UniCredit’s Post

North Carolina is playing a role in the launch of a Formula 1 team, pending completion of an agreement in principle between the international racing series and General Motors. https://lnkd.in/eCWDRtqU

Mattia Binotto, Ferrari’s former team principal, has made it clear that he would not have pursued signing Lewis Hamilton for the team during his tenure. This is not the first time Hamilton, despite being the most successful F1 driver in terms of wins and pole positions, has been overlooked. Binotto’s decision was rooted in his commitment to Ferrari’s future with Charles Leclerc, believing that focusing on Leclerc’s growth was the best path for the team. He stated explicitly, “No,” when asked if he would have pursued Hamilton, emphasizing that Leclerc was the future of Ferrari and deserved to be the team’s central figure . This reluctance to fully embrace Hamilton, despite his unparalleled records and accomplishments, mirrors a larger pattern within F1. Hamilton’s status as one of the greatest drivers of all time—boasting seven World Drivers’ Championship titles, the most wins in F1 history, and numerous pole positions—has not always been enough to sway teams into prioritizing him. Binotto’s focus on developing Leclerc, rather than pursuing Hamilton’s potential as a high-profile addition, was a strategic decision that he believed would serve Ferrari better in the long term . The irony, of course, is that Hamilton’s status as the greatest F1 driver ever is hard to argue against. His career achievements are exceptional, but as seen with Binotto’s approach, team dynamics, and the focus on younger talent like Leclerc, even the most accomplished drivers can find themselves overlooked when it comes to building for the future . This situation also underscores the challenges faced by legendary drivers in F1—talent alone isn’t always the deciding factor in where they race. Despite Hamilton’s record-breaking career, his move to Ferrari in 2025 will likely bring a different dynamic under new leadership, with Fred Vasseur being more open to such a high-profile move .

The Andretti-Cadillac F1 project has been a hot topic, and now it seems their entry into Formula 1 might finally gain approval. With changes to their proposal and ongoing FIA support, the GM-backed team is edging closer to the green light from Formula 1 management. This marks a significant moment in F1 history—a potential 11th team backed by one of the biggest names in the automotive industry, General Motors, bringing a fresh American touch to the grid. But the journey isn’t over yet. There are financial concerns from existing teams and logistical challenges still to overcome. For motorsport professionals, this could mean opportunities for a host of specialist roles, from engineers to race mechanics, as Andretti looks to build a competitive team capable of taking on the sport's giants. #Formula1 #AndrettiF1 #MotorsportNews #GM #Chevrolet #F1Expansion #RacingInnovation #F1Careers #MotorsportJobs

FAST-TRACKED | How Aston Martin Is Bringing F1 Innovation to the Road. The benefits of Formula 1 to the Aston Martin brand are much further reaching than 2 cars driving on track every other weekend. Beyond the visibility it gives, the sport is the ultimate testing ground for an automotive manufacturer and we harness the minds, methods and materials of F1 to enhance our product offering both on and off track. From the Impossible Aston Martin Valkyrie, designed by the soon to be Aston employee Adrian Newey, to Aston Martin Performance Technologies use of innovative methods to develop the upcoming Valhalla, the impact is clear to see. The FIA F1 Safety Car continues to spearhead the Vantage nameplate, and even Fernando Alonso had a hand in designing the Aston Martin Valiant of which he was the first customer for. We have only been back in the sport for four years, yet it’s already having a positive impact in almost everything we do. #ModernLuxury #LVGP

🏎️ Hey fellow F1 enthusiasts! I just posted a new blog: "The Unparalleled Influence of Ferrari in the World of Formula 1". It's a deep dive into the rich history and lasting impact of the legendary team on the sport we love. Head over to my blog and let's start a discussion! 🏁 Read the full blog here: https://www.rfr.bz/lljjagq #KamilaGrabska

How McLaren has offered a glimpse of its future with new F1 rear wing concept https://lnkd.in/eADZ5udW McLaren introduced a new rear wing at Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix that signals a shift in concept direction and moves it closer to what Red Bull is doing. The wing is not only the lowest downforce variant that the Woking-based squad has run on its MCL38 so far this year, but is believed to be the first of a new suite of options with this idea that will be rolled out for different track types as they appear on the calendar. We usually categorise the rear wings presented by teams into three simple categories: low, medium and high downforce variants. But inevitably, given the variety of the circuits on the calendar, there is a little more to it than that, with some adaptability baked into how each of those arrangements might be configured. Teams now are increasingly balancing out the downforce/drag of their rear wings with their beam wing solution too, as these can help fine-tune the car balance to hit the sweet spot. Furthermore, the chord length of the upper flap, whether there’s a Gurney flap applied to the trailing edge of the flap or not, plus the shape of the tip section and endplate cutout, are all means of modifying a given wing to suit specific demands (...).

