F1 news LIVE: Lewis Hamilton warned over Ferrari honeymoon and Lando Norris ‘ready to win title'
After making the blockbuster move from Mercedes to partner up with Charles Leclerc, the Scuderia will hope to dethrone Red Bull's Max Verstappen, with the Dutch driver bidding for a fifth successive F1 crown. However, former driver Ralf Schumacher has said on the Sky Germany podcast 'I don't think he [Verstappen] has a chance' after Red Bull's late-season struggles last year.
After the official three-day pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit, excitement is building around McLaren, with Lando Norris and this week's home favourite Oscar Piastri moving into title contention, with former McLaren star Mika Hakkinen stating that Norris is now ready to win the Drivers' Championship after what happened towards the end of last season.
While George Russell now leads the Silver Arrows, they also have Kimi Antonelli who is among an exciting crop of rookie drivers in F1 this year, as is Briton Ollie Bearman, who spoke exclusively to The Independent this week about his title ambitions.F1 returns for 2025 season at Australian Grand Prix on Sunday
Lando Norris starts 2025 campaign as favourite for Drivers' Championship and Mika Hakkinen says he's 'ready' to win the title
Lewis Hamilton poised for Ferrari debut after making switch following 11 years with Mercedes but warned over expectation of a honeymoon
Exclusive interview – Ollie Bearman: 'You only get one shot in F1 – my ultimate goal is to be a world champion'
Four-time defending champion Max Verstappen told he has 'no chance' of title in struggling Red Bull by Ralf Schumacher
Oscar Piastri signs long-term extension with McLaren: 'It's a no-brainer'
08:30 , Flo Clifford
A group of prominent Formula 1 figures showed their support for Michael Schumacher at the Race of Champions in Sydney as they urged the seven-time world champion to 'keep fighting'.
Mick Schumacher, the German great's son, and former F1 driver Sebastian Vettel were among those in attendance as a banner was unveiled at the Accor Stadium.
Schumacher suffered a traumatic brain injury in a skiing accident in 2013 and has not since been seen in public, with few updates provided by his family about his health as he rehabilitates privately.
Michael Schumacher tribute unveiled by son Mick and Sebastian Vettel: 'Keep fighting'
08:15 , Flo Clifford
Max Verstappen does not have 'a chance' of a fifth straight F1 Drivers' Championship win in 2025, according to former driver Ralf Schumacher.
Schumacher believes Verstappen delivered a 'rescue' effort in a struggling Red Bull car last year but he won't be able to do the same again.
McLaren's Lando Norris is the favourite to win the title this season and Schumacher is adamant Verstappen will be powerless to stop the Brit and others at the front of the grid.
Speaking on the Sky Germany podcast, Schumacher said: 'Last year it was clear. Red Bull was very strong at the start of the season, but then they couldn't handle the car. Verstappen was the rescue.
'However, he will have to get used to everything coming to an end. I don't think he has a chance.'
08:00 , Flo Clifford
The dispute between four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen and Mercedes' George Russell shows no sign of abating as the new season gets underway.
The pair memorably clashed after the Qatar Grand Prix last season, when Verstappen, the eventual winner, was penalised for impeding the Brit.
Russell claimed that afterwards Verstappen threatened to "purposefully go out of his way to crash into me and 'put me on my head in the wall'", while his Dutch counterpart said he had 'lost all respect' for the Mercedes driver.
'No love lost' between Russell and Verstappen as feud rumbles on
07:45 , Flo Clifford
Lewis Hamilton has admitted that incidents of black footballers being racially abused in Italy did make him think twice when deciding to move to Ferrari this year.
The seven-time F1 world champion has switched to Ferrari after 12 years and six world titles at Mercedes. His first race in Scuderia red is at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 16 March.
Hamilton is also F1's first and only black driver and has detailed in the past the 'traumatising' racial abuse he has suffered, detailing in 2023 that he had bananas thrown at him and was repeatedly called the 'n-word' at school. He was also racially abused at F1 testing in Barcelona in 2008.
Serie A footballers such as Mike Maignan and Moise Kean have been subject to racial abuse in the past and Hamilton did admit that racist chanting at Italian matches 'crossed his mind' when making the decision to move to Ferrari last winter.
Lewis Hamilton admits racism in Serie A 'crossed his mind' before Ferrari F1 move
07:30 , Flo Clifford
As foolish as it sounds, Ollie Bearman's manager was actually cut off from the call which changed the life of his most precious client. Fortunately, the British teenager himself was not short of credit on his phone.
Ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last March, Ferrari suddenly needed a driver after Carlos Sainz fell ill. Relaxing idyllically off the shores of the Red Sea fresh from securing pole position in F2, 18-year-old Bearman spotted Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur's name on his phone and, right then, knew he was about to be given the opportunity of a lifetime.
Kieran Jackson chats exclusively to the British F1 rookie sensation:
F1 star Bearman: 'You only get one shot – my goal is to be a world champion'
07:15 , Flo Clifford
Taking the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi at the final race of 2024, bringing home a first constructors' title in 26 years for McLaren, brought up mixed emotions for cheerful chappy Lando Norris.
On one hand, it was pure elation. A member of the McLaren family for eight years, this meant as much to Norris as anyone else. He described it as a 'perfect' end to the season, beating Ferrari to the championship by 14 points. And he'd need no invitation; he was going to get 'hammered' later that night over the border in Bahrain.
Yet in the same breath, even amid joyous papaya-clad celebrations on the pit-wall, the boy from Bristol could not help but sample that bittersweet taste. 'It's been a special year,' he said over team radio, before adding: 'And next year is going to be my year, too.'
Why Lando Norris knows there are now 'no excuses' – he has to win 2025 F1 title
07:00 , Flo Clifford
For the second year running, there will be no new races on the schedule. 2026 is set to be different, though, with Madrid already confirmed as the new home of the Spanish Grand Prix, meaning 2025 could be the last year Barcelona hosts an F1 race.
Other calendar alterations include a triple-header in April between Japan-Bahrain-Saudi, while Spain has moved forward three weeks to the end of May/start of June.
Belgium and Hungary have swapped weekends too, with Budapest now hosting the final race before the customary summer break.
This year sees a four-week gap in autumn but there will be no such space in the calendar next year, with just one week's rest in-between Singapore and Austin in October.
06:45 , Flo Clifford
Here's the calendar for 2025:
ROUND 1 - AUSTRALIA - Albert Park, Melbourne - 14-16 March
ROUND 2 - CHINA (sprint weekend) - Shanghai International Circuit - 21-23 March
ROUND 3 - JAPAN - Suzuka International Racing Course - 4-6 April
ROUND 4 —BAHRAIN - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir - 11-13 April
ROUND 5 - SAUDI ARABIA - Jeddah Corniche Circuit - 18-20 April
ROUND 6 - MIAMI (sprint weekend) - Miami International Autodrome, Hard Rock Stadium - 2-4 May
ROUND 7 - EMILIA ROMAGNA - Imola Circuit - 16-18 May
ROUND 8 - MONACO - Circuit de Monaco - 23-25 May
ROUND 9 - SPAIN - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya - 30 May-1 June
ROUND 10 - CANADA - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal - 13-15 June
ROUND 11 - AUSTRIA - Red Bull Ring, Spielberg - 27-29 June
ROUND 12 - GREAT BRITAIN - Silverstone Circuit - 4-6 July
ROUND 13 - BELGIUM (sprint weekend) - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps - 25-27 July
ROUND 14 - HUNGARY - Hungaroring, Budapest - 1-3 August
ROUND 15 - NETHERLANDS - Circuit Zandvoort - 29-31 August
ROUND 16 - ITALY - Monza Circuit - 5-7 September
ROUND 17 - AZERBAIJAN - Baku City Circuit - 19-21 September
ROUND 18 - SINGAPORE - Marina Bay Street Circuit - 3-5 October
ROUND 19 - UNITED STATES (sprint weekend) - Circuit of the Americas, Austin - 17-19 October
ROUND 20 - MEXICO - Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City - 24-26 October
ROUND 21 - BRAZIL (sprint weekend) - Interlagos Circuit, Sao Paulo - 7-9 November
ROUND 22 - LAS VEGAS - Las Vegas Street Circuit - 20-22 November
ROUND 23 - QATAR (sprint weekend) - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail - 28-30 November
ROUND 24 - ABU DHABI - Yas Marina Circuit - 5-7 December
06:32 , Jamie Braidwood
Oscar Piastri has signed a multi-year deal with McLaren on the eve of the opening race of the new Formula One season.
Piastri, 23, who was already under contract until 2026, has now secured his long-term future with the British team.
The Australian driver finished fourth in the championship last year. He opened his winning account in Hungary before claiming a second victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
With McLaren expected to carry over their constructors'-winning form into the new season, Piastri is set to battle with team-mate Lando Norris for the world title.
Speaking after his contract extension was announced, Piastri, gearing up for his third season on the F1 grid, said: 'It's a great feeling knowing that I'm part of McLaren's long-term vision.'
