Stroll targets ‘better than fifth’

In brief

Stroll targets ‘better than fifth’

Aston Martin chairman Lawrence Stroll says that he wants to see his team improving on their fifth place in the constructors’ championship in 2024.

The team took eight podium finishes in 2023 on their way to their best championship result as Aston Martin. Stroll says he expects his team to do “better than that” in 2024.

“We’d like to go up from fifth to fourth, third – whatever it may be,” Stroll said. “But [the target is] just to continue progression.

“We’re a young team. We just moved into a new facility. Our wind tunnel, which will be ready in September of this year – we’re the last team to be running without their own wind tunnel. In 2026, we get Honda power units. So we’re on a journey to win. But every year, it’s about progression.”

Horner to attend Red Bull launch today

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who is the subject of an internal investigation following allegations made about his conduct, is expected to attend the launch of the team’s new car today. No further comment has been made by the team or the wider Red Bull organisation on the investigation or when it might be resolved.

The team has already run its new RB20 chassis in a private shakedown test at Silverstone two days ago.

Ecclestone denies urging Horner to resign

Former Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has publicly denied reports that he has encouraged Red Bull team principal Christian Horner to resign from the team.

Horner is currently the subject of an independent investigation triggered by parent company Red Bull into allegations made against him. In a post on social media, Ecclestone rebuffed reports he had told Horner to step down.

“To clarify, reports by newspapers that I had urged or suggested that Christian Horner should step down from his position in Red Bull is entirely untrue,” Ecclestone said.

iRacing wet weather update coming in March

iRacing have confirmed that their long-awaited Tempest real-time weather system will come to the game next month.

The racing simulator will introduce wet weather racing for the first time with the release of the next major update in March. Only select cars will be supported when the update is released, including 11 cars across GT3, GTP and LMP2 classes as well as F4, FF1600 and the Toyota GR86. iRacing say support for more cars will be added over time.