Jordan's Track Talk

Category: Formula One

  • Toyota Gazoo Racing to become title sponsor of Haas

    Toyota will strengthen their relationship with the Haas F1 Team in 2026 when they become title sponsor of the American team, replacing digital payment firm Moneygram.

    The Japanese manufacturer returned to the sport for the first time since 2009 last year with Haas as part of a technical partnership through their motorsport and research and development division Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR).

    A key element of the multi-year partnership, which was signed in 2024, was the creation of Haas’ first Testing of Previous Car (TPC) programme that launched in 2025.

    Over the course of 14 days, Japanese racers Ryo Hirakawa, Ritomo Miyata, Sho Tsuboi and Kamui Kobayashi all had outings through their TGR associations.
    The deal has also allowed for the installing of their first-ever personal simulator at the team’s UK base in Banbury, which is set come online next season.

    Our working relationship to-date has been everything we hoped it would be. It’s been evidenced through our successful TPC running this season but there’s been so much more going on behind the scenes too – including the development and installation of the simulator at our Banbury facility for 2026. The cultivation of personnel, all working collaboratively between Haas F1 Team and TGR, has benefited us greatly and that’s something that will only increase as our partnership matures. We’re excited to further grow with the likes of our driver program too, and it’s been encouraging to see the depth of talent TGR is backing in that process.
    Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal.

    Throughout our challenges in the 2025 season, I witnessed young TGR drivers and engineers begin to believe in their own potential and set their sights on even greater dreams. Seeing this transformation moved me deeply. And today, I can say this with confidence, Toyota has finally begun to move – really move. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Gene Haas and Ayao Komatsu for standing alongside our young members, believing in their potential, and facing the future with the same passion and perspective. By taking our partnership with Haas another step forward next year, TGR’s ‘People, Product, Pipeline’ mantra – will accelerate in a way we have never seen before. The time has come for the next generation to take their first steps toward the world stage. Together with Gene Haas, Ayao, and everyone at TGR Haas F1 Team, we will build both a culture and a team for the future. Toyota is now truly on the move.
    Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation Akio Toyoda.

  • Cadillac to reveal livery during Super Bowl

    Cadillac are set to present the livery for their debut Formula 1 car during a television advert at February’s Super Bowl.

    The American team, who are backed by General Motors and led by former Marussia Sporting Director Graeme Lowdon are preparing to becoming the sport’s 11th team next season.

    Multiple Grand Prix winners, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez were recently confirmed as their two drivers, with IndyCar star Colton Herta taking on a testing role.

    As per a special graphic and accompanying news story, Cadillac will show off their 2026 colours on February 8th during coverage of the Super Bowl – the annual league championship game of the National Football League (NFL).

    Cadillac’s livery reveal will follow on from a private test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya between January 26th-30th, where teams will run their 2026 challengers – built to all new regulations – for the first time.

    Test two will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit between February 11th-13th, with another test coming at the same venue from February 18th-20th.

  • Hadjar earns Red Bull seat as Lindblad joins Racing Bulls

    Isack Hadjar will be stepping up to Red Bull in 2026 to partner Max Verstappen, with Arvid Lindblad making his Formula 1 debut with Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson.

    Red Bull and Racing Bulls were the only teams to have free seats for 2026, though Hadjar has long been expected to replace Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull alongside four-time World Champion Verstappen after a stellar rookie season.

    Hadjar has scored points in 10 Grands Prix this season, including a superb maiden podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix.

    Red Bull junior, Lindblad emerged as a candidate for promotion to Formula 1 with Racing Bulls after delivering some strong races in feeder series F2 and impressing when driving a Red Bull in Free Practice 1 outings at Silverstone and in Mexico.

    That left Tsunoda and Lawson to fight for the remaining seat at Racing Bulls, with the latter coming out on top to secure a second full campaign with the team – Lawson having replaced Daniel Ricciardo at the team midway through 2024.
    While Tsunoda loses his seat on the grid, he will remain part of the family as a reserve driver for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls in 2026.

    Yuki has raced in Red Bull colours for seven years now and I have had the pleasure of working with him at both Red Bull teams. Through his five seasons so far in Formula One, Yuki has matured into a complete racer, good over a single lap on Saturday and capable of exceptional starts and excellent race craft on Sunday. Everyone in the sport would agree it is impossible not to like Yuki, his personality is infectious, and he has become a very special part of the Red Bull family. On behalf of everyone at Red Bull, I thank him for what he has contributed so far and we know he will provide invaluable support to the 2026 projects moving forwards. As for Isack, in his first F1 season, he has displayed great maturity and proved to be a quick learner. Most importantly, he has demonstrated the raw speed that is the number one requirement in this sport. We believe Isack can thrive alongside Max and produce the magic on track! 2026 will be a huge challenge for the Team and for Red Bull Ford Powertrains, these are exciting times, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can do together.
    Laurent Mekies, CEO and Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing.

    I’m so grateful to Oracle Red Bull Racing for giving me the opportunity and trust to race at the highest level of Formula One. After all the hard work I have put in since joining the Junior Team, it’s such a great reward. I’ve had many ups and downs throughout my career, and they kept believing and pushing me. This year with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls has been absolutely amazing, I’ve learnt a lot and secured a maiden podium. I feel I’m much better as a racing driver and a person, due to the Team‘s support and preparation. I feel ready to go to Oracle Red Bull Racing and I am happy and proud they feel the same. It’s an awesome move, to work with the best and learn from Max is something I can’t wait for.
    Isack Hadjar on the promotion.

    Firstly, a huge congratulations to Isack. He has delivered a truly outstanding season, demonstrating exceptional race-craft and consistency well beyond his experience. He has fully earned his step up to Red Bull Racing and we wish him nothing but the best as he takes on this exciting new challenge in his career – we are proud to have been part of the journey. Liam has shown impressive performance and professionalism throughout this year, he has excelled when conditions have been at their hardest and we look forward to building on this in 2026, while Arvid’s rapid progression marks him as one of the standout young talents in the sport. Together, they form a strong and dynamic pairing, one that embodies the ambition and youthful spirit of VCARB as we enter a transformative new era for Formula 1.
    Alan Permane, Racing Bulls Team Principal.

    I’d like to thank everyone at VCARB for the opportunity. Since I started this journey at five years old, it was always my goal to be in Formula 1 so it’s a proud moment to take this step. I’m extremely grateful to the Red Bull Junior Programme and my personal team for their guidance, mentorship and belief; none of this would have been possible without their support. 2026 will be a big challenge and I know there’s a lot to learn, but I’m ready to work closely with the team and rise to it. I can’t wait to get started, it’s going to be an exciting year!
    Lindblad on joining Formula 1.

  • Alpine confirm 2026 launch date

    Alpine have become the latest team to announce details of their launch ahead of the 2026 season.

