Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Stefano Domenicali are the prominent figures spearheading their respective organizations.
Tuesday’s F1 news saw a surprising U-turn from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem on F1 hopefuls on Andretti and Martin Brundle sending a warning to Esteban Ocon after the Monaco Grand Prix.
Let’s dive straight in…
F1 news: FIA president on Andretti, Martin Brundle and more
Mohammed Ben Sulayem tells Andretti ‘go and buy another team’
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who had previously supported the idea of expanding the Formula 1 grid, now aligns with the team principals and FOM in urging Andretti Cadillac to secure a spot on the grid by acquiring an existing team.
In 2023, Ben Sulayem facilitated the initiation of an Expressions of Interest procedure to extend the grid. Andretti successfully submitted their bid, but unfortunately, it was declined by Formula One Management.
Explaining his new position to Reuters, he said: “I would advise them [Andretti] to go and buy another team, not to come as the 11th team.
In my opinion, there is a need to rejuvenate certain teams. Which option is preferable: having a total of 11 teams, or 10 teams that are exceptionally strong? I maintain the belief that it’s beneficial to increase the number of teams, but with careful consideration – only selecting the appropriate teams.
The emphasis lies on the quality rather than the quantity.
Read more: FIA president tells Andretti ‘go and buy another team’ in surprise F1 entry U-turn
Martin Brundle warns Esteban Ocon after Monaco crash
Esteban Ocon could face potential consequences for his collision with his team-mate in Monaco, which may put him on thin ice and potentially result in him being benched by Alpine for the upcoming race weekend in Canada.
Martin Brundle, despite offering apologies publicly and privately for his involvement in the accident, expresses concerns about how his mindset may be affected during confrontations.
In his post-race Sky Sports column, the author stated that Ocon is an exceptional and speedy racing driver. However, history has repeatedly shown that he tends to exhibit an irrational red mist during races, especially when competing against his fellow teammates.
“When driving for an F1 team, a driver symbolizes numerous hard-working and professional individuals, along with substantial investments and sponsorships amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds. It is simply unacceptable to continuously attack your team-mate recklessly.”
Read more: Martin Brundle’s warning to Esteban Ocon with Canada axe under ‘serious consideration’
In a race without overtakes, ‘thank God for Lance Stroll!’
In hindsight, we can conclude that the Monaco Grand Prix fell short of being a classic.
When questioned about the limited action during the race and the need for Monaco to maintain its spot on the calendar, Christian Horner justified by pointing out that apart from Lance Stroll’s two maneuvers on soft tires and Valtteri Bottas’ only other on-track overtake, there was very little excitement happening.
In media discussions, including PlanetF1.com, he expressed his opinion that while Monaco is an excellent racing destination, the increasing size of cars necessitates the exploration of introducing an overtaking zone or creating the potential for overtaking. This suggestion arises from the observation that the top 10 positions remained unchanged from the starting grid, with no overtaking occurring.
“Thank goodness for Lance Stroll, the sole individual who successfully executed an overtaking maneuver during the race.”
Read more: ‘Thank God for Lance Stroll!’ – Christian Horner’s view on Monaco Grand Prix concerns
Mick Schumacher on his F1 future following Alpine rumours
Mick Schumacher, who serves as Mercedes’ reserve driver, is currently competing for Alpine in the World Endurance Championship. Team principal Bruno Famin has expressed his admiration for the exceptional performance Mick has delivered thus far.
When asked about a potential comeback in Formula 1, Schumacher expressed his unwavering aspiration and dream to drive in the sport. Throughout his career, this has been and will continue to be his ultimate goal.
“We must ensure that the pieces fall in my favor, like dominos, so that I can secure a seat.”
My aim is to give my utmost in both the WEC and Formula 1, delivering my best performance. I will also strive to excel as a reserve driver for the team while maintaining ongoing discussions.
Read more: Mick Schumacher addresses F1 return rumours after bitter Alpine Monaco GP clash
Go behind the scenes at the Monaco Grand Prix
Sam Cooper was our correspondent in Monaco over the weekend. Amidst the glitz and glamour depicted on screen, there exists an alternate perspective of the Monaco Grand Prix as a diligent media professional.
After managing his time between the paddock and keeping Lance Stroll waiting for the padel court, he penned a travelogue about his weekend in Monte Carlo.
Why do Formula 1 drivers have such a strong affinity for padel?
Read more: What the Monaco GP is like on the ground: Playing padel with Le Mans winners and meeting F1 drivers on yachts
