Alpine have signed Steve Nielsen as their Managing Director to oversee the day-to-day running of the team, reporting to executive advisor Flavio Briatore.
The French manufacturer have been looking for a senior leader to manage the team on a daily basis following Oli Oakes’ departure from the Team Principal role in May.
Following weeks of talks, Nielsen – a well respected member of the paddock – will leave his role as Chief Motorsports Operation Officer, Sporting, at commercial rights holder F1 to take up his new job on September 1st, ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
Briatore, who has known Nielsen for decades, will continue to have overall responsibility for the project.
It marks a return to Enstone for Nielsen, who has spent multiple stints with the squad under the previous guises Benetton, Renault and Lotus, including as Sporting Director during the 2005 and 2006 World Championship winning years.
In recent years, Nielsen has spent time at F1 and governing body the FIA, and also has team experience from his time at Tyrrell, Honda, Toro Rosso and Arrows.
Alpine are currently bottom of the Teams’ Championship on 19 points but are hoping to improve their fortunes next season when they switch to Mercedes power.
Formula 1 and the FIA have announced the dates for 2026 pre-season testing, with three tests set to take place prior to the campaign getting underway.
Test one will be a private test and will take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya between January 26th – 30th, while test two will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit between February 11th – 13th.
The Bahrain International Circuit also hosts test three from February 18th – 20th, before the season begins in Australia on March 6th – 8th.
It has also been confirmed in a calendar update that, following a request from the Azerbaijan promoter and relevant government stakeholders, Formula 1 and the FIA have agreed to move the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix from Sunday September 27th to Saturday 26th to accommodate a national day.
The Austrian Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar through 2041 inclusive, following the long-term extension of Formula 1’s contract with promoter Projekt Spielberg GmbH & Co KG.
The Austrian Grand Prix boasts a long and prestigious history in Formula 1, having appeared on the calendar 37 times, with the first race taking place in 1964.
The Red Bull Ring, situated in the Styrian mountains, first hosted the event in 1970 and offers one of the most picturesque settings for a Formula 1 race, with drivers navigating the 4.3km circuit known for its elevation changes and mix of high-and low-speed corners that encourage wheel to wheel battles.
The circuit dropped off the calendar in 2004, but in 2010 the late Dietrich Mateschitz invested in the Red Bull Ring, funding renovations that revitalised the facility and led to its return in 2014.
Since then, the race has become a favourite among fans and drivers alike. A roll call of greats from Formula 1’s 75 year history have taken the top step in Austria, including Alain Prost, Niki Lauda, Michael Schumacher and Alan Jones.
Austria has long been an incredibly special race for Formula 1 so it’s fantastic we have secured the long-term future of a Grand Prix so deeply rooted in the sport’s history. The vision and passion of Dietrich Mateschitz gave the race the investment and attention that allowed it to return as an incredible event on the Formula 1 calendar. Each year, returning to the stunning Styrian mountains is a highlight – an experience that evokes incredible emotion among our drivers, teams, and fans alike, creating an atmosphere unlike any other. I want to extend my sincere thanks to Mark Mateschitz and Thomas Überall and his team for their unwavering dedication to excellence, and to our incredible Austrian fanbase, whose enthusiasm and loyalty continue to elevate this iconic race. Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1.
I am delighted that Formula 1 will remain at the Red Bull Ring for many years to come. I am proud to continue my father’s legacy and to preserve the rich history of motor racing in Styria and at the Red Bull Ring – with and, above all, for the people of the region. Austria’s close ties to Formula 1 are an excellent foundation for our long-term partnership. Working together, we intend to continue this success story for many years to come. Mark Mateschitz on the news.
Aston Martin have announced the launch of their new Driver Academy, with Formula 3 racer Mari Boya becoming the first signing to the programme.
Designed to identify, support and develop exceptional driving talent, the Driver Academy builds on the team’s driver development programme and aims to prepare up-and-coming talent for the upper echelons of motorsport.
Boya- currently competing in Formula 3 for Campos Racing – has become the first driver to sign to the programme, the 21 year old having experienced early success in karting before climbing the ranks up to Formula 3, where he made his debut in 2023 for MP Motorsport.
Since making the switch to Campos Racing in 2024, the Spaniard has achieved a Sprint Race victory in Barcelona during the 2024 campaign and more recently claimed a podium in the Monaco Feature Race.
Boya will now become a part of the Aston Martin Driver Academy, which will scout for talent across all levels of motorsport ranging from karting to single-seaters.
Those who join the Academy will receive a development programme that includes physical training, media coaching, simulator sessions and the opportunity to attend race weekends, where they can gain insight from the team and their drivers.
Firstly, we are very happy to welcome Mari to the new programme. He is a promising talent with a strong track record, natural speed, and a determined mindset, but he is also an incredibly well-rounded athlete – a trait we value in motorsport. Our aim is to support his development in every area, from racecraft and technical feedback to media, fitness, and personal growth, preparing him for the demands of top-level racing. We are also proud to launch the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team Driver Academy, a programme designed to identify, support, and develop exceptional driving talent. This initiative gives us the opportunity to shape the next generation of drivers, helping them grow into the complete package both on and off the track.Guiding young talent through some of the most challenging and competitive phases of their careers is not only a privilege, but a shared passion across the entire team. Andy Cowell on the news.
Joining the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team Driver Academy is a dream come true. It’s a unique opportunity to learn from a team with so much ambition in Formula One. My goal is to absorb as much knowledge as possible, contribute in every way I can, and continue showing my potential on track. Being part of such a prestigious Formula One team and stepping into the Aston Martin Aramco environment is incredibly special. The AMR Technology Campus is an inspiring place to be, and I’m excited for the opportunities ahead as I continue working hard and growing as a driver. Having role models like Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll and Pedro de la Rosa within the team makes this journey even more meaningful. I couldn’t be happier. My focus now is to repay the team’s trust with strong performances. Boya on the news.
Nissan have announced that 2024 F1 Academy champion, Abbi Pulling will be joining the Japanese team as rookie and simulator driver on a multi-year agreement.
The 22 year old impressed the Formula E paddock last November at Circuito del Jarama in Madrid, topping the timesheets in the first ever all women’s session.
Pulling will become an important member of the team both on and off the track, taking part in Rookie Tests, simulator work and event preparation, as well as in the initial set-up of the squad’s new state-of-the-art, bespoke Dynisma simulator ahead of Season 12.
Considered as one of the most promising young drivers in world motorsport, Pulling has a strong racing CV. In addition to her superb title-winning 2024 F1 Academy season, she also became the first female driver to take a race victory in British F4, and has been competing in GB3 this year, finishing a strong fifth in the season-opener at Silverstone.
I’m really excited to be joining Nissan Formula E Team and extending our collaboration together, after driving for the squad during the all-women’s test in Jarama. Everything the team did for me during the test was so professional. The time and effort put in to make sure I was prepared was great to see, and the crew were patient with me as a rookie. The GEN3 Evo car is so unique, especially the 350kW mode in all-wheel drive which was very fun to use! It’s different from anything I’ve driven before, and it took some time to adjust to the increased power. I’m looking forward to my work in the simulator and to take the car on track as well when the opportunities arise. Pulling on the news.
We’re very pleased to welcome Abbi to the team as our official rookie and simulator driver on a multi-year agreement. We were very impressed with her speed, commitment, and professionalism during the all-women’s test in Madrid last November, and we’re very happy to extend and formalize our collaboration. She is very talented – she was able to adapt incredibly quickly to the car and comfortably top the timesheets, which is difficult in every category but even more so in Formula E, so she is the perfect candidate to join us in this role. Abbi will have many responsibilities in the position we’ve created for her; we want to give her as much experience as possible and we are confident that this long-term, continued collaboration will be very beneficial both for the team and for Abbi, to keep developing as a more complete driver. Tommaso Volpe, Managing Director & Team Principal.
James Vowles has singed a new long-term contact as he continues on as Team Principal at Williams, meaning that he will remain at the head of the squad as they push to return to championship-winning glory.
Vowles joined the team ahead of the 2023 season from Mercedes, where he had acted as Motorsport Strategy Director for four years. He previously held key engineering and strategy roles at Mercedes, Brawn GP, Honda and BAR across 21 years in the sport.
Since then the Briton – who is only Williams’ third Team Principal in their 48 year history – has been focused on transforming the outfit as they look to make their way back to the front of the grid, following on from Dorilton Capital’s purchase of the team in 2020.
So far in 2025, Williams have enjoyed their strongest start to a season since 2016, with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz regularly clinching points to give the Grove-based squad a current position of fifth in the Constructors’ Championship.
