Does Ferrari Have a Chance to Win Championship Now?

Aston Martin with Red Bull-inspired upgrades | 2026 engines to feature 'override' boost | Sainz scrambles for 2025 seat as Ferrari door closes | Hamilton's toughest season start unraveled

Hey guys, Ryan here, this week I added a new section called Fast Laps. Let me know what you think.

Here’s what we got this week:

  • 🌎 Around Formula 1:

    • Vettel eyes return under right conditions

    • 2026 engines to feature 'override' boost

  • 🛞 Drivers:

    • Norris battles qualifying woes with aggressive style

    • Sainz scrambles for 2025 seat as Ferrari door closes

    • Hamilton's toughest season start unraveled

  • 🏎 Teams:

    • Aston Martin with Red Bull-inspired upgrades

    • Sauber's eyes post-China fix for pitstop issues

    • Sargeant in repaired car at Suzuka

  • 💨 Fast Laps

  • 🇯🇵 Japanese GP Preview: Ferrari's challenging path ahead despite Melbourne high

  • 📊 Standings

Ferrari's chance to win championship?

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🌎 Around Formula 1

👀 Vettel Eyes Return Under Right Conditions - The four-time world champion opens the door to a return in 2025, hinting at discussions with Mercedes' Toto Wolff. Amidst the driver market's flux, Vettel's potential comeback stirs excitement, contingent on the "package" offered. Reflecting on his retirement, Vettel acknowledges missing the competition but remains cautious, seeking a balance between his current life and the rigorous demands of F1. With Mercedes searching for Hamilton's successor, Vettel's return could mark a sensational chapter in both his career and the team's legacy. Read more

💨 2026 Engines to Feature 'Override' Boost - The 2026 season is gearing up for a twist with the introduction of an 'override' boost system, amplifying the energy deployment in the power unit map. This strategic enhancement allows drivers to momentarily boost their top speed, highlighting a shift towards greater electrification and dynamism on the track. As F1 cars become lighter and more aerodynamically efficient, including the KERS-style system, alongside significant power unit changes, promises closer racing. Read more

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🛞 Drivers

😡 Norris Battles Qualifying Woes with Aggressive Style - Faces a paradox in qualifying rounds. His natural attacking drive style clashes with the current car and tire dynamics, hampering his performance. As McLaren vies for position against top teams, Norris contemplates dialing back his aggression to master the delicate balance required by the latest ground effect cars. Read more

🪑 Sainz Scrambles for 2025 Seat as Ferrari Door Closes - Shifts into high gear seeking a 2025 seat after Ferrari opts for Hamilton, sidelining Sainz. Amidst F1's shifting sands, Sainz aims for a swift decision, while Alonso hints at his own future moves, closely watching Red Bull's stability and Mercedes' plans. A high-stakes game of F1's musical chairs if you would. Read more

🫣 Hamilton's Toughest Season Start Unraveled - His most challenging season start in 2024, navigating through a series of setbacks with the Mercedes W15. Marking his 18th season, Hamilton's optimism was quickly overshadowed by performance issues, leaving him with a mere eight points after three races. This stark beginning is reminiscent of his 2009 struggles, yet 2024 proves more daunting with no top-six finishes thus far. Hamilton, historically matched with teammate Russell in qualifying, now finds himself at a slight disadvantage. Read more

🏎 Teams

🏎 Aston Martin With Red Bull-Inspired Upgrades - Amps up its game at the Japanese GP, rolling out Red Bull-inspired sidepod modifications aimed at conquering tire wear challenges. With a keen eye on both aerodynamics and endurance, Alonso backs the team's aggressive development push, signaling a strategic shift toward more dynamic car evolution. Read more

🔧 Sauber's Eyes Post-China Fix For Pitstop Issues - Bottas voices ongoing concerns over Sauber's problematic pitstops, hinting at a resolution possibly beyond the Chinese GP. Despite adjustments, Sauber faces persistent issues with wheelnuts, affecting performance and strategy. Read more

😬 Sargeant in Repaired Car at Suzuka - Set to drive a repaired Williams for Japan, following Albon's crash in Australia that left the team without a spare chassis. Williams has expedited the repair of the damaged FW46, ensuring Sargeant's participation in Suzuka, with plans to introduce a spare car by Miami. Despite the swift repair, the team faces logistical challenges, opting to keep Sargeant in the fixed chassis to avoid overwhelming workload on their mechanics. This incident has spotlighted Williams' current constraints on spares, with team principal James Vowles confirming the repair's success and minimal impact on the car's performance. Read more

💨 Fast Laps

• How teams fuel their finances beyond the finish line. Link

• Verstappen hints at F1 exit amid Red Bull rift. Link

• Leclerc honors Jules Bianchi with tribute helmet at Suzuka. See helmet

• Liberty Media's Las Vegas F1 bet hits the jackpot. Link

• Ricciardo grapples with unexpected performance hurdles. Link

• Gasly optimistic about Alpine's direction with Suzuka updates. Link

• Russell wants instant safety measures in F1 following his dangerous situation. Read more

🇯🇵 Japanese GP Preview

Ferrari's Challenging Path Ahead Despite Melbourne High - After Sainz's victory in Australia, Ferrari approaches Japan with cautious optimism, mindful of the formidable challenge posed by Red Bull, particularly at Honda's home circuit. Despite the SF-24 showcasing improved high-speed cornering capabilities, the team acknowledges the unique demands of Suzuka may favor Red Bull. Ferrari's focus on maximizing points until further upgrades can level the playing field reflects a strategic approach to the season, highlighting the importance of adaptability and seizing opportunities. Read more

📊 Standings

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Last Week’s Poll Results

Was Alonso's penalty fair?

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Yeah (34%)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Nooo (66%)

Here are some comments from the poll.

“He didn’t interfere with his car, just part of competition.”

“Drivers get to determine their strategy, tactics, pace and the line they will drive, not officials. Russel was going as fast as he could in the final lap to try and pass Alonso to gain a position and was surprised and unable to deal with defensive driving and ge panicked and made a mistake.”

“It was obvious, plus the data proves it was intentional.”

“He is a very skilled racer and knew exactly what he was doing. The penalty was decided on the car's telemetry not someone's whim. The data did not lie. He gave Russel a quick brake test that's all but got found out.”

“Russell should be in control of his car no matter what other drivers do, Alonso gave a warning he was approaching the turn differently.”

Past performance is not indicative of future returns, investing involves risk. See disclosures masterworks.com/cd