Wednesday Headlines: George Russell reveals Lewis Hamilton ‘coin toss’ snub after Mercedes Monaco upgrade comments

With another day in the books, it is time for your Wednesday round-up of the key headlines from the world of Formula 1.

George Russell has hit back at Lewis Hamilton’s claims that he was “automatically” two-tenths down in Monaco due to having the upgraded Mercedes front wing.

Speaking after qualifying in the Principality, seven-time World Champion Hamilton suggested that he was surprised by the gap to Russell, having anticipated being closer to his team-mate.

Suggesting that Russell had an advantage with the upgraded wing, which Hamilton sampled in the simulator but opted against, the Briton said: “I don’t think I’ll be beating George on a Saturday very often.

“I think he’s got the new front wing, which is two-tenths. I’m automatically two-tenths down on him without even driving the car. I don’t anticipate being ahead of him on a Saturday very often.”

However, Russell has countered Hamilton’s suggestion, stating that the older driver was happy for him to use the wing after trying it out in the simulator.

“He [Hamilton] was happy for me to have the wing after trying it in the sim,” Russell told Sky Sports F1.

“He had a choice and he decided to stick with the old one, so that’s his decision at the end of the day.”

Max Verstappen has “disengaged” himself from the ongoing Red Bull saga, according to senior advisor Helmut Marko.

Red Bull were forced to navigate their way through a great deal of noise early in F1 2024, following an internal investigation into team principal Christian Horner over allegations of inappropriate behaviour by an employee, a case which was dismissed.

But with Marko confirming that – to his knowledge – the matter “is not yet legally settled”, he said that their Drivers’ Championship leader has “disengaged” himself from it all.

“As far as I know, it is not yet legally settled,” Marko told ServusTV about the case being closed.

“But as far as the team is concerned, the matter is closed and Max [Verstappen] has disengaged himself from it.”

Max Verstappen has revealed that his only “request” of Red Bull is that they continue to show him loyalty.

The fallout from this Red Bull off-track turmoil saw Verstappen’s future called into question, especially with Toto Wolff – team principal of rival Mercedes – making it clear that he wanted to lure the three-time World Champion over to Brackley.

However, Verstappen has revealed that his only “request” of Red Bull is that they continue to show him loyalty, amid rumours linking him with a move to Mercedes.

“My only request is that they continue to show me the same loyalty,” Verstappen told Viaplay.

“I’ve always felt at home here and I’ve never had any problems within the team. I really enjoy working with these guys and I hope we can continue like this for a long time to come.”

Flavio Briatore is reportedly set to make a surprise return to Formula 1 with Alpine, coming at the request of Renault CEO Luca de Meo.

Briatore was previously team boss of Renault from 2000 to 2009, overseeing two Drivers’ Championships and two Constructors’ Championships with Fernando Alonso.

Now, according to reports in Italy, Briatore is poised to make a sensational return to the team, which is now known as Alpine following the rebrand in 2021.

Briatore’s return is said to be at the request of de Meo, who is keen to see the Italian back at the team where he enjoyed so much success.

Briatore left Formula 1 in 2009 after serving a life ban – later reduced to five years – for ordering Nelson Piquet Jr to deliberately crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to aid Alonso’s race.

Andretti are facing another blow in their bid to join Formula 1, with the anti-dilution fee payable by a new team set to be tripled.

Andretti – in conjunction with American automotive giant General Motors – are pressing on with efforts to join the Formula 1 grid.

But, after an initial blow when FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem – a long-standing supporter of expanding the grid – pivoted to suggest Andretti buy an existing team, another potential obstacle has emerged.

The anti-dilution fee payable by a new F1 team – currently set at $200 million – could rise under the new Concorde Agreement, with Ben Sulayem now suggesting that the fee be tripled.

“The teams agreed on an anti-dilution fee of $200 million some years ago,” said Ben Sulayem, speaking to select members of the media, including PlanetF1.

“Now with the new Concorde Agreement coming up, they want to multiply it by three and make it $600 million. I said ‘no, no, no, you can’t do that, it’s too much’.

“So I said