Jordan's Track Talk

Category: Formula One

  • McLaren reveal tweaked livery for Monaco

    McLaren have revealed a special ‘Riviera-inspired’ livery enhancement that will run on their Formula 1 cars at the upcoming Monaco and Spanish Grand Prix.

    In collaboration with team partner OKX, the livery change is a nod to McLaren’s iconic M7A race car, while “drawing inspiration from the elegance of the Riviera”.

    The M7A was the car with which founder Bruce McLaren claimed the team’s first F1 victory at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix – as well as being the machine that debuted their now legendary papaya livery.

    McLaren’s new design will run on both MCL39s throughout the entirety of the Monaco and Spanish Grand Prix weekends, with drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri also sporting fresh overalls in Monaco.

    It is not the first time McLaren have run a bespoke livery in Monaco, with the squad unveiling an Ayrton Senna-inspired design for last year’s Grand Prix on the streets of the Principality.

    Before that, they ran a one-off ‘Triple Crown’ papaya, white and black livery at the 2023 event as part of their 60th anniversary celebrations and in 2021 they brought the blue and orange colours of then partner Gulf Oil back to F1.

    We’re always proud to be able to celebrate our storied legacy. Working with OKX on this latest livery enhancement is a great way to not only celebrate this history, but also the innovation and forward-thinking nature that inspires both McLaren and OKX brands. I can’t wait to see the cars on track over the next two race weekends.
    Louise McEwen, Chief McLaren Officer at McLaren Racing.

  • R7 – Imola

    Max Verstappen has surged to an impressive second victory of the season at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, the Dutchman having snatched P1 at the start before holding his position ahead of the McLaren pair in an eventful afternoon.

    The race got underway in an exciting fashion as polesitter, Oscar Piastri initially launched well off the line – only for Verstappen to make a stunning overtake through the Tamburello chicane, resulting in the World Champion going on to build a lead in the laps that followed.

    Piastri then joined a number of drivers who made an early pit stop, having stopped for the hard compound on Lap 14, but the call did not seem to work out the Australian.

    As questions persisted over whether a one-stop or two-stop strategy was the way forward – with around half of the field remaining out following that earlier flurry of action in the pits for the other half.

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

    What a result from Max Verstappen, a cool, calm and collected drive from the Dutchman. His strategy was spot on, and he didn’t fall for McLaren pitting Piastri early.
    As for his teammate, Tsunoda made up some good places from starting in the pit lane to finishing P10 and coming home with a point.

    A double podium for McLaren, P2 for Norris and P3 for Piastri. A lovely result for the team, it’s a shame it wasn’t a win for the Papaya team, but Verstappen just ran away with the lead and there was no chance of battling him for it. But still a very good points haul for the team.

    A lovely result from Hamilton! P4 for the Brit and it was his first Italian race as a Ferrari driver and he made up for a bad qualifying session.
    As for Leclerc his race wasn’t the best, he ran into quite a few problems along the road but he still managed to finish P6. Overall a decent points haul for the team.

    P5 for Albon! What a great result from him! At one point, it almost looked like he was nearing the podium. But the main thing to take from that great result is how much they have improved! Sainz finished P8 aswell, so a very good weekend for the team.

    P7 for Russell, not the best weekend for him, he was struggling a bit during the race. As well for his teammate, it went from bad to worse, Antonelli pulled over to the side as he had an issue and had to retire from his first home race. A big shame for the young rookie but he will bounce back.

    Now we don’t have to wait too long for the next race as we are at the second race weekend of a triple header and we are headed to Monaco!

  • RND 7 – Tyre Selection

    The first quarter of the season is now done and dusted, apart from a brief interlude in Canada in mid-June, the European season starts now, and goes on until the Italian Grand Prix on 7th September.

    The Emlia-Romagna e del made in Italy Grand Prix takes place at the Imola Circuit, named in memory of Enzo Ferrari and his son Dino.

    Imola’s Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari is one of the most iconic and technical tracks on the Formula 1 calendar.
    Situated in the heart of Italy’s Motor Valley, it is 4.909 kilometres long, with 19 corners – ten to the left and nine to the right – and runs anti-clockwise, which puts it in the minority of race tracks worldwide.

    It’s old school, rather narrow with high and aggressive kerbs, as well as several natural changes of elevation and corner sequences that alternate between requiring heavy braking and some flowing sections.

    Tyre management is affected by the many acceleration and braking points, with tyres subjected to a low average load and limited degradation.
    However, the high kerbs can increase mechanical stress, especially on the suspension and tyres.

    The new C6 compound is making its race debut in Imola, as Pirelli has chosen the softest trio of compounds in its 2025 range for this weekend, with the C4 (Hard), C5 (Medium) and C6 (Soft).

    Last year, the one-stop strategy proved the most competitive. 15 drivers started the race on the Medium (C4), three on the Hard (C3) and two on the Soft (C5).

    The harder compounds worked best, offering very consistent performance, with limited degradation. Those who started on the soft tyre had to make two stops.

  • Alpine confirm Colapinto to replace Doohan

    Alpine have confirmed that Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan for the next five race weekends, starting from this weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, with the team deciding to “rotate” the race seat alongside Pierre Gasly.

    The news comes following the confirmation that Alpine Team Principal Oliver Oakes had resigned with immediate effect.
    Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore will be covering the duties previously performed by the Brit.

    Having previously served as a reserve driver for the Enstone based team, it was announced last summer that Doohan was set to be promoted to the main race squad for 2025.

    The 22 year old was then given an earlier-than-expected debut at the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi, following the departure of Haas-bound Esteban Ocon.

    After starting his first full-time campaign this year, Doohan has struggled to match teammate Gasly, and his troubles continued last time out in Miami, where he retired from the race following a lap 1 collision with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson.

    Now Alpine have announced that Doohan’s seat will be filled by Colapinto for the next five rounds with the Argentinian having been signed to the outfit as one of their roster of reserve drivers following his impressive nine-race run as a substitute for Williams in 2024.

    As part of an on-going assessment of its driver line-up, the team has made the decision to rotate one of its race seats for the next five rounds of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship. BWT Alpine Formula One Team therefore announces that Franco Colapinto will be paired with Pierre Gasly from the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, ahead of a new evaluation before the British Grand Prix in July. Jack Doohan remains an integral part of the team and will be the first-choice Reserve Driver for this period of time.
    Alpine’s statement.

