Lewis Hamilton smiles at Formula One testing in Bahrain.

Lewis Hamilton, who has won seven F1 drivers’ titles including six at Mercedes, says he has a ‘positive feeling’ about Ferrari’s SF25 car. Photograph: Hasan Bratic/DeFodi Images/Shutterstock

Briton’s switch to Scuderia has been questioned

‘I will work to be better … I use that as fuel’

Lewis Hamilton says the criticism he has received throughout his career has only made him strive harder to improve.

 

On Thursday Hamilton dismissed criticism from the former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan and the former F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone. On Friday, the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, the seven-time champion doubled down against his detractors, saying the comments only encourage him to prove them wrong.

 

“In our sport criticism is something that everyone receives,” he said. “I have probably received a lot more of it perhaps throughout my career but I just keep my head down, doing what I’m doing. I know that I’m growing each day, I’m bound to make mistakes, I’m only human but one thing that I’m proud of is I have a drive, a focus.

 

“I’m able to admit when I’m wrong and I know that tomorrow I will work to be better and it really doesn’t matter to me some of the comments that have come up over my career, it’s not just been these past 12 months or so. I use that as fuel.”

 

The 40-year-old is entering his debut season with Ferrari after 12 years and six drivers’ titles at Mercedes, sparking unprecedented levels of interest but also attracting debate and criticism. Hamilton is comfortable with his decision, insisting he is motivated like never before, and relishing the challenge of adapting to a new team and the challenge of attempting to win a record-breaking eighth world championship.

 

With the three days of testing concluding on Friday, he confirmed he had settled in well at Ferrari and that he felt the sort of confidence in the car he had not experienced in recent years.

 

Since regulation changes in 2022, Mercedes failed repeatedly to get to grips with the new challenge consistently, while Red Bull were dominant and McLaren and Ferrari have been able to bring their cars into the fight. Hamilton has said previously he was able to tell if a car would be a handful from the opening outings, as was the case with some recent Mercedes iterations.

 

His gut feeling about the Ferrari SF25 and how his new team are operating, however, was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. “I would say this is the most positive feeling that I’ve had in a long time,” he said of the car. “I feel like in this period of time we’ve built a really good foundation but everyone, you know these guys out there, look really, really quick, really competitive.

 

“It looks very very close. We won’t know obviously until next week truly, exactly where we stand but we know that we’ve got work to do and everyone is just heads down and I’ve been really inspired and really encouraged by my colleagues.”

Lewis Hamilton drives the Ferrari in pre-season testing in Bahrain

Image caption, Lewis Hamilton was quickest in the morning session on day two of testing in Bahrain

 

Lewis Hamilton said he was “really enjoying” his new Ferrari as he set the second-fastest time on day two of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain.

 

The seven-time champion, who has moved to the Italian team this year after 12 seasons with Mercedes, was pipped to fastest lap by 0.031 seconds by Williams’ Carlos Sainz.

 

Charles Leclerc, who took over the Ferrari from the seven-time champion for the post-lunch session, was third fastest, just 0.052secs behind Hamilton.

 

Hamilton said: “I am really enjoying the car. We’re slowly bonding. Yesterday was a so-so day, just OK. But we got through all our run-plan. I was not doing set-up changes or directing where I want the car to go.

 

“Today was a bit more getting to explore a bit my interaction with my engineer.”

 

Both Sainz and Leclerc had spins during the say – Sainz’s at Turn One and Leclerc’s at the final corner – just as they were starting flying laps.

 

Mercedes drivers George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli were fourth and fifth fastest.

 

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were 13th and 14th fastest.

 

Pre-season testing is a notoriously unreliable indicator of actual competitive performance because factors such as fuel loads and engine modes are not revealed by the teams and have a major impact on performance.

 

And despite Sainz’s fastest time, Williams team principal James Vowles underlined that his team were not fast enough to compete at the front this year.

 

“The top four are the top four,” Vowles said. “McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes have all done good work over the winter.

 

“The midfield is going to be very tight and if I’m getting it right, 0.1secs separates a lot of us.”

 

Red Bull’s world champion Max Verstappen did not drive while team-mate Liam Lawson was in the car all day, ending up seventh fastest; Verstappen will drive on the final day on Friday.

 

Leclerc said before running in the afternoon: “It’s only testing. Everyone is hiding their true performance but the feeling is pretty good. No bad surprises but too early to judge performances.”

 

Norris said in the news conference before driving in the second session: “We have just tried to make the car quicker all round. Add more load. If we want to improve anything at the moment, it’s the rear but the rest of it feels correct and feels in the same ball park.

 

“I don’t think we are expecting to be a big step ahead of everyone. We are expecting to be close to Red Bull and Ferrari. If we are there from the off, that’s the main thing.”

 

Neither McLaren driver did any short performance runs during Thursday’s running.

 

Day two times

Carlos Sainz (Spa) Williams – 1:29.366

 

Lewis Hamilton (GB) Ferrari – 1:29.379

 

Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari – 1:29.431

 

George Russell (GB) Mercedes -1:29.778

 

Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Ita) Mercedes – 1:29.784

 

Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin – 1:30.229

 

Liam Lawson (NZ) Red Bull – 1:30.252

 

Jack Doohan (Aus) Alpine – 1:30.368

 

Pierre Gasly (Fra) Alpine – 1:30.430

 

Isack Hadjar (Fra) Racing Bulls -1:30.675

 

Fernando Alonso (Spa) Aston Martin -1:30.700

 

Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn) Racing Bulls – 1:30.793

 

Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren – 1:30.821

 

Lando Norris (GB) McLaren – 1:30.882

 

Gabriel Bortoleto (Bra) Sauber – 1:31.057

 

Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Sauber – 1:31.457

 

Esteban Ocon (Fra) Haas – 1:33.071

 

Oliver Bearman (GB) Haas – 1:34.372

 

Lewis Hamilton’s new Lululemon deal: A perfect match for F1’s flashiest star as seven-time champion’s fashion-forward persona divides fans – Lewis Hamilton is no stranger to controversy, both on and off the track.

While he is the most successful Formula 1 driver in history, boasting a record-breaking career with seven world championships, his public image is defined as much by his off-track persona as his driving. This week, he added another layer to that identity, moving further into the world of fashion and lifestyle by signing a new ambassador deal with Lululemon.

