Latest news with #RB20
Scotsman
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Lego F1 2025: Ferrari, Red Bull and pit crew sets to buy now
Create your own high-speed pit stops with this child-friendly Ferrari playset | Lego This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. From sets aimed at kids to sets aimed at big kids, these are some of the best F1 Lego creations on sale right now Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Whether you back Red Bull, Ferrari or just love the roar of the grid, Lego's latest Formula 1 sets bring the 2024–25 racing season to life in brick form. With detailed replicas of this year's most iconic cars, including the RB20 and SF-24, as well as pit crews, mini racers and Technic builds, there's something here for every kind of fan — from casual collectors to die-hard motorheads. Each set blends Lego's build quality with authentic racing detail, whether that's a working rear wing, real sponsor livery or an official Ferrari pit stop crew in uniform. Whether you're buying for a child who dreams of the track or a grown-up who wants a Red Bull on their shelf, these new releases are already racing off shelves — so here's what to look out for first. 1. Lego Speed Champions Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 F1 race car A must-have for Red Bull Racing fans – the new RB20 recreated in Lego detail | Lego Lego's 2024 Red Bull Racing RB20 model celebrates the team's latest Formula 1 machine with authentic decals, a Red Bull minifigure, and fine-tuned features like a rear wing, wishbone suspension and removable halo. It's part of the Speed Champions range and perfect for collectors or fans of Max Verstappen's 2024 title defence. A detailed but accessible build, it's ideal for displaying or racing against your Ferrari sets. 2. Lego Technic Ferrari SF-24 F1 car A technical challenge for older builders – Ferrari's SF-24 in full Lego Technic glory | Lego This Technic Ferrari SF-24 build is designed for older teens and adults who enjoy the engineering side of F1. With a functional V6 engine, working 2-speed gearbox, steering, suspension and authentic Ferrari colours, it's a rewarding build and striking centrepiece. If you're after a high-end display model that offers real complexity, this is the one to go for. 3. Lego F1 collectible race cars Miniature models of 2024's F1 teams – perfect for collecting or racing | Lego This blind-box collection features twelve mini F1 cars inspired by the real 2024 grid, including teams like McLaren, Mercedes and Aston Martin. Each box contains a mystery build with team colours, helmet and branding. It's a fun way for kids to collect their favourite teams or for grown-up fans to build a complete grid on a budget. 4. Lego City F1 pit stop and pit crew with Ferrari car (60443) Create your own high-speed pit stops with this child-friendly Ferrari playset | Lego The Ferrari pit stop and crew set is a great choice for younger fans. It includes a red Ferrari race car, five minifigures (driver and pit team), tools, spare tyres and garage accessories. It encourages hands-on play and works with other Lego City sets for extended racing setups. This one's all about fast changes, team coordination and mid-race drama – just like the real thing. Other options for F1 fans Want more motorsport fun? Try these alternatives: Playmobil Grand Prix cars – ideal for younger builders with chunky, playable sets Scalextric F1 slot car sets – fast-paced racing with real track action Cobi Formula block models – compatible block sets with unique car and military themes For more F1 kits, brick builds and racing-inspired gifts, check trusted retailers like The Toy Shop, for themed books and biographies, and WHSmith for puzzles, sticker books and more.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Old wind tunnel and the 2024 problems – What can Verstappen rely on at Red Bull?