    Firstly, I want to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to drive competitively for the next five races. I will work hard with the team to prepare for the next race in Imola and the upcoming triple-header, which will no doubt be intense and a big challenge for everyone. I have stayed sharp, and I am as ready as possible with the team’s race support testing programme, as well as on the simulator at Enstone. I will do my best to get up to speed quickly and give it my all to deliver the best possible results alongside Pierre.
    Colapinto on the news.

    I am very proud to have achieved my lifelong ambition to be a professional Formula 1 driver and I will forever be grateful to the team for helping me achieve this dream. Obviously, this latest chapter is a tough one for me to take because, as a professional driver, naturally I want to be racing. That said, I appreciate the team’s trust and commitment. We have long-term goals as a team to achieve and I will continue to give my maximum efforts in any way I can to help achieve those. For now, I will keep my head down, keep working hard, watch with interest the next five races and keep chasing my own personal goals.
    Doohan on the news.

  • Alpine announce resignation of Team Principal

    Following on from the Miami Grand Prix, Alpine have announced that Team Principal Oliver Oakes has resigned from the team with immediate effect.

    Oakes joined Alpine in July 2024, the former racing driver, who also runs the Hitech Grand Prix squad – overseeing a strong end to the season that saw the team lift themselves to sixth in the Teams’ Championship.

    Post-Miami, the team currently sits P9 in the Teams’ standings on seven points, only one point ahead of Kick Sauber, as Jack Doohan was still to score this season.

    It remains to be seen who Alpine will look to replace Oakes with, but in the mean time Flavio Briatore will be taking the role of team principal too.

    Oakes joins the likes of Otmar Szafnauer and Bruno Famin on the list of Alpine team bosses who have left the position in the previous two years.

    BWT Alpine Formula One Team announces that Oliver Oakes has resigned from his role as Team Principal. The team has accepted his resignation with immediate effect. As of today, Flavio Briatore will continue as Executive Advisor and will also be covering the duties previously performed by Oliver Oakes. The team would like to thank Oliver for his efforts since he joined last summer and for his contribution in helping the team secure sixth place in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship. The team will not be making any further comment.
    The teams’ statement.

    A lot has been said in the past 24 hours incorrectly associating the decision of Oli resigning to an alleged disagreement, or that we shared different views. This is completely false and far from the truth. Me and Oli have a very good relationship and had long-term ambitions to drive this team forward together. We respect Oli’s request to resign and have therefore accepted his resignation. The reasons are not related to the team and are of a personal nature. I will continue to be more and more involved with the team, together with the strong management we already have in place. We will work hard on improving our position this season and preparing for 2026.
    Flavio Briatore on the news.

    It’s been a privilege to lead everyone at Enstone. What a team, what a place. It is a personal decision for me to step down. Flavio has been like a father to me, nothing but supportive since I took the role, as well as giving me the opportunity. Everyone is in place for 2026 and where this dream deserves to be! I believe in Enstone.
    Oakes on the news.

  • Formula 1 to race in Miami until 2041

    Formula 1 has announced that the Miami Grand Prix will remain on the calendar through 2041, following a 10 year extension to its existing agreement with the promoter South Florida Motorsports – a new deal that will make Miami the longest contract event on the F1 calendar.

    Since joining Formula 1 in 2022, the Miami Grand Prix has established itself as one of the most desirable sporting events in the world, attracting fans from across the USA and around the globe with a perfect combination of thrilling racing on track and incredible entertainment off it.

    The race has made a significant impact on the local economy and community, generating more than US $1 billion in economic impact across its fist three years.
    The race organisers have also established internship programmes, worked with local charities, and promoted home-grown businesses each year to ensure that the legacy of the race is felt in the local area.

    The 2024 race saw a circuit record of 275,000 fans attend the Miami International Autodrome across the weekend to see McLaren’s Lando Norris take his first Grand Prix victory, as well as Abbi Pulling secure back-to-back race victories in F1 Academy.

    The Grand Prix attracted the largest US television audience of all time, with 3.1 million viewers tuning in to follow the action.

    In just three years, the Miami Grand Prix has established itself as one of the most important and spectacular events on our calendar, an extraordinary example of quality and vision that truly represents the spirit and ambition of Formula 1 in the United States. Extending this agreement until 2041 is a strategic milestone of enormous importance, which strengthens our presence in America and consolidates the ever-deepening bond with our fan base there, which is constantly growing and passionate like never before. Miami is not only an extraordinary city, but also a truly global sporting hub, energetic, dynamic and culturally vibrant. All this would not have been possible without the far-sighted vision and tireless commitment of Stephen Ross and Tom Garfinkel, to whom I extend my sincere gratitude for the leadership, support and dedication with which they have helped transform the Miami Grand Prix into a world-class event.
    Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO.

    Securing a 10-year extension with Formula 1 through 2041 is an extraordinary milestone for all of us at South Florida Motorsports and a true testament to the hard work of our team, the strength of our partnerships, the support of our community and the growth of the sport in the United States. To have been granted this extension after only our third event speaks to what we have felt from the very beginning – the Miami Grand Prix is here to stay. I want to thank Stefano Domenicali and Formula 1 for believing in our vision, as well as Stephen Ross for his investment and commitment to growing this event. From day one, our goal has been to create a world-class race that also reflects the spirit of Miami — vibrant, inclusive and culturally significant. This long-term commitment allows us to continue innovating, investing in the fan experience and deepening our impact across South Florida.
    Tom Garfinkel, Managing Partner of Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix,

  • Formula 1 to race in Mexico City until 2028

    Formula 1 has announced that the Mexico City Grand Prix will remain on the calendar through 2028 as part of a new three-year extension starting from 2026.

    Since its return to the sport in 2015, the Grand Prix has established itself as one of the standout events of the year with its passionate fans and electric atmosphere.

    The Mexico City Grand Prix encapsulates the vibrancy and culture of the Mexican capital, where high speed racing meets Day of the Dead celebrations and incredible live music from world class acts.

    The multi award winning event has become a favourite of fans, teams and drivers alike, with every event sold out since its return to the calendar.
    405,000 people enjoyed the race weekend in 2024, setting a new record for the Mexico City Grand Prix.

    Built in 1959, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit offers fans a spectacle like no other in motorsport.
    Sitting over 2km above seas level, both driver and car must battle the altitude as they tackle the 4.3km lap, which includes the iconic Estadio stadium section, where the drivers are met with a sea of more than 60,000 fans.