Oscar Piastri signs long-term extension with McLaren: 'It's a no-brainer'
06:30 , Flo Clifford
The 2025 F1 season officially kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.
We'll have all the news here and the build-up to the weekend's action.
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Newsweek
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Emotional Kimi Antonelli Opens Up About Confidence Struggles At Belgian GP
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli looked crushed after a disappointing Belgium Grand Prix Qualifying. Antonelli finished 20th in sprint qualifying due to spinning out of control after pushing too hard on his final lap of SQ1. He finished in 17th place for the sprint race, gaining a few places, but was unable to capture any points. Then, in qualifying for the grand prix, Antonelli finished in P18, a much lower position than the car merits. Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes walks in the paddock during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 26, 2025 in Spa, Belgium Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes walks in the paddock during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 26, 2025 in Spa, Belgium Photo byHis teammate, George Russell, starts sixth, showcasing the potential of the W16 as a car that belongs in a points-scoring position. During the media session after the race, Antonelli appeared emotional following another performance. "Yeah, I mean, since the European [leg of the] season, I've been struggling to find confidence with the car, and I feel like I've done a backward step," the Italian driver said. "It's a difficult moment for me because I feel like I have no confidence on pushing. Yesterday I tried to push a bit too much, and then I spun, and then it kind of hurts the confidence even more. "But it's a difficult period, I think. We know the limitation we have since quite a lot, but with the way I'm driving, I'm just increasing the problem. And that gives me even less confidence with the car." He was only about three-tenths away after Q1, making his performance not a complete disaster, but it is a far cry from the impressive pace that he has shown over the first handful of races. During the North American swing, he scored a sprint race win at Miami and his first podium finish in Canada. Since then, it has been downhill for the driver, who voiced his concerns about the changes to his driving style as the car evolved. "Well, the team has been trying to help me as much as possible," he added. "But on my side I'm probably trying to change the way I'm driving too much. And it feels like I'm not driving naturally. It's very forced the way I'm driving and it's just difficult." The Italian will start from the pit lane as the team makes adjustments to the car, depending on the weather conditions, which are expected to bring rain to the track throughout the race. Belgium Grand Prix Qualifying Results Lando Norris (McLaren) Oscar Piastri (McLaren) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) Max Verstappen (Red Bull) Alex Albon (Williams) George Russell (Mercedes) Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) Esteban Ocon (Haas) Ollie Bearman (Haas) Pierre Gasly (Alpine) Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) Carlos Sainz (Williams) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) Franco Colapinto (Williams) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.


Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Max Verstappen Assesses First Race Without Christian Horner and GP Lambiase
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Red Bull Racing Formula One driver Max Verstappen has opened up on his first race weekend with new CEO and team principal Laurent Mekies after his Belgian Grand Prix sprint race victory. Verstappen also revealed his experience of working with interim race engineer Simon Rennie, since his full-time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase (GP), was away for personal reasons. The sprint race marked Verstappen and Red Bull's first race without ousted team principal Christian Horner. Mekies replaced Horner after the British Grand Prix. Lambiase is absent for this weekend, and it is unclear if he will return for the following weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix. Rennie, who has been the race engineer for Daniel Ricciardo in the past and is Red Bull's group leader of simulation engineering, will take over Lambiase's duties in supporting Verstappen. Speaking about the big change in the team's leadership, the Dutchman was asked after the sprint race about the change he felt so far, and about his experience with Rennie. He told the media: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing talk in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at... Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing talk in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 25, 2025 in Spa, Belgium. More"I mean, it's very difficult to, within two weeks, you know, suddenly say like, a lot of things need to change out of the blue. It's about starting the relationship and just understanding how everyone is operating. "And then at one point, you know, you come to conclusions and maybe you want to change something and this is something that will happen over the coming weeks, months. "So it's, it's really early days, but so far, you know, he's very keen and very motivated, and that's exactly, I think, what you want also, and I got on very well with him, you know, so yeah, it's been a very good start." Moving on to Rennie, the four-time champion continued said: "And also with Simon, I mean, he has a lot of racing experience already and, of course, he's been part of the team already for a very long time. Of course, the last few years not anymore in a race engineer role, but he steps in and he's immediately on it. So also again, very enjoyable to work with Simon." Mekies is said to be starting a new era at Red Bull, considering the team was led by Horner for 20 years. Verstappen said that regardless of who leads the team, he will continue to give his best on the racetrack. He said: "I mean, the team can always count on me — I will always give my very best, you know, whoever is in charge. And yeah, they know that I'm never holding back or anything. "I'm always trying to give them the best possible result, and that's also what they pay me for. And yeah, for sure, it's positive. We need, of course, positive energy, and yeah, that's a great start for us."