 

The partnership, announced on Monday, adds Hamilton to Lululemon’s growing roster of sports ambassadors, which includes PGA stars Min Woo Lee and Max Homa, ATP tennis player Frances Tiafoe, WTA player Leylah Fernandez, NFL wide receiver DK Metcalf, NBA’s Jordan Clarkson and NHL prodigy Connor Bedard. It also marks the latest step in Hamilton’s ongoing transformation from pure racing driver to global celebrity and cultural icon.

 

But while Hamilton’s ability to transcend the world of motorsport has made him a favourite of brands and the media, it has also made him a divisive figure among die-hard F1 fans. His frequent appearances at Grand Prix weekends in extravagant designer outfits, his association with high fashion and his outspoken advocacy on social issues have led some to see him as more of a “peacock” than a racer. This new deal with Lululemon is unlikely to change that perception.

 

 

From Tommy Hilfiger to Lululemon: A change in style

Hamilton’s relationship with fashion has been central to his brand for years. His previous long-term sponsorship with Tommy Hilfiger, which began in 2018, was aligned with his then team Mercedes-AMG Petronas, and he was frequently seen wearing the brand’s bold, streetwear-inspired designs.

 

That partnership ended with his move to Ferrari for the 2025 season, paving the way for this new collaboration with Lululemon – an athleisure giant better known for yoga pants than motorsport.

 

For Hamilton, the move signals an evolution in his fashion partnerships. While Tommy Hilfiger focused on his high-end street style, Lululemon positions him in the ever-growing athleisure and wellness space – an area he has increasingly focused on in recent years. The brand emphasised that Hamilton will not only wear its clothing, but will also be actively involved in product development, research and innovation.

 

“Lululemon products are so high quality, look amazing and ultimately deliver the performance I need,” said Hamilton in a statement. “I’m excited to partner with a brand that takes a holistic approach to wellness. Together, we want to inspire our communities to be the best versions of themselves.”

 

That kind of language is exactly what frustrates some traditional F1 fans, who feel Hamilton’s off-track persona has become too polished, too corporate and too far removed from the raw, unfiltered image of old-school racing legends.

 

The ‘peacock’ persona that divides fans

Hamilton’s influence in F1 is undeniable, but his personal brand has evolved into something far removed from the rugged, grease-stained image of past champions. His presence in the paddock often resembles a high-fashion runway, with outfits ranging from brightly coloured oversized suits to avant-garde designer ensembles that wouldn’t be out of place at Paris Fashion Week.

 

To some, this makes him an icon – someone who has successfully redefined what it means to be a modern athlete. For others, it makes him an outlier, a driver who has strayed too far from the sport’s mechanical and competitive roots.

 

Critics argue that Hamilton’s obsession with fashion and social advocacy detracts from his racing focus, a claim that has only grown louder since his dominance in F1 waned following Mercedes’ decline after the 2021 season. His move to Ferrari, a team with its own legacy of iconic drivers, has left many wondering whether Hamilton will adapt to a more traditional role or continue as the sport’s ultimate showman.

 

Lululemon and Hamilton: A branding masterstroke

Lululemon’s decision to partner with Hamilton, however, is a calculated one. The brand is aggressively expanding into the men’s market, positioning itself not just as an athleisure label but as a serious player in high-performance sportswear. Hamilton, with its global appeal and commitment to fitness, is a perfect fit for this ambition.

 

Nikki Neuburger, Lululemon’s Chief Brand and Product Activation Officer, praised Hamilton as a “game-changer in every sense of the word” and said that his dedication to performance, wellness and social impact made him a perfect fit for the brand’s evolving identity.

 

As part of the partnership, Lululemon’s Centre for Social Impact will work with Hamilton’s foundation, Mission 44, to integrate exercise and mental health experiences into programmes aimed at empowering young people. This social activism has always been a key part of Hamilton’s brand, and while it resonates with many, it remains a point of contention for others who long for a time when drivers were seen and heard only in the context of their racing.

 

Front and centre in ‘No Holding Back’ campaign

Hamilton’s new deal with Lululemon will see him featured in the brand’s upcoming ‘No Holding Back’ campaign, which highlights the physical and mental resilience required to be a champion. The campaign will showcase Hamilton’s gruelling training routines, as well as his personal approach to wellness and preparation – areas where Lululemon hopes to establish itself as a credible name in men’s performance apparel.

 

Hamilton will be seen wearing the brand’s latest training collections, including the popular Metal Vent Tech range, further integrating him into the expanding world of high-end sportswear. Whether this partnership will sway traditional motorsport fans remains to be seen, but it is clear that Hamilton is fully committed to shaping his legacy as more than just a driver.

 

Champion or celebrity?

As Hamilton embarks on this new chapter with Ferrari, the divide between fans is likely to deepen. To some, he remains the greatest driver of his generation, a man whose records speak for themselves regardless of his off-track endeavours. To others, he is a celebrity first, a racer second – a driver who has drifted into the world of fashion and branding at the expense of pure racing.

 

His new partnership with Lululemon only reinforces this perception. Whether he is seen as a visionary pushing the boundaries of what a Formula 1 driver can be, or a self-indulgent figure more focused on personal branding than his lap times, one thing is certain: Lewis Hamilton will continue to stand out, for better or worse.

 

F1 NEWS – FIA president to follow Trump’s lead to appease Russia

The invasion of Ukraine by the aggressor Russia three years ago today one February 24th 2022, saw Formula One take decisive action with almost immediate effect. The Uk almost immediately banned Russian drivers from competing within its territories and the US owned Haas F1 team found itself in rather a pickle.

 

They had hired the son of a Russian oligarch, Nikita Mazepin as one of their full time drivers for the season yet as the first missiles were fired on Kyiv, Haas were given some breathing space given this was day two of the test and their Russian driver was not scheduled to drive their car.

 

Haas F1 were primarily sponsored by Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, the owner of Uralkali, who had ironically influenced the design of the team’s livery to resemble the Russian flag. As the massed ranks of Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine, Formula One was undertaking its pre-season testing in Barcelona

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hamilton FIRST WORDS during Ferrari debut drive revealed

 

Lewis Hamilton’s first team radio whilst driving in a Ferrari Formula 1 car has been revealed after his debut for the team last week.

 

Joining the iconic Italian outfit ahead of 2025, Hamilton got his first drive in one of the team’s cars last week — their 2023 effort SF-23.

 

READ MORE: Hamilton admits plans for future Mercedes return

 

The champion will next be seen in Ferrari’s 2023 challenger at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on January 28, 29, and 30, where he will once again be joined by team-mate Charles Leclerc.

