Speaking on the F1 podcast F1Nation, the Ferrari engineer, who has been at Maranello since 2014, elaborated on one of the most controversial seasons in recent years. Currently, the English engineer serves as performance coach for Charles Leclerc and has known the Monegasque driver well since his entry into the FDA. In fact, before taking on an active role within the Scuderia, Jock Clear was in charge of the Ferrari Academy, a role now held by Jerome D’Ambrosio.

“It’s one of those things I’ve often fought against,” Jock Clear stated, “without naming names, but if I tell you the words, you’ll know exactly where they come from. There were a lot of people saying, ‘We pay him a lot of money; he just needs to drive that f***ing car,’ and you thought, ‘If you think that’s all there is to it, you’re missing something because there’s a lot of stuff that needs to happen to get everything in order.'” – the British engineer pointed out.

The reference is obviously to 2022, when in the early races of the season, Charles Leclerc was leading the championship with a 46-point advantage over Max Verstappen. Despite the victories, mistakes at Imola and Paul Ricard did not help in the title fight, but they were not the only factors that slowed him down.

Totally wrong strategic choices, along with rather poor reliability and the TD039, significantly hampered Charles Leclerc’s title hopes. One of the most obvious examples was in Monaco, with a pit stop call at the wrong time, or at the Silverstone circuit in the British Grand Prix, where the strategy at the safety car entry ruined his race.

To further complicate the situation was the lack of leadership from Mattia Binotto, who did not take a stand in times of need. This was despite the speed delta between the two drivers clearly favoring the Monegasque driver.

“We are close to having a consistently competitive car.”
“The only hesitation I would have is that Charles has not yet found himself in that situation. I mean, 2022 was a good example.

Speaking about the possibility of winning the Formula One title in 2022, Jock Clear admitted, “Was there really a chance for Ferrari to win a world championship? Yes, it was, because at one point we had a 40-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship. And we were able to beat Max at many circuits. So we were not ready as a team. And I believe that, given how development went, Red Bull surpassed us by the end of the year. Certainly, not everything aligned, but there were things that Charles would say were not championship-level throughout everything we did that year. But that’s the point. You won’t win a championship until everyone is at that level.” – he continued – “So, when we are in the right position and as a team we have a car capable of competing for the championship, and I believe we are very close to having it, Charles will do his part.” – Jock Clear concluded.

Source: f1ingenerale

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Let’s take a look at each Formula 1 team’s points change in the 2023 F1 season as compared to the last year:

Source: @FDataAnalysis

Winners:
Aston Martin
RedBull
McLaren

Losers:
Ferrari
Mercedes
Alfa Romeo
Alpine

Mercedes was impacted by the new competition (Aston Martin and McLaren).

Interesting to note that for the teams at the back (Haas/Williams/Alfa Tauri) the points swing has been limited. Goes to show how difficult it is to make that jump from the back of the field to the midfield/subtop.

Ferrari literally botched it. Having the fastest car in the start of year only to end up with a very unstable and unreliable SF-23 this year. The Maranello team really needs to understand why they wouldn’t keep the development from last year. Now, they’re changing the whole concept again in 2024.

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The Marina Bay race’s unique setting and intense racing action have made it a favorite among both drivers and fans. The heat and humidity of Singapore add an additional physical challenge, making it one of the most demanding races on the calendar.

The Singapore Grand Prix often plays a crucial role in the championship battle, as the tight street circuit leaves little room for error, and any mistake can prove costly. The race demands not only speed but also mental focus and strategy, with pit stops and tire management playing a significant role in the outcome.

Spectators from all around the world travel to Singapore to witness this electrifying event, and the city’s vibrant atmosphere adds to the excitement. The mix of high-speed racing, illuminated cityscapes, and the backdrop of historic landmarks creates an unforgettable experience for all in attendance.

The Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix is a must-watch event for motorsport enthusiasts, offering a unique and unforgettable racing experience that truly showcases the sport’s glamour and excitement.

Join us here on ScuderiaFans.com to keep up with the most important news and updates, in addition to the live timings, tracker, data and telemetry from the next round in the 2023 Formula 1 championship: Scuderia Ferrari F1 men Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will return to the Marina Bay Street Circuit for the most important moment of the Singapore weekend: the Italian side will try everything to fight for the maximum possible result this weekend.