Motorsport photo Just like last year's Italian Grand Prix in Monza, the Bahrain Formula 1 race weekend turned out to be a low point for Red Bull. Max Verstappen spent large parts of the race battling with Alpine and Haas, although he managed to limit the damage by finishing sixth. Advertisement That Monza misery served as a wake-up call for the team, even prompting changes to the development trajectory of the RB20. 'Yes, upgrades that were scheduled had to be adjusted in certain areas,' Verstappen acknowledged when speaking to Dutch media, including in Jeddah. Verstappen clarifies that the current situation is slightly different. Yes, some of the issues are still the same but, according to him, Bahrain's setback doesn't mean that the whole development path has to be changed again. 'No, because now we at least know what our problems are,' he added. 'Until Monza last year, it was more that we didn't know where to look or what to search for. That's a bit clearer now, which gives us hope that we can bring updates to hopefully change the balance of the car.' Still, Verstappen admits that last week's picture is worrying: 'Bahrain was very tough for us, and clearly those are not the positions we want to be fighting for - that's pretty obvious.' It means that rapid progress is needed, but Verstappen stresses that the urgency is now being felt throughout Red Bull. 'It's already like that for some time, but now we need to find the extra performance and really extract it from the car,' he said. 'We need updates to shift the balance.' Can future upgrades work despite correlation issues? Tricky car left Verstappen floundering in the midfield in Bahrain Tricky car left Verstappen floundering in the midfield in Bahrain Clive Mason - Getty Images Clive Mason - Getty Images Advertisement But the question then turns to how effective are those upgrades likely to be. That question relates to two points that Horner raised in Bahrain on Sunday evening: the balance issues are still similar to last year's, and the correlation with the wind tunnel remains a problem. At first glance, both can be problematic for the team's car development. While Red Bull has indicated that on-track data is now leading in updating the RB21, the outdated wind tunnel remains a handicap. If the wind tunnel gives different signals than reality, where can Verstappen find the confidence that upcoming updates will work? 'I mainly rely on the fact that they've already got experience with this wind tunnel not always showing exactly how things are at the track,' Verstappen explained when asked by in Jeddah. 'They do have a certain direction based on past experience with the wind tunnel, so they know roughly where to go. The issue is that sometimes they can't see the finer details in the wind tunnel. Then it becomes a matter of trying things on track.' However, modern Formula 1 allows limited room for trial and error. Teams are restricted by the budget cap and limited aero testing under the ATR system. And trying things on track outside of race weekends is almost impossible due to testing restrictions. It means that step one – understanding the issues – may have been achieved, according to Horner, but step two – introducing effective solutions – is far from guaranteed at the moment. Simply calling for updates is too easy; the real question is how Red Bull will make them work on track without being able to fully rely on its virtual tools. Can the technical team turn things around without Newey? Red Bull has been unable to rely on Newey to turn things around this time Red Bull has been unable to rely on Newey to turn things around this time Alexander Trienitz Alexander Trienitz Advertisement The fact the problems are similar to last year highlights that the technical team hasn't been able to solve them over the winter – despite hopes to do so. The upgrade package from Austin last year was a first patch, with the expectation that structural issues would be fixed with the new car. But the technical team led by Pierre Wache hasn't fully delivered on that so far. 'It's not so much hit-and-miss, but it's simply not enough yet,' Verstappen agreed. 'The differences between last year's car and this one aren't big enough to get a different balance.' It raises the question of how much faith Verstappen still has that the technical department can deliver a quick turnaround in 2025. His response during the Dutch media session remains a bit cryptic: 'For me, it's not really about trust. I just try to get the most out of the car myself and make the best of this situation. And by 2026, it can be completely different again.' That ties in with what Horner said: the outdated wind tunnel may be less of an issue heading into the new regulations. The shortcomings mainly become apparent when it comes to fine-tuning, rather than the bigger design concepts – and those are more prominent at the start of a new regulation cycle. 'In 2022 and 2023 we did well, and that was with new regulations – and the same wind tunnel,' Verstappen pointed out. 