 

 

Lewis Hamilton tested with Ferrari last week

 

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both featured at Fiorano last week

Lewis Hamilton Ferrari debut team radio

Hamilton’s on-track debut in Maranello drew hoards of Ferrari fans to witness his first laps, and now the first team radio message between Hamilton and his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, has been revealed by Corriere dello Sport.

 

The exchange began with a radio check from Adami, to which Hamilton responded with spectacular emotion during his first drive with the team.

 

“Wow! Whew! Hehe,” Hamilton said over team radio.

 

!It’s a… wow, that was amazing,” the seven-time champion added.

 

Hamilton’s relationship with his race engineer is one of the most fascinating aspects of his Ferrari move given that the former Mercedes star has split with long-term ally Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington.

 

Adama will replace ‘Bono’ as the man in Hamilton’s ear during a race, and it is crucial that the two get a solid understanding of one another if they are going to be successful.

 

 

 

 

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F1 News Today: Hamilton and Cullen in STUNNING reunion as Mercedes issue official team statement

 

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton is set to be reunited with his former trainer Angela Cullen this week at pre-season testing in Bahrain.

 

 

 

Mercedes release MAJOR statement in relation to Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

 

Mercedes have announced some stunning new plans ahead of the 2025 campaign, as they prepare for their first season without Lewis Hamilton.

 

 

 

Axed F1 star with ‘score to settle’ targets SENSATIONAL return

 

A recently axed Formula 1 star has refused to give up his dream of returning to the sport, insisting he still has the talent to compete.

 

 

 

Red Bull chief Christian Horner BAFFLED over new FIA rules

 

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has revealed his confusion at the FIA’s latest rule change on the use of flexible wings by Formula 1 teams.

 

 

 

Max Verstappen reveals 2025 F1 absence plans in FIA suspension claim

 

Max Verstappen has revealed whether he will take an absence from the 2025 Formula 1 season after he made a tongue-in-cheek FIA suspension claim.

 

 

 

Mercedes drop new F1 team-mate hint in upcoming announcement

 

Mercedes have teased an upcoming announcement in 2025 involving their two drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

 

 

 

Wolff reveals DAMAGING Verstappen details over Abu Dhabi 2021

 

Toto Wolff has revealed further knowledge concerning the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that decided the Formula 1 world championship.

 

 

Delivering a platform that does everything to help a driver feel confidence in their car has proved to be a critical element of the current generation of ground effect Formula 1 machinery.

 

The extra ride height sensitivities and ability to deal with a car whose downforce and balance changes through the many phases of a corner means a driver has to be totally at one with their challenger if they are going to get the maximum out of it.

 

What makes a driver get into that happy place involves an awful lot of elements that can be fine-tuned, but there is one that is fixed from the moment the car is signed off by the technical department: cockpit position.

 

Where the cockpit sits in relation to the front wheels is important for two reasons.

 

There are aerodynamic motivations based on controlling the wake off the front tyres and how they interact with the leading edge of the underfloor, and there is also an aspect of how it influences the driver’s feel of what the car is doing.

 

Cockpit position became a big focal point for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes over recent years, as he notably felt in the first two seasons of this latest ground effect era that things were not ideal for him.

 

Speaking at the start of 2023 (the graphic below compared the top four teams in 2023), he said: “I don’t know if people know, but we sit closer to the front wheels than all the other drivers.

 

 

“Our cockpit is too close to the front. When you’re driving, you feel like you’re sitting on the front wheels, which is one of the worst feelings to feel when you’re driving a car.

 

“What that does is it really changes the attitude of the car and how you perceive its movement. It makes it harder to predict compared to when you’re further back and you’re sitting closer, more centre. It’s just something I really struggle with.”

 

 

Six reasons why Hamilton’s Ferrari switch could be perfectly timed

Mercedes did make tweaks for last season that helped partially alleviate that feeling for Hamilton – although the team felt the issue became a bigger talking point than it deserved to be.

 

Technical director James Allison felt that Hamilton’s complaints about the lack of feel from the cockpit were the symptom of an ill-handling car, not the cause of it.

 

“If we could fix that [instability] properly, the only part of Lewis’s seating position that he would still dislike is that he sees a bit less of the corner apex because he’s a bit nearer the tyre than if he was a bit further back,” explained Allison last year.

 

“But the actual seating position itself is not giving rise to a perceptual issue that makes it hard for him to detect how to handle the car.

 

“Possibly, if he was sitting exactly where he wanted, he might be able to drive a truculent thing with slightly more precision. But the issue there is get rid of the truculent thing, not optimise his seating position to handle something that isn’t good.”

 

A change at Ferrari

 

As Hamilton arrives at Ferrari, he will be happy to have found that one of the team’s changes for 2025 was increasing the distance between the cockpit and the front wheels – moving it in a direction he feels is better.

 

It is understood that the distance between the front axle and the cockpit has been increased by around 2.5cm, with the gearbox casing having been shortened to help keep the car within the maximum permitted wheelbase.

 

As Gary Anderson explains, the change has likely been pursued for obvious technical reasons, but it is one that coincidentally suits Hamilton.

 

 

“It looks like they have slightly lengthened the wheelbase by moving the front wheels forward,” Gary says.

 

“This creates more space between the sides of the chassis and the inner wheel fairing, also the front of the sidepod and the wheel.

 

“This offers a better opportunity to control the front wheel wake reducing its negative effect on the leading edge of the underfloor.

 

“It has probably been done to help when packaging the pull-rod front suspension together with all the pedals and brake master cylinders, but it also means the driver is just that little bit further away from the front axle.

 

“The distance change may be as little as 2.5cm, which in reality is not much, but after the cockpit position emerged as one of Hamilton’s gripes at Mercedes, it could be enough to help move things in a better direction for him.”

 

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The need for more space

 

Ferrari itself has explained that the change in position between the front wheels and the cockpit is all about finding extra space that can then be exploited by the team’s aerodynamicists.

 

As chassis technical director Loic Serra explained: “It was incredibly more and more difficult to develop the car performance, so we had to sort of find space to boost the development curve.”

 

However, no matter what the team comes up with at the factory, the role of the driver – in being able to offer a clear direction on where things need to be improved – stands above everything else.

 

So get them comfortable and in a happy place, such as with a cockpit position that suits them, then progress follows.

 

“One of the most important aspects of the driver feedback on the car is effectively describing the limitation of the car on track and describing what it needs to go faster,” added Serra.

 

“Most of the development nowadays is done virtually, and the virtual is not the real. So development of what do we need to do to make the car faster, which is pretty much mainly what the human can describe, this is where we can extract the most from the driver itself.”

