2025 Formula One Season Thread

[CWallace]

It's called "formula" for a reason, mate.

While the late American automotive scribe Brock Yates used to call for Formula One to just dump the rulebook and allow teams to "run what you brung" with unlimited flexibility, that defeats the purpose of a formula.

I do miss the 1980s and 1990s when you had a mix of V8s, V10s and V12s in the field, but as you note, eventually one configuration becomes "the best" (in this case, V10s) and everyone moved to it. So whether or not you define certain technical aspects in the rules, the teams will eventually find "the best" because that is one of the things that makes Formula One what it is.

 

[headlessmike]

It's called "formula" for a reason, mate.

While the late American automotive scribe Brock Yates used to call for Formula One to just dump the rulebook and allow teams to "run what you brung" with unlimited flexibility, that defeats the purpose of a formula.

I do miss the 1980s and 1990s when you had a mix of V8s, V10s and V12s in the field, but as you note, eventually one configuration becomes "the best" (in this case, V10s) and everyone moved to it. So whether or not you define certain technical aspects in the rules, the teams will eventually find "the best" because that is one of the things that makes Formula One what it is.

I've argued this before upthread, but technological advancement also means that there is less guesswork going into modern F1 designs which makes it look as though the formula is restricting innovation when a large part of it is simply having a better understanding of the physics involved allows the team to converge on the best designs more quickly than in the past. We are simply in a different technological landscape than previous generations.

 

[CWallace]

More staff exits being reported at Ferrari, with 2026 PU engine head Wolf Zimmermann and ICU lead Lars Schmidt both heading to Audi. Zimmermann worked under Mattia Binotto when the latter was both head of engines and Team Principal. Enrico Gualtieri will now take over as head of PU development.

 

[JustinePaula]

Maybe Ferrari should look into renting a couple of engines from Chevrolet..Or one of those new Chinese car giants...

 

[CWallace]

So reports are that George Russell is still negotiating with Wolff on the terms of his contract extension, which is why it has not yet been announced.

My guess is he wants a longer term than Toto is offering and/or he wants a higher salary. My guess is Toto is offering 2026 with a team option on 2027 and George wants at least 2026 and 2027 with an option on 2028 (either a team option or a personal one). George may also be bristling at the sponsor commitments.

 

[Glideslope]

So reports are that George Russell is still negotiating with Wolff on the terms of his contract extension, which is why it has not yet been announced.

My guess is he wants a longer term than Toto is offering and/or he wants a higher salary. My guess is Toto is offering 2026 with a team option on 2027 and George wants at least 2026 and 2027 with an option on 2028 (either a team option or a personal one). George may also be bristling at the sponsor commitments.

I don’t read anything, anywhere that George will receive more than a 1+1. It’s unfortunate timing for George, and unfortunate that he’s negotiating with Toto.

Lots of rumors about that AMG is loosing key PU personnel. Should be interesting if true to see their landing zone….

 

[CWallace]

I don’t read anything, anywhere that George will receive more than a 1+1. It’s unfortunate timing for George, and unfortunate that he’s negotiating with Toto.

Aye. With his contract controlled by AMG, he has no real ability to shop his services around even if there were seats available (which realistically there are not).

On the flip side, as fixated as Toto seems to be on landing Max in 2027, I am thinking that might be a fool's errand. Ferrari S.p.A CEO John Elkann is said to be actively talking to Max's management should Lewis retire at the end of 2026 and that could mean a very expensive bidding war for his services.

And this assumes Max even wants to leave Red Bull. Even with his short time in the center seat, Laurent Mekies seems to be having a positive impact on the team and Max is said to be much more pleased with his tenure than he was with Horner (to say nothing of how Jos likely feels).

Lots of rumors about that AMG is loosing key PU personnel. Should be interesting if true to see their landing zone….

Wonder if that is because the 2026 AMG PU is as amazing as many believe it will be and other teams want to poach people to improve their own programs or if it is not and folks are "jumping ship" before that fact becomes clear at Barcelona and Bahrain this winter.

Or maybe Ferrari is trying to backfill Zimmermann and Schmidt.

 

[Glideslope]

Aye. With his contract controlled by AMG, he has no real ability to shop his services around even if there were seats available (which realistically there are not).

