Formula 1 2025: Discussion Thread Motor Sport

[Bad Gizmo]

Red Bull's Helmut Marko has 'great concern' about Max Verstappen's future with the team due to their ongoing struggles this season

"The concern is great. Improvements have to come in the near future so that he has a car with which he can win again. We have to create a basis with a car so that he can fight for the world championship."

The four-time champion is currently outside the top two in the championship for the first time since Australia 2022 and reportedly has a get-out clause in his contract if he drops outside the top 3 in the championship.

 

[Boot Cleaner]

Aston Martin are prepared to table a €264M, 3-year offer to Max Verstappen — backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which is reportedly eyeing a takeover of the team from Lawrence Stroll.

 

[Silverback]

Wonder if Verstappen will walk away after this season - he's got plenty of other things he's involved with outside F1, plus a less intense scheduled series would allow him more time with his young daughter

He's never come across as someone who's super committed to F1 (like Hamilton, for example), especially with all the media commitments it brings.

Obviously, he may get an offer he can't refuse from another top team, so he may stick around if that happens

 

[Son Of Jack]

Wonder if Verstappen will walk away after this season - he's got plenty of other things he's involved with outside F1, plus a less intense scheduled series would allow him more time with his young daughter

He's never come across as someone who's super committed to F1 (like Hamilton, for example), especially with all the media commitments it brings.

Obviously, he may get an offer he can't refuse from another top team, so he may stick around if that happens

Fair point, Verstappen himself has hinted that he doesn't eye a long career in F1 and has other racing ambitions besides F1. And I can't see Verstappen just making up the numbers if the team he's at doesn't have a potentially title winning car.

 

[Franco Pinion]

Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan at Alpine for at least the next 5 races.

Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore said in a statement:

"Having reviewed the opening races of the season, we have come to the decision to put Franco in the car alongside Pierre for the next five races.

"With the field being so closely matched this year, and with a competitive car, which the team has drastically improved in the past 12 months, we are in a position where we see the need to rotate our line-up.

"We also know the 2026 season will be an important one for the team and having a complete and fair assessment of the drivers this season is the right thing to do in order to maximise our ambitions next year. "

The statement said that Doohan remained "an integral part of the team" and would be first-choice reserve driver during this period.

Briatore added: "We continue to support Jack at the team, as he has acted in a very professional manner in his role as a race driver so far this season.

"The next five races will give us an opportunity to try something different and after this time period we will assess our options."

 

[Black Sheep]

According to reports, Cadillac has set its sights on Checo Pérez and Zhou Guanyu as their top choices for the team's long-awaited F1 debut. Both drivers are highly regarded and come with strong recommendations from within the paddock—bringing experience, marketability, and global appeal to the American outfit's ambitious project.

 

[Tom]

Verstappen is staying at Red Bull next year.

Max Verstappen has ended questions about his future by saying that he will definitely stay with Red Bull for next season.

The four-time world champion is under contract to Red Bull until 2028 but had been courted by Mercedes and had been considering his options.

Verstappen said at the Hungarian Grand Prix: "I've never really said anything about it because I was just focused on talking to the team about how we can improve our performance, future ideas for next year as well. And that's why I have nothing really to add ever.

"But yeah, I think it's time to basically stop all the rumours. And for me, it's always been quite clear that I was staying anyway.

"I think that was also the general feeling in the team anyway, because we were always in discussions about what we could do with the car.

"And I think when you're not interested in staying, then you also stop talking about these kind of things. And I never did."

No surprise, really.

 

[Tom]

Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez are returning to Formula One.

The two veterans will make up Cadillac's 2026 driver lineup when the American team makes its debut in 2026, it announced on Tuesday.

The news comes after months of speculation about who would join the 11th team, some of which Bottas played into when posting a video on social media with a Cadillac road car in June. Both drivers have long been mentioned in the rumblings of who was having conversations with the new team, Bottas saying last fall that he spoke with them.

"Signing two very experienced racers like Bottas and Checo is a bold signal of intent," team principal Graeme Lowdon said in the announcement. "They've seen it all and they know what it takes to succeed in Formula 1. But more importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team. Their leadership, feedback, race-hardened instincts and of course their speed will be invaluable as we bring this team to life. A big thank you to the team at Mercedes for their cooperation and understanding."



This is a brilliant pairing, with being a fresh entrant, they need the experience to help develop the program and the car.

 

[Bob the Ninja]

The battle for hosting Formula 1 races in Africa is heating up, with South Africa and Rwanda both making strong bids to bring the championship back to the continent.

F1 hasn't raced in Africa since 1993, despite various attempts to revive interest. South Africa, with its historical roots in the sport, is pushing to upgrade the Kyalami circuit to meet FIA Grade 1 standards. Minister Gayton McKenzie has emphasised the need for Africa to be represented on the F1 calendar, noting the imbalance where Europe hosts multiple races while Africa has none. Mckenzie expressed admiration for Lewis Hamilton, hoping to see him race on home soil before his career ends.

On the other hand, Rwanda is also positioning itself as a contender. With a focus on boosting tourism, President Paul Kagame has been actively involved in promoting the country at F1 events. Furthermore, the construction of a new international airport in Kigali aims to establish the city as a regional transport hub, enhancing accessibility for motorsport fans and tourists alike.

Both nations highlight the economic and cultural significance of hosting an F1 race, aiming to leverage the sport's global appeal to stimulate growth and development.

 

[Strawberry Man]

RIP Roscoe