Formula 1 2026 - Japanese Grand Prix

Qualifying: 

In things that are not important yet, but will be important by the end of the season - Norris already on 3rd and final battery. Even if they can resurrect his second battery, that's too close to maxing out the allowed number of batteries for comfort. 

How much of Max Verstappen's sour grapes about this set of regulations, "I am retiring if we don't change" and so on is due to being beaten by the RB Juniors? 

Pre-race: Radio got slightly more hijinks than usual because of the delay due to repairs following one of the support races. 

Jack Black has noticeably better PR training than Chris Pratt, and sounded like he might have head of F1 before Jennie Gow spoke to him. 

Damon Hill talking about Murray Walker commentating over his victory is adorable. 

However, I disapprove of them whitewashing why the Japanese Grand Prix had to move out of monsoon season. "So we are in sakura season" indeed. 

The race itself: 

See McLaren, if you give him a car that works, Piastri goes fast. 

I did have a full-blown mini-conniption about Bearman's leg; his limping looked like mine when I broke my leg. So glad that it turned out only to be severe bruising. 

I don't think the accident is evidence that the new regulations are too dangerous, just that there is room for improvement. It's not like there aren't crashes with every set of regulations. 

Also, how much of that crash was due to tyres that weren't warm? 

Alice Powell gave a really good explanation around kneepads, and their painful necessity and why some drivers still don't wear them. 

The incident really changed the shape of the rest of the race. I acknowledge the race became duller after the safety car but there was racing up and down the grid and through most of the race, unlike last year's race, which, as someone described it, "could have been an email". Therefore I am still on team "I like the new regulations".

Formula 1 2026 - Chinese Grand Prix

Sprint races: 

I'm listening to sprint qualifying and the sprint race on replay because I have the time. I still don't get what they're meant to add to the season. I understand people like seeing more racing, but if it's the same sort of racing as the longer race, what's the sporting aim? I understand the financial gain, more people attending on Saturday but for its sporting aim, I don't understand. 

It also adds financial risks for the smaller teams. I know Audi aren't a smaller team but I dread to think how much putting Perez's car back together cost. Now imagine if that was Haas or Williams. 

By the way, do we think engine vibrations are why Perez's car fell apart? 

Discussing Williams, I love Sainz jnr so much. He understands that engineers respond better to gentle encouragement than shouting. 

Main race: 

Concerning McLaren - has there been a worse start to a constructor's title defence? There being two different problems leading to the cars being out might actually be worse than there just being a single problem hitting both because that's two problems they need to understand, fix and prevent from reoccurring. 

Audi have a better excuse for cars that don't start given they are new to this F1 engine making business, and at least they now have a 50% average start rate, rather than McLaren's 25%. 

For once, it's not Ferrari whose strategy is ruined by the timing of the safety car. It had to happen one day. I suspect Vasseur would prefer it if they didn't keep racing each other but it's definitely adding to the glory of Ferrari as a concept. And I love Leclerc's radio message saying how much he enjoyed the racing.  Fun still has a place in F1.

Not saying they have form but when I saw a Haas and an Alpine hitting each other, I presumed Ocon and Gasly.  I was wrong, but only partly ;)

That Red Bull is a problem that even Verstappen cannot overcome.  BBC Radio said that he only had 4 DNFs in 4 years before this, which underscores the importance of having a solid car if you want to win the driver's World title.

Truly, nothing says F1 like those moments where they have to use "normal" tech on advanced technology, like gaffer tape, or this time, clippers to tidy up Ocon's bodywork.

The Shanghai circuit really is hard on tyres.  My Mum, not an F1 fan and watching under sufferance, even she was going "look at that tire wear!"

I am very happy for Colapinto - my occasional snarky comments about his performance in last year's Alpine was never directed at him personally, just at how badly Alpine handled swapping him in for Jack Doohan, so I'm happy for him to finally get some points.