    The Enstone-based squad took to social media to reveal that the event will take place in Barcelona on January 23rd, just days before the first pre-season test gets underway at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from January 26th – 30th.

    While the date and location were confirmed, Alpine did not reveal any further information about the nature of their launch but added the caption: “We’ve got something to show you…”

    The team will be hoping for a better season ahead in 2026, having found themselves at the bottom of the Teams’ Championship during the 2025 campaign.

    They will field an unchanged driver line-up next year with Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto both remaining with the team.

  • Fornaroli signs to McLaren Driver Devleopment Programme

    Newly crowned Formula 2 Champion, Leonardo Fornaroli has become one of three new signings to the McLaren Driver Development Programme, with the Italian joining alongside fellow F2 racer Richard Verschoor and 2025 FIA European Karting Champion Christian Costoya.

    Fornaroli sealed the F2 title during the Feature Race in Qatar, the Invicta Racing driver taking P2 in the event to confirm his championship triumph following a season in which he has claimed four victories and five podiums.

    It also marks back-to-back titles for the 20 year old, who emulated the likes of Oscar Piastri and Gabriel Borotleto by winning the the F2 Championship off the back of doing the same in Formula 3 one year earlier.

    Now becoming part of the McLaren family, Fornaroli will take on a test and development role within the F1 team’s structure.

    Also joining the programme is Verschoor, who finished third this season in the Formula 2 Championship. The 24 year old from the Netherlands has won four races during the current campaign.

    Another signing by McLaren is 15 year old Costoya. The Spanish teenager has claimed multiple karting championships and is set to make his single seater debut in the 2026 F4 Middle East Championship at the Yas Marina Circuit on January 16th – 18th.

    McLaren Racing are delighted to welcome two of Formula 2’s current leading drivers in this year’s Champion Leonardo Fornaroli and former Championship contender and fellow front-runner Richard Verschoor, as well as proven karting champion, Christian Costoya, to the McLaren Racing Driver Development Programme. All three talented drivers have shown great race craft with multiple wins this season, alongside a number of impressive performances in their respective championships. By welcoming Christian to the programme alongside long-standing member, Dries Van Langendonck, we now also have two of the most promising drivers coming out of karting. It is a key priority that we continue to develop our talent pipeline to provide options for all of our expanding racing teams. We look forward to working closely with all our drivers in 2026 as they continue their individual development at various stages of their career with the support of the programme through a wide range of testing and progression opportunities across all of our racing series.
    Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Chief Business Affairs Officer, McLaren Racing.

  • Aston Martin announce launch date for 2026

    Aston Martin have become the latest time to reveal their launch date ahead of the 2026 season.

    Just before the season finale in Abu Dhabi, the Silverstone-based team confirmed that they will unveil next year’s car – the AMR26 – on February 9th.

    While further details about the nature of the launch have not yet been revealed, Aston Martin teased the news on social media by sharing an image of the car’s name seemingly being drawn with a pencil.

    The reveal comes after it was announced that Adrian Newey will become Team Principal of the squad in 2026, having previously joined as Managing Technical Partner back in March following his exit from Red Bull.

    For a fourth consecutive season, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will again form the team’s driver line-up as the sport enters into a new era amid the introduction of the latest phase of technical regulations.

    It comes after the Red Bull stable became the first to confirm their 2026 launch date last month, with Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls set to hold a joint event alongside Ford on January 15th.

  • Newey to become Aston Martin Team Principal

    Design legend, Adrian Newey will become Team Principal of the Aston Martin at the start of next year, as part of an extension of his role as Managing Technical Partner.

    Newey began working with Aston Martin on March 1st earlier this year, having spent the best part of two decades with Red Bull.

    As part of his revised role, Newey will guide the technical team, including trackside operations of the car.

    Andy Cowell, who has spent the last year as Team Principal and CEO implementing structural changes to aid the squad’s transition to a full works team next year, will become Chief Strategy Officer.

    His focus will be on optimising the technical partnership between the team, works engine supplier Honda, fuel supplier Aramco and lubricant parter Valvoline.
    Aston Martin says the leadership structure change is designed to focus on Newey and Cowell’s “individual strengths and expertise, ensuring organisational efficiency”.

    Newey has been working on next year’s design, which will be built to sweeping new chassis and power unit regulations, since he joined in March – with the team hoping to herald a new era and step up the order.

    Over the last nine months, I have seen great individual talent within our team. I’m looking forward to taking on this additional role as we put ourselves in the best possible position to compete in 2026, where we will face an entirely new position with Aston Martin now a works team combined with the considerable challenge faced by the new regulations. Andy’s new role, focusing on the integration of the new PU with our three key partners, will be pivotal in this journey.
    Newey on the news.

    Having implemented much needed structural changes as we transition to a full works team and set the foundations for Adrian and the wider organisation, it is an appropriate time for me to take a different role as Chief Strategy Officer. In this role, I will help to optimise the technical partnership between the Team, Honda, Aramco and Valvoline and to ensure the seamless integration of the Team’s new PU, fuel and chassis.
    Cowell on the change of role.

  • Red Bull & Racing Bulls reveal launch date

    Red Bull and Racing Bulls have announced a joint season launch alongside Ford ahead of the 2026 campaign.

    At the United States home of Ford in Detroit, Michigan on January 15th, the two teams will unveil their respective liveries for the next generation of cars, a season in which Red Bull Ford Powertrains will debut as both squads’ power unit manufacturer.

    Red Bull have chosen Detroit to pay homage to Ford’s heritage ahead of the partnership’s maiden season together.

    The launch of the Red Bull Ford Powertrains era represents not only a bold step into the future, but a powerful expression of what’s possible when world-class engineering, innovation, and passion come together. To see the energy, precision, and scale behind this project is inspiring. It’s the culmination of several years of collaboration between two great names in motorsport. We’re incredibly excited to begin this new chapter, driven by the same determination and excellence that defines both Ford and Red Bull.
    Laurent Mekies, CEO & Team Principal of Red Bull Racing.

    Since we announced our return to F1 with Red Bull, the Ford team have been working night and day to get ready for 2026. But this is about so much more than just the racing. It is about how we use our learnings from F1 to make our cars and trucks better for our customers. What we will learn together with Red Bull will define the technologies of the future and that is what excites me most about this relationship.
    Jim Farley, President & CEO of Ford Motor Company added.

    We’re incredibly excited to welcome Ford back into the world of Formula 1. With over 125 years of heritage, innovation, and absolute dedication to performance, Ford embodies the same competitive spirit that drives our team. This partnership brings together global brands united by a love of racing and a commitment to pushing boundaries. As a member of the Red Bull family and together with our title partners, Visa and Cash App, we see huge opportunities to join forces and connect with a new generation of fans and showcase the future of performance and mobility on a global stage. Launching this new era in Detroit, the birthplace of Ford, makes it all the more special.
    Peter Bayer, CEO of Racing Bulls.

