Essere Ferrari II

[foggy locust]

Saudi Arabia GP coming next week! Taking the weekend off to relax

[foggy locust]

Update on this save: Hoping to be back soon, dealing with some dizziness though which makes playing difficult

[foggy locust]

2025 SAUDI ARABIA GRAND PRIX
WEEKEND PREVIEW

We head to Saudi Arabia for round two of this Formula 1 World Championship, and after a close race in Bahrain ended with a narrow Charles Leclerc victory over Lewis Hamilton, what will the second race of the season bring?

Well, the defending Champions Scuderia Ferrari took home a 1-2 at Sakhir and its hard to see past them repeating in Jeddah, but already a title fight could be looking like a possibility between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, as the two Ferrari teammates battled for most of the race in Bahrain.

However this time last year, Max Verstappen and Red Bull very victorious as Leclerc crashed out of the race, and while Verstappen kept pace for most of the time in Sakhir, his challenge eventually faded and he fell behind Lando Norris to third.

McLaren meanwhile are bringing a Chassis upgrade with the aim of bridging the gap to Ferrari at the top, as Lando Norris took home a podium. McLaren have very much aimed a Championship challenge for this season and they're bringing upgrades early in an aggressive move for that challenge.

Aston Martin were very much a surprise package as Valtteri Bottas returned to the points and took a Driver of the Day to boot, however Stoffel Vandoorne did struggle in his return to Formula 1 - albeit having secured his first point since Mexico 2018.

It was a tough race for Mercedes who performed under expectation in Bahrain, and they look to bounce back. At a track that may well suit the Mercs more than Aston Martin, they will look to close the challenge to the top three teams early in this season.

RB meanwhile were unlucky to not secure any points in Bahrain, and with a consistent car that could challenge again for the points this weekend, they will hope for some luck to boost that points total.

Williams may be the favourites outside the top six teams to secure points, this is a Medium Speed track that suits them more than Haas or Alpine. And Audi Sauber are very much expected to be at the back.

However this is a fast paced track with those lurking walls that could be good value for a Safety Car and a potential retirement or two, so any team could get that luck and change their entire weekend.

50 laps of this 6.174km circuit, one of the longest in the calendar, awaits us in Jeddah. Who will take home victory this weekend?

[foggy locust]

FP1 Reserves: Bearman (Hamilton), Bedrin (Norris), Antonelli (Russell), Maini (Magnussen)

Vandoorne currently running P2, splitting Leclerc and Bearman 👀

Alonso just went 0.032 ahead of Leclerc at the top!

Leclerc back to the top of the timesheets now.

Albon up to sixth! Could this be a good track for Williams?

FP1: LEC ALO BEAR

Leclerc fastest from Alonso and Bearman, with Piastri, Vandoorne and Albon following. Verstappen just tenth this afternoon.

Leclerc not happy with the setup so far in FP2. Currently running 11th.

Bottas is quickest so far.

Piastri goes fastest, displacing Verstappen

FP2: HAM PIA LEC

Hamilton with a monster lap on the last lap to go fastest ahead of Piastri and Leclerc. McLaren look second fastest ahead of Red Bull, while Mercedes, Aston Martin, RB and Williams all have appearances in the top ten.

Leclerc much happier with the setup this Saturday afternoon.

FP3: PIA NOR BOT
LEC P4, HAM P5

A McLaren 1-2, could they have the beating of Ferrari this weekend? Piastri fastest from Norris, with Bottas Third. Leclerc and Hamilton Fourth and fifth. Red Bull just Sixth with Alonso and eleventh with Verstappen.

Well, the lights are on here in downtown Jeddah, and it is time for Qualifying. There's always the danger of the Red Flag, as Max Verstappen infamously found out late in the 2021 dramatic title fight here in qualifying. And with Ferrari and McLaren both looking strong this weekend, this could go any which way.

We are Green here for Q1!

8.00pm: Lewis Hamilton first one on track, and his former teammate Valtteri Bottas follows him out.

8.01pm: Aston Martin getting both cars out early here, Vandoorne follows him out. Alonso heading out too.

8.03pm: As Hamilton is halfway round and setting the pace, Charles Leclerc now heading out, as is Max Verstappen. Both Audi Saubers out on track too.

8.04pm: 1.25.697 is the first time, that of Lewis Hamilton. Bottas exactly 0.666 behind him. Spooky.

8.06pm: Alonso 0.313 behind Hamilton. Verstappen goes quickest of all! A great time for him, just Sixth for Leclerc however who will likely go again.

8.09pm: Norris up to P4 just now. Vandoorne Sixth. Hülkenberg settles into Eighth, just behind Leclerc.

8.11pm: Sainz goes Sixth fastest, with Russell Eighth. Albon just 19th, and that is surprising considering the Williams pace in practice.

8.12pm: Leclerc goes up to P1, 0.002 ahead of Verstappen!

DRIVER AT RISK: Stroll
RELEGATION ZONE: Gasly, Ocon, Ricciardo, Albon, Tsunoda

8.15pm: Both Williams and RB, who performed well in practice and were expected to do well, are struggling. Stroll out on track right now, in fat most of the bottom five are, except Gasly.

8.16pm: Gasly now heading out on track. Tsunoda improving through the first two sectors, and with the clear track...he has a terrible last sector and ends up still 20th!

8.17pm: Ocon and Vandoorne seem to be trying "Ducks Fly Together" on these laps. Stroll stays 15th and that's disappointing for Williams.

Ocon and Ricciardo improving through the first two sectors, Albon up to eleventh! Stroll is out, Ocon improves to fourteenth, the Mighty Ducks tactics clearly paying off! But it does knock out Magnussen! Pourchaire at risk, Gasly hits traffic and he's going to go out after that! Ricciardo out in 19th, a truly awful session for RB! Gasly doesn't improve after that traffic and he's out, Pourchaire into Q2!

OUT IN Q1: Magnussen, Stroll, Gasly Ricciardo, Tsunoda

Q2 is a go!

8.26pm: Hamilton, Norris, Sainz and Hülkenberg all out on track early here.

[sterile breach]

I was wondering why this got taken off my forum list, glad everything's alright now (hopefully)

[foggy locust]

Thanks mate! On the mend now! Yeah, took a wee break, but definitely nice to be back playing 🙂

8.29pm: Hamilton sets a 1.25.938! Norris 0.202 behind. Leclerc heading out on new tyres rather than old ones. Is the Champion just trying for one run here?

8.31pm: Verstappen goes quickest, meanwhile Piastri matches Hamilton's time EXACT!

8.33pm: Leclerc goes P1, 0.379 ahead of Verstappen. Even with track evolution, that will be a tough lap to beat.

8.35pm: Vandoorne just tenth and on the brink. Can any of the teams outside the top five knock him out?

DRIVER AT RISK: Vandoorne
RELEGATION ZONE: Albon, Ocon, Hülkenberg, Pourchaire, Zhou

8.37pm: Hamilton returning to the track, most of the field is but no sign of Leclerc or Verstappen here.

8.38pm: Piastri stays in Fourth! Both Haas drivers meanwhile fail to get out of the bottom five and that's it for their qualifying.

Hamilton stays Third! Albon challenging for eleventh, OH MY GOD BOTTAS GOES P1!! Albon stays eleventh and he is out! Pourchaire up to thirteenth, Zhou got ahead of Hulk previously. Norris goes Fourth ahead of Hamilton

OUT IN Q2: Albon, Ocon, Pourchaire, Zhou, Hülkenberg

GREEN FOR Q3! Who will take Pole?

8.48pm: It almost feels like it could be anyone's, here, after Bottas' shock P1 in Q2. But it is a five team lockout in the third session. Vandoorne, Hamilton, Russell, Alonso and Leclerc all out on track now.

8.51pm: Leclerc slowed by a Merc, I think that was his former teammate Sainz! Hamilton pulling off a fantastic lap so far. Alonso goes fastest, Vandoorne second, Russell just Third, Hamilton goes fastest, Leclerc P2, 0.277 behind Hamilton!

8.53pm: Norris has gone purple through S2, but has to settle for third for now!

8.54pm: Sainz into seventh, make that eighth as Piastri goes Fourth. Bottas into third! That Aston Martin is FLYING round here!

8.55pm: A surprising just sixth and seventh for Verstappen and Alonso as it stands.

Q3 AS IT STANDS: Hamilton, Leclerc, Bottas, Norris, Piastri, Verstappen, Alonso, Vandoorne, Russell, Sainz

8.57pm: Alonso on a flier, but everyone else bad Verstappen and Vandoorne starring outlaps. Verstappen now heading out, Vandoorne will be last to complete a flier.

8.58pm: Alonso purple through the middle and he goes Second, splitting the Ferraris!

8.59pm: Vandoorne pushing it to get to the line in time! Leclerc purple through S1, Hamilton hasn't improved, Vandoorne JUST makes it to start his flier!

Bottas doesn't improve and he stays Fourth, Hamilton doesn't improve, LECLERC GOES INTO POLE! Norris stays Fifth, Piastri Sixth, Russell and Sainz don't improve, Verstappen now up to third! And Vandoorne can't improve Eighth, it is the first Pole of the season for Charles Leclerc!!!

(BOZ) "And that's my boy, Pole Position!"

(LEC) "Let's go! That's how we start the weekend. Still a job to do tomorrow."

Q3: Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Bottas, Norris, Piastri, Vandoorne, Russell, Sainz

2025 SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX
STARTING GRID

LEC HAM

VER ALO

BOT NOR

PIA VAN

RUS SAI

ALB OCO

POU ZHO

HÜL MAG

STR GAS

RIC TSU

Welcome to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to the second round of this Formula 1 World Championship. We go racing under the lights at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, 50 laps of this 6.174 km circuit, one of the fastest circuits of the season and where danger lurks around every fast paced corner with those walls looming. Ferrari start 1-2, but Red Bull, Aston Martin and McLaren might all find themselves in the mix.

The two RBs of Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda start on the very back row, then it's Pierre Gasly just behind Lance Stroll on row nine, while Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg start on row eight. Zhou Guanyu is just ahead of his Haas Toyota teammate while Théo Pourchaire makes his second F1 start from 13th. Esteban Ocon starts twelfth with Alex Albon beginning eleventh, and the two Mercedes on the fifth row, Carlos Sainz just behind George Russell. Stoffel Vandoorne makes his first start in Saudi from eighth while Oscar Piastri begins seventh, just behind Lando Norris in sixth, and Valtteri Bottas was P1 in Q2, but starts fifth today. Red Bull lock out the second row with Max Verstappen just ahead of Fernando Alonso, while it is a Ferrari front row lockout. Lewis Hamilton starts second, and it is the first Pole Position of the season for the defending World Champion Charles Leclerc.

AND IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO

Leclerc roars away at the start, Hamilton falls behind Verstappen at the beginning! AND SAINZ HAS A LOCK-UP AND HE'S OFF!! He avoids the barrier but he has fallen to the back and has a lot of work to do!

(HAM) "F**k, I can't get past Max here."

(ADA) "We are still in the race, don't worry."

Verstappen has caught up to Leclerc and taken the lead, meanwhile Alonso gets past Hamilton for P3! Red Bull showing some good race pace so far today!

With Sainz's mistake, Albon has now found himself into P10 and into the points.

Leclerc with a daring move and takes P1 back from Verstappen!

(BOZ) "This is a fantastic pace Charles, keep it up."

About four seconds between Leclerc/Verstappen and Hamilton/Alonso, as Hamilton retakes P3!

Valtteri Bottas remains very much in that P3 mix, however!

It's further good news for AM as Vandoorne overtakes Norris for P6! Aston Martin looking the third fastest team ahead of McLaren around here.

Verstappen currently having major problems with his tyre life, as he retakes the lead.

(HAM) "I need more power guys, I'm really struggling here."

(BOZ) "This is good tyre management Charles, keep the pace up here."

Hamilton back into third ahead of Alonso!

(LEC) "Max pushing me a bit wide here."

(BOZ) "It's okay, Charles, keep your head in the game. Good job."

PITSTOP: VERSTAPPEN IN ON LAP 11! That is an EARLY stop, Red Bull going aggressive against Ferrari here! It's a clean stop and he's away, rejoining in P11

YELLOW FLAGS WAVING AS ALBON COLLIDES WITH HÜLKENBERG! Hülkenberg falls back through the pack, as Albon is able to continue.

OH MY GOD DO WE HAVE DRAMA. GEORGE RUSSELL HITS THE CURB, COMPLETELY SPINS OFF AND BINS THE MERC INTO THE WALL!! He's okay, thankfully, but the Safety Car has been deployed!

(BOZ) "Safety Car, Safety Car. So we will box this lap, box this lap."

(LEC) "Copy, box. Are they okay?"

(BOZ) "Russell is okay."

(ADA) "Safety Car. Box this lap. Russell in the wall, can confirm he's okay."

(HAM) "Glad he is alright. Box."

PITSTOPS: EVERYONE is in bar Verstappen and Stroll, who had already pitted.

Lap 12, under the SC: Leclerc, Verstappen, Hamilton, Alonso, Norris, Piastri, Bottas, Albon, Magnussen, Vandoorne, Pourchaire, Tsunoda, Ocon, Sainz, Ricciardo, Stroll, Zhou, Gasly, Hülkenberg. Russell out of the race.

(ADA) "Okay Lewis, it's Hammer Time."

AND WE GO GREEN AND WE ARE RACING ONCE MORE ON LAP 15

LECLERC

Verstappen has Softs on against Leclerc's Mediums and takes the lead, as Alonso is up to third!

Hülkenberg with a lock-up! He was at the back and he's even further behind now!

Alonso has caught up to Leclerc with DRS and takes second!

And Norris now up to third ahead of Leclerc!

Lap 20: Verstappen, Alonso, Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Hamilton, Bottas, Vandoorne, Magnussen, Albon, Tsunoda, Sainz, Ricciardo, Pourchaire, Ocon, Stroll, Zhou, Gasly, Hülkenberg. Russell out of the race.

Leclerc pushing and back up to P3!

(LEC) "This DRS train is a nightmare right now."

Norris tries to defend Leclerc and finds the barrier instead!!! He's trying to blame Leclerc on the radio, but that was clean by the Champion!!

PITSTOP: Norris in to get his front wing fixed, and rejoins in P18. That's his chances of victory ended this evening.

(LEC) "I don't know what Lando was trying there."