Kimi Antonelli, he's so cute!!

via GIPHY

(GIF is Clawhauser, a leopard from Zootropolis, going 'so cuuuuuute'. It is an accurate visual representation of my reaction to Kimi Antonelli.) 

I, and Toto and Bono, could all have done without the lock up towards the end. There's nothing like a little mistake to liven things up. 

(I am sharing the following links so that everyone can see them (and for cheering up purposes if I ever need them) 

https://www.tumblr.com/ef-1/811141285720326144/kimi-antonelli-i-am-about-to-cry-to-be-honest 

 

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/they-helped-me-to-achieve-this-dream-emotional-antonelli-hails-mercedes-as.6uMgvW0qCCkUdPKQJzkuyh ) 

He's so adorable. 

New regulations - 2 and a bit races in: 

It is too soon to decide whether the new regs are good or bad. 

So why am I talking about it? Mostly because this is the first break the F1 season has had. 

The reason these regs were introduced was to improve racing. It was necessary. The last set of cars were too broad and the tracks were too narrow to allow over taking. The circuits can't be broadened, so the cars had to narrow. 

Similarly, there was no way to defend from DRS overtakes (the DRS button killed joy). The new system at least allows some way of defending. 

As a viewer/listener, the first two races this year have been more interesting than most races last year. 

When the drivers and team owners are interviewed, the ones whose cars were not so good with the last set of regulations but are good now like it, the ones whose cars were good and now they're not hate it. What a surprise! 

I'm more interested in the views of say Haas who were middling before and are middling now. Their views are less likely to be tainted by the effect of relative results.

Formula 1 2026 - Australian Grand Prix

Yes, I know this is late. 

The racing: I can sort of, in a theoretical way, understand the people whinging about all the new buttons. It is not pure car goes vroom racing. But, unlike the last set of regs, there was more overtaking and more ability to fight against overtakes. I am mostly in favour so far. 

This may be slightly biased by Ferrari not having produced a lemon this time. 

The race itself: Oscar Piastri got got by the hometown race curse. And how! 

(I am legitimately intrigued by whether there is actually a home race curse. I'm presuming the way to look at it would be % Did Not Finish in home races vs all other races. Note to self - put that on the to-do list.) 

Also cursed - Hulk and this year's Aston Martin. 

I am not sure if Leclerc and Hamilton having to contend with Ferrari's strategy team counts as a curse. 

Hadjar's race lasted long enough that his engine going doesn't count as a curse. I think the new warning flashing lights on broken cars are a good idea. 

I already had the greatest of respect for Cadillac's attempts to do it all from scratch, but I only just realised Audi have their own engine, they're not just using a Mercedes. Bonne chance both of them. 

The result supports my theory that Mercedes were sandbagging in testing. 

I am once again astounded by how credulous BBC radio commentary can be - two ticks after "never trust the drivers" they're believing both Piastri and Verstappen's not-mea-culpas about their respective crashes.

The Most Wonderful Time of the F1 Year

The week before the first race is always the best time of the Formula 1 year for fans, because it's the last time that all the fans have hope that their teams do well (whatever well means for each team).

That is even more true when there is a change in engine regulations because there is the potential that this time, your team will get it right and the new regulations will lead to an era of glory.

Why we still believe this every year, I do not know, when every year the following apply:

1) At least two teams, normally Red Bull and Mercedes, are sand-bagging and not showing how fast they can actually go.

2) Ferrari flatter to deceive by doing well in testing, and the car will then underperform in the actual season.

3) At least one team turn up with a carn't not a car - so far this seems to have happened with Williams and Aston Martin, neither of which were the teams I was expecting that to happen to.

And yet, it is such an exciting time because there is the potential that this time, this time Ferrari might not have screwed up. I don't know why I keep hoping Ferrari will not screw it up in the face of so much evidence.

Formula 1 2025 - Turnip or Triumph

2025 was a mixed year for F1. 

The drivers title was close, the constructors was not. There was some racing, even between the title contenders, but most races weren't close. There were some excellent results (podiums for Hulkenberg, Sainz, Antonelli and Hadjar) and some appalling ones (Ferrari, repeatedly Ferrari). 

