F1 business to watch in the second half of the season

After several weeks of summer break, Formula 1 returns to the Zandvoort circuit for a season finale full of stakes. This break came at the right time for many teams facing various challenges ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi.

Red Bull and its second driver

One of the first surprises of this restart is Red Bull’s decision to keep Sergio Perez for the rest of the season, despite mixed performances. The announcement, made the day after the Belgian Grand Prix, caught some observers off guard. Perez, who struggles to find his pace behind the wheel of the RB20, is now relegated to seventh place in the championship with 131 points, 146 points behind his teammate Max Verstappen.

This considerable gap is a cause for concern for the Austrian team, especially as McLaren seems to have the most competitive car today. With a 42-point deficit in the constructors’ standings, the Woking team could take advantage of Perez’s underperformance to snatch the title from Red Bull, which they have held for two years. However, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner maintains his confidence in the Mexican driver, believing that potential replacements would not offer better guarantees. According to Horner, Perez just needs to regain confidence to return to the top of his game.

However, this strategy reminds of the situation Mercedes was in 2021 with Valtteri Bottas. Red Bull could pay a heavy price for this, especially since they only have one performing driver, while McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes each have two competitive drivers. The end of the season looks exciting for the Austrian team.

Can McLaren dethrone Red Bull?

McLaren and Red Bull’s destinies intersect this season. While Red Bull dominated the early stages of the 2024 season, McLaren was struggling for top 5 finishes alongside Mercedes. But since the Miami Grand Prix, the dynamics have reversed: McLaren now appears to have the car to beat, while Red Bull is struggling to keep up with the pace.

With a 42-point deficit and a faster car, McLaren is in a position to contend for a title that has eluded them since 1998. However, the British team still needs to address certain issues, notably the optimization of their race weekends. Strategic errors, like the ones seen in Canada with Lando Norris or in Silverstone with Oscar Piastri, as well as poor starts, have proven costly for the team.

McLaren’s objective for the end of the season will be to remain consistent and avoid errors, lest they see a title slip through their fingers.

Staffing issues at Red Bull

In addition to the declining performance of the car, Red Bull is facing a wave of departures within its technical team. The first shock came with the announcement of the departure of Adrian Newey, the engineering genius who has greatly contributed to the team’s successes. In addition, the departure of Jonathan Wheatley, sports director for 18 years, who will join Audi alongside Mattia Binotto.

Despite Red Bull’s efforts to minimize the impact of these departures, the loss of two key figures raises questions about the team’s ability to maintain its level of performance. Internal tensions, particularly between Christian Horner and the Verstappen camp, have only added to this uncertainty. It remains to be seen if Red Bull can overcome these challenges.

Is Alpine still in a state of instability?

At Alpine, changes are multiplying. During the Belgian Grand Prix, Bruno Famin announced his departure after only 12 months as team principal. To succeed him, Alpine has chosen Oliver Oakes, former Hitech team manager in Formula 2. This choice is part of a desire to get out of the bad patch the French team is going through, with only 11 points scored this season.

Alpine is also looking towards the future, with negotiations underway to adopt Mercedes engines from 2026. This decision marks the end of the Viry-Châtillon era, a transition that is not without tensions within the team. The next ten races will be crucial to assess the direction taken by Alpine.

F1 teams, looking for a second driver

Alpine must also find a replacement for Esteban Ocon, who will join Haas. After the failed negotiations to attract Carlos Sainz, several options remain on the table, including reserve drivers Jack Doohan and Victor Martins, with an apparent preference for the Australian.

At Audi, internal departures and disappointing performances are causing concern. With Carlos Sainz choosing to join Williams, the team must decide whether to keep one of its current drivers or to bet on a young talent. The names of Gabriel Bortoleto, a Formula 2 driver, and Alex Palou, an IndyCar driver, are mentioned as potential replacements. A decision will have to be made quickly to allow both teams to focus on their performances.

What future for Daniel Ricciardo?

Finally, Daniel Ricciardo’s situation remains uncertain. Often outperformed by his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, the Australian nevertheless managed to keep his seat at Racing Bulls for the remainder of the season. However, he still does not have a contract for 2025, unlike Tsunoda.

Helmut Marko pushes for Racing Bulls to become a true Red Bull junior team, with the promise of giving a seat to Liam Lawson next year, which could mean the end of Ricciardo’s F1 career. However, there is still hope for the Australian: if Sergio Perez continues to disappoint, Red Bull may not retain him, leaving a spot for Ricciardo. Even if Lawson were to be promoted, it is possible that Ricciardo could stay at Racing Bulls.

All these uncertainties make the end of the season particularly exciting, with many upheavals expected in several teams.