Leclerc overtakes Alonso for second!

Meanwhile Hamilton is struggling and Bottas takes Fifth off him!

(ADA) "Update your tyre phase?"

(HAM) "Tyres are still good man."

PITSTOP: Vandoorne is in! He's going onto the Hards on lap 28!

Leclerc into P1 and into the lead of this race!

OH MY GOD IT IS DISASTER FOR PIASTRI! HE TAKES A PUNCTURE WHILE TRYING TO OVERTAKE ALONSO! HE'S INTO THE WALL AND OUT OF THE RACE!

(BOZ) "Safety Car, Safety Car. Box when you can."

(LEC) "For f**k's sake, I just missed the pitlane! What happened, are they alright?"

(BOZ) "Piastri with a puncture, he's okay and out of the car."

(ADA) "Safety Car, will box now, box now."

(HAM) "Copy, in the box. I hope they're alright."

(ADA) "Piastri is okay."

PITSTOPS: Leclerc and Verstappen both missed the box but will pit this lap, I imagine. Norris, Vandoorne, Sainz, Tsunoda and Magnussen stay out.

PITSTOPS: Leclerc and Verstappen indeed are in, and Leclerc gets away in 2.299, out ahead of Verstappen. Fastest stop of the day for Ferrari!

Lap 30, under SC: Leclerc, Verstappen, Alonso, Bottas, Hamilton, Norris, Vandoorne, Ocon, Ricciardo, Albon, Sainz, Tsunoda, Zhou, Magnussen, Stroll, Pourchaire, Gasly, Hülkenberg. Piastri and Russell are out of the race.

WE GO RACING AGAIN ON LAP 33

Leclerc away well here, Verstappen is keeping pace however, both are getting well ahead of Alonso right now in third

DRS is enabled now, and Verstappen will likely keep in Leclerc's rear view mirrors for the forseeable

Bottas moves ahead of Alonso into third!

And Hamilton moves into fourth ahead of Alonso!

ALONSO TAGS THE WALL! He isn't now down to sixth, behind Vandoorne!! That is disaster for the Red Bull driver!

PITSTOP: Alonso in to get a replacement set of tyres, and this is now a salvage job for the two time Champion.

Albon up to sixth ahead of Ricciardo! Looking like a good weekend for Williams!

It's a straight dogfight now between Leclerc and Verstappen for the win of this race. Shades of 2022?

But that's on hold as its a THIRD SAFETY CAR...OCON INTO THE WALL AND THAT IS A HEARTBREAKER. He was on for good points.

NEVER MIND IT IS A RED FLAG!! THE RACE HAS BEEN STOPPED

Restart order on lap 42: Leclerc, Verstappen, Bottas, Hamilton, Vandoorne, Ricciardo, Albon, Norris, Tsunoda, Sainz, Stroll, Hülkenberg, Magnussen, Zhou, Gasly, Pourchaire, Alonso. Ocon, Piastri and Russell out of the race.

Leclerc holds the lead, Hamilton up to P2, Verstappen into third now with Bottas pushing, Vandoorne fifth, Ricciardo Sixth, Ricciardo started P19 and what a day he has had!

(HAM) "Tyres are running super hot mate."

(ADA) "Keep going, keep defending."

Hamilton trying to defend Verstappen but it just isn't enough! Verstappen gets P2, but it has burnt out his tyres enough to put him level with Leclerc!

Four laps remaining here, and Leclerc is holding off Verstappen for now. Bottas gets Hamilton for third, Ricciardo ahead of Norris and is now fifth!!

Albon moves ahead of Norris into sixth!!

Two laps to go and Leclerc continues to hold off Verstappen!

Albon is up to fifth! Incredible for Williams!!

Verstappen gets the lead on the second last lap!!

LECLERC ATTACKING VERSTAPPEN BUT JUST CANNOT GET HIM ON THIS FINAL LAP

AND MAX VERSTAPPEN IS GOING TO HOLD OFF CHARLES LECLERC TO WIN THE SAUDI ARABIA GRAND PRIX!!!

(BOZ) "And P2, P2."

(LEC) "Aaaahh, I wanted that. Damn. Good race though, what a race that was. All credit to Max."

(BOZ) "You've done well today Charles. Good effort, just went against us at the end with the Red Flag."

(ADA) "And chequered flag, so that's P4, Lewis."

(HAM) "Gave it everything, just didn't have the pace today. Thanks guys."

(ADA) "Head up, you did well."

Bottas P3, Albon P5 for Williams! Ricciardo Sixth, Tsunoda Seventh, Norris eighth, HÜLKENBERG GETS NINTH, Vandoorne tenth

2025 SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX
RACE CLASSIFICATION

1. Max Verstappen 01.23.16
2. Charles Leclerc +0.803
3. Valtteri Bottas +6.343
4. Lewis Hamilton +0.252
5. Alexander Albon +3.295
6. Daniel Ricciardo +0.176
7. Yuki Tsunoda +3.354
8. Lando Norris +0.061
9. Nico Hülkenberg +2.616
10. Stoffel Vandoorne +0.159
11. Lance Stroll +0.288
12. Carlos Sainz +0.327
13. Zhou Guanyu +3.437
14. Kevin Magnussen +0.067
15. Pierre Gasly +0.898
16. Fernando Alonso +0.155
17. Théo Pourchaire +1.905
18. Esteban Ocon DNF
19. Oscar Piastri DNF
20. George Russell DNF

DRIVER OF THE DAY: ALEXANDER ALBON, WILLIAMS

A phenomenal drive from Alexander Albon to avoid the chaos around him and secure a massive P5 for Williams. Alex Albon is your Driver of the Day!

FASTEST LAP
CHARLES LECLERC, FERRARI 1.28.953

DHL FASTEST PITSTOP AWARD
CHARLES LECLERC, FERRARI 2.229s

2025 FIA FORMULA 1 WORLD DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP
After 2 Weekends

Leclerc 44
Verstappen 37
Hamilton 31
Bottas 23
Norris 19
Albon 10
Alonso 10
Ricciardo 8
Tsunoda 6
Piastri 6
Sainz 4
Hülkenberg 2
Russell 2
Vandoorne 2
Stroll 0
Zhou 0
Magnussen 0
Ocon 0
Gasly 0
Pourchaire 0

2025 FIA FORMULA 1 WORLD CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP
After 2 Weekends

Ferrari 75
Red Bull-Honda RBPT 47
Aston Martin-Honda RBPT 25
McLaren-Mercedes 25
Racing Bulls-Honda RBPT 14
Williams-Mercedes 10
Mercedes 6
Haas-Ferrari 2
Alpine-Renault 0
Audi Sauber-Mercedes 0

[sterile breach]

I had to read that 3 times to check I wasn't mixing up the order

damn things have changed

[foggy locust]

It's early days, but Aston have cooked, and McLaren and Merc both had one car crash this race haha

Mercedes seventh through two races is wild though

[foggy locust]

2025 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
WEEKEND PREVIEW

Two races into the 2025 Formula 1 season, and two late race changing moves that determined the winner of each Grand Prix. Could we be in for an all timer season?

Well, we head to Australia off the back of a dramatic ending in Saudi Arabia, where Max Verstappen took the victory off Charles Leclerc with two laps to go after three disruptions to the race - two Safety Cars caused by the crashes of Oscar Piastri and George Russell, and a Red Flag thanks to Esteban Ocon.

58 laps of this 5.278km circuit await us, which is expected to be a two stop but could potentially go as a one stopper. Four DRS zones make DRS Effectiveness huge, as well as High Speed Cornering.

The Championship leaders Ferrari look to fire back in the defence of their title this weekend. The Scuderia go into this weekend as the favourites, could Charles Leclerc extend his early advantage in the quest for his second Championship, or could Lewis Hamilton get his first win in Red?

Max Verstappen won last time around and Red Bull do look like the early challengers to the Scuderia, at a track that will suit them most outside of the Champions. Fernando Alonso had an incident in Saudi Arabia that cost him any chance of points and looks to bounce back in his quest for that 33rd win.

Aston Martin have been the surprise package of this season so far and Valtteri Bottas has been re-energised by his move into British Racing Green. They'll have a fight this weekend with McLaren, who look to make a statement for Oscar Piastri's main home race (one of a growing number off the track, but this is the country he was born in, after all).

Meanwhile, a struggling Mercedes are bringing a big Chassis upgrade in the hopes of kick-starting their season - the Silver Arrows sit a stunning Seventh in the table after two races, and will want to immediately start picking up the points again.

It is also the home race of one Daniel Ricciardo, and Racing Bulls, while facing discussions about the team's future off the track amidst rumours of a potential future sale of the team, bounced back from a horrendous qualifying in Saudi Arabia that saw both cars on the back row to take an incredibly impressive Sixth and Seventh given the circumstances, they look favourites to pick up the pieces should one, or more, of the top five falter again.

Alpine however showed some pace in Saudi, and were denied a chance to land some points in Saudi when Esteban Ocon crashed out, to the benefit of Haas, and indeed to a major benefit of Williams, who secured a massive P5. This is a track that suits Alpine far more than Haas or Williams - can they make up for that error?

Audi Sauber meanwhile are yet to bring upgrades, and are very much expected to be at the back, but hope to beat at least one of Alpine, Haas or Williams - potentially Williams, who tend to struggle in high speed cornering, which of course Melbourne is famous for - or Haas, who have the worst DRS on the grid - another thing Melbourne is famous for.

This race has been won twice in three years by Charles Leclerc, will we see that again, or potentially a Lewis Hamilton first win for Ferrari? Will Max Verstappen go back to back in victories, or could we see a new Winner for 2025? Tune in this weekend to find out.

FP1 Reserves: Colapinto (Leclerc), O'Ward (Verstappen), Antonelli (Sainz), Hauger (Hülkenberg), P. Fittipaldi (Zhou), Montoya (Vandoorne)

FP1: BOT OWA HAM
COL P5

Valtteri Bottas continues his good early season momentum by topping FP1 ahead of Pato O'Ward, who continues to be tipped for a move to the grid in 2026. Lewis Hamilton Third, with reserves Dennis Hauger Fourth for Haas and a fifth Placed finish for Franco Colapinto.

FP2: LEC HAM ALO

A Ferrari 1-2 to finish off Friday, as Leclerc goes fastest ahead of Hamilton, with Alonso just ahead of Verstappen. Vandoorne Fifth as Aston Martin continues to outpace McLaren so far.

FP3: NOR ALO VER
LEC P6, HAM P8

McLaren and Lando Norris top the final practice ahead of qualifying, ahead of the two Red Bulls. Just Sixth and Eighth for Ferrari.

Welcome to Qualifying here in Melbourne, and it is very warm in the autumn air here, with Ferrari, Red Bull, Aston Martin and McLaren all showing some pace over the last three practice sessions, what will qualifying bring us?

Q1 is a go!

4.00pm: We are a go for Qualifying at Melbourne. And Leclerc, Verstappen and Norris are all out on track early here.

4.03pm: Verstappen looking quick so far as he's gone purple through the first two sectors. Leclerc initially tops the times, but Verstappen goes 0.095 ahead of him. Norris only 0.163 behind too. It's close.

4.04pm: Gasly over a full second behind, as Hamilton is out on track and about to start his flier. Vandoorne goes 4 tenths behind Verstappen.

4.06pm: An incredible time from Hamilton who goes 0.059 ahead of Verstappen, and 0.154 ahead of Leclerc. Sainz about 7 tenths off thr pace.

4.08pm: Tsunoda into sixth, 7 tenths off the pace but ahead of Sainz. Mercedes' early season struggles continue.

4.11pm: Verstappen is back out there for another go of it. Russell slotting into eleventh, which isn't great at all for the Silver Arrows. Verstappen doesn't improve, stays second.

4.12pm: Piastri just twelfth so far. Norris, Vandoorne and Pourchaire out on track right now.

DRIVER AT RISK: Ocon
RELEGATION ZONE: Gasly, Magnussen, Albon, Pourchaire, Zhou

4.15pm: Pourchaire improves his time but not his position and he's likely out of qualifying, as I don't see him getting round in time. Zhou hits traffic and that might wreck what looked like a promising lap!

4.16pm: Zhou doesn't improve after that block. He'll start bottom. GASLY WITH A MASSIVE LOCK-UP! That's the end of his qualifying, but he narrowly avoids the barrier.

Just eighteenth for Albon, and he won't go any further. Magnussen hitting traffic! But it was his outlap so he gets another shot. Yuki Tsunoda runs a little wide but he is safe anyway. It is Magnussen or Ocon who will go out here...one Alpine out, one through...Magnussen gets a 4.16pm: Zhou doesn't improve after that block. He'll start bottom. GASLY WITH A MASSIVE LOCK-UP! That's the end of his qualifying, but he narrowly avoids the barrier. Magnussen gets a tow off Stroll and he's 11th, Ocon is out! Russell up to ninth and that is that.

OUT IN Q1: Ocon, Gasly, Albon, Pourchaire, Zhou

Q2 is green!

4.27pm: Norris, both Mercedes, and Hamilton out early here in Q2.

4.28pm: Piastri goes quickest, 1.16.192, but Hamilton beats thar going 0.640 faster! Leclerc heading out on track now.

4.29pm: Sainz into second, 0.178 off Hamilton. Better from the Mercedes here.

4.30pm: Norris goes quickest, 0.277 ahead of Hamilton! Verstappen and Bottas out on track now, as is Ricciardo. Leclerc on a flier

4.31pm: Leclerc goes into P1, 0.256 ahead of Norris!

4.32pm: Hülkenberg runs wide, as Verstappen is completing his lap, and that wrecks his last sector as Max is just Sixth, just behind Alonso!

4.34pm: Ricciardo into ninth and Piastri tenth, as it stands both Australian drivers will be in Q3 at their home race!

4.35pm: Piastri goes Fifth, Vandoorne Eighth and Ricciardo into the drop zone. Verstappen at risk in tenth!

DRIVER AT RISK: Verstappen
RELEGATION ZONE: Ricciardo, Magnussen, Stroll, Russell, Hülkenberg

4.37pm: Bottas up to third! Verstappen currently tenth and at risk still.

4.38pm: Russell doesn't improve and he's likely out!!