In my 2025 F1 round up, I thought I'd highlight three triumphs and three utter disasters from the year. 

I will begin with the triumphs. 

   

Max Verstappen - His driving this season will gain him more kudos than the driving in at least two of his World Title winning seasons. 

Whoever designed that McLaren - Zak Brown has been curiously reluctant to mention Rob Marshall and Neil Houldey when talking about the car so I felt they deserved some praise now that I've found their names. The car won the Constructors title with 6 races (and 3 sprint races) to go. That's good work. And they did it without any flagrant, 'all-our-competitors-have-complained', engineering widgets. 

Isack Hadjar - After a deeply unpromising start at the Australian Grand Prix (Did Not Start due to accident on formation lap), he ended up being second best of the rookies, despite being in Red Bull Scuderia B. Red Bull main had better not mess him up next year. 

I am also going to give a bonus triumph here, please imagine a laurel wreath with a little heart on it, to Anthony Hamilton for supporting Hadjar when his own team didn't. While maybe basic human decency should be the minimum expected, in a world sadly short of it sometimes, it should be celebrated. 

Now to the turnips - the actively bad things about this season:

   

That Ferrari: I do actually like the noble turnip as a vegetable but I have no better way of describing that car. It is appalling. It is beneath Ferrari as a team and has broken the spirit of two drivers who deserve better. 

Helmut Marko: For providing zero meaningful support for drivers for either team whose surname was not Verstappen. Your comments, particularly about Hadjar, were unhelpful. 

Alpine in general: The car was horrid, but that isn't why they're here. Gasly mostly learnt to manage the car by the end of the season. Colapinto didn't. 

Given that poor Jack Doohan got replaced after 6 races for getting nowhere with the car, I remain confused why Colapinto didn't, unless it was the money from his sponsors and the patronage of Flavio Briatore. 

Briatore himself earns the poison turnip - dear F1, I love you. I love you because of your engineers who have never found a rule they didn't try to find a loophole in, your drivers and your unceasing nonsense. Why have you let Briatore back in? He doesn't deserve it. 

(All pictures come from OpenClipart-Vectors at Pixabay. The turnip is from here OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay and the laurel wreath is from here OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay)

Formula 1 2025 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Part of everyone's suspicion of how neatly everything came together for a finale at Abu Dhabi is they have paid for the final race, presumably in the hope of getting excitement.

And this year they still didn't get it.

They did get tension.

A horrible building tension, with a lot of "are the McLaren strategy team going to screw this up?"

Spoiler - they didn't.

Which makes me, if not happy, relieved.

Obviously, I wanted Ferrari to win, but that went out of the window early on.

After that, I don't really mind. None of the drivers I actively cheer for had any chance so I was neutral for the finale, which is a very odd sort of feeling.

If we're talking about which of the final three I think is the best driver - that's Verstappen. This title does not change that.

At the same time, I was relieved, because I feel there would have been actual and lasting psychic damage to the McLaren team if one of them hadn't won. As to which driver, I'm papaya-neutral.

L is very happy because Norris was his favourites of the wave of rookies Norris was in (mine is Russell. It remains the right choice.).

Formula 1 2025 - Qatar Grand Prix

I'm going to start with a complaint about the Lusail circuit. It's a perfectly fine, and indeed occasionally excellent, MotoGP track. Because the bikes are narrower so you can race. The F1 cars are broad, and the track is so narrow they can't overtake each other even with the DRS button. A piece of technology whose only purpose is to allow overtaking does not work at this track - for goodness sakes, even Monaco, king of the moving traffic jam races, is wide enough for DRS to do its joy-ruining thing.

So there's a race with no overtaking, even with the magic over-taking button, and then they've removed some of the strategy wiggle room and deviousness by mandating two pit stops and twenty-five lap maximum tyre strategies.

