The new Formula One season kicks off in Bahrain this Saturday, with Max Verstappen aiming for a fourth consecutive world championship.
However, Red Bull’s preparations have been marred by allegations in opposition to group principal Christian Horner.
Despite this, Horner stays targeted on the group’s efficiency, stating that it is “business as usual” at Red Bull.
Verstappen, who dominated final 12 months with 19 wins out of twenty-two rounds, confirmed spectacular velocity throughout testing, ending 1.1 seconds quicker than his opponents.
Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion, summed up the ominous feeling within the paddock.
Writing about Verstappen on X, he mentioned, “He’s gloating. He’s taunting us. He knows. This year is going to be one long victory lap. You cannot begrudge anyone’s success. All we can do is watch and admire.”
Ferrari ended final 12 months with 5 pole positions from the ultimate 9 races, and Carlos Sainz secured the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
The Italian group has labored laborious over the winter on translating their one-lap tempo into race circumstances, the place they tended to wrestle in 2023.
They will take solace from a trouble-free check, and their tempo appeared comparatively encouraging, too.
Sainz topped the time charts on the second day, whereas Leclerc ended the ultimate day quickest – albeit on speedier rubber than Verstappen.
An upbeat Leclerc mentioned: “We are in a much better place, and it is an easier car to drive. The feeling was good. We have been consistent straight away, and this will help us in the race.”
Hamilton to Ferrari
Hamilton surprised the sporting world by selecting to give up Mercedes and be a part of Ferrari in 2025.
The news broke earlier this month and is more likely to be tough for these at Mercedes to digest.
Hamilton took the choice – one he described as the toughest of his life – after two winless years with the Silver Arrows.
Mercedes are armed with a brand new design philosophy for the brand new marketing campaign, however – though each Hamilton and teammate George Russell spoke of an improved, extra dependable machine, there was little to counsel from testing that they’ve closed the hole to Red Bull.
Mercedes completed forward of Ferrari in final 12 months’s constructors’ championship, however don’t be stunned if the Scuderia begins the brand new season forward of them.
McLaren got here alive within the second half of 2023, with Lando Norris scoring seven podiums.
But the British group seemed in need of final 12 months’s type in Bahrain final week – though it’s a monitor that has not all the time suited them in latest seasons.
Aston Martin completed fifth within the constructors’ championship, with Fernando Alonso, now 42, main their cost for a second season.
Alpine is about to go the midfield, with Williams, the newly rebranded RB and Sauber groups (former AlphaTauri and Alfa Romeo) and Haas more likely to comply with.
This season’s lineup is identical because the earlier 12 months – the primary time that is ever occurred. But with Hamilton already asserting his transfer to Ferrari for 2025 and 13 of the 20 drivers out of contract on the finish of the season – subsequent 12 months’s grid is bound to have an entire completely different really feel about it.
Aside from Hamilton’s blockbuster switch, his soon-to-be Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc penned a brand new deal that’s anticipated to maintain the 26-year-old Monegasque wearing purple till 2029.
Lando Norris additionally prolonged his stick with McLaren till a minimum of the tip of 2026. Andretti’s transfer to turn out to be the eleventh group on the grid was blocked by F1 bosses.
The British Grand Prix will stay on the calendar for an additional decade after Silverstone agreed to a brand new long-term take care of F1’s American homeowners, Liberty Media.
There can be a record-breaking 24 races – the longest season in historical past – beginning in Bahrain on March 2 and ending in Abu Dhabi 9 months and 6 days later.
The Chinese Grand Prix returns after 5 years away, whereas the spherical in Japan strikes from its conventional October slot to April.
The roster options six dash races in China, Miami, Austria, Austin, Qatar, and Brazil.
The format has been tinkered with, too.
Qualifying for the dash will now happen on Friday, with the grid for Sunday’s primary occasion selected Saturday, following the shortened race.
The opening two races will each happen on a Saturday.
The Muslim holy interval of Ramadan begins on March 10.
As such, the second spherical in Saudi Arabia has been introduced ahead by a day.
FIA guidelines stipulate there have to be one week between races, that means the Bahrain GP may even be 24 hours sooner than regular.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