In the stream below you can follow the live telemetry and timings from the 2023 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, with minute-by-minute commentary, key track positions, stats and the most important updates from the Marina Bay Street Circuit:

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The saga of the 2022 budget cap has concluded, and unlike last year for the controversial 2021 season, there won’t be thorny disputes between some teams and the FIA. In an official statement released by the international federation itself, the Cost Cap Administration – the body that regulates compliance with the F1 teams’ spending cap – reported that they have completed the examination of the financial reporting documentation submitted by the teams and have issued certificates of compliance to all ten teams.

The FIA Statement: Assessing Extra-F1 Activities

This means that all teams have adhered to the $141.2 million spending cap. “The examination was an intense and in-depth process,” reads the statement on the Federation’s website, “beginning with a detailed analysis of the documentation submitted by the teams. Additionally, a thorough check of all the extra-F1 activities undertaken by the teams was conducted, including multiple on-site visits to team facilities and meticulous verification procedures to assess compliance with the Financial Regulations. The FIA Cost Cap Administration notes that all competitors acted in good faith and cooperated throughout the entire process.”

It’s worth noting the emphasis placed by the FIA on ‘extra-F1’ activities, which had certainly been the most talked-about and debated in recent months. Many teams, especially the wealthier and more powerful ones, have dedicated technological research and development divisions to other sports – from sailing to cycling – or the production of road cars or other categories. Many had doubted the possibility of accurately controlling the resources allocated to F1 versus those used in other projects. The federation has chosen to express itself clearly on this point, certifying the correct operation of the teams.

Rumors Denied, No ‘Red Bull Case’

12 months ago, right around this time, the ‘Red Bull case’ erupted, with the Milton Keynes team ultimately being fined and penalized in the use of the wind tunnel for irregularities found in the 2021 budget. This year, fortunately, the matter ends here without further consequences. The summer rumors that speculated irregularities by two or three teams have been completely refuted. The federation has reiterated its strong belief in the budget cap tool and its readiness to strengthen and further refine it in the coming years.

The Federation’s Reinforcement: An Essential Tool

“Financial Regulations,” the FIA official statement continues, “are essential for the long-term financial stability of the sport and will continue to be developed and refined based on the results of each review process, both regarding the regulations themselves – which are written and approved within the FIA Formula 1 governance process – and regarding how they are applied and monitored. The FIA has made and will continue to make significant investments in this department for the collective benefit of the sport.”

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Comparison between 2022 and 2023 at mid-season

1. Aston Martin (196 points in 2023 against 19 in 2022) +177
2. Red Bull (503 points in 2023 against 396 in 2022) +107
3. McLaren (103 points in 2023 against 89 in 2022) +14
4. Williams (11 points in 2023 against 3 in 2022) +8
5. Mercedes (247 points in 2023 against 270 in 2022) -23
6. Haas (11 points in 2023 against 34 in 2022) -23
7. AlphaTauri (3 points in 2023 against 27 in 2022) -24
8. Alpine (57 points in 2023 against 93 in 2022) -36
9. Alfa Romeo (9 points in 2023 against 51 in 2022) -42
10. Ferrari (191 points in 2023 against 314 in 2022) -123

Aston Martin takes points from everyone, Ferrari sinks
The improvement of Aston Martin is steep, although the performance of the AMR23 has declined after ‘mistakes’ in regarding the updates introduced in Canada, causing Lawrence Stroll’s team to lose the window of operation and the balance of the car. Red Bull, of course, has improved a stat that was already remarkable in itself, and McLaren has managed to fix a situation that a month ago seemed disastrous.

Williams has also nearly quadrupled its points compared to this stage of the 2022 Formula 1 season, which is proof of the excellent work being done by James Vowles.

Mercedes tops the list of teams in the negative, but the 23 points of deficit for the W14 compared to the W13 have negligible significance compared to the backward step of Haas, a result of the difficulties of the entire Ferrari environment. AlphaTauri is the team that has lost the most in proportion compared to what was achieved in 2022, and it is not surprising the revolution established by Red Bull’s top management, which will be led by the tandem Laurent Mekies (from Ferrari) – Peter Bayer (from the FIA) at the helm of the junior team from 2024.

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Alpine has also almost halved its ‘harvest,’ and the French team has completely cleaned out the top management on the track in Belgium, awaiting for former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto. Alfa Romeo has started the transition towards Audi with just nine points. Closing the rankings is Ferrari, which in 2022, in the first half of the Formula 1 season, had celebrated all four victories achieved in the past season. The 123 points lost by the SF-23 compared to the F1-75 single-seater highlight that the 2023 Formula 1 project has not improved enough compared to the competition.

