Martin Brundle discusses a Red Bull theory on Monday’s F1 news, while Fernando Alonso launches a probe into the McLaren F1 2024 car.
Here are today’s big headlines, including a substantial development in the driver market.
Williams opens talks over Liam Lawson’s loan as Mick Schumacher lurks.
According to PlanetF1.com, Williams has begun negotiations with Red Bull to sign Liam Lawson on a loan agreement until the end of the F1 season in 2024.
Williams is preparing to replace Logan Sargeant following a disappointing weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix, when the US driver was knocked out of qualifying after colliding violently in final practice.
Multiple sources have told PlanetF1.com that Williams, whose driver lineup is already set for F1 2025, is in talks with Red Bull about a temporary arrangement for reserve driver Lawson.
https://x.com/Planet_F1/status/1828051809107316817
However, the flux driver situation at Red Bull, including both the senior team and junior outfit VCARB, is viewed as a key impediment to a deal.
That might pave the way for Mick Schumacher to join Williams for the rest of the season, with Mercedes team manager Toto Wolff suggesting a willingness to loan the German out on Sunday in Zandvoort.
A final decision might be made within the next 24 hours, as Williams hopes to have Sargeant’s successor in place for this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Monza.
Martin Brundle shares Max Verstappen’s theory following Red Bull’s defeat.
Martin Brundle of Sky F1 believes Max Verstappen may have purposely slowed down at the Dutch Grand Prix to convey a message to Red Bull.
Verstappen failed to win his home race at Zandvoort for the first time since the circuit was added to the F1 calendar in 2021, finishing 22.88 seconds behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, the largest margin of victory to date in F1 2024.
Brundle feels Verstappen was not racing “as fast as he could go” when the race was lost, purposefully slowing down to give Red Bull “the hurry up” after only won three of the previous ten races.
Fernando Alonso seen checking the McLaren MCL38 by F1 onboard camera.
Untelevised film from Fernando Alonso’s car has revealed the moment the two-time World Champion investigated the floor of the McLaren MCL38 after the Dutch Grand Prix.
McLaren confirmed their standing as F1’s fastest team at Zandvoort, with Norris storming to his second career win.
Alonso was seen squatting at the back of the McLaren as the vehicles lined up in parc ferme at the end of the race, dropping to his knees at one point to check the MCL38’s underfloor.
In today’s ground-effect era, the floor is recognized to generate a major amount of the car’s overall downforce.
Jos Verstappen urges Red Bull to ‘look in the mirror’
Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, has urged Red Bull to “take a good look in the mirror” after the team was defeated by McLaren in the Dutch Grand Prix.
Despite going winless in five races since the Spanish Grand Prix on June 23, Verstappen still leads Norris by 70 points in the Drivers’ Championship.
Verstappen Sr. had been disappointed by Red Bull’s rapid decline following a great start to their title defence in F1 2024.
Haas is traveling to Monza after the Uralkali controversy is resolved.
Haas is officially on its way to the Italian Grand Prix after resolving a dispute with erstwhile sponsor Uralkali on Monday.
The American team’s exit from Zandvoort was delayed beyond the Dutch Grand Prix, with Haas required to repay a portion of an estimated $13 million fee put into the team prior to their agreement abruptly terminating following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Uralkali issued a statement stating that the monies had been fully reimbursed, and Haas was on their way to Monza.
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