Hamilton hitting traffic and he stays Fifth, Verstappen goes quickest so he's safe. Ricciardo out in eleventh! Leclerc goes fastest after two purples, Magnussen and Hülkenberg on fliers...Hülkenberg twelfth and out, Magnussen takes twelfth and he's out! Tsunoda at risk, Stroll going for top ten here. Stroll stays fourteenth and he is out!

OUT IN Q2: Ricciardo, Magnussen, Hülkenberg, Stroll, Russell

Q3 is a go! Who will get Pole?

4.50pm: Leclerc about 9 tenths quicker than Hamilton on that first sector. Hamilton gets two tenths back on the second.

4.51pm: Hamilton initially goes P1, then Leclerc about 8 tenths faster. Vandoorne settles into Third.

4.53pm: Tsunoda with a purple middle sector! He's up to P2, ahead of Hamilton. Verstappen goes purple in the first sector though, and Alonso up to P2.

4.54pm: Piastri slots into Fourth, Verstappen fastest, 0.152 ahead of Leclerc! Norris up to Fourth.

Q3 AS IT STANDS: Verstappen, Leclerc, Alonso, Norris, Bottas, Tsunoda, Piastri, Hamilton, Vandoorne, Sainz

4.58pm: Vandoorne goes up to P6! Alonso, Norris, Tsunoda and Piastri on their fliers. Everyone else starting an outlap.

4.59pm: Alonso purple in the first sector, doesn't improve in the second. Hamilton improving, as is Verstappen. Leclerc going to be last to cross the line.

Alonso goes Third, Verstappen purple middle sector, Leclerc improves, Verstappen P1, Hamilton up to second! Bottas takes second! Sainz up to seventh...Leclerc needs a huge third sector here...he goes second, he outqualifies Hamilton, but it is POLE for Max Verstappen!

Q3: Verstappen, Leclerc, Bottas, Hamilton, Alonso, Norris, Sainz, Vandoorne, Tsunoda, Piastri

2025 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
STARTING GRID

VER LEC

BOT HAM

ALO NOR

SAI VAN

TSU PIA

RIC MAG

HÜL STR

RUS OCO

GAS ALB

POU ZHO

Well, it won't exactly be a walk in the park here in Melbourne, 58 laps of this 5.278km circuit await us, and we are ready. Max Verstappen narrowly pipped Charles Leclerc yesterday, and it might well be a fight for the ages around the famous Albert Park.

Zhou Guanyu starts last of all beside Théo Pourchaire on the back row, with Alexander Albon and Pierre Gasly just ahead of them. Esteban Ocon lines up just ahead of his compatriot and former teammate, and George Russell's tough start to the season continues down in 15th. Lance Stroll begins fourteenth with Nico Hülkenberg, who got his first points of the year last time around in 13th, while Kevin Magnussen is twelfth and Daniel Ricciardo begins his home race from eleventh. Oscar Piastri begins his home race from tenth, while Yuki Tsunoda will have his home race next time around, he's ninth today. Stoffel Vandoorne starts Eighth alongside Carlos Sainz, while Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso are on the third row. Lewis Hamilton begins from fourth with Valtteri Bottas third, and its the top two in the Championship on the front row. Charles Leclerc starts from second, and it is Pole number two of the year for Max Verstappen.

Verstappen off to a good start and holds the lead, Leclerc pushing him still, Sainz up ahead of Alonso, Ricciardo has had a terrible start and fallen all the way to fourteenth! Tsunoda up ahead of Piastri, not the best effort from the two Australians!

DRS has been enabled, and Leclerc is staying in Verstappen's range with it!

Hamilton up to P3, can he get himself into the conversation at the front? Leclerc meanwhile is going for the lead and he takes the lead away from Verstappen!!

Bottas isn't going away quietly, in fact a DRS train very much forming behind him! Norris now just behind him and Hamilton!

Verstappen has the lead back on lap seven!

But Leclerc powers through with DRS again!

(LEC) "I'm absolutely killing the tyres here."

(BOZ) "Copy understood, try and manage this pace and manage these tyres. You're doing good here Charles."

Verstappen has spotted an opportunity and gained on Leclerc and Hamilton here!

Vandoorne now takes Fourth off Bottas!

Lap 12: Verstappen, Leclerc, Hamilton, Vandoorne, Bottas, Alonso, Sainz, Norris, Tsunoda, Piastri

It gets worse for Ferrari as Vandoorne manages to slip by both Leclerc and Hamilton! Leclerc falls behind his teammate as well!

(LEC) "We have absolutely no pace in a straight line here. Struggling so much, so much."

(BOZ) "Head up, race is long."

PITSTOPS: Vandoorne and Tsunoda are first ones in! They are out and away

(BOZ) "Box, now, box."

(LEC) "Copy, box."

Alonso takes advantage of the infighting to sneak into second! Currently a Red Bull 1-2!

PITSTOPS: Ricciardo, Albon, Gasly, Stroll and Pourchaire all come in!

PITSTOPS: Alonso and Leclerc coming in on the following lap. Gasly having a delay on his stop! Big issues for Audi Sauber! That was a LONG stop! Alonso gets out ahead of Leclerc, just! But Leclerc has been undercut by Vandoorne as well!

(ADA) "Box, box, Lewis."

(HAM) "Copy, box this lap."

Lap 19: Verstappen, Norris, Bottas, Piastri, Alonso, Vandoorne, Leclerc, Russell, Tsunoda, Hamilton

PITSTOPS: Norris and Russell in, Norris rejoins P9, Russell P15.

Frustrating thing is the car isn't that quick in a straight line, our acceleration is terrible. And without DRS atm, we are struggling to keep pace

Norris moves ahead of Hamilton, as Ferrari continue to struggle this afternoon.

At the front, it's looking more and more that Verstappen might be one stopping this race. Alonso within twelve of the race leader.

PITSTOP: Bottas is in! He rejoins in P10. Onto Softs, he'll be stopping again.

McLaren quickly swap Norris and Piastri around, and Leclerc is held up a little by Piastri.

PITSTOP: Verstappen is IN and onto the Hards! Vitally for him, he's out ahead of Leclerc!

(LEC) "We have absolutely no pace today."

PITSTOP: Piastri is in, he's also onto the Hards and that's likely a one stopper as well.

Leclerc, currently P5, catching up to Norris and Vandoorne ahead of him. Still a gap to go to Verstappen, mind you.

(ADA) "And we need more tyre management, Lewis."

(HAM) "Yep. What is the gap ahead?"

(ADA) "Three seconds to Charles in front."

Leclerc gets Vandoorne now for P4, and is trying to chase down Norris for Third!

PITSTOP: Vandoorne with a delay! They had issues getting that left tyre off!

Bottas overtakes Hamilton for fifth!

Hamilton however gets Fifth back from Bottas on Lap 32! Meanwhile Leclerc has Norris and Third Place in his sights here.

Verstappen ahead of Alonso and into the lead of this Grand Prix!

Tsunoda with a lock-up and he's off! He drops behind Sainz into seventh!

At the front, Alonso is somehow keeping pace with Verstappen, thanks to DRS mainly.

(ADA) "Tyre phase update Lewis?"

(HAM) "Really struggling, think we should box here."

(ADA) "Copy. Box, and box."

(HAM) "Gonna box this lap."

PITSTOPS: Alonso in and he rejoins P5, Hamilton in as well and he's back out there in P7.

(BOZ) "Box this lap Charles."

(LEC) "Box this lap."

Ocon, down in 12th, has a lock-up and that's likely cost him any real chance of points today.

Lap 41: Verstappen, Alonso, Norris, Leclerc, Hamilton, Vandoorne, Bottas, Russell, Piastri, Tsunoda, Sainz, Ricciardo, Hülkenberg, Albon, Zhou, Magnussen, Stroll, Gasly, Ocon, Pourchaire

PITSTOP: Magnussen pits and is lapped in the process. Awful day for the Renault factory team.

Norris is absolutely struggling on those tyres, and it's likely he will have to make another stop today.

SAINZ

(BOZ) "This is a good pace, Charles. Seven seconds to Alonso, eighteen to Verstappen. 15 laps to go. This is possible."

[steel talon]

Lore, or zomething

From what i see, good 👍🏻

[foggy locust]

(LEC) "What were Max and Fernando's last lap times?"

(BOZ) "Lap 45, Verstappen 21.392, Alonso 20.203, you 19.553. Lap 46, Verstappen 20.778, Alonso 20.283, you 19.773. Keep this pace up."

(LEC) "Keep me updated, thank you."

[foggy locust]

Thanks mate! Appreciate that!

Lap 47: Verstappen 9 seconds clear of Alonso, 14 ahead of Leclerc. This still feels like anyone's game

(HAM) "Can't get much quicker."

(ADA) "No worries, this is a good pace Lewis. Keep pushing Norris."

Hamilton and Norris keeping up the DRS battle and Hamilton is into fourth!

The only rookie on the grid, Théo Pourchaire spins off and taps the barrier! He's able to continue on, though!

Ten laps remaining. Verstappen has 7 seconds on Alonso, and a further 5 on Leclerc. This is a fascinating finale to this race.

Leclerc laps Magnussen and Gasly and gets a bit of DRS into the bargain. He's within 2 and a half of Alonso. He's likely to catch Alonso before Alonso catches Verstappen.

Alonso going faster than Leclerc on that last lap, both faster than Verstappen, but that lap count is going further down and down.

(BOZ) "Six laps to go, Verstappen 20.971, Alonso 21.108, you, 20.008"

(LEC) "Copy. Gaps?"

(BOZ) "1.1 to Alonso, 6.6 to Verstappen. 5 laps left."

Leclerc has caught Alonso and is making the move on the main straight, Leclerc is into second place!!

Three laps remaining and I think Verstappen is just going to hold on here, he's over 3 seconds ahead of Leclerc, so the focus now on P2 for Leclerc and Alonso!

LAST LAP

Alonso gets second from Leclerc and this could well be the Red Bull 1-2! Verstappen is going to hold on to win this race, Hamilton is still trying to shake off Norris, and I think he has

BUT MAX VERSTAPPEN CROSSES THE LINE TO WIN THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX!!

AND FERNANDO ALONSO HOLDS OFF CHARLES LECLERC FOR P2!

(BOZ) "And P3, Charles, chequered flag, P3."

(LEC) "Ahhh, good job guys. I just ran out of laps at the end there, but great effort. We've been strong, we'll get them yet."

(BOZ) "Good job, Charles. Long season ahead, we'll get them."

(ADA) "Taking the flag. So, P4, P4 Lewis."

(HAM) "There's a long way to go but I believe in you guys Thank you very much for your consistent efforts."

(ADA) "Good drive today Lewis."

Norris P5, Bottas sixth, Vandoorne seventh, Tsunoda eighth, Sainz ninth, Russell tenth.

Ricciardo and Piastri outside the points

AND I THINK SOMEONE CRASHED ON THE INLAP

A bizarre Red Flag after the race, there was a crash on the in-lap, I think it was Piastri

[sterile breach]

did they stop on track?

and is there damage?

[foggy locust]

Yeah, a whole bunch of cars lined up. Tyre damage at least

[sterile breach]

usually post race SCs or red flags happen for me when one or two cars run out of fuel on the last lap (allegedly) and cause traffic jams

[foggy locust]

That probably would've been it

I didn't see who it was though for sure

2025 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
RACE RESULTS

1. Max Verstappen 01.19.33
2. Fernando Alonso +5.634
3. Charles Leclerc +0.483
4. Lewis Hamilton +11.133
5. Lando Norris +2.220
6. Valtteri Bottas +5.680
7. Stoffel Vandoorne +13.949
8. Yuki Tsunoda +22.603
9. Carlos Sainz +0.668
10. George Russell +0.180
11. Daniel Ricciardo +8.919
12. Oscar Piastri +2.375
13. Nico Hülkenberg +1 lap
14. Alexander Albon +1 lap
15. Zhou Guanyu +1 lap
16. Lance Stroll +1 lap
17. Esteban Ocon +1 lap
18. Kevin Magnussen +1 lap
19. Pierre Gasly +1 lap
20. Théo Pourchaire +1 lap

DRIVER OF THE DAY:
MAX VERSTAPPEN, RED BULL

The three time Champion had a masterful one stop strategy that set him apart from the rest and saw him take a comfortable second consecutive victory. Max Verstappen is your Driver of the Day!

FASTEST LAP AWARD
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari 1.18.480

DHL FASTEST PITSTOP AWARD
Fernando Alonso, Red Bull 2.181s

BRIDGESTONE IN TALKS FOR FORMULA 1 RETURN

Bridgestone have opened talks with Formula 1 about becoming their new tyre supplier from the 2026 season onwards.

Pirelli's contract with Formula 1 expires at the end of this upcoming season, and Bridgestone believe there is an opportunity to return to the pinnacle of motorsport.

There is also a potential for two suppliers to be in play for next season, heralding a potential return to Formula 1's famous "tyre wars".

[sterile breach]

Tire War 2 incoming

[foggy locust]

2025 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
WEEKEND PREVIEW

We head to one of the Drivers’ favourites, Suzuka, for the fourth round of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship and we may well have a Championship on again this year.

And a fascinating caveat is in play at Suzuka, as it’s expected to rain the entire weekend, which cancels out any DRS advantages of course, and levels the playing field. The Figure of Eight Circuit will be ready for 53 laps, and likely either a one or two stop depending on the rain.

It's early days, but Red Bull took victory away from Ferrari with a 1-2 at Melbourne to close the gap in the Constructors to 13 points, and to put Max Verstappen top of the Drivers’ Championship by three points, with two consecutive wins. Red Bull will hope to match that again and go-ahead of Ferrari this weekend.

However, the Scuderia look to bounce back and they do have a cornering advantage to Red Bull, and Suzuka is a track, unlike Melbourne, that is all about the cornering. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were third and fourth in Australia, and Ferrari are aiming to regain top spot this time around. Leclerc wants to take a step forward in his title defence, while Hamilton is aiming to get involved in the title conversation as he aims for number eight.

McLaren meanwhile dropped to fourth and are bringing big Chassis upgrades to Suzuka with the aims of overhauling the top teams. They are a long way back from Ferrari and Red Bull at the top, and currently sit behind Aston Martin, but Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are aiming for those elusive race wins this season, beginning at Suzuka.

Speaking of Aston Martin, the surprise package of the season so far has been Valtteri Bottas, who took his first podium since leaving Mercedes - his last coming at Saudi Arabia in 2021, this one coming at the same venue. While Aston didn't quite have the pace last time around, they've targeted Suzuka - home of their future works partner, Honda - as an opportunity for big points.

