Sporting Director Woes Continue for the FIA

With the most recent announcement that 2023 FIA sporting director Steve Nielsen has chosen to resign from his seat. Nielsen was appointed the position to replace Michael Masi after Masi’s role in the 2021 Formula One title controversial decision that crowned Max Verstappen the 2021 world champion and prevented Lewis Hamilton from reaching his 8th career title.

The biggest motivation for the move was the FIA’s lack of willingness to make the necessary changes the Nielsen felt would improve the governing body. The news comes at the worst time for the FIA as they have been the subject of inconsistency for 2023 the season making questionable penalty calls and inconsistent incident rulings. Additionally, the latest spectacle was the farce of an investigation into teh Mercedes F1 Team Principal and his wife. The couple was accused of collusion and sharing information that would constitute a conflict of interest that was in violation of the FIA bylaws. However, there was not merit to these claims despite the FIA spending resources to investigate them.

With Nielsen’s resignation, we can only conclude that the current landscape of the FIA is not open to change. An opportunity for good was missed with Nielsen’s exit so now the FIA is under pressure to find a replacement during this short break before the Formula One season gets started in February.

With the departure of Alfa Romeo as a title sponsor. Sauber has announced a new title sponsor that will join the team from the 2024 season. For the next two years the team will rebrand under the name KICK Sauber C44. Kick.com is a streaming platform that has secured chassis naming rights for 2024 and 2025.

“Sauber has always been about innovation, breaking the mold and defying convention,” said Sauber Motorsport Team Representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi. The partnership with Kick.com is the latest and boldest display of the philosophy that drives us. Kick.com is redefining the way live streaming is done and they will adopt the same disruptive approach in the world of Formula 1. With Kick.com, our goal is to make the next step in finding new and innovative ways to get closer to our fans.”

About Kick.com

Founded in October 2022, kick.com is a community-driven live streaming platform that is based on a creatorfirst model.

KICK’s beta launch saw an astounding 200,000 sign ups in a little over 24 hours since the platform went live. In just four months, the platform has managed to attract top entertainers and streamers like Canadian superstar Drake, Trainwreckstv and many more.

KICK recently announced that it has plans to expand monetization with a 95-5 split where the creator will keep 95% of the revenue from subscriptions. This will be the most rewarding monetization split content creators are offered, to date. The platform’s developers are aggressively working towards improvements, additions of special features as well as launch of Android and iOS apps to enhance IRL streaming experiences.

All 10 Formula One have denied the allegations that they were sources of an unverified story released by a British news outlet BusinessF1 that Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff and his wife and director the F1 Academy, Suzie Wolff have shared confidential information in a conflict of interest scandal.

The investigation began after BusinessF1 reported that multiple team principals had expressed concern to the FIA that Mercedes chief Toto Wolff and F1 Academy series lead and Toto’s wife Susie Wolff were sharing confidential information with one another illegally. All 10 teams denied these allegations unifying the F1 community against the claim. The following statement was released by the FIA earlier this week.

“The FIA is aware of media speculation centered on the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed to an F1 team principal from a member of FOM personnel. The FIA Compliance Department is looking in to the matter.”

The situation appears to be a case of poor journalism from one news outlet with no basis. Today the FIA reviewed F1’s code of conduct and conflict of interest policy and determined “appropriate protective measures are in place to mitigate any potential conflicts.” It was also confirmed “that there is no ongoing investigation in terms of ethical or disciplinary inquiries involving any individual.”

The FIA has released the preliminary 2024 Sprint race calendar. The stops see the return of the Chinese Grand prix to the Formula 1 calendar after restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the stop since 2020.

I am delighted to announce six exciting venues for next season’s F1 Sprint events, including two new hosts China and Miami, both of which will be fantastic additions and provide great racing for all our fans at the race and watching at home,” said Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.

“Since its creation in 2021, the Sprint has been consistent in delivering increased audiences on TV, more on track entertainment for the fans at events and increased fan engagement on social and digital platforms, and we are looking forward to the exciting events next year.”

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem Had the Following Words

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said: “I’m pleased to confirm the six Sprint events for next season and am looking forward to the return of four host venues that have provided some thrilling action in the Sprints this year.

