Here’s a roundup of some notable stories in Formula 1 as the sport nears the end of its autumn break:
1. **Lewis Hamilton’s Telemetry Tweet Incident**: Former McLaren communications chief, Matt Bishop, revisited the infamous 2012 incident where Lewis Hamilton, frustrated after being out-qualified by teammate Jenson Button at Spa, tweeted telemetry data of Button’s car. Hamilton mistakenly believed the data belonged to Button but had actually tweeted his own car’s telemetry. Bishop recounted how he urgently asked Hamilton to delete the tweet to avoid internal conflict and maintain confidentiality .
2. **Mattia Binotto Comments on Lewis Hamilton’s Move to Ferrari**: Mattia Binotto, now with Audi, discussed the recent rumors around Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari. Binotto agreed with Ferrari’s decision to pursue Hamilton but emphasized that the team had already set their focus on Charles Leclerc as their future. Binotto maintained that Leclerc should remain Ferrari’s focal point as they strive for championship success .
3. **Red Bull Staffing Issues**: Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner addressed the loss of key personnel due to financial constraints under F1’s budget cap. He explained that while Red Bull has had to let go of some high-profile staff like their sporting director, Jonathan Wheatley, due to budget limitations, the team is prioritizing efficiency and “bang for buck” when managing its resources .
4. **Martin Brundle’s Call for Engine “Purity”**: Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle expressed his dissatisfaction with F1’s current hybrid engines, calling them too heavy and complex. He advocated for the return of simpler, naturally aspirated engines if biofuel proves successful. Brundle stressed the importance of keeping F1 relevant while maintaining the entertainment factor for fans .
5. **Sergio Perez Jokes About Verstappen’s Focus**: In a lighthearted exchange, Sergio Perez, who has faced criticism over his focus this season, joked about Max Verstappen’s struggles in some recent races, like the Azerbaijan GP and Singapore GP, where Verstappen appeared off-pace. Perez quipped that perhaps Verstappen wasn’t focused, poking fun at the scrutiny both drivers have been under .
With the season ramping back up, teams will face a grueling schedule with six races in seven weekends, starting soon.
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