Weekly Hot Take: George Russell is the Most Consistent Driver on the 2025 Grid

Everybody’s posh king and the meme ruler of F1, George Russell is more than just an entertaining driver off the track. The Mercedes driver has performed incredibly well so far this year, and it’s time he earns the respect he deserves. He may be overlooked, but “Mr. Consistency” is really a much more skilled and impressive driver than most give him credit for.

Joining karting when he was just 7 years old, Russell’s first wins were back-to-back victories at the Karting European Championship in 2011 and 2012 before he graduated the division to move on to the junior formulae programs. After winning a handful of trophies and championships, he joined the Mercedes Junior team in 2017 and then signed a seat with Williams alongside Robert Kubica in 2019 for his debut season, out-qualifying Kubica at all 21 Grands Prix. He had his first taste of a Mercedes F1 car when he filled in for Lewis Hamilton at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix but suffered through strategic error and a tire puncture after leading the majority of the race. The denied victory was heartbreaking, but that along with Russell’s first podium during the 2021 Belgian GP showed Mercedes that he had the skill and ability to replace Valtteri Bottas in 2022 for the 2nd Mercedes seat. In his first season at Mercedes, Russell scored his maiden pole position in Hungary and his first-ever win in São Paulo, finishing an astounding fourth place in the World Drivers' Championship. 2023 was a rough season for Mercedes in terms of wins, but Russell was victorious in 2024 at both the Austrian and Las Vegas Grands Prix.

Russell celebrating his first-ever Grand Prix win in São Paulo in 2023- slay king. Photo courtesy of CNN.

After Lewis Hamilton announced his signing with Ferrari at the beginning of the 2024 season, all eyes turned to Russell to become the team’s number 1 driver as speculation abounded about who Mercedes would sign for the second seat. In 2024, Russell scored a total of 245 points and claimed sixth place in the Driver’s Championship, one place above his departing teammate Hamilton. Following in the footsteps of Russell, Kimi Antonelli moved up from Formula 2 after two years and graduated from the team’s junior program. Antonelli was recruited in 2025 to drive alongside Russell, but many fans were worried that the team would be unstable at the beginning of the season due to Hamilton’s sudden departure after 12 strong seasons with the team. However, Antonelli has been an incredible driver from the first race, and Russell’s leadership has helped him feel welcome and strengthened at his new team.

Russell started the 2025 season off with a bang: 2 podiums in a row in Australia and China, 5th place in Japan, 2nd in Bahrain and 5th again in Saudi Arabia. So far, he has scored a total of 73 points, which temporarily places him in 4th in the World Driver’s Championship. With Antonelli’s 38 points added to Russell’s total, Mercedes currently sits in P2 in the Constructor’s, 77 points behind McLaren (who have won 4 out of the 5 races so far). Considering that they have not won a single race yet, Mercedes is putting on a stunning performance and, with Russell’s massive help, have a chance for great success this season.

As fans await more Russell domination on track, we also hope for the constant flow of George Russell memes to continue. Sometimes the memes are fan-made (these, for example) but sometimes Russell meme-ifies himself (as seen here). Russell is also a major diva and likes to cause drama on track and accuse other drivers of wrongdoing, most notably Bottas and Verstappen. He’s definitely a funny guy, even when he’s not trying, and that’s just another reason he should have more fans.

With a mega start to the season, Russell has already proven his abilities to perform every single week at an amazingly high level. As he continues to achieve points this season for Mercedes, I know I will be cheering him on and wishing him the best of luck. As always, thank you for reading, especially my more consistent readers- see what I did there?

Lights out and away we go,

Lucy xx

Weekly Hot Take: Ranking Each 2025 Rookie Driver

There are 5 rookies in the F1 class of 2025 (not including Fernando Alonso or Liam Lawson), and so far this season has been a mixed bag in terms of results. Some are performing better than seasoned drivers, and some are consistently at the bottom of the pack. Today we’ll be evaluating each rookie based on their strengths and weaknesses to pick the most talented, most underrated, and best team players.

The opp himself, Jack Doohan in the flesh. Photo courtesy of SuperSport.