I am delighted to sign a new contract with Atlassian Williams Racing, which has felt like home from the moment I walked through the door. This iconic team has already given me some incredible memories and we are all united in our ambition to build on our legacy and win World Championships again. Over the past two years we have focused on fixing the foundations, and now have a platform to go for glory in the years to come. Vowles on the news.
We are thrilled that James has signed a new contract with Atlassian Williams Racing and committed his future to completing the mission that we are on together. He has brought experience, energy and strategic leadership to the task of restoring Williams to the top step of the podium. We aren’t there yet but you can sense the momentum we are building at Grove and are excited about what lies ahead. Matthew Savage, Chairman of Williams and Dorilton Capital.
Formula 1 has announced an extension of the Canadian Grand Prix that will see Montreal’s Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve remain on the F1 Calendar through to the 2035 season.
This season’s marked the 54th edition of the Canadian Grand Prix since its inaugural running in 1967. Four current drivers – George Russell, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso – have all claimed victory at the 4.36km circuit, with Hamilton sharing the record for most wins at the venue with Michael Schumacher, both having triumphed seven times.
Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, named after the legendary Canadian F1 driver, became the permanent host in 1978 and is a firm favourite among drivers and fans alike, known for its heavy-braking chicanes, the famous hairpin, and the iconic Wall of Champions at the end of the lap.
In recent years, the Promoter, Octane Racing Group, has made significant investments in the event, modernising infrastructure to meet the growing demands of Formula 1 as the sport continues to expand globally.
In addition, alongside stakeholders from the Canadian Government, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, the Government of Quebec, the Ministry of Tourism, the City of Montreal, Tourism Montreal and the Soicete du parc Jean-Drapeau, the Promoter supported Formula 1’s efforts to rationalise the race calendar by agreeing to move the event to an earlier slot from 2026 onwards.
As Formula 1 celebrates its 75th anniversary, it is fitting that we have announced an extension with the Canadian Grand Prix, a race that has such incredible history in our sport and is named after a true legend in Gilles Villeneuve. Montreal is an incredible city, full of energy and passionate fans, and I am delighted to confirm that we will continue racing here through to the 2035 season and that our media rights deal with Bell Media is also extending in the long term. I would like to thank the promoter, Octane Racing Group, for their continued efforts in upgrading this iconic venue in recent years, and all local, regional, and national political stakeholders who have worked closely together to make this event what it is today. I would also like to thank our incredible Canadian fans. I look forward to creating more unforgettable moments in Montréal with you over the next 10 years. Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1.
We are incredibly proud to confirm that the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada will continue its yearly stop in Montréal for another decade, through 2035. This renewed agreement reflects the iconic status of our race, with its rich heritage, its unique setting in a city where F1 takes over downtown, and its place on the global stage. We’re thrilled to offer fans, communities, and the world ten more years of world-class racing, as we work to build a best-in-class Grand Prix that showcases Canada, Québec, and Montréal at their very best. With a clear strategy to elevate the event across sport, entertainment, and technology, we thank our incredible partners: the governments of Canada and Québec, the City of Montréal, Tourisme Montréal, and Parc Jean-Drapeau for their renewed trust, as well as Formula 1 for their continued confidence. A special thanks to our amazing team, whose passion brings this event to life each year. Jean-Philippe Paradis, Senior Vice-President, Bell Business Markets Sales and Wholesale Services President, Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada.
Andretti have announced that Jak Crawford and Frederik Vesti will represent the Andretti Formula E team at the official Season 11 Berlin Rookie Test, taking place on Monday 14th July.
Crawford returns to the Andretti Porsche 99X Electric cockpit for his third outing with the team, continuing to build on his experience as the Andretti Formula E’s team’s Reserve and Development Driver.
The American impressed in his previous appearances at the 2024 Berlin Rookie Test, where he finished second overall, and the 2025 Jeddah E-Prix Free Practice 0 session, where he topped the timing sheets.
Joining him in Berlin is Danish driver, Frederik Vesti, who will return to the all-electric World Championship having previously tested for Mahindra Racing at last year’s Rookie Test.
A multiple race winner in Formula 2 and a former title contender, Vesti brings added pedigree through his role as a test and reserve driver for Mercedes AMG F1 team.
Currently competing in the IMSA Sports Car Championship with Cadillac Whelen, the Danish driver’s experience at multiple levels of motorsport will serve him well as he builds on his previous Formula E outing and tackles the challenges of the GEN3 Evo.
We’re pleased to confirm Jak and Frederik as our rookie test drivers for Berlin. Jak continues to impress us with both his pace and professionalism, and having him back for a third outing will allow him to build even further on the work he’s already done with our simulator and engineering teams. We’re also very excited to welcome Frederik to Andretti Formula E. His motorsport experience across a variety of categories and his reserve driver role with the Mercedes-AMG F1 team make him an excellent addition to our rookie lineup. It’s a seriously strong pairing, and we’re looking forward to seeing what both drivers can deliver. Roger Griffiths, Team Principal.
I’m looking forward to getting back the car for another outing. It feels like it hasn’t been that long ago that I was driving in Free Practice 0 in Jeddah, so I’m excited to get back out and put in some good work for the team. I really enjoyed driving the track in Berlin at last year’s Rookie Test and felt I performed well, so very much looking forward to getting some more laps under my belt. Jak Crawford on the news.
I’m extremely happy and proud to be participating in the Rookie Test. I did the one-day test last year and had a good experience in the Formula E car, but this time around with a bit more experience and with a great team such as Andretti behind me, it’s going to be a really exciting day for me to explore the all new GEN3 Evo, work with engineers and of course, learn from the team. Hopefully, I can also contribute to some of the team’s different test items throughout the day. Frederik Vesti on the news.
Zak O’Sullivan will be getting his second chance at electric racing machinery after being announced in Silverstone-based Envision Racing’s line-up for the Formula E rookie test in Berlin.
Zak, got his first taste of the series’ new Gen3 Evo cars when he competed in the first rookie test of the season at Jeddah in February.
He is now getting his second chance behind the wheel, when Formula E holds its traditional post-race test after the Berlin E-Prix.
The 20 year old, is Envision Racing’s sim driver, which is a founding member of the championship and the 2022 – 23 teams’ champion. It runs sophomore season champion Sebastien Buemi and Robin Frijns in its two Jaguar I-Type 7 machines.
After he hits the track in Berlin, Zak returns to Japan for round six and seven of the Super Formula Championship at Fuji speedway. He currently sits 15th in the Championship with 4 rounds remaining.
I’m really looking forward to stepping back into Envision Racing’s Formula E car at the Berlin rookie test. I drove the car in Jeddah and really enjoyed it, so it will be nice having a full day in the car in Berlin to learn more about this car and racing series. Zak on the news.
TAG Heuer Porsche will field Ayhancan Guven and Elia Weiss at the upcoming Formula E rookie test in Berlin.
Guven has been in the Porsche fold since 2020, when he joined the Porsche junior team following a successful karting and sim racing career – the latter involved being teammates with Max Verstappen.
The 27 year old currently races for Manthey EMA in DTM, and won his first two races earlier this season at Oschersleben and Zandvoort.
Weiss meanwhile, at 16, will be the youngest driver to drive a Formula E car when he runs in Berlin. He got the required international B licence issued by the DMSB upon turning 16.
The German won last year’s German Karting Championship and is racing in Italian Formula 4 this season with Cram Motorsport. He is also a member of Motorsport Team Germany, an initiative that includes simulator tests in the motorsport departments of Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche.
This is a pretty unique opportunity for me. As a driver with a GT racing background, sitting in the middle of the car without a roof over my head is an experience I’m really looking forward to. I was at the track in Berlin four years ago – as a spectator. To be able to drive there now is, of course, fantastic. The Porsche 99X Electric has a lot of systems I’m not familiar with, which will probably be the biggest challenge. The preparation takes place in the simulator in Weissach. As a sim racer, however, it’s easy for me to transfer my impressions of the virtual track to the real thing as quickly as possible. Guven on the news.
I’m incredibly proud – no doubt everyone dreams of being able to drive for Porsche. The fact that I get to do this is insane. It’s a huge step for me, which is why I have a lot of respect for it. I’ve already practiced in the simulator in Weissach. It was all really positive: I was able to get to know the systems, felt right at home there, and got on really well with the engineers. Other than that, I’m preparing myself as best I can. In a Formula E car, you need a lot of strength and fitness, so I’m training particularly hard in those areas at the moment. Weiss on driving for Porsche.