 

 

 

A final few real cars have been kept secret as long as possible but the start of Formula 1 testing means there will be no place for anyone to hide.

 

The first proper on-track running of F1 2025 kicks off with the sole pre-season test in Bahrain running three days from Wednesday February 26 to Friday February 28.

 

The final year of this set of F1 rules could be one of the closest we’ve ever seen and there’s a lot to look out for at testing both on the track and off it.

 

To help guide you through the next few days, here are 10 things we will be looking out for in Bahrain, so you should too.

 

What Red Bull’s been hiding

 

There are still quite a few cars yet to be unveiled, making Bahrain the first place we will see them on track.

 

For some this will come before testing itself. Aston Martin revealed its car digitally on Sunday ahead of a shakedown in Bahrain on Monday, with Mercedes doing the same just 24 hours later.

 

But we also believe Red Bull will shake down its 2025 car on Tuesday, like Mercedes. And Red Bull traditionally doesn’t rush to put out any imagery.

 

So it may be that day one of testing is the first real chance we get to see exactly what Red Bull’s done to combat its late 2024 struggles.

 

There’s a lot riding on this car after Max Verstappen got the title over the line a few months ago, so it’s probably the biggest remaining unknown in pre-season.

 

Who actually looks good?

 

Don’t listen to the inevitable claims at testing that it’s just testing and it’s irrelevant – everybody including the teams, drivers and us will be trying to draw conclusions where they can.

 

And we know that drivers learn very early on whether there are some evils in their cars or not. As Mercedes driver George Russell put it last week: “Within five laps you know if you’re in for a good season or not.”

 

It’s true that the testing laptimes will be largely irrelevant unless legitimate comparisons are actually possible, which can happen.

 

But comparing laptimes always comes with a host of caveats like fuel loads, engine modes, tyre compounds and how much the drivers are pushing, plus variables like track conditions and time of days.

 

That’s why we won’t be paying too much attention to the leaderboard at the end of day one or even day three.

 

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We need to go deeper than that, which is why we always blend a mix of long-run analysis, trackside impressions and information we get directly from the teams to form a rough idea of who actually looks good.

 

Linked to this, there’s a great amount of excitement for F1 this year in terms of the fight between the top teams and also how close the whole grid will be.

 

McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes all know there’s an opportunity for any one of them to win races in 2025. Exactly how often and whether they are all championship contenders we’ll only find out in time.

 

How is Hamilton getting on at Ferrari

 

The biggest driver story of testing is an obvious one – how Lewis Hamilton is getting on at Ferrari – but we will be looking at some specifics.

 

Hamilton is confident he will not have a carryover of his specific issues from Mercedes, having driven three different Ferraris already with private tests in 2023 and 2024 machinery plus the 2025 car shakedown.

 

But he has talked about a steep learning curve – to the point of admitting he has extra respect for Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel winning so early on at Ferrari after experiencing the extent of the difference first-hand.

 

Hamilton says he is doing everything he can to be ready for the first race, and the test will offer the first reference for how that’s going.

 

This’ll be more than just a laptime comparison with Charles Leclerc or where he ends up on the leaderboard because he and Leclerc will be sharing the car and running at different times of the day.

 

 

We’ll be going trackside looking at the car’s body language on track and how on the limit Hamilton looks, and the bit that’s hardest for teams to disguise in the data is long-run performance, which should give a reference for Ferrari versus the other teams even with the aforementioned caveats applied. There may be something to glean from Hamilton’s and the team’s comments out of the car too.

 

It’s not just Hamilton adapting to a top team of course. All of the above will also be applicable to his successor Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes, given there is so much hype around his rookie season, and also Liam Lawson at Red Bull.

 

This will be Lawson’s first public on-track work at Red Bull as Verstappen’s team-mate, and while his inexperience means it should only get better from here if he’s given time, we will get the first indication of the level he’s starting at and how big a job he really has on his hands.

 

Will aggressive approaches be undone?

 

This is the last year of the current rules cycle and every team wants to spend as much time and money this year working on the big 2026 rules change that’s just around the corner – which means a lot of cars are very similar carry-overs from 2024.

 

But not all of them. And testing will give us the first idea of whether any aggressive approaches have been undone.

 

 

McLaren’s design change that could counter FIA’s late rules U-turn

One example at the front is McLaren, which looks to have gone a big step further with its anti-dive solution on the front suspension.

 

This is a layout change to be even stricter with how much the front of the cars dives down under braking – but if it’s gone too far, the drivers may have trouble with brake feel, and Bahrain will expose that with a couple of choice heavy braking areas.

 

Another example is Ferrari, which has changed geometry entirely at the front, switching from pushrod to pullrod suspension layout.

 

It doesn’t anticipate running the car differently to optimise this, but will that be the case? Will it take a little while to optimise the set-up, the main reason Haas has decided not to follow Ferrari’s direction and instead stick with the 2024 suspension? And will the car’s behaviour in reality correlate to expectations?

 

And finally, if Red Bull – or Mercedes, which has teased “significant” car changes – have gone quite far in search of a final 2025 flourish rather than just limping to the end of these regulations, will anything they have done backfire?

 

Will there be a team in trouble?

 

A team in trouble in testing can come in different forms.

 

A real crisis team needs something like Williams in 2019: slow, overweight, late to testing and illegal!

 

But given how competitive the grid has got in recent years, it takes a lot less for a team to find itself in trouble.

 

Last year we saw just how easy it is for a team to get caught out. Alpine arrived at testing with an overweight and out-of-sorts car, its technical leaders resigned before the first race, and it showed.

 

Williams wasn’t particularly slow 12 months ago, but it had an awful winter in terms of its preparation and car build process and the consequences of that manifested at testing and beyond.

 

So, what will we see this year? A team making big design changes tripping up? Anybody unprepared or out of practice costing themselves mileage? Someone obviously in trouble in terms of performance?

 

Remember that it’s not just total mileage, it’s the quality of work conducted. Last year the number for the field as a whole dropped by around a thousand miles but few had significant technical dramas – most teams just did what they felt they had to do in fewer laps.

 

Plus, Bahrain’s not the season opener this year so it will be interesting to see if that impacts team run plans and what they try to learn and when because unlike most winter tests they won’t be going straight into a race weekend at the same circuit.

 

How ‘Red Bull’ is the Red Bull 2?

 

Last year we dubbed the car from the second Red Bull team the most controversial on the grid and it could get a lot of attention again this time around.

