Miami Fan Zone: Fan question - Why hasn't Williams purchased the 2024 Mercedes gearbox and suspension package?

James Vowles: Good question. So, the issue is two fold. First of all, the deal that Mercedes already had when I was there... the deal we did was with Aston Martin... Vowles: (...) and it was very difficult to do an additional supply of those components because the facilities at Mercedes are good, but they are not geared up to necessarily provide 3 teams with full spec.

#AMuS - PARTIAL STORY TRANSLATION: [TITLE] THE SECRET OF TIRE WHISPERERS

Max Verstappen won the Shanghai sprint in a dominant manner, even though he only started in fourth place. What role did his choice to start with used tyres and his early battery problem play? Verstappen was 1.5 seconds faster than the rest in the last lap. This once again confirmed his reputation as a master of tyre management. But there were also huge differences in the field. Hamilton got his tyres through the laps well.

#AMuS

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT [STORY TRANSLATED]

Fernando Alonso has turned the transfer carousel in a different direction with his signature at Aston Martin. This can have unpleasant consequences for Mercedes, Red Bull, Carlos Sainz and even Max Verstappen. What about the transfer carousel for next season? Everyone is waiting for Max Verstappen? Fernando Alonso didn't want to wait any longer. He has extended his Aston Martin contract by at least two years, putting everyone else on the market under pressure.

#AMuS

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT [STORY TRANSLATED]

According to the new power unit regulations for 2026, Formula 1 engines must run on 100% synthetic fuel. The know-how of fuel partners is becoming more important than ever before. When Fernando Alonso spoke about his reasons for extending his contract with Aston Martin, the words “Honda” and “Aramco” kept coming up. He knows what a big role the PU will play after the major reform of the technical regulations in the 2026 season.

#AMus

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT [STORY TRANSLATED]

The teams are getting bigger and bigger. The budget cap forces them to do this. Aston Martin has grown to 870 employees. Despite all their efficiency, the previous team, Force India, would no longer have a chance today. The top teams work with well over 1,000 employees. Everyone who wants to become one increases their workforce. Aston Martin has now grown to 870 employees. Audi wants to increase its partner team Sauber to 900 employees by 2026. Williams also has his eye on that number.

#AMuS

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT [STORY TRANSLATED]

Fernando Alonso is angry. He was penalized for taking his foot off the accelerator unusually early in the fight against George Russell. For Alonso it was a legitimate defensive maneuver. Did the stewards exceed their authority? Carlos Sainz had already crossed the finish line as the winner when a drama unfolded 80 seconds behind him that could have been eye-catching.

#AMuS

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT [STORY TRANSLATED]

Sauber is also fighting at the bottom of the F1 field this season. In terms of sport, they made a false start to the 2024 season. The hope lies with Audi from 2026. Until then, patience is required. Two races, zero points. After the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Sauber's Alessandro Alunni Bravi did not hide his frustration over the false start: "Today marked a disappointing result," complained the Italian.

#AMuS

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT [STORY TRANSLATED]

For five teams in the field, every point counts as a win. It has never been so difficult to get into the top ten. Haas managed it thanks to perfect teamwork. But they also needed the necessary speed. The Formula 1 field has never been as close together as it is this year. And yet it has never been so difficult for half of the field to finish in the top ten.

#AMuS

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT [STORY TRANSLATED]

AMuS writes - Red Bull team boss Christian Horner is trying to get rid of Helmut Marko with the help of the Thai majority owner. In doing so, he is openly opposing Max Verstappen. The world champion demands loyalty. The Red Bull drama is entering the next round. All attempts to get rid of Christian Horner were repelled thanks to the support of the Thai majority owners. An investigation by a law firm cleared him of allegations of inappropriate behavior toward an employee.

#AMuS

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT [RACE ANALYSIS - TRANSLATED]

Is Verstappen's victory in Bahrain a sign of another boring season? What gives hope for more excitement? What went wrong with Hülkenberg? And why was RB in trouble? The new Formula 1 season 2024 has started just as the old one ended. Max Verstappen raced to pole position in Bahrain, led all race laps and also grabbed the bonus point for the fastest lap. The Dominator crossed the finish line with a lead of 22.4 seconds.