There are strict limits on budgets and test days in Formula E, which is why the teams are somewhat reluctant to invest resources in drivers that they find it difficult to assess because they have never driven this kind of vehicle before. However, we do need to see external drivers in our cars: The energy management is complex, which means that the mental challenges in particular are incredibly tough in Formula E. This reduces the pool of potential drivers. So, it makes sense for the Rookie Test to be mandatory for all teams. Ayhancan was part of our own junior squad, is known to us, and is currently performing well in the DTM. Elia comes from the Motorsport Team Germany, which is supported by Porsche Motorsport. While he was a guest in our simulator, we were particularly impressed by how he interacted with the engineers. Elia turned 16 just a few days ago, but he comes across as a much more mature racing driver. Porsche Team Principal, Florian Modlinger.
DS Penske have signed Nikita Bedrin to the Penske Driver Development Program.
Bedrin is a multiple race winner in international karting competitions, he made headlines by dominating the 2020 WSK Super Master Series (OK), where he won heats, qualifying sessions, prefinals, and finals over the final two rouundsa.
The 19 year old stepped up to single seaters in 2021, where he competed in the Formula 4 UAE Championship, which saw him take a podium in the second round of the season. However, his campaign ended early the following round as he sustained a hand injury.
The main campaign for him that year was Italian and ADAC F4 series. He scored points regularly in Italy, with the season highlight being a triple of podiums at Imola Circuit. With another podium to his name the following round, he finish eighth in the overall standings.
This season AIX Racing retained Bedrin for a second year in a row for the opening round of Formula 3, where he scored 17 points.
As part of the PENSKE Driver Development Program, Bedrin will work closely with the DS PENSKE engineering team, contributing to simulator development, and gaining valuable insight into the technical and strategic demands of electric racing at the elite level.
I’m incredibly excited to join DS PENSKE for the Berlin Rookie Test. t’s a great opportunity to experience Formula E up close and work with such a forward-thinking and competitive team. I’m grateful to be part of the Penske Driver Development Program, it is a huge milestone in my career. I am thankful for the trust the team has placed in me and I can’t wait to get started. Bedrin on the news.
We’re thrilled to welcome Nikita into our development structure. His talent is undeniable, and we believe he has the mindset and dedication to thrive within the DS PENSKE environment. Deputy Team Principal, Phil Charles.
Lando Norris has taken victory in an eventful wet-dry British Grand Prix, the McLaren driver leading home team mate Oscar Piastri on an action-packed afternoon that also saw Nico Hulkenberg finally clinch his maiden F1 podium.
With the race starting in dry conditions, polesitter Max Verstappen initially led away from Piastri- but the Australian soon got ahead just as the rain started to fall heavily.
While the McLaren quickly built a strong lead, this was neutralised when the Safety Car was deployed, marking the first appearance for the vehicle during the event.
An action-packed event ensued from there, with Piastri receiving a 10 second time penalty for slowing too much when preparing to lead the pack away following another Safety Car restart, while a spin for Verstappen moments later saw the Dutchman drop back.
As conditions changed and drivers started to switch to slick tyres on, Piastri served his penalty during his pit stop and Norris took over the lead of the race – and from there Norris maintained his advantage to seal the win in front of a cheering crowd, crossing the line 6.812s ahead of Piastri.
The full top 10 are- P1: Norris, P2: Piastri, P3: Hulkenberg, P4: Hamilton, P5: Verstappen, P6: Gasly, P7: Stroll, P8: Albon, P9: Alonso and P10: Russell.
What a result for McLaren! Lando Norris has won his home Grand Prix!!! This is the one he really wanted, and he absolutely smashed it out of the park. As for Piastri, a good result for him too, unfortunate for the 10 second time penalty but sometimes it is just racing…
Nicoooo Hulkenbergggggg!!! P3! He finally got his podium!!! What a result for the Stake driver, he and the team will be ecstatic, and it is fully deserved, they smashed it out of the park with strategy.
P4 for Lewis Hamilton, a good result for the Ferrari driver! It’s a shame he wasn’t on the podium at his home race, but still a very good result! As for his teammate, Leclerc took the gamble and pitted before lights out (like some of the other drivers) and put the slicks on and it just didn’t work in his favour he ended up a shocking 14th…
An okay result for Verstappen, obviously not what he would’ve wanted starting on pole, but still in the points which is good, it didn’t help that he had a spin on the safety car restart which did not help at all. As for Tsunoda he finished a disappointing 15th, the last of the runners.
A lovely P6 result for Pierre Gaslyyy! He kept out of trouble and kept it on track and was rewarded with another lovely points finish.
Double points for Aston Martin at their home Grand Prix! P7 for Stroll and P9 for Alonso, a great result for the team!
A disappointing result for George Russell who finished in P10, again he took a gamble and pitted and it just didn’t work at all. As for his teammate, Antonelli was one of five DNF’s, a few bad weekends to forget for the young driver.
Now we have a little break before the next round, it is on the 25th-27th July and we head to Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix!
The NEOM McLaren Formula E Team confirms that Alex Dunne will be taking part in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Berlin E-Prix Rookie Test on the 14th July, alongside fellow McLaren Driver Development member, Ella Lloyd.
Dunne, from Ireland, made his single seater racing debut in 2021, competing in the Spanish F4 Championship and finishing third in his first race. After moving to Formula 4, Alex continued to deliver impressive results, becoming the 2022 British F4 Champion as well as the Italian F4 vice-champion.
In 2023, Alex’s campaign saw him finish second in the GB3 Championship with five victories and eight podiums across the season. In the same year, he also made his Macau Grand Prix debut, finishing second in qualifying.
Alex raced with MP Motorsport in the 2024 FIA Formula 3 Championship, scoring two podiums and a further seven top 10 finishes.
Alongside his duties as reserve and development driver, Alex currently competes in Formula 2, where he sits second in the Championship and has 2 wins to his name already this season.
I’m very excited to be getting another opportunity in the GEN3 Evo at the Berlin Rookie Test next month. Since I joined the team as Reserve and Development Driver, I’ve learnt so much about what it takes to get the maximum out of these cars, and I can’t wait to get out on track again. Dunne on the news.
Having already played a crucial role in supporting the team this season as our Reserve and Development Driver, I’m very pleased that Alex will have another opportunity behind the wheel of the GEN3 Evo at the Berlin Rookie Test. Alex has shown to have great pace and skill in Formula 2 this season, and I hope he will take this confidence with him to make the most of this outing in Berlin. Ian James, Team Principal of NEOM McLaren Formula E Team.
CUPRA KIRO have signed Bianca Bustamante as their official Development Driver.
After impressing on the Asian karting scene, Bustamante, who hails from the Philippines, stepped up to professional competition in 2022 and made an immediate mark in junior single-seaters.
The 20 year old raced in w Series before joining F1 Academy where, from 2023 to 2024, she represented PREMA Racing and ART Grand Prix. After securing two victories and a total of five podiums in a highly competitive field, Bianca stepped up to the hotly contested GB3 Championship for 2025.
Bustamante has previous Formula E experience after representing NEOM McLaren and setting the third-fastest time in Formula E’s Women’s Test at Jarama in 2024.
As Development Driver, Bustamnate made her first official appearance in CUPRA KIRO colours at the Jakarta weekend, where she shadowed full-time drivers Dan Ticktum and David Beckmann while embedding herself in the team.
Her first appearance as a CUPRA KIRO driver will follow at the Berlin E-Prix where she will participate in Formula E’s annual rookie test at the Tempelhof Circuit on 14th July.
I’m really excited to join CUPRA KIRO as the team’s Development Driver as I continue my Formula E journey. In the very short time that we’ve been working together, it’s been incredible to experience the team’s disruptive approach to racing in action and to see the team’s hunger and desire for success first-hand. Working with Dan, David, and the team is an invaluable opportunity for me at this stage of my career, and I’m looking forward to applying everything I learn into the GB3 Championship in 2025. I’m excited to absorb everything on-site in Jakarta and of course, to drive the team’s current Season 11 car in Berlin this July. Bustamante on the news.
On behalf of the team, I’m delighted to welcome Bianca to CUPRA KIRO. Since stepping up to single seater racing only three years ago, Bianca has not only proven that she is a force to be reckoned with but has become one of the leading voices in promoting female participation in motorsport by widening the industry’s talent pipeline. Opening and fostering opportunities for next generation racing drivers is integral to the future of our sport, and while we’re looking forward to seeing Bianca’s contribution to CUPRA KIRO, we’re equally excited to support her own development as an athlete. I can’t wait to see her embed herself in the team over the coming weeks ahead of her Rookie Test outing in Berlin. Russell O’Hagan, Chief Operating Officer, CUPRA KIRO.
