RaceFans Round-up: Sauber needs “immediate” improvement

In the round-up: Recently-signed Audi F1 COO Mattia Binotto says Sauber need to make “immediate” changes to improve performance.

In brief

Sauber needs “immediate measures” to improve – Binotto

Binotto says Sauber, which will become the Audi factory team in 2026, must make changes to improve their performance before Audi takes over operations of the team.

“We cannot accept the current situation and drive at the back of the field,” Binotto told Auto Motor und Sport. “A team that wants to win one day has to strengthen its muscles now. That is why we need immediate measures to change that.

“I am convinced of the project, the people, the tools and the support of the brand. That is why I signed within two days of the offer.”

The former Ferrari team principal called his return with Audi “the biggest challenge of my career.”

Williams junior loses F2 seat

Williams Racing Academy member Zak O’Sullivan announced yesterday he will not continue in the championship for ART due to a lack of funds. The 19-year-old also indicated he is no longer part of the F1 team’s junior programme.

“The simple issue comes down to funding, I won’t be able to complete this F2 season with ART GP,” said O’Sullivan in a post on social media.

“I’m gutted to not be able to show my talents for the rest of the year, but I want to say thank you to all of my sponsors, Williams Racing and all of the supporters who are alongside me during this journey.”

Williams has been approached for comment.

Mini and Mansell step up to F2

Gabriele Mini, Prema, Monza, 2024 — F3 runner-up Mini will make his debut in F2

Formula 3 championship contenders Gabriele Mini and Christian Mansell will both make their debuts in F2 at this weekend’s round in Baku.

Alpine junior Mini will step into Oliver Bearman’s Prema to race alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Bearman competes in F1 with Haas this weekend before returning for the rest of the season.

Mansell will replace Roman Stanek at Trident for the remainder of the season as Stanek leaves the team in his third season in F2 due to budgetary reasons.

Bearman’s brother Thomas makes single-seater debut

Oliver Bearman’s 15-year-old brother Thomas will make his debut in single-seater racing this weekend at F4 level in the Euro 4 championship round at the Red Bull Ring.

Bearman has been racing in the British Karting Championship, UKC Karting Championship, RMC Euro Trophy and BNL Karting Series in the junior and senior Rotax classes this season.

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Links

A special relationship (Ferrari)

‘Niki Lauda and Clay Regazzoni had a special rapport right from the start, even if on the face of it they had little in common. Niki never made a secret of the fact that, but for Clay he would never have found himself at Ferrari. ”But with my results, I undoubtedly made a good impression,” Niki said at an event in 2016. Of Clay he said, ”He loved life, he was very nice, a respectable person with whom I always got along. We weren’t as different as people thought.”’

Fernandez is disappointed by O’Ward comparison amid IndyCar anger over Mexico City snub (AP)

”It’s never good to compare, especially two different eras. It’s not fair to compare. We have three good drivers internationally right now. There is plenty of space.”

Susanna Raganelli’s epic world championship triumph that led to horrific cries for the banning of ‘women drivers from karting’ (Alan Dove)

‘Despite her incredible and undeniable success winning the world championship in addition to her European and Italian National Championship victories, Karting Magazine no longer called her the ‘talented Italian girl’ but dismissed her driving as ”not expert,” effectively attributing it to ”daddy’s money.” Their biggest grievance wasn’t her lack of ability but the ”irritating manifestations connected with her being a girl.” Nothing she did was technically illegal, but they followed their regrettable words with ”if this is what happens to karting when women race, then we would rather they be banned, and the sport return to what it was intended to be.”’

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