The king is dead, long live the king.
With the 2024 season done and dusted and lots of chatter now about drivers and how they will perform for the 2025 season, thought it would be no harm to start a 2025 season thread.
Go!
And Moet Chandon is back as the podium champagne. Now all we need is for Michelin and Bridgestone to bring back the grooved tyres.
I see Castrol and Alpine have gone their separate ways. I know Castrol will be the official and exclusive lubricant supplier to Audi in 2026.
I would like to see Elf or the parent brand Total sponsoring Alpine someday.
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And Alpine have linked with Castore (who I don't rate but they seem to be intent on taking over the world)
Cool addition to the sport, the gear will be nice. Wonder is it a big enough deal to have it factored into the livery but can’t recall too many apparel providers being prominent. Probably not as big a loss for Puma with Hamilton joining Ferrari.
What about Tommy Hillfiger? Are they gone entirely now?
True. I would like to see Nike return as they provided footwear to Ferrari, Toyota and Williams.
I see it is Lewis Hamiltons 40th Birthday today.
Congratulations to him.
Adidas recently lost the next contract for the Geman football team. Nike takeover in 2027. The Mercedes F1 team is a German team on paper, so maybe they think it is the next best thing.
Tommy Hilfiger will no longer be a Mercedes ‘partner’. They were in F1 before Mercedes returned (as a Ferrari sponsor in the Schumacher Ferrari era), can’t see them returning in the short term as modern F1 merchandise doesn’t really fit their brand.
F1 merchandise is obviously a massive business these days, going the way of Football jersey maker contracts. Apparel maker pays many millions for the rights then gets most of the revenue from the merchandise sales (less the retail markup).
Didnt realise Sainz is that old. Not that he is particularly old, just 4th oldest on the grid makes it seem very old.
Ham is already 40…
Sauber / Audi signing Hulkenberg at 37 shows their ‘ambition’. 😆
He’s actually been in more teams than Alonso and Hamilton now despite a lot less time in the sport. Might indicate a journeyman but he’s been steadily improving over the years to the point where he’s often competing with the main challengers of Verstappen.
Spa, Barcelona and imola to rotate for Rwanda, Thailand and Saudi Arabia
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jan/08/spa-francorchamps-axed-from-f1-schedule-in-2028-and-2030?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky&CMP=bsky_gu
Had to check that, thinking Alonso has been in quite a few teams.
Alonso:
Minardi
Renault
McLaren
Renault 2.0
Ferrari
McLaren 2.0
Alpine (Renault 3.0)
Aston Martin
5 different teams, 7 moves.
Sainz:
Toro Rosso
Williams
5 different teams, 4 moves. But 13 years younger and 14 years less in the sport, plenty of time yet.
You’re right, I’d forgotten all about Minardi.
On the subject of drivers and teams, here's an infographic I saw on reddit yesterday
What I think is crazy is that Alonso has raced against at least 2 father and son combos, the Schumachers and the Verstappens.
That is absolutely ridiculous.
Spa, Monza and the old (pre 2001) hockenheim were always my three fav F1 circuits. Can't believe there's now only 1 still standing on a full time basis. For what? To go to some third world country or an oppressive oil rich dictatorship?
B Fooking S.
Inevitable and probably good for the sport to become less euro-centric. At least it’s not another North America race. Personally I like having some races at later time slots too that some venues bring. Just a shame that some good tracks for racing are being rotated out.
Rotating SPA is a bit mad.
Im obviously biased, but Rwanda over South Africa? If they absolutely have to race in Africa, I cant see anywhere other than SA. Couple articles popped up yesterday on Cape Town's renewed bid for a street race. Now whether a street race in Cape Town or a track race at Kyalami in Johannesburg, that i dont know. Not sure id be able to afford it even if its in my back yard in Cape Town anyways. And never been to Rwanda so I cant say what its like, but damn if they choose it over SA.
Cape Town did host a formula E race in 2023 at least.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/motoring/805967/formula-1-race-on-the-table-for-cape-town/
Not the most promising news for Jack Doohan...
Liberty don't want these remote old tracks where they can't cash in on hospitality,food,hold concerts,events etc outside of the F1 racing
What happened to the Vietnam track? Why not go there? Surprised that Rwanda can afford to host F1 at all.
Alpine sign Colapinto
^ Nice.
Not sure why Alpine need 3 reserve drivers with Aron,Ryo and Colapinto. I'd be surprised if Doohan is still in that Alpine seat by Miami
Was "Breaking" really the right headline to use for Colapinto?
Doohan will be under pressure from the off.
Looks like Mike Kracked under the pressure. He's been demoted.
https://www.astonmartinf1.com/en-GB/news/announcement/aston-martin-aramco-announces-organisational-restructure