On the flip side, as fixated as Toto seems to be on landing Max in 2027, I am thinking that might be a fool's errand. Ferrari S.p.A CEO John Elkann is said to be actively talking to Max's management should Lewis retire at the end of 2026 and that could mean a very expensive bidding war for his services.

And this assumes Max even wants to leave Red Bull. Even with his short time in the center seat, Laurent Mekies seems to be having a positive impact on the team and Max is said to be much more pleased with his tenure than he was with Horner (to say nothing of how Jos likely feels).



Wonder if that is because the 2026 AMG PU is as amazing as many believe it will be and other teams want to poach people to improve their own programs or if it is not and folks are "jumping ship" before that fact becomes clear at Barcelona and Bahrain this winter.

Or maybe Ferrari is trying to backfill Zimmermann and Schmidt.

The Toto chasing Max bromance gets stranger by the week. I've given up. I don't see Max at Ferrari ever being a possibility. I don't see how he could fit in. He's not leaving Red Bull unless he has absolute certainty the team can give him a WDC level car. Another big ticket with Max is whoever wants to sign him will need to allow unprecedented permission for Max to drive/race in other series. A part of me still would not be surprised to see Max simply walk away after next season and focus fully on Verstappen Racing. GT3 and GT4 is growing rapidly, and seems extremely competitive. I don't know if he truly has that fire burning for another WDC or if 4 is enough?

The speculation definitely surrounds Maranello.........

 

[Glideslope]

A nice clip of Max and Honda Aviation. I'll post here as the MR Aircraft Thread died years ago....

 

[CWallace]

FP1 Times

POS.	NO.	DRIVER	TEAM	TIME / GAP	LAPS
1	4	Lando Norris	McLaren	1:42.704	19
2	81	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	+0.310s	14
3	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+0.552s	17
4	63	George Russell	Mercedes	+0.553s	16
5	23	Alexander Albon	Williams	+0.859s	17
6	22	Yuki Tsunoda	Red Bull Racing	+1.034s	16
7	1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing	+1.086s	15
8	55	Carlos Sainz	Williams	+1.155s	17
9	30	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	+1.199s	17
10	6	Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls	+1.271s	17
11	12	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+1.281s	17
12	27	Nico Hulkenberg	Kick Sauber	+1.282s	18
13	44	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	+1.383s	14
14	5	Gabriel Bortoleto	Kick Sauber	+1.383s	18
15	14	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	+1.435s	15
16	87	Oliver Bearman	Haas	+1.447s	17
17	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	+1.625s	15
18	31	Esteban Ocon	Haas	+1.735s	15
19	43	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	+2.595s	14
20	10	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	+2.714s	17

 

[Glideslope]

It will be interesting to see how long Ferrari can keep the engines turned all the way up. No way they are that fast in FP2 without burning copious amounts of fuel. At least Lewis is matching Charles today.

 

[CWallace]

FP2 Times

Norris broke his suspension touching the wall and Piastri also brushed the wall which I guess prevented him from doing any real qualification simulation.

POS.	NO.	DRIVER	TEAM	TIME / GAP	LAPS
1	44	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	1:41.293	21
2	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+0.074s	23
3	63	George Russell	Mercedes	+0.477s	19
4	12	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+0.486s	22
5	87	Oliver Bearman	Haas	+0.598s	23
6	1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing	+0.609s	22
7	30	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	+0.696s	22
8	31	Esteban Ocon	Haas	+0.874s	23
9	23	Alexander Albon	Williams	+0.884s	24
10	4	Lando Norris	McLaren	+0.906s	7
11	55	Carlos Sainz	Williams	+0.962s	24
12	81	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	+1.002s	23
13	6	Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls	+1.150s	23
14	22	Yuki Tsunoda	Red Bull Racing	+1.151s	22
15	5	Gabriel Bortoleto	Kick Sauber	+1.268s	22
16	10	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	+1.381s	22
17	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	+1.478s	24
18	27	Nico Hulkenberg	Kick Sauber	+1.527s	22
19	14	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	+1.674s	24
20	43	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	+2.029s	22

 

[CWallace]

It will be interesting to see how long Ferrari can keep the engines turned all the way up. No way they are that fast in FP2 without burning copious amounts of fuel. At least Lewis is matching Charles today.

Baku is too early for me to wake up for, so I am waiting for FP2 highlights to post to see how it happened. I came in at the checkered flag and they mentioned both McLarens hit the wall which appears to be why they tumbled down the order compared to FP1.

