😢😢Cursing in F1, Upgrades In Austin, Goodbye Ricciardo

Good morning. I know this wait between races is excruciating. But, the good news is the next race is in my home town, Austin, TX. I will be in attendance of course watching what should be a fantastic race.

Austin will host a turning point for many teams. With Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull all planning the last big upgrade pushes for the year and all while returning to a “normal” track after a string of unique events that don’t really tell you much about the car.

In addition to the race, I will be hosting a sponsor event for the racing team that I am affiliated with to raise some funds for racing in the Supercar Challenge in 2025. Fun times!

-Jake Williamson

🏎 Austin Teasers

Austin, TX is home to the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) and has hosted the USGP since the track opened in 2012. COTA is America’s first purpose-built F1 track and has gone on to host MotoGP, World Endurance Championship, and NASCAR. The track was renewed for an additional five years back in 2021 and will continue to host the USGP until at least the end of 2026.

I will be breaking down the USGP at Austin in a couple of weeks before the races, but for now, I wanted to give you a few highlights to look forward to.

New Pavement: COTA has been getting a fresh surface for over 12 months. Aside from having to cancel one of my track days because of it, I am happy about this. The F1 and Motogp drivers have complained of the bumpiness at the track for years. The complaints seemed to go on long enough for COTA ownership to greenlight a full paving job. I must say, the tarmac is smooth and grippy. I drove it a few days ago.

Team Upgrades: Many teams will bring their final major upgrade packages to Austin in a push to claw their way to the top of the championship. Ferrari and Red Bull should have the most dramatic changes, but McLaren should be on your radar since they were “forced” to change their rear wing.

Weather cooler: Central Texas has experienced cooler-than-average temperatures, and October should be the same. Don’t break out your hoodies, though. It will still be hot for those not acclimated to the Texas sun, but the racing should be slightly spicier with a cooler track surface.

🗣️ Calling All Sponsors

I am racing for REAL next year and raising sponsor funds to support the team I am affiliated with. If you are a business owner or in the ear of someone at your business who decides on sponsorships, reply to this email, and I will give you the rundown.

Vision Motorsports is raising money for several drivers (including yours truly) to take on multiple championships in Europe and America over the next few years. We will be competing in LMP Trophy, Supercar Challenge, IMSA, and more with the help of partners who want to take advantage of the exposure that motorsports can offer at the moment!

If you are interested in coming to Austin during F1 week, we are hosting a private event for interested parties. Will Buxton will sign books at the event.

Contact me - [email protected] 

🌎 Daniel Ricciardo Out

After 14 years in F1 and winning 8 Grands Prix, Daniel Ricciardo is out of Red Bull and potentially out of F1. This isn’t “breaking news” any longer, but it comes as a shock to fans of the sport. Although “shock” may be a misnomer. The rumors around Daniel Ricciardo leaving Red Bull had been rampant leading up to the Singapore GP. So much so, that you would be forgiven for thinking you missed an official announcement. I mean, seriously, Red Bull let the paddock effectively host a televised retirement party for Ricciardo without so much as a word of confirmation of the news. We didn’t find out that the Aussie was leaving until the Thursday after the grand prix.

Daniel Ricciardo has become a popular figure in F1 in this “Drive to Survive” era with his shining grin and fun loving personality. He has been a fixture of the American fandom. But popularity doesn’t secure your seat in the pinnacle of motorsport. Something changed with Ricciardo since leaving Red Bull the first time in in 2019. According to Helmut Marko, “in these last few years he tried but it was no longer there, the killer instinct was gone."

Ricciardo won 7 or his eight victories with Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen, but he left the Austrian team for Renault. It’s been suggested that Ricciardo left Red Bull to get out of Verstappen’s shadow because he wasn’t confident he could beat the Dutchman in equal machinery. Moreover, Ricciardo didn’t feel confident in the Honda power unit Red Bull was set to take on. So, the Australian left to join the epic failure of a team, Renault.

From there, Ricciardo has been a victim of circumstance with two failed stints at two different teams before moving into the seat at the Red Bull junior team, VCARB. He tried his best to return to his “honey Badger” form but to no end.

Some people may suggest this is due to his age. At 35, Ricciardo has admitted that he doesn’t race like he did at 25, but I am hesitant to accept this. Fernando Alonso is in his mid-40s and still putting down quick lap times. I think Daniel has gotten in his own way and can’t shake the pessimism that has resulted from his downward spiral.

Liam Lawson will replace Ricciardo in Austin so VCARB can start fighting for points again. Ricciardo has reportedly been offered an ambassadorial role at Red Bull and has been linked to NASCAR and Indycar. He’s made enough cash to retire for good, so he may just sail off into the sunset.

I know that I speak for most F1 fans in hoping we see Ricciardo in some capacity even if his racing career has ended.

🚀Headline Sprint

💸Gene Haas increases investment: According to team principal, Ayao Komatsu, Gene Haas is “willing” to invest more in his F1 team. The Haas team has essentially functioned as a big billboard for Haas automation which is why title sponsorships for the American team have been rare. As a billboard, Gene Haas was always reluctant to spend more than he needed to, which restricted the team to the back of the field. However, the Haas team slowly started to use their limited resources and have started to sit in the mid-pack after releasing Guenther Steiner earlier this year. With the renewed competitiveness, Gene is set to pour more money into the fire to see where they can go.

