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Red Bull reveals five key changes to RB20 for Spanish Grand Prix Red Bull Racing has introduced an upgrade package for the Spanish Grand Prix aimed at improving aerodynamic efficiency in warmer races. The team made five specific changes, including revised sidepod inlet geometries, new engine cover side panels, floor alterations, revised beam wing elements, and a new rear wing design. These modifications aim to maximize cooling characteristics while maintaining downforce and efficiency. Red Bull's sister team AlphaTauri has also brought significant updates to Barcelona, featuring changes to the engine cover, sidepods, brake ducts, and floor edge, as well as a new rear wing and modified beam wing.. Source: Motorsport

The characteristics that are holding back Aston Martin's F1 car Aston Martin's Formula 1 car, AMR24, has undergone upgrades this year making it more challenging to drive for drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll due to mid-corner understeer, a significant issue affecting balance and performance in long corners. The team is focusing on improving the car's balance and base performance to increase consistency and competitiveness through incremental upgrades over several races, rather than quick fixes.. Source: Motorsport

Briatore return erodes final bit of Renault's F1 credibility Renault appointed Flavio Briatore as an "executive advisor" to its Formula 1 team, despite his involvement in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix scandal. This decision has raised concerns about accountability and judgment among team leadership, particularly CEO Luca de Meo. Briatore will focus on the driver market, assessing the current structure, and advising on strategic matters. The appointment has sparked speculation that Renault may be seeking to sell its F1 team or merge it with Alpine, given its history of broken promises and lack of commitment to the team. The decision has been met with skepticism by the F1 paddock, who perceive it as a sign of Renault's disinterest in its F1 team.. Source: The Race

Sainz feeling pressure to settle his F1 future but sees no clear path yet Carlos Sainz Jr., currently a Ferrari driver, remains undecided about his Formula 1 team for the 2025 season despite wanting to make a decision soon. He is considering three options: Williams, Stake (formerly Alpine), and Alpine. Although Alpine is considered an outsider, Sainz weighs the benefits of joining Audi-backed Alpine against Mercedes-supported Williams. He aims to finalize his future to free up mental space and focus on racing but admits he needs more time to consider the pros and cons of each option. Sainz prioritizes finding a team with a competitive car in 2025 and one that has a strong chance of success under future regulations.. Source: Racer

F1's superlicence change not about Antonelli as Red Bull stands to gain The FIA has updated its superlicence rules to allow 17-year-old drivers with exceptional ability and maturity to enter Formula 1. The rule change was initially thought to benefit Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli, but it was actually triggered by an initial exemption request that was later withdrawn due to a miscommunication between team bosses. As a result, the FIA decided to assess the age element of the superlicence regulations and implemented the change after discussing with F1 teams, including Red Bull. The updated International Sporting Code (ISC) allows drivers with a junior racing license to participate in Formula 1 pre-season testing, specifically FP1 sessions. This means that Red Bull's junior driver Arvid Lindblad, who turns 17 in August, could potentially gain a superlicence and participate in FP1 outings from ISC Appendix L onwards, pending FIA approval.. Source: Motorsport

Ferrari fast-tracks upgrades in F1 Spanish GP push Ferrari has developed new upgrades for its Formula 1 car ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, aiming to recover from a disappointing performance in Canada. The updates include reshaped sidepods with increased space between them and the floor, improved airflow and vortices around the "Cobra" winglets beside the cockpit, and a medium- to high-downforce rear wing that balances specifications seen at Monaco and Imola.. Source: Motorsport

Briatore returns to Renault’s F1 team 15 years after lifetime ban for ‘Crashgate’ Flavio Briatore, former Renault F1 team principal, has returned to Formula 1 after a 15-year absence following his involvement in the "Crashgate" conspiracy. In 2009, he was banned for life by the FIA, but the ban was reduced when he appealed and won at France's Tribunal de Grande Instance in 2010. Briatore orchestrated Nelson Piquet Jr to crash during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, allowing Fernando Alonso to win. He has now been appointed as an executive advisor to Alpine (formerly Renault) by CEO Luca de Meo, focusing on talent scouting and strategic advice within the sport.. Source: Race Fans