I cut Pirelli some slack because they have to make the tyres to the FIA's specifications, but given those specs, why are they racing somewhere that they know kills the tyres?

The start was the last time the race was interesting, and Norris not fighting Verstappen was the sensible thing to do.

I'm not going to say McLaren made the wrong strategy call because, if it had worked out, they would have been geniuses, and it could have worked. The F1 coverage always gives the percentage change of there being a safety car, but not the chance of their being multiple safety cars. However, choosing not to pit was always a bit of an odd choice on a track where track position is king.

There were a few cars that broke at the end, but none of them broke in a way that required a safety car. I did feel most sorry for Gasly, who performed heroics in the qualifying, only for the car to break out from under him at the beginning of the race and then he had to nurse the car round for the rest of it.

Sainz jnr's car deciding to try to break right at the end gave me coniptions. So glad he made it to the end in one piece. I am enjoying telling people "I told you he was good".

Another note - is it me or are more teams screwing up their drivers's 5 second penalties? I swear this was the second time that's happened to Ocon this season!

End note: I am aware I am supposed to be a Ferrari-focussed blogger, but my team depress me (I recognise, with my soul, the noise the "Cleveland Browns" fan makes from 2.26-2.32 in this video - https://youtu.be/SFCPNT7FafI?si=0dVDR_Y6_CAP_xsF).

Formula 1 2025 - Las Vegas Grand Prix

I mean, it's the Las Vegas Grand Prix, was anyone expecting any decent racing? It's a race where the interest is always the externalities, and often the manhole covers (again). (And separately, the US circuits as a whole, but Vegas in particular, really need to improve their procedures for letting marshals on the race track and bits of bodywork on track.) 

Other than Antonelli doing an excellent defensive job to protect Russell who was nursing a sickly car, all the interesting stuff happened after the race. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, and I just accepted it when this happened to Ferrari earlier in the season, but it's awfully convenient that the disqualification of both McLarens almost makes a last race decider inevitable.

Formula 1 2025 - Sao Paulo Grand Prix

I wrote this last week, I thought I'd posted it. Obviously not. Apologies for the delay.

Poor Bortoleto, done over by the home driver curse. Twice!!!

Sometimes, I hate being a Ferrari fan - why are my drivers being caught up in other people's chaos?!!! This has done terrible things to our Constructor's championship standing.

I am not blaming Antonelli for the crash, much though commentary wants me to.

McLaren did some weird things with the tyre strategy - I understand Piastri's doubts, and I still don't understand their plan for Norris. I know he won by miles but I just don't understand it. On the other hand, given Red Bull had a much shorter stint on the medium tyres than expected - did that medium tyre just not hold up as well as expected?

Red Bull's performance as a whole was odd. Verstappen seems to be doing well despite the car and the team, certainly his performances this year are more impressive than some of his all-conquering races.

But they really stuffed up Tsunoda's race. Screwing up a 10 second stop go penalty is not something I'd expect Red Bull to do.

Oli, Oli, Oli, oi oi oi. Dear Ferrari, when you call Bearman up, do not ruin this child!

I'm also very impressed with Gasly. Who is definitely doing things despite the team.

Formula 1 2025 - Mexico City Grand Prix

Most important thing first - there was actual racing! At the Mexican Grand Prix! For the last couple of years, I've said it was really unfair that the marvellously loud fans in Mexico didn't get a decent race. But this year they did. 

Okay if we ignore that the leader finished almost a pitstop ahead of everyone else. 

But there was racing everywhere else, even if that was partly due to tyre life offsets. 

It was a proper, "I can't tell if God is a Ferrari fan, or if he hates us," race, because on the one hand, a driver getting a 10 second penalty for doing what three other drivers did when none of the others got penalised, on the other, the only thing that stopped Verstappen overtaken Leclerc was a virtual safety car. 

It was most definitely not Carlos Sainz jnr's race. There has to be a way for a team to say "listen, our pit limiter is doing stupid things." Then again, they'd all use it to cheat ... 