No contract extension?! Okay, I'm still performing at the limit. This is Carlos Sainz. Earlier this year, Ferrari informed Carlos that his contract would not be renewed beyond the 2024 season, making way for Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari’s move placed Carlos in the unenviable position of competing for a team that had already planned his departure. Despite knowing his tenure with #Ferrari was ending, Carlos maintained exemplary performance levels, securing podium finishes and performing at the same high level as his teammate. Carlos’ experiences in #F1 reflect broader truths about #resilience, adaptability, and performance under pressure that resonate well beyond the racetrack. His story offers profound insights, proving that the right response to setbacks not only shapes one’s career trajectory but can also redefine it positively. By adopting a pragmatic approach to challenges, prioritizing continuous learning, maintaining high performance under pressure, and fostering supportive relationships, we can all build resilience not only in ourselves but also in our organizations. More on Carlos and his approach in today's #PlaymakersBrew. #mindset

🏎️ Ferrari's Open Door: The Sainz Saga Continues In the intricate world of Formula 1, contracts are more than just signatures – they're strategic chess moves. Ferrari's recent decision reveals a fascinating glimpse into driver management dynamics. Key Insights: • Carlos Sainz's Ferrari chapter closes after four impactful years • Lewis Hamilton steps in for a three-year commitment • Fred Vasseur hints at potential future reunion with Sainz The motorsport landscape is fluid, with only 10 teams and a handful of top drivers. Vasseur's candid statement – "You never know what will happen in 2027, 2028, 2029" – underscores the unpredictable nature of F1 careers. While Sainz moves on, Ferrari keeps strategic options open, simultaneously nurturing young talent like Oliver Bearman. This approach demonstrates the team's sophisticated long-term vision. What potential driver scenarios do you see unfolding in the next few seasons? #F1 #DriverMarket #Ferrari Original article: https://lnkd.in/de-c-YNM

Alpine is a joke. There is no way they can call themselves a manufacturer team anymore because they will not be making their own F1 engine in which they were doing a crappy job of the last few years. It has been underpowered for more than a few years. If Luca is telling the the truth about how much they spend a year on making the engines then then why have the other manufacturers keep out performing Alpine - Renault engine. Red Bull won with it until they starting getting pissy and complaining about BPH so they switched to Honda and kept on winning. How hard is it to add some extra BPH?? Mercedes, Ferrari, RBR/Honda, have all done it over the last few years. So Alpine will now purchase Mercedes engine and badge it as????? That’s embarrassing and just idiotic. I would sell the team because what’s the Alpine team going to do now? Just design the car, ok. Good luck trying to be the next McLaren who use Mercedes engines but at least they are not parading around trying to be a manufacturer team. They know exactly who they are. Rebadging the team as Alpine when at the time, Alpine made one car. They don’t even sell the cars in NA which is still the biggest car market in the world and for F1. I mentioned this in an article last week. Rebadge the team to Infinity. RBR once did.

Lewis and Ferrari: the perfect underdog story. Strange words for the greatest driver and the most iconic team in F1, right? But here’s why: - Ferrari hasn’t won a Drivers’ World Championship since 2007. Ending that 17-year drought would be monumental. - Lewis has struggled since 2021 and wants to prove he can still make history with an 8th title. Both want redemption. Both want to return to the top. If they can achieve that together, it would be a story that no Brad Pitt could beat. Here’s how Lewis is setting himself up for success: ✅ 1/ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗰𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. He radiates authority and positions himself as the leader. Important as he integrates into the team. ✅ 2/ 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻. Yes, it’s just simple “buongiorno” and “piacere” (nice to meet you), but it doesn’t matter. What mattered was that he showed respect to everyone in the team. Lewis needs to make as many friends in the team as possible. To make people like and support him. And who do people naturally like and support more? People who are similar to them. We’ll hear more Italian from him. ✅ 3/ 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘀. Online, he posted in Italian, winning hearts instantly. Offline, he greeted everyone waiting outside Ferrari HQ. Fans can make or break a driver. He needs their support, not their pressure. I’ve never been a Lewis Hamilton fan. But man, I’m rooting for him now. I want him to succeed. I want him to bring Ferrari back to the top. And I’m not alone. How do I know? Because everyone loves a good underdog story. Do you think Lewis will overshadow Charles as Ferrari’s #1 driver? Let me know your thoughts below.