 

It has properly entered its ‘Red Bull 2’ era by starting 2025 with a second name change in two years, a move onto the main Red Bull campus, and a new livery that is beautiful but also so much ‘more Red Bull’ – something the team itself admits.

 

Racing Bulls has moved away from the initial-only RB moniker it adopted last year, and is essentially phasing out the old Minardi headquarters at Faenza in Italy to prioritise a new satellite base at Red Bull’s main Milton Keynes location, the home of Red Bull Racing and where the Red Bull F1 engine is being developed.

 

The question is whether or not any of this deliberate extra Red Bull synergy will translate into more on-track success. And how close to the Red Bull will this Racing Bulls car be?

 

At the time of writing, we’ve seen a couple of proper images of the VCARB 02 but that’s it. And there’s no Red Bull reference point.

 

That’ll be key to not just working out the team’s prospects but also how much it annoys rivals like McLaren, which has been so vocal on this same-owner team alliance before.

 

Which version of Alpine will we get?

 

Alpine has been F1’s agent of chaos in recent years, be that through its swings in on-track performance or its various issues off it: drivers sagas, team management changes and so on.

 

There are signs of that already this off-season with the questions over rookie driver Jack Doohan’s future following the arrival of Franco Colapinto as test and reserve driver – a move his original employer Williams says has been made because it gives Colapinto the chance to get on the grid this year.

 

Renault is a company with drama in its F1 DNA, but Enstone showed again through 2024 that at its core it is a very competent racing team. And as recently as 2022 it was fourth in the championship entirely on merit – ahead of McLaren.

 

With this car being the first Alpine to benefit more from technical chief David Sanchez’s insight and input, testing will start to show us which version of the team we are more likely to get this year, at least at the start of the season.

 

Any signs of a short flexi-wing war?

 

From June’s Spanish Grand Prix, tolerance for moveable front wings will be reduced by around a third.

 

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has said that teams are now going to have to put some effort in two different concepts: one for the first eight races and one for the rest of the year.

 

Now that testing is established as a proper event with a full broadcasting circus around it, we will get a lot of images of all the cars on the long start-finish straight.

 

Rest assured that if there’s any sign of some wings flexing more than others, we will get some slow-motion, close-up shots of the difference.

 

Which means we could get an idea of whether a short flexi-wing war will break out over the opening races before things are tightened up.

 

The last Sauber

 

The final F1 car to be officially called a Sauber before it turns into Audi next year has so far only broken cover in limited form, and didn’t get rave reviews from our resident ex-technical director Gary Anderson when it did.

 

There are only limited renders of this car, which has the big task of taking a big step towards midfield respectability ahead of Sauber’s transformation in 2026.

 

Maybe the first renders are a little underwhelming and the real thing will be more head-turning – or maybe, low-key but sensible changes will unlock a step that’s greater than the sum of its parts.

 

These next few days will give us a clue. But Sauber’s been a good candidate for a low fuel, soft tyre glory run in testing in recent years, so we mustn’t be fooled if that happens again.

 

F1 has a fascinating bumper crop of rookies on the grid this year.

 

What we’re considering the real rookies are three-time starter Ollie Bearman at Haas, Alpine’s one-time starter Jack Doohan, and full debutants Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes, Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls, and Gabriel Bortoleto at Sauber.

 

There is also Lawson at Red Bull but with two part-seasons under his belt now it’s not the same.

 

For the ‘real’ rookies, this test is a fairly limited exercise, but nobody’s coming in cold. Some have raced in F1 already, and Bortoleto and Hadjar have been doing private testing in older cars to get up to speed over the winter.

 

That’ll help, although it will still be interesting to gauge who looks most comfortable with the step up to F1, who if any are on the back foot, and if there are even any signs of anyone being ahead of more established team-mates.

 

 

Mercedes is optimistic the Formula 1 car it’s created for the start of its post-Lewis Hamilton era won’t repeat the mistakes that have held it back ever since the big 2022 rule change.

 

We take a detailed look at its 2025 design and the problems Mercedes needs to overcome in our new video:

 

 

Red Bull’s 2025 F1 car finally breaks cover

Red Bull has revealed its 2025 Formula 1 car one day before pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain

 

37 minutes ago 1 comment

 

Every 2025 F1 car and livery revealed so far

All the 2025 Formula 1 cars and liveries revealed at F1’s O2 season launch…

 

 

10 things to look out for in F1 testing

What to watch when F1 testing begins on Wednesday in Bahrain

 

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The Ferrari F1 car tweak that will be a relief for Hamilton

One change Ferrari has made to its Formula 1 car for 2025 should be a particular relief to Lewis Hamilton

 

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Gary Anderson’s verdict on surprising 2025 Mercedes F1 car

Ex-F1 technical director Gary Anderson’s initial take on the early photos of the Mercedes W16

 

 

Alpine’s 2025 F1 car debuts in Bahrain

Alpine’s 2025 Formula 1 machine, the A525, has become the latest car to hit the track in Bahrain ahead of pre-season testing starting on Wednesday

 

 

Formula 1’s 2025 launch season is here but keeping track of exactly what every team has revealed so far can be tricky.

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe he was jealous of Max and AlphaTauri: Lewis Hamilton just announced his new global ambassadorship with athletic brand Lululemon, creating an incredible naming synergy.

 

Hamilton’s new role broke with an Instagram post showing the new Ferrari driver during a 4am sweat sesh in the gym, rocking a teal long-sleeve shirt and black performance tights. Ironically, in an interview with GQ, Hamilton said he had no idea Lululemon — best known for athleisure gear and clothes for women on their ‘hot girl walks’ — also catered to men.

 

“Obviously, there were women that I’d met who would just be raving about Lululemon. I was like, ‘Uh, I can’t wear the leggings,’” he told GQ. “When it comes to all the fabrics that I work with — when I’m designing clothes for example — the material is very, very important for me. There’s some brands I just can’t wear because it’s itchy,” he went on, noting he was immediately impressed by the brand’s pitch. “I’m looking for that extra one percent.”

 

The seven time world champion has been less-than-impressed by the training gear he’s worn in the past, telling GQ he even cut the sleeves off all of his workout tops last season. “The silhouette is very important,” he emphasized.

“I love color-matching things [too], you want to look good when you go somewhere to work out.” As an ambassador, Hamilton will work closely with Lululemon’s research, innovation, design and development teams to collaborate on future products and provide feedback. The company’s Centre for Social Impact will also partner with his global foundation, Mission 44, as part of the deal.

