Trident have announced their first driver signing for the 2025 season with Charlie Wurz set to join the Italian outfit ahead of his second campaign in FIA Formula 3.
Wurz spent his rookie F3 campaign with Jenzer Motorsport, scoring a season high P5 in Melbourne Feature Race and finishing 22nd overall in the standings.
Prior to that, the 18 year old completed several title-winning campaigns, earning the 2022 Formula 3 UAE Championship and the 2024 Formula Regional Oceania Championship.
Speaking following the announcement of his move to Trident, Wurz spoke of his excitement at joining the title winning team.
I am really happy to have signed with Trident and to race with the team that has won the last two FIA Formula 3 Championships in 2025. The team’s track record could not be more prestigious. I’ve already developed a great chemistry with the team, as we share the same drive and desire to win. I know I have a lot to learn from them. I am already training for next year and cannot wait to get started. Wurz on the news.
We are thrilled to announce that Austrian driver Charlie Wurz is joining the Trident Motorsport family. Charlie is an intelligent and fast driver. As he embarks on his second year in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, we are confident that he will perform exceptionally well in our colours. We look forward to working with him during the post-season tests. Giacomo Ricci, Team Manager.
New Zealander Liam Lawson will be replacing Daniel Ricciardo at RB alongside Yuki Tsunoda for the remainder of the season.
Red Bull and RB confirmed Ricciardo would be leaving the team and expressed their gratitude for his efforts across two stints with the Red Bull family.
Ricciardo returned to a Formula 1 race seat last year in Hungary with AlphaTauri and stayed on when they became RB for this season. Ricciardo scored points on five occasions, including a superb fourth in the Sprint in Miami, and sits 14th in the drivers’ standings, 10 points behind teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
However, his form hasn’t been enough to convince the Red Bull family to keep him on. It remains unclear what the future holds for Ricciardo but it’s very unlikely to involve a race seat on the 2025 Formula 1 grid.
RB then announced Lawson would step up from his reserve role, which he’s held since 2022 starting with the upcoming United States Grand Prix in Austin.
Lawson first made his Grand Prix debut at Zandvoort last year as a super sub for injured Ricciardo. The 22 year old delivered an impressive set of results across a five race period, including his first points with ninth at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Everyone here at VCARB would like to thank Daniel for his hard work across the last two seasons with us. He has brought a lot of experience and talent to the Team with a fantastic attitude, which has helped everyone to develop and foster a tight team spirit. Daniel has been a true gentleman both on and off the track and never without that smile. He will be missed, but will always hold a special place within the Red Bull family. I’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome Liam. He already knows the Team well. He drove for us last season, and coped well under difficult circumstances, so it’ll be a natural transition. It’s great to see young talent from within the Red Bull family make the next step. We’re looking forward to getting our heads down and focusing on the rest of the season together. Laurent Mekies on the news.
Lola Yamaha ABT will enter its first ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season with one of the grid’s most exciting driver pairings, having confirmed rookie Zane Maloney as the teammate of Lucas di Grassi.
In combining the driver with the most races in championship history with the rookie confirmed, the team underscores its intent to shake up the status quo and drive the next generation of motorsport talent and technology.
Born and raised in Barbados, Maloney’s blossoming career has already seen him win the British Formula 4 Championship, finish runner-up in the FIA Formula 3 Championship and was named FIA Rookie of the Year in 2022.
The 20 year old is currently third in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, and is also a reserve driver for Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber. A reserve and development driver for the Andretti team since 2023, Maloney already has experience completing several tests.
Maloney has already joined the team for testing in Varano, Italy and in the new car in Spain last week.
The eleventh ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season kicks off in Sao Paulo on 7th December. In early November, all teams will gather in Valencia, Spain for the only official test sessions.
We’re delighted to welcome Zane to the team for the upcoming Formula E season, completing our driver pairing as one of the most exciting on next season’s grid. Zane is a hugely talented young driver with an abundance of speed and potential and, alongside Lucas, we have an ideal combination of youth and experience. Zane has demonstrated his abilities in a variety of junior categories and proven himself as a race winner, and we’re looking forward to seeing him get behind the wheel in testing, and then at round one in São Paulo. Till Bechtolsheimer, Chairman of Lola Cars.
We are very much looking forward to having Zane as part of the team for Season 11, and he has already brought a breath of fresh air during our first days working together. Giving young talent a chance and supporting them has been a strong tradition at ABT for many decades and that’s why it was clear to us that we would also follow this path in Formula E. ABT CEO, Thomas Biermaier.
I am delighted to be part of the Lola Yamaha ABT team and looking forward to this exciting challenge. Although I already know the championship well, this is a completely new chapter for me, so working with such an experienced team, and alongside such a successful driver, is the perfect next step. I’ve followed and admired Lucas’s battles over the past seasons, including when he became champion. I’m sure that I will learn a lot from him and together we will push both ourselves and the development of the car forward. Maloney on the news.
McLaren have announced the signing of Red Bull’s Head of Strategy, Will Courtenay as their new Sporting Director.
Courtenay will be leaving Red Bull after two decades with the team, having joined them when they raced as Jaguar before the operation was brought by the energy drinks firm.
His signing is part of McLaren’s strengthening of their senior leadership team, with Courtenay set to report into Racing Director Randeep Singh.
But McLaren will have to wait a little under two years for Courtenay to join, though with Red Bull saying he “continues to be part of their team seeing out his contract until mid-2026”.
Courtenay is the third senior member of staff to choose to leave Red Bull in the last six months. Design guru Adrian Newey is set to leave to become Managing Technical Partner at Aston Martin while Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley is to become Team Principal at Audi next season.
Red Bull has since restructured the team following Wheatley’s departure, with a series of changes headlined by Verstappen’s race engineer Giapiero Lambiase becoming Head of Racing.
Courtenay will now team up with former Red Bull colleague Rob Marshall at McLaren, with Marshall as chief designer.
We are delighted to welcome Will to McLaren. His experience, professionalism and passion for motorsport make him the ideal candidate to lead our F1 sporting function. We are now entering a key phase in our journey as a team, and we are confident that he will be a great addition to our strong leadership team as we strive to continue challenging for wins and championships. Andrea Stella, Team Principal on the news.
Will Courtenay to join McLaren Formula 1 Team as Sporting Director.
Envision Racing are pleased to confirm an unchanged driver line-up for Season 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Sebastien Buemi and Robin Frijns will continue with the team for Season 11.
After a campaign of highs and lows, both Buemi and Frijns ended Season 10 in extremely positive fashion – bringing home three podiums across the final four races.
Buemi and Frijns are among the most experienced drivers in Formula E, having competed in 229 races in the championship, with 99 of those while driving for Envision.
The team is one of the most successful in the sport, having accumulated more podium finishes (53) and points (1723) through 10 seasons than any other competitor.
In the closing stages of Season 10, Frijns secured a double podium weekend in Portland, where he brought home two second place finishes. This was then followed by teammate Buemi clinching the final step of the podium in London. The team finished sixth in the overall Teams’ World Championship standings.
It’s great to have continuity in our driver line-up as Sébastien and Robin lead us into Season 11. Despite Season 10 not being our strongest year, we are confident that the momentum we gained in the closing rounds can be taken into next season and put us back where we want to be. Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director & CTO of Envision Racing.
As a team, we improved significantly towards the end of last season to get back to the front of the grid, and the results showed this. We will continue to push to ensure that we head to Sao Paulo with the same level of competitiveness. Buemi on the news.
I started off Season 10 relatively strong, with a podium in Round 3, however it took some time to adjust to the new car and style of racing. We worked extremely hard to make that adjustment and by the end were fighting at the front again, so our focus now is on continuing that into next season. Frijns added.
Formula 1 and governing body the FIA have announced that the Bahrain International Circuit will be hosting three days of pre-season testing in 2025 on February 26th – 28th.
The track has hosted pre-season testing on six separate occasions since 2009, with its consistent weather conditions, mixture of high and low speed corners, and two long straights enabling F1 teams to gather maximum data for the campaign ahead.
Arriving on the calendar back in 2004, Bahrain was the Middle Eastern venue to host an F1 race and celebrated its 20th anniversary with the 2024 edition of the event.
