The head of Red Bull Racing Christian Horner sees similarities between Max Verstappen and his new teammate Liam Lawson - and believes they will work effectively together... Christian Horner: "We realize that the past can repeat itself, but Lawson is a different driver, a different personality, he is able to cope with the pressure. He showed resilience and strength of character, using his chance he coped and achieved the result. Initially the plan did not assume the transition of Lawson in Red Bull Racing in 2025, but so the circumstances - unfortunately Sergio badly spent the season. But we believe that in the future Liam will only progress. It is important that he has a similar style of piloting with Max. The same set-up suits him. He is not afraid of nervous behavior of the front of the car, in this they are similar. I'm sure Liam will be able to work with Max and bring us good results.
Moët & Chandon has regained its status as the Official Champagne of Formula 1 and has become title sponsor of the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix. It was announced today that Formula 1 and LVMH, which includes Moët & Chandon, have signed a ten-year contract. Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1: "Champagne on the podium is one of the iconic traditions of our sport. We are delighted to welcome Moët & Chandon back as the Official Champagne of Formula 1 - we are linked by history, emotion and excellence. Moët & Chandon's return to the podium is particularly symbolic this year as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Formula 1."
Sauber-Audi to establish a base in the UK.
Sauber, set to transition to full works status with Audi in 2026, is establishing a base in the UK. Last year, the team stirred controversy by successfully persuading the FIA to permit higher spending under the budget cap, aimed at offsetting the increased costs associated with being based in Switzerland.
Another concern is that teams not located in the UK face disadvantages in attracting top specialist talent in Formula 1 due to relocation challenges. The FIA’s single-seater director, Nikolas Tombazis, mentioned last year that teams like Sauber might need to relocate to the UK, a notion they believe is not ideal for the operation of a world championship.
Nevertheless, Sauber has announced plans to construct a "new technical centre in the UK.
Sauber, set to transition to full works status with Audi in 2026, is establishing a base in the UK. Last year, the team stirred controversy by successfully persuading the FIA to permit higher spending under the budget cap, aimed at offsetting the increased costs associated with being based in Switzerland.
Another concern is that teams not located in the UK face disadvantages in attracting top specialist talent in Formula 1 due to relocation challenges. The FIA’s single-seater director, Nikolas Tombazis, mentioned last year that teams like Sauber might need to relocate to the UK, a notion they believe is not ideal for the operation of a world championship.
Nevertheless, Sauber has announced plans to construct a "new technical centre in the UK.
Rosberg suggests that Hamilton or Leclerc might gain the advantage.
A former teammate from Mercedes believes that Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari may reignite his "inner fire." During their time together at Mercedes, they secured every drivers’ championship, with Hamilton winning three titles and Nico Rosberg one in 2016. Hamilton’s total now stands at seven titles at the age of 40.
"Lewis doesn't have to prove anything to anyone anymore," Rosberg, 39, told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Yet he has sought a new way to push boundaries with his fresh start at Ferrari. I know he is filled with a deep passion for motorsport and a strong desire to discover himself anew," the German added.
While Hamilton's transition to Ferrari has garnered significant global attention, some skeptics believe Charles Leclerc might quickly gain the advantage.
A former teammate from Mercedes believes that Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari may reignite his "inner fire." During their time together at Mercedes, they secured every drivers’ championship, with Hamilton winning three titles and Nico Rosberg one in 2016. Hamilton’s total now stands at seven titles at the age of 40.
"Lewis doesn't have to prove anything to anyone anymore," Rosberg, 39, told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Yet he has sought a new way to push boundaries with his fresh start at Ferrari. I know he is filled with a deep passion for motorsport and a strong desire to discover himself anew," the German added.
While Hamilton's transition to Ferrari has garnered significant global attention, some skeptics believe Charles Leclerc might quickly gain the advantage.
The Ferrari team has announced the signing of Guangyu Zhou to a reserve driver contract. He will share those duties with Antonio Giovinazzi in 2025. The Chinese driver has already worked with the Scuderia, having been a member of Ferrari's Racing Academy from 2015 to 2018. From 2022 to 2024 Guangyu Zhou drove for Alfa Romeo/Sauber, whose cars were powered by Ferrari power units. Antonio Giovinazzi has remained Ferrari's reserve driver since 2017 and will combine his Formula 1 duties with appearances for the Maranello-based team in the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship.