    We are very excited to announce that the Mexico City Grand Prix will continue to be part of our calendar until 2028. Formula 1 is energy, passion and emotion, and every year the unique atmosphere created by our fans in Mexico City is one of the most incredible and energetic experiences of our championship. I want to express my sincere thanks to President Claudia Sheinbaum for her strong commitment to Formula 1, to the Head of Government Clara Brugada for her continued support and to Alejandro Soberón Kuri, whose leadership has been fundamental to the success of this event. I also want to thank the local stakeholders and businesses that share our vision and who make this event so special. We look forward to continuing this extraordinary collaboration together and seeing the incredible enthusiasm of the Mexican fans again in October.
    Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.

    We are very excited to announce that the Mexico GP will be held for three more years. We are deeply grateful for the invaluable support of the Government of Mexico City, from the Head of Government of Mexico City, Clara Brugada, to our President, Claudia Sheinbaum, as well as Stefano Domenicali from Formula 1, who have made it possible to continue bringing Formula 1 to our country. This not only contributes to the economic development of Mexico City, but also promotes our city, as well as our country, in a significant way worldwide. Together, we will continue to work hard to ensure that fans get the most out of an event that offers a unique live entertainment experience, and which for almost 10 years has shown the world the quality of the events we organise in this city.
    Alejandro Soberon Kuri, President and CEO of CIE.

  • GM Performance Power Units approved

    GM Performance Power Units LLC. – founded by TWG Motorsports and General Motors to build powertrains for the Cadillac Formula 1 Team – has officially been approved as an F1 power unit supplier starting in 2029 by the FIA.

    With their entry recently being confirmed, the Cadillac Formula 1 Team will join the F1 grid in 2026 and use Ferrari power units until GM’s engines are homologated.

    Cadillac have set up a European facility next to the Silverstone track, the home of the British Grand Prix, and are working on a new headquarters in Fishers, Indiana, within the American motorsport hub.

    The FIA’s statement confirming the approval added that development and testing of the team’s F1 prototype engine technology is ongoing, while there are also plans to open a dedicated Performance Power Units LLC. facility at their US base in 2026.

    With this approval from the FIA, we will continue to accelerate our efforts to bring an American-built F1 power unit to the grid.
    Russ O’Blenes, CEO of GM Performance Power Units LLC.

    Welcoming GM Performance Power Units LLC. as an approved power unit supplier for the Championship starting in 2029 marks another step in the global expansion of Formula 1 and highlights the growing interest from world-class automotive manufacturers like General Motors. Their dedication to innovation, sustainability, and competition is fully aligned with the FIA’s vision for the future of our sport. It also strengthens our commitment to making motorsport more accessible and inclusive worldwide – welcoming new manufacturers, advancing technology, and connecting with a broader, more diverse fan base.
    FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

  • R6 – Miami

    Oscar Piastri has strengthened his lead in the World Championship by clinching his fourth victory of the season at the Miami Grand Prix, the Australian leading home team mate Lando Norris making it a 1-2 for McLaren.

    While Max Verstappen initially led away from pole, a battle with Norris saw the Briton run wide and drop down the order – letting Kimi Antonelli and Piastri through in the process.
    But as the laps ticked down – and Piastri overtook the Mercedes – Verstappen soon found himself under increasing pressure from the championship leader.

    After Piastri eventually found a way past, a recovering Norris subsequently followed through into second, allowing the papaya cars to build up a sizeable gap at the front.

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

    What a result for McLaren! A 1-2 for the papaya team, which is what they would’ve been aiming for, maybe not the order they expected but you’d rather it be your teammate than a rival.
    But one thing I will say is that Piastri has got pace this season, he is unstoppable at the moment, and if he carries on producing these results he will be a championship contender.

    P3 for Russell! What a great result for the Mercedes driver, especially after his struggles this weekend, he came through the other side and managed to get the podium finish.
    As for Antonelli, he finished 6th, expected a little more from him to be honest, but still a very good weekend for the young driver.

    P4 for Verstappen, a good result, however I did expect a podium from the Dutch driver, he was close to grabbing third from Russell towards the end of the race but it just wasn’t enough.
    As for Tsunoda, he finished the race in 10th, a point for Japanese driver, I did expect more from him to be fair and it’s a shame he wasn’t higher up in the points.

    Now onto Williams, P5 for Albon! Beating a Mercedes, two Ferrari’s and a Red Bull! WOW, what a points haul aswell for Williams, it really is great to see them on the up.

    A bit of a tough race for Ferrari, P7 for Leclerc and P8 for Hamilton, the latter having a somewhat disagreement on the radio with team orders, and in the end I think both drivers lost out on securing more points for the team.

    Now onto the next race weekend, we have another weeks break and then we have another triple header where our first stop will be Italy for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix!

  • RND 6 – Miami Qualifying

    Max Verstappen delivered an incredible performance to clinch pole position in qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix.
    The reigning world champion going fastest from Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli despite a slight error on his final run.

    After Verstappen claimed provisional pole during the early runs of Q3 but just 0.003s from Norris, the Dutchman’s prospects during his closing effort looked to be at risk after a wobble in the first corner.
    The Red Bull man still went fastest on a 1m 26.204s, six-hundredths clear of Norris who apologised to his team for taking too much kerb on his lap.

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

    What a result for the Dutchman! Just what he would’ve wanted going into the weekend, he will be looking to grab the win later on today and close in on the drivers’ championship.
    As for his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda finished qualifying in 10th. A lot better than the Sprint Qualifying, but still needs to do some work to be closer to his teammate.

    A good result for Norris P2, it seems like his last lap really cost him, it’s still a good result, but I know he’d be kicking himself for the mistake. His teammate qualified fourth, a good result too. They will both be aiming for podiums / potential wins today.

    Now onto Antonelli! The Italian is on fire this weekend, he has qualified third for the Grand Prix. He seems to have found really good form this weekend and its great to see.
    As for Russell, he seems to be struggling a lot this weekend, he still qualified 5th which isn’t too bad but it will be interesting to see how the race goes for him.

    P6 for Carlos Sainz and P7 for Alex Albon, what a performance from the Williams boys! They have seemed to excel this weekend and it is great to see. Hopefully with a good strategy they can score some decent points.

