In the round-up: Red Bull won’t show their 2023 Formula 1 car at their launch event on Friday but rumours are growing they will reveal a new deal with a major American car manufacturer.
In brief
Ford considering F1 return with Red Bull – report
The “new car” Red Bull will present at its launch event on Friday will not be its RB19 chassis but a presentation of its livery for the 2023 F1 season, RaceFans understands.
According to The Mirror, a deal between Red Bull and Ford is expected, with a possible announcement coming during the team’s launch event.
Red Bull have set up their own powertrains division following Honda’s official withdrawal from F1 at the end of 2021. However, Honda continue to manufacture the power units that RBPT run and maintain.
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Vasseur prepared to “fight like hell” against friend Wolff
New Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur says he is prepared to “fight like hell” against his friend Toto Wolff, team principal of Mercedes, during his first season with the team.Vasseur joined Ferrari at the end of last year replacing Mattia Binotto after multiple years leading the Sauber team, currently operating as Alfa Romeo. Asked about his friendship with Wolff, Vasseur says he sees his good relationship with Wolff as a positive.
“I know that we will fight on-track,” Vasseur said. “We will fight to the stewards, we will fight in the FIA, we’ll fight for the Concorde Agreement. And this is life.
“But as you know I have also a good relationship with a couple of other of my colleagues. And I think this is always good that then we have to be clever enough to speak completely our life and be sure that I will fight like hell with Toto on-track and out of the track.”
Bedrin becomes Jenzer’s second F3 entrant
Jenzer Motorsport announced that 17-year-old Nikita Bedrin will be their second driver in this year’s FIA Formula 3 championship.
Bedrin finished fourth in the UAE and German F4 championships last season, with a single race victory at Lausitzring. He also tested with the team during the post-season F3 test held at Jerez, covering 184 laps over three days.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Lando Norris a 'franchise' driver for McLaren, says Zak Brown (ESPN)
"Lando's a franchise driver. Lando's one of those guys if we put everyone in a dirt buggy and we put all the F1 drivers in a race, he'd be at the front because he's got that kind of natural talent. He's a total star. And he's pushing us."
Michael Andretti calls Formula 1 teams 'greedy' for resisting growth; is he right? (Indy Star)
"Teams will undoubtedly negotiate a far higher anti-dilution fee within the next Concorde Agreement given F1's success; so what might they be asking for? Let’s estimate what a few more years of 25% growth would do to F1’s revenues. If the sport ended 2022 around the projected $2.7 billion in revenue and saw three more years of similar growth, annual F1 revenues will be hitting $5 billion by 2025. That’s nearly 150% growth in just four years and doubling in just three."
What Lando Norris Can’t Live Without (New York Magazine)
"We asked Formula One racing driver Lando Norris — who recently launched a campaign with luggage brand TUMI — about his favorite camera, comfortable beanie, and the nostalgic drink he freezes to make 'ice lollies.'"
Quiz: Can you remember our biggest team launch moments? (McLaren)
"From the insane to the mundane, we've produced a variety of car launches throughout our history in Formula 1. For every experimental festival in Europe, there's a much more modest launch with just the drivers posing in front of their new car. But even the subtler unveilings produce standout moments, whether through innovative tech, a fresh paint job, or a newly signed driver. We've gone back through the years and selected our favourite facts to put your memory to the test."
Maloney: This is where I need to show what I’m capable of (F2)
"Hopefully we’ll be winning some races this year and just doing the best job that we can. I’m sure that they're gonna give me a great car. I can't wait because I keep stepping up in my career and this is where I really need to show what I'm about and what I can do. This is the year that I need to do that so I'm looking forward to getting started."
F1 Drink System | How It Works (Mercedes via YouTube)
"In this episode of #HowItWorks we shine a spotlight on the drinks system in Formula One."
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it to us via the contact form.
