Max Verstappen, the Red Bull driver, showcasing his skills in the RB20.
Monday’s fast-paced F1 news round-up leads with Esteban Ocon’s Alpine exit at the end of the F1 2024 season, with Mercedes and Ferrari among four teams reportedly adopting a genius Red Bull suspension trick.
Join me as we zoom through the day’s top stories in record time…
F1 news: Esteban Ocon’s Alpine exit confirmed, Red Bull suspension trick revealed
The departure of Esteban Ocon from Alpine has been officially announced, marking the conclusion of his tenure with the team after the F1 2024 season.
After spending five seasons at Alpine, Ocon, who has been associated with several teams for the upcoming season, will bid farewell. It was with Alpine that he achieved his inaugural F1 triumph at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.
The announcement of their separation arrives a week after Ocon’s collision with teammate Pierre Gasly during the first lap of the Monaco Grand Prix. However, it is believed that this incident did not play a major role in the decision to go their separate ways.
Read more: Esteban Ocon and Alpine have ‘agreed together to part ways’ after F1 2024
Ferrari, Mercedes adopt Red Bull suspension trick
According to reports, Ferrari and Mercedes, along with two other teams, have reportedly implemented a clever suspension technique inspired by Red Bull for the upcoming F1 2024 season. In fact, Ferrari’s solution has been touted as being superior to the original concept.
In the ground-effect era, suspension has become increasingly crucial, surpassing its previous importance. It serves as a vital connection between the track surface and the intricate underbody of the car. This underbody is responsible for generating a substantial portion of the overall downforce of the vehicle.
Since the implementation of the ground-effect rules in F1 2022, Red Bull has established itself as the standard to beat. Recent reports suggest that Mercedes and Ferrari have managed to discover one of the secrets behind Red Bull’s remarkable success.
Read more: Mercedes, Ferrari among F1 2024 teams using key Red Bull RB20 suspension trick – report
Details of Esteban Ocon’s Alpine departure emerge
At Alpine, it has been alleged that Ocon received news about his contract not being renewed for the F1 2025 season after a simulator session held at Enstone last Thursday.
According to reports, Ocon made a visit to the team’s factory last week as part of a pre-arranged session in the simulator. Following this, he had a meeting with team principal Bruno Famin, who delivered the news that the 27-year-old’s contract will not be extended.
That difficult conversation came just days after Mr Famin had threatened to bench Ocon for Canada in the aftermath of that clash with Gasly.
Read more: Esteban Ocon exit timeline claim emerges with Haas in ‘pole position’ rumours
George Russell hints at Max Verstappen ‘sabbatical’ for F1 2026
According to George Russell, there is a possibility of Max Verstappen opting for a sabbatical during the F1 2026 season in order to evaluate which team would be the most suitable for the sport’s upcoming regulations.
In 2026, F1 is on the verge of initiating a major reset, with substantial modifications to both engine and chassis expected to disrupt the established competitive hierarchy.
Russell has stated that he wouldn’t be surprised if Verstappen took a break from Formula 1 in 2026 amidst ongoing rumors about his potential departure from Red Bull.
Read more: Shock Max Verstappen F1 sabbatical prediction made by George Russell
Lewis Hamilton in constant conflict with Mercedes W15
In light of a challenging start to his last season with his current team, Lewis Hamilton humorously stated that he finds himself in constant disagreement with the Mercedes W15 car, jokingly implying conflict every second.
Despite being a seven-time World Champion, he has not achieved a podium finish this year. However, he is set to make a significant transition to Ferrari for the 2025 F1 season.
During a podcast interview, Hamilton was questioned about the instances when he experiences the most conflict with his car.
His response?
“Currently! In this very moment, it’s occurring every second.”
Read more: Lewis Hamilton in conflict with Mercedes W15 ‘every second’ in honest admission
