JEDDAH. Entry: It’s not only in the World Cup title duel on Sunday in Jeddah (6.30 p.m., live ServusTV) that the heat is on, the course for the future is also being set behind the scenes.
In Formula 1 things are hot right now. Not only because on Sunday (6.30 p.m., live on ServusTV) in the desert of Saudi Arabia on a new track in Jeddah that was stamped out in record time, the penultimate race of the season is pending and Max Verstappen is currently only eight points ahead of seven-time champion Lewis in the Red Bull Hamilton (Mercedes) lies. But also because the course for the future is being set behind the scenes.
A preliminary planning round will take place next Thursday at Volkswagen in Wolfsburg. It fixes billions in spending over the next five years. And a possible (expensive) Formula 1 involvement by VW or the group subsidiaries Porsche and Audi could finally pick up speed.
For some scene insiders, that would come as a surprise. “For me, the question arises, why do you do that if you want to drive the change to electromobility by 2030. Formula 1 just doesn’t fit into the picture for me,” says Raimund Baumschlager, who was a rally factory driver for up to 2000 Volkswagen. But Formula 1 wants to take countermeasures here. The World Automobile Federation (FIA) could lay down the new engine regulations from 2026 as early as mid-December. Then hybrid engines should run on 100 percent sustainable fuel. The combustion engine in the unit should only contribute 50 percent of the power, the rest is electric. A compromise to potential newcomers like VW? The tightened budget limit in Formula 1, which will drop to $ 135 million per year per racing team from 2023, does not make a factory commitment less interesting.
At the same time, the German Jost Capito, the legendary long-time VW motorsport boss, became team boss at Williams this summer, who has already positioned other VW people in important positions. “Maybe there is more to it than what is currently being said,” believes Baumschlager.
A Styrian pulls the strings
A Styrian will pull the strings in possible Formula 1 matters at VW. Former Porsche motorsport boss Fritz Enzinger is now the overall manager of all motorsport activities in the VW Group. His contacts to F1 managing director Stefano Domenicali, who once worked for Audi, are helpful in this regard. “It’s great that there are strong manufacturers who are interested in joining,” said Mercedes Motorsport Director Toto Wolff last.
A cooperation with an already existing racing team would also be possible. Most recently there had been rumors about a takeover of McLaren by Audi. Porsche, in turn, was associated with Verstappen’s Red Bull team. (fei)
Hamilton in Front
At the Formula 1 premiere in Saudi Arabia, Mercedes set the tone in free practice at least once yesterday. World champion Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time twice, Max Verstappen came second once and fourth once. “It’s a lovely track. The long full throttle and fast corners suit our car, ”said Hamilton afterwards. The second session with floodlights was then canceled five minutes earlier yesterday due to an accident involving Charles Leclerc. The Monegasse crashed into the security wall at turn 22, then got out of his car unharmed, but the Ferrari suffered severe damage. Today qualifying takes place, Sunday (6.30 p.m., live Servus TV) the penultimate race of the season.
Source: Nachrichten