'And when new rules came in 2014, in 2014, 2015, and 2016, Red Bull also had a strong car, just the engine wasn't good enough.' Advertisement However, there are two caveats: the performance of Red Bull Powertrains is still a question mark, and 2026 will be the first major regulation change in Red Bull's history without Adrian Newey involved. Imola and Barcelona will be key moments for Red Bull this year Verstappen isn't panicking despite the current troubles Verstappen isn't panicking despite the current troubles Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images Despite all these factors, Verstappen remains remarkably calm. Even after the conclusion that the current technical team hasn't been able to fix the balance issues so far, he responded: 'Yes, they're still working on it. This isn't where we want to be of course, but what can I do? I can scream and shout, but that won't help.' Advertisement Asked to clarify his comments on potentially new chances in 2026, as he still wants to fight for this year's title as well, he replies: 'Of course I want that, but unfortunately, you can't always win everything.' It shows that Verstappen accepts he can't do much more than he already does: trying to improve the situation behind the scenes and maximising his own performance on track. That doesn't mean he's giving up on Red Bull, though, as he told the Dutch media: 'I think every driver wants to be in the fastest car. That's very normal. But, when things don't go your way, you don't have to run away immediately. I'm doing everything for us to become more competitive again.' He's been pointing out the issues internally for a while – even when he was still winning races last year – and now it's up to the team to deliver. The correlation troubles and failure to resolve all the problems over the winter might not be the most encouraging signs for a turnaround, and that's why Verstappen says he doesn't expect a McLaren-style recovery like last year. But he remains calm. Verstappen knows that for his long-term future doors might open if needed, as Helmut Marko has made clear as well. The pressure is more on Red Bull than on Verstappen for both the long-term and the short-term future. When it comes to the latter, Imola (where a large update package is expected) and Barcelona (where the FIA will clamp down on flexi-wings even further) are seen as key moments for the team's fortunes this year, but Verstappen doesn't want to overthink it: 'We'll see how much those things will help us. But again: I just do what I can, and I'm very relaxed at the moment...' To read more articles visit our website.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Isack Hadjar Outperforms His Seat-Swapped Teammates in Japan GP Qualifying
Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull decided to demote Liam Lawson down to their sister team. This was the third time the team had sent a driver to the team currently known as Vista Cash App Racing Bulls since 2016. With his move to the Racing Bulls, Yuki Tsunoda finally gets a start in Red Bull after being on the lesser sister team for five years. Lawson and Tsunoda would go on to qualify next to each other for the Japan Grand Prix, with neither of them making it to Q3 for the chance to fight for a pole. While Lawson and Tsunoda are set to start in 14th and 15th position, respectively, the other Racing Bulls driver this season outperformed them and will start seventh. Isack Hadjar matched his best qualifying record of the season by making Q3 for the second time this year, the first time being in China. In Q1, Hadjar fought through a mispositioned seatbelt that made his first 20 minutes in the car highly uncomfortable. "It was a nightmare, man," Hadjar told Sky Sports. "I just pulled through; honestly, I'm really proud of me, like the lap I did in Q1 with what I had, unbelievable." Red Bull team boss Christian Horner joked with Sky Sports about the incident, saying he believed that the incident had something to do with "nuts, not sure if it was wheel nuts", before going on to complement the rookie driver on his continued solid performances in qualifying. "Even with that discomfort, to go and achieve that was very impressive," Horner said. Hadjar, through the pain, set a time of 1:28.278 in Q1, three hundredths of a second off the pace from Max Verstappen, the driver on the other end of the Red Bull equation in the opening round. Verstappen would go on to find extra performance in the RB20 to capture his first pole of the year and set a new track record. Since crashing on the formation lap during a rainy Australian Grand Prix, ending with a DNF in 20th in his first start, Hadjar has been one of the highest performing rookies, qualifying and finishing ahead of his past teammate of Tsunoda already once this year and ahead of his new teammate Lawson in all three Grand Prix qualifying session and the China sprint session. He's been the highest-qualifying rookie in both grands prix heading into this weekend, with Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes besting him by one position for the first time this Saturday morning. Hadjar's position as the rookie at Racing Bulls gives him a year to prove his spot and outperform what's expected of him, as Lawson and Tsunoda will be constantly compared to each other as the two drivers given a chance in the Red Bull second car this year. The pressure on Red Bull drivers, not named Max Verstappen this year, is at an all-time high with how early the team was willing to make a major seat change, and for Japan's own Tsunoda, it's the highest. In his first qualifying effort in the RB20, Tsunda failed to make it to Q3 for the first time this year and was outqualified by the driver who vacated his new seat. On the flipside, he brought the notoriously hard-to-drive Red Bull (again by anyone not named Verstappen) out of Q1 for the first time this season. "I think [it's a] great shame for Yuki today, because actually his Q1 was very competitive," Horner told Sky Sports. "He was within a tenth, and it was building nicely. In Q2, he actually didn't go quicker than Q1, he had a big moment at the start of his lap on the new tire, and by the time you've given away three, four tenths, you're never going to