419 replies to this topic

[WouterF1]

Confirmed: Helmut Marko signs a new multi-year contract

A big surprise at Red Bull Racing. It has been confirmed to GPblog that Helmut Marko has signed a new contract with Red Bull GMBH -
the umbrella organisation. The Austrian (80) will stay with Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri for at least three more years.

https://www.gpblog.c...r-contract.html

 

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Long-serving Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has signed a new three-year contract to continue working
with the F1 Constructors’ Champions, PlanetF1.com understands

Helmut Marko extends Red Bull contract

Additional reporting by Thomas Maher

However, PlanetF1.com understands from a source close to the situation that Marko will remain involved for a further three years having agreed a three year extension with parent company Red Bull GmbH.

Speaking to Austrian outlet oe24 last month, Marko confirmed his future would be discussed over the winter with his previous deal due to expire at the conclusion of the 2024 season.

“There are different trends and variants,” he said. “The decisions are still open – including what I will do next. My current contract runs until the end of 2024.”

 

https://www.planetf1...red-bull-future

[Laptom]

https://www.motorspo...-frey/10562926/

Max on holiday.

[MissingApex]

https://www.motorspo...-frey/10562926/

Max on holiday.

Isn’t he planning to start his own GT3 team?

[WouterF1]

Isn’t he planning to start his own GT3 team?

Yes, in 2025.

[WouterF1]

https://www.mirror.c...tappen-31872246
.

By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
14 Jan 2024

Formula E champion Jake Dennis is also a Red Bull development driver and has been
on the simulator in recent months helping the team to create their 2024 RB20 car.

Asked by Mirror Sport what F1 fans can expect from the RB20 having driven the developing car on the simulator, he said:
"We've got an extremely fast race car again at the Red Bull team.

"I would expect us to become champions again, unless someone like Ferrari or Mercedes somehow manages to find about a second [per lap] overnight. I think it's going to be quite a dull season in Formula 1 with Max probably dominating."

Their dominance allowed them to focus on developing the RB20 months before any of their rivals could begin to think about their 2024 cars. "I'd be lying if I said we didn't switch our attention to the 2024 car quite quickly," said Dennis. "We didn't do any development on the 2023 car after Singapore."
Dennis, 28, has been a development driver for the team since 2018 and so would love to see his prediction come true.

[Organic]

https://www.mirror.c...tappen-31872246
.

Crazy strong statement to make ahead of the season. Seems RB are very confident

[WouterF1]

Checo and Max went to London Monday afternoon. This is why:

https://www.redbullr...son-brand-shoot
.

Join us for an unforgettable day at our 2024 Season Brand Shoot, where you'll get behind the scenes access
 to how we prepare our imagery for the season ahead, meet Max and Checo and be amongst the first
to have eyes on our brand new Team kit!

When: 30th January 2024
Where: London.

 

I hope they will release today the photo's from yesterday from the new teamkit.
Proof Max was there is this pic from a winner who attended the shooting (Max and Checo are still there):

[Alexis*27]

 

 

"I would expect us to become champions again, unless someone like Ferrari or Mercedes somehow manages to find about a second [per lap] overnight. I think it's going to be quite a dull season in Formula 1 with Max probably dominating."

I'm fully expecting Ferrari and Mercedes to find a second a lap over the winter.

It's amazing they were as fast as they actually were considering both their suspension geometry was completely wrong and they had crap aero concepts.

[DW46]

https://www.crash.ne...ormer-teammates

Nice complements from Berger, buttering up team RB for his future son in laws return. I never saw Senna so can’t compare but massive praise.

[WouterF1]

Peter Windsor has some great news! Listen from the start. He answers a question about Albon in the first minute.

 

[Frankbullitt]

Well...will Horner be at the helm this year?

[midgrid]

With the RB20 spotted on track today, I've taken the opportunity to create a technical thread for this season.

[WouterF1]

Tomorrow 7.30 PM GMT.

 

[vlado]

It’s over ..

[Yoshi]

Line-up for the testing days

 

According to Erik van Haren - Red Bull's driver line-up for the three day pre-season test in Bahrain is as follows:

 

WEDNESDAY - Max Verstappen

THURSDAY - Sergio Perez [AM] and Max Verstappen [PM]

FRIDAY - Sergio Perez

[JL14]

On the Autosport podcast they made a casual comment that caught my attention a bit: that there's some visible tension between Newey and Wache, and that also at the launch some discomfort between the two could be sensed and seen.

[Clrnc]

IN NUMBERS: How Sergio Perez compares to the other 11 drivers to have turned out for Red Bull | Formula 1®

 

Recently saw this, Perez numbers seems quite decent actually. Only weakness is poles

[Beamer]

IN NUMBERS: How Sergio Perez compares to the other 11 drivers to have turned out for Red Bull | Formula 1®

 

Recently saw this, Perez numbers seems quite decent actually. Only weakness is poles

 

Quite decent? hmmm... tend to disagree.

