Wednesday in Formula 1 saw an important change in Cadillac’s leadership, new discussions about the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, and another chapter in the speculations involving Max Verstappen’s future. The rain forecast for the Dutch GP also gained prominence before the season resumed in Zandvoort.
Read more F1: Cadillac CEO admits that Lowdon’s departure was not a mutual decision
Cadillac announced Marcin Budkowski as the new team principal, replacing Graeme Lowdon after a less competitive first half of the season. The former Renault and Alpine director will officially take over track operations at the Dutch GP, with the mission to improve internal processes and accelerate car development within the budget cap. CEO Dan Towriss also acknowledged that Lowdon’s departure was not a mutual decision.
At Ferrari, Fred Vasseur set limits for the battle between Hamilton and Leclerc. The boss stated that the two need to respect internal rules but considers the pressure between the drivers positive, especially now that Leclerc has reduced his deficit to 31 points behind his teammate after surpassing him in recent rounds. “They must respect the team, just as we respect them, and must behave properly,” he said.
Hamilton also remained at the center of the championship fight. A RacingNews365 survey showed that 82.67% of participants still consider the seven-time world champion a legitimate candidate for the eighth title. The Ferrari driver has 169 points, 50 less than leader Kimi Antonelli, and has scored points in all 11 GPs held so far, never finishing below sixth place.
Read more F1: Vasseur sets rule for Hamilton and Leclerc at Ferrari
At Red Bull, Arvid Lindblad appeared as one of the possibilities to replace Verstappen if the four-time world champion leaves the team at the end of the season. The rookie is currently 11th in the World Championship, with 23 points, seven top-ten finishes, and no retirements. However, a promotion would leave Red Bull with a duo formed by Lindblad and Isack Hadjar, two still young drivers, and is not presented as a definite decision.
The F1 return may also happen under challenging conditions. The forecast for the Dutch GP indicates an 85% chance of rain on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, including the Sprint sessions. The Zandvoort round will take place between August 21 and 23 and will mark the resumption of the championship after the summer break.
Read more F1: Mekies praises McLaren in Hungary, but says: «We’ll see how it performs on another track»
