Formula 1 2025

[Mactech]

Surely Doohan will be afforded at least 6 or so races to show he has the potential to keep his seat at Alpine?

Yes, I’m sure he will be allowed a little time to become acclimatised, but Collapinto was scoring points within a couple of races and I’m sure Jack’s contract will not be watertight.
He has his name and father on his side, I just hope his talent matches.
Flav fires from the hip and has the ear of Renault, so nothing is certain….

 

[GeeJayW]

No wonder Hamilton was struggling at Mercedes….

 

[Mactech]

No wonder Hamilton was struggling at Mercedes….

View attachment 166415

I don't see a problem! The blocks are on the face of the pedals not behind them....so he should be able to go faster!

I have seen much worse things in racing cars. Some bright sparks just fit longer pushrods on the master cylinders, pushing the pedal faces rearward, but having the arc of the pedals almost 90deg from the optimum top few degrees of the arc

 

[190]

I have seen much worse things in racing cars. Some bright sparks just fit longer pushrods on the master cylinders, pushing the pedal faces rearward, but having the arc of the pedals almost 90deg from the optimum top few degrees of the arc

Having operating arms at the optimum angle for mechanical efficiency is an idea as old as hills. The cable operated drum brake on a motorcycle is one example. The clutch operating arm on my old BMW has an elaborate adjustment procedure to ensure it operates through an arc centred on 90 Deg to the cable in order to minimise the weight of pull at the handlebar lever. It needs optimising too!

 

[GeeJayW]

I don't see a problem! The blocks are on the face of the pedals not behind them....so he should be able to go faster!

I have seen much worse things in racing cars. Some bright sparks just fit longer pushrods on the master cylinders, pushing the pedal faces rearward, but having the arc of the pedals almost 90deg from the optimum top few degrees of the arc

I saw the photo and was immediately reminded of Shortround in Indiana Jones, but then thought of Lewis in the George-sized Merc. Hence posting it here. I couldn’t find a tongue-in-cheek icon to go with it.

Perhaps an alternative view is - “if only Mercedes had done something like this, Hamilton would have been quicker?”

 

[Mactech]

I rather fancy this Mercedes, but I suspect the bank will say no!

Iconic Mercedes F1 car from 1950s could be sold for record £41m

A legendary Mercedes F1 car could be sold for over £40 million next month

www.crash.net

 

[GeeJayW]

I rather fancy this Mercedes, but I suspect the bank will say no!

Iconic Mercedes F1 car from 1950s could be sold for record £41m

A legendary Mercedes F1 car could be sold for over £40 million next month

www.crash.net

Very nice. If the bank doesn’t say no however, I suspect your ‘financial director’ might be less than overwhelmingly enthusiastic…

 

[Mactech]

Here is some good news for F1.

Laura Muller: Haas employ German as first female race engineer in Formula 1

Haas restructure their race operations team with a series of changes that include appointing Laura Muller as the first female race engineer in Formula 1.

www.bbc.co.uk

I had female data engineers in the '90s and encouraged a young student at the turn of the century to find a career in motorsport. Some years later she became our very active data engineer on the diesel land speed record program. Her sister went one better and race engineered a number of wins for Audi's diesel Le Mans winners!
I understand this will be the first female race engineer in F1. Lewis will be pleased, not only having his first week at Ferrari....

 

[GeeJayW]

Here is some good news for F1.

Laura Muller: Haas employ German as first female race engineer in Formula 1

Haas restructure their race operations team with a series of changes that include appointing Laura Muller as the first female race engineer in Formula 1.

www.bbc.co.uk

I had female data engineers in the '90s and encouraged a young student at the turn of the century to find a career in motorsport. Some years later she became our very active data engineer on the diesel land speed record program. Her sister went one better and race engineered a number of wins for Audi's diesel Le Mans winners!
I understand this will be the first female race engineer in F1. Lewis will be pleased, not only having his first week at Ferrari....

It is good news.

Bernie Collins has had a decent career in F1, and is very bright. Hanna Schmitz is also a senior engineer.

There are also other females in significant roles within F1

Dr Valeria Loreti: “It’s work that you can only do if you dedicate yourself one hundred percent" | Interviews | FinM

Dr Valeria Loreti is the Motorsport Delivery Manager at Shell, a prominent partner to several motorsport teams including, most notably, Scuderia Ferrari. A passion for science and a love of motorsport have delivered Dr Loreti to where she is today, leading a diverse team, dedicated to pursuing...

www.femalesinmotorsport.com

 

[Mactech]

I posted in last years F1 thread about both F1 and MotoGP multi-champions racing in red this year. What I hadn't realised is just how many parallels there are in their racing careers:

Analysis: Lewis Hamilton/Marc Marquez fever will be huge for motorsport in 2025

Two of world motorsport’s highest profile names make big switches in 2025 as they seek to cement their legacies

www.crash.net

 

[SmartAmg]

Interesting story, that. Obviously apart from the Car and Bike difference.
How similar there careers have been. And now both in Red. Should be interesting seasons, for them both.

