The iconic Dakar Rally is set to take center stage this weekend as the Formula 1 circus heads to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. In the world of off-road endurance racing, however, there’s been a significant development as Esteban Ocon has announced his plans to leave the Alpine F1 team at the end of the 2024 season.
Alpine has announced the departure of its long-serving operations director Rob White as the team addresses its underwhelming start to the 2024 Dakar Rally season. The French-registered squad is restructuring its technical leadership in a bid to improve the performance of their A524 chassis and close the gap to the front-runners.
Jean-Éric Vergne set the pace in practice and secured pole position in qualifying, but contact and a damaged front wing hampered his progress in the intense Formula E race in Shanghai, where he finished sixth.
The 2026 Dakar Rally will see significant changes to the powertrain and chassis design of competing vehicles, with a shift towards hybrid power and lighter, more aerodynamic structures. Teams will face challenges in meeting the new weight requirements, but the changes promise to enhance the on-track racing experience for Dakar enthusiasts.
The McLaren Formula 1 team has been left surprised by the unexpectedly strong performance of its MCL38 car following a major development step. While the team is delighted with the upgrades’ impact, allowing it to challenge for race wins, they are now working to fully understand the technical factors behind this unexpected performance boost.
As the 2024 Formula 1 season reaches its prestigious Monaco Grand Prix, teams have had to carefully consider their rear wing configurations to optimize performance around the tight and twisty street circuit. Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull each took a unique approach to their rear wing designs for the Monte Carlo weekend, highlighting the importance of maximizing downforce and balance in the unique low-speed, high-grip environment of the Monaco circuit.
Haas, the American Formula 1 team, is in an enviable position as they prepare to finalize their driver lineup for the 2025 season. With a plethora of race-winning drivers vying for a seat, Haas is set to field a powerhouse pairing that could propel them into the upper echelons of the midfield.
BMW M Motorsport has shown impressive speed with its new LMDh contender in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), despite facing a series of penalties that prevented higher finishes at the Spa 6 Hours event. The team is optimistic about its progress and is gearing up for the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours next month.
In a thrilling qualifying session for the Formula E Monaco E-Prix, Porsche driver Pascal Wehrlein stormed to pole position with a blistering lap time, putting him in prime position to extend his lead in the championship standings. The battle for the remaining front row spots was equally intense, with Stoffel Vandoorne and Nick Cassidy rounding out the top three.
In an exciting start to the Formula E weekend in Shanghai, two Frenchmen have emerged as early frontrunners in Saturday morning’s practice session. The DS Penske duo of Jean-Eric Vergne and Norman Nato both posted identical lap times to finish joint fastest, with Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein close behind in third.