  • McLaren sign Matteo de Palo to Driver Development Programme

    McLaren Racing have announced that Matteo De Palo has joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme, adding to its stable of young talent.

    The 18 year old, started karting in 2016, progressing through junior karting series with success across 60 Mini, OK-Junior and OK, with top finishes in WSK Super Master Series and the FIA Karting Academy Trophy.

    The Italian, from Rome, made his single-seater debut in 2023 with Campos Racing in the Spanish F4 Championship. A successful season saw him secure a race win and three additional podiums, finishing fifth in the Championship overall.

    He also took part in rounds of the Italian F4 and British F4 Championships. In 2024, he stepped up into the Formula Regional European Championship, with one race win and one second place finish.

    This year, Matteo competed in FRECA with Trident Motorsport, winning four races and visiting the podium on another seven occasions, securing second place in the Championship.

    The team also confirms that Ugo Ugochukwu, Martinius Stenshorne and Brando Badoer will not continue with the McLaren Driver Development Programme past the end of the year.

    The McLaren Driver Development Programme is pleased to welcome Matteo. He is an exciting young talent who has made great progress over the past seasons, showing adaptability, consistency and growth. We look forward to supporting his development across driving, as well as the wider aspects of being a professional driver, within our programme pathway. We also thank Ugo, Martinius and Brando for their contribution to McLaren and wish them the best for the future.
    Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Chief Business Affairs Officer.

    Joining the McLaren Driver Development Programme is a great honour. The team have a fantastic track record for developing talent, so I am excited to grow across all elements of being a racing driver. Thank you to Zak, Alessandro and the entire McLaren team. I am excited to get out on track in papaya.
    Matteo on the news.

  • Colapinto confirmed for 2026

    Franco Colapinto will complete Alpine’s driver line-up alongside Pierre Gasly in 2026, the team have announced.

    The 22 year old joined Alpine in January as a reserve driver on a multi-year deal before earning promotion to a race seat after six races as a replacement for Jack Doohan.

    The Argentine endured a difficult start to his time at the team with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore conceding in August that he was not happy with Colapinto’s performance.

    However, Colapinto went on to up his game and in the last six Grands Prix has been competitive relative to team mate Gasly, who in September committed his future to the team until at leas the end of 2028.

    The improved form – in what is the slowest car on the grid – made him favourite to keep his seat for 2026, with the team believed to have narrowed the choice down to him or fellow reserve Paul Aron.

    I’ve been following Franco’s progress throughout his time in Formula 1 and I have always believed that he has the right attributes and potential to be a top driver who can grow with the team. Our decision to continue together for 2026 is a clear indication of our commitment and strong support for Franco as he develops as a race driver. It has been a tough year for the whole team, and it hasn’t been the easiest scenario to perform in, however both Franco and Pierre have done their best to help put the team in the best possible position for next season. With the line-up of Pierre and Franco, we have a good blend of experience, speed and talent that will help drive the team forward and hopefully give our fans something to cheer and shout about next season.
    Briatore on the news.

    I am very grateful to Flavio and the entire team for their belief in me to help drive the team forwards in the future. Ever since I made my Formula 1 debut, I knew, given the circumstances at play, it would be a huge challenge to keep my place in this sport. It has been a long and tough road, and I am very proud for the opportunity to drive with this team again in 2026, alongside Pierre, who has been a great team mate and will undoubtedly be someone I can continue to learn from. Finally, it is very special and timely to make this announcement here in Brazil this weekend. Being so close to my home country of Argentina and an event that feels like a home race for me where I have so much support. To have so many fans on this journey with me and the team is why we go racing and next year, when there should be a reset in Formula 1, we can hopefully give every single person who cheers for us something to truly smile and celebrate. Vamos Alpine!
    Colapinto on the news.

  • Williams unveil new logo and identity from 2026

    Williams Racing will become Williams F1 Team from next season as a part of a refresh of the iconic British squad’s identity.

    The Grove-based team is among the most successful Formula 1 teams of all time, with nine Teams’ Championships, seven drivers’ titles and 114 Grand Prix wins.

    Williams are well into a rebuild phase under the ownership of Dorilton Capital and leadership of James Vowles and are set to finish an impressive fifth in the teams’ standings this year having scored 121 points to date, which is more than their tally accrued in the last seven seasons combined.

    In line with the introduction of sweeping new chassis and power unit rules next season, Williams have opted to revise their team name, which they say “connects the team’s glorious legacy to its bold and ambitious future” and team logo.

    The team say their existing “W” logo will be replaced by a 21st century reimagining of team founder Frank Williams’ famous ‘Forward W’ first introduced in our founding year of 1977.

    I am proud that from next year we will be known as Atlassian Williams F1 Team and carry a logo on our car inspired by our founder Sir Frank Williams and deeply connected with our decades of success. As a team we are inspired by our past but excited about our future and committed to writing a new Championship-winning chapter in Williams’ history. This evolved team identity reflects who we are, where we are going, and reintroduces our title-winning legacy to a growing F1 audience that was not following the sport when we were last dominant.
    Vowles on the news.

  • R24 – Abu Dhabi

    Lando Norris soaked up the pressure of a nervy Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to finish on the podium and in turn secure the F1 Drivers’ Championship for the first time – following rivals Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri home.

    Norris started the title-deciding race from second on the grid, between Red Bull racer Verstappen and McLaren teammate Piastri, knowing that finishing in the top three places would be enough to put the 2025 crown beyond doubt.

    A bold Piastri move demoted Norris to third on the opening lap, before attacks from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, a spell in traffic after his first pit stop and wheel-to-wheel moment with the other Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda put the Brit under pressure.

    Norris, though, dealt with everything that was thrown at him to cross the line in third and clinch the title over Verstappen and Piastri, who both delivered flawless races en route to the win and second position respectively.

    At the end of it all, just two points separated Norris and Verstappen at the top of the World Championship standings, given the 10 point swing at the Yas Marina Circuit, with Piastri finishing further 11 points back.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Piastri, P3: Norris, P4: Leclerc, P5: Russell, P6: Alonso, P7: Ocon, P8: Hamilton, P9: Hulkenberg and P10: Stroll.

    What a season for Mr Lando Norris aka the new WORLD CHAMPION!!!!! A really good race from the Brit, he kept it all cool, calm and collected exactly when he needed to, and most importantly trusted the process!
    A decent result from Piastri, unfortunately it wasn’t enough to get the championship but a really strong season he should be proud of!

    A lovely result from Max, a win to round out the season, which has been a tough one for himself and the team but they really did turn it round, but maybe it was a little too late in the end…
    As for his teammate, Yuki’s last race in F1, the team used him with orders to slow Norris down but they just made themselves look bad with the un-sportsman like behaviour….

    P4 for Leclerc, a good result to round out a difficult season, they seemed to have some pace during the race aswell. As for Hamilton a really good race up in the points again after a difficult starting position. It will be a season of lots of learning and where to go from here for next season for both drivers!