In the 20 years since the first Grand Prix the 5.41km circuit has delivered nine winners from five different teams, with Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc all claiming victory from the current grid.
The 24 round 2025 F1 season – which will mark 75 years of Formula 1 – is set to kick off with the Australian Grand Prix from March 14th – 16th and conclude with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the weekend of December 5th – 7th, taking in trips to five of the world’s seven continents.
Campos Racing have confirmed their first driver for the 2025 FIA Formula 2 season, with Arvid Lindblad making the step up from Formula 3.
The Brit finished his rookie F3 campaign fourth for PREMA Racing, where he took four race victories including a clean sweep at Silverstone to become the first driver in Championship history to achieve this feat.
Prior to Formula 3, the Red Bull Junior competed in Italian F4 finishing third overall in his first full campaign, taking six wins, four poles and 10 podiums.
Lindblad said he was eager to get started with his new team ahead of the promotion to F2.
Super excited to be joining Campos Racing in FIA F2 for 2025. The team has had an amazing season so far and can’t wait to start working together. I look forward to joining the long list of drivers that have raced for the team in the past and be a part of its heritage and the legacy of Mr. Adrián Campos. The team seems very passionate, hungry and motivated to win. They’ll give me the tools and knowledge to continue to develop as a driver as we push each other to improve. I want to say thank you to everyone at Red Bull, the Junior Team and Campos Racing for the opportunity. I can’t wait to get started! Lindblad on the news.
We are happy to have a driver like Arvid in our ranks for 2025, as he has immense talent, and we are sure that together we have very important goals ahead. We have the winter months to work ensuring he is as prepared as possible for his debut next season. We will bring all our experience to make his transition as smooth and successful as possible. Adrian Campos Jr, Team Principal.
McLaren reserve driver Pato O’Ward will be getting behind the wheel of the MCL38 in front of his home crowd during FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The Mexican driver – who has been dovetailing his role as reserve with his driving duties for Arrow McLaren in IndyCar – will be getting the opportunity due to F1 teams being required to run a young driver in two FP1 sessions per season.
O’Ward, who earned promotion to McLaren’s reserve driver pool for the 2024 season, has had experience of F1 machinery before having taken part in several development tests in the team’s 2021 car.
The 25 year old has also driven in the 2021 young driver test in Abu Dhabi and also drove in FP1 at both the 2022 and 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekends.
The Mexican finished 5th in Indy Car this year with 3 wins to his name and 460 points aswell.
The Mexico City Grand Prix weekend takes place from October 25th – 27th with McLaren currently leading the constructors’ championship as well as battling Red Bull in the drivers’ championship too.
I’ve got some pretty exciting news to tell you all today. I will be joining McLaren Formula 1 at the Mexican Grand Prix but this time around I will be jumping in the car for FP1. I cannot wait, this really is a dream come true for me – being able to jump into an F1 car in front of my home crowd. I can’t thank Andrea [Stella], Zak [Brown] – the whole team – enough for this amazing opportunity. The car’s been a rocket this year so [I’ll be] trying to do my part and help them as much as I can for the rest of the year. Can’t wait to get going and I’m actually flying over to Europe at the end of this week to start all my Formula 1 duties. I can’t wait. O’Ward on the news.
Nissan will pair Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato for the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Following a fruitful partnership in the Gen2 era, Rowland enjoyed a strong Season 10 with the team. The British driver took two victories, including a home win in the final race of the year. In addition to two Julius Baer Pole Positions and five further podiums on his way to fourth in the standings.
Not only this, Formula E race winner, Norman Nato will be returning to the Japanese squad, having previously raced in cherry blossom during Season 9 (2022/23).
The French driver was a regular in the points, securing the team’s first podium finish under full Nissan ownership at the 2023 Rome E-Prix. Nato will be replacing Sacha Fenestraz.
I’m excited to continue with Nissan Formula E Team after a very strong year. It’s been great to have some time off, I’ve been training and working with the team which has been positive. For next season we need to try and bring more consistency to all elements of our race weekends, whether that’s in qualifying or car development. Last year, we executed some races perfectly, so for this season we have to maintain that progress and improve the small bits we can to continue moving further up the order. I’ve known Norman for a few years, he’s very experienced and knows the team well, and I’m looking forward to working together. The GEN3 Evo car will be a challenge for everyone on the grid, so it’s a chance for us to maximize our performance and start the season on the front foot. I also want to give my best to Sacha, I enjoyed working with him during Season 10 and hope to see him back on the grid soon. Rowland on the news.
I’m really happy to be back with the team. We ended Season 9 strongly together and I’m looking to pick up where we left off. We will be aiming to perform straight away, so the fact I know the car and the team will be helpful. Oli proved how quick he is last season, we’ve been battling on track since Formula Renault 2.0 but never been teammates! I’m sure we will get along well and hopefully we can share some podiums together. It will be interesting to see how the car has improved, and the goal is clear. We want to win races and championships. Finally, I wish Sacha all the best, he’s a top guy and it’s never easy to replace someone you previously partnered with. I’m sure we will be racing each other again very soon. Nato on the news.
We’re excited for Season 11 after a very good performance in the last campaign. We’ve refreshed our driver line-up by welcoming back Norman, who will bring his wealth of experience and performance. Norman knows the team well and showed his talent when he was previously with us. His feedback and insight are valuable and he has a track record of developing cars, so we are delighted to see him return. Oli had a fantastic Season 10, and we’re confident he can continue at that level. We believe that Norman and Oli will form a strong pairing, both are team players and will do their best to help us improve throughout the upcoming year. At the same time and while it hasn’t been an easy decision, we have to say goodbye to Sacha. He has been a fundamental part of the establishment and development of Nissan Formula E Team, and we thank him for his hard work and his ever positive attitude. We’re proud to have grown together with him, and wish him all the best for his future career. Tommaso Volpe, Managing Director and Team Principal.
Porsche will again field our newest Champion Pascal Wehrlein alongside Season 6 title-winner Antonio Felix da Costa in Formula E Season 11.
Season 10 was beyond memorable for the German giants, as Wehrlein steered the team to a maiden Formula E title in the London finale. Crowning a best season to date in electric motorsport’s top tier since the Stuggart marque joined the fold back in 2019/20.
The team wound up second in the Teams’ running, just four points shy of winner Jaguar TCS Racing, and finished second to the Jaguar squad in the Manufacturers’ Trophy.
Da Costa fought off mid-season speculation to tear to a storming run of four wins in five between Berlin and Portland to place him in title contention heading into London.
The pair will get behind of Porsche’s take on the Gen3 Evo – the latest evolution of Formula E car set to hit the track in Season 11 with a maiden outing coming at the Valencia test in November.
Aston Martin have announced they have signed Adrian Newey, with the Formula 1 design guru joining the team on a multi year deal as Managing Technical Partner.
Back in May, Red Bull announced Newey was leaving the reigning champions after almost 20 years which meant the British designer was officially on the market.
It triggered a flurry of conversations with rival teams – which include Aston Martin, Ferrari and Williams and ahead of the Azerbaijan Aston Martin announced they’d won the fight.
Newey will be joining on March 1st 2025, which will be in time to have an impact on the 2026 car that will be built to new regulations including a new power unit formula.
He will have access to a brand new factory, including a new wind tunnel and in loop simulator. With also integrating a new works power unit supplier in the shape of Honda.
I am thrilled to be joining the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team. I have been hugely inspired and impressed by the passion and commitment that Lawrence brings to everything he is involved with. Lawrence is determined to create a world-beating team. He is the only majority team owner who is actively engaged in the sport. His commitment is demonstrated in the development of the new AMR Technology Campus and wind tunnel at Silverstone, which are not only state of the art but have a layout that creates a great environment to work in. Together with great partners like Honda and Aramco, they have all the key pieces of infrastructure needed to make Aston Martin a world championship-winning team and I am very much looking forward to helping reach that goal.
Newey on the news.
