Adrian Newey to become Aston Martin team principal

Formula 1 design legend Adrian Newey is to become Aston Martin’s team principal next year. The move is part of a major restructure of Aston Martin that sees Andy Cowell removed from his current position as team principal and chief executive officer just 13 months after joining the team. Newey started work at Aston Martin in March after his exit from Red Bull last year. Cowell, meanwhile, is to become chief strategy officer, with particular focus on the team’s engine partnership.

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Verstappen victorious in Vegas as McLaren duo disqualified

Max Verstappen dominated the Las Vegas Grand Prix and has been given a major championship boost after McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified for excessive skid block wear. Four hours after the chequered flag, the stewards announced both McLarens had been disqualified following an investigation into their rear skid blocks which had worn out beyond the 9mm limit. The result sees Mercedes’ George Russell promoted to second while his teammate Kimi Antonelli rises to P3 ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

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Norris takes Las Vegas pole in treacherous wet weather

McLaren’s Lando Norris took pole position in a wet qualifying session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri only fifth. Norris beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the only other driver still vaguely in title contention, by 0.323secs. Williams’ Carlos Sainz was third, ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell and Piastri. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, whose team-mate Charles Leclerc was ninth, was 20th.

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Toto Wolff in talks to sell part of Mercedes F1 stake

Mercedes Formula 1 chief executive Toto Wolff is in advanced talks to sell part of his stake to CrowdStrike’s George Kurtz, in a deal that would give the F1 team a record $6bn valuation and underscore the sport’s commercial success under US ownership. Kurtz is in talks over taking a stake of about 5 per cent in the Mercedes F1 team,CrowdStrike and Mercedes F1 are long-standing commercial partners, with the former’s logo featuring prominently on the team’s cars and driver race suits.

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Ferrari chairman Elkann criticises Hamilton and Leclerc

Ferrari chairman John Elkann says Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc need to “talk less and focus on driving” after a disappointing Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Hamilton and Leclerc both failed to finish Sunday’s race in Brazil after being caught up in separate incidents as the team’s frustrating season continued. Ferrari dropped to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship behind Red Bull and Mercedes, having hoped to challenge for the title at the start of this year.

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