Vettel had  4 years of RB being the top car out of his 5 year stint
Webber had 4 years of RB being the top car out of his 7 year stint
Ricciardo had 0 years of RB being the top car out of his 5 year stint
Max had 3 years of RB being the top car out of his 8 year stint
Perez had 3 years of RB being the top car out of his 3 year stint

So percentage wise he should have been at least 3rd to be quite decent.
But he's 5th in all relevent stats, being beaten by Max, Vettel, Ricciardo and Webber in all. 
So basically by every RB driver since 2009 except for Albon and Gasly....

If anything these stats show the opposite of quite decent.....

[Nemo1965]

Nice words from French pundit. Summary: Max is an asshole in the car (un chien), a relaxed ‘Mac’ out of it.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZIJnueBan/

Edited by Nemo1965, 23 February 2024 - 15:13.

[FullOppositeLock]

Nice words from French pundit. Summary: Max is an asshole in the car (un chien), a relaxed ‘Mac’ out of it.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZIJnueBan/

Chien translates to dog (literally), not asshole. It’s not meant in a complimentary fashion, but with context Julien obviously means he (Max) is absolutely uncompromising in his pursuit of winning. Julien commented to Wache in ironic matter to suggest Max never loses focus or relaxes behind the wheel, and Wache responded that’s why we live him so much in the team. He demands excellence and drives everybody to always do the best they can. In short, a very competitive, winning personality, but also a very relaxed one outside of that professional context.

[MikeTekRacing]

Quite decent? hmmm... tend to disagree.

Vettel had  4 years of RB being the top car out of his 5 year stint
Webber had 4 years of RB being the top car out of his 7 year stint
Ricciardo had 0 years of RB being the top car out of his 5 year stint
Max had 3 years of RB being the top car out of his 8 year stint
Perez had 3 years of RB being the top car out of his 3 year stint

So percentage wise he should have been at least 3rd to be quite decent.
But he's 5th in all relevent stats, being beaten by Max, Vettel, Ricciardo and Webber in all. 
So basically by every RB driver since 2009 except for Albon and Gasly....

If anything these stats show the opposite of quite decent.....

his win % is 3rd after Max and Vettel

his podium % is 3rd, also after Max and Vettel.

 

He also has the strongest team (by quite some margin) mate of all the other's on that list. Max is a beast right now

[KWSN - DSM]

On the Autosport podcast they made a casual comment that caught my attention a bit: that there's some visible tension between Newey and Wache, and that also at the launch some discomfort between the two could be sensed and seen.

 

Circling back to this one... Say what? If that is indeed the case Wache will become available to all other teams.

[jAnO76]

Maybe there is discomfort because Newey is miffed that Wache is going to Ferrari.

[KWSN - DSM]

Maybe there is discomfort because Newey is miffed that Wache is going to Ferrari.

 

LOL - yeah that could be it... 

[renzmann]

Waché isn't going anywhere. As reported, Newey will be working on a side project soon, and that means somebody else will be a cost cap exempted top earner. That can only be Waché, if he isn't a top 3 earner already.

[WouterF1]

Waché explains why Red Bull are taking a risk with the aggressive RB20

 

As Chief Technical Director, Adrian Newey is often mentioned regarding Red Bull Racing's new car, but Pierre Waché
has an ever-growing influence behind the scenes. In an exclusive interview with GPblog.com, Waché explains
why Red Bull made the RB20 radically different and how it is done.

People might think, after last season 'why change the RB19 at all. Why did you change it?

Pierre Waché: "Because if you don't change, you lose. You have to progress. You have to improve. The performance is not fixed.
You have to make sure that you improve the car more than the others. Because you are here to win.
 You are here to beat them because it's a competition. And the only way we found to make a decent step enough
 was to change the car."

https://www.gpblog.c...ssive-rb20.html

Edited by WouterF1, 27 February 2024 - 11:42.

[Cliff]

What a mess.. I wonder if it will affect them.

[jonklug]

Probably will be a PR mess for some weeks but from a sporting perspective it shouldn't really matter. 

[Sparky68]

Work carries on regardless

[WouterF1]

Work carries on regardless

I immediately believed that, but Horner thought on Wednesday, just before the season started again, that the book was closed and then suddenly this happens! This must be very distracting to him.

 

I wonder who wants to destroy him with these e-mails and Google Drive  "evidence"?! Mintzlaff, the accuser, or perhaps van Haren who wants to clear his own name with this,

because he has had a lot of accusations/mud on his head to bring out all kinds of things to make Horner bad.

[AlexPrime]

I immediately believed that, but Horner thought on Wednesday, just before the season started again, that the book was closed and then suddenly this happens! This must be very distracting to him.

 

I wonder who wants to destroy him with these e-mails and Google Drive  "evidence"?! Mintzlaff, the accuser, or perhaps van Haren who wants to clear his own name with this,

because he has had a lot of accusations/mud on his head to bring out all kinds of things to make Horner bad.