Not quite sure why the crowd were booing Norris. It's strikes as pointless. He is too inoffensive to hate properly. He's not Lorenzo. (Sorry, but Jorge Lorenzo enjoyed being booed and that made it fun. [Also, because I enjoy pain, I was a Pedrosa fan.]) 

If they'd chosen to boo Russell after all that radio whinging, I could live with it. Normally I like you, George, but that was unnecessary. But at least he gave the place back to Antonelli without complaint. 

BBC commentary have reverted to Sam Bird from Damon Hill. This is most definitely not a good thing. Bird is so risk averse, it may explain why he hasn't won anything!!! 

The second most important thing was, of course, Ferrari junior driver Oli Bearman getting 4th in a Haas. Or am I fixating on the wrong part of that ;) 

Understandably, everyone is focussing on the OMG! there's only one point in the Driver's championship, but the Constructor's championship is also squeakily close in points.  

Okay, not the top, because McLaren have already won it, but there's 1 point between second and third, 10 points between second and fourth, and further down, there's 9 points separating seventh, eighth and ninth. How many millions per point down there!!!

Formula 1 2025 - United States Grand Prix

The racing at the Grand Prix supports my belief that the US Grand Prix is the best of the US races.

Is it also the only one on a purpose-built track? Yes.

Do I think there's a correlation there? Yes!

The DRS button still kills joy, but hey at least Ferrari came up with a strategy that got one of the cars into the mix to be overtaken by DRS rather than skill.

(Yes, I am bitter)

Leclerc did some excellent defensive driving, and totally deserved driver of the day.

While I understand why the press are focussing on the remarkable gains Verstappen has made in the last couple of races, I'm not sure it's as bad for Piastri as they are painting it. At a circuit that he just did not gel with, he still got 10 points. It's vanishingly unlikely that the rest of the races are going to be that bad for him.

Formula 1 2025 - Singapore Grand Prix

 I actually managed to watch about half of this live. Right to the point where someone said, "this race is boring, let's go walk the dog." In fairness, the dog walk was more interesting than the race.

I then saw the end on Sky but also listened to the whole thing afterwards on BBC Sounds. It's really interesting that Sky F1 didn't fall for "pit to beat Verstappen" gambit but Sam Bird on BBC did (Harry Benjamin didn't).

Alonso has previous in the "whinging because he can't get past people" stakes - see Petrov. I am so very much team Hadjar anyway, and always team "anything that annoys Alonso" so I am on Hadjar's side in this.

Someone tell Sam Bird that I go off people quickly, particularly when you are mean to Tsunoda.

I do not blame Leclerc going off on one. Please can we get him a car that works. And Hamilton a car that actually, you know, brakes when he presses the brake.

McLaren section:
Crashing into a teammate is never good, nor is losing an end plate, but given the lack of overtaking opportunities at Singapore, it's not a bad place to do it.

Hey! for once McLaren's pit gremlins happened to Piastri

I'm not surprised that it's getting tasty down in McLaren-land because fighting for the title made Rubens Barrichello, the nicest man in motorsport (TM), angry, of course there will be McLaren on McLaren violence.

Formula 1 2025 - Azerbaijan Grand Prix

 Sadly I missed the live Baku Chaos Bonanza because I was hitting people with swords.

As the BBC radio commentators said, it's an odd race where there's either chaos in qualifying or the race, never both and this was a year where it was all in the qualifying - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/c5yv3y3q8dvo

The race itself was dull, and the only good news was the Sainz jnr podium. But that was very good news.

It's interesting that there was another poor (re)start from Norris. At some point, they're going to have to do something about that. Matters were not helped by him yet again being the victim of a McLaren pitstop going wrong.

The only comment I have about Ferrari is that someone needs to tell them that 3rd in Constructors is not good enough.

Then, of course, there's that titillating possibility that this is the second race in a Verstappen come back. If Verstappen wins the title this year ...