    P8 for Leclerc, not the best result for the Ferrari driver, and as for his teammate Hamilton qualified 12th. Poor performance from the team, but hopefully they have some strategies for both drivers to help them move up to grab those all important points.

  • R6 – Miami Sprint Qualifying

    Kimi Antonelli has clinched his debut pole position after delivering a stunning lap during Sprint Qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix, the Italian holding off the challenge from both McLaren’s to become the youngest polesitter ever – in any race format – in F1.

    A thrilling conclusion to SQ3 saw the name at the top of the timesheets change more than once, with Max Verstappen initially beating George Russell’s benchmark – only for Antonelli to surge through with an effort of 1m 26.482s at the wheel of the Mercedes.

    Oscar Piastri fell short by just 0.045s in second, while fellow McLaren driver Lando Norris had to settle for third.

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

    What a result from Antonelli! First ever pole position and what a way to do it! A great result for the Italian and a promising start to the weekend! Hopefully he can turn it into a Sprint win.
    As for his teammate, Russell qualified 5th, not a bad result as it was very close between the top 6.

    A good result for McLaren P2 and P3. They’ve got a good opportunity for the sprint race, this should boost Norris’s confidence a bit more now, as he has seem to struggled this season.

    A decent result for Verstappen, P4 for the four time world champion! As for his teammate Tsunoda was out in SQ1 after failing to make it to the line to start a lap, very unfortunate for him.

    A decent result for Ferrari, 6th for Leclerc and 7th for Hamilton, a good result for the team and potential for some points today in the sprint race.

    A good result for Albon, P8! I think this is now just the normal for Williams, a familiar face in the top 10’s now.

    P10 for Alonso, nice to see him making an appearance in the top 10, he will be looking to see if the Aston Martin car can get into the points.

  • R6 – Tyre Selection

    Formula 1 moves from shore to shore, from the Red Seas to the Atlantic Ocean, from the Asian continent to North America and from Saudi Arabia to the United States.

    The Miami Grand Prix is the first of three to be held in the United States this year, as has been the case since 2023, with the Floridian round joining the calendar in 2022.
    The race is held on a track around the Hard Rock Stadium, home to Miami Dolphins NFL team and one of nine ATP Masters venues.

    The compounds chosen by Pirelli is the same as that used a fortnight ago in Saudi Arabia. C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), C5 (Soft), just as in Jeddah, this is a step softer than last season.

    The surface of the track that runs around the stadium is very smooth, exposing the tyres to moderate longitudinal and lateral forces.
    Thermal degradation will be a major factor, as temperatures are expected to be very high, given that last year’s track temperature exceeded 55°C.

    The surface was relaid in 2023, as with the other temporary Grand Prix circuits, grip levels will increase significantly the more the track rubbers-in across the weekend.

    The Miami International Autodrome is 5.412 kilometres long, the race being run over 57 laps.
    The layout incorporates parking lots, service roads and some public roads with a total of 19 corners, seven to the right and 12 to the left.

    So far, the Miami Grand Prix has been a one-stop race, including last year’s.
    The medium tyre was the tyre of choice for the opening stint for 15 of the 20 drivers, before a switch mainly to the hard, with just a couple of drivers opting for the soft tyre, which actually displayed relatively low degradation.

  • Sauber reveal special livery for Miami

    Kick Sauber have revealed a striking special livery that will adorn their car for the Miami Grand Prix weekend, with the design inspired by the vibrant art scene of the city.

    Described as a “bold canvas of modern art” the one off colour scheme is dominated by neon green paint, designed to evoke the feeling of freshly applied paint as if completed by the artist before the cars hit the track.

    To match the special livery of the C45, drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will be wearing race suits that reflect the theme, while the design is also set to feature throughout the team’s garage and on pit stop equipment.

    With this marking Kick Sauber’s first new look of the campaign, the squad have promised that there will be further surprises and special moments to come in the year ahead.

    This livery is more than just a new look – it’s a celebration of Miami’s creative spirit and our commitment to energising the sport for our fans. Our objective when developing this livery with Stake was to stand out, not only for our dedication on the track, but also for our boldness and creativity off track. Our team is dedicated to creating memorable moments and engaging experiences, and this Miami special is a perfect example of that.
    Stefano Battiston, Chief Commercial Officer.

  • Alpine reserve leaves for Haas

    Ryo Hirakawa has left Alpine to become a Formula 1 reserve driver for Haas immediately after impressing for Alpine in the Japanese Grand Prix Practice at Suzuka.

    Having been a Toyota affiliated driver throughout his career and won two World Endurance Championship titles and a Le Mans 24 Hours with the firm.
    The 31 year old Japanese driver, seemed a good fit for Haas given its new relationship with Toyota and he had already driver for – and impressed – the team in Abu Dhabi post season testing last year.

    But in early January Hirakawa was a surprise announcement as another Alpine reserve driver, joining Franco Colapinto and Paul Aron in the team’s pool.

    It was stated he would carry out simulator work and Testing of Previous Car (TPC) running, as well as driving for the team in Suzuka opening practice.

    Hirakawa’s other practice outings for Haas this season will take place in Spain, Mexico and Abu Dhabi,

    It’s great to welcome Ryō to MoneyGram Haas F1 Team and have his experience bolster our knowledge and understanding of the VF-25. His feedback was very detailed at the post-season test last year, so being able to provide Ryo valuable track time across four different circuits this year will help the entire team. As part of our collaboration with Toyota Gazoo Racing, it’s great to welcome new talent into the team – it’s a real pleasure to work with a racer of his driving acumen.
    Haas team principal, Ayao Komatsu.

  • R5 – Saudi Arabia

    Oscar Piastri has picked up his third win of the season with an assured drive to victory in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the Australian driver becoming the new Drivers’ Championship leader in the process.

    There was early drama as the race got underway, with pole sitter Max Verstappen and second-placed Piastri going wheel-to-wheel before Verstappen cut the apex into the first corner.
    While the Dutchman initially held the lead, a five second time penalty for the manoeuvre saw him drop behind the McLaren man after serving the penalty at his pit stop.

    Lando Norris – embarked on a recovery drive from P10 – inherited the lead for some time as the frontrunners pitted, with the Briton having opted for a longer first stint by starting on the hard tyres.
    But Piastri took over P1 when his team mate stopped for medium rubber, the 24 year old going on to eke out an advantage at the front.