Probably Mintzlaff, but it is all speculation. And it is very worrying, such games weakened Ferrari significantly. I am afraid that today will be crucial for the team, if Merc are well ahead again, it would mean that internal strife has stalled the momentum of RBR.

[Sparky68]

The situation does not really effect the way we run manufacturing, the DO still do their thing and we still do ours.

[AlexPrime]

The situation does not really effect the way we run manufacturing, the DO still do their thing and we still do ours.

[baddog]

his win % is 3rd after Max and Vettel

his podium % is 3rd, also after Max and Vettel.

 

He also has the strongest team (by quite some margin) mate of all the other's on that list. Max is a beast right now

 

crazy talk. He is in the dominant car, of course his stats reflect that.

[MikeTekRacing]

crazy talk. He is in the dominant car, of course his stats reflect that.

But would the car be dominant with other people than Max in the no 1 seat? Not sure how easy is to say that

[baddog]

But would the car be dominant with other people than Max in the no 1 seat? Not sure how easy is to say that

 

Honestly? Everything we know says that Lewis, George, Charles and Carlos, Lando, Fernando at least would be up there on pace or very close (variously able to really match Max as a package of course). Sure maybe they wouldn't, but it is the most likely scenario that a driver in Perez who has been downright mediocre in qualifying and relied on tyre management/long run strats and avoiding trouble in races to score sneaky places his whole career still is that guy, but now at the front end that wont usually work, you have to be bleeding edge quick and aggressive.

[renzmann]

Honestly? Everything we know says that Lewis, George, Charles and Carlos, Lando, Fernando at least would be up there on pace or very close (variously able to really match Max as a package of course). Sure maybe they wouldn't, but it is the most likely scenario that a driver in Perez who has been downright mediocre in qualifying and relied on tyre management/long run strats and avoiding trouble in races to score sneaky places his whole career still is that guy, but now at the front end that wont usually work, you have to be bleeding edge quick and aggressive.

Oh really? What do we "know" then?

[jonklug]

Honestly? Everything we know says that Lewis, George, Charles and Carlos, Lando, Fernando at least would be up there on pace or very close (variously able to really match Max as a package of course). Sure maybe they wouldn't, but it is the most likely scenario that a driver in Perez who has been downright mediocre in qualifying and relied on tyre management/long run strats and avoiding trouble in races to score sneaky places his whole career still is that guy, but now at the front end that wont usually work, you have to be bleeding edge quick and aggressive.

You say Perez is mediocre and that might be the case, but can you say for sure that the ones you listed would be just as ahead of Perez as Max is? You can assume but you can't say for sure.

Right now I see Verstappen delivering perfection in a car that over one lap seems quite on par with the Ferraris, maybe even the Merc.

[FullOppositeLock]

I’m willing to concede that Charles, Lewis and Fernando (the latter two in their prime) would have the RB18, RB19 and (probably) RB20 as favourite for the title, but then we’d have to assume Max would be in the next best car and it would still be a good championship battle you’d assume. The likes of Russell, Sainz and Lando, as much as I like them, no chance, again considering you’d then have Max and the three mentioned earlier battling them in strong cars.

We’ve all seen very serviceable drivers in Gasly (a race winner in an Alpha Tauri, Albon (the new Mr Saturday and now touted for a move back to a top team) and now Perez (a race winner and serial podium finisher in non-top cars) get beat by a half a second on average. We’ve all heard them say that Max can deal with rear end instability in a way they never could. To portray as if it just the car is nonsensical. If Max wasn’t at Red Bull it would be another team that could use his driving style to use to their advantage and perhaps pose a bigger challenge to Red Bull. Speaking of which, I was very surprised to hear both Charles and Russell basically say they were expecting to battle for second. With that kind of mentality you’ve basically already lost before the lights go green.

[Sparky68]

That will do nicely

[sniper80]

Red Bull & Max dominating, that's how we like it. Hopefully they win every race this season. They deserve it as they are no copy-cats like most of the other teams nowadays.

[renzmann]

Zak and Toto better start doing overtime. What a race

[Ruudbackus]

8th victory in a row, 1 behind Vettel's 9 and 2 behind his own record of 10. And I think he broke the continious points record now didn't he?

[Yoshi]

What a race - well done to the Team and our drivers.
Simply lovely season opening

Edited by Yoshi, 02 March 2024 - 17:18.

[KWSN - DSM]

Well done Max, well done Sergio, well done indeed.

[jonklug]

Perfect start to the year, and to think they are bringing massive upgrades to this car by race 7. Or perhaps they will once again slow down development if it's clear they have the upper hand on more traditional tracks as well.

[jacdaniel]

Great race and a nice win

[lio007]

That will do nicely

Very well deserved!

[AlexPrime]

What an awesome race! Well done for the whole team! I am delighted!

[popolonx]

What a better way to start the season. Hope the team is even stronger and not let the witch hunt affect performance.