Nico Hulkenberg believes that in the coming season Sauber can achieve no less progress than his former team Haas F1 last year. Nico Hulkenberg: "Sauber has a good basis for progress. The example of Haas shows what can be achieved even in a very short time. Last year, the team has already made the first step, preparing new products for Las Vegas. There's still a lot of work to be done and optimized, but the direction is right. Last year, the battle in the middle group of teams was incredibly tight. I'm sure in 2025 it will be even tenser, but in such a situation even a small progress allows you to win back a few positions".
George Russell: My goals for this season remain the same
The teams continue to prepare for the new season. George Russell on the first day of arrival at the base of Mercedes this year answered a few questions from the press service, telling how he spent the off-season, and what tasks set for himself in 2025. George Russell: "In Formula 1 everyone needs a break, but, frankly, I could not wait to return to work. There's still time until the first race, but the first day at the base is a first step. It's good to see everyone motivated to get back in the fight and see the car. I resumed physical training on January 2 with coach Alex. We trained for a few weeks and the second one turned out to be extremely tough. We gradually built up the load as the last thing you want to do is overdo it and injure yourself. During the break, I tried to keep fit and moving so I wasn't sitting around all day doing nothing.
The teams continue to prepare for the new season. George Russell on the first day of arrival at the base of Mercedes this year answered a few questions from the press service, telling how he spent the off-season, and what tasks set for himself in 2025. George Russell: "In Formula 1 everyone needs a break, but, frankly, I could not wait to return to work. There's still time until the first race, but the first day at the base is a first step. It's good to see everyone motivated to get back in the fight and see the car. I resumed physical training on January 2 with coach Alex. We trained for a few weeks and the second one turned out to be extremely tough. We gradually built up the load as the last thing you want to do is overdo it and injure yourself. During the break, I tried to keep fit and moving so I wasn't sitting around all day doing nothing.
When Alpine signed Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver, many thought that the team would soon part ways with debutant Jack Duen in favor of the promising Argentine. Perhaps this is indeed the case, but for now Alpine F1 chief Oliver Oakes assures that Jack will have full support... Oliver Oakes: "We didn't invite Colapinto to motivate Duen. It's just that we're looking for options for the future. We need to make sure we get the best riders, not just now but in the future. The first round of the new season in Melbourne is Duan's home race. I think that will take a little bit of the edge off the emotions he's going through and make it a little bit easier for the team to adapt. We will support Jack in everything and give him the best chance to prove himself".
Bottas will also serve as a reserve driver for McLaren and Williams in 2025.
Valtteri Bottas’ prospects of making a return to the Formula 1 grid this year might be three times greater than previously estimated. Just before Christmas, Audi-owned Sauber decided not to extend its racing agreement with the Finn, leading Mercedes to announce that Bottas would return to Brackley as a full-time reserve driver for 2025. "Even with the challenges I've faced over the past few years, I believe I still have much to offer F1," he stated at that time.
The 35-year-old, currently enjoying a holiday and cycling in Australia, will celebrate his return to Mercedes power by driving an 80s-spec DTM touring car at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival right before the 2025 season begins.
Valtteri Bottas’ prospects of making a return to the Formula 1 grid this year might be three times greater than previously estimated. Just before Christmas, Audi-owned Sauber decided not to extend its racing agreement with the Finn, leading Mercedes to announce that Bottas would return to Brackley as a full-time reserve driver for 2025. "Even with the challenges I've faced over the past few years, I believe I still have much to offer F1," he stated at that time.
The 35-year-old, currently enjoying a holiday and cycling in Australia, will celebrate his return to Mercedes power by driving an 80s-spec DTM touring car at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival right before the 2025 season begins.
Wolff suggests that McLaren might surpass Mercedes in 2026 as well.