This is huge news. Adrian is the best in the world at what he does – he is at the top of his game – and I am incredibly proud that he is joining the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team. It’s the biggest story since the Aston Martin name returned to the sport and another demonstration of our ambition to build a Formula One team capable of fighting for world championships. As soon as Adrian became available, we knew we had to make it happen. Our initial conversations confirmed that there was a shared desire to collaborate in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Adrian is a racer and one of the most competitive people I have ever met. When he saw what we have built at Silverstone – our incredible AMR Technology Campus, the talented group of people we have assembled and the latest wind tunnel in the sport – he quickly understood what we are trying to achieve. We mean business – and so does he. Adrian shares our hunger and ambition, he believes in this project, and he will help us write the next chapter in Aston Martin Aramco’s Formula One story.
DS PENSKE have confirmed that Maximilian Guenther will drive for the team from Season 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
The German driver joins DS PENSKE’s double champion Jean-Eric Vergne driving for the team through the 2024/25 campaign.
Guenther first joined the team in Season 4, when team owner Jay Penske offered him a debut seat in the championship.
Since then, the 27 year old has gone on to secure five wins and 10 podiums across 83 races since, representing the likes of BMW Andretti and Maserati along the way.
Guenther’s teammate Vergne holds a number of records – including for most points scored in Formula E history, the Frenchman having been a part of 130 of 132 races since Season 1.
The team sealed four podiums and third place in the 2023/24 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, improving two berths on Season 9’s result.
I’m very happy to be joining DS PENSKE. A powerhouse in the championship and a project with strong vision. We share the same ambitions and are all driven to be at the top of Formula E. Representing DS Performance, a manufacturer which has won several championships already is a real privilege. Same for being teammate with a champion like Jean-Eric Vergne, it’s something I really look forward to. A very special element for me is to drive for Jay’s team again, he brought me into the championship when I was 20 years old. I’m proud to be part of the team and excited of what we will build together in the future. Guenther on the news.
Having Max on the team feels right. His calm under the pressure and make bold moves on the track will be a huge asset to the team. We share a common goal to push the team to the top of the standings. With our combined skills and determination, I am looking forward to a thrilling season ahead! Vergne on Guenther joining the team.
I am very excited to welcome Max back to DS PENSKE. His undeniable talent makes him a perfect fit for our ambitious objectives this season. His race craft is extraordinary, he combines a cool, strategic mindset with a fierce determination on track. Competing alongside Jean-Eric Vergne, the talented driver with most front-row positions last season, we are more driven than ever to achieve our championship goals. PENSKE AUTOSPORT concluded Season 10 of Formula E with a solid third place in the Teams’ championship. The Team is eager to build on past successes and continue their pursuit of excellence in the series’. Penske on the news.
Alpine’s Abbi Pulling started as she means to go around the Marina Bay Street Circuit, ending Free Practice fastest of all. The only driver to set a time inside the 2:03s, the standings leader kept building a gap over the pack.
The 16 drivers made the most out of every second of the 30 minute session as they began acclimatising to both the track and humidity.
Doriane Pin set the early benchmark with a 2:11.332 whilst Wild Card Ella Lloyd brought out a brief yellow flag after stopping momentarily on track.
As the track rubbered in, times continued to tumble. Pin went fastest once more, but only momentarily as PREMA Racing teammate Maya Weug utilised the tow to pull out an advantage of over one second. The trio traded personal best efforts and Weug responded quickly.
Drivers were all finding the limit and discovering how the Singaporean streets punish mistakes. A spin from Jessica Edgar saw the American Express driver tap the barrier at Turn 8.
Inside the final 12 minutes, Pulling became the first driver to go below the 2:04s mark, going over four tenths faster than Weug.
Track evolution allowed the field to push until the end, as purple and green sectors littered the timing screens. As Pulling went fastest again on a 2:04.648, Marti climbed up into second.
Pin returned to the top spot in the final minute, but it would be Pulling who’d take the chequered flag first and leapfrog the Mercedes driver into P1, setting a 2:03.993.
Qualifying-
Abbi Pulling overcame a three-way fight with Maya Weug and Doriane Pin to seize both pole positions on offer around the Singaporean streets.
The trio traded personal bests throughout the session, but it was the Alpine driver who emerged triumphant, posting an unbeatable 2:03.631 with five minutes left on the clock.
Nerea Marti opened qualifying on a 2:06.806 but the Tommy Hilfiger driver’s initial exploration was swiftly beaten by Pulling.
The Brit’s pace continued to build, as her second flying lap of a 2:04.662 launched her almost five tenths clear. Weug and Pin each demoted her in turn, before Pulling responded with a 2:04.335 to go top by 0.040s.
As the Campos Racing and ART trio led the field peeling into the pits, there was a nervous moment for Amna Al Qubaisi as the RB driver span over the run-off in Sector 1.
Fining more grip on their second set of tyres, personal bests flooded in inside the final five minutes. Pulling re-emerged out in front posting a 2:03.631, whilst Weug became her nearest competitor.
Pulling couldn’t improve on her final attempts, but nobody could answer her previous attempt as Weug and Pin had to settle for second and third, 0.238s and 0.256s back, respectively.
A storming last gasp effort for Lia Block promoted her to fourth, her best qualifying result of the season so far!
The full top 10 are- Pole: Pulling, P2: Weug, P3: Pin, P4: Block, P5: H Al Qubaisi, P6: Chambers, P7: Marti, P8: Lloyd, P9: Bustamante and P10: Schreiner.
There are around seven thousand kilometres separating Baku and Singapore and the entire Formula 1 circus has just tackled it. This is the first time these two races have been run back-to-back.
The dry weather compounds chosen for 15th running of the Singapore Grand Prix of the Singapore Grand Prix are the same as last year’s and in face the same as at the past two races at Monza and Baku, C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), C5 (Soft).
The circuit was modified last year with the aim of making it flow better, but it is still one of the twistiest of the season. Its length is now down to 4.940 kilometres so that the number of laps has been increased to 62.
In the final sector, between what used to include turns 16 to 19, a 400 metre straight has replaced them so that the number of corners has been reduced from 23 to 19.
As with all street circuits, the slightest mistake in Singapore comes at a high price, given there are very few run-off areas and running a fraction off-line can see you in the barriers. Therefore the Safety Car is a common sight here especially as it takes quite a while to remove a stricken car from the track.
There are a few factors that make the one-stop is the only valid strategy: firstly the time lost for a tyre change pit stop is around 28 seconds, secondly overtaking on this track is complicated. A two-stop could only be considered in the event of the race being neutralised.
The dry weather compounds chosen for the 15th running of the Singapore GP are the same as last year’s and in fact the same as at the past two races at Monza and Baku: C3 as Hard, C4 as Medium and C5 as Soft. https://t.co/My1nD3sjAh#SingaporeGPpic.twitter.com/ZG7GIO5VGk
McLaren will be joining Mercedes and RB in running a one-off livery at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, having presented a Legend Reborn design with partner OKX.
Co-designed by McLaren and OKX, the livery celebrates the MP4 era of McLaren from 1981 to 1996, blending the classic stripe design with McLaren’s papaya colour scheme “as a way of honouring the heritage of the team”.
It was officially unveiled at an on track event in Singapore, prior to the race weekend getting under way, with McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown and drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in attendance.
The livery also honours legendary McLaren racers such as Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Niki Lauda, with the names of 13 iconic drivers from the era integrated into the livery on the cockpit.
The new livery drops a week after McLaren took the lead of the F1 constructors’ championship for the first time in a decade, with the Woking-based team jumping ahead of Red Bull after Piastri’s win on the streets of Azerbaijan.
It is fantastic to bring back our third bespoke livery in Singapore with OKX. Legend Reborn is a great way to celebrate and honour our iconic history, in a way that unites fans old and new. Following on from this year’s Senna campaign, this livery further embodies our partnership with OKX as we continue to deliver unique story telling campaigns for McLaren fans and OKX customers globally. Louise McEwen, Chief Marketing Officer, McLaren Racing.
Mercedes have unveiled a special livery that will adorn the W15 during the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend, featuring shades of green in place of the team’s traditional silver colours.
It is to mark the 50th anniversary of the squad’s technical and title partner PETRONAS, the company’s emerald green will replace most of the silver on the car’s front wing and sidepods.
With the PETRONAS headquarters based in Kuala Lumpur in the neighbouring Malaysia, Mercedes opted to mark the milestone as F1 heads to the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
The new look has earned praise from lewis Hamilton and George Russell, with both drivers looking forward to racing with the one-off livery under the lights.