Max Verstappen has clinched pole position at the British Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver storming through with a stunning lap to put himself at the front of the grid ahead of the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
While Piastri had secured provisional pole during the first runs of Q3, the Australian made a mistake on his final effort and could not improve. But Verstappen put his lap together perfectly to go fastest on an effort of 1m 24.892s, putting himself 0.103s clear of Piastri’s McLaren.
The full top 10 are- Pole: Verstappen, P2: Piastri, P3: Norris, P4: Russell, P5: Hamilton, P6: Leclerc, P7: Antonelli, P8: Bearman, P9: Alonso and P10: Gasly. However, this isn’t the starting grid as Ollie Bearman has a 10 place grid penalty meaning he will start 18th and Antonelli has a 3 place grid penalty which means he will start from 10th, which promotes Alonso to 7th, Gasly 8th, and Sainz 9th.
A lovely result for Verstappen, I was quite surprised he got pole as he was complaining a lot about the car in Q1 and Q2, but this is the result he would’ve wanted and needed too. As for Tsunoda he has had a decent result! P11 for the Japanese driver, just outside of the top 10 however he is in the middle of the pack so he has to be very careful at the start.
A good result for McLaren P2 for Piastri and P3 for Norris, they are in a very good position for winning this race! Could Lando bring it home for the first time ever? I think his going to have a bit of competition for this win today…
A good result for George Russell, I feel like he went a bit under the radar with his P4 result, but I think that’s more because of his pace which hasn’t been as good as other weekend. Obviously his teammate starts P10, still a good position to score some decent points for the Silver Arrows.
A decent result for Ferrari, P5 for Hamilton and P6 for Lelcerc, it could’ve been a bit better of a result, especially as both cars have the pace. But, and key word being but, can you ever count Lewis Hamilton out of a British GP win or podium? It will definitely be an interesting race later, especially if we have some rain…
A good result for Alonso, P7 for the Aston Martin driver, he will be looking to score some good points this weekend.
Campos Racing’s Nikola Tsolov topped Free Practice at Silverstone on a 1:45.847 to start his weekend on the front foot.
The Bulgarian was the only driver into the 1:45s, as Charlie Wurz followed in second for Trident ahead of Tim Tramnitz of MP Motorsport in third.
Nicola Lacorte led the way in the very early stages on a 1:49.859, while tyre preparation laps got underway for the rest of the field.
Campos went 1-2 with under half an hour to go, as Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak led teammate Mari Boya on a 1:46.379, 0.3s quicker than the Spaniard in P2.
Tramnitz moved MP up to P2, 0.037s down on the best effort until Ugo Ugochukwu put PREMA Racing top of the pile on a 1:46.277.
Martinius Stenshorne and Wurz set personal bests to go second and third respectively, and within a tenth of the McLaren Development Driver in P1.
After drivers returned to the circuit for a second run in the final 10 minutes, further improvements began to flow in.
Rafael Camara set a time to go quickest but lost it to exceeding track limits. Moments later, title rival Nikola Tsolov broke into the 1:45s to take the top spot, while Stenshorne and Ugochukwu posted improvements of their own that put them second and third.
Tramnitz closed the gap down to 0.291s as he went to P2 in the final five minutes. Camara posted a time good enough for P4 as the chequered flag waved to bring an end to Free Practice, but teammate Wurz went up the order once again to P2, 0.289s off Tsolov’s session-topping time.
Qualifying-
Nikola Tsolov fired in a late lap to take his second Aramco Pole Position Award in a row.
The Campos Racing driver had been bettered by title contender Rafael Camara going into the final attempts, but one last improvement put the Bulgarian back to P1. He finished ahead of Ugo Ugochukwu, who wound up second for PREMA Racing, with Camara having to settle for third.
With the tyre preparation laps complete, TRIDENT set the early pace with Camara going to the top on a 1:46.318, 0.2s ahead of teammate Noah Stromsted in second. Ugochukwu split them on his attempt, going to within 0.023s of the Brazilian’s effort.
Tim Tramnitz delivered his first time to go top of the pile, but only briefly, as Tsolov followed to smash the time to beat with a 1:45.655, some 0.3s quicker than the MP driver in second.
Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak made it a Campos 1-3, slotting into third with his initial attempt.
Everyone returned to the pitlane for a fresh set of Hard tyres and returned to the track with just over 15 minutes of the session remaining. Tramnitz cut the gap down to 0.2s to Tsolov, while teammate Bruno del Pino slotted into third for the Dutch team.
Behind them though, Camara delivered a 1:45.176 to surge to the top of the times, 0.479s quicker than Tsolov’s initial benchmark time. Stromsted put in an improvement also to go third overall with just over 10 minutes to go, while Charlie Wurz followed a few minutes later to go fourth.
With five minutes left, the circuit got busy once again. Theophile Nael moved Van Amersfoort Racing up to second to cut the deficit to provisional pole sitter Camara down to 0.3s.
Tramnitz followed that up to go second for MP, 0.296s behind the TRIDENT, but Tsolov returned to P1 with a 1:45.043 with less than half a minute to go.
Ugochukwu then went to P2 with his final attempt and just 0.023s off the top spot. Camara had a poor middle sector on his last lap and could only manage third in the end.
The full top 10 are- Pole: Tsolov, P2: Ugochukwu, P3: Camara, P4: Boya, P5: Tramnitz, P6: Wurz, P7: Stenshorne, P8: Van Hoepen, P9: Nael and P10: Leon.
The midpoint of the 2025 season sees Formula 1 return to where it all began 75 years ago. The first Grand Prix to count towards the Drivers’ World Championship was held on 13th May 1950 at Silverstone.
Silverstone has hosted 59 Grands Prix, more world Championship events than any other circuit with the except of Monza (74). It’s layout has remained more or less unchanged throughout the years.
At 5.861 kilometres, it is one of the longest tracks on the calendar, with 18 corners, 10 to the right and 8 to the left. The circuit is in almost year round use with four and two-wheeled racing categories and so it provides good grip right from Friday’s first free practice session.
Despite taking place at the height of summer, the English weather can often be unpredictable with very changeable temperatures and wind and rain suddenly putting in an appearance.
The compounds for this year are- C2 (Hard), C3 (Medium), C4 (Soft), which is a step softer than last year. The aim is to create a wider range of strategy options for the race. In 2024, when the C3 was the Soft, it was used by just a few drivers in the closing stages of the race following the rain.
All dry compounds and the intermediates were used during the 2024 British Grand Prix. 17 drivers opted to line up on the starting grid on the medium, the only exceptions being Ocon and Zhou on the Soft and Perez on the Hard tyres.
McLaren have unveiled a new iteration of their chrome livery, to be used by Lando Norris and championship leader, Oscar Piastri at this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
The livery pays homage to the iconic chrome look of McLaren’s of the mid-2000s and early 2010s, as raced by the likes of Kimi Raikkonen, Juan Pablo Montoya and current Ferrari driver, Lewis Hamilton.
The livery was revealed to fans in a special McLaren Racing Live event held in London’s Trafalgar Square, with Norris and Piastri both in attendance, along with development driver Alex Dunne, and several other team members.
The team previously used a chrome livery at the 2023 British Grand Prix, while other special liveries used in recent times include the team’s ‘Triple Crown’ paint job for the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix, and their ‘Riviera’ look for this year’s Monaco and Spanish Grand Prix.
Campos Racing’s Nikola Tsolov set the fastest time of Friday morning’s Free Practice session, leading the way ahead of Trident’s Rafael Camara and Noah Stromsted.
The Bulgarian’s 1:22.018 proved to be the lap to beat, leading his Championship rival by 0.158s, as Stromsted rounded out the top three, over four-tenths behind.
The session started with most of the grid biding their time in the pitlane, although DAMS Lucas Oil debutant Nikita Johnson was getting up to speed, setting an early time of 1:25.165.
However, with just over 10 minutes gone in the session, Stromsted made his way onto the track and completed a 1:24.311.
As the Danish rookie finished his first flying attempt, the majority of the grid made their way on to the circuit. PREMA’s Noel Leon then went to P2 on 1:24.001. However, there was bad news for his teammate Brando Badoer, who wound up in the gravel at Turn 8, bringing out the Red Flags.
Action resumed with just over 18 minutes left in the session, but a Red Flag was soon signalled with Hitech TGR’s Gerrard Xie having stopped on track at Turn 3.
