From Papaya Mohawks to Paddock Updates: Inside Scoops from the Belgian Grand Prix Weekend

Will the McLaren F1 Leader Get a Papaya-Colored Mohawk After Two Tattoos?

Our F1 correspondent shares insights from the pit lane that might have escaped your notice.

Crash.net provides a comprehensive summary of all announcements, developments, and snippets from the Spa-Francorchamps circuit following Thursday's press briefings in anticipation of the Belgian Grand Prix…

Oscar Piastri hints at Zak Brown showcasing a papaya-colored mohawk?

Following his inaugural win in Hungary, there's buzz around McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown possibly making an appearance in the F1 paddock with a papaya-hued mohawk, as hinted by Oscar Piastri.

The head of McLaren sports two racetrack-themed tattoos as a tribute to the victories achieved by Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris in recent years.

Piastri indicates that Brown is not planning to get a third tattoo.

"He's definitely ruled out getting a tattoo," the Australian stated. "Though we didn't formally agree on anything, the idea that gained some interest was sporting a papaya mohawk. I've brought that up again with him, so now we'll just have to wait and see when he decides to go through with it."

Carlos Sainz has made it clear that he has no plans to take a break from Formula 1 next season, firmly stating, "absolutely not."

The Spanish driver emphatically stated that taking a sabbatical is not something he's considering. He expressed his passion for Formula 1, saying, "I am content in F1. I adore F1. I would prefer to join a midfield team and apply my expertise at the height of my career to assist a midfield team in discovering the correct path, rather than opting for a year-long break or settling for a third driver position with any team.

"I possess a competitive nature and I am confident that I can contribute that aspect of myself to a midfield team."

Alpine unveils new hospitality suite in the Spa-Francorchamps racing circuit.

The remarkable new building surpasses the size of its forerunner, Toyota's previous motorhome, offering space for 180 individuals across two levels. Its interior decoration takes cues from a ski chalet.

Alex Albon Witnesses Key Collision Up Close

In the final moments of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Alex Albon had a firsthand look as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton vied for third position, resulting in a crash that saw him being surpassed by both racers.

In response to a question about his thoughts while witnessing the unfolding events directly before him, Albon said, "Avoid being the instigator of something that occurs immediately. Right after it took place, I thought, 'I hope I wasn't responsible for that incident'."

"Both [participants] displayed assertiveness, with Max taking an assertive approach in his maneuver. Concurrently, there seemed to be some level of constriction involved. Nonetheless, everything occurred within a narrow margin. Ultimately, I believe the decision made by the officials was correct. In my view, it qualifies as a racing incident."

He continued with a jest: "Whenever they're in each other's company, isn't it always?"

Albon acknowledges that Williams' 2024 Formula 1 vehicle is still too heavy, yet he commends his team's efforts.

"The team is performing excellently. The factory has successfully reduced the car's weight significantly. We're still above the desired weight, but it's much less compared to our initial starting point," he mentioned.

"Observing the number of enhancements made by our competitors, it's clear we haven't introduced any significant improvements. Beyond that, the only changes have been in terms of weight."

"In certain aspects, it's a good sign because even without enhancing the vehicle, we've managed to remain competitive for points."

Albon mentioned that the team from the UK is expecting an improvement soon, though he refrained from specifying when exactly.

Participating in the Run for Anthoine at Spa-Francorchamps were Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, along with additional Formula 1 racers.

The occasion, participated in by F1 journalists, including the author, was organized to honor the memory of Anthoine Hubert, who passed away in a Formula 2 accident at the track five years prior.

Tributes were also given in memory of Dilano van’t Hoff, who sadly passed away following an accident in a Formula Regional European championship race in 2023.

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