Lewis Hamilton at the Austrian Grand Prix: “I think the FIA should probably put a time when everyone is allowed to start developing next year’s car. Say August 1. That’s when everybody can start so that no-one can get an advantage on the next year, because that sucks.” Max Verstappen, in response: “We didn’t talk about that when he was winning everything.”
The ItalianAlphaTauri team, will be renamed for next season, but not to its old Toro Rosso moniker. The new name – which has yet to be decided – coincides with the full design and engineering department moving into the Milton Keynes campus of the parent Red Bull team, some from Faenza, some from the current base in Bicester. The race team and production department will remain at Faenza. The Bicester base will be no more.
At the time of writing Lewis Hamilton, and Mercedes have still not renewed their contract with each other beyond the end of this season. “It’s not written on paper yet,” reported Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff in Hungary, “but emotionally it is done…”
The FIA is continuing research into rain guards around the wheels of Formula 1 cars to improve visibility in such conditions. The first attempt did not give an acceptable solution, but the programme continues and could be set for introduction at some point in 2024.