 

 

This and his move to Ferrari would have constituted a big year for Hamilton, but he’s only just getting started. He has another massive fashion moment on the horizon, plus he produced and appears in the upcoming Brad Pitt film “F1,” slated for this summer.

 

“To do the first production this big is nuts because it’ll be hard to beat it,” he said. “[But] when I stop racing, that’s something I’d really love to get more into.”

 

On the other end of the fashion spectrum from performance tights, Hamilton is also set to co-chair the 2025 Met Gala with Pharrell Williams, A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Hamilton’s worked in high fashion before, particularly via last year’s collaboration with former Dior men’s director Kim Jones.

 

When asked whether he hopes to follow in the footsteps of Pharell Williams, who successfully transitioned from the music industry to become the men’s creative director of Louis Vuitton, Hamilton remained coy.

 

“I’m very much conscious of doing the groundwork,” he said. “I’m conscious that I couldn’t creative direct. I’m not at that point yet, but I’m using these as stepping stones. I’m really building up my experience—it’s like internships that I’m doing—and I hope that at some stage it provides me to a point where I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m ready now to truly lead and stand alone.’”

 

 

 

 

There is set to be a lot of pressure on Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari as he attempts to win his eighth world title with the Maranello-based squad.

 

It is the first time in Hamilton’s 18-year F1 career that he will be driving for a team that is not based in the UK, and he is already starting to say some Italian phrases with his engineers.

 

Hamilton has already called his first weeks at Ferrari ‘tough’ but seems to be progressing well after taking part in tests for the team with older cars, then recently running their 2025 challenger at Fiorano for the first time along with Charles Leclerc.

 

Although the times are not a competitive representation of where they are ahead of the season, Leclerc was marginally quicker than Hamilton throughout their few runs permitted under the filming day rules.

 

Hamilton is taking to life at Ferrari well given the history of the brand and its position as being one of the most successful F1 teams of all time.

 

However, former F1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer has explained what Fred Vasseur must do with Hamilton in these crucial early stages when speaking on The Race: F1 Team Principal podcast.

 

Hamilton will need to embed himself into Ferrari’s Italian culture and while he is partially there by being a part-time fashion mogul, he will need the help of his team early on if they want their partnership to be successful according to Szafnauer.

 

 

“What you have to do for him is manage the change, because it will be different for him. So those differences you have to introduce Lewis to very quickly and often so he’s comfortable in his new environment as quickly as possible,” said Szafnauer.

 

“It starts to seem second nature soon, but it takes time. You want to shortcut the time that it takes for Lewis to feel 100% in his new environment.”

 

Lewis Hamilton has ‘impressed everybody’ so far at Ferrari says Jean Alesi

Hamilton is now two months into his tenure at Ferrari and will be taking part in his first F1 pre-season test ahead of the 2025 season.

 

Jean Alesi said people in Ferrari have told him Hamilton ‘impressed everybody’ so far, both with how he has dealt with the culture shock and his work ethic.

 

Ferrari has also shown that it is willing to work with him on car matters early on, having made tweaks to the front suspension at the request of ex-Mercedes engineer Loic Serra.

 

The 2025 season will be a massive challenge for Hamilton at 40 years old, but it appears everything is going smoothly so far at Ferrari.

 

 

 

As Lewis Hamilton prepares to embark on his highly anticipated debut season with Ferrari, the seven-time world champion has expressed a newfound appreciation for the achievements of Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, who previously walked the Briton’s path at the Scuderia.

 

While both Alonso and Vettel were victorious at the outset with Ferrari – respectively in their first and second races with the Scuderia – Hamilton is unsure he can achieve the same feat when the 2025 season kicks off in Australia next month.

 

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari marks his first team switch since leaving McLaren for Mercedes in 2013.

 

The Inside Line | Episode 588 | SF 02The Inside Line | Episode 588 | SF 05The Inside Line | Episode 588 | SF 01

With pre-season testing in Bahrain just days away, the Briton is still acclimating to his new environment.

 

Reflecting on Alonso’s instant success in 2010 and Vettel’s early triumph in 2015, Hamilton acknowledged the difficulty of adapting quickly to a new team.

 

“That I don’t know,” Hamilton replied when asked how long it would take for him to extract maximum performance from Ferrari’s promising 2025 car.

 

“Those guys did an amazing job,” he added. “I have huge respect for those two drivers and, having joined teams before, the step it takes and the amount of work that goes on to acclimatising is extraordinary.

 

“So it makes those results that they had even more exceptional than even I had appreciated before.”

 

 

Despite the limited pre-season testing opportunities, Hamilton is doing everything in his power to be competitive from the get-go.

 

“What I know is that the testing is more limited than ever before but, fortunately, I’ve had a good bit of time in the car. I am still acclimatising,” he explained.

 

“It took me six months, I think, in Mercedes to get my first win. Honestly, I don’t know, but I’m doing everything I can to be ready for race one.”

 

Building Trust in a New Environment

Ferrari has been without a world title since winning the Constructors’ Championship in 2008. Hamilton is confident in the team’s potential but acknowledges that establishing strong relationships within the organization will take time.

 

“It’s given me even more appreciation, as I’ve mentioned, about Sebastian and Fernando joining here,” he said.

 

 

“As we’ve watched over the years, drivers moving around, some moving around a lot more than others. And I’ve always thought to myself, for me, I know how long it takes to build trust and grow within a team and grow with people.

 

“As I’ve experienced that with Mercedes, I’ve experienced that with McLaren. And I really cherish the longevity that I had within those places and the bonds that we created in that time. And they don’t happen overnight.”

 

Pushing for Perfection

Now in his 19th season in Formula 1 at the age of 40, Hamilton is determined to make his time at Ferrari count. He recognizes the immense expectations that come with driving for the sport’s most storied team and is committed to raising his performance across the board.

 

“This step is huge. It couldn’t be any bigger,” Hamilton admitted. “The organisation is massive.

 

 

“The passion adds to it from the fans, from the diversity, from the people within, for that desire to want to win. And you don’t want to let people down. You want to be able to deliver on your word.

 

“And so I just try to… How I decided to come into this year, my resolution, my mentality, is I need to elevate in absolutely every area of my site.

 

“My fitness, my time management, how I engage with my engineers, how much time I spend in the factory, all these different things.

 

“And I’ve definitely done that and I’m doing that and I will continue to do that in this strive for perfection and to achieve the success that I’m aiming to achieve. But it’s a lot of work, I have to say.”