5. Jack Doohan

This may be a controversial opinion, but I am lowkey a Jack Doohan hater. He never achieved the F3 or F2 titles, but had a few wins and served as Alpine’s reserve driver for a while before signing the seat. Doohan DNF’d in the first race on his home turf and has since placed 13th, 15th, and 14th, as well as majorly crashing in Japan’s FP2 session due to a DRS closure fail. It’s not even that I am averse to the guy because of his team, I just don’t think he is anything special and am disappointed in his poor driving; Gasly is also one of the drivers that I care for the least, but I don’t have the same aversion to him as I do for Doohan. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but one thing is for sure: Doohan needs to lock in and show everyone what he’s made of if he wants to have a shot at fame and success this season.

4. Gabriel Bortoleto

When Bortoleto signed for F1 after winning the 2023 F3 Championship and the 2024 F2 championship in his rookie season, Brazilians were ecstatic. Since 1994, when the legend Ayrton Senna passed in a fatal crash, Brazil’s fanbase hasn’t had an opportunity to cheer for a driver of their own in F1 - until now. Gabi, as he is affectionately called by fans, had connections to 2 time world champion Fernando Alonso when competing in the junior leagues, so hopes were high that his talent and skill would develop quickly in F1. With finishes of P14, P19 and a DNF, however, the young driver has yet to prove himself on track. Bortoleto obviously has some potential, but until he locks in, Sauber will continue to fall behind and he may not score many (or any) points this season.

Hadjar and Bortoleto celebrating together on an F2 podium. Photo courtesy of Formula Scout.

3. Isack Hadjar

So far, Hadjar is the most consistently mid rookie of the 2025 season. Towards the end of the 2024 season, the 2024 F2 runner-up participated in free practice sessions at Silverstone (P19) and Abu Dhabi (P15). He also participated in rookie testing post-season (with a faster pace than Yuki Tsunoda), the results of which earned him the reserve driver seat for both RB teams and later the full-time Racing Bulls seat. His tragic start at the Australian GP prevented him from racing, and the struggles only continued with a strategic error during the Chinese GP, barely allowing for a P11 finish. He scored points in Japan after finishing 8th but dropped back behind in Bahrain at 13th, dancing around the points. All things considered, so far Hadjar is not the worst rookie but also not the best, and I hope that he improves in the weeks to come and achieves more successes throughout this season.

2. Ollie Bearman

If there was one wild card team going into the 2025 season, it would be Haas: a new team principal, a whole new driver lineup, and a rookie driver (not to mention Esteban Ocon’s historic lack of ability to collaborate kindly with his teammates). The American team is also not one of the most consistent in terms of high performance and sponsorship successes, but they have come out strong in 2025 and already Bearman has scored 6 points. Bearman won many karting trophies before entering the world of F1, won both the ADAC Formula 4 Championship and the Italian F4 Championship, and had many strong finishes in the F3 and F2 championships. He also filled in for both Sainz and Magnussen in 2024, and scored points on both occasions (P7 and P10 respectively). Bearman finished 14th in the first race of the season and scored points in each of the other three (P8, P10 and P10). He and Ocon seem to be getting along well both on and off track, and he shows much promise for the future. A sweet and friendly driver to the rest of the grid, Bearman is definitely a crowd favorite and a champion in the making.

Everyone’s favorite besties on the grid, Bearman and Antonelli. Photo courtesy of F1.

1. Kimi Antonelli

At only 18 years old, Kimi Antonelli sits in a comfortable 6th place in the Driver’s Championship with 30 points: an impressively secure start to the season. Antonelli is no stranger to racing though, after winning back to back karting titles, the 2022 Italian F4 Championship (along with Bearman on the Prema team!!), ADAC Formula 4 in 2022, and Formula Regional European and Middle East championships in 2023. Representing Italy in the 2022 FIA Motorsports Games, he won the gold medal and progressed to Formula 2 the next year. He later joined the Mercedes junior team, and this year became the third-youngest driver in F1 history. Antonelli landed 4th in his first ever Formula 1 race, with strong results of 6th, 7th, and 11th following. He also led the Japanese Grand Prix for a number of laps and has shown tremendous qualifying abilities. Honestly, Antonelli is one of the most talented drivers the sport has seen in a long time, and he will definitely be a world champion one day if he continues his dedication and ambition for success. Comparable to a young Senna or Schumacher, Antonelli for sure has what it takes to become a motorsport legend.