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Last year, there were quite a few controversies after the penalties were decided for the teams that did not comply with the spending limit imposed by the regulations. Only a fine and a reduction in wind tunnel hours were imposed on Red Bull, who justified the excessive expenses by attributing them to catering.

According to the latest rumors, it appears that the teams that may have violated the budget cap in 2022 are Red Bull, Aston Martin, and Mercedes. For now, these are only rumors that, if confirmed, could spark some discussions. Both Aston Martin and Red Bull, in fact, exceeded the maximum spending limit last year.

In recent weeks, Stefano Domenicali had addressed the issue, stating that in case of budget cap violations, sporting penalties should be imposed. This could potentially alter the outcome of the previous championship or the current one, although we must emphasize that, for now, these are merely speculations.

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On Saturday in the Belgian Grand Prix weekend at the 7.004-kilometre Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Stavelot, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff stated that there might be updates after the summer break, which coincides with the weekend of the Dutch Grand Prix. Last year, the first news came out during the Singapore weekend.

Source: f1ingenerale

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Some British media had indicated Aston Martin, Alpine, and Mercedes as possible teams that broke the budget cap in the last season. On Sunday, the French newspaper L’Equipe provided a different version. Here are all the details:

Continued issues with the budget cap

According to the French newspaper L’Equipe, the teams that may have exceeded the cost cap for the 2022 Formula 1 season are definitely Aston Martin and Mercedes, which are in the “at-risk zone.” The third team is said to be Red Bull once again, not the French Alpine as reported by British newspapers in recent days.

Regarding the current world champion team, other Formula 1 teams have reportedly sought clarification on Helmut Marko’s exact status. The boss of the Austrian team participates in all races in the Red Bull pit, but he is not one of the top three managers whose salaries are excluded from the $136 million budget cap, so his salary should be part of the budget cap.

Since 2022, Marko is no longer officially responsible for the Red Bull junior program, with Guillaume Rocquelin named as his successor on paper. The eighty-year-old Austrian still has significant influence within the team, but he is not among the top three highest-paid employees, and yet his salary does not appear in the budget report, leading some rivals to request a thorough investigation by the FIA.

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However, Christian Horner doesn’t seem worried. At the end of the Hungarian Grand Prix, he stated to Sky Sport: “Last year, Max damaged a front wing, and Checo had an accident in Monaco. We had limited development, so last year, we were several million under the spending cap, but the costs for the accidents and development are enormous. This year, the biggest handicap is wind tunnel time, which is significantly reduced, so we have to be disciplined. Everyone, every day of the week, talks about the budget cap.” – he pointed out.

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Speaking with Sky Sports, the CEO of Formula 1 did not hide a certain concern in discovering the outcome of the financial balance sheets regarding the 2022 budget cap in a few months, which instead caused much discussion during the previous season. Stefano Domenicali also pointed out that the review should be carried out in a shorter time.

“I’m more than nervous. I’m pretty sure that now everyone understands what the effects of a breach are and I absolutely agree that the focus on this aspect will be very big. I think it’s a point of attention especially for credibility and to check if everyone respects this rule. But it has to be done sooner rather than later.” – the former Ferrari boss explained.

Last season, rumors of a possible breach by the teams only surfaced in October. The FIA finally confirmed that it was Red Bull. It was not until the end of the same month that the matter was resolved, with the Anglo-Austrian team signing an accepted infringement agreement with the FIA.

Stefano Domenicali also adds: “We are discussing, and this is up to the FIA, to ensure that the inspection and certification take place much faster. Because the consequences, if some teams exceed it, must be taken correctly and in the shortest possible time to be more credible. We see other sports facing financial regulation with, in my view, too long reaction times. And that’s not good.”

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“The risk for 2022 is that there are six teams that did not respect the limit,” said the Formula 1 CEO – “Energy prices have been exponential, but fortunately we have been protected from this problem. But there is a possibility that several teams, many of which have said so during F1 commission meetings, will breach the cap this year.” – he added.

Red Bull’s Helmut Marko also pointed out that “I think currently six teams have exceeded the limit. Inflation is something that couldn’t be taken into account up to this point, especially with regards to energy costs.” Furthermore, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hopes that the budgets will be reviewed (and approved) well in advance: “I hope before October. June, July, I think is a realistic goal”.

If the statements of the two Red Bull leaders were confirmed, it would not be at all positive news for Formula 1. The penalty imposed on the Austrian team was judged too soft by many Formula 1 insiders, with several weeks of controversy that followed. Stefano Domenicali & Co cannot afford another scandal, even more so if it really involved so many teams.

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