Autobayng News Team
Welcome to Wednesday’s edition of the RaceFans round-up.
Comment of the day
Were Ferrari too ambitious with their design changes for this season, given F1 will introduce new rules next year?
The problem is: It’s pretty much common sense that the new suspension philosophy will ultimately give more performance. So they had to change the concept at one point. And it’s preferable to do it under the same regulations to compare the behaviour to last year’s car.
Unfortunately the result is an evil handling and difficult to drive car with fundamental problems. It stuggles to get the tyres up to temperature, has constant overheating issues, be it brakes, be it PU and plank wear is a constant worry as the car only really works in a very narrow window low to the ground.
My main criticism is not the switch of the suspension design per se, but that a team with the human, financial and technological resources of Ferrari isn’t able to build a half decent car at the first attempt. Other (smaller) team handled the change much better.
Add that to the still existing operational struggles and it’s yet another season to simply write off. But hey, there’s still next year…
@Roadrunner
Social media and links
Massa’s Crashgate claim against F1 and Bernie Ecclestone to begin (The Times – subscription required)
Felipe Massa: ‘Accountability is key to preventing future fraud. Those entrusted with protecting the sport directly violated their duties, and they cannot be allowed to benefit from concealing their own misconduct.’
Dale Coyne Racing welcomes Dennis Hauger (and) enters technical partnership with Andretti Global (Coyne)
‘Hauger will take his first IndyCar laps in offseason testing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with Dale Coyne Racing and will make his official on-track debut at the 2026 IndyCar season opener on the Streets of St. Petersburg, February 27 – March 1.’
Trident Motorsport to field Matteo De Palo to FIA F3 Championship debut in 2026 (Trident)
‘For the Roman-born driver, this will be his first season in the category. De Palo made his single-seater debut in 2023, competing in the Spanish Formula 4 Championship, where he finished fifth overall with one victory, four podiums, and one pole position. After an initial learning year in the Formula Regional European by Alpine, he returned to the series this year with Trident Motorsport. The partnership has yielded strong results: with three wins, seven podiums, and two pole positions, De Palo is currently in contention for the drivers’ title.’
Horner eyes F1 return to complete unfinished business (The Telegraph)
‘The manner of that exit undoubtedly caused friction, but anyone saying they cannot be reconciled is talking baloney. The pair were spotted together at an Oasis concert earlier this summer, and retain strong familial ties. Newey is godfather to Horner’s daughter. Do not rule out a move from the ultra-ambitious Lawrence Stroll.’
ESPN has discarded brilliant journalism for squirts of memebrain swill (The Guardian)
‘For ESPN, sport has become fluff, visual candy cotton, an inexhaustible source of sugar in a contest for viewer-consumers’ addiction as endless as the feeds on our phones. Rather than pushing back against the easy tyranny of the vacant scroll, ESPN is giving in to it, trying to ride it – and the vision of a zonked-out, lobotomised viewership is captured perfectly in the network’s Black Mirroresque new slogan, ‘Sports Forever’.’
‘The best seat in the house’: Las Vegas Grand Prix marshal program sees more interest (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
‘Bellot said the number of women participating in 2025 is 50 percent higher than in 2024. She also said the number of locals participating in the marshal program was also higher.’
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