Ferrari unconcerned by Hamilton’s “not fast anymore” remarks

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has zero concerns about Lewis Hamilton’s speed, despite the difficult end to the Formula 1 season he is having with Mercedes.Hamilton has struggled to extract as much pace out of the W15 car consistently this year as his team-mate George Russell.The seven-time champion also had a torrid time at the Qatar Grand Prix as he came home 12th after a jump start, a puncture and a …Keep reading

Ben Hunt: Swearing outbursts, arguments and sackings…what is going on with F1?

It is like Formula 1 is trying to out-do the Netflix cameras this season, given the current spate of swearing and angry rows witnessed across the grid.The weekly sackings at the FIA are becoming more like The Apprentice television series, only with Mohammed Ben Sulayem, rather than Lord Alan Sugar, pulling the trigger on the unsuccessful candidate while uttering the line: “You’re fired!”In …Keep reading

Seven things we learned at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix

Three safety cars, a veritable smorgasbord of penalties, and a series of surprise results all defined this year’s trip to the Losail circuit: a featureless expanse in the Qatari desert that has inexplicably become a favourite among the drivers. The racing might have been a little stilted at the front in the opening half of the race, but it only needed Alex Albon’s displaced wing mirror to set off …Keep reading

Doohan ready for F1 challenge despite high rookie benchmark

Alpine boss Oliver Oakes believes Jack Doohan is well prepared for his Formula 1 debut at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, although admits the benchmark set by other debutants this year is high.Doohan will replace Esteban Ocon for the season finale after the Frenchman was released from the team to join Haas in the end-of-season test at Yas Marina.The 21-year-old, son of five-time motorcycling world …Keep reading

Norris’s Qatar yellow flag error is exactly what he can’t do in 2025 F1 title fight

Very fine margins are deciding Formula 1 races. Even over the course of a grand prix or sprint distance – think Lando Norris leaving the door ajar for Max Verstappen in the shorter Austria contest this year – a split-second call can make the difference.Maybe this is why the drivers are so tetchy these days – George Russell’s understandable efforts to get Verstappen penalised after Qatar GP …Keep reading

Hamilton: Disastrous Qatar F1 race “could have been worse”

Lewis Hamilton endured a torrid run to 12th place in the Qatar Grand Prix in an understeering Mercedes, although some of the damage was self-inflicted owing to a false start and a pitlane speeding penalty.Hamilton also picked up a puncture mid-race and, in the final laps, asked the team if he could ‘box’ the car and retire – only to change his mind when he got the go-ahead.“It could have …Keep reading

McLaren wants FIA review on penalty stance amid fears of future “consequences”

McLaren believes the FIA should review how penalties are handed out in Formula 1 after warning that Lando Norris’s stop-go sanction in the Qatar GP risks “consequences”.While the Woking-based team accepts that Norris did not slow down for the double yellow flags that were brought out for Alex Albon’s stranded mirror on the straight, team boss Andrea Stella believes the 10-second stop-go penalty he …Keep reading

Tsunoda reveals confusion over misheard “beaver” radio message

Yuki Tsunoda revealed he misheard a radio message warning about a loose mirror on the track during the Qatar Grand Prix and thought he’d been told there was a beaver.The RB driver endured a frustrating afternoon at the Losail International Circuit as he slipped down the order after a good opening lap to finish 13th after a failed gamble to run soft tyres in the closing stages.But speaking …Keep reading

Alpine looking for Ocon split resolution that “suits everyone”

Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes says an expected deal to replace Esteban Ocon with Jack Doohan for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is moving “in a direction that suits everybody” in their preparation for the 2025 Formula 1 season.Oakes stated that a decision had yet to be made on Ocon’s remaining future with the team, although the French driver is set to trade an early release to drive for Haas in the …Keep reading

Verstappen “lost all respect” for Russell after Qatar GP stewards’ room conduct

Max Verstappen has taken aim at George Russell, stating that he has “lost all respect” for the Mercedes driver following their Qatar Grand Prix qualifying contretemps on Saturday. The Red Bull driver took particular umbrage with Russell following their summons to the stewards’ room after qualifying, when the championship winner was investigated for allegedly driving unnecessarily slowly prior to …Keep reading