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

    What a result from Piastri! His third win of the season, and he did it in great style, cool, calm and collected! The Australian driver had such a strong weekend, he will be looking forward to the next race to continue this momentum.
    As for Lando Norris, P4, just narrowly missing out on a podium but a good recovery drive from the Brit.

    A decent drive from Verstappen, a shame he couldn’t grab the win but going up against the McLaren it has got a lot more race pace than the Red Bull, plus he had a 5 second penalty from the incident with Piastri so that didn’t help his chances.
    As for his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, it was a day to forget… On Lap 1 he collided with his former team mate Gasly as both drivers hit the wall.
    While Gasly was out of the running in the Alpine, Tsunoda managed to limp back to the pits but it was quickly confirmed that he was out of the race.

    Now onto the final podium finisher, Charles Leclerc, what a race for him! The first podium of the year for Ferrari (apart from the Sprint) a lovely drive from the Monegasque. They seemed to have pace this weekend, more than the Mercedes team.
    As for Hamilton he finished 7th, not the best but not the worst and he still scored points. It seems when he switched to the hard tyres he struggled on them which is no surprise as he has had this problem before.

    Now onto the Mercedes drivers, 5th for Russell and 6th for Antonelli, not amazing from the Silver Arrows but there pace this weekend just wasn’t their to battle for podiums.

    Double points for Williams! 8th for Sainz, his best finish in the Williams car so far. And 9th for Albono, overall a good weekend for the team, which they will be hoping for more of.

    And our final points scorer is Isack Hadjar in 10th, the rookie is flying so far, another points finish.

    Now the next race we have a little wait now, which is the 4th May and were headed to Miami for Round 6!

  • R5 – Tyre Selection

    The first triple-header of the 2025 season is coming to an end on the shores of the Red Sea.

    The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix first appeared on the calendar in December 2021, with the next three events taking place in March and this year will be the first time it will run in April.

    The track is 6.174 kilometres long and one of the fastest of the season with drivers spending around 80% of the lap with the accelerator buried to the floor, even though it is fair twisty and boasts a record number of corners, 27 in fact.

    The track surface is not very abrasive, with an average level of roughness, but the lateral forces exerted on the tyres are considerable, although not at the level to be found at Suzuka or Barcelona for example.

    Graining can put in an appearance, especially in the first free practice sessions as the track is very dirty to start with, because it is rarely used for motor racing.
    However, with several support categories also racing, track condition improves over the course of the weekend, so that this phenomenon diminishes.

    The choice of compounds for the first four races of this season were the same as last year’s but for round five, Pirelli has taken a softer step.
    C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium) and the C5 (Soft) are the trio selected Jeddah.

    In 2024, Bottas was the only driver to pit twice, with all the others going for the one-stop, with the vast majority starting on the Medium and then switching to the Hard tyre for the second stint.

  • R4 – Bahrain

    Oscar Piastri has become the first multiple race winner of the 2025 season by taking a sublime victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, the Australian driver putting in a cool and collected drive to seal P1 on his 50th start in F1 as well as marking McLaren’s first triumph in Sakhir.

    After making a strong start from pole position – despite a close call from George Russell when the Mercedes driver locked up into Turn 1 – Piastri built a solid lead throughout the laps that followed.

    While there was early trouble for team mate Lando Norris – who was hit with a five second time penalty for being out of position in his grid box – the McLarens again looked impressive as the race played out with the Brit working his way forwards.

    And while the Australian’s position potentially looked under threat when a Safety Car emerged, the 24 year old made a clean getaway at the restart and went on to rebuild a gap in the laps that followed, eventually crossing the line with a 15 second lead.

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

    What a drive from Oscar Piastri, that was such a strong drive from the Australian and a thoroughly deserved win! As for Norris, he bounced back from qualifying 6th to finish on the podium, I think he would’ve got 2nd if he didn’t have the 5 second penalty.

    P2 for Russell, a lovely result from the Mercedes man! Another podium added to his tally which makes three podiums out of four races, making it his best ever start to a season. As for his teammate Antonelli finished just outside of the points in P11, during the race he was running in the points so hard luck for the rookie to not get any.

    A good result for Ferrari, 4th for Leclerc and 5th for Hamilton. Unlucky for Leclerc to just miss out on the podium but the Ferrari is no match for the McLaren just yet… But it is still a good points haul for both drivers! I’m sure the podiums will come soon enough.

    P6 for Verstappen, not the best result for the Dutch man, but he had a bit of a rubbish weekend. He struggled with the car a lot and it didn’t help that he had issues at both of his pit stops either. As for Tsunoda he finished ninth, first points for the Japanese driver in the Red Bull team.

    P7 for the GAS Man, points on the board for the Alpine driver! Which is deserved after such a strong weekend for the team. This now means all teams have scored points already this season.

    A double points finish for Haas, which is good to see, this now boosts the team up to 5th in the Constructors. So the team will be wanting to score as many points as possible as the constructors is very close.

    Now for the next race week, we are on our third week of the triple header, where we head to Saudi Arabia for Round 5 of 24!

  • R4 – Bahrain Qualifying

    McLaren driver, Oscar Piastri grabbed pole position during Qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix, getting the better of Mercedes rival George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in a thrilling conclusion.

    Practice pace-setter McLaren had been in control through the Q1 and Q2 phases but had to work hard to remain at the top of the timesheets in Q3 – Piastri’s final 1m 29.841s lap putting him a couple of tenths up on Russell. Leclerc was another tenth and a half back in third.

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

    What a lovely result from Piastri! Pole for the McLaren man, just what he would’ve wanted as he will be looking to grab his second win of the season.
    As for Norris, a bit of a shocker in 6th, however, he hasn’t lost out too much as he will be lining up next to Verstappen…

    P2 and P4 for the Mercedes boys! A really strong finish from Russell and Antonelli, it is a track both drivers know well. However, they are going to be investigated after qualifying for a potential rule breach.

    P3 for Leclerc, a much better result from the Monegasque and Ferrari, hopefully they can keep up the good result and turn it into a good points haul / a podium.
    As for Hamilton, he qualified, 9th, a semi-decent result for the Brit, could’ve been better for sure, especially as Leclerc qualified third but a decent result.

    A mixed result for Red Bull, Verstappen 7th, he was complaining about brake issues throughout the session. As for Tsunoda he qualified 10th, not too bad, but a position where he can improve and grab some points.

