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investigation same as always – I can tell you that,” he said. “I mean, I don’t know who likes to write these kinds of things.” Team-mate Sergio Perez implied that he hopes Horner keeps his job, saying: “We want the whole team to stay together because we’ve been so successful. It will be ideal just to keep the whole thing together and just focus on racing… We know that Christian is a key player in our organisation.”
Verstappen was at least given free rein when it came to assessing the news that Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes to join Ferrari for 2025. Despite their toxic 2021 grudge match for the title, Verstappen seemed to genuinely appreciate the move. After not ruling out a future Ferrari move of his own – “never say never” – he added: “At the end of the day, if someone wants to drive a Ferrari and especially someone like Lewis, having achieved so much, if that’s his dream and goal, and again, we don’t know the talks that they had right at Mercedes, at Ferrari, what has been promised, what they think is coming… so you can’t give an honest assessment from our side why you make that decision. But if he’s happy with that move, then he should go, I think it will look cool. And of course, I hope for them that it’s going to be success. But you don’t know at the moment.” MATT KEW & JONATHAN NOBLE
P13 OPINION
NO RETURNS FOR ROSBERG OR VET TEL
FORMULA 1 Spectacular comebacks for Formula 1 champions Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel have been all but ruled out. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said that he can be “bold” when replacing Ferraribound Lewis Hamilton for 2025, and many have taken this to mean a swift promotion for F2 rookie and Merc protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
But should the Italian not excel with Prema Racing, Mercedes might consider a stopgap. Vettel or Rosberg have been seen as plausible placeholders. But it looks as though both Germans
Rosberg showboats a er 2016 crown
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are out of the frame.
Speaking to German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, Rosberg, inactive since the end of 2016, said: “I’m not planning a comeback. I would have to prepare intensively for a whole year, if only to train the synapses in my brain. A racing driver has to react super-fast at top speed and be precise. I’ve lost that after the long break. The muscles are also put under so much strain, just to hold the steering wheel with all the centrifugal forces.”
Wolff remains in contact with Vettel. But speaking to Auto Motor und Sport, the Austrian noted: “He made the decision to not race anymore. We are talking on a regular basis. We’ve also talked yesterday, but it wasn’t about driving for us in the future.” JONATHAN NOBLE & CHRISTIAN NIMMERVOLL
Monchaux will report to Tombazis
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Ex-Alfa boss gets Goss FIA gig
FORMULA 1 The FIA has recruited Jan Monchaux as its new single-seater technical director. The ex-Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team tech boss will report to the governing body’s established single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis, and effectively steps into the role held until the end of last year by recent RB (formerly AlphaTauri) signing Tim Goss.
French-born Monchaux, whose CV includes stints at the Toyota, Ferrari and Sauber squads, will play a key role in formulating the new 2026 F1 rules. His appointment follows the FIA’s loss of several senior figures over the winter, including Goss and sporting director Steve Nielsen.
The turnover prompted some alarm from F1 figures. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: “It’s concerning to see so many good people leaving. Losing Steve Nielsen is a big blow… As a leader, it’s about the culture and environment you create for people to thrive. When people as competent as these leave an organisation, there is a vacuum. That’s clear. And you’ve got to ask yourself: why is it suddenly that so many people have decided to call it a day? What [the FIA] needs is stability.” JONATHAN NOBLE
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