 

 

Beyond the competitive aspects, Hamilton is also adapting to the cultural shift of working with Ferrari, a team deeply rooted in Italian heritage.

 

“Also, all the new brands, the whole new culture, different language, all the new brands that I’m getting to work with, which is really, every day is brand-new.

 

“I’m experiencing something new, which actually is really exciting, and in the short space of time, it’s really not a long time.

 

 

 

 

“From the day you join the team to the first race, it seems like, maybe for you guys, you’ve been this drawn out, but it’s not, it’s very short and there’s no shortcuts that you can take. We’re putting the work in and we’re grafting.”

 

As Hamilton embarks on his Ferrari journey, he remains cautiously optimistic. While Alonso and Vettel found early success, Hamilton acknowledges the challenges ahead and the time required to fully integrate into the team.

 

With his unwavering commitment and extensive experience, the motorsport world will be watching closely to see if he can deliver on Ferrari’s long-held championship ambitions.

 

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook

 

 

 

 

Williams driver Carlos Sainz has been named a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), stepping into a leadership position within the Formula 1 drivers’ body.

 

The 30-year-old Spaniard fills the vacancy left by four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, who stepped down from the role after retiring from F1 at the end of 2022.

 

Sainz, who moved from Ferrari to Williams for the 2025 season, expressed his enthusiasm for taking on the responsibility and working to shape the future of the sport alongside his fellow drivers.

 

“I am passionate about my sport and think we drivers have a responsibility to do all we can to work with the stakeholders to forward the sport in many aspects,” Sainz stated.

 

“So I’m very happy and proud to do my part by taking on the directors’ role in the GPDA.”

 

With his appointment, Sainz joins an influential leadership group that includes GPDA chairman Alex Wurz, Mercedes driver George Russell, and legal advisor Anastasia Fowle.

 

 

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali with GPDA Chairman Alex Wurz.

 

Wurz welcomed Sainz’s addition, emphasizing his long-standing involvement with the association.

 

“We are delighted to welcome Carlos as a GPDA director,” Wurz said.

 

“He has been an active and engaged member of the GPDA for several years and we sincerely appreciate his commitment in stepping up to this vital role.”

 

Navigating a Challenging Landscape

Sainz’s directorship comes at a time when the relationship between the drivers and the FIA is facing challenges.

 

Recent decisions by the governing body, particularly under its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, have raised concerns among drivers and other stakeholders.

 

One such point of contention is the FIA’s January decision to codify a process that could lead to race bans for drivers who use swear words.

 

The lack of clarity on how these rules will be implemented has further fueled unease.

 

 

Sainz has already publicly voiced his opinion on this matter, stating this month that it is wrong to threaten F1 drivers with bans for swearing, although he acknowledged that drivers should avoid bad language in news conferences and television interviews.

 

Another example of the tension between the GPDA and the FIA is the open letter the drivers’ association sent to the governing body in November, in which the drivers expressed their grievances towards Ben Sulayem.

 

The group’s statement, released after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, was unusually blunt.

 

It urged Ben Sulayem to “consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them,” and demanded transparency about the monetary fines imposed on drivers.

 

The backdrop to the letter was a string of controversial incidents. Max Verstappen was handed community service for swearing during the Singapore GP Thursday press conference, while Charles Leclerc received a €10,000 fine for also using the F-word in Mexico’s post-race presser.

 

The GPDA has yet to receive a formal response from the FIA, although Ben Sulayem suggested in no uncertain terms that it was “none of their business” how the Emirati runs the FIA.

 

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook

 

As Lewis Hamilton prepares to embark on his highly anticipated debut season with Ferrari, the seven-time world champion has expressed a newfound appreciation for the achievements of Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, who previously walked the Briton’s path at the Scuderia.

 

While both Alonso and Vettel were victorious at the outset with Ferrari – respectively in their first and second races with the Scuderia – Hamilton is unsure he can achieve the same feat when the 2025 season kicks off in Australia next month.

 

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari marks his first team switch since leaving McLaren for Mercedes in 2013.

 

The Inside Line | Episode 588 | SF 02The Inside Line | Episode 588 | SF 05The Inside Line | Episode 588 | SF 01

With pre-season testing in Bahrain just days away, the Briton is still acclimating to his new environment.

 

Reflecting on Alonso’s instant success in 2010 and Vettel’s early triumph in 2015, Hamilton acknowledged the difficulty of adapting quickly to a new team.

 

“That I don’t know,” Hamilton replied when asked how long it would take for him to extract maximum performance from Ferrari’s promising 2025 car.

 

“Those guys did an amazing job,” he added. “I have huge respect for those two drivers and, having joined teams before, the step it takes and the amount of work that goes on to acclimatising is extraordinary.

 

“So it makes those results that they had even more exceptional than even I had appreciated before.”

 

 

Despite the limited pre-season testing opportunities, Hamilton is doing everything in his power to be competitive from the get-go.

 

“What I know is that the testing is more limited than ever before but, fortunately, I’ve had a good bit of time in the car. I am still acclimatising,” he explained.

 

“It took me six months, I think, in Mercedes to get my first win. Honestly, I don’t know, but I’m doing everything I can to be ready for race one.”

 

Building Trust in a New Environment

Ferrari has been without a world title since winning the Constructors’ Championship in 2008. Hamilton is confident in the team’s potential but acknowledges that establishing strong relationships within the organization will take time.

 

“It’s given me even more appreciation, as I’ve mentioned, about Sebastian and Fernando joining here,” he said.

 

 

“As we’ve watched over the years, drivers moving around, some moving around a lot more than others. And I’ve always thought to myself, for me, I know how long it takes to build trust and grow within a team and grow with people.

 

“As I’ve experienced that with Mercedes, I’ve experienced that with McLaren. And I really cherish the longevity that I had within those places and the bonds that we created in that time. And they don’t happen overnight.”

 

Pushing for Perfection

Now in his 19th season in Formula 1 at the age of 40, Hamilton is determined to make his time at Ferrari count. He recognizes the immense expectations that come with driving for the sport’s most storied team and is committed to raising his performance across the board.

 

“This step is huge. It couldn’t be any bigger,” Hamilton admitted. “The organisation is massive.

 

 

“The passion adds to it from the fans, from the diversity, from the people within, for that desire to want to win. And you don’t want to let people down. You want to be able to deliver on your word.

 

“And so I just try to… How I decided to come into this year, my resolution, my mentality, is I need to elevate in absolutely every area of my site.

 

“My fitness, my time management, how I engage with my engineers, how much time I spend in the factory, all these different things.

