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Newsweek
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Nico Hulkenberg Makes Big Claim About Sauber After Maiden F1 Podium Finish
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Sauber Formula One driver Nico Hulkenberg has made a significant claim about his team, stating that it is now a "serious competitor" in the midfield. The German driver made the admission after securing his first podium finish in F1 at the British Grand Prix. Hulkenberg's P3 finish at Silverstone reportedly made bigger headlines than Lando Norris' race win at his home venue. The last stage of the British GP saw Hulkenberg fend off seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in his Ferrari in the fight for the third spot. Sauber, which is set to be taken over by Audi, is a classic example of what teams can do when the regulations remain consistent over multiple F1 seasons. Hulkenberg has scored points in five races thus far, while his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto secured a points finish in Austria. This has elevated Sauber's position in the championship standings to P6, a stark contrast to its last position finish from last year. Sauber is currently ahead of Alpine, Haas, Aston Martin, and Racing Bulls in the championship. Speaking on his Silverstone race finish, Hulkenberg acknowledged that the situation would have been different if the British GP had been a dry race. He said: Nico Hulkenberg of Germany and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber answers questions in the TV media pen during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 5, 2025... Nico Hulkenberg of Germany and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber answers questions in the TV media pen during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 5, 2025 in Northampton, United Kingdom. More"I think that's pretty good for starters today. If we had a dry race, it would have been a very different day and outcome for us." The 37-year-old driver admitted that the team made significant improvements after the Spanish Grand Prix. He added: "Whilst we've made some really good improvements since Barcelona, today [at Silverstone] is obviously circumstantial, and the conditions made this race and this result possible. "But I feel in the midfield fight we've definitely gained some momentum, and we are a serious competitor there. That's where our fight is, but it's always about maximising every race, every weekend, and just trying to do well." Newsweek Sports reported Hulkenberg's comments on his podium finish. He said: "I always knew, you know, we have it in us, I have it in me somewhere. "I mean, what a race, coming from virtually last, doing it all over again from last weekend. It's pretty surreal, to be honest. "Not sure how it all happened, but obviously, crazy conditions, mixed conditions. It was a survival fight for a lot of the race. "I think we just were really on it, the right course, the right tyres, in the right moment, made no mistakes. And, yeah, quite incredible."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Why Adrian Newey 'goes to another office' to avoid work on 2025 Aston Martin F1 car
Adrian Newey made a rare appearance trackside during the British Grand Prix Formula 1 weekend. Apart from a visit to Monaco in May (and a cameo at the Goodwood Festival of Speed) he has been sequestered within Aston Martin's 'campus' near Silverstone since he started at the team in March. But while Newey was present on the British GP grid with his sketchbook – despite overseeing 12 constructors' championship-winning cars since 1992, he has never been too proud to learn from others' ideas – he will continue to focus on developing Aston Martin's response to the 2026 technical reset rather than being drawn into solving problems with the current car. Advertisement 'He's working, he's involved,' Fernando Alonso told Spanish broadcaster DAZN at Silverstone. 'He's very motivated. But it's true that this year's car doesn't seem to interest him much. 'Every time we ask something about this year or how to improve something, he gets up and goes to another office. So he's already in 2026 mode…' Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 Team Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 Team Although Alonso was being somewhat flippant, Newey has traditionally resisted becoming involved in development of an inherited project when moving teams. His first Williams, the FW14, had more in common aerodynamically with his previous design (the Leyton House CG901) than the FW13 it replaced; at McLaren he got straight into conceptual work for the 1998 narrow-track ruleset while still on gardening leave, having as little involvement as possible with the '97 car; at Red Bull he almost entirely swerved the wretched RB2. Advertisement 'I spent some time trying to understand the RB2,' he told this author, with a barely suppressed eye roll, in a contemporary interview. [ ] As surely as eggs don't bounce, a 'but' followed: reshaping the malfunctioning technical department he'd inherited from Jaguar Racing took priority over silk-pursificating the car it had produced. And this is the policy to which Newey is adhering at Aston Martin, while phrasing his observations more diplomatically – in public, at least, though he has spoken of the development 'tools' being 'weak'. The challenge is to transact this reconstruction phase while managing expectations in the interim. Team owner Lawrence Stroll is notoriously impatient, as evinced by excoriating 'roastings' in the factory on the Monday following an unsuccessful weekend – of which there have been rather too many of late. Alonso, now into his 40s and painfully aware of the passage of time, is also in a hurry to get in a quick car again. Lance Stroll gives the outward impression of being manifestly disengaged, and yet talk of behind-the-scenes tantrums suggests he does have an interest in development taking a turn for the better. Advertisement Read Also: Lance Stroll's bizarre Canadian GP press conference: dour, defensive, and disconnected CEO and team principal Andy Cowell must therefore follow a pragmatic and delicately balanced route through this season, enabling Newey to reshape the technical organisation to his liking and keep his head in the 2026 game while also giving some impression of forward momentum with the current project. A new floor applied to the AMR25 in Imola was said to have had a noticeably positive effect, while further revisions to that floor – including new 'fences' – at Silverstone were in close-but-no-cigar territory. Advertisement 'I think it's a step forward – the car felt a bit better,' said Alonso. 'The data showed that in some parts of the track there's improvement; in others it's harder to see. So, let's say it's a very small upgrade package, but it's always welcome. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing 'The way the grid is right now – with five or six cars within two tenths – a tenth or even half a tenth is valuable. It also shows that the team keeps pushing. 'We're not content being stuck in the midfield. We want to be as close as possible to the top teams by the end of the year.' If the trajectory doesn't seem to be heading towards that vaguely expressed position in the upper midfield, will Stroll Sr start thumping desks and demanding Newey get involved? Maybe, but Adrian will resist all the way. To read more articles visit our website.
Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Christian Horner sign spotted by Martin Brundle two days before Red Bull axe
Christian Horner's telling signs spotted by Martin Brundle two days before Red Bull axe Christian Horner's sacking from Red Bull shook the F1 world, but Martin Brundle saw a sign that something was rumbling under the surface, before the news was reported Martin Brundle has offered his thoughts on Christian Horner's sacking by Red Bull (Image: Sky Sports F1/YouTube ) Christian Horner was "very, very quiet" and "introverted" at the memorial of the late Eddie Jordan two days before his Red Bull sacking. That is according to Martin Brundle, who was with Horner barely 48 hours before his Red Bull exit was announced. Horner, aged 51, was shown the door by the F1 giants following a tenure that saw the team clinch six Constructors' Championships and eight World Drivers' titles with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. He had been integral to Red Bull's F1 story, joining as the youngest ever team principal in 2005, following their acquisition of Jaguar. His exit was marked by an emotional goodbye at Red Bull's Milton Keynes base, where he reportedly shed some tears. The British GP - which saw Verstappen finish fifth, while Lando Norris took the title at Silverstone - proved to be Horner's final race at Red Bull. While speaking to Horner at Jordan's memorial, Brundle admitted that he sensed something was afoot in his demeanour. The ex-driver-turned-reporter told the Sky Sports F1 podcast: "I saw Christian on Monday at the Eddie Jordan memorial and he was very, very quiet and very introverted. "I must say, [he was] clearly a bit out of sorts. So, I'm perhaps not totally surprised. I'm saddened, because, I think Christian's done an incredible job picking up the bones of what was the Jaguar F1 team and what he's achieved in the last 20 years there. "I consider him a friend, so it's a pity it's ended so abruptly like this. I did try to speak to Christian before we did this and he said he'll talk later... but that he hadn't been given any reason [for his sacking]. "It's seismic because he was such an integral part of the Red Bull team. He got Adrian Newey involved and, for example, every point, every podium, every victory, every World Championship that Max has and other drivers like Sebastian Vettel, Christian was at the helm." Brundle was with Horner barely 48 hours before the news was announced (Image: Kym Illman, Getty Images ) Sky Sports News has also claimed that two senior management figures within the company have followed Horner out of the exit door. The energy drinks brand confirmed that Laurent Mekies will be stepping up from Racing Bulls to replace him as chief executive officer and team principal. His exit brings an end to a testing 18 months. That spell began with allegations of inappropriate behaviour by a female colleague, which he denied, being made against him in February 2024, before they were dismissed after an appeal that summer. While Verstappen lifted his fourth world title in the 2024 campaign, McLaren claimed the Constructors' Championship. They have since usurped Red Bull in both areas. Horner's last race as Red Bull team principal was the British GP (Image: Getty ) McLaren duo Norris and Piastri are both ahead of third-placed Verstappen, who is 69 points behind the latter. Red Bull are also currently fourth in the team standings. They are a whopping 288 points behind McLaren. Moreover, Horner has had to grapple with Newey's departure to Aston Martin and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley's move to Sauber. Horner has previously been linked with moves to Ferrari and Alpine, but has always pledged to remain loyal to Red Bull. Now that the F1 powerhouses have chosen to part with him, it remains to be seen if Horner is still reluctant to move to another F1 side. Article continues below
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Christian Horner's exit from Red Bull F1 puts Max Verstappen's future under spotlight amid Mercedes rumours; will he leave or stay?