Formula 1 2025 - Italian Grand Prix

Power units and other disasters 

We're starting to reach the power unit grid penalty part of the season, with various drivers sent to the back of the grid. I am wondering if whatever happened to Hulkenberg's car was also a part reaching its limit. 

There was actual racing 

But it was noticeable that most of the racing occurred before the DRS buttons were turned on. Maybe they'll get rid of them. (The DRS button continues to kill joy.) 

Red Bull 

Verstappen's performance in front adds evidence to the theory that this car was designed with the assumption it would be at the front, and it can't handle not being there. 

Aston Martin 

That muttering sound really is Alonso saying "next year I will have a Newey car so I will put up with this nonsense". 

Ferrari 

Every single race there's a mid-race disagreement between the drivers and the pit wall. Do they not have pre-race meetings?! Do the drivers not listen?! Do the team lie to them?! 

McLaren 

Loving Jenny Gow's simile - "the McLaren mechanics are walking around like expectant fathers." 

Other than Norris apparently being cursed (seriously, why do the pit stop problems always happen to him), I am not sure what else McLaren could have done. It was a problem the team created. Sure, racing is racing, but an unholy mechanical error isn't racing, and a swap seems only fair. 

Verstappen trolling does not help anything or anyone. Ever!

Formula 1 2025 - Dutch Grand Prix - A delayed accidental live blog experiment

For reasons, I couldn't watch the Grand Prix live, and some how remained unspoiled other than something happened to Norris, something happened to both Ferraris and good things happened for Hadjar. (Same reason is likely to prevent me watching the Italian Grand Prix live.) 

Therefore, you will be getting my delayed thoughts as I finally get to listen to it. Before the start: of course Red Bull are trying something tricksy with tyres. 

Lap 1 - Norris's starts have happened again 

Lap 9 - We have racing and overtaking!!!! Although I am intrigued by BBC radio saying Norris has more racing ability than Piastri. I want to know what evidence they are basing this on. I know they're the British Broadcasting Corporation but still .... 

Lap 12 - I like how Abi Pulling explains why the tyres are affected by the corners 

Lap 13 - Happy 19th Kimi (the younger) 

Lap 17 - ah, high tech F1, where the team principals still stick their arms out to check how heavy the rain is. 

Lap 19 - rain starting, cold temperature, of course Alonso goes onto hards. (I know, that's what he's got to switch to but ...) Why are they all switching to hards in these conditions?!!!! 

Lap 22 - Ah, the great Ferrari driver vs his own strategy team mid-race argument occurs. Truly, my favourite part of the race. (Level of sarcasm, high) 

Lap 23 - oh, how I hate being a Ferrari fan! (The double stack was what I expected McLaren to do from when they asked Norris to get closer. Given the effect of dirty air is that much worse at Zandvoort, it's the only reason you'd want them to get closer). Once again, the pitstop gremlins have hit Norris. How are the safety cars always just at the wrong point for Leclerc? Do Ferrari need to perform some sort of arcane ritual to stop this happening?! 

Lap 25ish - Norris, you're a whinge-pot. Stop whining at your race engineer.

Lap 31 - George, stop being a snitch! 

Lap 33 - Because I knew something terrible will happen to Leclerc (but not what and when) I spent most of him vs Russell racing on lap 33 wincing. 

Lap 34 - obvs. watching via radio, but if that incident was anything like how the radio described it, why did Sainz jnr get the penalty? 

Lap 38 - Again, thanks to Abi Pulling for the explanation of the Alonso outburst. I believe the sound we're not quite hearing is Alonso muttering "next year I have a Newey car" under his breath. 

Roughly lap 47, definitely in the mid-race doldrums - interview with Hamilton where he says that he had no problem with Ferrari's strategy. I mean, bless him for trying to hide that. 

Lap 54 - What do you mean it wasn't even Leclerc's own accident?!!! What is it with this race's Mercedes on Ferrari violence?!! Separately, Norris's rear left exchange goes wrong at the pitstop. And further Ferrari tyre/strategy complaints from the drivers. Which given that he's already out ... what is that supposed to achieve Charles? 