Whether you like it or not, those are my analyses of this year’s rookie drivers. Hope you had fun reading this one, DM me at @thewinningformulablog your opinions on the 2025 rookie class!

Lights out and away we go,

Lucy xx

Weekly Hot Take: Valtteri Bottas is the Most Underrated F1 Driver

There, I said it- Valtteri Bottas is extremely overlooked and underestimated in the world of F1. 2025 marks his 13th season in F1 and the Finn has been driving for successful teams and scoring points consistently since 2013. It may seem like he is taking the backseat as Mercedes’ reserve and test driver this year, but he is still an icon of the sport and developing his personal brand. This legend deserves more recognition for his impact on the sport, and today we will honor his current legacy and celebrate his accomplishments as well as look to his future, which is looking bright.

Bottas achieved his racing experience by driving and winning in Finland's National Karting squad, Formula Renault 2.0, the Formula 3 Euro series, and the GP3 Series. Because of his massive success, Williams signed him as test and reserve driver during the 2010-2012 seasons. In 2013, he got an official seat in the Williams and collected the most points without a win, an impressive record that showcased his consistent scoring and driving skill. Eventually, he impressed Mercedes enough to take over Nico Rosberg’s seat for the 2017 season. In the Mercedes seat next to Lewis Hamilton, Bottas executed an astounding 307 World Driver’s Championship points and placed 3rd overall, tying world champions Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel for a record 13 podiums. Because of Bottas’ ability to keep up with Hamilton, Mercedes won the World Constructor’s Championship for 5 consecutive years from 2017 to 2021, helping to set their record of 8 consecutive WCC titles.

My glorious king VB77 on the top step of the F1 podium in Austria. Photo courtesy of CGTN.

At the end of the 2021 season, Bottas’ win ratio to Hamilton had dropped drastically, and Mercedes let him go in pursuit of young talent, eventually found in the form of George Russell. Bottas signed with Alfa Romeo-Sauber for the 2022 season, earning 49 points overall and placing P10 in the Driver’s Championship - which is quite astonishing. 2023 and 2024 were forgettable for Bottas given the objectively bad car fielded by Sauber. The fact that he was able to escape the Sauber tractor and return to a top team (even in a backup role) is key to having a career in F1 in the future, as he has now proven himself as a persistent and dedicated driver, not ready to back down or give up.

That future career could manifest itself as the 2026 Cadillac F1 Team seat (as I am hoping and praying that it does!!) Bottas may be overlooked because of his poor 2024 team, but truly he is a driver of great skill and technical knowledge who deserves more recognition for his achievements - including his 103 consecutive Q3 appearances from 2017-2022. He is one of the top drivers vying for the Cadillac seats, and the dice could roll in his favor if he performs well at any time this season in place of Russell or Antonelli. I truly think that the Cadillac seat is in reach for Bottas, and if his teammate was Franco Colapinto or retired king Daniel Ricciardo, the 2026 season could be one of dreams. Apparently the 11th F1 team has been in talks with Red Bull retiree Sergio Perez about next year, which would mean an incredible comeback after how the end of the 2024 season went for him. Cadillac had a conversation with Bottas about the seat last year too, and he described the new team and its opportunities as “an interesting project.” Of course the American team will try to prioritize an American driver on their main lineup, but an experienced and talented driver like Bottas will have just as good of a chance.

Valterri Bottas locked in during the RADL GRVL cycling race in Adelaide, Australia. Photo courtesy of Bicycling.

When Bottas is not driving F1 cars at high speed, he is likely doing a multitude of other ventures. After losing his seat in 2024, he created his personal brand called “What’s Next?” and uses it to promote cycling events, his drink passion projects Oath Gin and Kahiwa Coffee Roasters, and even his iconic bleached blonde mullet. Wherever Bottas decides to go next, I know I am along for the ride to see him succeed time and time again (fingers crossed it is Cadillac though!!) Thanks for reading, and I hope this helped you learn a little more about one of F1’s most iconic drivers.

