2025 Formula One Season Thread

[Glideslope]

Take this with as much seasoning as you feel appropriate, but YouTuber FP1Will had drinks with a friend who is well-placed within Aston Martin F1 and he related the following:

Newey has transformed Aston's technical department. Newey proclaimed that the gearbox needed to be shortened by 80mm (3 inches). When told it was not possible, he hand-drew said new gearbox in under two hours. Lawrence Stroll also verbally pissed on everyone's parade at the Christmas Party, telling them that for the money he has spent, the team has failed miserably. And, to nobody's surprise, the entire staff hate Lance and every year hope the rumors he is leaving come true.

In terms of engine development, AMG is in first place, with Honda and Ferrari close behind. Red Bull-Ford is a fair bit farther back and Audi's engine is effectively unusable.

He also said that Cadillac will likely not turn a lap during winter practice as their Silverstone aero department only has 40 people. The team is offering massive recruitment bonuses to try and poach aero staff from other teams.

I'll wager Honda is allot closer to AMG than Ferrari. I hope AMR has a competitive chassis.

 

[CWallace]

So is that an X-Wing with canards in the Ferrari garage or a bi-plane without a vertical stabilizer? Looks like the CG might be a handful.

It is an X-Wing. His Instagram page has higher-resolution images of each diorama.

 

[CWallace]

I'll wager Honda is allot closer to AMG than Ferrari. I hope AMR has a competitive chassis.

Will noted that he could not remember who was 2nd and who was 3rd, but I agree I think Honda is likely closer to AMG than Ferrari considering both of Ferrari's top engine people have gone to Audi (and if the Audi engine is as much a disaster as this person reported, they need all the help they can get).

 

[Glideslope]

Here we go….. I think it’s too late to implement changes before March.

Two manufacturers at centre of 2026 F1 engine loophole controversy

Formula 1 looks to be heading for its first showdown over the new 2026 rules, with a potential engine loophole at the centre of a growing controversy between teams

www.the-race.com

 

[CWallace]

Rumor mill is spinning up again that Christian Horner may spearhead the purchase of Otro Capital's 24% stake in Alpine. While he is still currently on "gardening leave" from Red Bull, that will end by mid-season and even as just an investor, he would be able to offer his opinions on team operations and once he is free, he could become part of the team's official management structure.

What's really going on with Horner, Alpine and his F1 future

With the door at Aston Martin seemingly closed off, Alpine has emerged as a more prominent option for Christian Horner's F1 return - but it's not the only route

www.the-race.com

 

[CWallace]

Here we go….. I think it’s too late to implement changes before March.

Yeah, realistically it would need to be 2027 for the other PU manufacturers to implement the same variable compression capability.

After Miami, any power unit found to be more than 2-4% behind the "benchmark" are allowed to re-homologate so Ferrari, Honda and Audi might be able to make changes in other areas to bring them into (closer) parity with the AMG and RBPT units.

The Race spoke about it during their latest podcast and they released a condensed version of just that part of the discussion.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

I had a dream last night of more F1 changes for next year.

Sky will give up the TV rights of F1, the FIA will move to London. The BBC will broadcast it free to air around the world. And Fleetwood Mac will return with the Chain as the theme song.

🥰🥰🥰

 

[Glideslope]

I had a dream last night of more F1 changes for next year.

Sky will give up the TV rights of F1, the FIA will move to London. The BBC will broadcast it free to air around the world. And Fleetwood Mac will return with the Chain as the theme song.

🥰🥰🥰

Definitely too much glucose prior to sleep. I’ve experienced similar. Just substituting Rush with YYZ for the theme…😏

 

[Glideslope]

Off Topic:


I had a feeling this was the direction. Toto has a foot in the door again. The AMG-GT3 is probably the most competitive package anyway, but…….. As I’ve always stated, I’m a big George fan. I think he’s going to need to win the WDC in 26 to keep Max out of Mercedes in 27.

Max Verstappen's team switches to Mercedes for 2026 GT campaign

After sampling the Mercedes GT3 himself, Max Verstappen's team is pivoting to the German manufacturer next year

www.motorsport.com

 

[CWallace]

Found this an interesting watch.

 

[CWallace]

Sounds like more senior Red Bull staff are heading for the exits.

Gianpiero "GP" Lambiase, Max Verstappen's former Race Engineer and current Head of Race Engineering at Red Bull, is said to be heading to Aston Martin, possibly to become co-Team Principal with Adrian. Max's Chief Mechanic Matt Caller is also heading to Audi next season.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Sounds like more senior Red Bull staff are heading for the exits.

Gianpiero "GP" Lambiase, Max Verstappen's former Race Engineer and current Head of Race Engineering at Red Bull, is said to be heading to Aston Martin, possibly to become co-Team Principal with Adrian. Max's Chief Mechanic Matt Caller is also heading to Audi next season.

That doesn't look good depending on one's view. Those two know each other very well.

I don't think Max will stay for that much longer in F1...

 

[CWallace]

I don't think Max will stay for that much longer in F1...

I agree. Either he stays with Red Bull through the end of 2028 and then calls it a career or he jumps ship in 2027 to a new team on a two year contract and then calls it a career.

Which makes me think this is why so many staff are moving on. If they feel Max won't be either in the team or the sport come 2028, they are taking advantage of their being in demand to move to new teams for better positions and/or renumeration.