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Last weeks of pre-season training. Very happy with the progress done so far. We keep pushing. Vamos! 💪🏼
–#Carlossainz pic.twitter.com/no3CeeACR5
— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) January 30, 2023
Inspecting the masterpiece. 🔥 Stay tuned to see more…#GetCloser pic.twitter.com/K8wOhpZCYf
— Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake (@alfaromeoorlen) January 30, 2023
Just had the finalized #VF23 livery images through and 😍😍
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) January 30, 2023
I’ve spent the weekend reading subscription content from the likes of @autosport, @Motor_Sport, @Autocourse1 and @racefansdotnet. I hope the subject du jour on F1 Twitter right now highlights the importance of *paying* for content from properly-informed journalists
— Sean Kelly (@virtualstatman) January 30, 2023
When I spoke to @JakeHughesRace he'd taken third on the grid for his debut @FIAFormulaE race – since then he's gone one better each time, bagging pole on Saturday!
He offered some fascinating insights into why his change of series has started so well: https://t.co/AjbUgwIsGi
— Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) January 30, 2023
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
This weekend’s Caption Competition winner is @jackisthestig!:
“I look forward to our two or three years together.”
Jack
Thanks to everyone who came up with caption idea this week and a special mention to Red Andy, AllTheCoolNamesWereTaken and Pat Ruadh who all came up with particularly good captions.
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Cliffery, Kutigz and Pmelton!
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On this day in motorsport
Jere (@jerejj)
31st January 2023, 0:52
Of course, not, & did anyone honestly expect otherwise?
Only AM will certainly launch an actual 2023-spec car, but otherwise, the first pre-season testing day is the true launch day generally, as pointed out before.
SteveR
31st January 2023, 4:56
So now Red Bull will be running a ‘Fonda’?
slowmo (@slowmo)
31st January 2023, 9:17
You mean the Infinity Red Bull Ford Honda Renault Aston Martin Red Bull Power Trains Formula One team?
I mean it’s pretty impressive the number of partners they un through and still find another backer!
Qeki (@qeki)
31st January 2023, 10:01
Be friend with your closest enemies not friends
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
31st January 2023, 18:59
You missed Tag Heuer.
slowmo (@slowmo)
31st January 2023, 23:40
And Oracle but I think the point hit :-D
GeeMac (@geemac)
31st January 2023, 5:22
The R28 should come with a “Warning: Content some may find disturbing” label. That livery was awful…
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
31st January 2023, 7:13
@geemac At least the chassis had a degree of elegance, unlike its successor…
GeeMac (@geemac)
31st January 2023, 12:45
@keithcollantine Indeed, the R29 must be the worst looking car of the modern era.
Qeki (@qeki)
31st January 2023, 10:03
@geemac I forget how Grosjean looked back in the day and my heart skipped a beat..
Todfod (@todfod)
31st January 2023, 6:07
The look that Di Grassi and Grosjean have on their face is priceless… Alonso back in that Renault for 2008.. lol
SpaFrancorchamps (@spafrancorchamps)
31st January 2023, 6:43
I miss the days of teams actually unveiling their new car. Wished the FIA would throw their own event, like WRC, and just force them to bring their actual cars.
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
31st January 2023, 8:11
Agree with the general sentiment that livery launches are a bit of a farce. I used to look forward to launches, but now I just wait and see what turns up on track.
Re: Caption winner (and no I didn’t think mine was better, or even very funny in hindsight) but I was torn. It made me smile as I understood the idea of it, but the reality is that 2-3 years for a driver in one team isn’t an especially short time (and Leclerc would be in Ferrari for seven years for the proposed scenario. Quite probable, but again a fair stint). Ok, ok, I am probably over thinking it.
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
31st January 2023, 19:01
I think he’s suggesting that the new team principal will only be there for 2-3 years!
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
1st February 2023, 5:11
No, I get that. And as I say, it did make me smile.
I was probably just having a bad day.
Shimks (@shimks)
31st January 2023, 9:07
Nikita Bedrin is Russian. Has the ban been lifted?