Lights out and away we go,

Lucy xx

Weekly Hot Take: Liam Lawson Let Go At Goldilocks Timing

Yesterday morning, Yuki Tsunoda was announced as Liam Lawson’s replacement for the remaining 22 races of the Formula 1 season. In the break week between the Chinese GP and the Japanese GP, Tsunoda has taken the 2nd Red Bull Racing seat as Lawson has been swapped to the Racing Bulls team. After only two races of the season, some find it shocking that Lawson was not given more time to adapt. However, the time of the swap was strategic for many reasons, and honestly Red Bull made the right call at the right time.

The curse of the second Red Bull seat truly needs to be studied: in the past 6 years, 5 drivers have held the coveted seat (including Tsunoda). Since Daniel Ricciardo unexpectedly left the team in 2018 to drive for Renault (now Alpine), no driver has been able to successfully keep the seat for more than a few seasons - some fans even joke that Ricciardo started the curse on the seat himself before his transfer, as his career greatly declined after he left Red Bull. In 2019, Pierre Gasly was signed from the junior team Toro Rosso to join Red Bull Racing, but was replaced by former teammate Alex Albon after just 12 races. Albon completed the end of that season with Red Bull and continued in 2020, but was then demoted to reserve driver at the end of that season. In 2021, Sergio Perez joined the lineup next to Max Verstappen for the next four seasons, starting strong but eventually descending into the back of the pack permanently. Liam Lawson took over the 2025 season as the Red Bull second driver but has now been replaced after only two races on the calendar by Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda. Lawson was axed from the team the fastest of any Red Bull driver, but why did he not last as long as the others; why did Red Bull have no patience for him like they seemed to have for the past second drivers? Furthermore, why did Lawson get cut in a shorter amount of time than other teams’ drivers even when earning the same results?

A frustrated Lawson after two races of underperformance and the looming threat of being dropped by the team. Photo courtesy of PlanetF1.

The first situation to consider is Max Verstappen’s point scoring in the past few years compared to the 2025 season so far. In 2019 and 2020, Verstappen ended the season with more than 200 points, landing him 3rd place in the Driver’s Championship both times. In 2021, Verstappen won 10 out of the 22 races to secure the Driver’s Championship with a total of 395.5 points. He was victorious again in 2022, scoring 454 points after winning 15 of the 22 races, a record-breaking number. In 2023, he clinched the title with 575 points and 19 races won, breaking his own record from the year before (teammate Perez closest behind with 285 points.) Last year, Verstappen scored 437 points to claim his 4th Driver’s Championship, this time with Perez lagging behind in 8th. He is one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time and revered highly for his unique and skillful driving style. However, Verstappen finished P2 and P4 in the first races of this season, meaning that Red Bull needs more production from its second driver. Unfortunately, Liam Lawson’s DNF and P15 finishes put him outside of the points both times. The car does not seem as dominant this year, and even though Verstappen is still performing well, the difficulty of the car could lead to a lower result and cause issues that a failing second driver only adds to. If Red Bull wants to be a constructor that is contending for the championship, they need two drivers that can drive the car in the points in case Verstappen is not dominating the field every single race.

Secondly, the standard at Red Bull is different than at a midfield team that can give a struggling driver a longer leash. For example, last year, Logan Sargeant was axed from Williams Racing after the 15th race. Sargeant scored 1 point for the team in 2023 and none in 2024, and was replaced by reserve driver Franco Colapinto for the back half of the season. With Sargeant crashing the car constantly and finishing out of the points for over half the season, some would compare his situation to Lawson’s current races. However, it is important to realize that Williams is objectively not as competitive as Red Bull, and Red Bull needs maximum points throughout the entire season. Instead of risking the championship for a rookie for such a long time, swapping Tsunoda for Lawson at an earlier date is a strategic decision in terms of the WCC.

Tsunoda standing next to future teammate Max Verstappen: fingers crossed for Red Bull this year! Photo courtesy of GPFans.

This specific week is an extremely strategic time for Tsunoda to both test the car during the off-week and also have his first race in Red Bull to be his home race. The news will foster unimaginable excitement and anticipation in Japan as what was only dreams before becomes reality. Tsunoda’s home race with Red Bull could either be one of the team’s biggest successes or a total flop, depending on if he can drive the car. As many know, Red Bull shapes the car’s design around Verstappen and his specific talent for complicated and risky racing, which is why many drivers cannot adapt to the car. Other teams, such as Ferrari and McLaren, have two “first drivers” and create the car to cater to both’s skills, but whoever holds the second seat at Red Bull is just another driver who must master Verstappen’s special design.