10 minutes remained on the clock when the green flags were waved, and there were plenty of changes on the timing screens as Tsolov’s 1:22.018 put him on top.
The Campos driver was 1.098s clear of Taponen in second when the Red Flags were back out, with AIX Racing’s Brad Benavides having found the gravel at Turn 4.
Three minutes were left on the clock when green flag running resumed and the drivers were able to improve as Camara went to P2, with Stromsted 0.483s off Tsolov, in P3.
Qualifying-
Nikola Tsolov was in supreme form on Friday afternoon in Speilberg as the Campos Racing driver took the Aramco Pole Position Award with a dominant qualifying effort.
The Bulgarian led after each lap and took P1 with a 1:20.743 ahead of AIX Racing’s Brad Benavides and Trident’s Noah Stromsted, as Championship leader Rafael Camara finished seventh.
Tsolov got off to a fine start by putting in a 1:21.598 on his first flying lap, with his Campos teammate Mari Boya in second, but over half a second behind after the first set of times.
The Bulgarian improved on his next attempt to a 1:21.282 as MP Motorsport’s Tim Tramnitz went up to second, 0.064s behind, while Camara rounded out the top three.
Several drivers chose to push on for a third flying lap, and Alessandro Giusti was one of a few able to eke out more performance. The MP driver went up to third, just behind teammate Tramnitz, and 0.097s off top spot.
After returning to the pit lane for a second set of soft tyres, the drivers were back out on track with just over 10 minutes to go.
Camara led the pack away and went fastest on a 1:21.011, but the Brazilian was quickly beaten by Tsolov, who went top by 0.084s with a 1:20.927.
The Red Bull Junior continued on to improve and on his next attempt, completed a 1:20.743 to seal his second pole position of the season.
Benavides then went to second place on his final lap for AIX, finishing 0.176s off Tsolov’s time, with Noah Stromsted going to third for Trident.
Sprint Race-
It was a strong getaway from pole for Wharton, but it was the same for his fellow front row starter Giusti, although the ART rookie kept his rival at bay on the opening lap.
Behind them, Charlie Wurz was struggling to keep hold of P3 from Ugochukwu. But the PREMA rookie ended up losing a place at Turn 7 to his teammate Brando Badoer, dropping him to fifth.
As Lap 2 ended there was a multi-car collision in the midfield between Christian Ho, Louis Sharp and Tuukka Taponen at Turn 4, ending all three drivers’ race. Ho brought his DAMS Lucas Oil machinery back to the pitlane, but Sharp and Taponen’s cars needed to be cleared from the track bringing out the Safety Car.
Action resumed at the start of Lap 5 of 21, and Nikola Tsolov was on the move, diving to the inside of Callum Voisin at Turn 1 to take P7, as Wharton kept the lead ahead of Giusti.
At the start of Lap 6, Badoer ran wide at Turn 1, allowing Ugochukwu to take P4. Rafael Camara looked to have overtaken the PREMA rookie, but the Italian fought back at Turn 3 to keep fifth.
In the battle for ninth, Bruno del Pino and Brad Benavides collided at Turn 3, with both drivers forced to pit with damage, before coming back out, although the latter later retired.
Lap 9 and Camara looked to go round the outside of Badoer at Turn 4. However, a bad run on corner exit allowed Championship rival Tsolov to get past for P6 at the exit of Turn 6.
The two drivers continued to battle on the next lap, but as they went side-by-side through Turn 4 once again, Camara dipped a wheel in the gravel, dropping him down to P9.
Lap 12 of 21 kicked off with Giusti half a second behind Wharton, and the MP driver looked to make a move to the inside at the popular Turn 4 but again found no way through.
The battle for the podium places continued on the next lap as Badoer looked to dive to the inside of Ugochukwu at Turn 3. However, the PREMA driver braked too late and went into the rear of Wurz in P3, sending both into a spin.
The Safety Car was deployed moments later with Wurz’s Trident on the side of the road, while Badoer came into the pitlane to change his front wing before coming back out.
Racing resumed on Lap 18 of 21, and Wharton had another good restart, as did Giusti. But Ugochukwu, now in third, was coming under pressure from Tsolov and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak.
However, the Campos pair started to battled, allowing Ugochukwu to keep the position.
As Wharton crossed the line to start Lap 20, the Australian rookie had built a lead of 1.1s to Giusti, while Ugochukwu was 2.2s behind the race leader, while fighting to keep Tsolov behind.
Onto the final lap and Giusti has closed to within DRS range of Wharton, but could not get ahead of the ART driver, who crossed the line to take his first win in FIA Formula 3,
Giusti achieved his second consecutive podium finish in second, while it was a maiden trip to the rostrum for Ugochukwu, who held off the challenge from Tsolov to finish P3.
Feature Race-
It was a great start for pole-sitter Tsolov, who kept the lead ahead of fellow front row starter Brad Benavides, with Noah Stromsted staying in third.
However, on Lap 2, Benavides locked up into Turn 3, putting Stromsted right on the back of the AIX Racing car. The American held on, but this battle meant that Tsolov was 1.9s clear out in front.
The Trident driver eventually took second place with a move to the outside at Turn 3, and fellow rookie Ugo Ugochukwu followed him through to go to P3.
Benavides’ day got worse on Lap 4, with Rafael Camara, Callum Voisin and Brando Badoer all passing him, dropping him to P7.
Onto Lap 6, and Ugochukwu was slowly closing the gap to Tsolov out in front, although the PREMA driver was coming under pressure from Camara, who had passed teammate Stromsted into Turn 4 for P3.
The Championship’s leader fightback continued on the next lap, as he battled past Ugochukwu to get to second, with his targets set on chasing down title rival Tsolov.
Stromsted was then next to make a move on lap 9, getting past Ugochukwu into Turn 4 to take P3. Martinius Stenshorne was making his way through the field after starting in P15 and with an overtake on Voisin, was up to fifth by the end of Lap 11.
The Rodin Motorsport driver was soon down to P10 on Lap 13 however, losing four places to Tim Tramnitz, Mari Boya, Theophile Nael and Charlie Wurz.
Back in the battle for the podium places, Stromsted was struggling to keep Ugochukwu behind, but in trying to make a move at Turn 3, the PREMA Racing rookie lost out to Stenshorne.
Tramnitz’s fight back also continued the following lap, braving it around the outside of Ugochukwu at turn 7 to take fifth place on Lap 16.
Out in front, Tsolov was 4.6s clear of Camara at the start of Lap 18, but the Brazilian was not in comfortable second place, as Stenshorne closed to within DRS range of the Trident.
The McLaren backed driver took second place on the next lap at Turn 1, while Tramnitz took advantage of Stromsted running wide at the final corner to take P4 down the main straight.
Boya kicked off Lap 21 of 26 having just set the fastest lap of the race and dived to the inside of Ugochukwu at Turn 3 to take fifth place.
Wurz was the next to get past Stromsted, going around the outside of his TRIDENT teammate at Turn 7 to take P7 on Lap 22.
The fight for the final spot on the podium then heated up on Lap 24, as Tramnitz closed to within DRS range of Camara for third. The MP driver dived to the inside of the Brazilian to take P3.
Camara’s stuggles continued a few corners later as Boya made an audacious move at Turn 9, relegating him to fifth. Ugochukwu was next to get past the Trident driver, this time at Turn 5.
But out in front, Tsolov had built a lead of over six second to Stenshorne and crossed the line to take his sixth F3 victory of the 2025 season, closing to within one point of Championship leader, Camara.
However, the FIA have found that Nikola Tsolov has been in breach of the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Technical Regulations, resulting in disqualification from the results.
So the new full top 10 are- P1: Stenshorne, P2: Tramnitz, P3: Boya, P4: Ugochukwu, P5: Camara, P6: Wurz, P7: Stromsted, P8: Voisin, P9: Benadvides and P10: Nael.
Racing Bulls and their partner HUGO have unveiled a special livery for the British Grand Prix in collaboration with Nigerian artist Slawn.
Revealed by Slawn along with Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar at the Flannels X store in London this evening, the link-up sees VCARB 02 adorned with Slawn’s caricature style street art.
The artwork will also feature on the drivers’ race suits and the team’s kit across the weekend, while Slawn will also be in the paddock on Thursday alongside Lawson and Hadjar where the squad say he will be “designing the garage IRL”.
Slawn’s famed graffiti aesthetic – rooted in his Yoruba heritage and London’s urban culture – has seen him make his name in the city’s art landscape. He also has previously made a foray into the world of sports, having designed the Emirate FA Cup Trophy in May this year.