Lap 55 - Unexpected potential points for Sauber! 

Lap 56 - Further evidence for my theory that that second Red Bull is cursed. 

Lap 60 - It never rains but it pours for Antonelli. On the other hand, if you hire rookies, you have to expect and tolerate a certain amount of mistakes. (Looking at you Alpine, looking at you so hard) 

Lap 66 - Engine failure. An engine failure got Norris!!!! When was the last time a McLaren had an engine go boom?! (Updated - oil leak, my apologies to the engine) 

Lap 67 - Interesting stat, Hadjar would be the first French driver to get a podium since Grosjean! 

Lap 72 - Bearman! In the points!! In sixth!!! And Ocon! Double points for Haas!! 

Post race comments: 

Ferrari: Given I was expecting it to have been Ferrari happening to themselves, I was actually alright with there being two accidents. Leclerc was being either really nice about the incident, or Ferrari have finally broken him. 

Hadjar: Is the reason I like Hadjar at least 3/4 because he has equations on his helmet.  

Given how terribly badly parts of Red Bull main treated him after the Australian Grand Prix, they can keep their hands off him now. Definitely until that second car is exorcised.

Formula 1 2025 - Hungarian Grand Prix

Before I start with the wailing of all Ferrari fans, that was a good race. There was overtaking, and defending, and tyre strategy sneak. I approve. Particularly of Fernando Alonso single-handedly causing more frustration than 10 other men. 

Now, onto things I don't approve of, other than Nico Hulkenberg's bad luck and the on-going curse on the second Red Bull car, holy heck, Ferrari, please can you get your act together.  

If it's not producing a car so impossible you've made a 7-time World Champion think he can't drive well, it's causing the other driver to have an outburst of "I told you so" at 210 km per hour. 

It's frustrating as fans, and I can't imagine how frustrating it is for the drivers. 

I hate my team sometimes. 

It's not the losing, it's the way of losing.

Formula 1 2025 - Belgian Grand Prix

I can see why some people hate the rolling starts but Belgium, even more than many other circuits, is not somewhere where we want to risk people's safety. Andrew Benson's explanation on BBC radio was excellent. 

The rain break also led to some excellent BBC radio waffle. 

I liked FIA's way of avoiding the race finishing with a time out by saying it hadn't started properly.

Tsunoda not having Max's upgrades may suddenly explain his results, and the results of every number 2 driver in the Red Bull team. I was right to suspect the Red Bull garage worked like this:  

I do wonder if Piastri rewatched the video of Verstappen's overtake of him in the sprint race to figure out how to get past Norris, depending of course whether Norris had battery issues or not, and being on the wetter side of the grid.  

As these are supposed to be Ferrari-centric write-ups, I ought to say something about them, especially as one driver got a podium, and the other got driver of the day. It was an excellent defensive performance from Leclerc and an excellent aggressive drive from Hamilton. Could we maybe get them a decent car?!

Formula 1 2025 - British Grand Prix

Hulkenbooooooooomiest 

Finally. 

Etc 

It turns out that there are circumstances where I will cheer against a Ferrari. Because finishing 3rd and where the heck ever Leclerc finished is not actually all that much better than 4th and wherever (no really, why is there a Ferrari finishing outside the points?!!!), while Hülkenberg finally getting a podium ... that's something special. 

I'm not saying that it was a long time coming but Clare Williams was his press officer when he driving for Williams. (She was adorably happy for him.) 

I loved how loud the Sauber team were for him, and that the the teams with a champagne budget used some of it to pass champagne to Sauber so they would have some. 

Second most heart-warming moment had to be Mrs. Norris hugging her son. I am not Team Lando (L is. L has been since he started. He is presently impossible and hoping to reach new heights of impossible if Lando wins the title this year.) but I am entirely happy for him. 

BBC radio were wise and knowledgeable and got Damon Hill in. He's so lovely!!!! 