    P8 for Carlos Sainz, a lovely result for the Spanish driver, his best result in the Williams so far! Hopefully he can get some points this weekend.

    One driver I haven’t mentioned is Mr Pierre Gaslyyyy, putting his Alpine in P5! A lovely result from him and the team, they definitely seem to have improved from last season. Hopefully a good points haul from the Frenchman to help in the Constructors.

  • R4 – Tyre Selection

    The Sakhir circuit boasts several layouts, with two different ones used for the races in 2010 and 2020, but the current one is 5.412 kilometres in length and features 15 corners, 9 to the right and 6 to the left.

    The track is one of the toughest on the calendar when it comes to tyres, especially in the braking areas and when traction is required.
    The aggregate used for the asphalt at the Bahrain International Circuit is still very abrasive despite it being quite old now.

    Temperature will be a very important variable when it comes to tyre management at the fourth race of the year.
    As was the case in Suzuka, the teams will have a choice of the three hardest compounds in Pirelli’s range.

    The C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium) and the C3 (Soft), however, the Sakhir track characteristics and indeed the temperatures, will require a different approach to that adopted last week in Japan.

    All the teams, will have a good baseline from which to start work, given that in the last week the circuit hosted the only pre-season test. Which means everyone will have plenty of data to work with when it comes to setting up the cars and choosing the best strategies for qualifying and the race.

    Bahrain is the one Grand Prix where a two stop strategy would seem to be a given, and that was the case last year.
    All drivers made at least two stops, whilst some even stopped three times.
    The Soft and Hard tyres are the preferred compounds, with the vast majority opting to start on the C3.

  • Browning gets FP1 run in Bahrain

    Luke Browning will be making another Formula 1 free practice session appearance with Williams in Bahrain this weekend.

    The Formula 2 racer, will be taking over Carlos Sainz’s car in Friday’s opening session, having made his F1 practice debut with Williams in Abu Dhabi at the end of last year.

    Last week, he drove the team’s FW45 car from 2023 at Monza alongside fellow F2 racer Victor Martins, who recently joined the Williams Academy.

    Browning has been part of the Williams Academy since 2023, during that time he also drove the FW46 at the post-season young drivers’ test last year.

    Currently he is competing in FIA Formula 2 Championship in his first full campaign, after he took part in six races last season after finishing third in the FIA Formula 3 Championship.

    Being given another opportunity to drive in a free practice session with Williams is a dream come true, and I’m getting more and more confidence each time I drive the car. My main aim for FP1 is to get more comfortable with the procedures and environment that come with F1, and to build on my experience from Abu Dhabi last December. I’m excited to feel the progression from the FW46 to the FW47 and I feel incredibly grateful to James [Vowles], Sven [Smeets] and the team at Grove for entrusting me with the car. I’m excited to feel the progression from the FW46 to the FW47 and I feel incredibly grateful to James [Vowles], Sven [Smeets] and the team at Grove for entrusting me with the car.
    Browning on the news.

    Luke has made strong progress since his first F2 weekend last year and scored good points in the opening race of the season in Australia. His previous FP1 experience, participation in our TPC [testing of previous cars] programme, and simulator work have prepared him well for this weekend and we look forward to seeing him take this next step forward in his development.
    Williams Sporting Director, Smeets.

  • Drugovich in for FP1 for Aston Martin

    Fernando Alonso will be sitting out for the first free practice session at this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

    The two-time champion makes way for reserve driver Felipe Drugovich for the hour as one of the FP1 sessions by a rookie driver.

    Having stood in for Lance Stroll at the Sakhir International Circuit during pre-season testing in 2023, Drugovich knows his way around the track in an Aston Martin car.

    The 24 year old has competed in numerous FP1 sessions for the Silverstone team since winning the Formula 2 Championship in 2022.

    I’m very happy to be getting out in the F1 car again, especially so early in the season. I’ve been preparing on the simulator to get a feel for the car, and Bahrain is a track I know well and really enjoy driving. I’m excited to contribute and give the team the data they need to perform at their best this weekend. Thanks to the whole team for their continued support.
    Drugovich on the news.

    We’re pleased to offer Felipe this opportunity to drive the AMR25 in Bahrain. He has been an integral part of our team’s simulator programme at the AMRTC and consistently provides valuable and insightful feedback that helps drive the development of the car. Felipe is a trusted pair of hands, and we’re confident he’ll do a great job in FP1 and contribute to our preparations for the race weekend.
    Andy Cowell, CEO and Team Principal.

  • Vesti to drive in FP1 at Bahrain

    Frederik Vesti will be driving for Mercedes in the opening session for this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

    Mercedes’ test and reserve driver, will be taking over George Russell’s W16 for FP1 at the Bahrain International Circuit, having already assisted the squad with simulator work at Brackley this year.

    This is the Dane’s third appearance in a grand prix weekend, having also driven in FP1 for Mercedes in Mexico and Abu Dhabi in 2023.

    This year, he is dovetailing his Mercedes commitments with a drive in the IMSA Sports Car Championship with the factory backed Action Express Cadillac team.

    New for 2025 signing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli has already fulfilled the requirements for Mercedes in Australia and China, but now that the Italian has completed two grands prix, he is no longer considered a rookie for this purpose.

    The Sakhir circuit is seen as an ideal venue for F1 teams to bring in newcomers, as they already have a substantial amount of data from the track during pre-season testing in February.

    I am really looking forward to getting my first taste of the W16 in FP1 in Bahrain. Being able to put all of my simulator work into practice on the track is a really exciting prospect for me. At the start of the year, I set myself the goal of maximising every chance I get behind the wheel of an F1 car in 2025, and that is what I hope to achieve in Bahrain. I will be doing everything I can to help the team, George, and Kimi get set for the rest of the weekend. I am grateful to Mercedes for once again giving me this opportunity.
    Vesti on the news.

  • Beganovic set to make debut in Bahrain

    Dino Beganovic will be making his official Formula 1 debut during the first practice session of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

    This will take place alongside his existing responsibilities in F2 as he and Hitech TGR ready themselves for a busy weekend.

    The Swedish driver taking part in FP1 will begin to fulfill Charles Leclerc’s obligation to hand over his car to a rookie for two sessions this season, but will also make him a fifth member of Ferrari’s famous Driver Academy to join an official F1 weekend.

    Beganovic began racing in karts in his home country, quickly establishing himself as a talented driver within Europe. On joining Formula 4 in 2020, he immediately proved his talent when he finished third in the Italian race with PREMA.

