Mercedes’ leading technical director James Allison has committed his future to the team by signing a new “long-term” contract. This decision underlines Allison’s future commitment to Formula 1’s new technical regulations expected in 2026. This comes alongside news earlier this week that team president Toto Wolff has decided to remain in his role until at least the end of the 2026 season, further strengthening the former champions’ leadership position. Wolff praised Allison’s decision, highlighting her impressive technical leadership in the sport. According to him, Allison has become a key ally and sparring partner within the team with her gladiatorial spirit, deep knowledge, extensive experience and determination. Mercedes’ previous season has been fraught with difficulties, achieving just one race victory in the last two seasons. This ended a remarkable run of eight titles that began following the introduction of the current regulations in 2022. Allison has moved into a more strategic role in 2021, playing a key role in an internal restructuring with Mike Elliott to address the team’s challenges. His return to the role of technical director indicates Allison’s desire to overcome recent difficulties and get Mercedes back on the path to glory. When asked about the challenge of catching Red Bull, which dominated last year’s championship by winning 22 of 21 races, Allison described the journey as “really fun.” Although it may not be as exciting as winning, it is important to face challenges, learn from them and make continuous improvements as part of the sport. The 2024 season is eagerly awaited as Mercedes attempts to regain the dominance lost in recent years. The introduction of the new car, the W15, will take place on 14 February, followed by pre-season testing in Bahrain on 21 February and the first race on 2 March. James Allison’s signing of this long-term contract not only strengthens his commitment to Mercedes, but also lays the foundations for the competitive challenges that await us in the future of Formula 1.
THIS Reigning NASCAR Mexico Series Champion Joins IndyCar program in 2024
Defending champion of the NASCAR Mexico Series, Salvador de Alba Jr., has decided to turn a new page in his racing career and will switch to IndyCar in the 2024 season. Alba Jr., who has won the championship in stock car races in Mexico twice, will switch to Indy NXT, the development series of NTT IndyCar, in cooperation with Andretti Cape Indy NXT. The newly created team was a joint venture between Andretti Global, a prominent name in American auto sports, and Cape Motorsports, which is considered one of the best teams at the junior IndyCar levels. This change for Alba Jr. is not only a new phase in his career, but also an exciting contribution to the dynamics of IndyCar. Salvador de Alba Jr. spoke about his future plans in an interview with motorsport.com: “Joining Andretti Cape is the biggest step I’ve taken in my career so far, and I’m excited to be a part of this team. Last year for me, it was NASCAR. “The Super Copa and USF Pro were great in 2000, so I can’t wait to start competing in Indy NXT. With the help of my sponsors, Michel Jourdain and the Andretti Cape team, we are pleased to make the transition to Indy NXT.” Salvador de Alba Jr.’s decision to switch to different types of racing shows his willingness to constantly seek new challenges and his determination to excel in different motoring scenarios. A veteran and standout champion in the NASCAR Mexico Series choosing IndyCar for his next adventure adds an impressive layer to the series’ diversity and demonstrates IndyCar’s growing global appeal. While it’s unclear how Salvador de Alba Jr. will adapt to IndyCar’s single-seaters, his experience in stock car racing could help him approach the series from a unique perspective. The automotive community is eager to see how he will excel in a new environment and how this change will affect his successful career on the racetrack. Indy NXT’s 2024 season just got exciting with the addition of Salvador de Alba Jr. Fans can expect big moments, intense rivalries and a champion adapting to the intensity of single-seater racing.
Lewis Hamilton Shocks Fans By Picking His Favourite F1Car: It’s Not A Mercedes
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton surprised his fans by announcing that his favorite F1 car does not belong to Mercedes, despite having won many victories throughout his F1 career. Hamilton, who won more than 100 races during his glittering F1 career, had the opportunity to drive some of the most dominant cars in history. Standing out among these is the 2020 Mercedes W11, which is widely regarded as the fastest car in F1 history due to its insane levels of downforce. But when Hamilton was asked about his favorite car in F1, he chose one of the iconic McLaren cars: the MP4/4. The MP4/4 won all but one race in a season when Ayrton Senna won the title over Alain Prost in 1988. Hamilton had the opportunity to drive his idol’s championship car on BBC’s ‘Top Gear’ in 2009. “Probably my favorite was driving Ayrton Senna’s MP4/4,” Hamilton said. “I think the cars from that period were much more aerodynamically inefficient. They used really big tires and mechanical grip back then, it was more like a go-kart.” Ayrton Senna won the 1988 world championship, the first in a series of successes. The 39-year-old F1 legend has now revealed that the MP4/4 is his favorite car that he has ever had the chance to drive. “Probably my favorite was driving Ayrton Senna’s MP4/4,” Hamilton told Mercedes’ YouTube channel. This car is remembered as iconic not only for its efficiency on the track, but also for hosting a great championship showdown with Senna’s French teammate Alain Prost. Senna edged Prost by just three points and the pair won 15 of a possible 16 races that season, a percentage only surpassed by Red Bull in 2023. Hamilton’s choice has sparked debate among fans about drivers’ preferences between classic and modern vehicles, and how nostalgia can influence those preferences. This British pilot’s unusual choice highlights the rich history of F1. With this choice, Hamilton adds a new dimension to the narrative of his career and the respect for the legendary cars that shaped the history of F1.
F1 Car Races Might Be Held on Saturdays
F1 Car Races might be Held on Saturdays as F1 looks to break its tradition of racing on Sundays for three races in 2024. It looks like Formula 1 will be treating fans with races held on Saturdays. This is because fans will be treated to Saturday races to open the year in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Las Vegas. For the first two races, the race will be held on Saturdays because of the holy month of Ramadan starting. This means the first two races of the 2024 season will take place on Saturday. Indeed, Ramadan begins at sunset on Saturday 9th March 2024, the day of the race in Jedda. In order to facilitate the doubleheader’s logistics and give the paddock enough time to travel to Saudi Arabia and set up shop before Wednesday’s media day, Bahrain has decided to move ahead one day. “That was actually a compromise to make sure we are broadcasting at a time when our European fans can get up with a cup of coffee and watch the race [at] six [or] seven in the morning, very similar to how we [in the US] watch the European races,” bid Reneé Wilm, the event CEO for Las Vegas, when explaining why the race was initially planned for Saturday night in the city this year. Because of moving the Jedda race to Saturday, it was also necessary to move the race in Bahrain, a week earlier, to Saturday. This is an indirect consequence of the start of Ramadan because if the opening race were to take place on Sunday, the F1 teams’ would have one less day to travel to Saudi Arabia. And later in the year, the Las Vegas GP is also set to be held on Saturday. This has a different reason, namely the American as well as European audience. What is the very best time to reach viewers in the United States and also satisfy European fans? Saturday night. Renee Wilm, CEO of the Las Vegas GP explains: “We have found a solution so that European fans can watch the race with a cup of coffee at six or seven in the morning, just like it happens in the U.S. during the European races.” So for Americans, the Las Vegas GP will take place at 10 pm.
