After two tattoos, will McLaren F1 boss sport a papaya mohawk?

Crash.web recaps all the information, updates and tidbits of data from the Spa-Francorchamps paddock after Thursday’s media periods forward of the Belgian Grand Prix…

Zak Brown to sport papaya mohawk?

Oscar Piastri has teased the prospect that McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown may flip as much as the F1 paddock sporting a papaya mohawk following his first victory in Hungary.

The McLaren boss has two tattoos of race circuits inked on his physique to commemorate wins for Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris in the previous couple of years.

Nevertheless, a 3rd tattoo shouldn’t be on the playing cards for Brown, in keeping with Piastri.

“It gained’t be a tattoo, he already made that one very clear,” the Australian stated. “We by no means truly shook on something however the very last thing we mentioned which received some traction was a papaya mohawk. So I’ve reminded him of that, and let’s see when it comes out.”

Sabbatical not on the playing cards for Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz insists he’ll “completely not” be taking a sabbatical from F1 subsequent 12 months

“[A] sabbatical shouldn’t be even in my head,” the Spaniard burdened. “I’m pleased in F1. I like F1. I’d quite go right down to a midfield workforce and use my talent within the peak of my profession to attempt to assist a midfield workforce to seek out the suitable approach than taking a 12 months off or being third driver for anybody.

“I’m aggressive and I do know I can nonetheless convey to a midfield workforce that facet of me.”

Alpine convey the upgrades… To their motorhome

Alpine have debuted a model new hospitality unit within the Spa-Francorchamps paddock.

The spectacular new construction is larger than its predecessor – which was Toyota’s previous motorhome – and might accommodate 180 individuals over two flooring. The inside design is impressed by a ski chalet.

Alex Albon’s front-row view of controversial conflict

Alex Albon was overtaken by Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton as they battled for third place and crashed within the closing phases of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Requested what he was pondering as he watched the drama unfold proper in entrance of him, Albon replied: “Don’t be the creator of one thing that occurs straightaway. As quickly because it occurred I used to be like ‘okay, I hope I wasn’t accountable in that one’.

“Each [were] aggressive, Max being aggressive on his transfer. On the identical time, I do suppose there was a component of compacting. Nevertheless it’s all fairly shut. I feel the decision ultimately is the suitable name from the stewards. I feel it’s a racing incident.”

He went on to joke: “When they’re collectively, when is it not?”

Williams automobile nonetheless obese

Albon has revealed that Williams’ 2024 F1 automobile stays obese, however has praised the work finished by his workforce.

“The workforce are doing an important job. The manufacturing unit has received lots of weight out of the automobile. We’re nonetheless obese, however nowhere close to the place we have been to begin with,” he stated.

“Once you take a look at what number of upgrades there have been from the groups round us, we haven’t had any main upgrades. Aside from that, it’s all simply been weight.

“In some methods I feel it’s optimistic, as a result of we haven’t put an improve on the automobile however we now have nonetheless been capable of struggle for factors.

Albon added that the British squad “do have an improve coming” however stated he doesn’t wish to “give a date to it”.

Run for Anthoine

Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon and different F1 drivers took half within the Run for Anthoine at Spa-Francorchamps.

The occasion – which F1 media together with this author additionally took half in – was held in reminiscence of Anthoine Hubert, who died in an F2 crash on the circuit 5 years in the past.

There have been additionally tributes paid to Dilano van’t Hoff, who tragically misplaced his life in a crash throughout a Formulation Regional European championship race in 2023.