get that back." "I think the warm-up didn't go as I wanted," Tsunoda said about his qualifying effort. "I felt, I mean, still learning. How I ended up, I thought it was okay, I knew it was a little bit compromised, but the penalty was pretty big. It's a shame that I couldn't extract the performance from a car. I think that's looking good from Q1 and everything. I felt overall worse and worse throughout." Lawson finished one position ahead of his replacement and made it out of Q3 for the first time this season. This improved qualifying performance creates a slight reprieve for one of the several rookies with mounting pressure. "It was okay, it's a disappointing end to be honest," Lawson said after qualifying 14th. "I think we had a competitive car yesterday, had a good Q1 and we're trying to chase the balance through quality and it got to a point in Q2 when to be honest, we couldn't really tun it much more and unfortunately we just hit a wall and struggled on that run two, honestly it felt like a good lap. It's something we'll obviously review." You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
Telegraph
27-03-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Yuki Tsunoda's ‘greater experience' reason behind Liam Lawson switch, say Red Bull
Red Bull have confirmed that drivers Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda will switch teams with immediate effect, suggesting the Japanese driver's 'greater experience in terms of car development' was a major factor behind their decision given the sensitive nature of RB21. In a statement, Red Bull said Lawson's 'difficult' start to the season, which has seen the New Zealander struggle badly in both Melbourne and Shanghai – he crashed out in Australia and qualified last in both the sprint race and the main race in China – had convinced them it would be better for the 23-year-old if they pulled him out of the firing line just two races into his Red Bull career. Team principal Christian Horner said: '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 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.' Horner added that Tsunoda's greater experience – the 24 year-old has completed the second most races for Racing Bulls/AlphaTauri/Toro Rosso with 92 entries, and 89 starts, behind Pierre Gasly with 106 – played a big part in the decision. The RB21 has been built and developed according to the preferences of four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who has proved the only man capable of extracting much from it for much of the last 12 months. Previous team-mate Sergio Pérez found its predecessor RB20 increasingly difficult to drive before making way in December. Lawson has found RB21 virtually impossible to get to grips with. Verstappen currently sits second in the drivers' championship, behind McLaren's Lando Norris. '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,' Horner said. '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.' Tsunoda will make his Red Bull debut at his home race in Suzuka next weekend, with his sponsor and the team's engine supplier Honda understood to have been crucial in making the switch happen.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Winners and Losers from F1 Preseason Test Days in Bahrain
Formula 1 preseason testing took place across three days in Bahrain, with teams largely running reliably, and fairly smoothly, ahead of the start of the 24-event campaign in Australia in mid-March. Autoweek looks at some of the winners and losers. McLaren captured the attention during the evening of the second day of running with a very strong race run for Lando Norris, while Oscar Piastri's simulation on the final day was also good. The pace and performance was particularly encouraging for McLaren, with Bahrain something of a bogey track in recent years, which augurs well for its prospects elsewhere. It started 2023 very badly—nearly at the back—and 2024 slowly too, so getting off on the right footing in 2025, and not playing catch-up, is a key ambition. 'The car feels similar [to the end of 2024], which is a good start and where we wanted to start,' Norris said. 'Nothing's been majorly addressed, it's not like much has changed, we've tried to be quicker all round, that's the most simple way of looking at it. We do have focus on some areas more than others, we've struggled a bit more with the rear than we'd have liked, but it is still early days. We're expecting it to be tight—but being there fighting from the beginning is our target, considering how the last years have been, so if we're there fighting from the start we'll be happy.' There's every expectation that it will be close up front, but at the moment McLaren looks to have the edge on its rivals. 'The car ran pretty much faultlessly, which was a solid place to be starting from,' Oscar Piastri said. 'We've got a lot to review before Melbourne, but I think we're going into it in decent shape.' Max Verstappen and Red Bull looked exceptionally good preseason in both 2023 and 2024, but the seasons panned out in different ways even if the end result was a Drivers' title each year for Verstappen. Remedying the mid-corner balance issues and widening the operating window that hindered unlocking the RB20's potential were key ambitions, rather than any fundamental aerodynamic overhauls, and Verstappen was encouraged by his initial runs. 'I enjoyed the driving bit, the car was quite decent to drive to be honest,' Verstappen said, though this was after just half a day in the car. 