July 25th 2024.
As he stood before the reporters at Spa, Lando Norris couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. On one hand, he was excited to be back on the track and ready to compete. But on the other hand, he couldn't shake the quandary that had been weighing on his mind. With Max Verstappen slipping down the order, could he mount a title challenge? And would those seven points he gave up last week prove to be crucial in the end?
There were also questions surrounding his recent actions. Had he been too much of a pushover? Some wondered if he had refused to yield, would McLaren have turned against him? It was interesting to note that in the past, when Red Bull ordered Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel to move over for their teammates and they refused, the team seemed to love them even more.
Norris' demeanor on the podium green room in Hungary also raised some eyebrows. He had gotten quite prickly with Lewis Hamilton, the sport's senior statesman, who had merely complimented him on the speed of his car. Lando's response had been sharp: "Well, you had a fast car seven years ago. You made the most of it, and now it's us." It seemed like Mr. Nice Norris was no more.
When asked if he would have disobeyed team orders in Lando's position, Daniel Ricciardo didn't think so. He believed that it would only fracture the relationship, not just with the team but also with Oscar, his teammate. After all, there was still half a season to go, and there may come a time when Lando would need to lean on Oscar for support.
The recent news of former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto taking the helm at Audi-Sauber has only added to the unknowns facing the team. With Audi fully entering F1 next year, the team has high hopes and a big budget, but they are currently sitting at zero championship points. It's clear that Audi is still lacking a clear plan.
For Nico Hulkenberg, who is confirmed as the only driver for next year so far, the decision to change leadership was a bit of a shock. He acknowledged that it was sad to see two people closely involved in signing him no longer with the team, but he also saw it as a sign that Audi is fully invested and hands-on, which he saw as a positive.
As for Carlos Sainz Jr, who is considering an offer from the team, the arrival of his former boss Binotto won't have much influence on his decision. He sees it as good news for Audi, but it won't sway his decision. It's clear that his sights may be set elsewhere.
In other news, Esteban Ocon will be moving to Haas next year on a multi-year deal, which was announced yesterday. Meanwhile, his current team Alpine is getting a new paint job and he'll be sporting a helmet inspired by Wolverine this weekend. The team is promoting the Marvel movie Deadpool & Wolverine, with Pierre Gasly also donning a Deadpool crash hat. Interestingly, the film stars Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, with the latter being a shareholder in the Alpine team.
In the midst of all the racing drama, Lewis Hamilton had some words of wisdom for Max Verstappen, reminding him to "act like a champion" after the Red Bull star had told his critics to "f**k off". And Lando Norris took a moment to apologize to his teammate Oscar Piastri for his recent behavior, admitting that it was "stupid" and had "clouded over" his first F1 win. It was clear that tensions were high and emotions were running wild in the world of F1.
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