Ricciardo Dreaming of Red Bull Return

The race is heating up between everyone who isn’t Red Bull. Let’s dive into the Formula 1 news in the past week.

Here’s what we got this week:

• 🇦🇺 Ricciardo Dreams of a Red Bull Return: What’s Danny thinking for 2024?

• 📍 New Race Locations Causing a Stir: F1 Targets new races, European venues could share calendar

• ✈️ Aerodynamic Revolution: How Lotus used airplane inspiration in 1977

• Standings: The race for 2nd is wide open

PLUS: Bridgestone enters the tire race, Verstappen wins with a bird in his brakes, Mick Schumacher hopefully for grid return

🇦🇺 Ricciardo Dreams of a Red Bull Return

Daniel Ricciardo, currently on an F1 sabbatical after his departure from McLaren, has expressed his desire for a full-time return to the cockpit with Red Bull. As the team's reserve driver, Ricciardo remains closely connected to the paddock. The Australian driver has admitted that slipping back into his former seat at Red Bull would be the ideal ending to his Formula 1 career. Ricciardo collected seven of his eight victories and 29 of his 32 podium appearances with the team, forging a strong bond during his earlier stint.

However, the dream scenario may face challenges, as Red Bull is fully subscribed for 2024, with Verstappen and Perez on long-term contracts. Ricciardo has been linked to a potential vacancy at Red Bull's sister team, AlphaTauri, where rookie Nyck de Vries has been under pressure.

While Ricciardo enjoys his year-long freedom from F1's hectic schedule, he remains open to an AlphaTauri drive in 2024, possibly as a pathway to Perez's seat at Red Bull in 2025. Red Bull junior Liam Lawson and other drivers are also strong considerations for future opportunities. In other contract news, several drivers, including those from Haas, Williams, and Alfa Romeo, will be coming out of contract at the end of this season.

📍 New Race Locations Causing a Stir

CEO Stefano Domenicali revealed that some classic European venues may have to accept hosting a race every second year to accommodate the sport's plan of adding new races to the schedule. While a record-breaking 24 rounds were scheduled for 2023, Domenicali believes that 24 is the right number, striking a balance between market demand and logistical complexity.

Formula 1 is actively seeking new races to expand its reach. Negotiations are underway for a street race in Madrid, and the sport is determined to bring a race to Africa, making it the only inhabited continent without a Grand Prix. Other potential bids are being considered from South Korea, Nice, Colombia, and there are even discussions about reviving the race in Vietnam.

To accommodate new races, Domenicali is proposing a rotating contract system for European racetracks, where they would host a race every second year and share their calendar slot with another event. This approach aims to strike a balance between preserving historical races and embracing the evolving world of Formula 1.

Domenicali emphasized the importance of historical races and stated that Formula 1 respects their significance. However, he also mentioned the need for race venues to invest in infrastructure to enhance the fan experience. By meeting changing fan expectations, historical races can remain relevant and ensure their place on the calendar.

Formula 1 is eager to set new standards for fan experience with the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix in November. The sport is taking an active role in organizing the event alongside local city authorities to create a memorable experience for fans worldwide. The 2024 calendar is yet to be released.

✈️ Aerodynamic Revolution

With all the recent aerodynamics talk let’s take a look at how Lotus revolutionized the sport.

The Lotus 78 from 1977 and the Lotus 91 from 1982. Despite only a five-year gap, these cars showcased striking differences in technology, with innovations that were so successful they were eventually banned from the series.

Let's start with the Lotus 78, which revolutionized Formula 1 with its concept of "ground effects." Inspired by the inverted wing of a de Havilland Mosquito fighter bomber, Colin Chapman and his team incorporated this idea into the design. By channeling airflow under the car and creating an air expansion space, they discovered the remarkable downforce effect. This increased traction, allowing for improved braking and faster cornering.

Building upon this success, Lotus introduced the Lotus 91 in 1982, featuring further advancements. Chapman pioneered the use of carbon fiber and Kevlar in the car's construction, making it lighter and more competitive against turbo-powered rivals. The Lotus 91 boasted full-length ground effects that extended to the rear, maximizing downforce. However, the car's pitch sensitivity led to the development of the first active suspension system for the subsequent Lotus 92.

Regrettably, ground effects were banned in 1983 due to their overwhelming effectiveness. Nonetheless, the legacy of these innovative designs lives on in the history of Formula 1. Source

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💨 Hot Laps

• 🛞 Pirelli and Bridgestone are vying for the F1 tire contract from 2025, facing technical and commercial hurdles along the way.

• 🦜 Max Verstappen dominated the F1 Canadian Grand Prix despite hitting and killing a bird that got stuck in his front right brake duct.

• ♺ Mick Schumacher remains hopeful and determined to secure a Formula 1 seat, expressing confidence that a return to the sport will happen soon, preferably by next year.

Standings

The battle for second in the constructors is on! Only 45 points separate Ferrari in 4th to Mercedes in 2nd with Aston Martin in between. One thing that sticks out so far this season is the gap between Alonso and Stroll. Usually, teammates are pretty close to each other given that they have the same car, but Alonso is head and shoulders above Stroll. It raises the question of how good could Aston Martin be if Stroll was replaced with a veteran driver. Is there a possibility the elder Stroll gets rid of his son to be more competitive? Probably not.