Anonymous ‘Hamilton sabotage’ emails? It’s 2016 all over again The article discusses conspiracy theories surrounding Lewis Hamilton's struggles with Mercedes during the 2022 Formula 1 season, specifically at the Canadian Grand Prix. An email circulating online claims that Hamilton was a victim of "sabotage" by his team, citing a social media post as evidence. This is not an isolated incident, as similar accusations were made in 2016 when Nico Rosberg was undefeated and Hamilton experienced technical failures. Mercedes responded with a public statement defending their commitment to treating both drivers fairly. The article suggests that explanations may fall on deaf ears among Hamilton's fans who are convinced of a conspiracy against him. In reality, Hamilton faced criticism from fans for letting George Russell have the new front wing first, despite not receiving it immediately due to insufficient quantities. However, Hamilton took responsibility for his mistakes, admitting to driving poorly at the Canadian Grand Prix. The article encourages fans to focus on these instances rather than spreading conspiracy theories and attacking others.. Source: Race Fans

Alpine brings Briatore back into F1 in new role Flavio Briatore, former Benetton and Renault F1 team boss, has been hired as an executive advisor by Alpine, a team formerly known as Renault, amidst controversy due to his involvement in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix race-fixing incident where he ordered Nelson Piquet to crash, allowing Fernando Alonso to win. Initially banned from FIA motorsport for life, the ban was reduced after a legal challenge. Despite this, Briatore continued to work in racing and business, marking his first high-profile role in F1 since the scandal. He will advise on commercial matters under Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo, as Alpine struggles with a slow car and considers abandoning its works team status for a customer engine deal following recent management changes.. Source: The Race

2024 F1 Spanish Grand Prix session timings and preview Motorsport.com is a leading news source for Formula 1 (F1) racing, providing expert journalism and coverage of all F1 events, including qualifying, races, and beyond. The website offers an ad-free and tracker-free subscription option allowing fans to access in-depth analysis, driver interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the paddock without interruptions.. Source: Motorsport

“Funny” F1 superlicence change supported by Antonelli’s rivals The FIA has modified its International Sporting Code to allow 17-year-olds to apply for a superlicence if they have demonstrated exceptional ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition. This change could potentially enable 17-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli to make his Formula 1 debut before turning 18. Zane Maloney and Dennis Hauger, junior drivers for Sauber and Red Bull respectively, support the rule change, citing that talent and pace should be the sole criteria for F1 entry, regardless of age. The change is significant as it reverses a previous decision made by the FIA in response to Max Verstappen's 17-year-old debut nine years ago, which led to an 18-year minimum age limit for F1 drivers being introduced.. Source: Race Fans

First pictures from the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix weekend Formula 1 has a feeder series called Formula 2 (F2), which has existed in three forms: an open series for manufacturers from 1950-1984, replaced by Formula 3000; a one-make series from 2009 that lasted only four seasons; and, since 2017, a rebranded GP2 series acquired by Liberty Media.. Source: Race Fans

Schumacher ‘better than half the F1 drivers’ and should have seat – Todt Jean Todt, former FIA president and Ferrari team principal, believes Mick Schumacher deserves a spot on the Formula 1 grid due to his skills in winning Formula 3 and Formula 2 championships despite having some accidents. Currently, Schumacher drives for Alpine in the World Endurance Championship after losing his seat with Haas at the end of 2022. Williams driver Logan Sargeant is looking forward to racing a lighter car at the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix, which will have weight reduced from previous races. Ferrari junior Dino Beganovic feels ready to move into Formula 2 with Prema if a seat becomes available, potentially replacing Andrea Kimi Antonelli who may be promoted to Formula 1.. Source: Race Fans