    He was able to quickly ascend through the junior formulas, with his hard work bearing fruit with 13 podiums, four race wins and an FRECA championship to his name in 2022.

    Moving on to Formula 3, he finished sixth in the drivers’ standings in both 2023 and 2024 seasons, and at the end of the year had a taste of F2, where he scored a podium finish with DAMS Lucas Oil at the Yas Marina sprint race.
    Currently he sits 15th in the standings with Hitech TGR after the Australian season opener.

  • R3 – Japan

    Max Verstappen scored his first victory of the 2025 season with a masterful drive to P1 in the Japanese Grand Prix, the World Champion holding off the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to claim his fourth consecutive win at the Suzuka Circuit.

    After making a strong start from pole position, Verstappen held a decent lead over the McLaren’s throughout the early stages.
    Drama then ensued during the pit stop phase when the Dutchman’s slightly slow stop saw Norris – who had pitted on the same lap – try to go side by side at the pit exit, resulting in the McLaren man having to take to the grass while Verstappen remained ahead.

    While both drivers voiced their unhappiness about the incident over the team radio, the stewards opted not to investigate and Verstappen remained ahead of Norris as the race progressed, building a gap back to the Briton.

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

    What a great result from Verstappen and Red Bull! Their first win of the season and it all started from a lovely qualifying lap on Saturday and then the Dutchman just put everything together on Sunday to secure the win!
    As for his new teammate, Tsunoda, he finished 12th, just outside the points.

    A lovely result from McLaren, P2 for Norris and P3 for Piastri a very strong weekend for both drivers, they were bringing the heat to Verstappen but it wasn’t enough to grab the win.

    P4 for Leclerc! A lovely result for the Ferrari driver, especially after their horrible weekend in China, it’s unfortunate they couldn’t get on the podium but it was close enough. It was P7 for Hamilton, not too bad but definitely not the worse and still some points in the bag for the team.

    P5 for Russell and P6 Antonelli, a decent weekend for the Mercedes boys. Antonelli seems to be settling in comfortably at the Silver Arrows, and is rewarded with points once again!

    P8 for Hadjar! What a start of a season for him in his rookie campaign! He is doing well and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do for the rest of the season.

  • R3 – Tyre Selection

    The Suzuka track is one of the most spectacular and demanding on the calendar, as well as being the only circuit of the season with a figure of eight layout.
    Located in the Mie Prefecture, the venue is owned by Honda whose Suzuka factory, built in 1960 is one of its main sites in Japan.

    The track is regarded as being demanding for both car and driver, 5.807 kilometres in length, it is made up of 18 corners, some of which are part of motor racing history, such as the Esses in the first sector.

    The C1, the hard compound of the 2025 range, makes its season debut at this the third round, joined as usual by the C2 (Medium) and C3 (Soft).
    That’s because Suzuka is one of the toughest tracks on the calendar when it comes to tyres and Pirelli has therefore always selected the hardest trio of compounds.

    Something new for this year is the fact that a large part of the track has been resurfaced, from the exit of the last chicane to the end of the first sector.
    This is an important section, as it features medium and high speed corners, some of them long ones, such as the first two after the start-finish straight, where tyres come under a lot of stress.

    As already mentioned, the three hardest compounds in the range will be available. It is worth noting that, of the three, the C1 is the one that most closely resembles its 2024 iteration, while the C2 especially and the C3, have undergone the most changes in terms of performance, being softer than last year.

    In 2024, the race was won by Max Verstappen, followed home by Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez and the then Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz.
    The field was split pretty fairly evenly between the Medium and Soft for the first stint, with 12 choosing the C2 and eight the C3.

    But the race strategy was then influenced by the race being red flagged following a collision between Albon and Ricciardo, with seven drivers changing compounds for the restart off the grid.

  • Red Bull unveil special livery for Japanese GP

    Red Bull have revealed a special one-off livery that will adorn the RB21 during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, with the team running a striking white and red design to honour the final year of their partnership with Honda.

    In an event that will see Yuki Tsunoda step up as Max Verstappen’s new team mate in front of his home crowd – following the decision to swap the Japanese driver with Liam Lawson the latter returning to Racing Bulls – Red Bull’s challenger will pay tribute to Honda by sporting a design inspired by the RA272, which gave the engine manufacturer its inaugural win back in 1965.

    The livery recreates the RA272’s Japanese flag motif, featuring the ‘H’ logo on the nose and the simple Honda logo on the rear of the bodywork, while a special logo commemorating the 60th anniversary of Honda’s debut victory will be displayed on the Red Bull and Racing Bulls cars during the weekend.

    This is not the first time that Red Bull have raced in white, with the squad having previously run a special livery at the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix.

    Our relationship with Honda deserves celebration, it has been one of continued success and brought the team one of the most triumphant and dominant periods in our history. Max has won four world titles with a Honda power unit, and the team have lifted two Constructors’ titles. In addition, Honda’s reliability enabled it to complete the most successful season in the sport’s history in 2023. This livery is a tribute to Honda’s success in the sport and the final year of what has been a thoroughly enjoyable partnership. I am looking forward to seeing it out on track.
    Horner on the special livery.

    It is quite moving to see the RA272 tribute livery on the latest Red Bull Racing machine, in the final year of Honda and Red Bull’s partnership. Our successful path will continue to shine in the history of F1.
    Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC).

  • Alpine’s reserve Ryo Hirakawa to drive in FP1

    Alpine have announced that Ryo Hirakawa – one of their reserve drivers for 2025 – will get behind the wheel of the A525 in front of his home crowd during Free Practice 1 at the Japanese Grand Prix.

    Hirakawa – who previously enjoyed his debut practice run with McLaren at last year’s season finale in Abu Dhabi – has extensive experience across different categories of motorsport, having competed in various single-seater and endurance championships.

    This saw him take victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022, while he is also a two-time Hypercar champion in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

    Now, after previously testing Formula 1 machinery for McLaren and Haas, Hirakawa will get his first taste of a 2025 car during his home event at the Suzuka Circuit, with the 31 year old set to take over Jack Doohan’s challenger for the session.