While Mercedes might gain an edge over its competitors in 2026, Toto Wolff emphasizes that this doesn't automatically place the works team at the forefront. Adrian Newey mentioned to Auto Motor und Sport this week that there is a "strong possibility" Formula 1 will become "an engine-dominated formula," at least initially with the upcoming rule changes. This could partly clarify why Newey decided to leave amid Red Bull's leadership issues last year, as the team is set to lose its works Honda power to Aston Martin while developing its own power units in partnership with Ford. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner remarked recently, "Ferrari has 75 years of experience in engine manufacturing, and Mercedes has 30 years with HPP (High Performance Powertrains)." He noted, "The challenge we face is significant.
While Mercedes might gain an edge over its competitors in 2026, Toto Wolff emphasizes that this doesn't automatically place the works team at the forefront. Adrian Newey mentioned to Auto Motor und Sport this week that there is a "strong possibility" Formula 1 will become "an engine-dominated formula," at least initially with the upcoming rule changes. This could partly clarify why Newey decided to leave amid Red Bull's leadership issues last year, as the team is set to lose its works Honda power to Aston Martin while developing its own power units in partnership with Ford. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner remarked recently, "Ferrari has 75 years of experience in engine manufacturing, and Mercedes has 30 years with HPP (High Performance Powertrains)." He noted, "The challenge we face is significant.
Senior engineer of Williams Dave Robson spoke about how the team will organize the work with two projects at the same time, finalizing the car for this year and developing a car for 2026, when the regulations will be seriously changed. Dave Robson: "This year everyone will have to solve this problem. I'm sure most teams will focus on the 2026 cars early on, it will be interesting to see what they do with the current cars and how they prioritize them. At the beginning of the year we'll be tweaking the 2025 FW47 in the few days when the wind tunnel isn't busy with the 2026 project. If we can find a way to improve its efficiency without jeopardizing the 2026 program, we'll try to do that, but I suspect that period will end quickly and we'll switch all resources and budget to the 2026 car fairly early on, implementing only the pre-planned FW47 upgrades."
Ferrari tests continue in Barcelona, where Charles Leclair and Lewis Hamilton work behind the wheel of the SF23. On Wednesday, the first Lewis Hamilton drove, in the afternoon he will be replaced by Charles Leclair. On the part of the team for the implementation of the program monitors the technical director Loic Serra, last year moved from Mercedes. No statistics of tests team does not report. For the main pilots tests on this will be completed. Tomorrow behind the wheel will sit reserve pilot Ferrari and the winner of "Le Mans" Antonio Giovinazzi and academy graduate Dino Beganovic.
Last year, former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert called the results of Mercedes the main disappointment of the season, and now expects surprises from the team... Johnny Herbert: "This year in Mercedes everything will change. Russell will be the first number of the team, in which came the young Kimi Antonelli. George has already proved the ability to win, he has everything to win races and fight for the title. The question is what this year Mercedes will be able to claim. I think in the final season under the current regulations Mercedes will have a chance. I expect a tight and equal fight, in which it is impossible to name a favorite in advance, but Mercedes will surely have the opportunity to win races and move towards the championship. No one knows what will happen this year. That's where the team has to step up and lead. Mercedes are capable of doing that."
Honda is having trouble developing a motor for 2026
In 2026, Formula 1 will move to a new technical regulation, which will affect not only the appearance of cars, but also affect the engines. New power units will become highly efficient, the batteries of their hybrid part will be almost three times more efficient, and the generated power will be more evenly distributed between the internal combustion engine and electric systems. Adrian Newey has already predicted that from 2026 will begin a new competition of motorists, and the advantage will be given to those teams, which will have the best power unit. On the car Aston Martin, which just and will have to design Newey, will stand Honda engines. President of Honda Racing Corporation Koji Watanabe said that the engineers have already had problems with the development of the power unit for 2026.
In 2026, Formula 1 will move to a new technical regulation, which will affect not only the appearance of cars, but also affect the engines. New power units will become highly efficient, the batteries of their hybrid part will be almost three times more efficient, and the generated power will be more evenly distributed between the internal combustion engine and electric systems. Adrian Newey has already predicted that from 2026 will begin a new competition of motorists, and the advantage will be given to those teams, which will have the best power unit. On the car Aston Martin, which just and will have to design Newey, will stand Honda engines. President of Honda Racing Corporation Koji Watanabe said that the engineers have already had problems with the development of the power unit for 2026.
