McLaren team boss Andrea Stella says he expects “interesting racing” in the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix season finale as Max Verstappen starts ahead of fellow title contenders Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, but expects the Dutchman to race fairly.Verstappen took a crucial pole ahead of Norris and Piastri at the Yas Marina Circuit, with the four-time world champion having to win the race to …Keep reading
2 Lando Norris (McLaren) 1 Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 4 George Russell (Mercedes) 3 Oscar Piastri …Keep reading
Charles Leclerc revealed the Ferrari SF-25 is that hard to drive he must risk hitting the wall to secure a good result, after qualifying fifth at the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Monegasque was five-tenths off polesitter Max Verstappen, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton only finished 16th for what was his fourth, consecutive Q1 exit (including sprints).It came after Hamilton suffered …Keep reading
As McLaren goes into Formula 1’s 2025 title decider with both drivers in contention for the world championship against Max Verstappen, two words come up again and again: papaya rules.The phrase was coined by team principal Andrea Stella – “Andreas like to come up with different names for different things,” Lando Norris explained – and was first brought up on 1 September 2024, ahead …Keep reading
After the first practice session in Abu Dhabi, championship leader Lando Norris was just 0.008s faster than Max Verstappen – but that gap grew to 0.363s in the second session. That is concerning for Red Bull on two fronts: firstly that set-up changes between the sessions failed to have the desired effect, and also that the second session is far more representative than the first because track …Keep reading
Max Verstappen is currently feeling pessimistic about his Abu Dhabi Grand Prix chances as Red Bull lacks pace to McLaren at the 2025 Formula 1 title showdown.The four-time world champion finished runner-up to McLaren championship leader Lando Norris in both FP1 (+0.008s) and FP2 (+0.363s) on Friday at Yas Marina Circuit. It comes during the season finale where Norris simply needs a podium …Keep reading
Formula 1 title contenders Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had a decent Friday at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but steer well clear of overconfidence ahead of the decisive sessions.Norris topped both practice sessions at Yas Marina, outpacing runner-up Max Verstappen by 0.008s in Free Practice 1 and 0.363s in FP2, as the Red Bull driver mounts a title challenge with a 12-point deficit.Read …Keep reading
It felt like Yuki Tsunoda was being put out of his misery once Red Bull announced he would not be a part of their plans – at least, in a racing capacity – in 2026. Isack Hadjar’s promotion to the main squad, Liam Lawson’s retention at Racing Bulls, and Arvid Lindblad’s promotion into F1 has pushed Tsunoda into the wilderness.It was almost entirely expected, although it nonetheless felt as if …Keep reading
Defending Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen says he would have no issue with McLaren playing the team game to keep him from a fifth consecutive drivers’ title, because “all that matters is the trophy”.Verstappen is facing a 12-point deficit to championship leader Lando Norris at the Yas Marina Circuit’s season finale, with Oscar Piastri four points behind the Dutchman.It means that …Keep reading
Tensions may be rising ahead of Formula 1’s first three-way title fight in 15 years, but Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri are keen to try and play it cool.The FIA wisely put F1 2025’s three title protagonists in the same press conference segment, with championship leader Norris in the middle in the currently correct podium order.Verstappen set the tone when asked how he had …Keep reading