After the race weekend, Wolff, Hamilton and Russell will travel to Kuala Lumpur to continue the celebrations.
Our partnership with PETRONAS is our longest standing and still going strong, and for any company to reach its 50th anniversary is an incredible milestone. Our partnership with PETRONAS is our longest standing and still going strong, and for any company to reach its 50th anniversary is an incredible milestone, Wolff on the livery.
F1 Academy has announced that British racer Ella Lloyd will join the grid as the Wild Card entry for Round 5.
Lloyd is currently competing in ROKiT FIA British Formula F4 with JHR Developments and has registered three podium finishes this season, sitting ninth in the standings out of 29.
Singapore will see her get behind the wheel of an F1 Academy car for the first time under the lights at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
The Wild Card initiative was introduced to help strengthen the talent pool in the regions in which F1 Academy races and prioritises talented young driver from each race region. At races where a driver from the local region is not available, the opportunity is made accessible to drivers from other regions who aspire to compete in F1 Academy in the future.
The 18 year old will compete in a special-edition livery and race suit to spotlight F1 Academy Discover Your Drive, the series’ global programme aimed at changing perceptions of motorsport and inspiring the next generation of female talent.
I am very excited and honoured to be given the opportunity to be the F1 ACADEMY Wild Card entry in Singapore. My hard work and dedication throughout my rookie season in single seaters have led me to this amazing moment in my career and I am looking forward to putting everything I have learned into practice and making the most of the weekend. I will show everyone what I can do behind the wheel while making the most of the experience and hopefully inspiring other young female drivers to push for their dreams. I would like to thank Susie Wolff, F1 ACADEMY and everyone involved for making this possible. Ella Lloyd on being the Wild Card Entry.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc made it four successive poles in a row at the Baku City Circuit.
Leclerc produced a blistering lap of 1m 41.365s to finish some three-tenths clear of Piastri in the final Q3 phase, adding to his 2021, 2022 and 2023 poles. He also had teammate Carlos Sainz round out the top three.
The full top 10 are – Pole: Leclerc, P2: Piastri, P3: Sainz, P4: Perez, P5: Russell, P6: Verstappen, P7: Hamilton, P8: Alonso, P9: Colapinto and P10: Albon.
What a result for Ferrari! Especially Leclerc taking pole, he loves this circuit so much so he will be wanting to grab the win today! It helps Sainz is in third, so hopefully the strategy will be good enough to get a double podium.
A semi decent day for McLaren’s drivers, a lovely result for Piastri P2, he will be looking for that win today aswell – so it will be an interesting fight between the two teams. However, Lando Norris was a shock Q1 exit he will be starting 17th which isn’t what the championship contender would have wanted. He has a lot of work to do in the race…
A decent result for Red Bull! Perez starts P4 which is a lovely result from the Mexican! He does love these streets, so don’t count him out in the race. Verstappen starts 6th – it could’ve been better but it also could’ve been worse.
Now onto the Silver Arrows, a decent qualifying for them! P5 for George and P7 for Hamilton, they will be looking to get a good haul of points this weekend.
Now onto Williams, what a performance!! Colapinto outperforms Albon and will be starting 9th and 10th respectively. Both drivers in Q3 for the first time this season. It will be interesting to see how Colapinto does this weekend with it being his second F1 race.
Bearman who is in for Haas this weekend was close to the top 10, the Brit will be starting P11 and will be looking to score more points aswell…
Round 17 is here and we are officially in the final third of the season at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
For the first time ever, the race takes place in September rather than the usual April or June and that will be the case next year aswell due to wanting to achieve a more logistically coherent calendar.
Pirelli has chosen the three softest compounds in the range C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), C5 (Soft).
The track is 6.003 kilometres in length and has pretty much unchanged since 2016, it features 20 corners.
Some of these, such as the first seven are practically right angle turns while others through the city are slow and some flat out.
The track also varies in width, going from seven metres at turn 8 to being wide enough to accommodate three cars abreast down the main straight.
The track evolution is an important factor as the circuit is normally open to city traffic not only that but the weather can also play a part. Usually it’s hotter in September, than the usual race in April. With track temperature varying around the race track depending on which parts are in sunlight or the shade from surrounding buildings.
Baku is a typically one-stop race, with the hardest tyre doing the majority of the work. Although a glance at the circuit layout may seem like overtaking is straightforward, but that is not always the way.
The final third of the season gets underway in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku. As usual for a street circuit Pirelli has chosen the three softest dry compounds in the range, namely the C3 as Hard, the C4 as Medium and the C5 as Soft. https://t.co/RMCKwgj04Dpic.twitter.com/UUi0Yj0zCu
PREMA Racing have confirmed that Gabriele Mini will replace Oliver Bearman for Round 12 of the FIA Formula 2 season. It will mark the Italian’s F2 debut.
Mini finished the 2024 Formula 3 campaign second in the standings with PREMA after narrowly missing out on the Drivers’ Championship to compatriot Leonardo Fornaroli.
He secured a race victory in the Monte Carlo Feature Race along with a further four podium finishes en route to P2 in the Standings.
The Alpine Academy driver said that he was looking forward to learning as much as possible about the car and the Championship across the weekend in Azerbaijan.
The 19 year old is expected to step up to an F2 seat next season, likely with Prema given both Mercedes-bound Antonelli and Bearman with Haas are both graduating to F1 for 2025.
He knows Prema very well as he competed for the team in the Italian F4 and ADAC F4 championship in 2020, before he went on to link up with Hitech and ART as he competed in Formula Regional competitions.
He then continued on with Hitech for his maiden F3 season last year, but rejoined Prema for the Macau Grand Prix, a relationship which continued into the recently ended F3 season.
Very happy to be joining PREMA Racing for the FIA Formula 2 event at Baku. We had a strong season in 2024, and we have been fighting for the title until the last corner. Formula 2 is the main option for 2024 so it’s also very important to join early at Baku. It’s a good opportunity for me to learn with the new car and series. Mini on the news.
We cannot wait to see Gabriele make his FIA Formula 2 debut. It’s very rewarding to see him graduate to the top junior single-seater series after making his very first steps with our team back in 2020. It will be a useful opportunity for both him and the team. On the other hand, we want to wish Ollie the best in his second Formula 1 start and we look forward to having him back for the final part of the year. Rene Rosin, PREMA Racing Team Principal.
Ollie Bearman will be standing in for Kevin Magnussen at Haas for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix following the Dane’s race ban for reaching the maximum 12 penalty points on his super licence.
Magnussen was handed a 10-second penalty and two penalty points when the stewards deemed he was “wholly to blame” for banging wheels with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly when trying a pass at the Italian Grand Prix.
With Bearman set to race full-time for Haas in 2025 alongside Esteban Ocon, the team decided to promote Bearman – who is dovetailing his role as reserve for both Haas and Ferrari aswell as his campaign in F2 this year – for the race in Baku.
It made the most sense for Haas to give Bearman the weekend in the Haas so he can familiarise himself with the team for a full weekend before he makes his debut.
It means Bearman who won his second F2 race of the season in Monza will be missing the F2 Sprint and Feature races in Baku.
The young Brit has been building up his F1 preparations with runs in FP1 for Haas this year, the fourth of six taking place in Hungary just before the summer break.
Magnussen can return back to his Haas for the following race in Singapore, as his Super Licence will be wiped clean of points.
It’s definitely more of a challenge stepping in to race as a reserve driver, with limited prep-time and so on, but I’m in the fortunate position of having done it earlier in the year with Scuderia Ferrari, so I can at least call on that experience. I’ve also had four FP1 sessions with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team in the VF-24 already this season, so undoubtedly that will also prove to be valuable in tackling the full race weekend in Baku. The team is in good form at the moment and I’ll do my best to be prepared with the time we have available. The aim is to get out there and have a solid weekend in Azerbaijan. Bearman on his reserve duties.
I’m excited that Ollie will be driving the VF-24 alongside Nico in Baku. He’s already shown great promise in his FP1 outings and post-season test, and he performed very well when he drove for Scuderia Ferrari in Saudi Arabia, picking up points in the process. This is another excellent opportunity for both Ollie and the team to work together, this time throughout an entire race weekend, and he couldn’t ask for better teammate than Nico to provide him with a reference. Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal.