While the change is a massive career boost for Tsunoda, it’s a brutal turn of events for Lawson as he is returned to his previous team after facing major pressure and anxiety about not being able to perform in the Red Bull car. His career is forever affected by the very short and unsuccessful time at Red Bull, after which he will likely not return, causing concerns about future team signings. In my opinion, the move makes total sense for Red Bull’s overall success as a team (as long as Tsunoda performs), but leaves Lawson sitting in his thoughts, contemplating how his large dreams were crushed in so little time. All the drivers are human and deal with so much pressure and frustration just like anyone else, and I want everyone to remember that Lawson did his best and deserves grace and respect just like any other athlete in a top-level sport. Everyone try to enjoy the bye-week, and let’s not be too harsh on Lawson.

Lights out and away we go,

Lucy xx

Weekly Hot Take: The F1 Clock is Ticking for Helmut Marko

The 2025 Formula 1 season got off to a wild start in Melbourne last week. Perhaps one of the most important aspects of each season is the new rookie dynamic in F1, which illuminates how the new drivers need to prove themselves from their very first time on track - no pressure, right? The presence of criticism and outside opinion can foster nerves in the paddock, and such a situation was evident at the Australian Grand Prix - but first, let’s dive into Helmut Marko’s Formula 1 career for a little background lore.

Helmut Marko raced for the Écurie Bonnier team (driving the McLaren M7C) with his F1 debut at the German Grand Prix in 1971, also winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the same year. He later transferred to the British Racing Motors (BRM) team through 1972. However, a debris accident during the 1972 French Grand Prix caused Marko to gain permanent blindness in his left eye. Although he was no longer fit to race, he still wanted to be involved in the world of motorsports. Today, Marko is a senior advisor at Red Bull GmbH, overseeing the Red Bull driver development program and helping to shape the careers of Formula 1 stars of the near future. Many other former drivers have followed a similar path from driving the cars to entering a leadership role: the late legend Niki Lauda, commentator Martin Brundle, and 4 time world champion turned racing director Alain Prost, for example. Many legends of the sport are regarded as positively influential in their authoritative roles, but discussion of Marko’s insulting remarks towards drivers has painted him as a cruel villain instead of a caring mentor to the new generations.

Senior advisor Helmut Marko side-by-side with Oracle Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner - two controversial Red Bull leaders in one frame! Photo courtesy of RacingNews365.

Marko may be most known, however, for his criticisms of several drivers on the grid, including a few that do not have a relation to the Red Bull team. Over the years, Marko has publicly insulted drivers including Sergio Perez, Lando Norris, and most recently Isack Hadjar. The focus of the Austrian’s taunts is often the behavior or performance of the driver. He notably commented negatively on what he perceived to be Norris’ “mental weaknesses" compared to Max Verstappen and poked fun at Norris’ supposed pre-race "rituals". Norris himself and McLaren CEO Zak Brown have both responded to Marko’s statements by making light of the driver’s alleged superstitions and calling the critic out for encouraging the stigma of mental health, a huge issue in F1 today. Marko came under extreme fire in 2024 when he described Perez as “just not as completely focused in his head” as Verstappen, attributing it to Perez’s “South American” heritage in an exceedingly racist and unacceptable sentiment (not to mention that Perez is from Mexico, in North America.) Backlash after that comment was higher than ever before, and an FIA spokesperson ensured the media that Marko "received a written warning and was reminded of his responsibilities as a public figure in motor sport in line with the FIA Code of Ethics.”

Marko spending some quality time with his favorite driver Max Verstappen - the glaze is real. Photo courtesy of Autosport.

