Friday’s F1 news highlighted the Mercedes departure and the impressive pace of Ferrari at Imola.
The action has now begun in earnest at Imola with the drivers back on track, and we have all the best of the F1 news to bring you from Italy.
Without wasting any more time, let’s dive into the important headlines of the day in the Formula 1 paddock. With additional reporting from Thomas Maher in Imola, here’s what you need to know.
Mercedes release aero chief in another senior departure
Mercedes’ chief aerodynamicist Gioacchino Vino has left the team after a six-year stint at Brackley, this confirmation coming days after the announcement of both Loïc Serra and Jerome d’Ambrosio leaving for Ferrari.
In response to the news, James Allison, the technical director, expressed that such departures are a natural occurrence in a Formula 1 team, where senior staff members come and go as seasons unfold, just like the ebb and flow of a tide.
Read more: Mercedes release W15 aero chief Gioacchino Vino after six-year stay
Logan Sargeant ‘at risk’ as pressure builds over F1 seat
James Vowles, the team principal of Williams, has acknowledged that Logan Sargeant’s position is in jeopardy if he fails to improve his performances in the upcoming weeks. The team is aiming to finalize their driver line-up for future seasons.
Vowles acknowledged that Sargeant must step up his performance on the opposite end of the garage now that Alex Albon has secured a contract extension.
In an interview with Sky F1, he expressed, “Engaging in direct conversation with Sargeant was quite challenging.”
The plain truth is that he is in a vulnerable position. That’s the basic reality of the situation. He needs to go beyond his current level of performance, as this is a system based on merit. I am assisting him in this process because I desire his success.
Read more: Williams tease more driver news ‘in next few weeks’ with Logan Sargeant at ‘risk’ of axe
On track, Charles Leclerc heads a very good day for Ferrari
But in the main action of the day, Charles Leclerc went quickest in both FP1 and FP2 for Ferrari at Imola, no doubt getting hopes up throughout the tifosi-dom as a result.
After the session, Leclerc mentioned that a potential wind change is causing him to remain cautious, but he was impressed with the improved SF-24’s speed. McLaren, Yuki Tsunoda’s RB, and Mercedes also showed promise, as both their drivers secured top-five positions during the FP2 qualifying simulations.
Overnight, Red Bull found themselves with unfinished work as Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez struggled to secure higher positions within the top 10 during the qualifying session.
Read more: Emilia Romagna GP: Charles Leclerc tops FP2 as Red Bull face multi-team challenge at Imola
But elsewhere, Max Verstappen struggles for Red Bull
As overtaking proves to be a challenging task at Imola (though not entirely impossible), qualifying assumes a greater significance for the drivers. Verstappen, however, expressed his discontent with the performance of his RB20 during Friday’s practice sessions.
To put it briefly, he acknowledges that Red Bull needs to make improvements in order to align the car with his preferences for qualifying.
“After FP2,” he expressed, “I must admit it was quite a challenging day. The struggle to achieve a satisfactory equilibrium and the lack of comfort within the car were predominant factors.”
“It can be quite effortless to misplace the car and a few belongings when constantly on the move. It is rather inconvenient today.”
“The long run was exceptionally poor, highlighting several areas that require improvement to maintain competitiveness tomorrow.”
Read more: What happened to Max Verstappen? Imola troubles explained after Friday horror show
Exclusive: Sky F1 presenter talks Imola return and Senna anniversary
Sky F1’s lead anchor, Simon Lazenby, discussed the impact of Netflix on Formula 1 and shared insights on previously unseen footage from the tragic day when Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger lost their lives at Imola. As the sport returns to Imola after 30 years, Lazenby sheds light on these significant events.
In addition to the positive impact of Lando Norris’ recent victory in Miami, Lazenby’s exclusive interview, which was unveiled on Friday, delved into several other topics.
Read more: ‘Utterly harrowing’ – When ‘Drive to Survive’ meant something completely different in F1