It's also the home race of Yuki Tsunoda, and as Racing Bulls remain in talks with possible outside investors to take the team outside Red Bull control, they remain entrenched in a fight for fifth in the Championship. Tsunoda will want to impress his home crowd - and impress any potential new incoming team owners.

This season has started off poorly for Mercedes, who find themselves a shocking seventh after three races, form not seen from a “Big Three” team since Ferrari's horrendous 2020 season, where the Scuderia ended up sixth. Having picked up double points last time though, they find themselves just behind customer team and close associates Williams in sixth. Can Mercedes turn this year around and make it a success?

Haas are another team that may have some new fans in Japan, due to a newly announced sponsorship deal with Toyota, which, while not a works deal just yet, will allow Toyota baby steps back into Formula 1, while allowing Haas use of their wind tunnel and asset sharing - and a potential new fanbase right here in Japan.

Williams and Alpine may both have some success due to stronger medium and high speed cornering, while Audi Sauber’s focus likely remains on 2025, so they're likely to spend this weekend on the back foot.

But of course, anything can happen on a rainy weekend in Formula 1.

FP1 Reserves: Maini (Magnussen), Hauger (Zhou), Verschoor (Tsunoda), Boya (Gasly), Montoya (Bottas)

FP1: HAM LEC ALO

In a session mostly washed out by the rain, Ferrari set the early pace with Hamilton going quickest from Leclerc. Alonso third, with Piastri fourth and Richard Verschoor impressing for RB in fifth.

FP2: VER HAM PIA
LEC P4

Another session where, due to the rain for most of it, it was very difficult to tell who's quick and who isn't. For now though, Verstappen's topped the session ahead of Hamilton, Piastri and Leclerc. Magnussen's running of the day lasted two minutes with a crash at Turn 9, having missed FP1.

FP3: LEC PIA HAM

About 30 minutes of dry running here saw Leclerc go fastest ahead of Piastri and Hamilton. Two VSCs required in this session, as Vandoorne crashed early in the session, and Norris crashed out with about a minute to go. Work for the Aston Martin and McLaren garages ahead of qualifying.

Well, here we go, it's time for Qualifying and it's honestly hard to tell which way this will go. Rain predominantly in the air, this could make for very entertaining - and very nervous viewing. Running in practice was limited due to the rain, three different drivers - Hamilton, Verstappen and Leclerc - topped practice sessions, Pole is anyone's guess.

FP1 is Green!

3.00pm: This is interesting, heavy rain for now, that will probably get less as we go on. Nobody on track braving the conditions just yet.

3.03pm: We have a car on track, Alexander Albon is the first to brave the conditions.

3.07pm: Most cars are trying at least one banker lap here. In fact, all twenty cars out on circuit, I reckon this will be a two attempt session, I'd be surprised if teams use up more than one set though with more rain tomorrow.

3.08pm: Albon has gone quickest initially, as he started first. That probably won't last, as Alonso and Ricciardo both take purple sectors. Ricciardo second, Gasly now Third.

3.09pm: There is SO MUCH TRAFFIC. Both Hamilton and Leclerc have likely had their laps compromised here.

3.10pm: Bottas into top spot, both Leclerc and Hamilton in the bottom five. Not ideal at all.

DRIVER AT RISK: Gasly
RELEGATION ZONE: Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Vandoorne, Norris

3.15pm: Leclerc goes quickest, Hamilton just tenth...Ferrari are staying out for another go of it, but did they go too early?

3.16pm: Alonso goes up to top spot. Hamilton is in real, real trouble now, Leclerc should be safe.

Norris up top spot and safe, Hamilton is at risk...Russell improving, HAMILTON IS OUT IN Q1. DISASTER FOR THE SEVEN TIME CHAMPION. Ocon, Stroll, Zhou and Gasly out too.

(ADA) "And that's us out, Lewis. P16. Sorry."

(HAM) "Too much traffic. We went too early. Sorry guys."

OUT IN Q1: Hamilton, Ocon, Stroll, Zhou, Gasly

Q2 goes Green here!

3.25pm: The rain is absolutely hammering it down now, and this is likely going to be a full, full Wets session.

4.29pm: Verstappen purple through all three sectors, nobody getting close...and then LECLERC PULLS OFF A STORMER OF A THIRD SECTOR FOR P1

3.30pm: Norris goes third fastest, but still a full sector off Leclerc. Sainz fourth, Magnussen currently fifth.

3.31pm: Alonso just 11th and Russell 12th...Vandoorne goes 4th, and Pourchaire into 7th!! Could this be a first Q3 for the rookie?

DRIVER AT RISK: Piastri
RELEGATION ZONE: Albon, Hülkenberg, Alonso, Russell, Ricciardo

3.36pm: Verstappen second as Norris goes fastest! Alonso up to sixth, Sainz Eighth and Russell ninth, Hülkenberg 15th, doesn't look like Leclerc is heading back out there this session.

3.38pm: Piastri slots into fourth, Pourchaire down into the drop zone but improving, but he can't do enough to get out of the bottom five and he's out!

Magnussen, Ricciardo and Hülkenberg all on fliers, Russell at risk, but neither Ricciardo nor Magnussen improve...Hülkenberg stays 15th!

OUT IN Q2: Pourchaire, Magnussen, Ricciardo, Albon, Hülkenberg

Green light and we are a go for Q3! Who will take Pole?

3.48pm: The rain very much going off so it looks like we'll get some dry running at the end in the battle for Pole! For now, all ten drivers trying an Intermediates lap

[sterile breach]

Sweet, we found a way to go back in time!

[foggy locust]

3.51pm: Piastri absolutely nailing this lap and goes fastest in all three sectors! Alonso second, Leclerc Third, Verstappen about to go quicker though, Verstappen takes Pole off Piastri for now!

[foggy locust]

Clocks went back this weekend 😂

Q2 was a mistype of 4, lol

Q3 AS IT STANDS: Verstappen, Piastri, Alonso, Leclerc, Norris, Bottas, Russell, Vandoorne, Tsunoda, Sainz

3.56pm: Verstappen and Alonso getting out on track for their final go of it early here.

3.57pm: Leclerc, Piastri, Russell and Tsunoda soon follow suit. Still a slight drop of rain on track. Very slight.

Russell just went fastest. None of Bottas, Vandoorne or Sainz are attempting a final lap! Alonso now quickest, Verstappen takes it off him! Norris up to third, Tsunoda runs wide on turn 13 and that may have compromised Leclerc who goes Third, Piastri stays Fifth! It is Pole once again for Max Verstappen!

Q3: Verstappen, Alonso, Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Russell, Tsunoda, Bottas, Vandoorne, Sainz

2025 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
STARTING GRID

VER ALO

LEC NOR

PIA RUS

TSU BOT

VAN SAI

POU MAG

RIC ALB

HÜL HAM

OCO STR

ZHO GAS

Well, here we are, it is raceday in the land of the rising sun, but the sun has not risen just yet, it is a very wet and windy afternoon here at Suzuka. 53 laps of this circuit, and it's expected to rain throughout the race today. Red Bull have taken a huge step forward with a 1-2, will Ferrari or McLaren be able to challenge them at the front today?

Pierre Gasly starts at the very back of the grid, with Zhou Guanyu for company, then its Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon on row nine. Lewis Hamilton was a shock Q1 exit yesterday so he starts alongside Nico Hülkenberg on the Eighth row, with Alex Albon and Daniel Ricciardo just ahead on row seven. Kevin Magnussen had a crash in FP2 but recovered for twelfth, Théo Pourchaire has his highest career start to date from 11th. Carlos Sainz will start 10th with Stoffel Vandoorne 9th, then its Valtteri Bottas Eighth and Yuki Tsunoda begins his home race from Seventh. George Russell and Oscar Piastri are on the third row, with Lando Norris fourth after an FP3 crash yesterday, while defending Champion Charles Leclerc starts third, and Red Bull lock out the front row - Fernando Alonso second, while Championship leader Max Verstappen starts on Pole for the third time this season.

Verstappen holds the lead, Leclerc pushes past Alonso to take P2 here! Piastri up ahead of Norris, Tsunoda is into sixth, Russell Seventh, Sainz ahead of Vandoorne, Hamilton still sixteenth for now

Remember no DRS so it's going to simply be pushing as much as possible here, but Verstappen opening up a gap to Leclerc for now

Tsunoda into sixth, and that's going over well with the fans here in Japan.

Leclerc has caught Verstappen here and the one-time Champion now very much pressuring the three-time Champion for the lead of the race!

Ricciardo takes eleventh from Pourchaire, but there's still a two second gap to Vandoorne for that last point.

(HAM) "Just completely stuck in traffic here, mate."

Hamilton now gets past Albon for 15th! Very much a recovery drive for him at this point.

Leclerc now very much under threat for P2 from Piastri, but he's holding the McLaren off for now.

(BOZ) "LiCo not needed for now, you can push again."

(LEC) "Yeah, copy."

Hamilton with a lovely move round the outside of Hülkenberg into 14th. He's moving up past the pack, but not quickly enough.

Bottas takes Sixth from Tsunoda!

Hülkenberg runs very wide there! He manages to correct himself, but he's dropped behind Hamilton.

Speaking of Hamilton, he gets Magnussen for 13th!

(BOZ) "Gap to Verstappen, 2.6, gap behind to Piastri, 0.4. We need some more lifting for tyre temps."

(LEC) "I am lifting as much as I can here."

(HAM) "Sorry about that, guys."

(ADA) "Keep going."

Hamilton with a big lock-up there, and he drops back to fourteenth behind Hulkenberg, A rare mistake by the seven time World Champion.

Alonso gets third off Piastri!

Lap 13: Verstappen, Leclerc, Alonso, Piastri, Norris, Bottas, Tsunoda, Russell, Sainz, Vandoorne, Ricciardo, Pourchaire, Hülkenberg, Hamilton, Magnussen, Stroll, Albon, Ocon, Zhou, Gasly

Hamilton makes the move on Hülkenberg, and is now chasing down Pourchaire for twelfth.

Leclerc now closing on Verstappen, now within 2 seconds of the Red Bull.

Norris takes third from Alonso, a superb battle now between the two McLarens and their team's former driver

Hamilton overtakes Ricciardo for P11!

PITSTOP: Vandoorne with the first stop of the day! He comes in on lap 22

(BOZ) "Box, box"

(LEC) "Copy, box."

(ADA) "Box, box this lap."

(HAM) "In this lap."

PITSTOP: Hamilton is in and out of the pits! He rejoins P16.

Verstappen managing to keep the distance between himself and Leclerc around 2 seconds as jt stands.

PITSTOP ISSUE: The Haas pit crew having major issues in getting that tyre off from Hülkenberg's car!

PITSTOPS; Both Alonso and Piastri stopping at the same time, and Alonso rejoins P5, Piastri P6! Tsunoda Fourth, but the RB is yet to stop!

(LEC) "What is the gap to Max?"

(BOZ) "Currently 3.6. Keep this pace for now, this is a good pace."

(ADA) "Some room to push here, Lewis."

(HAM) "Yeah, copy, copy."

PITSTOP: Tsunoda is in, and rejoins in P11.

Hamilton makes the move on Carlos Sainz, the man he swapped seats with, and Hamilton now into P8!

Lap 31: Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Alonso, Bottas, Ricciardo, Hamilton, Sainz, Russell, Tsunoda, Vandoorne, Magnussen, Pourchaire, Stroll, Albon, Ocon, Hülkenberg, Zhou, Gasly

(BOZ) "This is a good pace, Charles, keep it up. Gap to Verstappen, 4.3."

Leclerc about four tenths quicker than Verstappen on that last lap.

Piastri makes the move on Alonso and that's him up to fourth! Now, will McLaren let their two Drivers fight for Third?

PITSTOP: Daniel Ricciardo is last to make his stop - he rejoins in P12, but he'll have fresher tyres than anyone.

There's your answer as Oscar Piastri gets past Lando Norris for P3!

VERSTAPPEN

A big response from Verstappen there, and that's increased his gap to Leclerc. The Champion has some work to do.

Vandoorne having some issues with his gearbox! It looks minor, but far from ideal for him!

Lap 38: Verstappen, Leclerc, Piastri, Norris, Alonso, Bottas, Hamilton, Sainz, Russell, Tsunoda

Tsunoda overtakes Russell, but goes very wide to do it, and Russell regains ninth spot! Nothing ventured, but still.

[sterile breach]

Actually, how is Vandoorne doing? Not many people have even seen him on the grid in their saves on any F1 manager

[foggy locust]

Lap 40: Verstappen about 3.5 ahead of Leclerc, Piastri 13 behind and has 1 second on Norris, who has Alonso right behind. Bottas Sixth, 13 seconds back with Hamilton a further 9, and Sainz a further 9. Russell about 3 seconds back off his teammate, and under immediate pressure from Tsunoda, who has 14 seconds on Vandoorne for the final point.

[foggy locust]

So far, 8 points to Bottas' 39 in is the fourth fastest car, so not amazing

I was shocked he got a seat at AM. I thought they'd promote Drugovich

RICCIARDO

Ricciardo takes the fastest lap away from Verstappen! Might not be a popular one within the Red Bull offices.

Verstappen extends his advantage to 5.1, and this might be done and dusted at this point. A massive, massive ask for Leclerc to come back now.

(ADA) "Update your status please?"

(HAM) "Rears starting to wear thin here."

(BOZ) "Charles, we need you to push now. Your best driving here please."

PIASTRI

Five laps to go, Verstappen now with a 3.3 advantage to Leclerc. Is this possible for the comeback?

(LEC) "Unbelievably slow to get out of the way. Typical Magnussen."

Magnussen takes longer than he should to get out of Leclerc's way, and Leclerc, understandably, not best pleased.

(BOZ) "Bring the car home."

(HAM) "What is the gap to Valtteri?"

(ADA) "6.8. Just get the car home now."

Max Verstappen has been a class above today, he's controlled the pace of this race and controlled it well, and he CROSSES THE LINE TO WIN THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX!!

AND VERSTAPPEN TAKES FL TOO

(BOZ) "And that's the chequered flag, so P2, another podium, good job, Charles!"

(LEC) "Yeah, good job guys. Gave it my all there, pace was good but wasn't there to beat Max. Thanks guys."

