F1 Roundup: Alonso laughs Off Taylor Swift dating rumors

Vasseur Criticizes AlphaTauri's 'Aggressive' Mekies Reveal

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur expressed his disappointment with AlphaTauri's "aggressive" announcement of Laurent Mekies taking over Franz Tost's role as team principal.

Vasseur claimed that the deal is not yet finalized, and details surrounding Mekies' exit from Ferrari are still to be agreed upon.

Vasseur emphasized that he would not block Mekies' move but insisted on the importance of properly managing the transition to protect Ferrari's interests.

Mekies' departure follows another recent Ferrari exit, head of vehicle concept David Sanchez, who committed to McLaren.

Alonso Laughs Off Taylor Swift Dating Rumors

Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso brushed aside rumors that he and pop star Taylor Swift are dating, asserting that he's focused on racing at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Alonso previously posted a tongue-in-cheek response to the rumors on TikTok.

The Aston Martin driver also shared his thoughts on the upcoming Formula 1 action, specifically the new Sprint Shootout format, which will challenge drivers to adapt to the changes.

Hamilton Unfazed by Leclerc-to-Mercedes Rumors

Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton insists that speculation about Charles Leclerc's potential move to Mercedes has no impact on his own negotiations with the team.

While Hamilton expects to remain at Mercedes in 2024, Italian media reports suggest that Leclerc is in talks with the team.

Leclerc, whose current contract with Ferrari runs until the end of 2024, denies receiving any calls from Mercedes and asserts his commitment to Ferrari.

Norris: McLaren Baku Package a Step Forward

Lando Norris believes the upgrades brought to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend will help shape McLaren's car into the design that should have existed at the season-opening round in Bahrain.

Although Norris remains cautious about the potential of the upgrades, he acknowledges that McLaren's rivals will also introduce improvements.

Norris stressed the importance of closing the gap created at the beginning of the season and maximizing the team's new baseline.

New Sprint Weekend Format: Drivers' Thoughts

As Formula 1 prepares for its first Sprint Weekend of the season in Baku, drivers have been weighing in on the revamped format, which sees the 100km sprints taking place on Saturdays without influencing the grid positions for Sunday's race.

Max Verstappen expressed his skepticism, predicting more chaos due to the extra qualifying session, but also suggested shortening weekends for the sake of the drivers' wellbeing.

Sergio Perez called for a selective approach to the sprint format, while emphasizing the importance of a solid FP1.

Charles Leclerc predicted a challenging weekend due to the new format, while Carlos Sainz said the changes would make for a different approach to the weekend.

Both Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, welcomed the change, but noted the increased competition and challenges, especially regarding the new track surface.

Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly found the format exciting but not ideal for every weekend.

Lando Norris appreciated the revised structure, but emphasized the importance of the traditional format.

Oscar Piastri looked forward to his first F1 sprint weekend.

Valtteri Bottas liked the immediate action, while Zhou Guanyu acknowledged the excitement of the new format.

Fernando Alonso called the weekend "extremely complex" and Lance Stroll found it exciting for everyone.

Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg appreciated the increased importance of sessions throughout the weekend.

Alex Albon pointed out that the changes could create opportunities for others to get on the pace early.

Logan Sargeant favored the new format, citing the benefits of two qualifying sessions and races for his learning process.

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