    A decent result for Russell, seems like he dropped off in the race compared to his pace in qualifying, but the points helped solidified P2 in the Constructors.

    P6 for Alonso, a great way to round out the season, especially with their performance over the last couple of races! The sames goes to Lance Stroll as he finished 10th so a double points finish for the team. Is this a sign of things to come in 2026?!

    Oh God! I’ve not cried in a while.  didn’t think I’d cry but I did. It’s a long journey. First of all, I want to say a big thanks to my guys, everyone at McLaren, my parents… I’m not crying! My mum, my dad, they were the ones who supported me since the beginning. It feels amazing. Now I know what Max feels like a little bit, and I want to congratulate Max and Oscar, my two biggest competitors all season. It’s been a pleasure to race against both of them, and I’ve learnt a lot from both of them as well. I’ve enjoyed it, it’s been a long year, but we did it, and I’m so proud of everyone.
    Norris on winning the Drivers’ Championship.

    Now, that was our last race of the year in the world of Formula 1 and we do not have another race now until 6th to 8th of March but keep coming back for more updates!

  • Aston Martin confirm Crawford as third driver

    Aston Martin have confirmed that Formula 2 Championship hopeful Jak Crawford will become their third driver for the 2026 Formula 1 season.

    Crawford has been a member of the team’s Young Driver Development Programme since 2024, accumulating over 2000km in Formula 1 machinery since then.

    The 20 year old took part in the end-of-season test in Abu Dhabi last year and made his Grand Prix weekend debut in Mexico City just a few weeks ago.

    Crawford is in the midst of a tightly fought Formula 2 title battle, sitting second in the Drivers’ Championship on 169 points – just 19 points behind leader, Leonardo Fornaroli heading into the final two rounds of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

    The young American is now set to take up a full-time Formula 1 role with Aston Martin, and expressed how delighted he was to be given the opportunity.

    I’m incredibly proud to be confirmed as the Third Driver for 2026. It’s a huge moment in my journey with Aston Martin Aramco and a big motivation to keep learning and contributing. Over the past two seasons, I’ve learned so much from being in the Formula 1 environment, both at the factory and trackside. I’ll be doing everything I can to support the team and continue developing as a driver.
    Crawford on the news.

    It is great to see Jak progress to become our Third Driver for 2026. Over the past two years, he has shown his value as a key member of our driver squad and built up a valuable bank of experience and test mileage. Jak has impressed in the simulator, having completed regular sessions at the AMR Technology Campus to support our race operations and car development. Jak’s performances in Formula 2 have also been outstanding, and we are excited to continue supporting his growth as he takes on a bigger role.
    Andy Cowell, Aston Martin Team Principal.

  • R24 – Tyre Selection

    Abu Dhabi hosts the last Grand Prix of the season and it will also be the final appearance at a race weekend for the size of tyre Formula 1 has used since 2022.

    Yas Marina has hosted the final race of the Formula 1 season, 13 times. It is a modern, cutting-edge facility, the track is 5.281 kilometres long and features 16 corners.

    The drivers know it well as it has long been the venue for the post-season test session. Designed by Hermann Tilke, the track underwent an overhaul four years ago, which slightly reduced its length, while making it faster and more flowing, producing more overtaking opportunities, especially on the 1.2 kilometre long straight between the slow turns 5 and 6.

    Another interesting section is to be found through turns 10, 11 and 12, where drivers have to brake hard, thus generating heavy lateral loads on the car.
    The track surface is made with aggregate imported from England and provides medium levels of abrasiveness and grip.

    To iron out some bumpy sections, the surface was redone this year from Turn 1 to Turn 4. As at all night races, there will be a significant drop in temperature between the first and last sessions. Track conditions can change according to when the cars are on track and they will also be affected by how much it rubbers in thanks to the support races, including Formula 2.

    Pirelli is sticking with the usual selection of compounds for the last race of the season, namely the C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium) and C5 (Soft).
    Historically, the Yas Marina track sees graining on the tyres, but as from last year this phenomenon seems to be relatively limited and the greater resistance of the current tyres could reduce it to such an extent that even the Soft, usually only used in qualifying, could be a tyre around which to put together a race strategy.

    In Yas Marina last year, 19 drivers fitted the Medium for the start, the sole exception being Hamilton who went with the Hard. The one-stop was the quickest strategy, using the hard for the second stint.

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  • R23 – Qatar

    Max Verstappen claimed a crucial victory in the Qatar Grand Prix from Oscar Piastri, with the title battle set to go down to the final round as Championship leader Lando Norris could only finish fourth.

    Verstappen’s unlikely win was courtesy of McLaren’s alternative strategy which came as a consequence of an early Safety car intervention and an enforced 25 lap maximum stint level on all Pirelli tyre sets.

    The Red Bull driver jumped Norris on the run to the first turn from P3 on the grid and shadowed poleman Piastri in the opening laps before a clash between Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly at Turn 1 several laps later turned the race on its head.

    While all drivers pitted for the first of two mandatory pit stops in the 57 lap race, both Piastri and Norris remained out on track, which ultimately put them behind Verstappen in the final order.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Piastri, P3: Sainz, P4: Norris, P5: Antonelli, P6: Russell, P7: Alonso, P8: Leclerc, P9: Lawson and P10: Tsunoda.

    What a result for Verstappen! This is what he needed to continue the championship fight and that he has done so, with a perfect strategy he absolutely stole the show and now the fight continues until the final race weekend!

    A disappointing result, for Piastri, a weekend where he had everything together but got done over in the race by strategy, horrible weekend for him, and now his behind in the championship fight.
    As for Norris, another bad result for McLaren, he lost out to Verstappen at the start and then a bad strategy aswell meant he could only do the best finish of P4.

    What a result for Carlos Sainz! P3 for the Williams driver, this confirmed their fifth place in the Constructors’ after a strong season so far! A brilliant drive from Sainz after qualifying really well.

    A decent result for Mercedes, P5 for Antonelli and P6 for Russell, not the best result for them but still very good points in the bag for them!

    P7 for Alonso, a decent points finish for the Spaniard, a pretty good weekend overall for the Aston Martin driver, it will be interesting to see how he does in the last race of the year!

    Another disappointing weekend for Ferrari, P8 for Leclerc and P12 for Hamilton after making up quite a few spots since his qualifying position. This isn’t the end of the season the Italian team would’ve wanted.

    This was an incredible race for us. We made the right call as a team to box under the Safety Car. That was smart. Of course, I’m super happy to win here and stay in the fight until the end. Incredible. I think [the pace] was a little bit offset because of it all, but for us I think it was a very strong race on a weekend where it was a little bit tough. We still won the race and that was the most important thing.
    Verstappen on the win.

  • R23 – Qatar Sprint Qualifying

    Oscar Piastri claimed a crucial pole position for the Qatar Sprint, beating George Russell and McLaren team mate Lando Norris to the top spot.

