Oscar Piastri’s maiden Formula 1 grand prix win in Hungary just became even more impressive. Earlier in the season, Carlos Sainz returned from appendix surgery to with the Australian Grand Prix, and it turns out Piastri has his own remarkable injury tale to tell. Sergio Perez’s Red Bull future is also in the headlines, with the Mexican declared ‘out’ at the end of the season by a McLaren-backed driver.
Piastri has shown remarkable improvements in his second F1 season, winning his first grand prix in Hungary and playing a pivotal role in McLaren’s push to snatch the Constructors’ Championship title from Red Bull. In a social media post, Piastri revealed that he was nursing a broken rib in the first half of the season. An X-ray image included in the post is timed at 11:12am on Monday July 8, less than two weeks before that Hungary win.
While Red Bull opted to stick with Perez after the summer break, the F1 veteran is nonetheless under major pressure to secure his future with the team. McLaren-backed Formula 2 title contender Gabriel Bortoleto – who himself is being linked with an F1 2025 seat at Sauber – does not expect Perez to be in the Red Bull next season.
Perez is not the first driver to find it very tough staying competitive against Max Verstappen in a Red Bull, with Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly understanding that pain fully. Verstappen has now opened up on his driving style, explaining that other drivers might not enjoy the particular demands he has from his F1 machinery.
Thirteen-time F1 race winner David Coulthard compared the personalities of racing legends Nigel Mansell, Ayrton Senna, and Alain Prost, which led to an eye-catching verdict on Mansell. While one of the ‘most naturally talented’ drivers, Coulthard recalled how Mansell came across as a ‘bit prickly,’ displaying ‘arrogance’ even.
One seat is filled for the upcoming Audi F1 entry, belonging to Nico Hulkenberg, but now the world of Formula 1 waits to see who will be selected to complete the line-up. Multiple reports claim that reigning IndyCar champion and former McLaren test driver Alex Palou could make a shock switch to Formula 1 in 2025 with Sauber, which the following year becomes Audi.
With Piastri’s resilience and Perez’s uncertain future, the dynamics of the F1 2024 season are set to be thrilling. As the paddock buzzes with rumors and speculations, only time will reveal the next big moves in the world of Formula 1.
