Red Bull packs up early from Jerez

By Jan 31, 2014, 8:04 AM EST
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Red Bull and its Renault power unit have had issues throughout the first week of testing (Wednesday, Thursday) for the new Formula One season.

Daniel Ricciardo said this was likely something that would needed to be fixed at the factory. The team added end of day Thursday, “We’re trying to get the car ready for tomorrow. If things don’t go to plan then, we have 2 weeks until the next test so time’s on our side.”

The car was ready for Friday, but, the niggling issues continued. After seven laps Friday, and 21 total over four days, the team has packed up early and left Jerez, and are en route back to the factory at Milton Keynes.

“It’s been a very difficult test. We have had numerous Renault issues as well as chassis cooling issues, which have affected our progress,” said team principal Christian Horner.

“What we have managed to learn shows that the problems should be solvable for the next test in Bahrain. There will now be a lot of focus on the dyno over the next few weeks.”

Here’s the official tweet from the team confirming its early departure:

Interestingly, Lotus opted to put a snarky dig in at its fellow Renault-powered squad earlier this week, even though it didn’t head to Jerez on its own. When replying to a tweet from former F1 driver Taki Inoue, this was Lotus’ response:

Santino Ferrucci will drive No. 14 for AJ Foyt Racing full time in 2023 IndyCar season

By Oct 6, 2022, 12:31 PM EDT
Santino Ferrucci AJ Foyt
James Gilbert/Getty Images
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Santino Ferrucci will return to full-time racing in the NTT IndyCar Series next season, joining AJ Foyt Racing.

Ferrucci had made eight IndyCar starts with three teams since his last full-time season in 2020 while also racing part time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this year.

He will drive the storied No. 14 Dallara-Chevrolet for four-time Indy 500 winner A.J. Foyt’s team, which will field the car from its Waller, Texas headquarters.

“It’s incredibly exciting to be back in the INDYCAR Series full time,” Ferrucci said in a team release. “Being a part-time driver over the last two years has been hard for me, personally. I’m a race car driver, and I want to compete. Working with different teams has been exciting, and I’m proud that no matter which car I’ve raced, I’ve always shown speed and consistency. I couldn’t be more excited to join AJ Foyt Racing in the 14 Chevy. I can’t wait to make the best of it.”

Ferrucci, 24, had finished a career-best fourth in IndyCar four times, including the 104th Indy 500 in 2020. He was the 2019 Indy 500 rookie of the year with a sixth.

In nine Xfinity starts since 2021, Ferrucci has a career-best finish of 13th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“I am thrilled to welcome Santino to the team,” Larry Foyt said in a release. “He’s shown a knack for getting toward the front of the field, and I think he is a racer who moves forward on race day. A.J. sees the fire in him and has enjoyed their meetings together. I think Santino’s experience will help his rookie teammate as well, so he is a great addition to our roster.”

Ferrucci will be teamed at AJ Foyt Racing with Benjamin Pedersen, who finished fifth in the 2022 Indy Lights standings. The team has yet to specify the number for Pedersen’s entry, which will be fielded out of its Indianapolis race shop.

Foyt’s two full-time drivers last season were Dalton Kellett and Kyle Kirkwood, who is moving to Andretti Autosport.