Ferrari have confirmed that Loic Serra will assume the role of Technical Director Chassis when he officially joins the team on October 1st.
It was announced earlier this year that Serra and ex-F1 driver Jerome d’Ambrosio – both who previously worked for Mercedes – had been signed by the Scuderia to bolster their work force.
Experienced engineer Serra was initially set to report to Technical Director Enrico Cardile, but the latter’s exit and move to Aston Martin means that will now be Team Principal Frederic Vasseur.
D’Ambrosio meanwhile is still set to join Ferrari at the start of next month as their Deputy Team Principal after departing his role as head of Mercedes young driver programme.
Serra will be responsible for a host of different departments in his new position. This includes, Chassis Project Engineering, Vehicle Performance, Aerodynamics, Track Engineering and Chassis Operations.
The Italian team also highlighted that the position of Technical Director Power Unit continues to be assigned to Enrico Gualtieri.
Aston Martin has announced a significant milestone in its preparation for the new 2026 F1 regulations – with a technical collaboration agreement signed by the representatives of the team, Aramco, Honda and Valvoline Global Operations (VGO).
The dynamic partnership is united in the aim to drive forward the development of the 2026 Formula One car under new FIA regulations for on-track success.
As part of this strategic partnership, Aramco will deliver advanced fuels, with Honda developing a new works power unit that incorporates a 50/50 spilt between electric and combustion power.
Additionally, Valvoline will provide leading-edge lubricants for the power-unit and expertise from its 150 years in automotive and industrial solutions. All parties will work together with aim of placing the team at the forefront of performance, reliability and sustainability.
The partnership’s technical development builds on Aramco’s existing sponsorship agreement with the team, which has enabled close collaboration on a range of technologies that could potentially be deployed in road vehicles – from light-weighting of cars to safety enhancements.
This milestone marks a significant step forward in our journey towards the 2026 F1 season – with the aim of pushing the limits of what is possible. The collaboration with Aramco, Valvoline Global, and Honda is now moving at pace, and we are on track to achieve our ambitious goals. The joint-efforts in developing advanced fuels and lubricants, along with our new Honda power unit, are set to elevate our on-track performance and we are confident that this partnership will bring substantial success to everyone involved. Lawrence Stroll on the news.
We are incredibly excited about our collaboration with Aston Martin Aramco, Honda Racing Corporation, and Valvoline Global. This partnership not only underscores our work with the team, but also highlights our dedication to developing advanced technologies for use in motorsport and the wider automotive industry. Yasser Mufti, Aramco Executive Vice President of Products & Customers.
Working together with Aston Martin, Valvoline Global, and Aramco is a unique collaborative experience. We are excited to power the Aston Martin Aramco race car into the new era of Formula One regulations and are proud to be part of this unique partnership with four incredible brands. Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation.
Our collaboration with Aston Martin Aramco is a unique opportunity to push the boundaries of what is possible in motorsport. Valvoline’s advanced lubricant technologies are playing a mission-critical role in this partnership, and we are excited to see the results of our combined efforts on the track in 2026. Jamal Muashsher, CEO of Valvoline Global.
Leonardo Fornaroli will step up to Formula 2 next season with Invicta Racing the team have confirmed.
After winning the 2024 FIA Formula 3 Drivers’ Championship at the final round in Monza, Fornaroli’s next step is finalised, with the Italian driver the first to be announced for the 2025 campaign.
As part of his preparations for the 2025 season, the team has confirmed that Fornaroli will be participating in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi later this year with the team.
Fornaroli enjoyed his finest season to date, achieving seven podium finishes, two pole position and two fastest laps en route to the title with Trident.
I’m so happy to be able to celebrate winning the F3 championship with this news and I cannot wait to step up to Formula 2 next season. Invicta Racing has proven itself over many years to be one of the best teams in Formula 2, including this season. I’m really excited to work with the team for the 2025 season. I want to take this opportunity to thank Trident for the past three years, they really are the best team in F3. To go from the best team in F3 to the best in F2 is a truly a dream come true. Fornaroli on the news.
We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Leonardo to the team for 2025. Winning the FIA Formula 3 Championship is an incredible achievement for him and I have no doubt that he’ll do a brilliant job in 2025. We’ve followed Leonardo’s single-seater career for a few years now and it’s clear that he’s an outstanding talent. Following in the footsteps of Gabriel this year, we’re thrilled to have the FIA Formula 3 Champion join our team for the second year in a row. Andy Roche, Team Principal of Invicta Racing.
Kevin Magnussen has been hit with a one-race ban after being penalised for clashing with Alpine rival Pierre Gasly during the Italian Grand Prix, with the penalty points received tipping him over the limit for the season.
It was an eventful race for Haas at Monza as Nico Hulkenberg was handed a 10 second time penalty earlier on in the race following a collision with the RB of Yuki Tsunoda, before Magnussen later received the same punishment but with Gasly.
The Dane tried to overtake the Alpine down the inside of Turn 4 but locked up and subsequently made contact. In their verdict, the stewards felt that Magnussen was “wholly to blame for” this, having deemed that he did not drive in a “safe and controlled manner through the manoeuvre”.
Despite scoring a point by crossing the line in P10, Magnussen’s penalty means that he has received an additional two penalty points on his licence. This takes his total to 12 and should a driver reach this total over a 12 month period, they will be issued a one-race ban.
As such, Magnussen will now be forced to miss the next Grand Prix in Azerbaijan, with an official document from the FIA confirming the punishment.
Stating a breach of Article 4.2 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, the note reads: “The Super Licence of the driver of Car 20 is suspended for the next Competition of the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship. Following this suspension, 12 penalty points will be removed.”
The last F1 driver to receive a race ban was Romain Grosjean back in 2012, when he was racing for Lotus, after he caused a multi-car crash at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix.
The FIA Formula 3 Championship presented the F3 2025 car to the international media in the Formula 1 paddock in Monza on Saturday 31st August.
The design philosophy of this new car, which will be raced in the 2025, 2026 and 2027 F3 seasons, is to give young drivers who aspire to race in Formula 2 and Formula 1 the best opportunity to progress through the pyramid.
The new look of the F3 2025 car is in line with the latest F2 and F1 family, reflecting the same safety, systems and performance at affordable costs. It complies with the latest FIA safety standards and is powered by a bespoke 6-cylinder 3.4 litre naturally aspirated Mechachrome engine, which deliver 380 horsepower at 8000 rpm.
The new car is planned to run on Aramco’s advanced fuel, which is being developed to be compliant with the FIA’s 100% sustainable fuel standard in 2025. This fuel which is also planned to be used in the F2 Championship, is intended as a step forward in the Formula 1 group’s drive to be Net Zero by 2030.
The new car will also be running new Pirelli 16″ tyre which from 2025 will have a natural rubber component certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
The F3 2025 car has been designed to boost overtaking capabilities, which will produce exciting on track action and the new cockpit has been designed to improve the ergonomics and driver installation to accommodate a wide range of racers.
The car systems will still include marshalling such as Virtual Safety Car (VSC), an optimised Drag Reduction System (DRS) and a new Marelli Vehicle Control Unit (VCU), identical to the current F2 car.
A first car will be delivered to the teams before the end of December 2024, and the other two cars will be supplied in mid-January 2025. The teams and drivers will first be able to experience the new generation car at the official pre-season tests, in early 2025.
The unveiling of the FIA Formula 3 2025 car marks a pivotal moment in our commitment to developing the next generation of racing talent. This car is more than just a step forward in technology and sustainability; it represents a critical step in the FIA’s single-seater ladder. By aligning closely with FIA Formula 2 and Formula 1 aerodynamics, the new F3 car offers young drivers an essential platform to develop their skills, preparing them for the challenges that lie ahead in the higher categories. In addition to updated safety and performance, we are proud that this new generation of cars integrates cutting-edge technology initiatives aimed at helping to reduce racing carbon emissions, running on advanced fuel that meets the FIA’s 100% sustainable fuel standard, just like Formula 1 from 2026. This demonstrates our commitment to work towards lowering motorsport’s greenhouse gas emissions while driving innovation. Moreover, the enhanced cockpit design reflects our ongoing efforts to make motorsport more inclusive, ensuring that drivers of all physical profiles have the opportunity to compete at the highest level. This new FIA Formula 3 embodies the FIA’s vision of a sport that is progressive, inclusive, and sustainable. FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The F3 Championship continues to deliver exhilarating racing, close title fights and most importantly is a fundamental training ground for future members of the Formula 1 grid. It is important that the next generation of stars can continue to hone their skills in an F3 car designed to help all drivers progress through the motorsport pyramid. This new car also takes a significant step forward in our sustainability journey by running on fuel that meets the FIA’s 100% sustainability fuel standard, an innovation that will come to Formula 1 in 2026. I’m excited to see it on the track in 2025 and I want to pay tribute to the great collaboration between the FIA and our Team, led by Bruno Michel. Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.