Mercedes debutant Andrea Kimi Antonelli was born 46 years after Ayrton Senna was born, but he chose the number #12 for his car in his honor... Andrea Kimi Antonelli: "I always feel vivid emotions when I watch videos of Ayrton Senna's performances. Unfortunately I haven't seen him race live, but I've watched all the DVDs of the seasons of those years, all those incredible races he did. I've watched the documentary and the recent TV series. Senna is my idol, both on and off the track. An incredible racer and a wonderful human being. His example inspires me. If I can achieve even a part of what Ayrton has achieved, it will be a dream come true. I chose the number #12 for my car because of Senna. I started using it back in Formula 4, and I was doing well with that number. In addition, I was 12 years old when I was taken in the youth program Mercedes. I hope everything will work out in Formula 1".
Jean Todt: Ferrari is not losing because of the drivers
The last time a Ferrari driver became world champion was in 2007, when Kimi Raikkonen won the title in the final race of the season. In Scuderia hope that the invitation of Lewis Hamilton will help to return to the top, but the former head of the team Jean Todt doubts that this will be the key to success, as in previous years for Ferrari were very strong racers. Jean Todt: "What is missing Ferrari to win? Very little, because in previous years they were very close to the title. The line-up of Charles Leclair and Carlos Sainz was very good. It is absolutely certain that they were losing not because of the drivers. Obviously, with the invitation of Lewis Hamilton, the line-up will remain at the highest level. But will it be better than the previous one? I have no idea. It all depends on the level of the car.
The last time a Ferrari driver became world champion was in 2007, when Kimi Raikkonen won the title in the final race of the season. In Scuderia hope that the invitation of Lewis Hamilton will help to return to the top, but the former head of the team Jean Todt doubts that this will be the key to success, as in previous years for Ferrari were very strong racers. Jean Todt: "What is missing Ferrari to win? Very little, because in previous years they were very close to the title. The line-up of Charles Leclair and Carlos Sainz was very good. It is absolutely certain that they were losing not because of the drivers. Obviously, with the invitation of Lewis Hamilton, the line-up will remain at the highest level. But will it be better than the previous one? I have no idea. It all depends on the level of the car.
The Aston Martin team will show the new AMR25 for the first time just a few days before the tests - on February 23. On February 18, the team will unveil the coloring of the 2025 car and its sponsors at a general presentation in London. february 23 will show the actual car, and on February 24 it will run its first laps during a filming day in Bahrain. The official pre-season tests will take place in Bahrain from February 26 to 28. Announced dates of new car presentations Date Team Car Venue 14/02 Williams FW47 Silverstone, UK 18/02 General presentation of car coloring all London, UK 19/02 Ferrari SF25 Maranello, Italy 23/02 Aston Martin AMR25 social media 24/02 Mercedes W16 on the team's website
McLaren success prompts Sainz to move to Williams
Carlos Sainz has long chosen from several proposals for 2025, and decided to sign a contract with Williams. The Spanish racer said that he evaluated not only the prospects of different teams, but also trusted his intuition, which earlier he predicted the success of McLaren. Carlos Sainz: "I thought a lot about which team will be faster in 2025. Who will manage to generate more downforce? Who will find a solution that will make the car faster? In the end I realized that my decision had to be based on two things: the project and the people. When I started discussing the prospects in detail with James Vowles, I realized that he had put together a very strong project at Williams. He together with the owners formed a vision of the team's future, which I immediately liked, and I felt that I could trust his leadership. I have already said that I was important people.
Carlos Sainz has long chosen from several proposals for 2025, and decided to sign a contract with Williams. The Spanish racer said that he evaluated not only the prospects of different teams, but also trusted his intuition, which earlier he predicted the success of McLaren. Carlos Sainz: "I thought a lot about which team will be faster in 2025. Who will manage to generate more downforce? Who will find a solution that will make the car faster? In the end I realized that my decision had to be based on two things: the project and the people. When I started discussing the prospects in detail with James Vowles, I realized that he had put together a very strong project at Williams. He together with the owners formed a vision of the team's future, which I immediately liked, and I felt that I could trust his leadership. I have already said that I was important people.
The company Ferrari will pay five thousand of its employees large bonuses due to the fact that the reporting at the end of 2024 exceeded targets. Net revenue of the Italian brand increased by 11.8% compared to 2023 and amounted to 6.67 billion euros, and net profit rose by 21% to 1.5 billion euros. Bonuses will receive and team staff - at 14400 euros against 13500 in 2023, which was confirmed to journalists by the executive director of Ferrari Benedetto Vigna.
Williams has announced that it has signed a contract with Built For Athletes, a British suitcase and travel accessories company. Built For Athletes has been appointed as the team's official supplier and will produce a limited edition Williams-branded suitcase. James Vowles, Team Principal: "We are delighted to welcome Built For Athletes to Williams Racing as our official suitcase supplier ahead of the 2025 season. We have 24 races to run in 21 countries, so high quality suitcases are vital to Formula 1 teams. Built For Athletes guarantees quality and a commitment to innovation that aligns with our own aspirations."
