Tuesday's headlines included McLaren's bombshell, while Carlos Sainz's fault was identified.
With F1 heading to Japan this weekend, Tuesday turned out to be surprisingly busy on the news front, particularly on the McLaren front. The Woking-based force has dropped a bombshell press release to catch us all off guard…
McLaren loses key signature after just 3 months of work
McLaren, which secured former Ferrari aero chief David Sanchez, had to wait almost a year for the engineer to complete a gardening leave before making the switch to Woking.
However, it appears the chemistry was not good and Sanchez and McLaren parted ways after just three months of working together.
Revealing a bit about the news, Sanchez said the role he had agreed to at McLaren was “not in line” with the role he found himself in.
“I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this team,” he said.
“While the role we envisioned and agreed upon did not match the reality of the position I found, I admire the leadership and the dedication of my colleagues and we discussed and I am leaving my position with gratitude for the openness and honesty with which we have discussed this decision.”
read more: Major Ferrari acquisition ends in just three months, sending shockwaves through McLaren
Major hurdle for Carlos Sainz to move to Red Bull revealed
F1 journalist Lawrence Barrett says Red Bull's reluctance to move too quickly to secure the second seat in 2025 is too much for Carlos Sainz to overcome as he looks to secure his future. It was reported that there is a possibility that this could be a major obstacle.
“My sources say he has been competing for Red Bull since before the Australian Grand Prix weekend,” Barrett wrote on the F1 website.
“But the problem for Sainz is that Red Bull are in no hurry to decide on Verstappen's teammate for 2025. It is thought they are willing to wait until the summer at the earliest, but that would be a big deal for Sainz. Waiting may be too long for fear of losing another project.
“Red Bull wants to give Sergio Perez time to prove that he deserves to stay for a fifth season, especially if the Mexican proves he can help the team win the constructors' championship without giving Verstappen too much grief. Considering that.”
read more: Carlos Sainz faces major hurdle despite long-standing interest in Red Bull
What do we know about David Sanchez's departure from McLaren?
With Sanchez and McLaren's split being the big news of the day, PlanetF1.com's Sam Cooper breaks down the situation and deciphers what his quick departure meant behind the scenes.
“While an early departure is not unheard of, the three-month period is incredibly short and suggests that there were unresolved problems behind the MTC's strong exterior,” Cooper said. .
“In that role, Sanchez is one of the team's executives who is only thinking about moving up the standings and has assembled arguably one of the best technical teams on the grid.
“The nature of F1 car design and construction also means we are unlikely to see a contribution from Sanchez so far this season. How would he feel if the parts and upgrades he designed turned out to be game-changers? Is not it?”
read more: Commentary: What McLaren's cold press release reveals after big-name player's sudden departure
Friends of suspended Red Bull employee speak to media
Red Bull Racing has now spoken to the BBC about the situation with the employee, who is at the center of the Red Bull-Christian Horner scenario, expressing his dismay at the turn of events.
The employee has been under intense questioning this week as part of Red Bull's investigation into various media leaks in the aftermath of the Horner investigation, and a friend said the employee was constantly “crying”. .
“It's impossible for people to understand what it's like for her,” a friend said.
“She cannot and will not speak.
“But I can tell you how it's affecting her. Every time I asked her something, she broke down crying and said she had no one to talk to because she wasn't allowed to talk.
“She's so upset, so angry, so scared, so frightened, so lonely. And without being in her shoes, people can't understand what it's like for her. I don't think it's possible to understand.”
A Red Bull spokesperson told the BBC: [parties] Both parties can't discuss it because they signed a non-disclosure agreement. ”
read more: Red Bull investigation updates from friend of Christian Horner accuser
Toto Wolff participates in Japanese Grand Prix
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who had originally planned to miss this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix and instead work from his home in Monaco, changed his mind and will now be at the Suzuka ground.
The Austrian was also scheduled to miss last year's race due to a record 24-race calendar, with scheduled absences in Japan and Qatar.
However, as the Australian race turned into a humid battle for Mercedes, Wolff changed his plans and ended up staying there.
read more: Toto Wolff withdraws plan to skip Japanese GP amid struggling Mercedes