    The Australian set the pace when it mattered most in Friday’s SQ3, sitting at the top of the times after both his flying laps, with his final benchmark of 1m 20.055s leaving him just 0.032s clear of Mercedes’ Russell.

    Norris who holds a 24 point lead over Piastri and Max Verstappen ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, which means he can claim a maiden Formula 1 title this weekend, finished two-tenths further back after running wide at the last corner on his final effort.

    The full top 10 are – Pole: Piastri, P2: Russell, P3: Norris, P4: Alosno, P5: Tsunoda, P6: Verstappen, P7: Antonelli, P8: Sainz, P9: Leclerc and P10: Albon.

    What a result for Piastri! Exactly what he would’ve wanted going into this weekend, this will give him the momentum to continue the weekend strongly.
    A very good result for his teammate, Norris in P3, they both did well to beat Verstappen.

    As for the Dutchman, he had been out-qualified by Tsunoda. The four time world champion qualified 6th and Tsunoda finished 5th. A decent result, but still a lot of work to do for Verstappen.

    A great result for Russell, P2 for the Mercedes man, as for his team mate 7th for Antonelli, not the best result for the Italian but still a good enough result to get some good points!

    P4 for Alonso! A great result for the Aston Martin driver, some good performances from Aston Martin over the past few race weekends!

    A day to forget for Ferrari, Leclerc qualified 9th and Hamilton 18th. A horrible result for Hamilton, a lot of work for the Brit to do, whereas for Leclerc still in a good position to make some moves and be rewarded with points.

    It’s been a good day, which is nice for a change. It’s been a day where things have clicked from the start and I think the Sprint Qualifying session went really well. I had a pretty big moment on my lap but it was just enough in the end so thanks to the team – it’s a great car and it’s looked really good this weekend so far. I’m pretty happy with that.
    Piastri on pole position.

  • R23 – Tyre Selection

    The Qatar Grand Prix is the penultimate race of the season and the last to be run to the Sprint format. It comes just one week on from Las Vegas, 13,000 kilometres as the crow flies from this week’s venue in Lusail.
    Both races and indeed the final one in Abu Dhabi, take place at night, but the weather could not be more different.

    Conditions were cold on track in the Nevadan desert, but in Qatar drivers will have to deal with heat and humidity similar to that experienced in Singapore.
    The Middle Eastern track is particularly demanding for the tyres and that has led to the introduction of an exceptional measure.

    The three hardest compounds in the Pirelli range have been selected for Doha. The C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium) and C3 (Soft) are the obvious choice at a track where tyres are subjected to energy levels similar to those experienced in Suzuka and indeed, these are the only compounds that have ever been run at the this Grand Prix.

    The majority of the corners at the Lusail track are high speed, which means the tyres have little time to recover and the section which works them the hardest is from turns 12 and 14. The track surface which is quite smooth has usually led to graining which contributes to producing a high wear rate on the tyres.

    The Lusail circuit was originally conceived as a motorcycle racing track, which is clear from its rather unique layout; fast and twisty with a straight that is over a kilometre in length.
    The circuit on the outskirts of Doha, presents the drivers, cars and tyres with some unusual challenges. It boasts 16 corners, ten of them right handers while its desert location means that sand often gets blown onto the track, inevitably influencing track evolution. In an effort to prevent this, there are several areas of artificial grass around the circuit.

    All drivers started the Qatar Grand Prix on the Medium tyre with the exception of Nico Hulkenberg who opted for Hards. The one-stop strategy proved the most popular, with drivers looking to extend the first stint on the yellow-banded tyre, managing to make it last well past the half race distance.

    23-QT25-Preview-EN

  • Norris & Piastri disqualified from Las Vegas

    McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix after both their cars were found not to comply with the technical regulations.

    Post-race, the rearmost skid wear on both Mclaren MCL39 machines was found to be below the minimum 9mm thickness by technical delegates on inspection.

    The matter was referred to the stewards, who subsequently disqualified both cars from the official result, with Norris having finished second and Piastri fourth.

    As a result, race winner Max Verstappen has made a significant gain with regards to the 2025 Drivers’ Championship, as the Red Bull man now sits level on points with Oscar Piastri on 336.
    Lando Norris is 24 points ahead on 390 at the top of the standings with just two rounds of the season to go.

    McLaren are not the first team to fall foul of skid block infringements this season, with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Hulkenberg also disqualified from the Chinese and Bahrain Grand Prix respectively for similar transgressions.

    With two Grand Prix and one Sprint remaining, there are 58 points on offer over the next two weekends to determine the outcome of the 2025 title.

    Confirming the disqualifications of the McLaren pair, the stewards’ document stated that the skid blocks on both cars were “measured and found to be below the minimum thickness of 9mm specified under Article 3.5.9 of the Technical Regulations. The rear skids were re-measured in the presence of the Stewards and the three McLaren representatives, and those measurements confirmed that the skids did not comply with the regulations. The relevant measurements were even lower than those measured originally by the Technical Delegate. It was also confirmed that McLaren had argued “mitigating circumstances existed in that there was additional and unexpected porpoising at this event, limited opportunity to test due to the weather on Day 1, and shortened practice sessions. While the stewards dismissed this, they added “the FIA noted that it strongly held the view that the breach was unintentional and that there was not a deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations”.
    The Stewards’ document.

  • R22 – Las Vegas

    Max Verstappen claimed an impressive victory in the Las Vegas Grand Prix, denying Lando Norris and reducing the McLaren driver’s lead in the standings to 42 points as Oscar Piastri finished fourth.

    Verstappen was left in control of the 50 lap race on the streets of Las Vegas after the opening corners, passing poleman Norris when the Drivers’ Championship leader ran wide through Turn 1 having initially chopped across his title rival off the line.

    Norris also slipped behind George Russell and only re-passed the Mercedes driver in the latter stages but was unable to mount a challenge on Verstappen, eventually limping home nearly 21 seconds adrift after nursing a late problem.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Norris, P3: Russell, P4: Piastri, P5: Antonelli, P6: Leclerc, P7: Sainz, P8: Hadjar, P9: Hulkenberg and P10: Hamilton.

    What a result for Verstappen, this is what he would’ve wanted going into the race today! The minute he took the opportunity to lead he was gone and didn’t look back.

    P2 for Norris and P4 for Piastri, a decent result for McLaren. Unfortunate for Lando to loose out on a couple of positions at the start of the race, but he did well to keep the momentum going and grab another position back. As for Piastri, a decent race, nothing amazing, he gained an extra place as Antonelli had a penalty which pushed him down to 5th and Piastri up to 4th.

    For the Mercedes duo, a really good result for Russell, P3 for the Brit, which is needed in the fight in the constructors. As for Antonelli, what a drive by the Italian! Starting 17th to finish 5th! Honestly a really good drive, unfortunate for the penalty but one of the best drives his done so far.