Slawn’s work is unlike anything we’ve seen in Formula 1, and that’s exactly why this collaboration felt right. Partnering with HUGO and Slawn has allowed us to push creative boundaries in a way that reflects the bold identity of our team. Silverstone is a massive moment in the season, and we’re proud to bring something completely original to our fans.
Witnessing the big reveal of Slawn’s fresh, energetic art on the VCARB Team’s new livery and his exciting takeover will consolidate HUGO’s ambition to take F1 further off-track and into culture. This collaboration is a brilliant demonstration of the power of going your own way, which is at the core of HUGO and VCARB’s DNA. All eyes will be on VCARB during the action at Silverstone. James Foster, SVP of Global Marketing at Hugo Boss.
Alpine Reserve Driver, Paul Aron will make his free practice debut at the upcoming British Grand Prix weekend with Kick Sauber after the rival teams came to an agreement to share his driving services.
The Estonian driver, who competed in Formula 2 last season, is not racing competitively this year, with his focus currently helping Alpine with simulator work as they try and claw their way back up the standings from P10 in the Championship.
Alpine entered the 2025 F1 Season with plenty of driving talent in reserve. While Ryo Hirakawa soon departed for Haas, the Enstone-based squad still have Jack Doohan alongside Aron – the Australian had started the year in a full-time race seat but was swapped out in favour of Franco Colapinto ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
The agreement Alpine have reached with Kick Sauber will release Aron for two FP1 sessions this season, with every team having to give up four FP1 sessions across the year.
Kick Sauber only need to give up two FP1 sessions this season, as they are running a designated rookie in their other car in Gabriel Bortoleto. As such, Aron will replace Nico Hulkenberg at Silverstone and in Budapest.
I am very pleased to be given the opportunity to have valuable track time in Formula 1, so thanks to BWT Alpine Formula One Team for coming to this arrangement. It is no secret that my desire is to one day race full-time in Formula 1 so any chance to be on track in a competitive environment is an important stepping stone. While I continue to focus on my development with Alpine, I do look forward to the two sessions with Kick Sauber and giving my maximum effort to them at Silverstone and Budapest. Aron on the news.
It is in our interests to maximise any driving opportunities for our young talent, so it is good to have an agreement with Sauber for Paul to drive in Free Practice 1 in Silverstone and Budapest. We are seeing varied success from last year’s Formula 2 drivers this year up and down the grid, and Paul was a front runner in that category, so this is an opportunity for him and the team to continue his progress and to give him valuable track time. Briatore on the news.
Lando Norris returned to winning ways at the Austrian Grand Prix after getting the better of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in a head-to-head scrap for victory.
Norris converted pole position into the lead at Turn 1 but soon came under intense pressure from championship leader Piastri, who launched several attacks and at one point muscled his way past, only for the positions to be swiftly reversed.
After a particularly close call under braking for Turn 4, which saw Piastri lock up and almost run into the back of Norris, the Australian went slightly longer on his starting set of tyres in attempt to build an advantage for the remainder of the race.
While Piastri lit up the timesheets in phases across the second and third stints, Norris had just enough pace in hand to hold onto P1 and take the chequered flag – marking his third win of the season and first victory since last month’s Monaco Grand Prix.
The full top 10 are- P1: Norris, P2: Piastri, P3: Leclerc, P4: Hamilton, P5: Russell, P6: Lawson, P7: Alonso, P8: Bortoleto, P9: Hulkenberg and P10: Ocon.
What a result for McLaren! P1 for Norris and P2 for Piastri, their pace was unmatched and no-one got anywhere near the two drivers, however, I think they need to set boundaries between the two drivers, as much as we love seeing them battle it out for the lead, one of the moves Oscar done almost ended Lando’s race, just doesn’t seem to be any boundaries set…
A lovely result for Ferrari, a podium for Leclerc and 4th for Hamilton, a decent amount of points for the Italian team, seems like they had a strong weekend and things are starting to look up for the team.
P5 for Russell, he was kind of in no mans land, the pace just didn’t seem to be there to battle with the Ferrari’s which is a shame but still a decent points haul for the Brit. As for his teammate, Antonelli’s race was over on the first lap as the young driver carried too much speed into Turn 3 and took out Max Verstappen which saw both of the drivers out.
P6 for Liam Lawson, a lovely result for the New Zealander, his best career finish so far! A very good points haul for the Racing Bulls, this will all help for the midfield battle.
A double points finish for Kick Sauber, which means first career points for Gabriel Bortoleto! This will be the same as above, and really help in the midfield battle towards the end of the season.
A weekend to forget for Williams, a DNS for Sainz as his rear brakes were on the fire in the pitlane as he struggled to get started on the grid for the first formation lap. Not only this, Albon retired in the pit lane to an unknown issue at the time.
Now next up, we have Silverstone this weekend for Round 12 of 24!
Lando Norris has sealed a commanding pole position in Qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix, the McLaren driver recording a time that was half a second clear of nearest challenger Charles Leclerc to mark the biggest pole margin of the season so far.
After setting the pace in Q1 and Q2, Norris continued that theme by claiming provisional pole during the initial runs of Q3 – but the McLaren man went even better on his next effort, pumping in a 1m 03.971s.
The full top 10 are- Pole: Norris, P2: Leclerc, P3: Piastri, P4: Hamilton, P5: Russell, P6: Lawson, P7: Verstappen, P8: Bortoleto, P9: Antonelli and P10: Gasly.
What a lovely result for Lando, exactly what the Brit would have wanted! Last time he was on pole, it was the Monaco Grand Prix, which he went on to win… However, the Red Bull Ring is a very different track compared to Monte Carlo, there’s lots of overtaking spots here so McLaren’s strategy has to be perfect. As for his teammate, Piastri qualified 3rd, unfortunate for him as his last flying lap got ruined due to a spin from Pierre Gasly, but still a good position for today’s race.
A lovely result from Ferrari! P2 for Charles Leclerc and P4 for Lewis Hamilton, the whole team will be happy with that result, hopefully they can turn it into a potential win/podiums!
A decent result for Russell, P5 for the Mercedes driver, it seems like the Silver Arrows have got some pace underneath them this weekend, so it will be interesting to see where they finish. As for Russell’s teammate, Antonelli qualified 9th, not the best result for the rookie driver but he can still make up decent positions.
A little shout out for Liam Lawson, P6! The best result out of all the Red Bull cars! A lovely result for the Racing Bulls driver, hopefully he can score some points this weekend.
As for Verstappen, he qualified 7th, not the best result at all for the Dutchman, he also got hindered by the late yellow flag in the session, he has a lot of work to do if he wants to get on the podium at least.
Another little shout out for Gabriel Bortoleto! P8 for the Kick Sauber driver, his best qualifying result so far, he will be hoping to score some points aswell.
The FIA World Motor Sport Council has confirmed that a request to grant F2 driver and Red Bull Junior Arvid Lindblad a Super Licence prior to his 18th birthday has been granted.
It was previously stated in the rules that, for a driver to obtain either a Friday practice Super Licence or a Super Licence to compete in a Grand Prix, they had to be at least 18 years old and hold a valid driving licence.
However, adjustments were made to the FIA International Sporting Code last year, removing the clause that necessitated a valid driving licence as well as adding the line: At the sole discretion of the FIA, a driver judged to have recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition may be granted a Super Licence at the age of 17 years old.
The tweak to the rules allowed for Kimi Antonelli – who did not pass his driving test until January of this year – to get his Super Licence last year and compete in FP1 sessions for Mercedes prior to making his full-time debut this season.
Now 17 year old Lindblad has become the latest youngster to be granted a Super Licence, meaning that he would be eligible to compete in an F1 race weekend.
The FIA has received a request to grant a Super Licence to Arvid Lindblad prior to his 18th birthday. After considering the information presented in support of this request, the World Council found that the driver has recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition and therefore approved the request. The FIA on the decision.
Lindblad is currently competing in his debut Formula 2 campaign for Campos Racing and sits third in the Drivers’ Championship, having achieved two race victories and one pole position so far.
Prior to this, the British driver finished fourth during his sole F3 season in 2024 after climbing the ranks in junior categories, a rise that saw him win the Macau F4 World Cup race at the end of 2023.
McLaren have confirmed that Formula 2 standings leader, Alex Dunne will take part in Free Practice 1 at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix.
Dunne, a member of the McLaren Driver Development Programme since May 2024, will get behind the wheel of the MCL39 in the weekend’s opening session in place of Lando Norris, in which he becomes the first Irish driver to take part in an F1 weekend for 22 years.