 

[BlackC55]

I am hoping for Russell to do well and Lando too. I am expecting Hamilton to be fast out of the box and hoping RB don't do much. There is someting I cant warm to with RB, maybe its the poor attitude and sportsmanship.

 

[GeeJayW]

I am hoping for Russell to do well and Lando too. I am expecting Hamilton to be fast out of the box and hoping RB don't do much. There is someting I cant warm to with RB, maybe its the poor attitude and sportsmanship.

Will be very interesting to see how George gets on as the de facto team leader. If Mercedes put the right car under him and he is able to improve his race consistency, he could have a decent season. Antonelli might be quick off the blocks, but quite a bit of uncertainty as to how that will play out over the season. My guess is that George will get preference on strategy and setup.

Lando will have Oscar to deal with and early doors that could be a problem as they will surely take points off each other. In addition, Lando needs to toughen up, Oscar is already there.

Similarly, assuming the Ferrari is quick and Lewis and Charles have a car they can pedal with confidence, they may well be competing against each other for spoils, especially if Charles can cut out the odd silly mistake. There are a lot of people writing off Lewis as being over the hill, but I still think he has unfinished business, so will be interesting to see if he can find his form again.

As for Max, again if RBR give him a decent car he'll be hard to beat. I'm a long way from being a fan of Max (massively arrogant and far too aggressive) or RBR (toxic as fcuk), but he can drive and the team can be effective. If they don't give him a car, I think he'll be elsewhere in 2026. Oh, and of course he will not be losing out to his team-mate, so that definitely gives him an advantage over others in a two-driver team.

 

[GeeJayW]

Little heads-up on this year’s MotoGP schedule…

 

[ALFAitalia]

Take it back to Donington!....Silverstone is crap for bike racing and a pretty poor place to watch bikes at too. Donington is tighter, twistier and largely on a slope so there are places you van see big chunks of the circuit. Only went to one at Silverstone....won't be going back...at least for bikes.

 

[GeeJayW]

Take it back to Donington!....Silverstone is crap for bike racing and a pretty poor place to watch bikes at too. Donington is tighter, twistier and largely on a slope so there are places you van see big chunks of the circuit. Only went to one at Silverstone....won't be going back...at least for bikes.

I agree.

 

[AMGeed]

^ Brands Hatch is a great circuit for bike racing.
Saw the BSB event there in 2023.
Only seen one MotoGP at Silverstone and to be honest, its such a long circuit you don't get to see very much and have to rely on the TV screens.
I suspect, like F1, MotoGP is far better viewing from your armchair without the buzz of the crowd and the general atmosphere. I can live with that.

 

[Mactech]

I don't really do social media, but I do understand the rise of the 'Influencer' and how in can now be a full-time and profitable occupation.
I certainly giggled about the person you copy to ensure you put the correct waste bin out each week called a 'Binfluencer'
In exactly a months time, Adrian Newey will start his new role as Technical Chief at Aston Martin F1. I think it's safe to say that in the past few decades he has been F1's number one 'Winfluencer'!
His manager, Eddie Jordan negotiated a great deal for him so he becomes a part owner of the company and deeply 'invested' in the role.

This is not the first time the Eddie has used this strategy. Almost exactly 40 years ago I was made a director of the then fledgling Eddie Jordan Management alongside his solicitor Fred Rodgers...



It worked for at least another year, before I was 'stolen' by Martin Brundle to work for Tom Walkinshaw. That didn't turn out to be too bad!

 

[Mactech]

It's not F1 or even MotoGP, but it is a lesson in how not to treat your AMG GT3 Mercedes.
From the Bathurst 12hr race last weekend, where, just to confuse things a little more, Valentino Rossi finished 2nd in a BMW.
This is Stephen Grove ending his race. I was wondering why there is a stray bunch of grapes in top left until I realised it was the LF headlamp....I think!

 

[AMGeed]

The MotoGP season isn't far away and with the personnel changes in many teams, once again the factory Ducati team look the ones to beat.
A pairing of Bagnaia and M Marquez will be very strong and I don't anticipate current WC Jorge Martin's move to Aprillia being a step up.
Team to watch this season, Yamaha. Very impressive times with the new V4 engine in pre season testing. Look out for Fabio Quatararo to start getting some good results again.