'I enjoyed it, that's the most important bit, it was a bit more predictable, but here last year it wasn't that bad, but the team learned a lot from last year.' Verstappen didn't carry out a full race simulation during testing, with Red Bull finishing bottom of the mileage charts, and after the final day of running was so-so over the team's situation. 'I think it wasn't bad but at the same time there is still a bit of work to do,' he said. 'However, it is what we expected and we will keep on working and keep on trying to improve and hopefully, as we go into Melbourne, we will learn a bit more by going through all the data and see where we are at.' Red Bull's Technical Director Pierre Wache said that 'it was not as smooth a test as we expected and the team expected, but it is better to find some problems here than later down the line and it is why we are here, to understand the car. "I am not as happy as I could be because the car did not respond how we wanted at times, but it is going in the right direction, just maybe the magnitude of the direction was not as big as we expected and it's something we need to work on for the first race and future development.' New Red Bull driver Liam Lawson did not have the smoothest of preseason tests, as one of the only drivers to have a half-spin on a push lap through turn 3, and he also lost some running time due to a loss of engine water pressure. Still, testing is testing, and these things happen. While Lawson knows he still has to get properly up to speed in the RB21 his greater challenge for Melbourne's opener is simply adapting to the track, as he is the only driver on the grid never to have raced at the circuit. 'I would say the car feels quite good so far, and I'm getting more comfortable but you can always use more days, no matter what,' Lawson said. 'For me it'll be more of a track learning thing, the first couple of races I've never been there, so it'll be more learning the tracks than anything, as well as adapting to the car.' Even though all 11 of Lawson's races have been with Racing Bulls he has plenty of experience of life inside the Red Bull garage. 'I think fortunately I spent quite a few years in the background at Red Bull, I spent more time with Red Bull as reserve than at Racing Bulls, so I got to see how Max and the team worked, so I had a good understanding of that side,' Lawson said of gaining experience of working protocols and so on. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli is among the most prepared debutants in recent years given the number of private test days he has had, and the work Mercedes has done with him, but these have been done in previous cars and with different tires. As with any rookie, he still faces a steep learning curve, and he believes understanding how to use Pirelli's notoriously capricious tires, especially in qualifying spec, is among his biggest challenge. 'I think was a pretty positive test, everything went well with the car, overall it went pretty smooth,' Antonelli said. 'I still need to understand more about the car, and especially about the tires, in the quali lap, the window where they work is hard to get right.' Antonelli added that he and Mercedes had experimented with different approaches and out lap speeds, in how to prepare the tires for optimum performance. It is naturally one aspect that he will gain greater understanding of across the opening rounds as he experiences different circuits and conditions, considering how those tires can puzzle even veterans. It's still a long road ahead for Antonelli and his fellow full-time rookies. Lewis Hamilton is still firmly in the honeymoon period with Ferrari but even as a driver who has historically not been a fan of testing days was beaming at his new experience in red, embracing long days at the track, and soaking up all the details, having spent the last few weeks fully immersing himself in Ferrari life. Hamilton is continuing in his assimilation process, unpicking minor but crucial details such as different working practices after his 12 years at Mercedes, different settings, and fostering relationships and understanding with his engineers and the remainder of the team. 'I'm not necessarily unlearning what I learned before but it's kind of re-learning this new way of working and the way the car likes to be driven, it likes to be driven differently, and that's a really fun journey learning that,' Hamilton told broadcasters. 'But I feel the car underneath me and the car is responding to my inputs.' Hamilton declared that his start to life at Ferrari 'couldn't have gone any better' and it is hard to disagree with that sentiment, there's a sparkle back in his eyes, and his positive body language is a world away from late 2024, when he regularly questioned his own ability. 'It's early to say but I am really enjoying the car, we're slowly bonding, I think. I would say this is the most positive feeling I've had for some time.' Those positive feelings took a slight dent on the final afternoon as Hamilton's race simulation was truncated after the team spotted an anomaly on the data, but overall the Briton was happy with his test, and boss Frederic Vasseur reiterated the team's ambitions. 'We want to fight for both championships as we know we have two drivers who can do it, and the mood in the team is very positive,' Vasseur said. There is a widespread belief that Formula 1 has split into a close top four, and the rest, haphazardly labeled as 'the midfield.' Even some of the front-runners have expectations that a couple of other teams could be occasional interlopers at the sharp end of the pack, given the maturity of the regulations and natural convergence. But that midfield contingent are once again anticipated to be close, with Aston Martin seeking to regain its foothold on that group after its late 2024 slump, Alpine and Haas striving to continue their strong end of 2024 form, and Williams hoping to get in that mix too after a much smoother winter compared to 12 months ago. The signing of Carlos Sainz has undoubtedly been a huge boost for Williams, though the Spaniard cautioned that he is not yet quite there. 