There is a proposal for a junior driver F1 race to take place at Abu Dhabi after the final grand prix of the year. It would be an extension of the traditional post-season Abu Dhabi young driver test. Discussions are ongoing regarding the implication on the budget cap and TV coverage for possible activation at the end of this season or 2025.
Carlos Sainz has reached agreement with Williams to race from 2025 onwards. “This team has all the ingredients to make history again,” he said. Team principal James Vowles added: “Carlos joining Williams is a strong statement of intent from both parties. He has demonstrated that he is one of the most talented drivers on the grid, with race-winning pedigree, and this underlines the upwards trajectory we are on.“
Eyeing a possible return to F1 in the long-term future, Toyota is believed to have had discussions with Haas about manufacturing co-operation and possible use of the Toyota wind tunnel in Cologne. For now, however, Haas will retain its close ties with Ferrari, having extended their partnership to run through to the end of 2028.
Oliver Oakes, boss of Hitech, which runs in multiple categories from F2 down and which had an application to join the F1 grid turned down last year, has been mentioned as a possible new team principal at Alpine now that the role has become vacant. It’s not clear if this would mean some sort of merger between Hitech and the Enstone team.
At Spa, Red Bull boss Christian Horner presided over a clear-the-air meeting between Max Verstappen and his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase after Verstappen’s angry exchanges during the Hungarian GP.