 

[Glideslope]

Baku is too early for me to wake up for, so I am waiting for FP2 highlights to post to see how it happened. I came in at the checkered flag and they mentioned both McLarens hit the wall which appears to be why they tumbled down the order compared to FP1.

Sorry about that. I should use a spoiler for some time zones. 😉

 

[CWallace]

Sorry about that. I should use a spoiler for some time zones. 😉

No worries. I plan to stay off the socials and forums tomorrow and Sunday until I watch the VODs of qualifying and the race.

 

[Apple fanboy]

No worries. I plan to stay off the socials and forums tomorrow and Sunday until I watch the VODs of qualifying and the race.

Always like that for me as the highlights are generally on later. But staying off socials is kind of my thing!

 

[pachyderm]

Baku is too early for me to wake up for, so I am waiting for FP2 highlights to post to see how it happened. I came in at the checkered flag and they mentioned both McLarens hit the wall which appears to be why they tumbled down the order compared to FP1.

One of my favorites on the calendar!
Time difference be damned!

 

[Madonepro]

One of my favorites on the calendar!
Time difference be damned!

It's only 4hrs behind for me, so here in Australia, I can enjoy a beer, and watch the F1

 

[pachyderm]

1	Lando Norris	McLaren	1:41.223s
2	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	1:41.445s	0.222s
3	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	1:41.477s	0.254
4	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	1:41.499s	0.275
5	Andrea Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	1:41.876s	0.653
6	George Russell	Mercedes	1:41.964s	0.741
7	Alex Albon	Williams	1:41.983s	0.760
8	Oliver Bearman	Haas	1:41.185s	0.762
9	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	1:42.146s	0.923
10	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1:42.209s	0.986
11	Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls	1:42.267s	1.044
12	Nico Hulkenberg	Sauber	1:42.428s	1.205
13	Carlos Sainz	Williams	1:42.486s	1.263
14	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	1:42.591s	1.368
15	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	1:42.789s	1.566
16	Yuki Tsunoda	Red Bull	1:42.840s	1.617
17	Esteban Ocon	Haas	1:42.868s	1.645
18	Gabriel Bortoleto	Sauber	1:43.060s	1.837
19	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	1:43.322s	2.099
20	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	1:43.350s	2.127

Don't laugh - Albon has that Williams dialed in... He really does get the best results from that scrap bucket.

 

[Micahrea]

1	Lando Norris	McLaren	1:41.223s
2	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	1:41.445s	0.222s
3	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	1:41.477s	0.254
4	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	1:41.499s	0.275
5	Andrea Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	1:41.876s	0.653
6	George Russell	Mercedes	1:41.964s	0.741
7	Alex Albon	Williams	1:41.983s	0.760
8	Oliver Bearman	Haas	1:41.185s	0.762
9	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	1:42.146s	0.923
10	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1:42.209s	0.986
11	Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls	1:42.267s	1.044
12	Nico Hulkenberg	Sauber	1:42.428s	1.205
13	Carlos Sainz	Williams	1:42.486s	1.263
14	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	1:42.591s	1.368
15	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	1:42.789s	1.566
16	Yuki Tsunoda	Red Bull	1:42.840s	1.617
17	Esteban Ocon	Haas	1:42.868s	1.645
18	Gabriel Bortoleto	Sauber	1:43.060s	1.837
19	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	1:43.322s	2.099
20	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	1:43.350s	2.127

Don't laugh - Albon has that Williams dialed in... He really does get the best results from that scrap bucket.

Another good result for Lewis. I hope he does well in the qualifying as well and we might see him in a fight to get his first podium finish of this season.

 

[pachyderm]

Soooooooo… I guess I just jinxed Albon… my bad

 

[JustinePaula]

Not sure teams want to be racing in Baku, by teams, I mean the teams of accountants at each HQ, they must be going insane trying to process all the invoices for parts.. Then in Q1.. So many cars in the hedge, we might start with only 2 on the grid..

 

[pachyderm]

Another good result for Lewis. I hope he does well in the qualifying as well and we might see him in a fight to get his first podium finish of this season.

I hope they get to finish qualifying !

Was that the third red flag of Q1 ?

 

[CWallace]

 

[JustinePaula]

I am confused, not sure which formula has the weaker driver line up, the crashes in Q1 rival that of the Stanek moment yesterday..