Yuki Tsunoda to be Red Bull Racing's reserve driver
The British press reports that Red Bull Racing has selected Yuki Tsunoda for the role of reserve driver in 2025. Thus, the Japanese will combine these duties with performances for Racing Bulls. In the upcoming season, if necessary, Yuki will replace Max Verstappen or Liam Lawson during the race weekend. The reason for the replacement could be not only the illness of one of the main drivers, but also a potential disqualification. Max Verstappen finished last season with eight penalty points on his account. A set of twelve will be followed by disqualification. The reigning world champion is in a difficult position, because he has repeatedly said that he is not going to change the approach to the fight on the track, and in 2025, his first penalty points will be burned only at the twelfth stage of the season in Austria.
The British press reports that Red Bull Racing has selected Yuki Tsunoda for the role of reserve driver in 2025. Thus, the Japanese will combine these duties with performances for Racing Bulls. In the upcoming season, if necessary, Yuki will replace Max Verstappen or Liam Lawson during the race weekend. The reason for the replacement could be not only the illness of one of the main drivers, but also a potential disqualification. Max Verstappen finished last season with eight penalty points on his account. A set of twelve will be followed by disqualification. The reigning world champion is in a difficult position, because he has repeatedly said that he is not going to change the approach to the fight on the track, and in 2025, his first penalty points will be burned only at the twelfth stage of the season in Austria.
The FIA has expelled Herbert from the stewards.
The FIA has announced that Johnny Herbert will no longer be part of the stewards' panel. A former Formula 1 driver and winner of three Grands Prix, Herbert has been frequently called upon to take on the role of steward over the past 15 years. He made his debut in the role in 2010, when former drivers were first invited to become stewards. Herbert has been criticized recently for making uncomfortable comments to management, including quotes to gambling companies who then offered them to the media in exchange for promotional links. The FIA said that this was one of the reasons why it was decided to exclude Herbert from stewarding. Rumor has it that another reason was Max Verstappen and his entourage's dissatisfaction with the two 10-second penalties in Mexico City, after which Jos Verstappen accused the stewards of bias.
The FIA has announced that Johnny Herbert will no longer be part of the stewards' panel. A former Formula 1 driver and winner of three Grands Prix, Herbert has been frequently called upon to take on the role of steward over the past 15 years. He made his debut in the role in 2010, when former drivers were first invited to become stewards. Herbert has been criticized recently for making uncomfortable comments to management, including quotes to gambling companies who then offered them to the media in exchange for promotional links. The FIA said that this was one of the reasons why it was decided to exclude Herbert from stewarding. Rumor has it that another reason was Max Verstappen and his entourage's dissatisfaction with the two 10-second penalties in Mexico City, after which Jos Verstappen accused the stewards of bias.
Reconstruction continues at the Hungaroring
The major reconstruction of the Hungaroring circuit on the outskirts of Budapest continues. The Hungarian circuit has often been described as outdated, so a new contract could only be signed by guaranteeing Formula 1 a serious reconstruction of the circuit, which has been ongoing with few interruptions since last year. Now the organizers have reported an important step of the second phase - the installation of the roof over the new main grandstand. "A historic moment! The first element of the roof structure has been installed on the new Hungaroring main grandstand, preceded by four months of pre-assembly of the steel structures. The operation required a 650-ton mobile crane, the only one of its kind in Hungary. The huge roof structure, 272 meters long and 33 meters wide, will weigh 1,300 tons with an area of 8,976 square meters.
