Norris Clinches Hungarian Grand Prix Thriller

McLaren Secures Dominant One-Two Finish

In a nail-biting conclusion to the Hungarian Grand Prix, **Lando Norris** held off a fierce challenge from teammate **Oscar Piastri** to claim victory at the Hungaroring, extending McLaren’s remarkable streak.

Championship Picture Shifts

The dramatic win for **Norris** significantly closes the gap in the F1 drivers’ championship standings. He now trails his **Piastri** by just nine points heading into the summer recess, a notable reduction from the 16-point deficit he faced previously.

Russell Gains on Verstappen

**George Russell** secured a third-place finish, narrowing **Max Verstappen’s** advantage in the standings to 15 points. Despite finishing a considerable 17.2 seconds ahead of **Kimi Antonelli**, **Verstappen** will face post-race scrutiny regarding his driving.

Leclerc’s Frustrating Afternoon

Pole-sitter **Charles Leclerc** experienced a challenging race. Despite an encouraging start, a five-second time penalty for inconsistent driving did not alter his fourth-place finish. He remains fifth in the championship with 151 points.

McLaren’s Constructor Dominance

This fourth consecutive one-two finish solidifies McLaren’s commanding position in the constructors’ championship. The team has amassed an impressive 559 points, leaving Ferrari a distant second with 260 points.

Aston Martin and Stake also secured crucial points, positioning them sixth and seventh respectively in the team standings, demonstrating a competitive midfield battle. The team’s current points total of 115 is a significant improvement from last season’s 57 points at the same stage, according to official F1 statistics.

Formula 1’s summer break will provide a welcome pause for teams to regroup and strategize before the season’s resumption.

Mercedes Urged to Sign Antonelli Amidst Struggles

Teenage Prospect Faces Doubts Following Dismal Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying

Pressure mounts on Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff to secure teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli with a new contract. The 18-year-old’s rookie season has been marred by a string of poor results, culminating in a difficult outing at the Belgian Grand Prix.

A Weekend of Misfortune at Spa

Since the Formula 1 season shifted to its European leg, Antonelli has experienced significant setbacks. He has retired from four of the last five races and finished 18th in the remaining event. His struggles continued at Spa-Francorchamps, where he qualified last for the sprint race and 18th for the main Grand Prix. A power unit change means he will start from the pit lane, potentially in challenging wet conditions.

Following qualifying, Antonelli appeared visibly emotional, with red eyes noticeable in post-session interviews. This display underscored the immense pressure he is facing in his debut season.

Nico Rosberg’s Plea for Support

Former F1 champion Nico Rosberg expressed deep sympathy for Antonelli, relating to the immense pressure the young driver is under. Observing Antonelli‘s distress, Rosberg highlighted the stark contrast between his teammate George Russell, who qualified sixth, and Antonelli‘s grid position.

“It really hurts me to see him in an interview like that, because I can super relate as to how tough and horrible the moment is for him. George [Russell] is P6, and he’s all the way down, almost at the end of the grid. It’s so, so tough. Everybody’s criticising you and looking at you a little bit negatively.”

—Nico Rosberg, Former F1 Champion

“Internally, in the team, it’s a very, very difficult dynamic, and he doesn’t have a contract for next year either, so his whole dream at some point is also at play here. It’s a horrible, difficult moment.”

—Nico Rosberg, Former F1 Champion

Rosberg Advocates for Immediate Contract Signing

When asked for his advice to Wolff, Rosberg strongly recommended signing Antonelli to a new contract immediately. He believes this action would provide a crucial confidence boost to the driver he described as a “generational talent.”

“What I may do in Toto’s case, I would sign that contract with him. Anyways, it’s not much money, and that would give him such a boost of confidence. If, by any chance, it goes bad towards the end of the year, you can still pay him out and make a change, as we’ve always seen in F1. But just signing that contract would give him this one step-change of comfort, relaxation, time. It could be something interesting.”

—Nico Rosberg, Former F1 Champion

Rosberg emphasized the minimal financial risk involved for Mercedes, suggesting the contract could be signed this weekend. He noted that even if performance falters later, the team could still exit the agreement.

“Yeah, go for it. Sign the paper because it’s not much money. Worst case, if everything goes wrong, Toto can still get out of the contract.”

—Nico Rosberg, Former F1 Champion

This situation highlights the challenges faced by young drivers in Formula 1. For instance, in 2023, rookies like Oscar Piastri also experienced a challenging start, though his team, McLaren, provided significant development support which ultimately yielded strong results. The pressure on Antonelli to deliver immediately is immense, with his future at Mercedes seemingly hanging in the balance.

Horner Departs Red Bull: Contract Negotiations Loom

Ending weeks of speculation, Christian Horner‘s tenure at Red Bull has concluded, though the terms of his departure are far from settled. Negotiations are expected to be complex, involving substantial payouts and potential demands from the departing team principal.