Andretti acknowledges that his son Michael was an "obstacle" for Cadillac's F1 plans.
Mario Andretti acknowledges that his son Michael might have posed an "obstacle" to the Cadillac Formula 1 project's progress. The initial plan, approved by the FIA, faced resistance from F1 owner Liberty Media, with CEO Greg Maffei reportedly telling Mario that the team's approval would be unlikely as long as Michael remained involved. Subsequently, the plan was adjusted, with former McLaren driver Michael stepping back and the ‘Andretti’ name being dropped entirely. The ‘Cadillac F1’ team is now set to make its debut in 2026.
"The aim was to have an American team on the starting grid, and we accomplished that," said F1 legend Mario Andretti, who is serving as an advisor, in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport.
Mario Andretti acknowledges that his son Michael might have posed an "obstacle" to the Cadillac Formula 1 project's progress. The initial plan, approved by the FIA, faced resistance from F1 owner Liberty Media, with CEO Greg Maffei reportedly telling Mario that the team's approval would be unlikely as long as Michael remained involved. Subsequently, the plan was adjusted, with former McLaren driver Michael stepping back and the ‘Andretti’ name being dropped entirely. The ‘Cadillac F1’ team is now set to make its debut in 2026.
"The aim was to have an American team on the starting grid, and we accomplished that," said F1 legend Mario Andretti, who is serving as an advisor, in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport.
Rosberg states that the 'feud' with Hamilton has now ended.
Nico Rosberg states that his previous "feud" with Lewis Hamilton is now largely a thing of the past. The two were teammates from 2013 to 2016 during Mercedes’ dominance in Formula 1, but their friendship soured, and they were not on speaking terms for several years. Rosberg, who is now 39, retired from F1 after winning the title in 2016, having triumphed over Hamilton. Jacques Villeneuve suggests that Rosberg exemplifies a driver who is content in retirement.
"Take Nico Rosberg; he was happier not racing. That’s just a different level of passion," remarked the 1997 world champion, in a comparison between Rosberg and Hamilton. During an appearance on the NDR Talk Show, Rosberg shared that Hamilton now surprises his daughters with gifts each Christmas. The two live near each other in Monaco.
"It’s true that my daughters are fans of Lewis.
Nico Rosberg states that his previous "feud" with Lewis Hamilton is now largely a thing of the past. The two were teammates from 2013 to 2016 during Mercedes’ dominance in Formula 1, but their friendship soured, and they were not on speaking terms for several years. Rosberg, who is now 39, retired from F1 after winning the title in 2016, having triumphed over Hamilton. Jacques Villeneuve suggests that Rosberg exemplifies a driver who is content in retirement.
"Take Nico Rosberg; he was happier not racing. That’s just a different level of passion," remarked the 1997 world champion, in a comparison between Rosberg and Hamilton. During an appearance on the NDR Talk Show, Rosberg shared that Hamilton now surprises his daughters with gifts each Christmas. The two live near each other in Monaco.
"It’s true that my daughters are fans of Lewis.
Todt: Ferrari isn't necessarily 'better' with Hamilton.
Jean Todt expresses uncertainty regarding whether Ferrari will be "better" now that seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has joined the team. Todt, a former FIA president, is well-known for his role as team principal at Ferrari during Michael Schumacher's dominance in the sport.
The Frenchman notes that Ferrari was already well positioned with Hamilton's predecessor, Carlos Sainz. "What does Ferrari lack to win?" Todt, 78, said in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica. "Very, very little. The team was already very close to it. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz formed a strong driver lineup. Ferrari definitely did not lose because of the drivers."
Todt acknowledges that Hamilton's skill and experience are beneficial for the iconic team. "Clearly, with Hamilton, the lineup will be of the highest caliber," he continued.
Jean Todt expresses uncertainty regarding whether Ferrari will be "better" now that seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has joined the team. Todt, a former FIA president, is well-known for his role as team principal at Ferrari during Michael Schumacher's dominance in the sport.
The Frenchman notes that Ferrari was already well positioned with Hamilton's predecessor, Carlos Sainz. "What does Ferrari lack to win?" Todt, 78, said in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica. "Very, very little. The team was already very close to it. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz formed a strong driver lineup. Ferrari definitely did not lose because of the drivers."
Todt acknowledges that Hamilton's skill and experience are beneficial for the iconic team. "Clearly, with Hamilton, the lineup will be of the highest caliber," he continued.
By GMM
6 February 2025 - 08:51
It’s an advantageous time for those working at Ferrari. Reports indicate that, due to profits in 2024 exceeding expectations, every employee in the road car and Formula 1 sectors will receive a bonus of 14,400 euros. Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna, acknowledging that Lewis Hamilton positively impacts the "brand," believes the prosperous period at Maranello will likely persist for the foreseeable future. "We anticipate significant growth in 2025, which will allow us to meet most of our 2026 profitability goals a year earlier than planned," he stated during a financial conference call.