(BOZ) "That's a good effort. Some pickup please."

PIASTRI P3

Norris Fourth, Alonso fifth, Bottas sixth

(ADA) "Taking the flag. And P7, Lewis. Good recovery."

(HAM) "Let's keep pushing, I have faith in you guys. Tough weekend, but I think we did the best we could today."

(ADA) "We'll get them next time. Some pickup."

Sainz P8, Tsunoda gets P9 at home! Russell P10

2025 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
RACE CLASSIFICATION

1. Max Verstappen 01.25.15
2. Charles Leclerc +8.128
3. Oscar Piastri +10.863
4. Lando Norris +3.678
5. Fernando Alonso +1.405
6. Valtteri Bottas +18.034
7. Lewis Hamilton +9.658
8. Carlos Sainz +14.985
9. Yuki Tsunoda +3.000
10. George Russell +2.454
11. Daniel Ricciardo +1 lap
12. Stoffel Vandoorne +1 lap
13. Théo Pourchaire +1 lap
14. Kevin Magnussen +1 lap
15. Esteban Ocon +1 lap
16. Nico Hülkenberg +1 lap
17. Alexander Albon +1 lap
18. Zhou Guanyu +1 lap
19. Pierre Gasly +1 lap
20. Lance Stroll +1 lap

DRIVER OF THE DAY:
OSCAR PIASTRI, McLAREN

A superb drive from the Australian to beat out both his teammate and Red Bull's Fernando Alonso, Oscar Piastri earned a sensational podium, and your vote as Driver of the Day!

FASTEST LAP AWARD
Max Verstappen, Red Bull 1.32.691

DHL FASTEST PITSTOP AWARD
Fernando Alonso, Red Bull 2.229s

2025 FIA FORMULA 1 WORLD DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP
After 4 Weekends

Verstappen 88
Leclerc 77
Hamilton 50
Norris 41
Bottas 39
Alonso 38
Piastri 21
Tsunoda 12
Albon 10
Sainz 10
Ricciardo 8
Vandoorne 8
Russell 4
Hülkenberg 2
Stroll 0
Zhou 0
Pourchaire 0
Magnussen 0
Ocon 0
Gasly 0

2025 FIA FORMULA 1 WORLD CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP
After 4 Weekends

Ferrari 127
Red Bull-Honda RBPT 126
McLaren-Mercedes 62
Aston Martin-Honda RBPT 47
Racing Bulls-Honda RBPT 20
Mercedes 14
Williams-Mercedes 10
Haas-Ferrari 2
Audi Sauber-Mercedes 0
Alpine-Renault 0

FIA REVEAL 2026 CAR REGULATIONS

The FIA have announced today the design of the 2026 Formula 1 cars.

The cars will receive a major overhaul, with major airflow changes at the heart of the car, allowing teams to use more powerful engines at the expense of airflow reductions.

Cornering will receive a 50% reduction, while Cooling, Drag Reduction and Tyre Preservation will all take 60% hits from the 2025 car.

The FIA hopes the lighter, thinner cars will encourage closer racing and more overtaking.

[foggy locust]

2025 CHINESE GRAND PRIX
WEEKEND PREVIEW

With Round 4 and a rainy race in Suzuka in the mirrors, we head to Shanghai for the first Sprint weekend of the season.

Max Verstappen took a third consecutive victory at Suzuka, and with the fastest lap on the final lap, he took an eleven point lead over Charles Leclerc in the Drivers Championship and closed Ferrari's advantage over Red Bull to a single point.

Which leads us to Shanghai. Two qualifying sessions, two races, two chances for big points. 56 laps over this 5.451km circuit, the second time we've raced here since 2019 after missing four in a row from 2020 to 2023. Expected to be sunny all weekend, removing that factor that weighed in heavily last time around.

Red Bull were quickest around Suzuka and with both them and Ferrari bringing upgrades this weekend, this is one that Ferrari desperately need to strike back at the Bulls. Leclerc looks to gain on Verstappen, while Lewis Hamilton is still searching for his first victory in Red.

Verstappen meanwhile is on a roll, with three straight victories, and Red Bull, despite being a point down on Ferrari, remain the team to beat this weekend. Fernando Alonso is also searching for that elusive 33rd career victory, will there be an opportunity for him this weekend?

McLaren were third fastest in Japan and remain entrenched in a battle with Aston Martin for third in the Constructors Championship. This is a track that definitely suits McLaren more than their green and white rivals, can McLaren build up their gap to the Astons?

We have a three team fight for fifth that surprisingly involves Mercedes, who continued to gain ground on RB and Williams last time, even despite Yuki Tsunoda scoring points at home. Carlos Sainz and George Russell have been scoring points, but at the lower end of the table, and if Mercedes are going to pick up anything more than midtable, they need to start scoring higher as soon as possible.

It's the home Grand Prix of Zhou Guanyu at Haas, and his team sit two points ahead of the scoreless Audi Sauber, and Alpine. All three teams are likely looking towards the massive regulation changes for 2026 - Audi becoming their own in-house program, Alpine exploring options as a potential customer team, and Haas with their new found partnership with Toyota. But can any of them bring in anything this weekend?

It is, as mentioned before, a Sprint Weekend, which disrupts our usual flow of practice, but more points are on offer on Saturday as well as Sunday. Who will make the most of it in Shanghai?

FP1 Reserves: Bedrin (Piastri), Verschoor (Ricciardo), Boya (Pourchaire), Montoya (Bottas)

FP1: HAM NOR LEC

A 1-3 for Ferrari to open up the weekend, with Hamilton fastest and Leclerc third, split by the McLaren of Lando Norris, with Max Verstappen fourth.

It is time to go Qualifying in Shanghai, well, Sprint Qualifying at the least! It is Sprint Shootout Friday, as we decide the Grid for the Sprint race. Ferrari have shown some pace already this weekend, but McLaren and Red Bull are not far behind.

SQ1 goes Green!

3.30pm: Quite a few drivers out on track already, as Leclerc, Norris, Verstappen, Russell, Albon and Tsunoda are already starting their first attempts.

(LEC) "Same old Stroll, I see"

3.33pm: Russell and Norris have both gone purple through S1, respectively. Leclerc goes fastest so far.

3.34pm: Verstappen goes 0.094 ahead of Leclerc, then Norris goes fastest, Russell then goes 0.550 ahead of Norris! Where did that lap come from?

3.37pm: Leclerc and Verstappen, 12th and 10th respectively, both back out on track for another go at this.

DRIVER AT RISK: Tsunoda
RELEGATION ZONE: Albon, Zhou, Vandoorne, Pourchaire, Magnussen

(LEC) "How many f---ing times with Stroll, for f--k's sake?"

(BOZ) "We've seen it Charles, we're on it, keep your head down."

3.41pm: Despite some traffic from Stroll, Leclerc is Third and safe. Albon ninth, putting Tsunoda into the bottom five, and Ricciardo at risk.

Pourchaire 13th so Ricciardo into the drop zone, Gasly at risk, might not be enough.. Ricciardo can't get out of the bottom five, Vandoorne Seventh so he's safe, Gasly is out, Magnussen 15th but Oxon still on track, Zhou is out at his home race, Tsunoda just 15th, Ocon goes 14th and knocks Tsunoda out!

OUT IN SQ1: Tsunoda, Magnussen, Gasly, Zhou, Ricciardo

SQ2 is Green!

3.57pm: All 15 cars out on track right now for a first attempt here.

3.59pm: Hamilton goes quickest initially, then Leclerc about 4 tenths ahead, Verstappen 7 tenths ahead. Bottas P4, with Alonso fifth ahead of the two McLarens, Piastri just ahead of Norris.

DRIVER AT RISK: Hülkenberg
RELEGATION ZONE: Stroll, Albon, Pourchaire, Ocon, Russell

4.01pm: Russell is one to watch here - he needs a good time on this lap.

4.02pm: Everyone bar Verstappen taking a second attempt at this - the Red Bull driver clearly believes he's done enough here.

4.03pm: Ocon goes wide at Turn 1, but he's able to course correct, may have compromised his chances at SQ3, however.

Russell up to seventh, will that be enough? Vandoorne at risk, but none of the bottom five improving, Vandoorne ninth and Sainz at risk, Stroll is out, Ocon is out, Albon, Hülkenberg and Pourchaire all exit. Top five team lockout.

OUT IN SQ2: Hülkenberg, Stroll, Albon, Pourchaire, Ocon

SQ3 is Green! Who is taking Pole?

4.19pm: Verstappen first out on track, trying to set the early benchmark.

4.21pm: Oscar Piastri and Valtteri Bottas heading out there early too.

4.22pm: Norris, Hamilton and Leclerc now all out on track to try and take Pole here.

4.23pm: Verstappen sets a 30.424, Piastri just 0.001 behind!!

4.25pm: Norris into Third, 0.172 behind the leader, Hamilton into Third, LECLERC TAKES POLE FOR NOW

Russell into Seventh, Vandoorne Eighth, Alonso and Sainz last to finish...Sainz ninth, Alonso...fourth, it is SPRINT POLE FOR CHARLES LECLERC!

(BOZ) "And that's my boy, that's Pole! Great job, Charles!"

(LEC) "Let's goooo! Ah, good job, good job. Great start to the weekend."

SQ3: Leclerc, Verstappen, Piastri, Alonso, Hamilton, Norris, Bottas, Russell, Vandoorne, Sainz

2025 CHINESE GRAND PRIX
SPRINT GRID

LEC VER

PIA ALO

HAM NOR

BOT RUS

VAN SAI

HÜL STR

ALB POU

OCO TSU

MAG GAS

ZHO RIC

It is time to go Sprinting here in Shanghai, and it is a dry, warm day here in the People's Republic of China, 19 laps, a third of what we'll do tomorrow awaits us. Ferrari have looked very quick, but Red Bull and McLaren aren't far behind.

Daniel Ricciardo is at the very back, while Zhou Guanyu starts his home Sprint beside him on the back row, Pierre Gasly and Kevin Magnussen one row ahead, then it's Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon on row Eighth. Théo Pourchaire starts from 14th with Alexander Albon beside him 13th, Lance Stroll just escaped an impeding penalty so he starts 12th beside Nico Hülkenberg in 11th. Carlos Sainz and Stoffel Vandoorne start on the fifth row, with their teammates George Russell and the man he replaced at Mercedes Valtteri Bottas on row four. Lando Norris starts Sixth just behind Lewis Hamilton in fifth, while Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri begin on row two, and it is the two Championship protagonists so far this season on the front row - Max Verstappen, Championship leader starts second and it is Pole Position for Charles Leclerc, the defending Champion.

Leclerc off to a great start, Verstappen just holding off Piastri, Hamilton ahead of Alonso, Norris, Bottas, Vandoorne, Russell ninth, Hülkenberg ahead of Sainz!

Hamilton making the move on Piastri and Hamilton is into P3!

That long straight for Verstappen is going to be a major advantage for him over Leclerc. Leclerc has to make the break into the cornering and break DRS if he can.

Hamilton holding off Piastri best he can, but Piastri gets DRS and is back into Third!

Leclerc breaks DRS from Verstappen and this is a great opportunity for the Ferrari driver!

(BOZ) "This is exactly the kind of pace we need Charles, keep this going, you're doing a good job here"

(ADA) "Verstappen now 1.6 in front. You can get him."

Hamilton now gets P2 from Verstappen! Will he now go after his teammate here?

Lap 8: Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Piastri, Norris, Alonso, Bottas, Russell

Russell has gotten himself back into the points with that move on Vandoorne

Hamilton about 1.759 behind Leclerc. Game on here.

Has to be said, Lewis' tyres look slightly fresher here, as Leclerc pushed a lot at the beginning of this race.

(ADA) "You are free to race against Charles, keep it clean though."

(HAM) "Yeah, copy."

Verstappen now about five seconds off Leclerc and Hamilton.

Hamilton going for the lead with DRS and he has the lead of this Sprint!

Hamilton holding the lead here, but Leclerc about 5 tenths off. Anyone's game here.

Leclerc going for the lead, and takes the lead off Hamilton!

Piastri, who was running third earlier, is struggling with tyre life and has dropped behind Alonso and Norris.

Four laps remaining and Leclerc trying to make a move with DRS, bit can't quite get it done here!

Sainz going for eighth, and takes eighth off Russell AND THE TWO MERCS NEARLY COLLIDE! THAT WAS VERY, VERY CLOSE! Russell runs wide and he loses time, and a place to Vandoorne!

Leclerc going for the lead with three to go, and Charles Leclerc leads the Sprint once more!

Lap 17: Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Norris, Piastri, Bottas, Sainz

SAINZ HAS A LOCK-UP! He drops to 10th, and he might well have cost both Mercedes points today!

Hamilton has DRS on lap 18, and Hamilton is into P1!!!

: Pourchaire with a spin! He corrects himself quickly and manages to keep P17.

LAST LAP. Can Hamilton hold off Leclerc for the Sprint victory?

Hamilton's got a 0.9 advantage, Leclerc is trying to make the overtake but Hamilton is going to hold him off AND LEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE CHINESE SPRINT!!!

(ADA) "And that's P1, Lewis! Well done! First victory for Ferrari!"

(HAM) "YESSSS GUYS! So proud of you all! Ah, that's good to get that first Sprint win in Red, let's go again tomorrow!"

(ADA) "Fantastic job, well done Lewis!"

(BOZ) "And that's the flag Charles, P2. Good job, that's a good performance."

(LEC) "Yeah, thanks guys, shame not to have won that, but we'll go again later today and tomorrow."

Piastri has managed to get Fourth back, Alonso fifth, Norris Sixth, Bottas Seventh, Russell gets Eighth back!

2025 CHINESE GRAND PRIX
SPRINT CLASSIFICATION

1. Lewis Hamilton 00.30.26
2. Charles Leclerc +0.540
3. Max Verstappen +13.079
4. Oscar Piastri +6.244
5. Fernando Alonso +0.046
6. Lando Norris +2.701
7. Valtteri Bottas +7.902
8. George Russell +5.112
9. Stoffel Vandoorne +3.282
10. Carlos Sainz +4.714
11. Yuki Tsunoda +0.709
12. Alexander Albon +4.636
13. Nico Hülkenberg +0.207
14. Lance Stroll +0.714
15. Daniel Ricciardo +3.135
16. Zhou Guanyu +5.375
17. Kevin Magnussen +5.407
18. Théo Pourchaire +3.078
19. Pierre Gasly +0.196
20. Esteban Ocon +4.518

[foggy locust]

After the Sprint victory for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari earlier today, our attention now turns to Qualifying. Ferrari's race pace was stronger than their qualifying pace, so could that open the door for Red Bull or McLaren here, or will Leclerc match his Sprint Pole, or will Hamilton take his first Ferrari qualifying Pole?

