Formula
1
will launch preseason training this Wednesday at the Sakhir circuit, the same one that will host the first round of the 2024 championship, the
Bahrain Grand Prix
, on March 2.
But hours before the start of rehearsals, not everything is rosy in the paddock of the
Great Circus
, between the uncertainty about the ongoing investigation within
Red Bull
due to accusations of "inappropriate behavior" by
Christian Horner
and the claims of some pilots due to the little time they will have to test the new machines.
The conflict that could break out at Red Bull if the accusations of misconduct that a team employee made against its executive director turn out to be true (according to some media, she presented evidence of sexually suggestive messages she would have received from the former driver) worries Formula 1. And within hours of the start of practice in Bahrain,
the category urged the Austrian team to clarify the situation as soon as possible
.
"We have noted that Red Bull has launched an independent investigation into the internal allegations at the team. We hope that the matter will be clarified as soon as possible, following a fair and thorough process. We will not be making any further comments at this time
," he said in a statement. brief statement.
F1 hopes that the investigation process will be completed before the first round of the calendar, in two weeks, so as not to risk the suspicions that fall on Horner - who continues in his position - generating a tense atmosphere in the pits.
We will have to see what happens from this Wednesday during training, since the former British driver will be present in Bahrain.
The urgency of F1 and the
FIA
, which also refrained from commenting on the issue, although reaffirming its commitment to "uphold the highest standards of integrity, fairness and inclusion within the sport", is not shared by Red Bull.
The energy drink team does not want to rush into making a decision on such a delicate matter.
And given the pressure of the category,
Helmut Marko
assured that it is good that he takes his time to analyze all the tests in depth.
Horner between Verstappen and Pérez, at the presentation of the RB20.
Photo REUTERS/Alan Baldwin
"The sooner there is a result, the better, because, of course, rumors and other stories are bound to emerge due to the long duration.
But I think Red Bull has reacted very well in this matter.
That the investigation has become long does not "It's their fault. They are making an effort to do it fairly and then react accordingly," commented the team's sports advisor on the Austrian network
ServusTV
.
Horner, who always maintained his innocence, acknowledged that the situation has been a "distraction", but stated that his head and that of the team are working to get to the beginning of the season in the best way possible.
"I have denied the accusations.
I trust the process that is being carried out and I will continue to collaborate with the investigation
, which I hope will conclude in the near future
," he commented a few days ago in a chat with
Sky Sports
.
"For me everything remains the same.
I am fully committed to the team.
Everyone is focused on the season ahead. The support has been fantastic
. "
Concern over the unresolved "Horner case" is not the only thing that could affect the harmony of Sakhir's pits.
While the mechanics are finalizing details for the start of the tests, which will start this Wednesday and conclude on Friday,
some critical voices were heard
about the preseason format.
Ready.
@AstonMartinF1 #f1 pic.twitter.com/G2cjZgICkk
— Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) February 12, 2024
There will be a single three-day test, unlike the two four-day tests that were usually held until a few years ago, with
Barcelona
and Bahrain as venues.
Thus, each driver will have only a day and a half to adapt to the new car.
And some members of the grill don't like that reduction.
Fernando Alonso
, for example, considered it "unfair" to have only "a day and a half to prepare for a world championship", which will also be
the longest in the history of F1
, with 24 dates.
"I've been thinking about it all winter. We have very limited testing in Bahrain. There is no other sport in the world, with all the money at stake and with all the marketing and the good things we say about Formula 1 and being closer and closer to the fans, where that happens," said the
Aston Martin
Spaniard .
And he added: "
I can't understand why we don't go to Bahrain for four days
, which could be two and two for the pilots. If you go for three, which is an odd number, you can't divide it between the pilots. And why not Are we going with two cars? Yes, we are going to race there next week."
Testing lineup locked in 🔒👏
George up first on Wednesday.
Lewis in the W15 on Thursday.
Splitting the day to end the week 💪 pic.twitter.com/664zD3nhgh
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 20, 2024
George Russell
agreed with his two-time champion colleague and considered that three days with a single car is not enough.
"I understand and recognize why we do it. But I think three days with two cars would be much better," reflected the British
Mercedes
driver .
"Can you imagine
Rafael Nadal
going twelve weeks without hitting a ball and then going straight to
Roland Garros
with a day and a half of training? That would never happen," he commented.
The start of rehearsals
Each day of rehearsals in Sakhir will be divided into two four-hour sessions, one in the morning (starting at 4 a.m. in Argentina) and another in the afternoon (starting at 1 p.m.).
This Wednesday's morning session will have the Dutchman
Max Verstappen
on the track .
Excited to get back in the car this week 🙌 pic.twitter.com/hpz5RyYk5u
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) February 19, 2024
The presence of the three-time champion aboard the RB20 - a car with a very different morphology from last season's car, for many, the most dominant in history - will, without a doubt, be the main attraction at the start of training.
The Red Bull driver will also spin in the afternoon and will do so again in the second session on Thursday.
While his teammate
Sergio Pérez
will test the new car on Thursday morning and Friday.
Russell is also confirmed for this Wednesday (
Lewis Hamilton
, in advance of his last season with Mercedes, will do so on Thursday and Friday's sessions will be divided);
the two
Ferrari
drivers (
Charles Leclerc
in the morning and
Carlos Sainz
in the afternoon);
Alonso and his partner
Lance Stroll
;
Esteban Ocon
and
Pierre Gasly
, from
Alpine
;
and
Kevin Magnussen
and
Nico Hülkenberg
, from
Haas
.