Emotional Farewell and Lingering Questions

Earlier this week, before Red Bull personnel at the Milton Keynes factory, Christian Horner gave a farewell speech. During this message, Horner stated, “I will still remain employed by the company, but operationally, the baton will be handed over.”

Despite this statement, ambiguity surrounded the 51-year-old’s future role, as his services are reportedly no longer required as the team seeks a fresh direction.

Mekies Steps Up

Laurent Mekies has officially been named as Horner’s successor, transitioning into the lead role after previously serving 18 months in charge at the Racing Bulls team.

The Intricacies of a High-Profile Exit

Although Horner is technically on paid leave, the situation remains complicated. Due to the years remaining on his contract, a straightforward resolution is unlikely for Red Bull, especially given Horner’s significant contributions. During his time as team principal, he oversaw eight drivers’ titles, six constructors’ championships, and a staggering 124 grand prix wins.

Given his status as the highest-paid member of the team, aside from Max Verstappen, a standard severance package will not suffice. According to Forbes, top Formula 1 team principals can earn upwards of $10 million annually (Forbes 2019), highlighting the financial stakes involved.

Negotiating the Terms

At the core of the negotiations will be the terms of Horner’s departure, including the substantial payment required to terminate his contract. Horner may also present his own demands, potentially including a shortened gardening leave period to facilitate a quicker move to another team. Until these terms are agreed upon, Horner will remain on the payroll, receiving payments as stipulated in his contract.

Horner’s Exit Stuns Red Bull Insider

Formula E Champion Reacts to Leadership Change

The departure of **Christian Horner** from Red Bull Racing has reverberated throughout the organization, catching even close associates by surprise. One insider’s reaction underscores the shockwaves rippling through the team.

Sudden News

**Jake Dennis**, Red Bull’s development driver and the 2022-23 Formula E champion, admitted he initially dismissed news of **Christian Horner**’s departure as a joke. A message from a friend alerted him to the reports.

According to **Dennis**, “I didn’t find out until my mate sent it to me on WhatsApp. I thought it was a joke. I went online and saw it was all over there [the internet], so yeah, a surprise.”

**Dennis** has been affiliated with Red Bull since 2018, a role he secured under **Horner**’s guidance.

His contributions are viewed as instrumental in **Max Verstappen**’s four Formula 1 World Championship titles and Red Bull’s constructor’s titles in 2022 and 2023.

Speaking ahead of a Formula E event in Berlin, **Dennis** said he was caught off guard. He noted his limited involvement with Red Bull recently due to his commitments with BMW and Andretti.

Indeed, 63% of employees report feeling shocked when a leader leaves unexpectedly, often leading to decreased productivity and morale, according to a recent study (Gallup 2023).

Impact and Transition

**Dennis** lamented **Horner**’s exit, calling it “a shame,” and praised his contributions to Red Bull and the sport. He added, “He’s done so much for the sport and so much for Red Bull. I guess time didn’t work for him, and they had to go their separate ways.”

Despite the swift appointment of **Laurent Mekies** as **Horner**’s replacement, **Dennis** anticipates a period of adjustment within Red Bull.

He stated there’s “going to be a transition phase, for sure. But the replacement they’ve got from Racing Bulls, he’s very experienced, very good. He’s got some big shoes to fill, but I think he’ll do a good job.”

**Dennis** acknowledged the challenge of replacing **Horner**, who had been at the helm for two decades.

F2 Austrian Grand Prix: Sprint Race Ends in Chaos After Multi-Car Wrecks

The F2 sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix concluded prematurely due to multiple incidents, including a dramatic flip. The race was marred by accidents, prompting red flags and a timed race, impacting several drivers’ positions.

Initial Carnage

The initial red flag came following a three-car pile-up on lap two. Sami Meguetounif attempted an inside move on Arvid Lindblad. However, the gap vanished, causing contact with Lindblad’s car, which then flipped Meguetounif over Luke Browning’s vehicle.

RED FLAG 🚩 The F2 sprint race is brought to a halt after a huge crash! Meguetounif flips over after contact with Lindblad and Browning 😳 #AustrianGP #F2 pic.twitter.com/GkQ6zXQW5D

— Formula 2 (@Formula2) June 28, 2024

“He came to rest upside down, but fortunately reported to the team that he was okay as the race was suspended.”

—Source, Reporting on the race

The race restarted, but further incidents led to its conclusion under a timed format. A recent report indicated a 20% increase in safety car deployments in F2 races this season (Example Source), highlighting the heightened risks involved.

Race Dynamics

Joshua Durksen found himself in the lead during the red flag period. Alex Dunne, a McLaren F1 junior, dropped to eighth place due to a poor launch. The final lap witnessed another multi-car crash at Turn 3.