Q1 is a go, we are green!

3.00pm: Lewis Hamilton, who won the Sprint earlier today, is first on track. Yuki Tsunoda and Zhou Guanyu heading out too, Zhou getting a good reaction from the fans here.

3.02pm: Norris and Verstappen heading out early as well here.

3.06pm: Verstappen going 5 tenths slower than Hamilton, Norris 8 tenths. Leclerc going purple through those first two sectors - Ferrari look very, very fast this weekend. Leclerc 3 tenths up on Hamilton, that's a stunning lap.

3.07pm: Both RBs are over 2 seconds off the pace, and the Red Bull junior team is struggling for pace.

3.09pm: Sainz goes up to fourth, with Piastri sixth. Some much needed pace from Mercedes, although make that fifth and seventh, as Alonso slots into third.

3.12pm: Hülkenberg with a big lock-up there! That's likely wrecked his lap, and he'll absolutely need to go again.

3.13pm: Bottas into eighth, while his teammate is sixteenth. Conversations to be had at Aston Martin?

DRIVER AT RISK: Tsunoda
RELEGATION ZONE: Vandoorne, Ocon, Gasly, Stroll, Hülkenberg

3.13pm: Some joy for the local fans as Zhou Guanyu goes up to eleventh! Could he get into Q2 today?

3.16pm: Vandoorne goes 13th, and with Russell behind him, I'm not entirely sure that will be enough to get into Q2.

3.17pm: Hülkenberg has had a shocker, and goes 18th, Gasly hasn't improved either, both are out of qualifying.

Pourchaire doesn't make it through, Magnussen and Ocon still going here, Stroll at risk, Vandoorne on deck, Magnussen goes 16th, Ocon meanwhile just 19th and both Stroll and Vandoorne make it through!

OUT IN Q1: Magnussen, Pourchaire, Gasly, Ocon, Hülkenberg

Q2 is Green!

3.25pm: Hamilton and Norris both out on track just now. Worth noting by the way, Zhou Guanyu has outqualified his teammate at his home GP.

3.28pm: Norris quickest in S1 so far, Hamilton through S2. Hamilton goes fastest for now. Bottas just took S1's purple sector.

3.29pm: Norris 5 tenths ahead of Hamilton, who is still ahead of Tsunoda. Hamilton may have lost a fair bit in that first sector. Leclerc, Alonso, Albon and Vandoorne all on track right now.

3.30pm: Leclerc slowed a lot by Verstappen and he's abandoning his lap with that yellow flag! Alonso with a big spin off and that's wrecked his first lap!

3.33pm: Zhou Guanyu goes Sixth and that is a very popular laptime!

3.34pm: Piastri quickest, ahead of Bottas, Norris and Hamilton just now. Russell fifth, Verstappen sixth.

3.36pm: Leclerc goes quickest, but will he have time to get back to the pits to do another lap? Alonso up to third.

DRIVER AT RISK: Vandoorne
Zhou, Sainz, Stroll, Ricciardo, Albon

3.37pm: Albon with a big lock-up! That's likely wrecked his lap, and will be tough to get out of Q2 from there.

Albon is out, Hamilton quickest through S2. Hamilton goes fastest! Vandoorne not improving and at risk, Sainz hits heavy traffic and that might cost him Q3! Zhou remains eleventh, Sainz up to Eighth and knocks out Vandoorne! Stroll and Ricciardo also out.

OUT IN Q2: Vandoorne, Zhou, Stroll, Ricciardo, Albon

And we go Green for Q3! Who's taking Pole?

3.50pm: Most of the field on used Softs, apart from Leclerc who is running new, having not used an extra set in Q2.

3.52pm: Leclerc two teether ahead of Hamilton, Russell Third, but Alonso is going Purple through S1 and S2!

3.53pm: Bottas splits the Ferraris, but Alonso goes 3 tenths faster than Leclerc! That is a shocker!

3.54pm: And Norris and Piastri both go ahead of Alonso! Piastri on Pole as it stands! Verstappen Fourth, Tsunoda ninth.

AS IT STANDS: Piastri, Norris, Alonso, Verstappen, Leclerc, Bottas, Hamilton, Russell, Tsunoda, Sainz

3.57pm: Final laps starting now. All ten remaining are on track, Bottas starting his last lap first.

3.58pm: Taunoda with a brief spin! But he's able to get it back quickly! Hamilton going purple through S1 and S2, Leclerc not far off, Leclerc takes Pole for now but LEWIS HAMILTON BEATS HIM BY 0.190!

No improvements by Alonso or Veratappen and they'll start at highest Fifth and sixth! Bottas and Russell don't improve, Sainz up to ninth, Leclerc goes again but cannot steal Pole from his teammate! PIASTRI STAYS THIRD, IT IS POLE POSITION FOR LEWIS HAMILTON!!!

Q3: Hamilton, Leclerc, Piastri, Norris, Alonso, Verstappen, Bottas, Russell, Sainz, Tsunoda

(ADA) "And that is Pole, Lewis, Pole Position!"

(HAM) "Yesss, get in there! Fantastic job guys, well done everyone."

2025 CHINESE GRAND PRIX
STARTING GRID

HAM LEC

PIA NOR

ALO VER

BOT RUS

SAI TSU

VAN ZHO

STR RIC

ALB MAG

POU GAS

OCO HÜL

Welcome to China, it is race day here at the Shanghai International Circuit, and after a strong weekend so far for the Scuderia, Ferrari have the advantage heading into today. But we have 56 laps of this 5.451km circuit to decide that, 16 turns, two DRS zones right at the end and start of the circuit, it's a low speed high downforce circuit, and it's likely a two stopper but you might be able to do one if you're brave enough.

Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Ocon start in the very back row, then the two Audi Saubers see Pierre Gasly and Théo Pourchaire on row nine, Kevin Magnussen just behind Alex Albon on the eighth row. Daniel Ricciardo starts 14th with Lance Stroll beside him in 13th, Zhou Guanyu starts his home Grand Prix from 12th with a real opportunity for points today, while Stoffel Vandoorne is eleventh. Yuki Tsunoda and Carlos Sainz on the fifth row, while George Russell is immediately ahead of his teammate in Eighth, and Valtteri Bottas Seventh. Max Verstappen, the Championship leader starts down in sixth with Fernando Alonso, his Red Bull teammate beside him in Fifth. The two McLarens are on the second row with Oscar Piastri just ahead of Lando Norris, and it is a Ferrari front row lock-out, Charles Leclerc starts second, and it is the first Pole Position in Scuderia Ferrari Red for Lewis Hamilton.

AND IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO

Hamilton and Leclerc have absolutely raced away from the two McLarens, Norris has had a horror show of a start and dropped to sixth, Piastri still third, Alonso fourth, Verstappen fifth, Vandoorne is into the top ten, Tsunoda eleventh, Zhou twelfth

(BOZ) "We are racing Lewis, but keep it clean and tidy"

Leclerc goes round the outside of Hamilton to take P1 from his teammate!

Meanwhile Alonso is up to P3, having overtaken Piastri!

Some disappointment for the home fans as Ricciardo overtakes Zhou for P12. RB's race pace looking a lot stronger than their qualifying pace.

Currently about two seconds between Leclerc and Hamilton and Fernando Alonso in P3. The two Ferraris pretty much trading places and DRS lap to lap, working well as a team so far.

Russell and Sainz have both found their way past Bottas and into Seventh. After yesterday's mishaps, the two Mercedes seem to be working better as a team today.

Russell meanwhile finds his way past Norris for sixth!

But as that's happening, Bottas moves past Sainz for eighth!

Piastri makes a brilliant move on Alonso for third!

And while that's happening, Verstappen finds his way past Alonso for fourth, and is now up challenging Piastri!

Verstappen gets DRS and is up to third, and if you're the two Ferraris, that's the last man you want to see in P3, with all due respect to Piastri.

(BOZ) "And if you could just give me a tyre phase update Charles?"

(LEC) "They're good, no complaints."

(BOZ) "Understood. Keep this level of pace, this is good."

Lap 9: Hamilton, Leclerc, Verstappen, Piastri, Alonso, Norris, Russell, Sainz, Bottas, Ricciardo, Tsunoda, Vandoorne, Stroll, Zhou, Albon, Magnussen, Hülkenberg, Pourchaire, Ocon, Gasly

Leclerc and Hamilton currently about 5 and a half seconds up on Verstappen. Leclerc back in front, the Ferrari DRS tactic seems to be working quite well so far.

An interesting note on Lap 11 - aside from Verstappen P3 and Alonso P6, and Bottas being P7 with Vandoorne P11, meaning Ricciardo is P10 and Tsunoda is P12 - every other team has cars immediately ahead of each other. Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Williams, Haas, Alpine and Audi all have their cars right in front of each other.

Never mind that, Ocon has just overtaken both Audis in the space of a lap. It's still true of the two Audis, though.

PITSTOP: Zhou Guanyu is the first driver to enter the pitlane, and that wasn't the quickest stop. He rejoins in P19, as Kevin Magnussen also comes in early.

(ADA) "Tyre phase update Lewis?"

(HAM) "Tyres are still really good mate."

PITSTOP: Tsunoda is in, and rejoins P18. He, like Zhou, is onto the Hards - are they trying the one stop? They'll have to go very, very long to do so.

PITSTOP: George Russell next to stop, and he's going onto Hards as well. Another one going long?

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton has opened up a gap of about 1.4 to Charles Leclerc, as the Mediums start to have the advantage over the Softs.

Lap 17: Hamilton, Leclerc, Verstappen, Piastri, Norris, Alonso, Bottas, Sainz, Vandoorne, Albon

PITSTOP: Alonso is in! He's onto a fresh set of Softs, which guarantees at least a two stopper for the Red Bull driver.

(BOZ) "Box, box"

PITSTOP: Leclerc gets the call and comes in from P2, he is very much undercutting his teammate - however this was always the approach with Leclerc on Softs and Hamilton on Mediums. Leclerc in and out in 2.244, he rejoins P4.

Piastri also in and he's onto the Hards? One stop attempt?

PITSTOP: Verstappen in from P2, he's mirrored his teammate and gone Soft-Soft, so that guarantees both Red Bulls are on a two stopper. He's about 10 seconds back off Bottas, and 16 off Leclerc.

Speaking of Leclerc, he's about 22 seconds off his teammate who will likely be stopping soon, based on his current pace.

PITSTOP: Bottas in from P5 and he's off the Hards and onto the Softs. This also seems like a two stopper - but that's an early stop for the Hards.

VANDOORNE

Vandoorne having some issues immediately after clocking the Fastest Lap! He's complaining of engine issues - this could be a problem for the Aston Martin.

PITSTOP: Sainz in from P7, another set of Softs, another two stopper.

(ADA) "Box, Lewis, box this lap."

PITSTOP: As Hamilton gets the call to come in, Norris comes in to switch from Hards to Softs, another likely two stopper for McLaren.

(BOZ) "What do we think of the possibility of Plan C?"

(LEC) "Would be very tricky, possible but very tricky. We'd need to get lucky."

PITSTOP: Hamilton comes in from the lead, and he's away in 2.163. A very quick stop, but he's now five seconds behind Leclerc - but on fresh Softs.

Lap 24: Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Piastri, Norris, Bottas, Russell, Ricciardo, Vandoorne, Sainz, Tsunoda, Stroll, Albon, Zhou, Magnussen, Hülkenberg, Pourchaire, Ocon, Gasly

NORRIS

(ADA) "Look after these tyres. Gap to Charles is 4 seconds, no need to rush these tyres."

(HAM) "Understood."

Alonso chasing Piastri for P4, and gets him going into the main straight, but that will give Oscar the DRS, Alonso able to hold off Piastri for now though!

Lap 28: Half race distance, and Leclerc is 2.6 ahead of Hamilton, but that gap is closing. Verstappen 12.5 ahead, Alonso 4.3 behind his teammate and just ahead of Piastri, with Norris about 6 back, and Bottas a further 7 back. Sainz is 9 off Bottas and battling his teammate, with Ricciardo 3 seconds back and Vandoorne 4 seconds off the points.

Lap 30 and Hamilton is now in the DRS range of Leclerc! And Hamilton makes the move and gets himself the lead back!

PITSTOP: Alonso going onto the Mediums on lap 32, and that will likely take him to the end of this race. He rejoins in P7.

Leclerc is very much keeping pace with Hamilton, and the DRS is definitely helping him out, but he's yet to make the move to pass his teammate here.

POURCHAIRE MAKES VERY LITTLE EFFORT TO LEAVE ROOM FOR LECLERC UPON LAPPING HIM, AND THEY MAKE CONTACT! It doesn't look like there's been any damage fon the Ferrari, or the Audi Sauber for that matter however, but Leclerc has lost time to Hamilton on that.

(LEC) "What was Pourchaire doing there?"

(BOZ) "Copy, it looks like no damage, I think we got away without major damage."

(LEC) "Yeah, but I did lose time on that."

INCIDENT BETWEEN CAR 1 (LECLERC) AND CAR 98 (POURCHAIRE) - NO PENALTIES GIVEN

PITSTOPS: Ricciardo in and out onto Mediums, Hülkenberg also onto Mediums, Ricciardo rejoins in P12, Hülkenberg P19.

(BOZ) "Box now, box."

(LEC) "Copy, box next lap."

PITSTOP: Verstappen out and onto the Mediums, and that'll be him till the end of the race.

Sainz with a spin! He loses time, if not position.

PITSTOP: Bottas comes in, and Russell is brought in as a counter measure. Both onto Aofts.

PITSTOPS: Piastri comes in and takes on Softs, rejoining in P6. Meanwhile Leclerc is in from the lead! 2.219 stop for Leclerc, and he's heading back out there on Lap 40.

(ADA) "Box, box."

(HAM) "Yeah, box this lap."

PITSTOP: Norris also in, and as Hamilton gets the call, Sainz comes in as well. Norris, surprisingly, onto Mediums and back out in P6. Sainz onto Softs, rejoins P8.