The addition of Shanghai will be a challenge for the teams and drivers as Formula 1 heads back to China for the first time since 2019, while a Sprint in Miami will add a new dimension to an enthralling weekend. We must continuously develop and adapt to ensure we are doing what is best for the sport, and as such we are working with FOM and the teams to define the future direction of the Sprint format.”

This week it was announced that Charles Leclerc had signed a 5 year contract extension through 2029 to drive for the Ferrari. The contract extension wasn’t a complete surprise. However, some questions were raised early in the season as to whether Leclerc wanted to continue his future in F1 with Ferrari after multiple mechanical issues, poor strategy calls and a string of bad luck. The last race of the season was defining for Ferrari as they let second place in the constructors championship slip from their grasps in the final moment due to a poor strategy call to pit Carlos Sainz late in the race. Leclerc offered his thoughts on the season.

Charles Leclerc Comments on the 2023 Season

“To be honest it’s been a disappointing season. After last year, we expected to come to this season and try and fight for the championship. After the first race, we straightaway understood how difficult it will be compared to the Red Bull that had done a huge step forward, especially in race pace. We didn’t do the same step. So, from that moment onwards, it was a bit disappointing.

“On the other hand, if you just look at this season – forget about last season – I think we’ve progressed quite a lot throughout the season which is positive and makes me confident for the future. But there’s a big gap to fill to get back to the Red Bulls so we’ll work hard during the winter break and hopefully we’ll come back stronger next year with a car that is capable of winning…very disappointed with that third place in the constructors’ as that was my only target since two or three races now. It was until the very last lap, I tried to give [Sergio Perez] the DRS for him to try and pull away five seconds to George, but that didn’t quite work out.”

Will Carlos Sainz Sign a Contract Extension?

Despite finishing the 2023 season behind Leclerc by just 6 points. Sainz’s form has been shaky at best in recent months. Unfortunately for Sainz, he has also been the victim of unfortunate track incidents as well as punitive action from the FIA stewards. Despite this, the pair were only separated by a few points so we think Sainz has an argument to keep his seat beyond his current contract which is set to expire in 2024.

Sainz has reportedly been offered a one year contract despite his desire to secure a two year contract that would see him through the 2026 season. The fact that Ferrari and Sainz have not yet come to an agreement might also feed the speculation that Sainz is potentially linked to a Red Bull move.

Sergio Perez finished second in the 2023 drivers championship. However his age and waning prowess on the track has start to come into question at various times this past season. Perez and Red Bull reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo are nearing the end of their F1 careers. Red Bull might have a good reason to sign Sainz if they feel that their number two driver could be strong in 2025. There are also other developments.

Should Ferrari Invest in New Talent or Build Off of 2023?

It looks like the beginning of the 2024 season will highly dictate the direction of the team. The last thing Ferrari needs is instability after having gone through multiple personnel and leadership changes over the past few years. However, a team that was fighting for podiums regularly in the last 10 years now finds itself fighting to barely make it out of the mid pack.

The latest rumor is that Lando Norris (McLaren) could be next in line for a seat at Ferrari. While no official announcement will likely be released for at least a year Norris is a contender for Sainz’s seat as Norris has show he has the pace to go toe to toe with the drivers at the front of the pack. Unfortunately, McLaren suffered from consistency issues at the start the 2023 campaign. These shortcomings ultimately set them back until the mid season break.

Do you think Sainz will lose his seat at Ferrari? Let us know here: Where is Ferrari Headed in 2024?

Williams had their highest finish in the F1 championship in recent years finishing 7th in the constructors championship standings. While the majority of that success was mostly attributed to Alex Albon scoring 27 points this season Sargent was able to secure one championship point in his rookie season. Williams announced today that Logan Sargeant had performed well enough to retain his seat in 2024 with the Williams side.

Team Principal, James Vowles

“I am pleased to continue our journey with Logan into the 2024 season,” James commented. “Logan has demonstrated immense skill whilst under the pressure of the world stage, making him a perfect fit for our team. We have great confidence in his abilities and believe that together we can achieve even greater success in the upcoming season.”

The signing was the last driver’s seat in question for the 2024 season. With Sargeant confirmed the grid is now set. Barring any unlikely issues with the teams not paying their FIA licensing fees for next season we will expect to see all 20 drivers back out to fight again next season.