    P6 for Leclerc, a decent result but wasn’t anything wow, main thing was he kept out of trouble and still scored points. As for his teammate, Hamilton had a good drive to get into the points from starting 19th.

    P7 for Sainz, a lovely result for him especially after starting third. A good result for the team especially as they fight it out for P5, which they have now built a 31 point gap between themselves and Racing Bulls in 6th.

    We had 3 retirees, Alex Albon having collided with the back of Hamilton which required a new front wing, while Gabriel Bortoleto and Lance Stroll retired with damage after contact at Turn 1 on the opening lap.

    In the race I think everyone was just trying to find a rhythm and see how much you could push, especially in the first stint because being on the more fragile tyre. It worked really well, normally the race is always a tough one for us – we are normally not that great on tyres, but today it seemed like we had that a little bit more under control and I could push a little bit more and that unlocked a bit more pace. I could stay out a bit longer and split basically the race in half. It definitely helped a lot and the car was working pretty well, much more to my liking and it was at the end quite a decent gap. It was just every lap feeling comfortable and not taking too much out of the tyre.
    Verstappen on the win and race.

  • R22 – Tyre Selection

    The Las Vegas Grand Prix is the last of three rounds of this year’s world championship to be held in the United States, before the season comes to a close with the final two races in the Middle East.

    The race is run over 50 laps of the Las Vegas circuit, which has 17 corners and is unique because of the speeds attained and its technical layout.
    At 6.201 kilometres, it is the second longest on the calendar after Spa and one of the fastest in terms of average lap speed.

    In 2024, Alex Albon in his Williams hit the highest top speed of the season (368 km/h) on the straight between turns 12 and 14. At the latter corner, drivers experience very strong deceleration when braking and it is one of the best overtaking opportunities.

    Almost 80% of the lap is spent at full throttle, the cars passing famous landmarks such as the Venetian and Casears Palace, which hosted the first two Las Vegas GPs.

    For the third consecutive year, the compounds chosen for the Las Vegas street circuit are the C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), C5 (Soft). One of the main challenges will be tyre temperature management especially during qualifying.

    The fact the sessions are running earlier this year will help the drivers, as conditions won’t be quite as cold, thus helping tyre warm-up.
    However, the preparation lap prior to the flying lap will still be crucial to get the tyres up into the right temperature window. Furthermore, this year’s tyres have improved mechanical properties, which should see a reduction in degradation, which was particularly noticeable on the medium compound last year.

    All but four drivers chose to start on the medium, Fernando Alonso went for the soft, while Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas and starting from pitlane Franco Colapinto, preferred the hard.
    The two-stop was the preferred strategy, drivers pushing tyres to the limit rather than having to manage them carefully.

    22-LV25-Preview-EN

  • F1 announces extension of the US Grand Prix

    Formula 1 has announced that the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, is set to remain on the calendar until the 2034 inclusive.
    The new deal secures the long-term future of the event as Formula 1 continues to experience significant growth across the United States.

    Since its debut on the Formula 1 calendar in 2012, the United States Grand Prix has evolved into one of the sport’s biggest spectacles, drawing over 430,000 fans to the Circuit of The Americas in recent years.
    Renowned for its thrilling on-track battles and vibrant off-track entertainment, the venue blends world-class racing with performances from global and local music artists.

    The 5.5 kilometre circuit starts with an iconic uphill run into Turn 1, before drivers take on the famous high-speed through Turns 3 to 6.
    The circuit has thrilled fans with wheel to wheel racing and overtaking since the first Grand Prix there 13 years ago, and COTA has delivered six different winners in that time, including Lewis Hamilton who holds a record five victories at the venues.

    In 2024, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed his first win at COTA, breaking Max Verstappen’s three year winning streak there, as the Scuderia sealed a 1-2 result, with Carlos Sainz second.

    Since 2012 the United States Grand Prix has continued to grow in strength and popularity, and I want to thank the City of Austin and Travis County for hosting us. Each year, the event at the Circuit of The Americas stands out as a true highlight for fans, drivers, and teams alike, drawing hundreds of thousands of passionate supporters who come to witness the thrilling on-track action and soak up the vibrant energy of the circuit and the city. As Formula 1 continues to grow and thrive in the United States, we are proud to extend our partnership with Bobby Epstein and his outstanding team in Austin, as well as with Governor Abbott, whose leadership has been instrumental in supporting the sport’s development in Texas and beyond. Both have shown unwavering commitment to F1, and their shared vision and investment have played a vital role in establishing the strong foundation we now enjoy in the US.
    Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1.

    We’re glad Formula 1 has found a home in Texas, and are grateful to the fans, teams, and the entire F1 community who have consistently supported us and made the United States Grand Prix a favourite stop on the global calendar. Equally, we’re proud of – and appreciate – the people of Central Texas who have been such welcoming hosts! With this contract, COTA will overtake Watkins Glen as the longest serving Formula 1 track in the United States. Thanks to the great support and a wonderful host city, the United States Grand Prix has grown to be one of the world’s biggest single weekend sporting events – with an unrivalled annual economic impact.
    Bobby Epstein, Chairman of Circuit of the Americas.

  • Russell & Antonelli confirmed as Mercedes line-up

    George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will form Mercedes’ Formula 1 driver line-up for the 2026 season, the team have announced.

    The eight-time World Champions have opted to stick with Russell and Antonelli, who are both products of the team’s junior programme and have guided the Silver Arrows to P2 in the Teams’ Championship with three race weekends to go.

    Russell was promoted to the works team in 2022, after three years at Williams, and has since clinched five Grands Prix wins, the latest of which came at Singapore.

    Next year will be his eighth in F1 and 10th campaign for Mercedes, having joined their junior programme in 2017.

    Rookie Antonelli has had some big peaks this year, including Sprint pole in Miami, a podium in Canada, where he became the youngest podium finisher in F1 history and podium in Sao Paulo, but also endured a difficult run through the European leg of the season.

    Confirming our driver line-up was always just a matter of when, not if. We wanted to take our time, handle the negotiations properly and make sure everyone, on all sides, was happy. I’m pleased we have done that. George and Kimi have proved a strong pairing and we’re excited to continue our journey together. Our focus is now on the final six races of the year, as we fight for second in the Constructors’, and onwards to 2026 and a new era in F1.
    Wolff on the news.

    I am really proud to be continuing our journey together. Next year will mark my 10th since I signed with Mercedes back in 2017. It has been such a long and successful partnership with the team so far and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead, particularly as we embark on one of the largest regulation changes in the sport’s history next year. We are all incredibly focused on making that a success and, for me personally, building on what has been my strongest season in F1 to date.
    Russell on the news.

    I’m super excited to be continuing with the team. I’ve learnt so much in my first season in F1, both in the good moments and the more challenging ones. Those have all made me stronger, not only as a driver but as a team mate too. I want to say thank you to Toto and everyone at Brackley and Brixworth for their continued support and faith in me. Our focus now is to finish this year strongly and secure second in the Constructors’ Championship, before we then turn our full attention to 2026. There’s plenty for us still to achieve in these final six races and we will be giving it our all.
    Antonelli on the news.

