F2: Oliver Goethe won qualifying in Qatar

McLaren's Stella advocates for a review of the floor disqualification rule. Formula 1 | McLaren has reached Qatar while still contending with the repercussions of its double disqualification in Las Vegas, as team principal Andrea Stella disclosed (…) Gasly: The result is disappointing, but we're not fast enough. Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto rounded out the sprint qualifying order in Qatar. The team were unsurprisingly unhappy with that result, but acknowledged that the car lacked pace on this track. Marko questions Newey's ability to succeed as the Aston boss. Formula 1 | Dr. Helmut Marko has reacted skeptically to the surprising choice of Adrian Newey as Aston Martin's next team principal - while Fernando Alonso (...) Carlos Sainz: A very positive day! Both Williams drivers reached the sprint qualifying final in Qatar; Carlos Sainz once again finished ahead of Alex Albon… Pirelli noticed cuts on the tires. On Friday, the drivers were unhappy with the asphalt, but Pirelli believes the situation is nevertheless better than last year, although by the end of the day they noticed tire damage… "That truly took me by surprise." Dr. Helmut Marko has cast doubt on the unexpected decision to appoint Adrian Newey as Aston Martin's next team principal, while Fernando Alonso asserts that the renowned designer had already been acting as a de-facto leader behind the scenes. In an interview with Kleine Zeitung, Marko, a close former colleague of Newey at Red Bull, expressed his astonishment. "That truly took me by surprise," he remarked. "We'll have to see how that unfolds in practice." Marko cautioned that the new position entails greater involvement in race weekend operations and management—an area he believes is not Newey's strongest attribute. "That is certainly not his strength," he stated. "His major strengths lie in design, car setup, and the quality of production and development. It has greatly surprised me that he will now be transitioning more toward team management." In contrast, Alonso staunchly supported the decision, claiming that Newey had already been functioning as a leader. Speaking to AS newspaper in Qatar, he said, "He was already at the forefront of the technical development of the car and the team, pinpointing the necessary personnel and areas needing improvement. Internally, he was conducting a lot of management, while Andy was managing engine integration with the chassis." The Spaniard emphasized the importance of Newey's leadership given the team's rapid evolution. "This team is still quite young," he remarked. "We need guidance from leaders like Adrian. We have the two most successful figures in the history of the sport—Adrian Newey and Andy Cowell." According to Alonso, the new title merely formalizes what had already been occurring. "He was somewhat of a behind-the-scenes leader," he noted. "He would have been in charge of everything even without the official 'team principal' designation. With Cowell concentrating more on the engine, fuel, and Honda, everyone is effectively in their role." Alonso did express hope that Newey would still have adequate time to focus on his evident strength—design. "The role of team principal is different these days—media, sponsors, commitments," he said. "I hope Adrian won’t have to take on all those responsibilities and can focus on the crucial aspects." Christian Horner had been considered for the position before Newey's appointment, with reports suggesting that Newey even took his former Red Bull boss on a tour of the Silverstone factory last week. Ultimately, Lawrence Stroll did not extend an offer to him. "I don’t think we need any additional people in leadership," Alonso concluded. "But that’s not my responsibility." Formula 1 | Isack Hadjar states that he has no delusions about what lies ahead if, as anticipated, he is elevated to Red Bull to partner with Max Verstappen for (…)