Marko’s loose lips appeared again this past race weekend when he targeted another driver, Isack Hadjar, with his brutal criticism. On raceday, Hadjar experienced what must have been the worst luck of his life, spinning out and DNFing the race before finishing the formation lap to enter his spot on the grid. With his debut race spoiled and no possibility of him even seeing lights out, Hadjar was naturally emotional and discouraged, and began to cry after he was eliminated in Melbourne. He was consoled by Lewis Hamilton’s father Anthony and other supporters, but Marko publicly declared Hadjar’s performance and reaction “embarassing.” Fans across the world slammed Marko for having such cruel and unbending standards, with many questioning if he is even relevant in the sport anymore. Christian Horner described his own reaction to Hadjar’s situation as heart-wrenching, additionally reminding everyone that "these guys are just kids really…he's got many bright days ahead of him."

Overall, hopes are high for Hadjar this weekend in Shanghai while many viewers worldwide yearn for Helmut Marko’s downfall- I mean, retirement. F1 should be a place of encouragement and success instead of insults and unnecessary spite. As always, thanks for reading, and let me know your opinion on Marko’s current position in the sport.

Lights out and away we go,

Lucy xx

Weekly Hot Take: Oscar’s McLaren Contract Renewal Previews Team Priorities

Before the opening race in Melbourne, Australia, McLaren extended Oscar Piastri’s current contract. The Aussie is now going to wear papaya until at least 2026, if not beyond. McLaren’s move is extremely strategic and well-timed - Piastri now has extra confidence before his home race, where he placed 4th last year. His performances throughout the 2024 season were spectacular, as he scored 292 points (achieving 4th place in the Drivers' Championship), earned two wins, achieved seven podiums, and claimed one fastest lap.

Oscar Piastri and CEO Zak Brown after Piastri’s first win. Photo courtesy of FormulaRapida.

Following his journey in Formula Renault, Formula 3, and Formula 2, Piastri started his F1 career as Alpine’s reserve driver in 2022. After being the McLaren reserve driver for a year, many different teams wanted to sign him. Christian Horner was one of the main interested parties, and when Piastri signed for McLaren in 2023, Horner was disappointed: “there was an opportunity for Red Bull to look at him at the time and we didn't take up that option, which is something that I regret". Strong reserve drivers often pose a threat to underperforming main drivers, and after Daniel Ricciardo’s unsuccessful season in 2022, Piastri was ready to step in and help rebuild McLaren’s winning dynasty (a situation eerily similar to this year, as some fans speculate that Alpine reserve driver Franco Colapinto itches to take rookie Jack Doohan’s seat).

F1 is unlike any other sport in the world, as there are only 20 seats and if a driver performs poorly or does not live up to their team’s expectations, they can lose their seat. This is exemplified by the likes of Logan Sargeant, Zhou Guanyu, Sergio “Checo” Perez, and Daniel Ricciardo, who all left during or after the end of the 2024 season. Often, losing an F1 seat means the end of a driver’s career, but depending on a driver’s experience and skill level, they sometimes find another seat or come back in a new role or position. Carlos Sainz, for example, is driving for Atlassian Williams Racing in 2025 after Ferrari signed Lewis Hamilton for his seat, and Valtteri Bottas returns to the Mercedes AMG-Petronas F1 team after leaving the team in 2021 and driving for Alfa Romeo/Sauber for 3 years. A contract extension pre-season is not unheard of, but it is a large contrast from last year’s “silly season” of drivers moving to teams all over the grid similarly to a game of musical chairs.

Oscar and Lando congratulating each other after a double podium in Qatar. Photo courtesy of F1.

Lando Norris’ contract was renewed in 2024 when he signed a multi-year contract extension with McLaren. However, it seems to many people that Oscar’s renewal has been more celebrated and publicized than Lando’s. While this may or may not be true, it adds to the fans’ beliefs that tensions might be high in the McLaren garage this season. After Lando’s first F1 win in Miami, he temporarily established himself as head driver of the team; however, as the season went on, both drivers competed to prove themself as the best in the team. Recently, CEO Zak Brown commented that there is no “number one” driver and Piastri agreed, declaring “we’re both number ones.” These guidelines off track ensure that Piastri and Norris are free to compete equally and support the team instead of tearing each other down on-track. Then again, the drivers still need reminders to avoid friendly fire, as shown by the implementation of “papaya rules” during races.

Despite the supposed tensions that may appear throughout the season, I myself hope that McLaren continues to succeed after securing the Constructor’s Championship last year. Melbourne will be an incredible race to watch no matter who wins - but I wouldn’t complain if I saw papaya on the top step. As always, thanks for reading.

