🏎️ A Formula 1 break with drama?! It can't be! Anyway, time for a Roundup (F1 Version) 🏎️
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There's no race this weekend, but that doesn't mean there hasn't been news. Let's get into it!
The GPDA writes open letter to the FIA
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The Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) made a public Instagram, and the first thing posted was an open letter to the FIA. In the letter they:
- Urge the FIA to treat them like adults
- Urge the FIA president to consider his tone when talking to or about them
- Calls for transparency in regards to where the money they are fined as punishments are going and how the money is used
This comes on the heels of drivers being punished for swearing, with Max Verstappen receiving community service and Charles Leclerc receiving a monetary fine.
Some quotes from the letter:
"We urge the FIA President to also consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in a public forum or otherwise."
"Our members are adults, they do not need to be given instructions via the media, about matters as trivial as the wearing of jewellery and underpants."
"For the past three years, we have called upon the FIA President to share the details and strategy regarding how the FIA's financial fines are allocated and where the funds are spent. (...) We once again request that the FIA President provides financial transparency and direct, open dialogue with us."
Bottas and Zhou are out
Stake Kick Sauber announced on Wednesday that Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will not be driving for them next year. This means both of them are without a seat.
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Gabriel Bortoleto announced as new driver
BREAKING: Gabriel Bortoleto signs multi-year deal with Kick Sauber
The @formula2 championship leader will graduate to F1 in 2025! #F1 pic.twitter.com/KvNILcGEVy
- Formula 1 (@F1) November 6, 2024
Less than an hour after announcing Bottas' and Zhou's departure, Stake Kick Sauber revealed that their 2nd seat will be given to Gabriel Bortoleto. Bortoleto is 20 years old and from Brazil. He won the F3 Championship in 2023, and currently leads the F2 Championship.
This means there will be four new drivers on the grid in 2025 (Bortoleto for Stake Kick Sauber, Oliver Bearman for Haas, Andrea Kimi Antonelli for Mercedes, and Jack Doohan for Alpine)
Toto Wolff has things to say
Toto went on a podcast and said some stuff. Among other things, he revealed that he did not want to sign Lewis Hamilton to a multi-year contract because everybody has a "shelf life", and he needs to look to "the next generation".
"Everybody has a shelf life..."
Toto Wolff has spoken about losing Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/dAE50KaXZo
- Autosport (@autosport) November 8, 2024
And then also revealed that he was tipped off by Lewis departure to Ferrari by Carlos Sainz Sr.
🚨| Toto Wolff reveals that Carlos Sainz Sr. tipped him off about Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari, which he tried to confirm from Fred Vasseur :
"The old man Sainz called me and said this is what’s happening. Then there were a few drivers that rang me up that didn’t before. (I)… pic.twitter.com/0boNAp7w56
- sim (@sim3744) November 8, 2024
"The old man Sainz called me and said this is what's happening. Then there were a few drivers that rang me up that didn't before. (I) sent a text to Fred Vasseur saying 'you're taking our driver?' (and) I didn't get any response, very unusual for Fred. He's a good friend."
He also revealed that the move left him with "no time to react", and that he missed out on negotiating with drivers who had just signed contracts - like Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Feel free to post about whatever F1 related mess I've missed in the comments