I am very pleased to unveil our new F3 car, which will race for the next three seasons. Just like the current F2 car, together with the FIA, we have designed a machine that is challenging, safe, and the perfect tool to prepare young drivers who aspire to race in F1 in the future. The 2025 F3 car has been designed to provide exciting racing, with a lot of overtaking opportunities. We have also worked to ensure this new car fits all types of drivers, taking into account the FIA’s requirements regarding the steering effort. With this in mind, we have enhanced our car’s driveability and comfort to further ensure the new generation car is more inclusive. I’m also very proud of reaching another important milestone in terms of sustainability: thanks to our partner Aramco, the F3 car will run on advanced fuel, meeting the FIA 100% sustainable fuel standard as early as 2025, and several parts of the F3 2025 will use recycled carbon. As always, controlling costs has remained a hot topic when designing the F3 2025, so we have made sure to keep them as low as possible. We have also ensured that this new car can be managed with 11 operational people, as per the Sporting Regulations. Once again, I would like to thank our partners Aramco, Pirelli, Dallara, and Mecachrome, whose expertise and knowhow make this new car the best tool to prepare the F3 drivers on their way to the pinnacle of motorsport. Bruno Michel, FIA Formula 3 CEO.
Mercedes have officially announced that Andrea Kimi Antonelli will be George Russell’s team mate for 2025, with the Italian stepping up from F2 to replace Ferrari bound Lewis Hamilton.
The Silver Arrows have been mulling the identity of who would race for them next season after Hamilton told them he was leaving at the end of the season to join Ferrari.
But on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix and just a day after Antonelli, 18, made his FP1 debut with the team at his home event in Monza, they announced the news.
Antonelli has had a stellar junior career, as he rapidly climbed through the ranks. After winning the ADAC and Italian F4 titles in 2022 and Formula Regional European Championship in 2023, the Mercedes junior skipped F3 and entered Formula 2 with PREMA this season.
He has won two races and currently lies 6th in the championship. The 18 year old has dovetailed competing in F2 with a testing programme in old-spec F1 machinery with Mercedes.
In stepping up to F1, it now means both drivers in Mercedes’ 2025 line-up have graduated from their junior programme – with Russell set for his fourth season with the Silver Arrows having joined the junior squad in 2017.
The Italian is expected to get another run for Mercedes in FP1 this year, with the team considering doing it in Mexico.
It is an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes works driver alongside George for 2025. Reaching F1 is a dream I’ve had since I was a small boy; I want to thank the team for the support they’ve given me in my career so far and the faith they’ve shown in me. I am still learning a lot, but I feel ready for the opportunity. I will be focused on getting better and delivering the best possible results for the team. I’m also really excited to become George’s team-mate. He came through the team’s junior programme just like myself and is someone I have a huge amount of respect for. He is super-fast, a multiple Grand Prix winner, and has already helped me improve as a driver. I am looking forward to learning from him and working together to deliver on track. Antonelli on the news.
Our 2025 driver line-up combines experience, talent, youth and out-and-out raw speed. We are excited about what George and Kimi bring to the team both as individual drivers, but also as a partnership. Our new line-up is perfect to open the next chapter in our story. It is also a testament to the strength of our junior programme and our belief in home-grown talent. George has proved that he is one of the very best drivers in the world. He is not only fast, consistent, and determined, but has also developed into a strong leader within the team. Kimi has consistently shown the talent and speed needed to compete at the very top of our sport. We know it will be another big step up, but he has impressed us in his F1 testing this year and we will be supporting him every step of the way in the learning process. In George, he has an experienced team-mate from which he can learn and hone his craft. I am confident that both will contribute greatly as we continue to build momentum and fight at the front of the field. Toto Wolff on the junior driver stepping up.
I’m really excited to be partnering with Kimi for 2025. His record in junior formula has been formidable and his promotion is truly deserved. He’s a fantastic young talent and a fellow graduate of our junior programme. I look forward to using the experience I’ve gained from my own journey to provide guidance to Kimi as he makes the step up to F1. I know how much of a support Lewis was for me throughout my time as a junior driver and since I’ve been his team-mate. I’ve learned so much from him and I hope to play a similar role for Kimi. As a team, we’re building a lot of positive momentum heading into next year. We continue to make progress on track and are working hard to put all the pieces in place to fight for world championships. It is a really exciting journey we are on; I am confident Kimi and I can continue to push the team forward and help deliver on the promise we are showing. Russell on the news.
Zane Maloney made a strong start to his Monza weekend, finishing the practice session fastest of all, thanks to Rodin Motorsport driver’s time of a 1:32.285.
The Bajan driver was in strong form throughout and ended the session over a tenth clear of Invicta Racing’s Gabriel Bortoleto, as Zak O’Sullivan rounded out the top three for ART Grand Prix.
However it was O’Sullivan who was fastest of all after the first set of laps on a 1:34.577 beating Oliver Bearman to the top time by 0.174s.
But after rounding the track for the second time, Maloney went to the top of the leaderboard with a 1:34.060 only for Trident’s Richard Verschoor to eclipse him by 0.048s.
The Rodin driver later set a time of 1:33.664 to return to P1 with Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Paul Aron now his nearest rival, 0.076s behind. The fastest time changed hands again, as Maloney went fastest once more. Moments later though, Dennis Hauger’s lap of 1:33.209 put him on top for the first time in the session.
The majority of the grid opted to pit with 20 minutes but returned to the track a few minutes later with Joshua Duersken now fastest on a 1:32.953, two-tenths clear of Verschoor in second.
Rodin were showing good pace and while Maloney jumped to second, he was pushed down to third by his teammate Ritomo Miyata who went fastest on a 1:32.946.
As we headed into the final 10 minutes of the session, times began to tumble as both Bearman and Bortoleto went quickest. However it was Maloney again who ended up on top thanks to a 1:32.532.
As we entered the final couple of minutes, the red flags were waved as Roman Stanek collided into the barrier at Serraglio. The session was not restarted leaving Maloney on top ahead of Bortoleto and O’Sullivan.
Qualifying-
Zane Maloney left it late in the day to seal pole position at a dramatic Monza qualifying. The Rodin Motorsport driver completed a lap of 1: 32.160 to win out in a battle with fellow title contenders Isack Hadjar and Paul Aron.
It was a slow start to the session as while the rest of the field chose to stay in the pit lane, Roman Stanek decided to go out on track, The Trident driver completed a lap of 1:34.992 just as most of the grid made their way out on the circuit.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli was next to set a lap, and he lowered the benchmark to 1:32.941 with Enzo Fittipaldi going closest to the PREMA Racing driver’s time in second, 0.256s off top spot.
Practice pace setter Maloney had been on a good lap and was about to cross the line but the red flags were waved with the marshals needing to clear a polystyrene board from the track.
The session resumed with 16 minutes left on the clock, but as the times started to pour in once more, the red flags were out for a second time.
This time it was Gabriel Bortoleto stuck in the gravel at the second Lesmo. The Invicta Racing driver had not set a lap and will now start both races from the back of the grid, a blow to his title challenge.
The action resumed with only seven minutes left to go as the drivers poured out of the pitlane with just eight out of 22 having set a representative lap time.
A flurry of laps followed soon after with Hadjar going to the top of the timesheets on a 1:32.249 while Aron followed him across the line to go second.
But Maloney was on a charge and went fastest in the middle sector before beating the Campos Racing driver to the top spot 0.089s.
The drivers pushed on for a second set of laps and while there were some improvements, no-one could match Maloney’s time giving him his first pole position.