Ferrari not necessarily ’better’ with Hamilton - Todt
6 February 2025 - 08:51
It’s an advantageous time for those working at Ferrari. Reports indicate that, due to profits in 2024 exceeding expectations, every employee in the road car and Formula 1 sectors will receive a bonus of 14,400 euros. Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna, acknowledging that Lewis Hamilton positively impacts the "brand," believes the prosperous period at Maranello will likely persist for the foreseeable future. "We anticipate significant growth in 2025, which will allow us to meet most of our 2026 profitability goals a year earlier than planned," he stated during a financial conference call.
Ferrari not necessarily ’better’ with Hamilton - Todt
Alex Dunne, who competed in 2024 Formula 3, will continue his career in Formula 2. Team Rodin Motorsport signed a contract with the 19-year-old Irishman. In 2025, Alex will become a partner of another native of Formula 3 Christian Mansell. Last season in Formula 3, a member of the youth program McLaren Dunne twice climbed on the podium - in Barcelona and Monza. Alex finished 14th in the individual standings. Alex Dunne: "I am delighted to be able to confirm my plans for 2025, in which I will join Rodin Motorsport in Formula 2. I am looking forward to the upcoming season and thank everyone who has supported me at this stage of my career. I can't wait to get to work."
The confrontation between Charles Leclair and Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari is one of the intrigues of the upcoming Formula 1 season. The 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg shared his prediction, which of the drivers of Scuderia will be ahead of his partner. Nico Rosberg: "Max Verstappen is one step ahead of all the drivers. Probably the best representative of the young generation George Russell, but also Charles Leclaire pilots at about the same level. As for Lewis, in 2024, he had certain problems, and from the outside it may seem that he does not know why it happens. If we go by that, then Charles will be ahead of Lewis like George Russell was ahead of Lewis, but you have to be careful what you say because Hamilton is the best driver of all time, so I believe he can get back to his usual level. In that case he will be a little bit ahead of Leclair at the end of the season."
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Ferrari and McLaren completed the Pirelli tests in Barcelona
In Barcelona ended two-day tests of prototypes of Pirelli tires for the next season with the participation of Ferrari and McLaren. Today Charles Leclair and Lewis Hamilton again in turn piloted Ferrari SF-24, and Oscar Piastri worked behind the wheel of McLaren MCL60. Both cars were adapted to the dimensions of the tires of 2026 - they are already today's 25 millimeters in front and 30 at the rear. On the second day of testing racers drove 300 laps: 74 each for Leclair and Hamilton and 152 laps for Piastri. Time on the lap did not matter - the drivers worked on the Pirelli program on different series with different rubber, nevertheless the tire makers named the time of the best lap - 1:14.971 for Leclair, 1:15.815 for Piastri and 1:16.759 for Hamilton.
In Barcelona ended two-day tests of prototypes of Pirelli tires for the next season with the participation of Ferrari and McLaren. Today Charles Leclair and Lewis Hamilton again in turn piloted Ferrari SF-24, and Oscar Piastri worked behind the wheel of McLaren MCL60. Both cars were adapted to the dimensions of the tires of 2026 - they are already today's 25 millimeters in front and 30 at the rear. On the second day of testing racers drove 300 laps: 74 each for Leclair and Hamilton and 152 laps for Piastri. Time on the lap did not matter - the drivers worked on the Pirelli program on different series with different rubber, nevertheless the tire makers named the time of the best lap - 1:14.971 for Leclair, 1:15.815 for Piastri and 1:16.759 for Hamilton.
Less than two weeks remain until the general presentation, at which all Formula 1 teams will show the coloring of their cars for the season 2025. Show F1 Live will be held in London on February 18, and the next day in Maranello Ferrari will hold a presentation of the new car SF-25. As it was learned by the Italian press, on the same day at the track Fiorano will be run-in of the novelty in one of the two allowed for the season filming days. It is planned that behind the wheel of the SF-25 will work both drivers of the team - Charles Leclair and Lewis Hamilton, who will be able to drive the same distance.
Cadillac is in full swing in preparation for the debut of its own team in Formula 1 in 2026. Project consultant Mario Andretti told what drivers are looking for in the team, and confirmed that the priority to put behind the wheel of one of the cars of the American pilot. Mario Andretti: "Colton Herta is definitely on the list of candidates we are considering. The team is at the beginning of its journey, so we need an experienced driver and his nationality doesn't matter. The second rider could be a young American talent. Those are our goals at the moment." There are several candidates being discussed in the press for the Cadillac seat. In addition to Colton Herta sound the names of Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez and Guangyu Zhou.