Now that the 2023 Formula One season has come to an end its time for the 10 teams to reap the benefits of a hard fought year. The F1 prize money pay out scale decreases based on finishing position.

2023 F1 Championship Prize Money

2024 Entry Fees Based on Points Finish

To participate in the 2024 season the team will have to pay an entry licensing fee. As the 2023 champions Red Bull will have to pay $7893 per championship point earned. The other teams will pay $6575 per point on top of the $657,837 base F1 entry that all teams pay. Every team will offset these fees with their winnings from the 2023 season.

The 2023 season was one for the record books for Red Bull Racing. The team claimed 21 wins, first in the constructors championship, a 1-2 in the drivers championship and many other feats this season; all while remaining within the cost cap. Their dominance was unrivaled this year and the result in Abu Dhabi did not stray far from the Red Bull 2023 legacy. Max Verstappen secured his record setting 19th win this weekend at Yas Marina during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Red Bull Finishes Incredible Season on Top

After an incredible move by Charles Leclerc to briefly get ahead of Max Verstappen in the opening stages of the race. Verstappen got a better drive after the first few corners which was all it took before Verstappen took off ahead. By Lap 8 he had built up a 1.6 second lead ahead of Leclerc. From then on Verstappen wasn’t challenged again. He would hold the lead for the majority of the race aside from pit stop swaps briefly at lap 17. With the win Verstappen set a number of records. The most notable being:

The most laps led in a season at 1003 laps; the first ever to exceed 1000 laps
Most consecutive race wins in a season at 10 wins
Most single season race wins at 19 wins
The most podium finishes at 21
Most Points scored in a single season at 575 points
Winning the championship with the largest margin to P2 at 290 points

“An incredible season,” said Verstappen. “It was a bit emotional on the in lap, the last time I was sitting in the car that has, of course, given me a lot. I’m very proud to win here also at the last race. I have to say a big thank you to Red Bull, it’s just been an incredible year. It will be hard to do something similar again, but we definitely enjoyed this year.”

Christian Horner, Team Principal

“Well that brings the curtain down on a year that can only be described as incredible. This car is going to go down in the history books as a very, very special car. To have won 21 races out of the 22 is an achievement we never thought possible. What a year, not just for those you see week in and week out at track, but more than anything, all the people behind the scenes back in the factory across the whole business. All the support staff made this happen and played their role in making, delivering, and operating this car. I think everybody can take a huge amount of pride in what they’ve achieved, because this Team really does have an incredible winning spirit and their determination through it all is incredibly strong.

Horner Continued

“Adding to this, Max and Checo. An extraordinary Team in themselves. Their hard work and commitment delivered our first ever Pl and P2 finish. Throughout the season Max has been as close to faultless as you can get, every week bettering his last performance, turning in his best year yet. Checo by comparison has equally had his best year and his best finish in the Championship. It was not an easy road for him but he turned it up when he needed to and secured second place. Finally, I would like to thank our partners and fans, who equally played their part in this historic season. Their commitment to the Team has been steadfast throughout the season and we are incredibly grateful for their support.

“We are going to hopefully take all of these lessons out of this car and apply it into our 20th car. It will be another special year for us in our 20th year as we continue to build to try and defend these two titles. Preparation has already began, we will enjoy the break while we have it but look forward to seeing what’s to come in the 2024 season.”

Mercedes Gets the Job Done to Secure 2nd Place

George Russell had an outstanding performance in Abu Dhabi to help lift Mercedes to 2nd place in the constructors championship. Russell secured his second podium of the year which helped Mercedes edge out Ferrari in the championship. Lewis Hamilton also scored points finishing P9 which helped Mercedes finish with a 3 point advantage over Ferrari. The fight for second place came down to the wire. Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz did not finish the race after a poor race strategy led to a very late pit stop that left Sainz out of scoring position with one lap to go.

Russell Had the Following Words

“Today’s result means a huge amount and I’m really pleased we’ve secured P2 for the team. There are so many people back at the factory in Brackley and Brixworth, who have worked so hard to achieve this. It’s been a really challenging season for us. I’ve let the side down a couple of times this year so I’m pleased to bring it across the line today. It was really intense at the end and so close with Perez, his pace was just great. I thought Charles was going to back me up but respect to him for keeping it clean. I’m happy to end the season this way with a podium.”