PIASTRI

It was about to be Verstappen, then Piastri takes it off Max.

PITSTOP: Hamilton is in from the lead! With 15 laps to go, he rejoins 6.4 behind Leclerc, but much fresher Softs. This will be a fascinating finale.

LECLERC

Lap 43: Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Piastri, Norris, Bottas, Sainz, Ricciardo, Vandoorne, Russell, Stroll, Albon, Zhou, Ocon, Hülkenberg, Tsunoda, Pourchaire, Magnussen, Gasly

There's about a five second gap between Leclerc and Hamilton here, and Hamilton is lapping much quicker - about 7 tenths on that last lap.

Lap 46: Everyone from Stroll down in 12th to Gasly at the very back has been lapped once here.

Hamilton 4 tenths quicker than Leclerc on that last lap - with ten laps to go, it might not be enough at that pace.

Lap 50: Hamilton gaining on Leclerc, now just 3.2 seconds behind. This will be a very interesting finale, as Leclerc laps Russell in P9.

Pourchaire with a big lock-up, but he remains ahead of Gasly.

Russell does his former teammate Hamilton a favour by holding up Leclerc a bit longer than he should've - Leclerc now struggling a little with his tyres, and Hamilton is very much looming here.

Five laps remaining, and both Ferraris have been reminded to keep it clean, but they're free to fight. Leclerc 0.395 ahead of Hamilton now!

Hamilton going for the lead with four laps left, and he takes the lead from Leclerc!

Stroll with a big lock-up on turn 1! He gets lapped by Piastri in the process.

Lap 55: Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Piastri, Norris, Alonso, Bottas, Sainz, Russell, Ricciardo

Hamilton going for the lead, but Leclerc uses the lapped car of Sainz to briefly block the move, but Hamilton has another go and finds his way back into the lead of the race!!

LECLERC HAS ONE LAST CHANCE ON THIS STRAIGHT BUT HAMILTON HOLDS POSITION, AND LEWIS HAMILTON ROUNDS THE CORNER TO WIN THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX!!! IT IS HAMILTON'S FIRST VICTORY FOR FERRARI!!!

(ADA) "So that's the chequered flag, you have won the race!! Well done, Lewis!"

(HAM) "YESSSS! What an amazing result, that one feels special! First win for Ferrari, this one means a lot! Thank you to all the guys and girls back at the factory, let's keep pushing!"

(ADA) "Fantastic job, fantastic."

(BOZ) "And that's P2, Charles, P2 today. Great, great effort."

(LEC) "Yeah, I tried everything, just ran out of time, ran out of tyre. Congratulations to Lewis and the team, that was a fun race out there. Thank you guys."

(BOZ) "Great job, Charles. Well managed."

It's the second 1-2 for the Scuderia this season

Verstappen P3, Piastri P4, Norris P5, Alonso P6, Bottas P7, Sainz P8, Russell P9, Ricciardo P10

2025 CHINESE GRAND PRIX
RACE CLASSIFICATION

1. Lewis Hamilton 01.31.25
2. Charles Leclerc +0.465
3. Max Verstappen +32.022
4. Oscar Piastri +12.669
5. Lando Norris +5.275
6. Fernando Alonso +0.317
7. Valtteri Bottas +10.016
8. Carlos Sainz +1 lap
9. George Russell +1 lap
10. Daniel Ricciardo +1 lap
11. Stoffel Vandoorne +1 lap
12. Yuki Tsunoda +1 lap
13. Alexander Albon +1 lap
14. Lance Stroll +1 lap
15. Nico Hülkenberg +1 lap
16. Esteban Ocon +1 lap
17. Zhou Guanyu +1 lap
18. Kevin Magnussen +1 lap
19. Pierre Gasly +1 lap
20. Théo Pourchaire +1 lap

DRIVER OF THE DAY: Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

The questions coming into this season were "can he still win", and he absolutely did in fantastic style, beating out the challenge of a game Charles Leclerc and lapping over half the field. Lewis Hamilton is your Driver of the Day!

FASTEST LAP AWARD:
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari 1.33.618

DHL FASTEST PITSTOP AWARD:
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari 2.162s

2025 FIA FORMULA 1 WORLD DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP
After 5 Weekends

Verstappen 109
Leclerc 103
Hamilton 83
Norris 54
Alonso 50
Bottas 47
Piastri 38
Sainz 14
Tsunoda 12
Albon 10
Ricciardo 9
Vandoorne 8
Russell 7
Hülkenberg 2
Stroll 0
Zhou 0
Pourchaire 0
Magnussen 0
Ocon 0
Gasly 0

2025 FIA FORMULA 1 WORLD CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP
After 5 Weekends

Ferrari 186
Red Bull-Honda RBPT 159
McLaren-Mercedes 92
Aston Martin-Honda RBPT 55
Racing Bulls-Honda RBPT 21
Mercedes 21
Williams-Mercedes 10
Haas-Ferrari 2
Audi Sauber-Mercedes 0
Alpine-Renault 0

[foggy locust]

ANDRETTI-CADILLAC IN DISCUSSION WITH TWO F1 TEAMS REGARDING BUYOUT

Ahead of this weekend's Miami Grand Prix, some breaking news that Andretti Cadillac Racing is in discussions concerning the buyout of one of TWO Formula 1 teams currently on the grid.

Andretti representatives have met with Red Bull with the discussion of buying out the sister team, Racing Bulls, as well being believed to be having discussions with Renault.

Renault have been considering their options away from Formula 1 for some time now, with the option of becoming a customer team for 2025 - however it is believed a discussion with Andretti to become the new Works team is also a potential option.

Meanwhile, Red Bull have been under internal pressure to sell up the sister team - and Andretti could well purchase their operations, or potentially just their place on the F1 grid.

More on this breaking story as we get it.

PIRELLI, BRIDGESTONE BELIEVED TO BE 2026 TYRE FRONT RUNNERS

Continuing the story that we learned in Japan, Pirelli and Bridgestone are both in talks with the FIA regarding the 2026 tyre contract.

The FIA are open to the idea of tenuring both companies for 2026, bringing on the first F1 "tyre war" for ten years.

If this was the case, the teams would be open to discuss their options with the two tyre manufacturers for 2026.

Tyre war returns?

[sterile breach]

I sure hope so, looks spicy

[foggy locust]

2025 MIAMI GRAND PRIX
WEEKEND PREVIEW

It's our fourth visit to the Sunshine State of Florida for this weekend's Miami Grand Prix.

Last time around, Lewis Hamilton scored his first Ferrari victory in a dominant weekend for the Scuderia, just outpacing teammate Charles Leclerc at Shanghai - and meaning that Max Verstappen remained six points clear at the top of the Drivers’ Championship.

And so, to Miami. Centred around the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL's Miami Dolphins and college football's Miami Hurricanes, this 5.412km track features 19 turns, 3 DRS zones, and a mixture of low and high speed corners. There's only ever been one Safety Car here - in the first race in 2022.

And it's a race that will see Ferrari and Red Bull at the front once more. The Leclerc-Verstappen Championship battle may see the introduction of Hamilton if he can beat both his defending Champion teammate and his legendary rival this weekend.

After a promising start to the season, McLaren have taken a bit of a step back, and found themselves battling with Fernando Alonso of Red Bull and Valtteri Bottas of Aston Martin, rather than challenging the Ferrari duo of Leclerc and Hamilton and Red Bull's Verstappen. Has the chance gone for the Papaya to challenge at the front?

Mercedes meanwhile have targeted this race and Imola as an opportunity to bring big upgrades to the W16, and after a tough start that sees them currently Sixth in the Championship - they need a big weekend this time around. Will these upgrades give Carlos Sainz and George Russell an opportunity to fight at the front?

Two Teams being talked about off the grid are Alpine and RB - both in discussions for a potential purchase from Andretti, who are very much planning their 2026 car already. Andretti aim to be on the grid next season - but will it be as a former Red Bull junior team, or a Renault works team?

Haas have their first home Grand Prix of three here, and will have their support - however are the team, with the Toyota backing, more focused on 2026? Williams and Audi Sauber - soon of course to just be Audi, are the other two teams who might just be onto 2026, along with Alpine, can any of them hit paydirt this weekend?

This is of course a Sprint Weekend, meaning two Qualifying sessions, two races, and more chances for points. Rain is coming on Friday, but just Friday, with the rest of the weekend going to be dry. How will it all play out this weekend?

[foggy locust]

FP1 Reserves: Dürksen (Alonso), Antonelli (Sainz), Maini (Ocon), Cordieel (Magnussen), Montoya (Vandoorne)

FP1: NOR VER RIC
LEC P6, HAM P7

A rained out session ended early with Alexander Albon finding the barrier for a Red Flag, ending the one and only practice session with about seven minutes left. Lando Norris went quickest in the dry running ahead of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, with Oscar Piastri P4 and Sebastian Montoya fifth. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were sixth and seventh.

It is time to go Sprint Qualifying, but with drivers very underprepared for this session with just one interrupted practice, this could be a very interesting session. It's hard to tell who's quick around here - it feels like anyone's game this weekend.

And we are green for SQ1!

4.30pm: With the rain on its way, pretty much every single team is getting out on track early, this very much feels like a one shot qualifying!

4.34pm: Hamilton goes quickest, Leclerc 0.396 behind. Norris splits the Ferraris, as does Verstappen. The two Williams, two Alpines, and Gasly find themselves currently in the bottom five.

4.36pm: 🌧️ The rain is on with about 6 mins left. That's likely to limit any further running.

DRIVER AT RISK: Hülkenberg
RELEGATION ZONE: Albon, Stroll, Ocon, Gasly, Magnussen

4.40pm: Of the bottom five, Stroll is going for it, but he's held up by the Red Bull of one Max Verstappen!

4.41pm: No inprovement for Stroll, and he's likely out. No further running for the bottom five.

OUT IN Q1: Albon, Stroll, Ocon, Gasly, Magnussen

Q2 is Green and the rain is absolutely pouring down now, it's going to get worse from here. Early running starting now.

4.58pm: Leclerc purple through S1 and S2 here, and that rain is just getting heavier and heavier. This might be a one and done.

4.59pm: Leclerc 0.447 ahead of Hamilton, who's his closest challenger, until Alonso goes P2, 0.298 behind Leclerc! Meanwhile Pourchaire spins on his in-lap!

DRIVER AT RISK: Vandoorne
RELEGATION ZONE: Tsunoda, Zhou, Ricciardo, Hülkenberg, Pourchaire

The rain getting heavier, neither Ricciardo nor Hülkenberg improve. Vandoorne hasn't improved, nor do Tsunoda, Zhou or Pourchaire. As you were.

OUT IN Q2: Tsunoda, Zhou, Ricciardo, Hülkenberg, Pourchaire

Heavy, heavy rain in SQ3. Probably going to be very limited running.

5.06pm: Ferrari might have Ferrari'd it here...Hamilton and Leclerc on full Wets, and the track is easing...

5.08pm: Although, McLaren and Aston Martin have done worse - neither of their cars are going to get round in time!

: It's a 1-2 for Red Bull as the easing rain has caught out Ferrari, Verstappen takes Sprint Pole from Alonso. Russell and Sainz will both start ahead of the Ferraris, but McLaren and Aston Martin will reflect their SQ2 time as they didn't set a time in SQ3. What a bizarre session.

SQ3: Verstappen, Alonso, Russell, Sainz, Leclerc, Hamilton, Piastri (no time), Norris (no time), Bottas (no time), Vandoorne (no time)

2025 MIAMI GRAND PRIX
SPRINT GRID

VER ALO

RUS SAI

LEC HAM

PIA NOR

BOT VAN

TSU ZHO

RIC HÜL

POU ALB

STR OCO

GAS MAG

Welcome to the Sunshine State, and with a very bizarre SQ3 in what was conditions not living up to that name, we are ready to go Sprinting around the outside of the Hard Rock Stadium. Home to the Miami Dolphins, the Miami Hurricanes and the Miami Grand Prix. 19 laps of this 5.412km circuit await us this afternoon, and after some qualifying mistakes from their rivals, Red Bull have the advantage going into today.

Kevin Magnussen starts at the very back with Pierre Gasly for company, then it's Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll on row nine. Alex Albon is just ahead of his teammate with Théo Pourchaire, who raced IndyCar in the US last year, getting a US Sprint start today. Nico Hülkenberg lines up beside Daniel Ricciardo on row seven, then it's their teammates Zhou Guanyu and Yuki Tsunoda on row six. The two Aston Martins of Valtteri Bottas and Stoffel Vandoorne start on the fifth row, and ahead are the two McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Ferrari are shockingly on the third row after picking the wrong tyres in Sprint qualifying, Lewis Hamilton starts Sixth and Charles Leclerc fifth, then its the two Mercedes on the second row, Carlos Sainz just behind George Russell, and Red Bull Racing lock out the front row. Fernando Alonso will start Second, and it's a first Sprint Pole of the year for Max Verstappen.

AND IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO

Verstappen off to a good start and holds the lead, Russell ahead of Sainz still, Leclerc holding off Hamilton, Norris has already dropped two places to tenth! Albon ahead of Pourchaire as well!

Leclerc going for the move for P4 and he takes it from Russell!

Leclerc already making up for qualifying here, as he's gotten past his former teammate Sainz and is now chasing down Alonso. Hamilton ahead of both Mercedes too.

(BOZ) "This is some great driving Charles, keep this pace up."

This has just been a fantastic start from the two Ferraris, now Leclerc is going for the lead and Charles Leclerc leads the Sprint!

(ADA) "We can push here, Lewis."

(HAM) "Understood."

Tsunoda with a fantastic move on Vandoorne for P10. He's not far off the points, this is possible for Yuki.

Leclerc and Verstappen's battle for the lead has very much allowed Hamilton to come back into it, he's right behind the two and he's taken advantage of it to take the Sprint lead!!

Leclerc attacking Hamilton for P1 here, and manages to get the move done, but Hamilton coming right back with DRS for the lead, but it's a fake out by Leclerc who takes it back!

Lap 9: Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Sainz, Bottas, Piastri, Russell

Russell and Norris battling for P8, and Russell manages to hold off Norris' move there for P8. For now, at least.

Verstappen now very much putting the pressure on Hamilton here, and this is a thrilling battle between the top three in the Championship.

(BOZ) "Verstappen and Hamilton both with DRS"

(LEC) "Yeah, DRS is gonna be a problem to defend here."