The 19 year old currently races for Rodin Motorsport in F2, as he sits three points ahead of second placed Richard Verschoor in the standings, while he also serves as Reserve and Development Driver for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team.
Dunne began karting at eight years old, and secured his first European karting title in the 2019 WSK Champions Cup OKJ Category. He then made his single-seater debut in the 2021 Spanish F4 Championship, securing pole position and a podium on his debut.
In his 2022 season, he picked up a combined 16 race wins whilst competing in the British, UAE and Italian Formula 4 Championships, earning him the British F4 Championship, before going on to earn the vice-champion title in the GB3 Championship the following year.
Dunne then moved onto Formula 3 for 2024 with MP Motorsport, where he finished 14th in the Drivers’ Standings, before stepping up to F2 this season.
It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to drive during FP1 in Austria. I’m really looking forward to getting laps in behind the wheel of the MCL39 and supporting the team with the setup for the race weekend ahead. I’ve been preparing well for the sessions, taking part in Testing of Previous Cars tests in the MCL60 and spending time on the simulator, which has been a fantastic learning experience. Thank you to Zak [Brown], Andrea [Stella] and Alessandro [Alunni Bravi] for their faith in me. It’s a great step within my development with the McLaren Driver Development Programme, and I’m really excited to join the team trackside. Dunne on the news.
It’s great to be able to give Alex the opportunity to run in Free Practice 1, and for him to get valuable time behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car as part of his development. The team are pleased to be working with him more closely, and for his support across the weekend, where he will be providing useful feedback to help with the car’s set-up. The rookie sessions are fantastic for seeing the talent of tomorrow and enabling that rare chance to get time in a current car, so we look forward to seeing him on track. McLaren Team Principal, Andrea Stella.
Dino Beganovic will be driving for Ferrari in replacement of Charles Leclerc, in the first free practice session at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.
It marks the second time that Beganovic has replaced Leclerc so far this season, with the Monegasque also making way in FP1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix in April.
Beganovic is currently competing in his first full season of F2, with the Hitech GP team, claiming two podium finishes across the opening 12 races of 2025. The Swedish driver is a champion in Formula Regional European as well as being a race winner in Formula 3.
The 21 year old has been a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2020, and took his first steps in F1 machinery this year, representing the Scuderia in a TPC (Testing of Previous Car) test in Barcelona in January.
The NEOM McLaren Formula E Team has announced that McLaren Driver development programme and F1 Academy driver Ella Lloyd will take part in the Berlin Rookie Test, on Monday 14th July.
Ella, from Wales, began racing competitively in the Ginetta Junior Championship before competing in the Ginetta GT Championship the following year, finishing vice-champion.
At the beginning of 2024, Ella competed in the Formula Winter Series, securing the Female Driver Trophy multiple times. She competed in British F4, completing the season with three P2 result, one P3 and multiple points finishes.
In October last year, Ella joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme and represents the team in the 2025 F1 Academy season. Her participation in the series has already proved fruitful with a race victory in Jeddah, 3 more podiums to her name and 67 points overall from just four race weekends. Alongside her F1 Academy programme, Ella is laso competing in her second season of British F4.
Berlin will mark Ella’s second opportunity in Gen3 Evo machinery, following her first outing at the Season 11 pre-season Women’s test in Madrid, where she impressed the team with her feedback and ability to get to grips with the machinery quickly.
I’m really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the GEN3 Evo car again with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. I learnt so much at the Women’s Test in Madrid and I’m excited to have another opportunity to get out on track and put all the preparation I’ve been doing in the simulator into practice. Lloyd on the news.
Ella is a very exciting young talent, and I’m thrilled that she will be back in the GEN3 Evo at the Berlin Rookie Test. Having worked alongside her over the course of this season, Ella’s professionalism and eagerness to learn left an impression on the whole team. I’m sure that she will continue to build on her knowledge and experience when we head out to Berlin. Ian James, Team Principal.
Formula E and the FIA have announced the first provisional calendar for the 2025-26 season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship following validation from the FIA’s World Motorsport Council Meeting.
Featuring its most expensive season yet with 18 races across 12 global cities, highlights include new races in Madrid and Miami’s International Autodrome for the first time.
The all-electric series’ record-breaking 12th season begins on 6th December 2025 on the vibrant streets of Sao Paulo, before the championship returns to Mexico City in January.
Formula E then makes its first race appearance at the Miami International Autodrome on 31st January. February sees a nighttime double-header under the lights in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. While Madrid debuts on the calendar in March at the historic Circuito de Madrid-Jarama – the first time Formula E has race in the Spanish capital.
Returning venues including Berlin, Tokyo and Shanghai, each hosting double header race weekends, while Monaco continues its role as the jewel in the crown of motorsport, hosting back to back races on the iconic street circuit, only the second time it has hosted World Championship races on consecutive days after it debuted earlier in May this year.
The season concludes once more in London, with a climatic double-header at the Excel on 15th – 16th August 2026 that will round out the end of the GEN3 Evo era.
Two further locations to complete the calendar are awaiting public confirmation, as end-stage negotiations are ongoing with local authorities ahead of forthcoming World Motorsport Council Meetings later in the year, when the final calendar will be revealed and ratified.
This calendar is our most competitive yet, blending exciting new and existing venues with legendary circuits that define Formula E. With greater attention on calendar stability, we’re becoming easier to find, engage with and attend, unlocking greater fan loyalty and love. Our debut in Madrid and increase in total races demonstrates our mission and intent to continually grow the series in key markets, while racing at Miami’s International Autodrome takes our US presence to another level at a world-class facility. As we continue to see year-on-year growth of our global fanbase and TV audiences, this calendar is certain to deliver even more exciting racing from our top tier drivers and teams for our fans to get behind. Jeff Dodds, CEO Formula E.
We’re incredibly proud of the global footprint we’ve built for our 12th season, covering 2025-26. With at least two fantastic new circuits joining the impressive roster, including what will be a home race for myself in Madrid that has long been a goal of mine, we’re enhancing the diversity of what fans can expect while staying true to our DNA with a blend of city street and built circuit venues. It is what makes our racing so exciting and compelling to watch. We’ve carefully curated each leg to minimise our freight, improve sustainability and give fans across the world even more opportunity to tune in and watch no matter the time zone, thanks to our fantastic roster of broadcast partners. Alberto Longo, Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer of Formula E.
The Season 12 calendar provides a world-class platform to showcase Formula E at its very best whilst offering a balanced presence in different regions, especially in those where the EV industry is developing. With an excellent mix of new circuit venues and returning street racing classics, fans can expect an action-packed season that reflects Formula E’s continued growth and innovation in electric motorsport. The variety of track layouts will also ensure diversified race scenarios with the GEN3 Evo race car. Marek Nawarecki, Director, FIA Circuit Sport Department.
Nissan Formula E Team’s Reserve and Simulator Driver, Sergio Sette Camara will be making his first appearance for the team at the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Berlin E-Prix on 12th-13th July.
He will be filling in for Norman Nato, who will be absent due to his World Endurance Championship commitments.
Sette Camara has 66 Formula E races to his name, since he made his debut in 2020. The 27 year old joined Nisan ahead of Season 11, and has been working in the team’s simulator and development car throughout the season so far.
The race weekend will mark Sette Camara’s first official outing for the squad in the Nissan e-4ORCE 05. He will be looking to help the team continue its excellent form so far this season.
It’s a shame Norman can’t be with us in Berlin, but we’re delighted to have Sérgio stepping in. Sérgio’s extensive experience in Formula E and his time with the team this season make him the best-placed driver to step in and take on this challenge. Formula E is a unique series and, as we’ve seen in the championship in recent seasons, it can be difficult for drivers to come in and immediately be on the pace due to the specificities of the cars, tires and energy management. However, we are confident we have the best man for the job and look forward to seeing what he can do on track in Berlin. Tommasso Volpe, Managing Director & Team Principal.
I’m excited to race for the Nissan Formula E Team in Berlin. It’s a good opportunity for me to step into one of the leading cars in the championship, something I haven’t experienced before in this series, and I feel ready to give my all. Even in my role as reserve driver, it’s been a pleasure to be part of a team with such a strong, winning mentality. The environment at Nissan is one that pushes you to grow, and just being around it is motivating. Being back on the grid is special, but doing it with Nissan does make it more meaningful. In regards to the race itself, there are a number of firsts I’ll have to face in Berlin. The pit-boost and the all-wheel-drive system introduced for GEN3 EVO car are a couple of them, as well as the new softer tire spec, but I’ll do plenty of laps on the simulator and try to arrive as prepared as I possibly can. I’m also really keen to team up with Oli, he’s a driver I’ve always admired for his speed and he’s proven that so far this year with his incredible performances. It’s a great chance for me to learn from him, we get on well and I’m confident we will work together strongly in Berlin. Sergio Sette Camara on the news.