Lights out and away we go,

Lucy xx

Off-season Opinion: How Preseason Testing Factors Into Race Day Results

From February 26-28, all 10 teams gathered at the Bahrain International Circuit for three days of preseason car testing, media, and press conferences. Testing weekend is the only time that teams have to test their cars before raceday at Melbourne on March 16th.

In the first morning session, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli was fastest overall, followed by Red Bull’s Liam Lawson and Williams’ Alex Albon - very impressive for Antonelli as a rookie and Albon in the Williams! In addition to overall times, drivers were measured on sector times throughout the course of testing. For sector 1, Lewis Hamilton was fastest in the Ferrari, Fernando Alonso was fastest in sector 2 in the Aston Martin, and Kimi Antonelli took the fastest time of sector 3. 2024 World Constructor’s Champion Lando Norris (McLaren) was the fastest in the afternoon session of the first day and overall for day 1, with Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen not far behind. Esteban Ocon had the most laps in day 1 with 88, and his Haas team completed the most laps, reaching 160. 2025 may be a new era for Haas, who have had issues the past few years achieving results.

A Williams car spotted zooming around the Bahrain International Circuit during February’s preseason testing. Photo courtesy of F1.

On the 2nd day of testing, Hamilton had the fastest lap time in the morning, with Russell and new Williams driver Carlos Sainz trailing his time. Hamilton also took fastest times for sector 1 and 2 in the morning, with ex-teammate Russell being fastest in the 3rd sector of the circuit.

It was Sainz’s performance in testing that received the most attention given his recent switch from perennial contender Ferrari to the mid-field Williams. In the afternoon, Sainz had the fastest time, giving hope to many Williams fans that the car could produce some results this year. Hamilton and Russell continued to show strong results with 2nd and 3rd fastest times during this session. Sainz impressively had the fastest times for the 1st and 3rd sectors as well, with Norris going the fastest in sector 3. Sainz also had the most laps and track time on day 2 with 126, with his singular results extremely close to the Mercedes team’s total lap number of 157. With Sainz’s speed and Williams’ suggested confidence in his driving, it’s safe to say that Williams is the team to watch in 2025.

A visual of the Bahrain International Circuit with the sectors outlined. Photo courtesy of F1.

On the third and final morning of testing, Ferrari’s “chosen one” Charles Leclerc went fastest overall, with Antonelli and Norris putting up a good fight behind. The sector times were similar: Norris was fastest in sector 1 and Antonelli had sectors 2 and 3 in the bag. In the afternoon, Russell reestablished his dominance from earlier in the week, followed by other successful drivers Verstappen and Albon. Albon also achieved the fastest 1st sector on Friday, and again Russell championed sectors 2 and 3 of the track. Haas once more spent the most time on the track, with the team driving 162 laps between both Esteban Ocon and rookie Ollie Bearman.

In a wild turn of events, Sainz had the fastest lap of the entire week, running a 1:29:348 in what most would call a below-average car. After Sainz left the Scuderia Ferrari F1 team, many were concerned that he would no longer be successful, as Williams has infamously faced many financial issues and scoring troubles since the late 1990’s. The root of Williams’ recent failures is attributed to a lack of resources and funding which left them at a major disadvantage compared to top teams with much larger budgets, as well as difficulty conforming to the new technical regulations. However, Sainz’s leadership and talent previously brought McLaren and Ferrari to new heights after droughts of wins and successes on track, and hopes are high for him to do the same with Williams, especially with proof of his ability to drive the car well. Of course, many experts say that testing means nothing until drivers prove themselves at Melbourne, but it is truly nice to dream.

Carlos Sainz, the most impressive driver and king of preseason testing this year. Photo courtesy of Motorsport Week.

