Sunday’s F1 news bulletin includes fresh hints that Adrian Newey’s future lies with Ferrari, as well as talk of a possible double deal with Williams that could change the team’s fortunes.
There’s no time to waste so let’s get started…
F1 News: Adrian Newey moves to Ferrari, signs with Williams and more
Adrian Newey ‘signs’ with Ferrari at Monaco Grand Prix
Amid ongoing rumours that F1 design guru Adrian Newey is heading to Maranello, a video has been posted on social media of him signing a Ferrari flag.
Newey has been linked with a move to Ferrari since it was announced last month that the reigning world champion would leave the Red Bull F1 team in 2025 after 19 years with the team.
His reaction to a fan in Monaco urging him to join Ferrari has become a hot topic on the Internet.
Read next: Monaco fan video surfaces, fuelling Adrian Newey Ferrari move rumours
Guenther Steiner questions Williams’ pursuit of Adrian Newey and Carlos Sainz
Former Haas team boss Guenther Steiner has dismissed Williams’ interest in Newey and departing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz as “wishful thinking”.
And he worries that if neither deal gets done, the team will look “pretty foolish.”
James Vowles has been outspoken in recent weeks about Williams’ ambitious recruitment drive and has spoken publicly about the team’s conversations with Newey and Sainz.
Steiner doesn’t think it’s wise for team principals to be so transparent about negotiations.
read more: Guenther Steiner, Adrian Newey and Carlos Sainz rumours question Williams ‘wishful thinking’
George Russell predicts ‘sparks’ will fly at Mercedes after Lewis Hamilton’s departure
George Russell hopes Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025 would “give everyone a new impetus” at Mercedes.
Hamilton announced in February that he would move to Ferrari on a multi-year contract next year and is in his final season with Mercedes.
Russell sees Hamilton’s departure as “a fresh start for the team” and argues it is better for him to leave now, even though it would have been “difficult for the team” after losing the 2021 F1 title to Max Verstappen.
read more: George Russell: Lewis Hamilton’s departure is ‘fresh start’ and ‘new impetus’ for Mercedes
Ralf Schumacher ridicules Lewis Hamilton’s retirement claims
When six-time race winner Ralf Schumacher heard “ridiculous” rumours that Lewis Hamilton might retire at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season, he wasn’t buying it.
Hamilton’s final season with Mercedes has not gone to plan, with the seven-time world champion losing 1-7 to George Russell in inter-team qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix.
Schumacher has laughed off rumours that Hamilton might retire at the end of the season, claiming his contract terms with Ferrari would be “too expensive”.
read more: Lewis Hamilton retirement rumours linked to Ferrari move are ‘completely ridiculous’
Andretti F1 conspiracy theory denied
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown has denied conspiracy theories that anti-American prejudice is behind F1’s resistance to the Andretti team’s proposal.
Andretti has faced stiff resistance from F1’s commercial rights holders and the 10 existing teams in its efforts to enter F1, and the team’s formal application was rejected in January.
Brown, one of the few team principals to voice his support for Andretti, denied the rumors of an anti-American agenda.
read more: Andretti-Brock conspiracy theory busted, F1’s 11th team battle continues
