Tuesday’s F1 news included a substantial update from the Red Bull camp as we prepare for the Australian Grand Prix.
We have that and much more to bring you as part of our daily roundup of the greatest headlines from the day, and if you missed anything from Tuesday, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.
F1 news roundup – March 19, 2024.
The latest news from the Red Bull camp, including Max Verstappen’s secret contract provision.
PlanetF1.com understands various things concerning Red Bull’s current situation as the Australian Grand Prix approaches.
First, Christian Horner’s position with the team is secure since the Thai majority shareholders have put their support behind him at Red Bull GmbH, and we understand Max Verstappen’s contract condition that allows him to leave the team if Helmut Marko leaves.
There is more to it, however, as PlanetF1.com understands that a contract clause inserted into Verstappen’s contract that allows him to leave if Marko’s tenure ends does exist, and was allegedly inserted without the knowledge of Horner or other senior members of the parent company – which is possible given Marko’s position as a director of Red Bull Racing.
However, as F1 prepares for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, PlanetF1.com believes that meetings between key officials at Red Bull Racing have resulted in a reduction in tensions.
Max Verstappen warned against abandoning the powerful Red Bull setup.
Former Formula One driver Giancarlo Fisichella says it would be “stupid” for Max Verstappen to quit Red Bull, considering the team’s present prowess on track.
He told OCB Scores, “Anything is possible in Formula One and in life; you never know.
“Nobody anticipated Lewis Hamilton to leave Mercedes and especially close the deal with Ferrari. Nobody expected it.
“However, we do not know whether Max will join Mercedes next year or in the future. It’s a dumb move to another team when he’s already on the best team and has the best car.
“The salary at Red Bull is good, and it may be the same or even higher with Mercedes, so who knows?
“But you’ve got a winning car, you are at the top of the world at the moment – why move to another team?”
Exclusive: The ongoing saga of Mika Hakkinen’s 1999 season
Part three of our extensive interview series with Mika Hakkinen, addressing his second title-winning season 25 years later, brings us closer to the end of the campaign with the Flying Finn.
The year’s races provided some fascinating insights, and the discourse was all-encompassing as Eddie Irvine emerged as Hakkinen’s main competitor following Michael Schumacher’s injured leg.
Read on for some incredible stories from an engaging discussion with the former McLaren driver.
Guenther Steiner to run an entirely new Formula One team?
Guenther Steiner has stated that he is taking a break from Formula One, but that he is open to returning with the appropriate project. He has no interest in fighting at the back of the pack and would only return if the proper chance arose.
Now, he has intimated that if such an event occurs, he may be willing to return to the grid with a completely different crew.
“I don’t know if I want to be back as a team principal,” he told ABC News.
“Maybe setting up a new team, for the new era of Formula 1 … that could be an opportunity.”
Esteban Ocon was ‘pissed off’ at Max Verstappen’s F1 promotion in 2014.
Esteban Ocon defeated Max Verstappen to win the European Formula 3 title in 2014, but while the Dutchman was picked up for an F1 seat the following season, Ocon faced the possibility of ending his motorsport career for a time – without the funds to continue – before calling Toto Wolff.
Circumstances can be cruel at times, especially for a teenage Ocon who said he was on the verge of quitting driving entirely to work as a mechanic alongside his father.
“From Max not winning the title, finishing third and then going into F1 and me not having even an option to continue racing, that was tough to swallow, for sure, and I was very pissed off in those times,” Ocon said in an interview with the High Performance Podcast.
“That was extremely difficult for me because I felt it was unfair. Not that I would get to F1, but I have always thought that if I work hard enough and get the results, my time will come.
“But in those moments, I wasn’t sure that I was going to even continue racing and, for me, that wasn’t fair.”
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