F1 Today: Verstappen Celebrates Beautiful Wedding; Sainz Surprised by Binotto
It’s finally race week, and the F1 world is gearing up for an exciting triple-header after a three-week autumn break. With just six races remaining, every point is vital for teams and drivers as they fight for positions in the championship standings. Max Verstappen attended a fellow driver’s wedding in Portugal, while Toyota shared insights with GPblog on how their new partnership with Haas will be advantageous. Additionally, Carlos Sainz expressed his surprise at former team principal Mattia Binotto’s recent comments. Catch all the details and read the full articles below!
Verstappen Celebrates at a Stunning Wedding:
Earlier this week, Max Verstappen was spotted enjoying a run with Kelly Piquet’s brother, Nelson Piquet Jr., in Portugal. They were attending the wedding of Formula E driver Antonio Felix da Costa, celebrated in a breathtaking location. You can view all the wedding images by clicking the link here. Kelly shared several photos on her stories, including a lovely shot of her and Verstappen dressed up and enjoying the festivities together. The Dutch driver will return to F1 action this weekend at the Circuit of the Americas, where he maintains a 52-point lead over Lando Norris in the championship standings.
Toyota Unveils Benefits of F1 Return:
In a surprise announcement, Toyota has revealed its return to Formula 1 through a technical partnership with Haas. Earlier this year, Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) stated they had no immediate plans for an F1 comeback. However, they recognized that collaborating with Haas would be mutually beneficial. TGR’s general manager, Masaya Kaji, shared insights about the partnership with GPblog.
The catalyst for our return was our top management, Akio Toyoda. He’s always focused on the drivers, shared TGR’s general manager, Masaya Kaji. “At the beginning of this year, I communicated with him about finding opportunities for our drivers, engineers, and mechanics to engage in the top tier of motorsport for valuable learning and development. After that discussion, I reached out to several teams, including Haas, and ultimately found that Haas was the best partner.” The mutual benefits of this partnership remain to be seen, but with Toyota’s recent success as the 2023 WEC and WRC champions, they are sure to bring value to the American team.
Sainz Surprised by Binotto’s Remarks:
Carlos Sainz was taken aback by Mattia Binotto’s recent statement regarding Lewis Hamilton. The former Ferrari team principal, who worked alongside Sainz and Charles Leclerc, revealed that he would never have signed the seven-time World Champion if it were up to him. This change means Sainz will be racing for Williams in the 2025 season.
In an interview with Marca, Sainz reacted to Binotto’s comments with surprise, saying, “Did Binotto say that?” Despite leaving Ferrari, Sainz holds no grudges against the team. “I’ve had four wonderful years as a Ferrari driver. My first wins, pole positions, and podiums—most of which were achieved at Maranello—I will always cherish. But we’ll keep moving forward, and who knows, our paths might cross again in the future,” he reflected.
Source: https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/306087/f1-today-max-verstappen-attends-wedding-sainz-shocked-and-toyota-detail.html