Playing Possum - McLaren team boss Andrea Stella slams rivals downplaying the significance of sidepods in car performance, comparing them to "Pinocchio" for not telling the truth. Stella believes that sidepods play a crucial role in improving lap times by optimizing airflow over and around the car, with many teams, including Red Bull, adopting wider sidepod designs to enhance downforce and floor suction.

🇭🇺 Hungarian GP Preview

Get ready for the 11th race before the summer break as F1 moves to Hungary this weekend!

Vital statistics:

- First Grand Prix: 1986

- Track Length: 4.381km

- Lap record: 1m 16.627s, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 2020

- Most pole positions: Lewis Hamilton (8)

- Most wins: Lewis Hamilton (8)

- Trivia: Esteban Ocon's maiden F1 win in 2021, and George Russell's first-ever F1 pole in 2022.

Strategy and set-up keys:

- Budapest's high downforce track with limited overtaking opportunities demands a strong qualifying result.

- Pirelli introduces softer compound tires (C3, C4, C5) leading to possible multiple-stop races.

- The "Alternative Tire Allocation" will debut with 11 sets of tires, affecting qualifying strategies.

Current form:

- Max Verstappen seeks his seventh successive win, aiming to set a new F1 record of 12 consecutive victories for Red Bull.

- McLaren, Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Ferrari look to set them apart from the rest fighting for 2nd in the constructors’

Iconic moment:

- Jenson Button's dramatic victory in the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix, marking his first F1 win and Honda's first constructor win since 1967.

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📊 Standings