 

“And I’ve definitely done that and I’m doing that and I will continue to do that in this strive for perfection and to achieve the success that I’m aiming to achieve. But it’s a lot of work, I have to say.”

 

A Cultural Shift

Beyond the competitive aspects, Hamilton is also adapting to the cultural shift of working with Ferrari, a team deeply rooted in Italian heritage.

 

“Also, all the new brands, the whole new culture, different language, all the new brands that I’m getting to work with, which is really, every day is brand-new.

 

“I’m experiencing something new, which actually is really exciting, and in the short space of time, it’s really not a long time.

 

 

“From the day you join the team to the first race, it seems like, maybe for you guys, you’ve been this drawn out, but it’s not, it’s very short and there’s no shortcuts that you can take. We’re putting the work in and we’re grafting.”

 

As Hamilton embarks on his Ferrari journey, he remains cautiously optimistic. While Alonso and Vettel found early success, Hamilton acknowledges the challenges ahead and the time required to fully integrate into the team.

 

With his unwavering commitment and extensive experience, the motorsport world will be watching closely to see if he can deliver on Ferrari’s long-held championship ambitions.

 

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook

 

Williams driver Carlos Sainz has been named a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), stepping into a leadership position within the Formula 1 drivers’ body.

 

The 30-year-old Spaniard fills the vacancy left by four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, who stepped down from the role after retiring from F1 at the end of 2022.

 

Sainz, who moved from Ferrari to Williams for the 2025 season, expressed his enthusiasm for taking on the responsibility and working to shape the future of the sport alongside his fellow drivers.

 

“I am passionate about my sport and think we drivers have a responsibility to do all we can to work with the stakeholders to forward the sport in many aspects,” Sainz stated.

 

“So I’m very happy and proud to do my part by taking on the directors’ role in the GPDA.”

 

With his appointment, Sainz joins an influential leadership group that includes GPDA chairman Alex Wurz, Mercedes driver George Russell, and legal advisor Anastasia Fowle.

 

 

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali with GPDA Chairman Alex Wurz.

 

Wurz welcomed Sainz’s addition, emphasizing his long-standing involvement with the association.

 

“We are delighted to welcome Carlos as a GPDA director,” Wurz said.

 

“He has been an active and engaged member of the GPDA for several years and we sincerely appreciate his commitment in stepping up to this vital role.”

 

Navigating a Challenging Landscape

Sainz’s directorship comes at a time when the relationship between the drivers and the FIA is facing challenges.

 

Recent decisions by the governing body, particularly under its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, have raised concerns among drivers and other stakeholders.

 

One such point of contention is the FIA’s January decision to codify a process that could lead to race bans for drivers who use swear words.

 

The lack of clarity on how these rules will be implemented has further fueled unease.

 

 

Sainz has already publicly voiced his opinion on this matter, stating this month that it is wrong to threaten F1 drivers with bans for swearing, although he acknowledged that drivers should avoid bad language in news conferences and television interviews.

 

Another example of the tension between the GPDA and the FIA is the open letter the drivers’ association sent to the governing body in November, in which the drivers expressed their grievances towards Ben Sulayem.

 

The group’s statement, released after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, was unusually blunt.

 

It urged Ben Sulayem to “consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them,” and demanded transparency about the monetary fines imposed on drivers.

 

The backdrop to the letter was a string of controversial incidents. Max Verstappen was handed community service for swearing during the Singapore GP Thursday press conference, while Charles Leclerc received a €10,000 fine for also using the F-word in Mexico’s post-race presser.

 

The GPDA has yet to receive a formal response from the FIA, although Ben Sulayem suggested in no uncertain terms that it was “none of their business” how the Emirati runs the FIA.

 

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook

 

Haas is brimming with optimism ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season, believing its latest challenger, the VF-25, will provide a “massive boost” if its real-world performance aligns with encouraging simulation data.

 

The American outfit has worked extensively on overcoming the weaknesses of its predecessor, the VF-24, with a particular emphasis on rear-end aerodynamics.

 

Haas head of aero Davide Paganelli shared his insights into the development process and the team’s high expectations.

 

“With the help of the performance team, we tried to work on the whole car as a package to be able to solve the issue,” explained Paganelli.

 

“An indication of this is that we worked a lot on the rear of the car, and particularly the rear wing. I think that we’ve done a really good job on this for 2025.

 

“We believe the package we’ve designed is a really good one in terms of development. Obviously, we must check if the delivery is what we expect.

 

If we’re able to see on track what we think we’re discovering in the wind tunnel, I think that we can have a massive boost from the very first race.”

 

Addressing Inconsistencies

While Haas enjoyed a solid campaign in 2024, recording its best position in F1’s Constructors’ standings since 2018, its car experienced fluctuating performance, with results varying significantly from track to track.

 

Paganelli believes the VF-25 should provide a more consistent level of competitiveness across different circuits.

 

 

 

“We’ve tried to design a car that can adapt to different races as one of the weaknesses we had last year was not being able to be able to perform at the same level at circuits with different characteristics,” the Italian said.

 

“I think that we did a good job in trying to close this kind of gap as well as providing a configuration that is better in hotter races.

 

“We know at the beginning of the season we have some hot races, so we should be able to compete.”

 

A Positive Atmosphere Within Haas

Under the leadership of team principal Ayao Komatsu, Haas has seen significant internal growth, boosting both morale and operational efficiency.

 

“Last year we grew a lot in terms of design resource and we also gained a lot of confidence that we can definitely do better,” said Paganelli.

 

“The mood in the design office today is absolutely positive, we can feel the energy here. Last season we were able to demonstrate to ourselves and the rest of the grid that we can do a very good job.

 

 

“We consider 2024 a success because we came into this season being last in the championship.

 

“It was really difficult to be able to deliver something positive with the same resource, but by changing the organisational structure we unlocked the potential of team members, and that was really satisfying.”

 

 

Haas officially ran its VF-25 for the first time last weekend at Silverstone, with new signing Esteban Ocon behind the wheel.

 

Meanwhile, rookie teammate Oliver Bearman is set to drive the car for the first time on Monday at the Bahrain International Circuit ahead of the crucial pre-season test next week.

 

With early signs pointing to a strong package, Haas is eager to see how the VF-25 stacks up on track as it aims for further progress in the 2025 campaign.

 

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook

 

 

 

 

Haas is brimming with optimism ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season, believing its latest challenger, the VF-25, will provide a “massive boost” if its real-world performance aligns with encouraging simulation data.