Christian Horner's sudden exit from Red Bull F1 after nearly 20 long years as the team principal on Wednesday, July 9, has left the F1 community and fans in shock. However, amid all this, all the spotlight is now on Max Verstappen. Since early 2024, rumours have been linked that Verstappen might move away from Milton Keynes, despite his contract extending till 2028. Top teams, including Mercedes and Aston Martin, are believed to be monitoring his situation. Well, after Horner's sacking, fans have sparked discussion on what this means for Max. Let's find out. Christian Horner's sacking comes after a double-header of F1 races at the Austrian and British Grand Prix, where Red Bull underperformed compared to Sauber, leaving them a slight chance of winning either championship. This led to issues in the Red Bull team, as the chiefs were unimpressed at the Austrian Grand Prix, and that appeared to be the beginning of the end for Horner, reported F1 Oversteer. On the other hand, both Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda failed to score points at the Red Bull Ring. Netizens extensively discussed Max Verstappen's future on Reddit; one wrote, "So what does this mean for Max? Rumours say Jos and Marko wanted Horner gone so Max stays. But on the other hand, Red Bull might be fucked without Horner, so he might move to Mercedes. I don't know what to think." While another added, "Yeah it's all a mess atm, there's also reports that Mercedes has been given Green light to sign Max right around the time that Horner is sacked. Idk whether it's coincidence or just targetting max at the right moment" David Coulthard saw Max Verstappen's British GP as positive before Christian Horner's sack Verstappen once again demonstrated his skills by securing pole position for Red Bull, while Tsunoda was prevented from reaching Q3 due to a power problem during his final flying lap. However, there were issues in Verstappen's car that made for a challenging race in the wet conditions at Silverstone, and Tsunoda ended up finishing at the back of the field. Following this, David Coulthard immediately reacted to the race result and thought Verstappen's post-grand prix comments might be positive for Horner. However, unfortunately, just a few days later, Horner got sacked by Red Bull. Could Max Verstappen leave Red Bull after Christian Horner's Red Bull sack? According to Coulthard, who was quoted in the F1 OverSteer report, he was assured after the race at Silverstone that Horner had nothing to worry about when it came to Verstappen's future. However, nobody thought about Horner's sudden sacking by Red Bull, falling behind McLaren, and failing to find a suitable teammate for Verstappen. Meanwhile, Mercedes has been keeping their options open to sign Verstappen, as neither George Russell nor Andrea Kimi Antonelli is secured for 2026. Also, there have been a few suggestions that one of the conditions for Verstappen to stay at Red Bull was Horner's departure, and it will be interesting to see how the driver market develops in the coming weeks. Could the feud between Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner play a catalyst? Apart from the other rumours, there were also reports that during the investigation, Horner's behaviour made it clear that there had been a power struggle between Horner and the parent company, Red Bull GMBH, with Jos Verstappen, the father of Max Verstappen, who openly called out for Horner's removal, reported The Guardian. However, according to Sky Sports, Martin Brundle believes Max Verstappen is more likely to stay at Red Bull for now.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Red Bull says longtime F1 team principal Christian Horner has been released from his duties
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, right, speaks TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson before the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack in Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) Red Bull team principal Christian Horner attends a news conference at the Silverstone racetrack, ahead of the British Formula One Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) Red Bull team principal Christian Horner attends a news conference at the Silverstone racetrack, ahead of the British Formula One Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) Red Bull team principal Christian Horner attends a news conference at the Silverstone racetrack, ahead of the British Formula One Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, right, speaks TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson before the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack in Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) Red Bull team principal Christian Horner attends a news conference at the Silverstone racetrack, ahead of the British Formula One Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) Red Bull team principal Christian Horner attends a news conference at the Silverstone racetrack, ahead of the British Formula One Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) MILTON KEYNES, England (AP) — Red Bull says Christian Horner has been released from his role as longtime team principal of its Formula 1 team. Red Bull did not give a reason for the decision in a statement Wednesday, but thanked Horner for his work and said he will 'forever remain an important part of our team history.' Advertisement Laurent Mekies of sister team Racing Bulls will replace Horner in his role as team principal and chief executive of the racing team. Horner had been Red Bull team principal since it entered F1 as a full constructor in 2005. He had performed his team and media duties as normal throughout the British Grand Prix last week. Horner oversaw eight F1 drivers' titles — four for Sebastian Vettel and four for Max Verstappen — and six constructors' titles during his time with the team. But McLaren has dominated this season in F1, while Red Bull's performance has dipped, though Verstappen remains third in the standings and the team is fourth. Advertisement Horner spent much of last week fielding questions over Verstappen's future at the team after the Dutch driver declined to commit to stay with Red Bull for 2026. 'We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years,' Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull's chief executive for corporate projects and investments said in a statement. 'With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula 1. Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history.' The announcement comes more than a year after Horner was accused of misconduct toward a team employee. Advertisement An investigation conducted on behalf of the Red Bull company dismissed the allegation, as did a further investigation conducted after the employee appealed against the initial ruling, Red Bull said at the time. Horner remained in charge of the F1 team throughout the entire process. ___ AP auto racing:
