As the motorsport world gears up for the F1 2025 season, a flurry of developments involving top contenders Ferrari, Red Bull, and their drivers have fueled anticipations. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) issued a statement on a recent incident involving Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and team principal Christian Horner, who received an unwelcome reception at the F1 season-launch event held in London’s O2 Arena.
Verstappen and Horner were met with boos during their appearance on stage. In an unusual move, both Verstappen and his teammate Liam Lawson opted not to address the gathering. It was reportedly a conscious decision made by Red Bull in the early planning stages of the event. The intent was to sidestep the risk of making uninspiring comments after a day filled with extensive media engagements.
Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, condemned the crowd’s reaction, calling it “shameful.” He expressed his disappointment, stating, “I understand that Max is the only one who ruffles the feathers of those Englishmen by telling it like it is. However, I don’t consider this reaction acceptable.”
While the Red Bull camp contends with a rocky start to the season, Lewis Hamilton is reportedly requesting more tweaks to his new Ferrari SF-25. Following the car’s shakedown at Fiorano, claims surfaced that Hamilton logged lap times 0.8 seconds slower than his new teammate Charles Leclerc. However, it is important to note that the lap times from the shakedown might not be a true reflection of the car’s performance.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko voiced his apprehension over a potential resurgence by Hamilton if Ferrari can deliver a competitive car for the upcoming season. Marko, however, suggested that Hamilton’s declining qualifying performance could be a potential hurdle. In the previous season, Hamilton lagged behind his Mercedes teammate George Russell in qualifying rounds at 19 out of 24 races.
In other news, Sky F1 pundit Martin Brundle disclosed that his well-known grid walk segment, a popular feature of F1 TV coverage in the United Kingdom, is a nerve-racking affair. Brundle confessed to being terrified of making a wrong statement that might lead to his ‘cancelation’.
As the dynamics of F1 continue to unfold, the focus of the fans and the teams alike will be on the performance of the drivers and their cars. Will Hamilton and Ferrari rise to challenge Red Bull and Verstappen? As the countdown to F1 2025 begins, all eyes are on the track.