The major reconstruction of the Hungaroring circuit on the outskirts of Budapest continues. The Hungarian circuit has often been described as outdated, so a new contract could only be signed by guaranteeing Formula 1 a serious reconstruction of the circuit, which has been ongoing with few interruptions since last year. Now the organizers have reported an important step of the second phase - the installation of the roof over the new main grandstand. "A historic moment! The first element of the roof structure has been installed on the new Hungaroring main grandstand, preceded by four months of pre-assembly of the steel structures. The operation required a 650-ton mobile crane, the only one of its kind in Hungary. The huge roof structure, 272 meters long and 33 meters wide, will weigh 1,300 tons with an area of 8,976 square meters.
Technical Director of Red Bull Racing Pierre Vacher considers useful experience of solving problems with the machine last year, but is not sure that they will not arise again. Pierre Vacher: "In Formula 1 you are always in search of a solution to some problem. And one of our tasks is to anticipate them. Last year's problems with correlation in those areas that we knew, now solved, the question is where they will arise now. It's dangerous to blindly trust the conclusions you draw, you need to put everything in perspective. The team stays strong when you have doubts. If you are completely confident in yourself and your abilities, you will fail. I consider the experience of dealing with the problems we had last year a positive experience. By winning, you will never get to the bottom of it, and if you can't win, you will look for the cause, which will eventually allow you to take the next step."
On Wednesday, the team Ferrari continued tests in Barcelona with the car SF-23. In the morning the first behind the wheel sat Lewis Hamilton, and in the afternoon he is scheduled to be replaced by Charles Leclaire. According to the Italian TV channel Sky, at about 11:00 local time Lewis lost control of the car on the third sector of the track and crashed into the barrier. The racer was not injured and independently got out of the cockpit, and the car received noticeable damage to the suspension and aerodynamic dodger. Ferrari SF-23 was delivered to the boxes, after which Ferrari mechanics began to work on its restoration. The start of Charles Leclair's tests had to be postponed, and at the time of publication it was not known whether the Monegasque would be able to take to the track today.
McLaren is interested in endurance racing
McLaren Racing chief Zak Brown told the AP that the company's next move into motorsport could be to get involved in endurance racing, possibly at the expense of Indycar or Formula E. Zak Brown: "Our car business, which McLaren Racing works closely with, has a strong position in the sports road car market. They are now in the process of reorganization, soon to be a healthy company again and want to get into racing. The manufacturers have clearly expressed confidence in the new regulations, sportscar racing is once again a major form of motorsport and has definitely caught our attention. A decision needs to be made soon to get off the ground in 2027, and so far things are shaping up favorably. Together we believe that sports car racing is a platform that can really benefit our automotive and racing businesses.
McLaren Racing chief Zak Brown told the AP that the company's next move into motorsport could be to get involved in endurance racing, possibly at the expense of Indycar or Formula E. Zak Brown: "Our car business, which McLaren Racing works closely with, has a strong position in the sports road car market. They are now in the process of reorganization, soon to be a healthy company again and want to get into racing. The manufacturers have clearly expressed confidence in the new regulations, sportscar racing is once again a major form of motorsport and has definitely caught our attention. A decision needs to be made soon to get off the ground in 2027, and so far things are shaping up favorably. Together we believe that sports car racing is a platform that can really benefit our automotive and racing businesses.
Peter Bayer on the loss of 20 million in prize money
Last year before the summer break RB was sixth in the Constructors Cup, and finished the season eighth. Executive Director of Racing Bulls Peter Bayer said that the loss of 20 million dollars, which was already counted on in the team, can not but affect its work. Peter Bayer: "We have ambitious plans. Unfortunately, for financial reasons and because of restrictions on power plants we can not yet conduct tests with the machines of previous years. Now they are held by all major teams, Mercedes with Kimi Antonelli - the best example. The car is slightly different, but it corresponds to the speed of Formula 1, and the tests are held on modern tracks, which is great for young racers. Such tests are an addition to the mandatory program, a bonus, which is possible only in the case of an increase in the budget, not its reduction due to the loss of prize money.