This week also brought many funny moments - the first F1 memes and jokes of the season - that got many fans excited for what’s to come. Rain poured down in Bahrain, setting back testing sessions that had to be reinstated - kind of ironic as the circuit is chosen for testing because of its reliable dry weather. Charles Leclerc seemed to be asleep in between sessions- or was he just visualizing the track? Either way, his eyes were closed and he was described to be meditating or taking a quick nap. There was also the first animal sighting on an F1 track, with a bird waddling across while cars were whirring around. Humorous videos were posted asking “why did the bird cross the track?” in reference to the time-old chicken/road joke, which shows how funny F1 fans and the F1 account themselves think they are. Weird sights of cages with sensors and neon-green flow vis paint appeared all over social media as many wondered what these devices did - turns out they track the aerodynamics of the cars as they flow through the air to find aspects that need to be upgraded. Lastly, one broadcaster must have had trouble remembering that Hamilton signed with Ferrari for 2025, as his overhead sign stated that he still drove for Mercedes- whoops!

Overall, testing was entertaining, impressive, and maybe a little silly. The 2025 season is fast approaching, and many cannot wait to see how these results factor into raceday in Melbourne. It’s anyone’s guess how the first race of the season will go, but I for one hope that Sainz continues to prove his skill at Williams and that many silly moments continue to pop up throughout the season. As always, thanks so much for reading.

Lights out and away we go,

Lucy xx

Off-Season Opinion: My Review of the F175 Live Event

The 2025 F1 season started with a bang on February 18th with the F175 Live Event. The event took place at the O2 in London and was also streamed live on Youtube for fans across the world. The show was extremely entertaining, full of laughs, and a near-perfect intro to the 75th year of Formula 1. Let’s recap some of the highlights!

Jack Whitehall was the comedic host for the night, and his humor and jokes were on point. Repeatedly getting lost in Charles Leclerc’s eyes and teasing Max and George about last season’s beef, Whitehall consistently made the entire venue chuckle. Whitehall has been on 5 stand-up tours, hosted the Brits many times, and acted in many film and TV adaptations. Overall, Whitehall’s wit and timing were impeccable as he asked Gordon Ramsey about the swearing ban, poked fun at the cars being the same colors as last season, and asked the audience to “pray for Toto Wolff” because of Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari.

The musical talent was collectively judged to be less impressive, with Machine Gun Kelly, Kane Brown, and Take That performing live at the event. None of the acts were necessarily bad, but the songs were unrelated to F1 or racing at all, although Brown attempted to be relevant by singing “Miles On It.” Fans online after the event expressed their disappointment that there were no female performers hired for the event exclusively, as there were so many singers that are popular and on topic - Rihanna could have performed “Shut Up and Drive,” or Tate McRae with “Sports car,” for example.

The all new Visa CashApp Racing Bull. Woof. Photo courtesy of F1.

But of course, the stars of the show were the liveries for each team. Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber started the show off, debuting a shockingly impressive lime green and black ombre car, with Nico Hulkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto accompanying Team Principal Matthia Binotto onstage. Following Stake was Atlassian Williams Racing, with a beautiful cobalt-blue livery escorted by Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, and Team Principal James Vowles (master selfie-taker, apparently). Next was arguably the best livery of the night: Visa CashApp Racing Bulls’ stunning white car that just looked incredibly clean and fresh as Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar expressed positive feelings for the upcoming season. Haas was next, showcasing a sleek black, red and white livery with drivers Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman as well as Team Principal Ayao Komatsu. Marking the halfway point of the presentation, Alpine (introed by a DJ set from the creator of the F1 theme song) unveiled this year’s car with more blue and less pink accents as Jack Doohan and Pierre Gasly strutted onstage, refusing to show the buzzcuts under their team hats. Aston Martin’s dazzling emerald livery followed after a James Bond-style intro (featuring a performance by Tems) and Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll entering in suits and their race lids. The 7th team of the night was Mercedes, as George Russell and Kimi Antonelli unveiled the silver and black car and smiled to the audience. Red Bull Racing’s livery remains largely the same as the last few years, and Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson hyped up the crowd without any words about the upcoming season. Ferrari unveiled its new livery in a deep cherry red, and the crowd went absolutely wild for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Lastly, McLaren flooded the stage with cars from past seasons as CEO Zak Brown unveiled the car with the help of Team Principal Andrea Stella, revealing a similar car to the 2024 model that won the WCC.

The stunning cherry-red Ferrari liveries. Photo courtesy of MSN.

All things considered, F1 truly put on a show, and I loved every second of seeing the drivers and cars before season testing later this week. As always, thanks for reading - let me know what you thought of the event if you watched it online!

Lights out and away we go,

Lucy xx