New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
How Lewis Hamilton's Belgium GP weekend unraveled despite Ferrari upgrades
SPA, Belgium — Heading into this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, there was reason for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari to feel optimistic. Hamilton has been building momentum after a rollercoaster start to life with Ferrari, matching his best Sunday finishes at the Austrian GP and British GP and outqualifying teammate Charles Leclerc in three of the previous four races. This weekend, Ferrari brought a set of upgrades it hoped would boost its performance, including a new rear suspension. Advertisement Leclerc grabbed third place on the grid for Sunday's race with an impressive final lap in Q3, outqualifying sprint race winner Max Verstappen. But Hamilton languished in a lowly 16th as his miserable Spa weekend continued. Hamilton had already been eliminated in the first stage of a qualifying session this weekend. A spin on his final lap in sprint qualifying on Friday meant he started 18th, and only made up three places in the 15-lap race. On Saturday, his second knockout at Spa came after a track limits breach on his final lap of the Q1 session. The lap had been good enough to advance to Q2 just one place behind Leclerc, only for the stewards to note he had put all four wheels outside the white lines at the top of the hill at Raidillon. 'Everyone does that, takes that curb,' Hamilton told reporters after the session, suggesting he was unsure if the stewards had made the right call. 'But I'm out, so…' He wasn't looking to shirk accountability for a small yet costly error — a matter of millimeters, according to team principal Fred Vasseur. 'From my side, another mistake,' Hamilton told Sky Sports. 'So I've really got to look internal. I've got to apologize to my team, because it's just unacceptable to be out in both Q1s. It's (a) very, very poor performance from myself.' Ferrari never anticipated the upgrades at Spa would vault it into immediate contention for wins, given the massive gap to pace-setter McLaren, which also brought updates this weekend. But the hope was that the rear suspension, in particular, would soothe some of the issues Hamilton and Leclerc have dealt with this year. 'As always, and especially for our team, everything is hyped up a lot,' Leclerc said in the news conference after qualifying. 'So yes, it's an upgrade and it's a step in the right direction, but we are still speaking about very fine differences of a whole lap. It feels a little bit different, and it's going in the right direction.' Advertisement Leclerc has previously spoken about the need for Ferrari to use 'extreme' setups to get the car into a window where it could go faster. Hamilton claimed he was trialing different setups to get the car into a sweet spot, only to gravitate more towards Leclerc's setups of late, coinciding with his uptick in results. Since the Spanish GP on June 1, Hamilton has scored 32 points and built a 40-point buffer to seventh-place Kimi Antonelli. Leclerc suggested the car was now 'a little bit better' to find the setup window, making it easier to extract all the pace out of the car — a skill, as one of F1's best qualifiers, that has come so naturally through his career, but has been harder to unlock through 2025. 'This year, I've been struggling a little bit more to put everything together come qualifying,' Leclerc said. 'This weekend seems to be better. But we just need to prove that over multiple race weekends.' Hamilton should not let his miserable weekend at Spa serve as too much of a setback. His shock switch to Ferrari from Mercedes, one made with a record-breaking eighth world title very much in mind, hasn't delivered the kind of performance either he nor the team would have aspired to, chiefly due to the limitations of the car and the gap that has grown to McLaren at the front. Vasseur didn't seem concerned about Hamilton's qualifying difficulties at Spa. 'I think the struggle is not the pace,' Vasseur told F1 TV. 'He was able to have the same pace as Charles in Q1. Track limits is for a couple of millimeters. But the rule is the rule. And the lap time was deleted. 'But it's not a matter of pace or adaptation. I think he was able to do the job.' Hamilton is a five-time winner of the Belgian GP, including last year, when he inherited victory after George Russell's disqualification. You have to go back to his debut season in 2007 for the last time he finished the race but failed to stand on the podium, crossing the line in fourth place. It's a track he loves and where he flourishes. Advertisement A recovery from 16th on Sunday into the points will mark a good return for the Briton. Barring something remarkable (heavy rain has been floating in and out of the Sunday forecast), it's likely this will go down as another dip in this fluctuating first season with Ferrari. 'We're trying to do the best with what we have,' Hamilton said on Sky Sports. 'Obviously, everyone is working flat out back at the factory. We have had upgrades. But I think that's probably it for the rest of the year. I think the focus now, back at the factory at least, is on next year's car. 'This season has been a tricky one.'