Is Checo Going To Cause Red Bull To Lose The Championship?

🌎 Around Formula 1

🚫 Can Red Bull Fix F1’s Track Limits Problem? - A new curb and gravel trap design at the Red Bull Ring may solve F1's track limits issues permanently. The redesigned curbs, with reduced width and strategic painting, prevent cars from exceeding track limits without hitting gravel. This solution, praised by race director Niels Wittich, has shown promise during initial testing. If successful, it could be implemented across all circuits, providing a unified approach to managing track limits. Read

🤔 Are Fans Getting Less Value For More Money With Sprints? - Sprint races cost promoters an extra $4 million and may offer fans less value. Promoter Francois Dumontier prefers traditional race weekends, citing shorter sessions and less overall track time. Data shows a 19.81% drop in on-track activity at sprint events compared to traditional formats. While sprint races provide more competitive laps, fans see fewer total laps, raising questions about the value of these events. Read

🛞 Drivers

⚖️ Here’s Why Checo Is Struggling - He’s grappling with extreme balance issues in his RB20, particularly in medium to low-speed corners. Despite recent qualifying struggles, Perez believes the Barcelona weekend provided insights to address his car handling problems. With McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes closing the gap, Perez needs to improve quickly, experimenting heavily with setups to find stability and rotation. Read

👀 Logan Sargeant Poised for Major Career Shift - At 23, Sargeant is expected to leave the Williams team for IndyCar in 2025 following performance struggles. Rumors suggest high-profile replacements like Sainz or Bottas might join Williams. An official announcement is anticipated before the F1 summer break. Read

😳 Verstappen Faces Potential Grid Penalty - May face a ten-place grid penalty after his new engine, replaced in Montreal, likely becomes unusable. With no spare engines for the remaining 14 races, Verstappen's championship lead is at risk. Analyzing the engine in Japan, Red Bull awaits confirmation of the unit's condition. Read

🏎 Teams

💰 Williams' Ambitious Hiring Spree - They embarked on a significant hiring spree, adding six new technical leaders and 26 additional recruits to boost their performance. Key hires include ex-Alpine technical director Matt Harman as design director and Fabrice Moncade as chief engineer. These appointments reflect Williams' commitment to improving its car development and operations. Team principal James Vowles emphasizes that this strategy aims to enhance all aspects of the team, with the ultimate goal of climbing the F1 grid and returning to the front under Dorilton Capital's ownership. Read

🛠️ Mercedes Teases Upgrades - After a strong showing in Spain where Lewis Hamilton secured his first podium of the season, the team plans further upgrades to enhance the performance of their W15 car. Trackside performance director Andrew Shovlin highlighted the progress and upcoming developments, focusing on aerodynamic and mechanical improvements. Read

🏎 Danny and Yuki Seek Answers After Spain Struggles - Both faced challenges at the Spanish GP despite major updates to their cars. The extensive package, including changes to the floor body, sidepods, and wings, failed to deliver expected performance. Both drivers struggled in qualifying and finished at the back of the pack. Ricciardo cited a lack of overall load and high-speed circuit weaknesses, while Tsunoda noted unusual car behavior and poor pace. Read

🚍 McLaren Uses Rented Motorhome After Fire in Spain - They're using a rented motorhome for Austria after a fire damaged their regular Team Hub in Spain. An electrical issue triggered the fire, leading to an evacuation and minor smoke inhalation incident. The original motorhome is being cleaned and serviced in Germany, aiming for a return by the British GP. Meanwhile, McLaren's temporary setup accommodates essential functions, with reduced disruption expected. Read

💨 Fast Laps

Aston Martin confirms Lance Stroll staying until at least 2026. Read

Aerodynamic alchemy: The dark art of Formula 1 car design. Read

Mick Schumacher to test with Alpine as vacant 2025 seat looms. Read

Aston Martin to produce road-legal Alonso-commissioned Valiant. Read

Luciano Burti on his huge 2001 crash, how it led to improved F1 safety and why his racing risks went unrewarded. Listen

Magnussen labels career as “empty in some ways” as he hints at future outside of F1. Read

Gasly confirmed at Alpine for 2025 on multi-year extension. Read

🏎 Race Preview

📊 Standings