Mercedes’ Doriane Pin steered clear of trouble in Montreal to deliver her third win in six races and snatched the lead of the Drivers’ Standings.
The French racer had a front-row view to contact between polesitter Chloe Chamber and her teammate Alisha Palmowski, taking advantage of the contact to seize the lead and withstanding a Safety Car restart to take home the win.
Ella Lloyd also capitalised on the chaos, turning a P7 start into a P2 finish, whilst Kick Sauber’s Emma Felbermayr put together a mature performance to earn her first F1 Academy podium.
Chambers aced her launch at lights out, allowing her to keep her teammate Palmowski behind on the run down to Turn 1. Pin and Nobels went side-by-side but it was Lloyd on the move, going almost three-wide with Nobels and Felbermayr to get through to fourth.
Benefitting from the tow, Palmowski piled the pressure on Chambers. Refusing to give up, the Red Bull Racing driver gambled on a move inside of Turn 1, which didn’t pay off. Locking up on entry, the two collided, sending Palmowski into a spin and leaving Chamber leading, albeit with a broken front wing.
Pin capitalised on the incident, sailing past the stricken Red Bull Ford car and into the lead. Chambers fought back valiantly to hit the front again momentarily until her front wing detached, with the American driver forced to pit for repairs.
Making the most of the clear air, Pin escaped down the road, building up a gap of over a second to Lloyd by Lap 6.
Meanwhile, Maya Weug’s Montreal weekend went from bad to worse, as the Ferrari driver made multiple trips to the pits as an issue continued to plague her car.
Trying to salvage some points from the race, Palmowski clawed her way back into the top 10. Attempting to make her way through on Chloe Chong, the Brit found the door firmly shut until Lap 10. After Palmowski lunged up the inside of the hairpin at the last second, Chong utilised the slipstream to repay the favour.
Missing the final corner, the Charlotte Tilbury driver had to give the place back as behind the pair, Wild Card driver, Matilda Paatz hit the wall and triggered the Safety Car.
With Pin’s 1.8 second lead wiped away, the Mercedes driver bunched the pack together as she brought them back up to racing speed heading into Lap 15. Catching Lloyd off guard, Pin pulled clear of the McLaren driver, who had to fend off an attack from her Rodin teammate.
Further back, Rafaela Ferreira and Alba Larsen battled over P6. A huge lock-up for the Racing Bulls driver forced to take the escape road. Carrying too much speed on the exit, the Brazilian collided with the side of Chong. Meanwhile. contact between Joanne Ciconte and Courtney Crone sent the Haas spinning off at the hairpin, bringing out the Safety Car again.
With only two laps remaining, Pin drew the race to a close behind the Safety Car to take a 24 point lead in the standings.
The full top 10 are- P1: Pin, P2: Lloyd, P3: Felbermayr, P4: Gademan, P5: Block, P6: Larsen, P7: Hausmann, P8: Palmowski, P9: Chamber and P10: Anagnostiadis.
Race 2-
After being disqualified from her first F1 Academy podium earlier on in the day, Emma Felbermayr avenged the result during Race 2 in Canada, sealing a maiden victory in a frenetic final lap sprint to the chequered flag.
Nina Gademan came within half a lap of victory, but a late Safety Car left the Alpine driver vulnerable and she couldn’t hold on as Felbermayr and Ella Lloyd snuck past to deliver a 1-2 finish for Rodin Motorsport.
Reverse grid pole sitter, Chloe Chong initially held firm off the line as Gademan stuck close behind in second. Felbermayr, Lloyd and Tina Hausmann almost went three-wide at the start after the Kick Sauber driver squeezed across to the right, with Lloyd managing to slip into third.
Spotting her opportunity a few corners later, Gademan dived up the inside of Chong who left the door open long enough to enable Lloyd and Felbermayr to follow through.
Felbermayr made up another place on Lap 2, utilising the sliptstream to swoop past Lloyd, who had no time to fight back as she tried to fend off Doriane Pin. At the same time, Chambers risked a move of her own on the Mercedes driver on Lap 5. Going side-by-side into Turn 2, the Red Bull Ford driver spun across the run-off and tumbled down to P14.
Pin then tried to overtake Lloyd at the final chicane, but both cut the corner. Although, the Mercedes emerged out in front, Pin was ordered over the radio to give the position back to Lloyd. Behind them, Tommy Hilfiger’s Alba Larsen made a move stick on Alisha Palmowski for fifth.
Out front, Gademan had built a comfortable 1.4 second-gap over Felbermayr, but was shown the black and white flag for track limits.
After swapping positions with Lloyd on the next lap, Larsen tried to take advantage with a late-braking move into the hairpin. Tapping the rear right of Pin’s car, the Mercedes driver was lucky to hold on to fourth, with the Dane shown the black and white flag for the contact.
Fortunately her MP Motorsport teammate Maya Weug, was able to pull off the lunge on Aurelia Nobels in eighth. The Puma driver fought back with the slip stream but didn’t have enough room, banging wheels into the final chicane and sending Nobels skidding over the run-off.
Lloyd and Pin’s battle continued, with the Mercedes driver skipping over the final corner and emerging out in front. Yielding the place back to the Mclaren driver left her vulnerable to Larsen, who pounced at the same corner one lap later to snatch fourth away.
Gademan’s lead out front was steadily being chipped away by Felbermayr to under eight tenths until contact between Hitech TGR teammates Nicola Havrda and Aiva Anagnostiadis necessitated a Safety Car on Lap 14.
Left with one racing lap, Gademan went early in her sprint to the line. Sticking with her, Felbermayr dived to inside of the Dutch driver at Turn 9 to take the lead, while Lloyd followed through snatching second at the hairpin.
With only a few turns to go, Felbermayr was in a race against time. Bouncing over the kerb at the final corner, the Austrian managed to keep her foot to the floor to take the chequered flag first.
Race 3-
Chloe Chambers stayed in full control in Canada to convert pole position into her first victory of the 2025 season. Fending off McLaren’s Ella Lloyd, the Red Bull Ford driver mastered two Safety Car restarts to deliver a lights-to-flag win.
Lloyd secured her third consecutive second place finish in Montreal, whilst Pin recovered from a tricky opening lap to secure third.
The Campos Racing duo of Chambers and Palmowski once again lined up on the front row, with polesitter Chambers holding firm off the line. A rapid start from fourth placed Lloyd put her alongside Palmowski through the first chicane.
The pair banged wheels on the run to Turn 3, sending Palmowski spinning. Pin narrowly avoided being collected despite a knock to her front wing but dropped down to P5 behind PREMA teammates Hausmann and Gademan.
Contact ensued further back after Wild Card Mathilda Paatz lost it out of Turn 7 and crashed into the path of Aiva Anagnostiadis necessitating a Safety Car by the end of the lap. Returning to green flag conditions on Lap 8, Chambers floored it into the final chicane to put space between herself and Lloyd. Pin fired her way past Hausmann on the restart, going later on the brakes at Turn 3.
Race 2 winner, Emma Felbermayr was also making moves, pulling off a quick dive past Chloe Chong for P6.
Lloyd kept the pressure on Chambers, setting the fastest lap heading into lap 9. Fighting over the podium, Pin got the tow on Hausmann to breeze past the Aston Martin driver for third, whilst Maya Weug sought to salvage a result from her unlucky weekend.
Another Safety Car was called after Lia Block misjudged her braking into Turn 8 as she tried to get past Rafaela Ferreira for the final point on Lap 10.
Chambers pulled off a near identical restart on Lap 13, but Lloyd has sussed it out already and stayed close to the American.
Larsen tried to go round the outside of Chloe Chong for P5, but the Tommy Hilfiger driver left the door open for Weug. Banging wheels at Turn 3, it was the Ferrari driver who emerged in front as Larsen dropped down to 8th.
Palmwoski then pounced, demoting Larsen down another place before diving past Gademan at Turn 10 for seventh.
The Safety Car would make a third and final appearance after contact on Lap 14 between Courtney Crone and Felbermayr under braking left the Haas car facing the wrong way.
As the race approached the 30 minute mark, there was not enough time to get back to green flag racing, allowing Chambers to take the chequered flag for the win with Lloyd and Pin completing the podium.
Jordan's Track Talk 