The Formula 1 2024 season is fast approaching, but the abundance of off-season news has not simmered down even a little. Luckily, SBOTOP has got you covered with the latest F1 news around the paddock.
In this roundup of Formula 1 updates, we will touch up on Charles Leclerc’s contract extension, the new Madrid Grand Prix, car launches, and F1’s bid to bring the sport to the great city of Chicago.
So, read more below and get more acquainted with the latest happenings in the travelling circus.
Ferrari, Leclerc agree on a contract extension
Leclerc, 26, has been part of the Ferrari organisation since 2016, when he joined the Ferrari Driver Academy.
“To race for this team has been my dream since I was three years old. I used to watch the Monaco Grand Prix from the window of a friend’s apartment at Ste. Devote corner and I would always look out for the red cars. This team is my second family ever since I joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 and we have achieved a lot together, fighting through thick and thin over the past five years.”
After lengthy negotiations, the Monegasque extends his long-term relationship with Scuderia by agreeing to a fresh contract extension, allowing him to continue racing for the team beyond the end of 2024, which could possibly move the needle for Ferrari’s F1 2024 odds when the season begins.
With Ferrari, Leclerc has claimed 23 pole positions and five race wins. But the main goal for Leclerc is to win the world championship with the Prancing Horse, and his new contract just shows how committed Scuderia are to the Monegasque.
Spanish GP moves to Madrid in 2026
It has been confirmed that the Spanish Grand Prix, the illustrious and one of the oldest races in the F1 programme will uproot from Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the track has hosted the Spanish Grand Prix every year since 1991, to the nation’s capital Madrid in 2026.
There are already plans in place for a five-and-a-half-kilometre circuit that would be based around IFEMA Madrid, located 16 kilometres away from the city centre.
“It’s great news for Formula 1 as it shows once again that there is strong appetite around the world for our sport,” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali boasted.
IFEMA MADRID’s proposal, for the most part, was well received and garnered support from national, regional, and local government units, as well as key stakeholders.
But amidst the applause, the proposal also raised the eyebrows of the vice president of the Royal Spanish Automobile Federation regarding safety concerns.
“All the stands on the left at the exit of the bank seem very dangerously close to me, because if anything happens, the centrifugal force makes the remains of the car jump to the left and look what we have on the left.”
The good news is that IFEMA MADRID and other stakeholder groups have ample time to address concerns and furnish the hybrid circuit. As in any sport, the safety of the contestants and fans is the number one priority.
2024 F1 Car launches as early as next week
With pre-season testing less than a month away, teams will soon unveil their new rocket ships for the 2024 season.
The new kids on the block, Kick Sauber, will kick things off and be the first team to debut their 2024 car on February 5, along with Williams Racing. The rest of the grid will follow suit in this order: (February 7) Alpine, (February 8) Visa Cash App RB, (February 11) Haas, (February 12) Aston Martin, (February 13) Ferrari, (February 14) Mercedes, (February 14) McLaren, then the defending world champions Red Bull Racing will cap it off on February 15.
There are a handful of rule changes in the upcoming season, which includes some car modifications that mainly cater to the drivers. Of course, each team will have their own upgrades, so better watch out for these modifications when teams unveil their cars in the next couple of weeks.
Formula 1 in Chicago?
In the latest F1 2024 news, it was reported that the Formula 1 racing franchise has filed for trademarks suggesting a possible race in the Windy City, Chicago. “Formula 1 Chicago Grand Prix” and “Grand Prix Chicago” are the variations of the trademarks applied by F1, according to the U.S. patent office records.
Last year, Chicago held the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series, Grant Park 165. A street circuit that is embedded in the heart of downtown Chicago, at the beautiful Grant Park.
With its success, it seems that if F1 wanted to expand its market in the U.S. even further, then Chicago would be the answer. Chicago could possibly join the likes of Miami, Las Vegas, and Austin as cities that have hosted the best motorsport product in the world.
Formula 1 has seen a skyrocket in popularity in the United States thanks to the engaging Netflix series Drive to Survive, so their proactive steps in bringing the travelling circus to the U.S. make more sense than not.
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