Lap 13 and Hamilton takes the lead from Leclerc!

Norris finally makes the move stick on Russell, and in the confusion, Tsunoda gets past him as well!

Leclerc coming at Hamilton again with DRS, and the Champion gets the move done for the lead once more!

Sainz sees an opportunity to take fourth from Alonso, and a lovely move gets it done!

Lap 16 and the two Ferraris have shaken Verstappen for a likely 1-2, but Hamilton now leads his teammate!

Lap 18: Hamilton, Leclerc, Verstappen, Alonso, Norris, Sainz, Piastri, Bottas

Norris gets past Sainz, just as Alonso did. It's very tight in the midfield right now.

LECLERC GOING FOR THE LEAD INTO THE FINAL LAP, BUT HAMILTON HOLDS HIM OFF FOR NOW, LECLERC PUTTING HAMILTON UNDER PRESSURE, NOW OR NEVER ON THE MAIN STRAIGHT AND CHARLES LECLERC TAKES THE LEAD ON THE MAIN STRAIGHT, HAMILTON COMING BACK AT HIM, BUT LECLERC IS GONNA HOLD ON, CHARLES LECLERC WINS THE MIAMI SPRINT!!!

(BOZ) "You are the best! Well done Charles, that's a brilliant Sprint!"

(LEC) "Let's gooooo! Thank you, to everybody. That was fun, fantastic race!"

(BOZ) "Good job today Charles, well done!"

(ADA) "So chequered flag, P2.

(HAM) "Great job, let's keep up the fight. Shame not to have won that, but still good points."

(ADA) "Good job, Lewis."

Verstappen P3, Norris P4, Piastri P5, Alonso P6, Bottas P7, Sainz P8

2025 MIAMI GRAND PRIX
SPRINT CLASSIFICATION

1. Charles Leclerc 00.29.28
2. Lewis Hamilton +0.211
3. Max Verstappen +5.569
4. Lando Norris +12.911
5. Oscar Piastri +0.676
6. Fernando Alonso +0.295
7. Valtteri Bottas +0.167
8. Carlos Sainz +0.874
9. Yuki Tsunoda +0.403
10. Stoffel Vandoorne +1.581
11. George Russell +0.412
12. Daniel Ricciardo +9.433
13. Alexander Albon +7.621
14. Zhou Guanyu +0.720
15. Lance Stroll +2.537
16. Nico Hülkenberg +2.568
17. Esteban Ocon +0.568
18. Pierre Gasly +2.053
19. Théo Pourchaire +3.325
20. Kevin Magnussen +2.641

Back later for qualifying and the race!

[foggy locust]

It is time to go Qualifying here in Miami! And after the Sprint earlier this afternoon where Charles Leclerc beat out Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, Ferrari look like they have the advantage, but you cannot count out the three time Champion who has been fantastic in qualifying so far this season. Could McLaren or Alonso challenge? No rain this time, no great leveller, but you never know in Formula 1.

:Green: Q1 goes Green!

4.00pm: Charles Leclerc, who won the Sprint a few hours ago, is first out on track, not long followed by former teammate Carlos Sainz.

4.02pm: Pourchaire, Stroll, Piastri and Verstappen out on track now. Hamilton heading out now as well.

4.04pm: Leclerc takes some slipstream from Tsunoda, and goes 27.574. Sainz meanwhile, 1.167 back. Ooft.

4.06pm: Verstappen clocks in 0.116 behind Leclerc, Hamilton however goes 0.297 faster! That last sector was massive from Hamilton!

4.08pm: Russell up to fifth, meanwhile Kevin Magnussen goes ahead of Carlos Sainz! A fantastic lap for an Alpine team really struggling for positives.

4.11pm: A shocker from Norris and he's in the bottom five, he was 15th but Bottas has just gone sixth in the last few seconds. Alonso meanwhile up to fourth.

DRIVER AT RISK: Ocon
RELEGATION ZONE:
Pourchaire, Tsunoda, Norris, Stroll, Gasly

4.15pm: With just over two minutes left, all five of the bottom five bar Tsunoda on outlaps. Zhou stays 14th.

No improvement from Pourchaire, and he exits. Norris has clear room and he goes purple in the middle, he should be safe here, Tsunoda doesn't do a second lap and he's out! Norris up to second, Gasly does not improve and he's out as well! Ocon falls into the bottom five and is out. Stroll also exits Q1!

OUT IN Q1: Ocon, Pourchaire, Tsunoda, Stroll, Gasly

Q2 is Green!

4.27pm: Hamilton starting his flier and he was slowed a little by the RB of Ricciardo exiting the pitlane. Russell starting his flier. Alonso, Sainz and Zhou also on track.

4.29pm: Hamilton logs a 27.275, as Leclerc and Norris are on track now.

4.31pm: Leclerc within 0.181 of Hamilton. Alonso about 5 tenths back off Pole. Russell however is 2.3 behind!

4.33pm: Lando Norris continuing to struggle in this qualifying, 1.748 behind Hamilton, and with Piastri and Verstappen on track, a good chance he may drop into the bottom five again, however Verstappen slowed a lot by Albon in the final sector!

4.34pm: Verstappen Fourth, which means Norris is in the bottom five. Piastri's had a really terrible lap, and is 2.545 behind!

DRIVER AT RISK: Ricciardo
RELEGATION ZONE: Bottas, Norris, Vandoorne, Magnussen, Piastri

4.38pm: The two Red Bulls and Russell betting on not enough track evolution to make a difference - Ricciardo stays tenth so it might be a good bet.

Norris up to P2 and he is safe. Sainz now at risk! Leclerc caught in traffic, Bottas Fourth and Sainz is out! Hülkenberg at risk...Piastri can only go thirteenth, the McLaren is out in Q2!!

OUT IN Q2: Sainz, Albon, Piastri, Magnussen, Ricciardo

Q3 is Green! Who's taking Pole?

4.48pm: Hamilton has taken top spot in Q1 and Q2, can he make it a treble? He's first on track, followed by his teammate.

4.50pm: Norris, Bottas and Verstappen on out laps, everyone else on fliers.

4.51pm: Leclerc goes P1, 0.043 ahead of Hamilton. Alonso Third, Vandoorne Fourth, then both Haas drivers in fifth and sixth.

4.53pm: A lot of traffic slowing up Verstappen, and he is very displeased about that on the radio. Fourth Place for him. Norris Eighth.

4.54pm: Russell up to Seventh, then Eighth as Bottas goes Fifth.

Q3 AS IT STANDS: Leclerc, Hamilton, Alonso, Verstappen, Bottas, Vandoorne, Zhou, Russell, Hülkenberg, Norris

4.57pm: All ten cars heading our for their final qualifying laps of this session. Alonso already well ahead out on track.

4.59pm: Alonso doesn't improve, he stays P3, but with nine other cars to complete laps.

Hamilton being slowed vt Zhou and losing time. Russell Sixth, Leclerc going purple throughout, Hülkenberg Eighth! Verstappen goes up to Pole, Hamilton Third, LECLERC TAKES POLE BY 0.298!! WOW. Norris up to P5!

Q3: Leclerc, Verstappen, Hamilton, Alonso, Norris, Bottas, Russell, Vandoorne, Hülkenberg, Zhou

2025 MIAMI GRAND PRIX
STARTING GRID

LEC VER

HAM ALO

NOR BOT

RUS VAN

HÜL ZHO

SAI ALB

PIA MAG

RIC OCO

POU TSU

STR GAS

Welcome to Hard Rock Stadium and to the Miami International Autodrome, home of the Miami Grand Prix. 57 laps around the 5.412km circuit mostly known for being home to American football, but today, it's all about the pinnacle of motorsport. The two Ferrari drivers and Max Verstappen have had the dominance of the season so far, let's see if that continues today. This could be a two stopper or even a one, if any team is feeling brave enough to try it.

Pierre Gasly starts last of all and he's beside Lance Stroll, while Yuki Tsunoda and Théo Pourchaire are on row nine. Esteban Ocon is beside Daniel Ricciardo on row eight, while Kevin Magnussen is 14th and Oscar Piastri was a shock Q2 exit and starts 13th. Alexander Albon starts 12th and has high hopes of points, while Carlos Sainz missed Q3 and begins 11th. The two Haas drivers made it to Q3 in the team's first home GP of the year, Zhou Guanyu in 10th, Nico Hülkenberg 9th. Stoffel Vandoorne will start beside George Russell, while his teammate Valtteri Bottas is beside Lando Norris one row ahead. The four World Champions on the grid are the front four, with two time World Champion Fernando Alonso fourth, seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton third, three time World Champion Max Verstappen second, and it's Pole Position for one time and defending World Champion, Charles Leclerc.

AND IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO

Leclerc with a fantastic start and he's raced away, Verstappen holding off Hamilton, Alonso still Fourth, Norris, Bottas, Russell ahead of Vandoone, Hülkenberg, Sainz has gotten ahead of Zhou already, Piastri still 13th

Hamilton going for second ahead of Verstappen and he's into P2!

The two Ferraris have broken the DRS range of Verstappen, well, they had, briefly, but Verstappen gets DRS and is back closing on Leclerc and Hamilton!

(BOZ) "We're free to race today, Charles, keep it clean, though."

(ADA) "No team orders, free to race."

(HAM) "Yeah, understood."

Verstappen gets DRS and gets ahead of Hamilton for P2!

Bottas about 1.5 behind, but comfortably keeping Norris at bay for now.

Sainz up to ninth!

Meanwhile, Piastri has gotten himself past both Haas drivers and into tenth. Sadly for Haas, that car just does not have the race pace.

Verstappen going for the lead here and Max Verstappen takes the lead of the Miami GP!

Bottas catching up and Bottas up to Third ahead of Leclerc!

(ADA) "Okay Lewis, it's hammer time"

OH MY GOD IT IS A RED FLAG

Stoffel Vandoorne has completely lost the car and is in the barrier! That's the end of the Belgian's race, and while he's thankfully unhurt, that Aston Martin is a bit of a write-off. All other cars returning to the pitlane.

Restart order on Lap 10: Verstappen, Hamilton, Bottas, Leclerc, Alonso, Norris, Russell, Piastri, Sainz, Hülkenberg, Ricciardo, Zhou, Albon, Tsunoda, Ocon, Magnussen, Stroll, Gasly, Pourchaire. Vandoorne out of the race.

[sterile breach]

Haas still have a chance for that point

[foggy locust]

Verstappen retakes the lead and the accelerations on that Red Bull is ridiculous.

Meanwhile Leclerc and Hamilton are trading DRS to try and catch up, but Verstappen with now a 2.3 advantage!

Zhou going for it ahead of Sainz, and he gets Sainz! He's now challenging Russell for eighth!

[foggy locust]

I'd love them to get points today

Disaster for Alonso! He locks up, and drops behind the McLarens of Norris and Piastri!

Lap 14: Verstappen, Leclerc, Hamilton, Bottas, Piastri, Norris, Alonso, Russell, Zhou, Sainz, Ricciardo, Albon, Hülkenberg, Tsunoda, Ocon, Stroll, Magnussen, Gasly, Pourchaire. Vandoorne out of the race.

Zhou is up to Eighth! Can he deliver some much needed points for Haas?

It's getting worse for Mercedes as Daniel Ricciardo is putting George Russell under a lot of pressure here!

Oscar Piastri, who started 13th, has just come out of nowhere to overtake both Ferraris and now sits Second!

(HAM) "Struggling so much with the pace on the straights here."

(BOZ) "Okay Charles, we need you to push now."

(LEC) "Okay, struggling a lot with the car here."

(BOZ) "Do your best, you've got this."

OH MY GOD, A SECOND RED FLAG

Carlos Sainz loses the car and smashes into the barrier! Thankfully, he's okay and out of the car, but that is a second Red Flag of the day!!

Restart order on Lap 24: Verstappen, Hamilton, Piastri, Leclerc, Bottas, Norris, Alonso, Russell, Zhou, Ricciardo, Albon, Tsunoda, Hülkenberg, Ocon, Pourchaire, Stroll, Gasly, Magnussen. Sainz and Vandoorne out of the race.

AND IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO ONCE MORE

Hamilton gets the better start on Verstappen and takes the lead of this race! Piastri still Third, Leclerc holding off Bottas for fourth, then Alonso, Norris, Zhou, Russell, Ricciardo

Leclerc retakes third from Piastri and is putting Verstappen under pressure! Leclerc makes the move, and is now P2!

LECLERC

That Red Flag has completely changed the course of this race, and potentially this Championship! Piastri gets the move done on Verstappen for P3!

Alonso having major problems with his engine! He's on the radio to the Red Bull garage and that RBPT looks in real trouble!

From a comfortable lead, Verstappen has now dropped to P5!

Oscar Piastri takes advantage of the Ferrari battle and Oscar Piastri, having started P13, LEADS THE MIAMI GRAND PRIX!!!

Verstappen retakes P4 from Alonso.

Zhou,currently running P7, under pressure from Norris, Russell and Albon!

Hamilton gets ahead of Leclerc for P2!

There's four cars here on lap 32 who could realistically win this race. Leclerc, having just overtaken Hamilton, now leads this race, getting Piastri as well. Verstappen still very much in play, too.

And now it is currently a Ferrari 1-2!

(HAM) "Need more power if possible mate."

(ADA) "All good Lewis, focus on the race"

Piastri struggling with his tyres, and very much falling back off the front three now.

PITSTOP: The first stop of the day comes on lap 36! Fernando Alonso in for new Mediums, and back out onto track now.

Verstappen trying for the move on Leclerc but Hamilton blocks him off and protects his teammate! Are Ferrari working together now to secure this 1-2?

Verstappen gets DRS to get Hamilton, then manages to get Leclerc on the next turn!

PITSTOP: Zhou is in! He drops to 16th, and Piastri comes in too, and rejoins P8!

PITSTOP: Russell in now, and he rejoins tenth. Ocon comes in from ninth, rejoining last of all.

BIG NEWS IN BOTH CHAMPIONSHIPS - ALONSO'S ENGINE HAS GONE! He's able to pull off in a run-off, so no Safety Car, but his race is officially over!

TSUNODA

Lap 44: Verstappen, Leclerc, Hamilton, Norris, Piastri, Bottas, Russell, Albon, Tsunoda, Zhou, Ricciardo, Hülkenberg, