F1 Today | RB17 quicker than F1, Verstappen and Sainz advised by ex-drivers

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F1 Today | Newey's RB17 quicker than F1 cars, Verstappen and Sainz advised
14 July at 20:00
  • Toby Nixon

Sunday was another busy day at the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed in Chichester, England. Many household names attended the four-day event, including many from the Red Bull squad: Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, Daniel Ricciardo, Christian Horner and Adrian Newey were all in action on Sunday as they celebrated 20 years of Red Bull Racing. Master designer Newey revealed some details about the new RB17, stating that it would've been quick enough to have taken pole position at Silverstone. Elsewhere, former F1 drivers have given career advice to both Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, and Lando Norris attends the EURO 2024 final.

Newey: RB17 quick enough for pole at Silverstone

Adrian Newey's new RB17 hypercar was revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on Friday. The most successful F1 designer of all time spearheaded the project and said that his final Red Bull hurrah would've been quick enough to take pole position at Silverstone. "Ultimately it's adaptable and can grow so that the driver can grow with the car and get to a car which, this car is certainly according to all our simulations with driver in the loop, it would have been on pole at Silverstone last weekend." The Brit also revealed some more details about the design process of the car at Goodwood, and compared it to "Spitfire or the Bluebird Landspeed record car in the 60s or Concorde." Newey has won six constructors and seven drivers titles with Red Bull, and one of the 50 RB17s which will be made already has his name on it.

Verstappen should 'seriously consider' Mercedes

Former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos believes that Verstappen should consider a move to Mercedes once again. Of course, the three-time world champion has been previously linked with the German team, but Doornbos believes Mercedes sudden surge could tempt Verstappen into something a bit more serious. "In principle, Max still has a contract, but in my view, Max should start thinking seriously whether he should not get in with Mercedes before 2025," Doornbos told Motorsport.com. This move, however, is looking unlikely. Verstappen has already confirmed he will be staying at Red Bull next year. A move for the future, maybe? It's definitely one to keep an eye on.

Coulthard believes Sainz should 'opt for sporting success'

13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard has provided Carlos Sainz with some future advice. The Spaniard is still yet to announce where he will be driving in 2025 but is said to still have a few options on the table. Alpine, Williams and Sauber (Audi) could all still be choices for the three-time Grand Prix winner. "Carlos is simply unlucky that a seven-time world champion wanted to come to Ferrari," the former McLaren and Williams driver said on the Beyond the Grid podcast. "With his talent, I would opt for sporting success." Sainz is already searching for the fifth F1 team of his career. James Vowles, Williams team principal, has already said he wants to secure Sainz's services for Williams. "I am pretty sure this will all be clarified before we arrive in September," Vowles confirmed in Silverstone. Sainz has several options on the table, and once he decides where he'll be driving, a final shockwave is sure to be sent through the driver market. 

Norris attends the EURO 2024 final

In other news, Lando Norris attended the EURO 2024 final. The McLaren star shared a snap of himself in Berlin on Instagram. Will it finally be coming home? Norris hopes so. Similarly to Norris, together with his partner, George Russell is also travelling to the German capital.