MichaelN
31st January 2023, 10:03
He races as an “Italian”.
Qeki (@qeki)
31st January 2023, 10:04
@shimks I think he drives for another country or NA
hunocsi (@hunocsi)
31st January 2023, 10:10
They can race under different nations’ flags if they secure a license from them, last year he raced under an Italian license.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
31st January 2023, 9:26
The rumours suggest that the deal between Ford and RBR is done and an announcement is expected in the presentation event of the RB19. So Ford will have Adrian Newey and his team doing the chassis, Christian running the team and taking care of politics and ex Mercedes and Honda engineers building the PU. Porsche wanted to get hold of the entire team btw.
On the other hand, Audi are lobbying behind the scenes to get additive manufacturing technology in building PU components banned which is the main reason why Ferrari that invested heavily in the technology is still pushing back against RBPT being a new entry.
Not to mention that the 2026 PU rules have marginalized the ICE role and removed the MGU-H to make it impossible for a new manufacturer to get it wrong the way Honda did in 2015. No one from the new manufacturers has shown real intentions to compete on a level playing field. They all want to get involved now F1 has become a money making machine but they want the guarantee to get the rules suited to them.
Cranberry
31st January 2023, 9:45
Such a shame that they could not find a way to make things work with Audi, who knows what the issue was, but I hope this means that RB has confidence in their winning formula and that Audi just wanted to change too much.
Ford being back in F1 in such a big way should make the american races much more lively!
SjaakFoo (@sjaakfoo)
31st January 2023, 11:30
I thought the reason was clearly spoken out. Porsche wanted a majority stake in the team, the trio of owners didn’t want to lose control of their team. Hence negotiations broke down.
We’ll see if and how this Ford thing works out, it’s entirely possible it’s going to be a RBPT engine with only some or even next to no involvement (other than financial) from Ford. This way Red Bull stays self-sufficient. Has significant funding for setting up their engine department in the coming years. And isn’t left out in the cold when Ford no doubt bows out in some years, as they do.
AllTheCoolNamesWereTaken
31st January 2023, 11:14
So, can we talk about Alonso’s weirdly baggy overalls in that 2008 picture? I realize he left McLaren a lot sooner than originally expected, but surely Renault (or whichever company they outsourced to) would have had time to make a racing suit that actually fit him. Or was this Villeneuve-chic look just his style back then?
Dan G (@dang)
31st January 2023, 22:43
Glad I’m not the only one who noticed! Makes Alonso look about 4′ 11″ tall
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
31st January 2023, 13:29
I watched the Merc drink thing, and I’ve wondered about this for years….. the tube can’t be in the mouth the whole time because we have team radios, and they’re completely clear (and its probably dangerous to have a tube in your mouth in an accident). The driver can’t move their head forwards like its 50’s style milkshake because the further they lean forward the tube will just go away from their mouth at the same rate because it’s attached to the helmet.
So do they push the tube towards themselves, have a drink and then pull it away again? I was quite interested when that came up on my Youtube, and Anthony Davidson I think is quite good at explaining things, but I don’t think I learnt anything new really. It seems such a trivial thing, and the fact nobody talks about it must mean its obvious.
SjaakFoo (@sjaakfoo)
31st January 2023, 14:06
Put a straw close to your mouth. Pull it in with your tongue, pushed it out the same way, I imagine that’s pretty much how F1 drivers do it.
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
1st February 2023, 7:46
@sjaakfoo Yeah, I think you’re right, its probably not as complicated as I’m imagining it is.
Electroball76
31st January 2023, 19:49
Ford vs Ferrari 2, starring Max Damon and Checo Bale
frogster
1st February 2023, 9:45
That Renault team photo would make a great caption competition.
Di grassi ” hey nando, bet I get a fia championship before you get another one ”
Grosjean ” Yeah nando if ya get in my way I’ll take ya head off”
Piquet ” dont worry nando I’ll drive through walls for you”
Flav ” I have a cunning plan”