Last year before the summer break RB was sixth in the Constructors Cup, and finished the season eighth. Executive Director of Racing Bulls Peter Bayer said that the loss of 20 million dollars, which was already counted on in the team, can not but affect its work. Peter Bayer: "We have ambitious plans. Unfortunately, for financial reasons and because of restrictions on power plants we can not yet conduct tests with the machines of previous years. Now they are held by all major teams, Mercedes with Kimi Antonelli - the best example. The car is slightly different, but it corresponds to the speed of Formula 1, and the tests are held on modern tracks, which is great for young racers. Such tests are an addition to the mandatory program, a bonus, which is possible only in the case of an increase in the budget, not its reduction due to the loss of prize money.
British press with reference to their sources in the team reports that the new car RB21 for the season 2025 successfully passed the mandatory tests FIA. Unlike last year, when the team from Milton Keynes had problems with the passage of crash tests, this time the procedure did not cause special difficulties. In addition, in Red Bull Racing decided with the date of the first exit RB21 on the track. Running-in is scheduled for February 25 and will be held in Bahrain on the eve of three-day pre-season tests.
Albert Park has reconfigured the sixth turn at Albert Park
The organizers of the Australian Grand Prix told about the change of the track in the sixth corner of Albert Park, where more than once there were dangerous crashes. The problem was that after hitting the barrier damaged cars flew onto the track and crashed into the wall on the opposite side. Last year, two drivers dropped out of the fight there. In the first Friday practice session Alex Elbon hit the car first against one wall, then against another, so there was nothing to restore - his teammate Logan Sargent was removed from the Grand Prix, having built a car for Alex on his chassis. The second casualty was George Russell, who seriously wrecked his car in the race.
The organizers of the Australian Grand Prix told about the change of the track in the sixth corner of Albert Park, where more than once there were dangerous crashes. The problem was that after hitting the barrier damaged cars flew onto the track and crashed into the wall on the opposite side. Last year, two drivers dropped out of the fight there. In the first Friday practice session Alex Elbon hit the car first against one wall, then against another, so there was nothing to restore - his teammate Logan Sargent was removed from the Grand Prix, having built a car for Alex on his chassis. The second casualty was George Russell, who seriously wrecked his car in the race.
On the artificially watered French circuit Paul Ricard continue testing prototypes of rain tires for the season 2026, which are held in Pirelli together with McLaren. Yesterday morning the tests were hampered by cold weather - the temperature on some parts of the track reached-2 ° C, but in the afternoon Oscar Piastri made up for lost time, fully completed the planned program. He completed 120 laps with a best time of 1'07''008 on the 3.463-kilometer version of the track. Today Lando Norris will be behind the wheel, continuing the testing program of rain and intermediate tires for the 2026 season, which, while retaining the current 18-inch rim diameter, will have a slightly smaller width and outside diameter on the front and rear axles.
Hamilton had an accident while testing a new pedal configuration.
Lewis Hamilton was testing a new pedal configuration when he crashed at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on Wednesday. As part of the preparations for his first season with Ferrari in 2025, the seven-time world champion was driving a 2023 car when he collided with the barriers in the fast final sector. Ferrari downplayed the incident but did not provide specifics, with reports indicating that the bodywork and suspension were damaged around 11 am. The planned afternoon session for teammate Charles Leclerc in the same car was canceled.
As reported by La Repubblica and Sky Italia, Hamilton was experimenting with a different pedal layout after having difficulty with the standard setup during his debut at Fiorano last week.
Lewis Hamilton was testing a new pedal configuration when he crashed at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on Wednesday. As part of the preparations for his first season with Ferrari in 2025, the seven-time world champion was driving a 2023 car when he collided with the barriers in the fast final sector. Ferrari downplayed the incident but did not provide specifics, with reports indicating that the bodywork and suspension were damaged around 11 am. The planned afternoon session for teammate Charles Leclerc in the same car was canceled.
As reported by La Repubblica and Sky Italia, Hamilton was experimenting with a different pedal layout after having difficulty with the standard setup during his debut at Fiorano last week.