#AMuS

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT [STORY TRANSLATED]

The budget cap is a problem for the big teams. Especially for Red Bull. The cost limit makes the best-in-class vulnerable to poaching by the competition and forces them to carry out internal renovations. Adrian Newey is not spared either. Nothing is worse for an entertainment business than predictability. When Liberty took over Formula 1 in 2017, the American media group set itself the goal of ending the long phases of dominance of individual teams in the medium term.

#AMuS

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT [STORY TRANSLATED]

Der Spiegel reports that Audi's Formula 1 project may have died before it even got off the ground. Apparently there is enough resistance on the board. An exit would be a loss of image and cost the company a billion. The issue has been simmering since the end of June. Audi CEO Markus Duesmann was placed on leave and replaced by Gernot Döllner. Almost at the same time, the first rumors emerged that the new guy could take the air out of the Formula 1 project.

#AMuS

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT [STORY TRANSLATION]:

The budget cap should guarantee equal opportunities in Formula 1. But already in the third year it turns out that there are too many loopholes from which mainly the top teams benefit. The different requirements of the teams in Formula 1 was doubly unfair. The rich racing teams not only had the best people, but also more of them. It's like allowing Real Madrid, Manchester City or Bayern Munich to play with 33 players instead of 11.

#AMuS

James Vowles: "The aerodynamic balance that we had planned before the race had suddenly changed. That has an enormous effect and you have significantly more understeer in fast corners."

Motorsport-Total.com Vowles: "Of course, this also has an impact on tire degradation, which is higher. Because now you have significantly more understeer than planned with the original balance, and the front axle doesn't like that."

Motorsport-Total.com

Formu1a.uno - McLaren have finally introduced the first upgrade package of the MCL60 which now takes the car to what should have been its home base in Bahrain. The goal was to start improving the car's efficiency by producing more downforce and reducing drag in the rear area of ​​the car. A small step forward, not sufficient to achieve the objectives set, also due to competitors who have not expressed their potential to the fullest.

Yuki Tsunoda: It was a bit of an untidy time in Baku, but I’ve come to Miami with a very positive mindset as there were many signs that we are making real progress with the car and the updates that came out of Bicester, especially those aimed at improving.... Tsunoda: [....] our top speed, really seemed to work. The highpoint in Azerbaijan was qualifying eighth, so scoring a point for tenth was good, but I’d hoped for better.

Nyck de Vries: The best thing you can do after a weekend like the one I had in Baku is to get straight back in the car and, fortunately, that’s exactly what I can do with this second part of the back-to-back. It’s fair to say I had a bit of bad luck, and also what happened.... de Vries: [....] in the race last Sunday was purely my fault. It was a difficult weekend, not just for me, but mainly for the mechanics, as I gave them a lot more work to do. I’m sorry for that and I really appreciate how hard they worked to get my car back on track.

Andrea Stella (McLaren): We left Baku with two points gained on genuine performance merit and pleased with the delivery of the upgrades we fitted. A lot of hard work has been done by the team back at the factory and at the track to make sure this important first step of our..." Stella: [....] plan to upgrade the MCL60 was achieved in time. We head to Miami now to finish the first double-header of the season. We will continue to put maximum efforts to secure a positive result at the Miami International Autodrome this weekend.

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT - From Imola, the race to catch up begins for Mercedes. Then the W14 should be converted step by step into a winning car. By building on your mistakes. First, the front axle and the floor are in sight. Hamilton and Russell still have to survive the Miami GP. After that, the company begins to catch up. At the moment Mercedes is 5 to 8 tenths behind Red Bull, still in the chasing field with Aston Martin and Ferrari. Depending on the track, the Mercs were second, third or fourth.

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT - AlphaTauri will be reorganized in 2024. Retaining the B team was important for Red Bull. A sale would have damaged your own interests. But not everything is settled yet. It's about replacing future team boss Laurent Mekies. Two of the ten F1 teams have a common owner. While Red Bull is at the top, AlphaTauri has recently slipped to the other end of the table. That should change now. Red Bull has initiated a fresh start. It was a rocky road up to this decision.

#AMuS

You said last year it was one of the hardest races you’ve ever driven – what are the challenges for drivers when navigating the Miami International Autodrome?

Kevin Magnussen: Last year was very hot and humid and also it’s a physical track. Magnussen: It’s not the most physical track in terms of the layout, but it is tough and with the weather on top it was so hard. I think it’s a tricky place to put a Formula 1 track and they’ve managed to make something that’s fun.