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☆ Verstappen chasing record-equalling ninth win in a row
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The 25-year-old Red Bull driver can count on a capacity crowd cheering him all the way as he returns home more dominant than ever. Red Bull are meanwhile chasing a 14th successive win, and 13th of this season, with the run dating back to Abu Dhabi last year. "I'm excited to get going with the second half of the season now and what better way to start than in the Netherlands," said Verstappen. "There is no change to the team’s strategy or objectives, only a change in some personnel as outlined before the break. Zandvoort is an exciting fresh start for all of us and I’m sure everyone at the team is ready for the challenge."

Persons: Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel's, Sergio Perez, Bull, Abu Dhabi, Germany's Vettel, Red Bull, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, Fred Vasseur, Frenchman, Robert Shwartzman, Carlos Sainz's, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Szafnauer, Bruno Famin, Alan Baldwin, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bulls, Monegasque, Zandvoort, Aston, Renault, Thomson Locations: Zandvoort, Abu, Netherlands, Belgium, Monza, Austrian, London

☆ Szafnauer to exit misfiring Alpine, Fry joins Williams
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SummaryCompanies Famin to replace Szafnauer as interim Alpine principalTop engineers Permane and Fry also leavingShakeup follows departure of Alpine CEO RossiFry moving to WilliamsSPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium, July 28 (Reuters) - Otmar Szafnauer will leave Renault-owned Alpine after Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix with Bruno Famin appointed interim principal on another day of upheaval that exposed rifts within the misfiring Formula One team. Alpine Academy director Julian Rouse was named as Permane's interim replacement while Matt Harman leads the technical team at Enstone. Rossi warned in May he would make changes if performances did not improve, and said the buck stopped with Szafnauer. Williams said Fry, who has had senior roles at both McLaren and Ferrari, will start work on Nov. 1. "His knowledge and experience will further strengthen the team's technical capabilities and pursuit of excellence as we build the next chapter of Williams," said principal James Vowles.

Persons: Szafnauer, Permane, Fry, Shakeup, Rossi Fry, Bruno Famin, Alan Permane, Pat Fry, Williams, Julian Rouse, Matt Harman, Aston Martin, Famin, Oscar Piastri, Fernando Alonso, Laurent Rossi, Rossi, it's, James Vowles, Pat, Alan Baldwin, Andrew Cawthorne, Christian Radnedge, Pritha Organizations: Alpine, SPA, Renault, Belgian, Prix, Alpine Academy, Aston, McLaren, Formula, Ferrari, Thomson Locations: Belgium

☆ Rossi proud to see Alpine back on the podium
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

I am happy for the team," the Frenchman told Reuters as he walked to the pitlane for a celebratory group photograph. On Sunday, in Alpine's 50th race under that branding, Gasly was seventh and the team overtook McLaren for fifth in the constructors' standings. "I’m proud of them and they should be proud too," said Rossi. Ocon, a winner in Hungary in 2021 with Alpine, said his third career podium capped a "superb weekend" for the team and hoped it was the start of something bigger. "From the simulator to really all the practice sessions, we improved the car from beginning to end and we didn't make a wrong foot any time," said the first Frenchman on the Monaco podium since Olivier Panis in 1996.

☆ Alpine F1 boss warns of 'consequences' of failure
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Alpine ended last year fourth but are now sixth with French drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly scoring just 14 points from five races. Rossi made clear Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer, who joined in February 2022 from Aston Martin, was in the hot seat. Alpine started the season with a target of defending fourth place and closing the huge gap to Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes. McLaren, who have former Alpine reserve Oscar Piastri in their line-up after the Australian rejected the French team, are fifth. "When you compound that relatively lower performance and lack of operational excellence you end up in a difficult position."

☆ Formula One under scrutiny over balance between safety and entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Stewards had hoped racing would decide the winner but the carnage only served to trigger a third red flag and a processional win behind a safety car for Red Bull's Max Verstappen. DAMAGE BILLSStriking the right balance between safety and sport has long challenged Formula One, which moved to tighten its safety car rules after controversy hit the title-deciding 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Officials no longer have such discretion but the application of safety car rules continues to flummox drivers and team bosses alike. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said he was not sure when to expect a standard safety car versus a virtual one or a red flag after incidents. "Standing starts are the most vulnerable part of any grand prix and we did three of them," said Red Bull boss Christian Horner.

☆ F1 team bosses have their own light-bulb moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The late McLaren boss Teddy Mayer liked to compare Formula One drivers to interchangeable light-bulbs, declaring "you plug them in and they do the job", and nowadays the same might be said for team principals. The Frenchman is on his third different team, after stints at Sauber and Renault. "It shows also that the role of the team principal is maybe sometimes also a bit over-rated because if you can change it so quickly and there is no big impact, it tells also something. Sauber, with Swedish billionaire Finn Rausing as chairman of the board, will become the Audi works team from 2026. "But other than that we must not forget that F1 teams have developed into big organisations where the owners are not any more the team principals... some have engineers as team principals, some have more an old-fashioned rule."

☆ Alpine set out season goals and bring on Zidane
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SummarySummary Companies Alpine launch new A523 car in LondonSet goal of defending fourth place and closing gap to top threePresent soccer great Zidane as brand ambassadorLONDON, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Renault-owned Alpine set out their goals for the Formula One season on Thursday before unveiling French soccer great Zinedine Zidane as a surprise signing. "I am very happy to be here today and happy to be part of the Alpine team," Zidane told the surprised audience in a former newspaper printing site in London's Docklands. "The gap to third was big and we've got to close that gap," said team principal Otmar Szafnauer. Ocon is in his fourth year at the team while Gasly has joined from Red Bull-owned AlphaTauri. The 23-race season starts at the Sakhir circuit on March 5, with pre-season testing there next week.

☆ Alpine and McLaren agree a settlement on Piastri
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAO PAULO, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Australian Oscar Piastri will drive for McLaren in Formula One's Abu Dhabi post-season test after the team reached an agreement with Renault-owned Alpine to release him, both sides said on Saturday. French driver Pierre Gasly will also be freed by Red Bull-owned AlphaTauri to test with Alpine, the team he is joining for 2023. McLaren announced in September that 21-year-old Piastri, Alpine's reserve this year, had signed for 2023 as a replacement for compatriot Daniel Ricciardo after winning a contract dispute. He said Piastri would start working officially with McLaren on Nov. 21 and test the current car at Yas Marina. Seidl said getting Piastri in the car for the Abu Dhabi test was important.

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