McLaren Beats Out Aston Martin to Secure Third

With Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both finishing ahead of the Aston Martins in Abu Dhabi. McLaren was able to secure third in the constructors championship. It was a season of ups and downs for the McLaren camp. However, the second half of the season proved to be McLaren’s time as both Norris and Piastri came alive in the closing races of the season to score key points finishes putting them in a competitive position coming into this final race at Yas Marina.

Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal Stated:

“We would have liked to finish on the podium for the final race of the season, but today we simply didn’t have enough pace. This doesn’t detract from this having been an incredible season. It has been an amazing turnaround which was made possible by everybody’s hard work. To finish fourth in the Championship with nine podiums, achieve a victory in the Sprint race, three more podiums in the Sprint race, two pole positions in the Sprint Shootout, and deliver the fastest pit stop in history is a great achievement for the team. All of this was made possible by the work, commitment, effort and the talent of the men and women at McLaren and our colleagues at HPP. I am so proud and so thankful to all team members.

“This is a strong foundation for the future, and we can’t wait to confirm this next season. Thanks to our fans, sponsors and partners that have been so supportive and enthusiastic. We are on this journey together and we look forward to the next phase.”

Full Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Results

Max Verstappen secured pole position at Yas Marina for the final Formula One race of 2023. After Charles Leclerc dominated the practice sessions Verstappen was able to edge Leclerc out of the top spot by just over a tenth. Verstappen stated the following to F1.com, “We definitely improved the car for qualifying and from the first lap it all seemed a bit more together and we could push more. Of course, I’m very happy to be on pole.

I have no clue how good we are going to be in the race, [but] normally we are always quite decent. It’s been a very special season, we’ve been enjoying it a lot and of course we are very proud of what we have achieved so far this year.” Verstappen will attempt to win his 19th race in 2023 tomorrow the the light go out in Abu Dhabi.

The Battle for 4th

The battle of 4th place in the constructors is heating up. Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz are tied in the championship standings. With Sainz being eliminated in Q1 it opened the door for Alonso to improve his starting position to create a hurdle for Sainz to over come if he is to beat out the veteran. The stakes are simple. If Sainz wants to beat Alonso he has to finish ahead of him in the race. With that said the 4th place spot is not only available to Sainz and Alonso. Depending on how the drivers finish there could be a swing in the positions 4th-7th by the end of the race. With no sprint race this weekend we will have to wait until the race to see how it all hashes out.

Likewise in the constructor’s championship the battle for second is up for grabs between Mercedes and Ferrari. Leclerc leads the way for the pack behind so we will see if he can convert this qualifying result to a points finish that can help Ferrari jump ahead of Mercedes. With both Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) starting outside of the top 10. It will be the last chance to make up ground in the final race of the season to assist int he battle for second place.

Abu Dhabi Qualifying Results

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) was the leader on day one of practice in Abu Dhabi. Leclerc led Lando Norris and Max Verstappen by just under 2 tenths. The beginning of the session was cut short after Carlos Sainz crashed into the barrier. The incident took about 25 minutes to clear before the session resumed. After the break most of the drivers opted for soft tires to run pre FP3 qualifying pace sessions. However, a second red flag stopped the session again delaying it further ultimately making the session worthless for qualifying pace. With 16 minutes left in the session the drivers would return to the track.

Valtteri Bottas in the Top 5

Valtteri Bottas set a flyer to finish in the top 5 in the session. Bottas had the following words after the session, “It is definitely quite nice to finish both sessions in P4, although it’s quite difficult to say where we really stand at the end of today. We had a couple of unusual sessions today: the first one featuring several rookie drivers, and the second one affected by two red flags in a row – therefore not allowing everyone to get good laps in.

Still, we went through the full program for the day, and the feeling in the car is pretty good, which is promising for the days ahead. Of course, there is still a long way to go, and we need to be at our best for Qualifying and for Sunday’s race as well. Our target for Saturday remains Q3, and if we do our homework right overnight, we have a solid chance of achieving that tomorrow.”

FP3 kicks off tomorrow morning.

Full FP2 Results