  • R21 – Sao Paulo

    Lando Norris has further extended his championship lead after claiming victory in a gripping Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with the McLarn driver leading Mercdes’ Kimi Antonelli home while Max Verstappen put in a remarkable comeback to finish on the podium after starting from the pit lane.

    After making a good start from pole position, Norris continued to lead amid a hectic first few laps, with a Safety Car being deployed following a crash into the barriers for Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto at the Brazilian’s home race.

    A Virtual Safety Car was then deployed after the restart due to another incident in which Oscar Piastri locked up and hit Antonelli, sending the Mercedes into Charles Leclerc who was forced to retire his damaged Ferrari from the race.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Norris, P2: Antonelli, P3: Verstappen, P4: Russell, P5: Piastri, P6: Bearman, P7: Lawson, P8: Hadjar, P9: Hulkenberg and P10: Gasly.

    What a dominant weekend for Norris, P1 across all the sessions this weekend, no-one came close to challenging him. If he wins this championship it will be down to this weekend, as he excelled, whereas the other contenders had a lot of work to do.
    A bit of a meh result for Piastri, P5 not a great result at all, especially when his teammate done so well.

    What a result for Antonelli, his stepped up this weekend and as a result got his career best finish! He will be happy with this weekend and so will the team in the battle for P2 in the Constructors!
    As for his teammate, Russell finished 4th, a great result again this weekend, lots of points grabbed.

    P3 for Verstappen, what a drive for the Dutchman, from starting in the pitlane to finishing on the podium, a big championship drive and it could make all the difference in where he finishes at the end of the season.

    P6 for Bearman, a lovely drive from the Haas driver, two really good weekends in a row for the Brit. Very good for Haas in the constructors, they are two points away from Aston Martin and 12 points away from Racing Bulls in 6th.

    Talking of Racing Bulls, a double points finish for them! A really good showing from the team after a couple of rough race weekends in a row.

    A weekend to forget for Ferrari… Leclerc DNF as he got the repercussions from the Antonelli/Piastri fumble at the restart. Hamilton was a DNF too as he had some damage from early on in the race and retired in the pitlane.

    Now we only have three races left of the 2025 season and our next stop is Las Vegas! On the 20th to 22nd November…

  • R21 – Sao Paulo Sprint Qualifying

    Lando Norris put in an impressive lap to take pole position during Sprint Qualifying at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the Brit beating Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and the other McLaren of Oscar Piastri to seal P1.

    After setting a benchmark with his banker lap during SQ3, Norris went even quicker with his final effort of 1m 09.243, a time that proved unbeatable to his rivals. Antonelli was the closest challenger, the Silver Arrows racer 0.097s behind as he took the other spot on the front row.

    Despite showing good pace during Friday, Piastri had to settle for third, while George Russell added to a decent day for Mercedes in fourth.
    The full top 10 are- Pole: Norris, P2: Antonelli, P3: Piastri, P4: Russell, P5: Alonso, P6: Verstappen, P7: Stroll, P8: Leclerc, P9: Hadjar and P10: Hulkenberg.

    A lovely result for Norris! Just what he would’ve wanted going into this weekend and the best place to start considering the ever changing weather at São Paulo. As for Piastri, a decent result in P3 still lots to play for!

    P2 for Antonelli!! Love to see it! The Mercedes is known for being good around this track so it’s not that surprising but a great result for the Italian! George Russell added to their great result with a P4! They will be looking to score big points and a few podiums this weekend.

    P5 for Alonso! I didn’t expect that going into this weekend, but with the past few cars I’ve mentioned, they’ve all got one thing in common… Mercedes Powertrains. So clearly they are doing very well, and have good performance at the minute.

    Not the best result for Verstappen but still in the fight, P6 for the Dutchman a little bit further back than his title contenders but anything can happen at São Paulo!

    Not the best day for the Ferrari’s, Leclerc P8 and Hamilton P11. It was said that they have set their car up differently to more focus on overall performance and not just one lap.

  • R21 – Tyre Selection

    A fortnight on from the previous round, Formula 1 returns to the American continent for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The Brazilian weekend features the penultimate Sprint, prior to the final one of the season in Qatar.

    The circuit named in honour of Brazilian racer Jose Carlos Pace is 4.309 kilometres long.
    The layout at Interlagos is interesting, with hints of an anti-clockwise oval circuit, which the drivers deal with 71 times in the race.

    It boasts 15 corners with relatively balanced lateral and longitudinal forces that do not put any undue strain on the tyres, as they are subjected to loads distributed equally between the front and rear axles.

    The combination of several straights and much twistier sections offers plenty of overtaking opportunities, although it also means there’s a higher risk of Safety Cars and incidents.

    At this time of the year, the weather and temperature can be very variable, with a risk of frequent rain and the inevitable use of wet weather tyres.

    This year’s compound selection for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix harks back to 2023, with the C2 (Hard), C3 (Medium), C4 (Soft), therefore one step harder than the trio used last year.

    Last year, the dry weather tyres were not required for the race, but when used on Friday and Saturday, they showed high levels of wear, as well as graining, especially on the rear axle.

    The circuit had been completely resurfaced, thus leaving a very smooth surface, less abrasive than in previous years, although still with plenty of bumps around the track.

    Last year, qualifying and the race both took place on Sunday, with bad weather forecast, the race director decided to run qualifying at 07.30 as well as bringing the Grand Prix start time forward to 12.30.
    Dry weather tyres were never used at any time during the day.

  • Dunne departs from McLaren’s Development Programme

    McLaren have announced that they have ended their contract with Driver Development Programme member Alex Dunne.

    Irish racer Dunne – who is currently competing in his debut Formula 2 campaign for Rodin Motorsport – joined McLaren’s programme in May 2024 and went on to participate in two Free Practice 1 sessions for the squad at this year’s Austrian and Italian Grand Prix.

    However, McLaren have now confirmed that the partnership has come to an end, with the Woking-based team realising a statement on the news.

    Dunne currently sits in fifth place of the Formula 2 Drivers’ Standings with two rounds of the championship remaining.

    The 19 year old claimed his debut win in the category with victory at the Sakhir Feature Race in April before following this up with a second triumph at Imola during Round 4.

    From today I’ve mutually decided to part ways with the McLaren Driver Development programme. I’d like to thank every individual at McLaren that has helped me develop and improve as a driver, To have my first opportunity to drive an F1 car followed by two FP1 sessions is something I’ll always hold very close to my heart, I wish them all the best for the future. Thank you Papaya family. Still two important rounds left to focus on this year, very excited for what’s to come.
    Dunne on the news.

