Ahead of the second red flag restart at the Jeddah circuit on Sunday, Masi spoke to Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley and asked the team if it wanted to move Max Verstappen down the grid order. That was because Verstappen had retaken the lead from Lewis Hamilton after the first restart only by running off track around the outside and gaining an unfair lasting advantage just before the race was stopped. Masi laid out an offer for Wheatley to effectively give the place back to Hamilton on the grid, or else risk the stewards later potentially handing the Dutchman a clear penalty. The conversation between Masi and Wheatley was broadcast on the international television feed, and was as much a surprise for teams as it was for fans. Asked for his reaction to that moment, Horner said: "It was a bit like being down the souk, which was unusual. I haven't come across that previously." It was not just Red Bull taken aback by the offer, with Alpine executive director …
Andres manuel lopez obrador
Kobayashi named Toyota WEC team principal
Kobayashi, it has emerged, is a replacement for outgoing team president Hisatake Murata, who was reassigned to new duties within the Toyota Motor Company in October. That means Toyota Gazoo Racing technical director Pascal Vasselon and team director Rob Leupen will report to the Japanese driver, who will continue to drive the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid in the WEC next season. The logic behind promoting an active driver, who will also be racing in Super Formula next year with KCMG, to be head of the team remains unclear. Toyota's statement announcing the reshuffle of the TGR management structure explained that Kobayashi will "enhance the organisation and optimise its driver-focused approach to WEC, alongside team and driver management responsibilities". The move appears to have been driven by Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda's belief that the drivers should be at the centre of the company's motorsport programmes. Former Toyota, Sauber and Caterham Formula 1 driver Kobayashi, 35, …