Modern Vespa

Nothing earth shaking, but a good primer for 2025.

Is this the year Max finally comes back to earth?

Can McLaren build on last years showing?

Hamilton and Scuderia - Boom or Bust?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/01/f1-testing-what-we-learned-from-our-first-look-at-the-class-of-2025-in-bahrain

My early predictions: McLaren win Constructors again.
Hamilton starts getting consistent podiums after a few races into the season.
Mr Max will not be a lock to win the World Drivers championship again. (Thankfully.)

A lot of different winners , but Max Will take it ( because he doesn't make mistakes)
And constructers? Who cares 😁

What if we all get an unsolicited weenie shot from Christian this year? A girl can dream i suppose.

The constructor championship is where all the money is.

I don't think Red Bull is assured either championship this year, though.

2025 will see the return of the red Ferraris to the top.

Both driver's and constructor's championships.

With Charles LeClerc taking the driver's title.

They got close last year.

Fingers crossed.

I agree Ferrari will win the Constructors championship but I think one of my fellow Brits will win the Drivers championship.

Mercedes won the constructors in 2021 and you saw how happy they were
And you get less windtunnel and simulation time for the 2026 car
The top teams do not need the money , they can not spend it

Not on the car, no. But the salaries of the drivers and the top execs are not subject to the cost cap. Nor are countless other promotional costs.

I'm sure they can find ways to spread the millions around.

Cadillac is official for 2026

Qualifying round up for Australia

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a64194062/f1-australian-grand-prix-qualifying-believe-hype-mclaren-takes-front-row/

Big surprises - Ferrari laid an egg relative to what was expected.

Yuki in P5, while Liam only managed P18.

Williams (Albon) in P6.

Looking forward to the race!

Still expected to be a wet one, yeah? I caught a bit of the F3 race and it was torrential.

Six rookies on the grid!!

*Formation lap*

Five rookies on the grid!!

Ferrari will never win another World Championship because of Ferrari being Ferrari.

Lewes being there will make very little difference.

Look what they did to Carlos.

While we're at it, can anyone explain Liam Lawson ?

That was an excellent season opener, and a nail-biter to the end.

Oh, and most of the rookies put it in the wall.

Looks the part more than is the part?

Shocked at how poor Ferrari looked. Not what I expected. Willams? Wow. They really may have a car this year.

Also impressed with Antonelli/Mercedes. Toto must be pleased.

Yes, I totally agree with you. I think that Tsunoda would have been a better bet as he's cooled his jets a bit recently.

Really happy for Russell and Antonelli picking up the pieces.

Surprised at Alonso throwing into the wall rather than Stroll.

My feeling is that Leclerc is going to dominate Hamilton this year.

Agreed on the Williams shining but I think it's too early to say whether it's going to be a consistent contender for points.

What if Lewis, knowing his time is done, went to Ferrari to not only check a box, but to try and help charles get a wdc title?

I mean obviously the engineers will take care of that nonsense by screwing it all up again but what if?

Yuki also no points
Russel was slow , ( 8 sec in last 10 laps)
Kimi will soon be first at Mercedes
Think Williams will be good this year
Hamilton has been passed bij le clerc and piastri in a few laps , that's realy bad

Yuki finished the race in a car and not in the wall.

I genuinely don't believe that was his motivation. I think he went to Ferrari for entirely personal reasons.

I'm not shocked. I was hoping this year would be better, but I'm not shocked.

Still, it's early days. They could yet pull something out. And that's what I will keep telling myself to sleep better at night.

Ferrari still has a problem where it doesn't listen to the driver enough and tends to call the shots which doesn't seem to turn out that well.

Does anyone remember last year when Carlos ignored the radio and won the race ?

Give Ferrari a gun and the will always shoot themselves in the foot with it.

Yes, the Ferrari pitwall are a bunch of clowns and they have cost Charles quite a few races.

But I would spin it a bit differently. I would say that Charles, excellent driver though he may be, sucks at calling the shots from the cockpit. And for that matter, Hamilton does too. This has been a weakness for both of them -- They are great drivers with no situational awareness beyond the driver in front of them and the driver behind them.

Carlos is notable for being excellent at calling the shots from the cockpit, and having a good mental image of the larger race, not just his own microcosm. I'd say George is pretty decent in this regard as well.

I have to admit, I agree with all of that.

I'm going to be very interested to see how Hamilton handles Ferrari's ability to misread strategy as he's always been very vocal during the race when he feels the team have misjudged something.

Did everyone see Carlos helping out Alex on the radio by giving him advice on the conditions ?

The guy is in a different league.

Yes. This is actually what I most dislike about Hamilton. Great respect to him for all his accomplishments, but his inability to state what he wants (strategy-wise) coupled with his complaints about bad strategy when things don't work out just rubs me the wrong way. I should point out here that Carlos and Alex live literally across the hall from each other in their Monaco apartments.

Same.

I do take consolation in Williams doing well. I think their drivers are capable. Would be good to see them creep up into the top 5 this year. Feel good story stuff.

Excited for the next race.

At that time Carlos should be driving his Williams on the track

As did Alonso.

RIP Eddie Jordan

That's really heartbreaking.

Bummer…He will be missed

Sad news indeed. *doffs cap*

China!

Hams and Verps go 1 2 in sprint qualifying.

The stunner is Liam at the back of the grid. Gah. Boy appears out of his depth.

Who saw that coming ?

Ans - Everyone.

Phonecall for Tsunoda.

Maybe in time for a Japan homecoming in a couple weeks!

Not unless he makes a major mistake this weekend I think the Status Quo will be maintained at least until 6 races in.

Having said that maybe Miami would be the time to ask some questions like why hasn't Colapinto got a full time drive ?

Not the world's most exciting sprint race, but still quite entertaining.

w00t!

Tsunoda 6th

Lawson 14th

Just sayin.

Yup.

Lawson 19th to 14th

Tsunoda 8th to 6th

Just sayin.