In the round-up: Mike Krack insists Aston Martin are not looking to bring Red Bull’s star designer Adrian Newey to their team.
In brief
Aston Martin not pursuing Newey – Krack
Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has refuted claims that the team are attempting to bring Red Bull designer Adrian Newey to the team.
Asked by Sky if he was hoping to lure Newey to their Silverstone factory, Krack flatly denied any truth to the reports.
“We have a very strong technical team with Dan [Fallows], with Tom [McCullough], with Luca [Furbatto],” Krack said. “We were joined recently by Bob Bell, so we’re quite happy with what we have at the moment.”
Hamilton’s Melbourne power unit binned
The power unit that failed on Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes in the Australian Grand Prix is unsalvagable, team principal Toto Wolff says.
Hamilton’s power unit suddenly cut out on the 16th lap of the race at Albert Park, but Wolff says Mercedes are unable to repair the unit for use in the future.
“Yeah, that one is for the bin,” Wolff said. “It is a very highly unusual failure that we have, a hardware failure that we didn’t see coming before. So yeah, we can’t reuse that. And it depends how the season develops, whether we need one more or not. I can’t really see at that stage whether that will be needed or not.”
Bearman to run Imola practice for Haas
Ferrari junior driver Oliver Bearmanwill have his first free practice run of the season with Haas at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.
The F2 racer, who scored points during an unexpected grand prix debut in Jeddah for Ferrari, is due to make six Friday practice appearances for Haas over the season. Team principal Ayao Komatsu confirmed the first will be in Imola next month.
“He’s going to be in our car in FP1 for Imola,” Komatsu said. “That will be the first time. And then we will run him six times this year. Really looking forward to that.”
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Norris: ‘I am not afraid in any way of Max Verstappen. I want to prove myself’ (Guardian)
‘I am self-critical and I know it can look bad from the outside, absolutely. I watch my own interviews and I look so annoyed and unhappy. It’s because my mind is whirling, I’m thinking: ‘Why did I make a mistake? What happened if I did this or that? What if I had tried something else?’’
Formula E puts new grid spot up for sale as it tests electric racing demand (Financial Times)
‘Formula E is offering the 12th and final spot on its grid for between €20m to €30m (£17m to £25m).’
”I’m very passionate about F1. Growing up in Cameroon, I lived for soccer and F1. I haven’t been to Miami because it’s during playoffs but my friends say it’s the best race in the US. It’s great to meet Guenther and I want to find ways to get more involved in the sport.”
Mike on… the Japanese Grand Prix (Aston Martin)
”Arriving in Japan, I haven’t had the karaoke experience in Tokyo this year – but there was a factory tour and a fantastic dinner with Honda at a restaurant near their impressive facility in Sakura. 2026 is still a way off, and we have an excellent relationship with our current power unit partner, but I am excited about working together with Honda. We won’t have the separation between chassis and power unit that you automatically have as a customer team. We’ll just have a ‘works’ car, we will be one team. I left Sakura and headed for Suzuka positive about the future.”
Brivio highlights difference from F1 to MotoGP (Motorcycle Sports)
”In Formula 1 companies race, in MotoGP teams race. The four-wheelers enjoy enormous economic and human resources because, logically, the car is larger than a two-wheeler. Many people work on the single-seater, and almost every piece is produced in-house, apart from tyres, brakes and little else. Between power units in hybrid configuration and aerodynamic sections, we never stop intervening.”
How hybrids could change the game for IndyCar’s push-to-pass (Racer)
‘In the new world of hybridization, drivers would continue to have 150 seconds of P2P, for example, to conserve and use strategically throughout a race, and once the 150 seconds are gone, the system is deactivated. But with IndyCar’s thought process on the ERS side, there would be no time limits involved; the 60hp boost would be on tap during every lap of the race.’
Play’n Go Music unveils MoneyGram Haas F1 Team playlist collaboration (Play’n Go)
‘Join us as we kick off this exhilarating collaboration with the launch of Ayao Komatsu’s Playlist, which is out now. Filled with symphony and sonic variety, this playlist is emblematic of the variety, depth and passion that defines the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, offering fans a glimpse into the music that motivates and inspires them on race days.’
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Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Lak!