The full top 10 are- Pole: Maloeny, P2: Hadjar, P3: Aron, P4: Hauger, P5: Martins, P6: Antonelli, P7: Marti, P8: Bearman, P9: Cordeel and P10: Fittipaldi.
Day 2-
It was a fast start for pole-sitter Enzo Fittipaldi but a slow getaway for fellow front row starter, Amaury Cordeel dropped down to fourth before reaching Turn 1.
However, Fittipaldi went wide at Turn 1, giving Josep Maria Marti the chance to take the lead from the Van Amersfoort Racing driver at the Curva Grande with Martins watching on in third.
But there was drama at the back of the field as Zak O’Sullivan made contact with debutant Oliver Goethe on the run to Turn 1.
The ART driver was then involved in another collision moments later as he and Andrea Kimi Antonelli collided heading into the first chicane. O’Sullivan was out of the race while the PREMA Racing driver pitted with a puncture and front wing damage.
Marti led the pack away as we resumed racing on Lap 4, following a Safety Car, but Fittipaldi was able to use the tow to get ahead on the main straight.
Fittipaldi struggled for the rest of the lap as Martins and Bearman got ahead of him, demoting him to P4.
On to Lap 5 and the battle for P2 commenced, as Bearman got ahead of Martins into the Roggia chicane. Bearman was showing great pace and was right on the back of Marti heading to Turn 1 at the start of Lap 7.
A few laps on Martins overtook Marti for P2 heading to Turn 1. Marti though was not giving up on the position and made a late lunge on the Frenchman heading into Turn 1. Both drivers ran wide but kept the position, as Fittipaldi and Duerksen closed in as Lap 9 got underway.
Bearman’s lead was over two seconds as we started Lap 10, but the fight for the podium was heating up. Marti was now being attacked by Fittipaldi, and the VAR driver took P3 into the first corner.
Campos were struggling as Isack Hadjar lost out to a charging Gabriel Bortoleto, who after starting from last, claimed P12 down the main straight.
The battle for the points was incredibly tight and Aron shut the door on Crawford into the first chicane, allowing Hauger to take P8 from the DAMS Lucas Oil driver at the Curva Grande.
On to Lap 17, Fittipaldi ran wide at the exit of the Roggia chicane, giving Marti and Maloney the chance to close right in on him. He held them off until Turn 1 on the following lap before Marti dived down the inside to take P4.
As the same time, Maloney and Aron made contact at the same corner forcing the Hitech driver to pit with front wing damage.
Back at the front, the top three had separated themselves from the rest of the field as Bearman crossed the line to take his second consecutive victory at Monza.
The full top 10 are- P1: Bearman, P2: Martins, P3: Duerksen, P4: Marti, P5: Maloney, P6: Crawford, P7: Fittipaldi, P8: Bortoleto, P8: Hauger and P10: Hadjar.
Day 3-
It was a brilliant start from pole for Maloney, likewise for third-placed Paul Aron, although it was a slow getaway for Championship leader Isack Hadjar.
However, there was drama at Turn 1 as Josep Maria Marti locked up into the corner following his fast start, sending him into the back of Aron, who was out of the race following the contact.
The Safety Car was called upon and with the track cleared, racing resumed on Lap 3 as Maloney led Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Just behind them, Hadjar, who had dropped to fifth, made up one position after getting ahead of the fast-starting AIX Racing car of Joshua Duerksen only for the AIX driver to retake the position down the main straight on lap 5.
As Lap 6 got underway, Maloney had a lead of over a second a half to Bearman, while Duerksen was on the charge, getting ahead of Antonelli heading into Turn 1.
Just as some of the drivers came out of the pit lane, the Safety Car was called upon with Dennis Hauger having spun at Turn 1 following contact with Ritomo Miyata.
Significantly, Bortoleto was now the net race leader having started in P22 with Verschoor behind and Maloney third in the queue of those to have made their mandatory pit stop.
We returned to racing on lap 11 of 30 with the MP Motorsport debutant Oliver Goethe leading Invicta’s Kush Maini.
As the drivers got ready to start Lap 13, Maloney made a significant move as he got ahead of Verschoor heading to parabolica. This then put him right on the back of Bortoleto, but only briefly as the Brazilian got ahead of Juan Manuel Correa heading to Turn 1.
Bortoleto and Maloney were picking their way through the filed as the former got ahead of Goethe for P2, while the latter pulled off another move at the Parabolica on Correa.
On to Lap 19 and Maloney was losing time to Bortoleto in the battle for the race win as he struggled to get past Goethe. He eventually made the move heading into the Ascari chicane later in the lap, but he was now over four seconds behind Bortoleto.
The two PREMA drivers went wheel to wheel into Turn 1 with Antonelli getting ahead at the exit of Turn 2. Bearman tried to stay on the outside but dipped a tyre in the gravel, giving Duerksen the chance to go around him.
The Italian was on the charge and got ahead of Martins down the main straight to get up to P5, with Goethe having finally pitted and dropped to P16. Martins then lost another place a lap later with Duersken getting ahead under braking into Turn 1.
Maini came in on Lap 29, leaving Bortoleto out front by himself for the final two laps before crossing the line to take his second victory of the season.
The full top 10 are- P1: Bortoleto, P2: Maloney, P3: Verschoor, P4: Antonelli, P5: Duerksen, P6: Martins, P7: Bearman, P8: Villagomez, P9: Crawford and P10: Fittipaldi.
NEOM McLaren has confirmed Sam Bird and Taylor Barnard for the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Barnard has been Reserve and Development driver at NEOM McLaren and had his first competitive experience behind the wheel of Formula E machinery for the team across the 2024 Monaco E-Prix and Berlin E-Prix, stepping in last-minute for the injured Sam Bird.
Finishing those races in 14th, 10th and eight respectively, Barnard impressed – becoming the youngest points-scorer in Formula E history at the age of 19.
Barnard entered single seater racing in 2020. On his way up the motorsport ladder, the Brit became 2022 ADAC Formula 4 runner-up as well as the 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship runner-up.
In 2023, during his debut season in FIA Formula 3, he took his maiden victory in the championship at Spa-Francorchamps.
In 2024 Barnard shared duties in FIA Formula 2 with AIX Racing alongside his role as Reserve and Development Driver for NEOM McLaren.
Following his first season with NEOM McLaren, Bird will be continuing with the team for Season 11. The 37 year old has competed in Formula E since Season 1 and is one of only five drivers to have done so.
Bird is among the most successful drivers on the grid with 12 wins, 26 podiums and six Julius Baer Pole Positions to his name over the course of those 10 season.
Bird secured the team’s first and only win to date in Formula E with last lap heroics at the 2024 Sao Paulo E-Prix one of the series’ most memorable.
I am delighted to be racing for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team in Season 11. In Season 10, I was the team’s Reserve and Development Driver and during that time I learnt a lot, putting my new knowledge into practice in Monaco and Berlin. I am excited to race alongside Sam this season, and I am sure I will learn a lot from him. He is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid, and I hope that together we can score plenty of points and collect some trophies for the team. It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to continue the journey with the team as full-time Formula E driver, and I can’t wait to get started. Barnard on the news.
I’m very happy to be staying with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team for Season 11. This team has become like family to me, and I believe that we can achieve even better things together in the upcoming season. We’ve done some good work in our first season together; now it’s time to build on that and create even better memories in my second year. Bird on sticking with McLaren.
Campos Racing’s Mari Boya started the Monza weekend on top, setting a 1:38.172 to lead the pack in Free Practice.
The Spaniard saved his best time for last, able to pip Christian Mansell and Callum Voisin who wound up second and third for ART Grand Prix and Rodin Motorsport respectively.
Gabriele Mini was the first driver to put down a laptime, setting a 1:41.324 to lead early on. The Italian lowered his personal best shortly afterwards to a 1:40.583 with the opening 10 minutes gone.
Teammate and title rival Arvid Lindblad had a minor off track excursion at Lesmo 2 as the PREMA driver ran wide and through the gravel but was able to rejoin.
A Virtual Safety Car was deployed with just over half an hour to go after Kacper Sztuka came to a halt ahead of the Parabolica.