🆘Ricciardo offered a Red Bull lifeline: Helmut Marko has hinted that Ricciardo would be offered an Ambassadorial role at Red Bull if he so chooses. This would put Ricciardo in a corporate job. He would be responsible for raising awareness for the team and catering to the needs of high profile sponsors. There are other duties, but does Ricciardo want to be a “cheerleader” for the team if he is no longer actively racing? Probably not.

🤠Alonso says it’s a matter of time for Bortoleto: Audi has yet to select their final driver for 2025 among rumors of Bottas being given the seat. The other driver linked to the open seat is F2 championship contender Gabriel Bortoleto, who leaves Audi with a choice. They could go with experience or young talent. If Bortoleto wins the F2 championship, he will join George Russell, Oscar Piastri, and Charles Leclerc as a driver who can claim he has won F2 and F3 championships back to back. That is a talent that you don’t turn your cheek to. Audi would be wise to consider the benefit of bringing on the young driver who has been mentored by two time world champion Fernando Alonso.

🛞 Should F1 Drop the Fastest Lap?

The idea of the fastest lap has come under fire after Ricciardo pitted late in the Singapore GP to swap on a set of soft tyres to clench the small win from Lando Norris.

You are now in danger of hearing my opinion, but that’s why you’re here. Anyone can read motorsport news, but what does everyone think about it? Let’s start with context.

What is the fastest lap?

Stupid question? Maybe. Anyone with a few brain cells to rub together can guess that the fastest lap is recognition for the driver who travels around the circuit the quickest. But you may not know that the title comes with a reward. The driver who secures the fastest lap is bestowed with one championship point for the driver and the team.

Why does this exist?

Who knows at this point. The rule probably concerns some eager people at an F1 commission meeting who wanted to see more intrigue in the championship fight. It certainly isn’t the weirdest suggestion to make F1 exciting. That probably goes to Bernie Ecclestone suggesting giant fire hoses to periodically wet the tracks.

Since the extra point was re-introduced in 2019, anyone in the top 10 positions in the race can be granted the point for the fastest lap. So, contrary to popular opinion, Zhou couldn’t secure a point for himself by pitting for soft tyres. All that happens if a back marker secures the fastest lap is that no one in the top 10 will get it.

The Argument for the point

Many will argue that without the added point, the championship would fall back into what we’ve seen under Red Bull’s dominance. When one team dominates race after race, it’s good to have an open door for other teams to steal some points, albeit a small amount.

What’s more, the extra point can make a championship even closer. It’s never very fun to watch a world title get decided with several races left on the calendar so this fast lap point can help extend a title fight.

The Argument against it

The Pirelli tyre era makes it too easy to get the fastest lap. In the days of Bridgestone and Michelin, tyres could last a whole race and still be good enough to push. Therefore, pitting for a fresh set of fast tyres would cost you a lot more than was worth losing.

What do I think?

I think the rule should be struck from the books. Simple. Instead, I like the suggestion of awarding an extra point to the driver who takes pole position in qualifying because that is the true “fastest lapper” of the weekend. Therefore, you can’t have the games that Red Bull played with Ricciardo in Singapore. Regardless of the reason behind giving Ricciardo the fastest lap, it still messes with a real title fight at the front of the grid.

🏎 Verstappen To Quit Over Language

Forgive me for adding an additional story about the cursing controversy that has permeated the F1 grid lately, but this is becoming a bigger story, with Max Verstappen threatening to quit over the fight with the FIA.

After finding that strong language can be linked to increased “hate” toward officials online, the FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, has overseen a strong crackdown on cursing and negativity in the sport. This isn’t an inherently illogical move, but it has created rifts in the driver lineup.

The rules have always restricted unsavory conduct and strong language in press conferences and other public events hosted in conjunction with the FIA, but the punishments for violating these rules have gotten more draconian. The latest of these punishments was handed to Max Verstappen for using the word ‘fucked’ in a press conference when describing his car. Max was sentenced to “public service” for his sins.

This decision didn’t go over well. Drivers and teams registered their discontent with the childish decision, not the least of which was Verstappen himself. Max gave short, one-word answers in the post-qualifying press conference as a form of protest before offering longer answers to the press after the conference ended.

In a recent development, Max Verstappen has spoken with Helmut Marko about quitting F1 in the wake of these changes. “Max has to be taken seriously,” Marko warned. Verstappen explained to the press that winning races is what he sets out to do, but he hinted that once he has accomplished the wins and the titles, he wants to have fun in the sport. Restricting language and dulling the sport overall could push him over the edge of early retirement.

💨 Hot Laps

US court rules in favor of Steiner in legal fight over book

Liam Lawson has had a rocky road in motorsport, including watching his parents sell their home to keep him racing.

Binotto is optimistic about the progress at the Audi Power Unit program but is cautious about the “gap” that will need to be filled.

Hamilton opens up about depression as a budding racing driver and trying to juggle school and all that comes with that.

I guess Checo is confident he is staying at Red Bull 🙂 

🛞Marbles

Random links from the authors not always car related

✅Eat: Here is a list of America’s greatest contributions to world cuisin.

✅Race: Join me in supporting a new full motion racing simulator that fills a much needed gap in the market.

✅Window Shop: Take a look at auctions closing today on Bring a Trailer - if you’re like me, you will find your next car purchase on here…

✅Wear: I find a local streetwear designer to collab on my latest merch drop and I wanted you guys to check them out if you have the time!

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