Channel 4 gave me Mika Hakinnen terrifying David Coulthard in a sportscar - racers never change - and Coulthard getting to drive not just *a* vintage Alfa Romeo but the Alfa Romeo that won the first ever British Grand Prix.

I am frequently mean about Coulthard but the sheer joy he radiated. 

Why am I going on about everything but the racing? Because it was a bit of a damp squib (chapeau to Gasly for that overtake though). The rain and associated chaos robbed us viewers of racing. There wasn't even any fun chaos moments, except possibly Lance Stroll's "that's not even a strategy" somehow getting him more points than Alonso, and Alonso's epic radio whinge. 

But overall, I do not care that there wasn't much racing because

Formula 1 2025 - Austrian Grand Prix

The most important thing first - there was actual racing! Up and down the grid. Actual racing!!!

That was a good race.

I feel so sorry for Williams. I have no idea what's causing everything to suddenly go wrong for them, but it's depressing. And slightly alarming when a car's brakes set on fire. I would suggest they borrow the exorcist Red Bull ought to hire for that second car. At this point, the reason for the poor performance of that second car being a curse makes as much sense as anything else, because both Tsunoda's performance when he was in the RB and Lawson's now he's in it, suggest that it isn't the driver (see also Albon in the Williams when it is not misbehaving).

On the happier side, well done Sauber! Hulkenbooooom happened again - 20th to 9th. Of course, it fits with the rest of his career that an 11 place rise up the grid doesn't get him driver of the day. But I can't be annoyed, because Bortoleto got his first ever points and F1 fans are as sentimental as the next group.

Ferrari!!! Have pace!!!

Repeat after me for the umpteenth time - I will not be optimistic about Ferrari's performance based on a single race.
I will not be optimistic about Ferrari's performance based on a single race.

(Now if only they could sort out the Hamilton and Leclerc to strategy team communication, because hilarious though it is to hear the drivers having mid-race strategy arguments, I don't think it's efficient.)

In the commentary, I managed to listen to this on BBC radio and then watch the Channel 4 highlights. Channel 4, occasionally home to Mark Webber in the comms box are mysteriously totally in Piastri's corner. Like serious, I'm wondering if they got a memo saying they ought not to make it obvious that as a British broadcaster they were going to cheer for the Brit and have gone too far the other way.

BBC meanwhile are trying to get rid of Tsunoda which makes me both sad and angry. You won't like me when I'm angry BBC comms team.

One thing I will give Channel 4 credit for - bonus Eric Bana who was being lovely and fannishly enthusiastic.

I do wish they'd put up the interview they had with Jonathan Wheatley afterwards. He's so lovely.

Formula 1 2025 - Canadian Grand Prix

 In keeping with my previous rant about the cars being too wide for the tracks (https://fulltimesportsfan.wordpress.com/2025/04/16/formula-1-2025-japanese-grand-prix/), I present the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix as evidence. A Canadian Grand Prix where the most interesting thing is the tyre strategy is no kind of Canadian Grand Prix at all.

But, because of the unexpectedly high tyre wear, it was interesting. Well done to Ocon and Sainz jnr for making a single stop work out.

I am still trying to understand Ferrari's strategy. On the other hand, I think that puts me in good company, which includes one of their drivers. I try not to rag on the strategy team, because this is a huge step up from the indecisive years, but ... exactly how was that strategy supposed to work. Was the intention long, long, short? Leclerc wasn't in a position to do anything useful with that strategy given where he qualified.

In other people whose race was compromised by qualifying - McLaren. I think that crash was McLaren's fault as much as it was Norris's. You have two drivers going for the world title and you let them race. Now, thankfully due to the other teams having cars that are not as good, there's no real damage done, except to Norris's title bid and probably his spirit. For what?

This is why I will never object to teams using team orders.

After the race, it was fascinating how differently Toto talked to his two drivers. Although, could Bono sound more like a proud Papa - so adorable. Antonelli on the radio afterwards - also adorable!!