With the car cleared, green flag running resumed but a Red Flag followed with 25 minutes remaining. Several drivers ran through the gravel at the Variante della Roggia chicane to leave the track covered in gravel.
Into the final 15 minutes and the times rolled in, with Boya putting his Campos car at the head of the field on a 1:39.998 before Noel Leon beat that for Van Amersfoort Racing by 0.139s.
Luke Browning then put his first time on the board to go quickest of all by almost three-tenths of a second on a 1:39.574. Leon returned to P1 on his next lap to lower the benchmark time to a 1:39.470 heading into the final 10 minutes of running.
Mini then restored himself to the top spot with a 1:38.998, 0.4s quicker than Leon’s effort and comfortably fastest of the title contenders. Mansell lifted himself up the order with a 1:39.153 to go second-fastest for ART Grand Prix inside the final five minutes.
Boya then displaced the Australian to go within 0.031s of Mini’s time until the Italian finished off his final effort to improve one last time.
Qualifying-
Group A- The even-numbered cars lined up to get on track first, including the top three in the Drivers’ Championship.
There was just one time on the board with just over five minutes to go, though Max Esterson’s 2:10.419 was not a push lap as everyone began to play for track position.
Contact between Laurens van Hoepen and Kacper Sztuka out of Lesmo 1 left debris on the track and both with damage, leading to a red flag.
The first segment resumed with five minutes to go and everyone else was straight back out onto the circuit.
Esterson headed out the queue without a tow and recorded the first proper lap to beat with a 1:40.558 but that was beaten immediately.
Luke Browning went quicker but his time was bettered by Mari Boya and Joshua Dufek, with the latter taking provisional top spot with a 1:38.287
Championship leader Leonardo Fornaroli wound up seventh on his first attempt, seven-tenths down on the time to beat. The Italian reset and on his second and final effort, he recorded a 1:38.287 to go quickest of all while title rival Gabriele Mini moved himself up to second at the chequered flag.
Group B-
The odd-numbered half of the grid followed suit in waiting before getting out on track for their first attempts.
ART Grand Prix were the first to blink and sent Nikola Tsolov and Christian Mansell out in front, with the rest of the pack trailing the pair out of the pitlane.
Mansell had overtaken his teammate but then backed off in hopes of gaining a tow as the clock ticked to three minutes remaining. With nobody obliging, the Australian headed up the train for the first attempts but backed off before he completed the lap as others followed suit.
Martinius Stenshorne wasn’t one of them though and recorded the first time to beat on a 1:39.273. That was beaten by fellow McLarn Driver Alex Dunne, who went provisionally quickest in Group B with a 1:38.818.
Everyone had time for one final attempt but nobody could beat the MP driver’s effort, though no one was close to Fornaroli’s time from Group A.
With the results aggregated together, Fornaroli will line up on Pole for Sunday’s Feature Race ahead of Dunne on the front row in P2. Mini will go from third with Meguetounif in P4. Ramos rounded out the top five.
Day 2 Sprint Race-
Before the lights could go out, title contender Christian Mansell radioed into his ART Grand Prix that he was stuck in third gear. A second formation lap was required but the Australian was able to get off the grid, though he had to start from the pitlane for causing the delay.
At the race start, reverse grid pole sitter Tramnitz covered off Dino Beganovic on the run to Turn 1 before going wheel to wheel with Montoya, who had to skip over Turn 2 but settled into second after passing the PREMA driver.
A Safety Car was deployed on lap 2 after Noel Leon and Nikita Bedrin wound up in the gravel after contact at Turn 2 with Tommy Smith, requiring the former cars to be cleared away/
Racing got back underway entering lap 6 but a big snap through Parabolica put Montoya under immediate pressure from Beganovic. However, the Colombian held onto the second into the first chicane.
Joseph Loake and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak ran through the gravel at Turn 4, allowing Lindblad and Fornaroli to move up into the points in ninth and 10th places respectively, with Browning and Mini followed directly behind.
With DRS on the run to Ascari, Fornaroli battled by Lindblad on lap 7 to secure ninth position from the PREMA driver. Teammate Ramos meanwhile was able to move ahead of Beganovic to take third place, and he was quickly onto the rear wing of Campos’ Montoya.
Lap 10 and after two previous unsuccessful attempts, Browning passed Lindblad for 10th position to move into the points. Meanwhile Fornaroli’s charge continued as he passed Mari Boya for seventh.
Montoya stuck with Ramos after being passed and re-took second into the first corner on Lap 12, while teammate Sami Meguetounif was able to move ahead of Beganovic at the same spot. Alex Dunne meanwhile relegated Beganovic to sixth just before the second Safety Car of the race.
Max Esterson and Piotr Wisnicki had collided at the first chicane and were out of the running. Both drivers were OK, but their cars needed clearing away.
Tramnitz retained the lead but further back, Browning cleared Fornaroli into Turn 1 to take eighth place. The leader held on from Montoya and Ramos, while Dunne and Beganovic rounded out the top five.
Meguetounif cleared Boya after the Campos driver ran through the gravel at Ascari, a mistake that allowed Browning to move up one place further to earn seventh.
The full top 10 are- P1: Tramnitz, P2: Ramos, P3: Dunne, P4: Beganovic, P5: Meguetounif, P6: Browning, P7: Boya, P8: Fornaroli, P9: Mini and P10: Stenshorne.
Day 3 Feature Race-
Fornaroli covered off Alex Dunne immediately at lights out and retained his lead into the first chicane, with MP Motorsport following ahead of Mini in third.
Into Parabolica the Irish driver was down the inside of the Championship leader to take first. Just behind, teammate Sami Meguetounif took third from Mini with a slipstream into the first corner going into Lap 2.
Further back, Luke Browning was up to 11th from 13th on the grid after the opening lap, but dropped to 12th after compatriot Joseph Loake was able to get the tow on Lap 3.
Battling into Ascari, Browning was side-by-side with Nikola Tsolov but spun on corner entry, Several drivers then made contact in a separate incident further on in the corner to bring out a Safety Car with Shields, Floersch and Zagazeta left out of the running with damage. Browning was able to continue but was down in 26th position.
Back to racing conditions entering Lap 7, Dunne kept hold of the lead ahead of Fornaroli, but Mini dropped down to fifth after Christian Mansell got ahead into the first corner.
Fighting for the lead into Ascari, Fornaroli went wide mid-corner and took a trip through the gravel, dropping him down to fifth position and crucially behind Mini.
Up ahead, Meguetounif moved ahead of Dunne at Turn 1 under braking to take the lead on Lap 10. Mansell was on the move on the following lap, rounding Dunne at the Roggia chicane to take second place in ART.
Onto Lap 15 and Fornaroli was in the DRS of Dunne and through for third position at Turn 1 to put a car between himself and Mini. The PREMA driver put a pass on Dunne himself on the following lap to move into fourth position and keep Fornaroli in his sights.
Lap 18 and Fornaroli was on the move again, this time taking second position from Mansell at the first corner despite a sizeable lock-up. Mini followed through later on in the lap at Ascari to remain within a second of the championship leader.
Another lock-up on Lap 20 at Turn 1 for Fornaroli allowed Mini to close right onto the back of the Trident.
Onto the penultimate lap and Mini got the move down to pass his title rival who then had Mansell attacking into the Roggia chicane and the ART driver got ahead, tipping the title battle in favour of the PREMA driver.
Onto the final lap and Mini was desperate to keep Mansell behind and worked hard to break the tow. Fornaroli was in the wheel tracks of the ART out of the first chicane and tried to get a late-braking move done but had to skip across the second chicane, forcing him to hand the place back.
Meguetounif was clear to take his second win in F3 ahead of Mini, but with a final corner lunge on Mansell, Fornaroli cleared the Australian taking P3 and sealing the title.
The full top 10 are- P1: Meguetounif, P2: Fornaroli, P3: Mansell, P4: Dunne, P5: Stenshorne, P6: Tramnitz, P7: Leon, P8: Van Hoepen, P9: Beganovic and P10: Dufek.
After the conclusion of the Feature Race, several drivers have been given post-race penalties, while Gabriele Mini has been disqualified as the car had not met the minimum requirement with regards to its tyre pressures.
Consequently this promotes Leonardo Fornaroli to second and Christian Mansell to third.
Jordan's Track Talk 