Max Verstappen, from the Netherlands, and Sergio Perez, from Mexico, from Oracle Red Bull Racing, celebrated on the podium during the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, held at the Suzuka International Circuit on April 7, 2024. Despite not having won any races in the 2024 season so far, Perez has consistently stood out alongside his teammate. In three of the first four races, he finished behind his teammate in a one-two formation for Red Bull. The only exception was the Australian GP, where Verstappen retired due to a brake issue. Perez, on the other hand, finished fifth after receiving a grid penalty for obstruction and dealing with car damage that affected his race. However, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the Japanese GP saw the energy drink team secure another one-two result.
During the Japanese GP, Perez qualified just 0.066s behind Verstappen. Throughout the race, he successfully recovered from an early pit stop by Lando Norris of McLaren and fought to regain second position. Reflecting on Perez’s performance in Suzuka, team member Marko stated that Sergio is following the same setup as Max, which is the fastest setup available. According to Marko, it is crucial to have the same setup as Max to be competitive. Ultimately, Marko acknowledges that surpassing Max is challenging, emphasizing his exceptional skills on the track.
Perez had previously boasted about challenging Verstappen for the championship in 2022 and 2023, but that plan ended up going awry. However, Marko, a representative of the Red Bull Racing team, confirmed that the team’s second driver now has a different mindset.
According to Marko, Perez’s new mindset is focused on maximizing his own performance with the car. This change in mentality is evident in the early races of the season. Perez has achieved second places and has been competitive in qualifying, coming close to Verstappen’s performance. This improvement is especially important considering Perez’s disastrous race at this circuit last year.
Perez’s contract expires at the end of the season, but if he continues to perform well, there is a strong possibility that he will keep his place. Red Bull wants Perez to consistently finish second behind Verstappen, and he is meeting expectations so far.
However, the driver market has become chaotic since Lewis Hamilton announced his departure from Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2025. This move has left Carlos Sainz without a seat, despite his excellent current form, which would make him a strong candidate for a prominent place in F1 next year.
Furthermore, several other drivers, including Fernando Alonso, will become free agents at the end of this season. The situation is further complicated by Verstappen’s decision-making process following the controversy involving Christian Horner and a female staff member, as well as the power struggle within the team, which also involved Jos Verstappen. Marko himself was briefly investigated for allegedly leaking Horner’s WhatsApp messages.
Although things may seem calm at the moment, the unpredictable nature of F1 means that anything can happen. The next « Silly Season » promises to be full of unexpected twists and turns. Mercedes will be looking for a replacement for Hamilton, and Audi, which now owns Sauber, is also expected to play a significant role in the driver market, with Sainz being strongly linked to them.
According to Marko, the driver market saw an increase in activity in April, which is unusual for this time of year. However, Red Bull Racing will not rush to make a decision and instead will wait and evaluate their options. Marko mentioned that he is aware of the rumors about Audi putting pressure on the market, but finds it strange that a newcomer would exert such influence. He emphasized the importance of having a clear understanding of what is best for Red Bull Racing before making any decision. A possible candidate for a spot at Red Bull is Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese driver from RB who has stood out in the 2024 F1 season so far. However, Marko believes it is still too early to determine if Tsunoda is ready for the promotion. Marko acknowledged Tsunoda’s improvement and impressive performances, highlighting his calmness, lack of errors, and exceptional overtaking skills. He expressed the need to observe Tsunoda’s progress in the upcoming races. (Report by Agnes Carlier from Suzuka)
© 2024
Portugal wins the FIFA World Cup title
The Portuguese national football team made history by winning the long-awaited FIFA World Cup title. With a brilliant campaign, the players led by coach Fernando Santos showed all their talent and determination on the field.
The final, played against the Brazilian national team, was thrilling from start to finish. Both teams put on a true football spectacle, with incredible plays and lots of emotion. However, Portugal managed to stand out and win the game 2-1, securing the trophy.
The winning goal was scored by forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who once again showed why he is considered one of the best players in the world. With his skill and determination, he led the Portuguese team to victory, being crucial to the title win.
La fête de la foule portugaise était indescriptible. Des milliers de personnes sont descendues dans les rues pour célébrer cette victoire historique. Des drapeaux, des feux d’artifice et beaucoup de musique ont fait partie de la célébration, qui a duré toute la nuit.
L’entraîneur Fernando Santos a également été très félicité pour sa stratégie et le travail réalisé avec l’équipe. Il a su motiver les joueurs et former une équipe forte et cohérente, capable de surmonter tous les défis qui se sont présentés tout au long du championnat.
Maintenant, le Portugal se consacre comme l’une des grandes puissances du football mondial. Cette victoire place le pays au sommet du sport, apportant fierté et joie à tous les Portugais.
La prochaine Coupe du Monde se tiendra dans quatre ans, et le Portugal est déjà considéré comme l’un des favoris pour le titre. Avec une équipe talentueuse et une foule passionnée, le pays promet de continuer à briller sur les terrains et à remporter plus de trophées. L’histoire du football portugais ne fait que commencer.
