Fiery pre-season
For many fans, the approach to the 2024 Formula 1 season was dictated by the fear – objectively founded – of witnessing a carbon copy of the past championship, dominated far and wide by Max Verstappen and Red Bull. The track has not yet spoken, pre-season tests still have to be done, and this possibility is always present. But certainly the last two months – and in particular the first five days of this crazy February – they did not bore professionals and fans. While waiting and hoping to see them in the GPs, the fireworks arrived from the headquarters of the various stableseven if the tenor between them is very different.
Hamilton in red
Ferrari has just put together – with a view to 2025 – what many have already defined as the 'coup of the century': the hiring of Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes. An operation monsters at an image and marketing level – which obviously could also generate problems of internal coexistence with Charles Leclerc – but which has undoubtedly put the Prancing Horse back at the center of the discussions of all motoring enthusiasts. Whether the Hamilton-Ferrari pairing will also be successful on the track – the precedents of Alonso and Vettel always suggest using caution in judgments – we will only begin to find out in 12 months. The impression of many is that however the Maranello coup was also political.
Wolff in difficulty
The 'loser' of this negotiation was apparent Toto Wolff. The Viennese manager was the from 2014 to 2020 deus ex machina of a seemingly perfect team. Then the failed climb to the top management of F1– do you remember Binotto's famous 'veto'? – and the advent of the new technical regulations in 2022 have dented its supremacy over the rest of the grid. The controversy in which he and his wife Susie Wolff found themselves entangled at the end of December 2023 should also not be forgotten: the lightning investigation, which lasted just 48 hours, conducted by the FIA regarding a alleged conflict of interest that concerned the couple. The accusations melted away like snow in the sun and Wolff was hit by the total solidarity of his colleagues, but the clash with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is evident.
The 'no' to Andretti
The FIA-F1 clash emerged dramatically in the Andretti affair, which also reached its peak between the end of January and the beginning of February. The federation's approval was followed by no dry of the FOMsupported by almost all the teams and by CEO Stefano Domenicali, who has never hidden – even publicly – his skepticism about the possibility of giving space to the American team as the 11th team in the championship.
The Horner case
Finally, last but only in chronological order, there is the very delicate case which is affecting the team principal of the reigning world champion team, Red Bull. The future of Christian Hornerthe manager who has led the team since joining F1 in 2005, seems to be hanging on to the outcome of ainternal investigation which the Austrian giant is carrying out to verify the possible existence of inappropriate behavior on the part of the 50-year-old English manager towards an employee of the team. Horner has denied the charges and it is essential to point out that he, like anyone, must be considered innocent until proven guilty. Furthermore, in Milton Keynes there are still many people who are linked by affection and esteem to his figure. It is hypothesized that, without him, even the figure of Adrian Newey it might falter. Certainly, the number one of the Milton Keynes team is not having easy times. And behind the scenes someone is already pointing out the alleged disagreements that between him and Helmut Marko they emerged at the end of the last championship.
The track is still silent for the moment, but all around you can hear the roar of a political-sports context in continuous and constant evolution. Who would have ever imagined it, especially in these proportions, even just six days ago.
#days #shocked #Formula