Six things we've already learned from F1's Spanish Grand Prix Carlos Sainz Jr. is considering joining Sauber (Audi works team) or Williams, but needs time to decide. He prioritizes the 2025 season over focusing on the major rules overhaul in 2026 due to uncertainty about who will be competitive next year. Sergio Perez is struggling with form at Red Bull, hoping Barcelona will offer a "hard reset" for his team. Logan Sargeant received an updated floor on his Williams car and believes it will give him an edge over teammate Alex Albon. George Russell reflected on his recent mistakes, attributing the increase in errors to pushing himself harder than ever before. Esteban Ocon is dealing with the aftermath of a Monaco collision at Alpine F1 team, while Zhou Guanyu has been struggling with performance issues and is requesting a chassis change and other parts to regain form. Sauber F1 team is considering becoming a customer team for Renault until the end of 2024.. Source: The Race

Verstappen doesn’t expect Red Bull domination to resume in Spain Max Verstappen believes Red Bull won't have a significant performance advantage at the Spanish Grand Prix despite returning to a permanent circuit. The team has struggled on street tracks that require cars to ride curbs, but thinks the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya's layout will suit their car better. He notes the field is closer than it was at the start of the season and emphasizes executing well, but acknowledges that mistakes can make a difference between teams with similar cars. Despite increased competition, Verstappen denies feeling pressure and encourages his team to stay focused on having a good weekend.. Source: Racer

Sainz feeling pressure to settle his F1 future but sees no clear path yet Carlos Sainz is undecided about his driving team for the 2025 Formula 1 season, with Williams, Stake (formerly Aston Martin), and Alpine being considered options. His primary concerns are finding a competitive car next year and joining a team that can perform well under future regulations, which he believes will be unpredictable due to changes in chassis, engine, and regulation. As a result, Sainz is focusing on the 2025 season, weighing factors such as power unit dynamics and team cohesion before making a decision.. Source: Racer

BETTING GUIDE: Who are the favourites as F1 returns to Europe for the Spanish Grand Prix? Formula 1 is heading to Spain for the next race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where Max Verstappen is the favorite to win with odds of 1.50, following his recent triumph in Canada. The Red Bull team has a strong history at this track, having won the past two seasons. Lando Norris' McLaren and Charles Leclerc's Ferrari are second- and third-favorite respectively, with odds of 6.00 and 9.00. Other drivers have lower odds ranging from 17.0 to 26.0, while the remaining drivers have much lower odds at 151 or 301.. Source: Formula 1

Police arrest pair on suspicion of blackmailing Schumacher family Michael Schumacher, a former Formula 1 champion, suffered a serious brain injury in a skiing accident in 2013 and has not been seen in public since. His family has kept details of his condition private, and they had previously taken legal action against a German magazine that published an interview with Schumacher without permission. Two men were arrested in Germany for allegedly plotting to blackmail the Schumacher family for millions of euros by using an online artificial intelligence platform to generate fake interviews and demand payment from them.. Source: Race Fans

“Funny” F1 superlicence change supported by Antonelli’s rivals The FIA has modified its International Sporting Code to allow 17-year-olds to apply for a superlicence, which could enable Andrea Kimi Antonelli to make his Formula 1 debut before turning 18. Zane Maloney (Sauber junior) and Dennis Hauger (Red Bull junior) support the rule change, citing Antonelli's exceptional talent and maturity in single-seater formula car competition. This move creates a possibility for Antonelli to become only the second 17-year-old to step up into Formula 1, following Max Verstappen.. Source: Race Fans

First pictures from the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix weekend Formula 2 (F2) is a single-seater feeder series to Formula 1, with three formats over the years. Initially, from an unknown start until 1984, it was an open championship for manufacturers of different chassis, engines, and tyres. This format was replaced by Formula 3000. In 2009, F2 was revived as a one-make series but lasted only four seasons due to GP2's popularity on the F1 support bill. In 2016, Liberty Media acquired GP2 and rebranded it as Formula 2 in 2017, which is currently considered the foremost feeder series to Formula 1.. Source: Race Fans