'When I push it I can get to a decent level but I still don't know where the last two tenths of the car are and this is something I'll need to discover in the first six races when we put the soft tyres on,' Sainz said. Racing Bulls and Sauber, in particular, look to be at the tail-end of the pack, with Yuki Tsunoda saying 'I think it'll be a little bit trickier to score points and fight for top 10. There's a step forward but not enough compared to what we want so far.' Haas' trackside team has had a shake-up for 2025, with Team Principal Ayao Komatsu having implemented changes he identified as necessary at the very start of 2024. Laura Mueller and Ronan O'Hare have stepped up as race engineers for Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman respectively, with Francesco Nenci joining as chief race engineer. The process has been aided by Ocon's early start in Abu Dhabi last December, allowing the team to produce a new steering wheel to better suit his clutch paddle preferences, Bearman's prior sessions—and races—with Haas, and its private test day in Jerez in January. 'It's going pretty well, we knew gelling everyone was one of our biggest challenges, with two new drivers, so lots of prep before coming here and I think it's paying off,' Komatsu said. Added Ocon: 'I've had my way of working and the teams had theirs, so we need to align and understand each other once I'm inside the car—and that's what we've been doing.' Haas spent the majority of its test focusing on long-run pace and there were no unpleasant surprises for Ocon and Bearman—bar some bodywork coming loose on Day 3 that will need strengthening for Melbourne—as the team targets establishing itself in the thick of that sizeable 'midfield' contingent after finishing seventh overall last year. 'It feels like a continuation of what I've felt over the years with the team, having driven the VF-23 and the VF-24,' Bearman said. Formula 1 is entering the fourth and final year of the current regulation cycle so the stability and natural convergence—and the impending rule changes for 2026—has facilitated no one appearing to suffer a disaster. Everyone rocked up to Bahrain on time (this has not always happened), no-one threw the car into the barriers, and no team appears to be several seconds off the pace. The worst that happened was a couple of spins on cold tires, and a few prolonged spells in the garage for some teams, as drivers racked up mileage. Again, that's little surprise, given that the 2024 season concluded with the 10 teams separated by just a few tenths of a second in terms of single-lap pace. Reliability has also been strong across the board, with the main interruptions coming from external factors, and not ones you'd expect. There was a circuit-wide power cut on Day 1, which knocked out the floodlights and garage power, before atypically cold and damp weather on Day 2. On the final day, a pane of glass from the starter's box fell onto the track, though fortunately not the racing line, while shortly after lunch a mini-bus drove across the run-off of turn 9. But given the maturity of the regulations strong reliability is little surprise. Of the 480 race entries across 2024 there were just 46 failures to finish—less than 10%—and over half of those were accidents rather than mechanical issues. The political tensions bubbling under the surface arose last year, following the clampdown on swearing, with the Grand Prix Drivers' Association issuing a public letter to the FIA. The governing body has continued on its march—with fines and the risk of suspension now enshrined within the International Sporting Code—and GPDA Director George Russell outlined during a press conference that the drivers are more united than ever 'especially with everything that's going on off-track.' Russell has been joined as a GPDA Director by Williams' Carlos Sainz, who replaces Sebastian Vettel, following the four-time champ's retirement two years ago. Formula 1 teams are always looking months and years down the line but that is particularly pertinent when a major rule change is on the horizon. That is the case this season, and while all teams have already started working on various 2026 concepts, the weighting of personnel and resources devoted to next year will vary depending on current outlook and expectations. It is an easier decision for those nearer the back of the grid—without completely abandoning a full season, given there are hungry drivers, team members and expectant sponsors—but for those competing for wins and the title it is a much tougher call. 'It will be the question of the year,' Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur said on when to switch off the 2025 development tap. 'With five races in six weeks we will have a picture of the championship and this will steer the direction. The pack will be tight, and it will be a tough choice.' No one wants to give up on a chance of a title in 2025 but equally none of the front-runners will want to risk compromising the 2026 car either. It is also going to be a very brief off-season, with the final round of 2025 on December 7, and the first of three pre-season tests for 2026—expanded for one year only due to new regulations—mandated to take place before the end of January.