    I’m very excited, I can’t wait to drive the A525 in Free Practice 1 this weekend. I’m looking back to 18 years ago to 2007, the first time I went to watch the Japanese Grand Prix, it was a different track, Fuji, but it was Formula 1 in Japan. Since then, I started my racing career and now to drive during the weekend is going to be a dream come true, I just can’t wait. I have got everything prepared, we did simulator work in Enstone a few days ago and I’m going to enjoy the moment. Hopefully the weather is good, it will be a short session, but I will enjoy it and do my best for the team to hopefully input some direction on set-up. I just want to add my appreciation to everyone at the team for the opportunity and support.
    Hirakawa on the news.

  • Victor Martins joins Williams Driver Academy

    Williams have announced that F2 driver and former F3 champion Victor Martins has become the latest addition to their Driver Academy, adding to their roster of young talent on the pathway to Formula 1.

    Martins won a closely-fought title battle during the 2022 Formula 3 campaign, the Frenchman beating the six other drivers – including the likes of Ollie Bearman and Isack Hadjar – that remained in contention at the Monza season finale to secure the crown for ART Grand Prix.

    From there he progressed to Formula 2 in 2023 and finished his debut season in fifth place, whilst also helping, whilst also helping the ART Grand Prix squad to secure their first F2 Teams’ title.
    Martins collected a further five podiums in 2024, including a victory in the Barcelona Sprint Race.

    Alongside competing in his third F2 campaign for ART Grand Prix in 2025, Martins will receive training and guidance from the Williams Driver Academy as he continues to develop his skills on and off the track.

    The 23 year old who was previously a part of the Alpine Academy is set to get behind the wheel of the FW45 as part of the TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) programme in Monza this weekend, as will fellow F2 driver and Academy member Luke Browning.

    I’m super happy to be joining the Williams Racing Driver Academy! This is a new chapter for me, but my goal remains the same – to push myself to the limit, both as a person and as a racing driver, and to make it to Formula 1. Williams is an iconic team with an incredible history, and I’m confident this is the best place to be to help me achieve my goals. This year, I’ll put all my focus into winning the Formula 2 Drivers’ Championship with ART Grand Prix and maximising this opportunity with the Driver Academy both on and off the track. I look forward to working with everyone at Williams as we embark on this new journey together.
    Martins on the news.

    We’re thrilled to welcome Victor to the Williams Racing Driver Academy. He has repeatedly demonstrated that he is a talented driver who is capable of winning championships. We will continue to support Victor’s development on and off the track as part of the Academy and look forward to working with him in 2025.
    Sven Smeets, Sporting Director at Williams.

  • Haas reveal livery for Japanese Grand Prix

    The Haas F1 team has revealed a beautiful new livery for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, celebrating the iconic cherry blossom of the country.

    The pink livery, which lays over the traditional 2025 livery of the American team celebrates the connection that’s growing between Haas and Japan.

    The team has transformed its VF-25 car with a cherry blossom inspired livery, “paying homage” to the natural beauty of the Sakura. This will feature across both cars over the weekend.

    There’s more to this change than just aesthetics. A strong relationship between the team and the country has formed over the past year, after a multi-year technical partnership with Toyota was confirmed in October 2024, seeing the manufacturer return to the sport for the first time since 2009.

    This will see Toyota Gazoo Racing working with Haas on design, technical and manufacturing services, something that will help the team build their capabilities under new leadership from team principal Ayao Komatsu.

  • Tsunoda to replace Lawson at Red Bull

    Red Bull have announced that Yuki Tsunoda will replace Liam Lawson at the senior Red Bull Racing team from the Japanese Grand Prix onwards, with the 24 year old getting the nod to replace Lawson following a difficult opening two races for the New Zealander.

    Lawson raced alongside Tsunoda in the latter stages of 2024 after replacing Daniel Ricciardo at the then-name RB team, and his performances were enough to earn him a promotion to Red Bull, following the exit of Sergio Perez.

    However, Lawson struggled to get to grips with the RB21 during the Australia and China Grand Prix weekends, crashing out in the former amid treacherous conditions before crossing the line in 15th in Shanghai, which then became 12th following three disqualifications for Leclerc, Hamilton and Gasly ahead.

    Rumours then quickly mounted that the 23 year old could be replaced at the team as early as Round 3 in Japan, and now it has been confirmed that Tsunoda will fill Lawson’s seat when F1 returns to Suzuka on April 4th – 6th with Lawson returning to the Racing Bulls squad alongside rookie Isack Hadjar.

    After making his debut for the then-named AlphaTauri squad back in 2021, Tsunoda has continued to develop as a driver across the years that have followed, the Japanese driver having outscored his recent team mates including Nyck de Vries and Daniel Ricciardo.

    The 2024 season was one that Tsunoda heralded as “one of my best” after scoring 30 of his team’s 46 points across the season.
    He went on to make his test debut for Red Bull at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi – but it was subsequently confirmed that Lawson rather than Tsunoda.

    Lawson, will be returning to Racing Bulls where he will partner with rookie Isack Hadjar – the situation mirroring the cases of Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly who each returned to the sister outfit from Red Bull after three races into 2016 and 12 in 2019 respectively.

    It has been difficult to see Liam struggle with the RB21 at the first two races and, as a result, we have collectively taken the decision to make an early switch. We came into the 2025 season with two ambitions, to retain the World Drivers’ Championship and to reclaim the World Constructors’ title and this is a purely sporting decision. We acknowledge there is a lot of work to be done with the RB21 and Yuki’s experience will prove highly beneficial in helping to develop the current car. We welcome him to the Team and are looking forward to seeing him behind the wheel of the RB21. We have a duty of care to protect and develop Liam and together, we see that after such a difficult start, it makes sense to act quickly so Liam can gain experience, as he continues his F1 career with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, an environment and a Team he knows very well.
    Christian Horner on the news.

    We’re incredibly proud of Yuki earning his well-deserved move to Oracle Red Bull Racing! His progress last year, and more recently from the very start of 2025, has been nothing less than sensational. Personally, and collectively, it has been an immense privilege to witness those progresses for all of us in Faenza and in Milton Keynes. Yuki’s energy and positivity has lightened up every corner of our factories and of our garage and he will always be a Racing Bull! We wish him all the success he deserves at ORBR. Everyone here at VCARB is looking forward to working hard with Liam to give him the best environment possible for him to shine in our car and to express the talent we all know he has. He fit in so well last year, and we cannot wait to challenge ourselves and grow as a team. With Isack having started so strongly with us already, we know we have a young and strong line-up.
    Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Racing Bulls on the news.