  • R20 – Tyre Selection

    Formula 1’s America journey continues with a trip south for the Mexico City Grand Prix, one week on from the round in Austin.
    As usual, the atmosphere inside the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez will be electrifying because of the exuberance of the fans who pack the grandstands in the spectacular Foro Solo stadium section.

    The race is run over 71 laps of the 4.304 kilometres of Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez which boasts 17 corners.
    Its main peculiarity is its altitude, which at over 2,200 metres above sea level means the air is very rarefield. Therefore the cars generate less downforce making car set-up and technical management particularly demanding for the teams.

    The main straight is over 1.2 kilometres long, on which the cars reach very high top speeds, partly down to the minimal downforce. The track surface is very smooth and at the start of the weekend does not provide much grip, as it does not get used much.

    As was the case in Austin last weekend, for the Mexican round there is again a jump in the compound selection between the hardest of the three and the medium.

    While the Medium and Soft are the C4 and C5 respectively, as in 2024, the Hard will now the C2. For the Mexico City track, this compound is an extremely conservative choice, with a considerable delta in terms of lap time compared to the other two, while also offering less grip.

    Last year, the soft only came into play in qualifying and then in the race, only in an attempt to secure the extra point for setting the fastest lap, but now the scenario could change considerably.

    In 2024, all drivers, except Sergio Perez, adopted a one-stop strategy last year. Most started on the medium compound, while six driver, all of whom went on to finish outside the top eleven, preferred the hard for the first stint.

  • Jak Crawford to make FP1 debut

    United States racer Jak Crawford will make his Formula 1 weekend debut at the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix when he gets a rookie run-out for Aston Martin.

    Crawford will take over the AMR25 of Lance Stroll during Free Practice 1 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, in one of the team’s four mandated rookie outings for 2025.

    Crawford is currently P2 in the Formula 2 standings – while the Houston, Texas born driver has a wealth of experience in F1 machinery, having racked up over 2,000km of testing in various Aston Martin F1 cars, as well as being a regular in the team’s simulator at their Silverstone headquarters.

    Crawford is not the only rookie taking part in the FP1 sessions, with nine different rookies taking part.

    I’m thrilled to drive the AMR25 next week in Mexico for my first official Formula One session. I’ve worked closely with the team all year, so to now take the next step and get track time on a Grand Prix weekend is really exciting. Announcing this in Texas, where I’m from, makes it even more special after a busy week with the team and Aramco in Houston.
    Crawford on the news.

    It’s fantastic to give Jak the opportunity to take part in FP1 in Mexico. He’s shown real maturity and provided strong technical feedback throughout the year, and these sessions are an important part of how we develop young talent. Jak has had a strong season in Formula 2 and has been a key contributor to the development of both the AMR25 and AMR26. This is a great chance for him to continue progressing while helping us gather valuable data.
    Andy Cowell, CEO and Team Principal of Aston Martin.

  • Luke Browning to make FP1 outing

    F2 title contender and Williams Racing Academy Driver, Luke Browning will take part in the first practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix.

    Browning will be taking over the wheel of Carlos Sainz’s FW47 for the opening 60 minute session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, fulfilling the third of four mandated rookie driver runs for Williams this year.

    It is set to mark his second outing in Williams’ 2025 challenger following an FP1 appearance in Bahrain earlier this year, which came after Browning’s F1 practice debut at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

    He has also driven the FW45 extensively in the squad’s TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) programme, while providing additional support through simulator development work.

    Browning is currently involved in a close fight for the F2 title, holding third in the standings on 161 points with two rounds to go – behind Aston Martin development driver Jak Crawford on 169 points and leader Leonardo Fornaroli on 188 points.

    I’m hugely grateful to be given another chance to drive in a free practice session with Williams and to experience the FW47 for a second time. I’ve been working hard to prepare for the session so I can make the most of this amazing opportunity and help the team plan for the race weekend ahead. I can’t wait to get back into an F1 car and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone in the Driver Academy and at Williams for their trust and support.
    Browning on the news.

    Luke has had a strong season in Formula 2 so far, consistently showing his pace across a range of circuits and racing conditions. He has continued to support the team through his simulator work and the TPC programme, preparing him well for his next free practice session. We look forward to seeing him take to the track in Mexico as he continues to build his experience as a Williams Racing Academy Driver.
    Sven Smeets, Williams’ Sporting Director.

  • R19 – United States

    Max Verstappen has claimed a dominant victory at the United States Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver converting pole position into a commanding win while Lando Norris beat Charles Leclerc to second place in a thrilling duel between the pair.

    It had been a strong start to the race for Verstappen, the Dutchman holding the lead from pole position while the rest of the field got through Turn 1 much more cleanly than during Saturday’s action-packed Sprint.

    Though questions remained in the early stages over strategy choices, all of the field opted for a one-stop plan – and this worked smoothly for Verstappen, who remained in P1 after his stop.
    And while he had to nurse his soft tyres home in the latter stages, the reining World Champion crossed the line with a margin of 7.959s to seal his fifth Grand Prix triumph of the season.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Norris, P3: Leclerc, P4: Hamilton, P5: Piastri, P6: Russell, P7: Tsunoda, P8: Hulkenberg, P9: Bearman and P10: Alonso.

    What a result for Max Verstappen! A perfect weekend for the Dutchman, a dominant display which was needed in the fight for the Drivers’ Championship, if he keeps going the way his going, McLaren are going to be in BIG trouble…

    P2 for Norris, a good race for him, it made up for his disappoint Sprint Race. He had a nice little battle with Leclerc, but it does make you think if he didn’t loose that position at the beginning of the race, would he of battled for the win with Max?
    As for the Championship leader, a weekend to forget for him, Piastri finished fifth, but he just didn’t seem to have any pace at all.

    P3 and P4 for the Ferrari’s, Leclerc back on the podium! And a good showing for Hamilton in 4th. They both had a better race than the Sprint, they obviously set their car up for the race rather than the Sprint which they’ve done before.

    A bit of a setback for the Mercedes of George Russell, P6 for him, again it didn’t seem like he had any pace in the race but the Sprint he did. A disappointing race for Antonelli, he got tagged by Sainz early on in the race, and he had to battle his way up the field.

    Another points finish for Bearman, he has found something which just works at the minute and he is getting rewarded with points.

    Not a good race for Williams, a DNF for Sainz after he got tangled with Antonelli and then for Albon he got spun round and had to work his way up to finish 14th.

    Now we don’t have to wait too long for the next race weekend, as it’s Round 20 this weekend and we head to Mexico!

    It was an unbelievable weekend for us. I knew that the race was not going to be super forward. If you look at the whole race, the pace between myself and Lando was really close. Just in that first stint was where we made the difference and I could eke out a bit of a gap, which is basically what we kept to the end. It wasn’t easy to manage the tyres for most of the stints, but we kept it in the lead and I’m just incredibly proud of everyone to be able to deliver a weekend like this.
    Verstappen on the win.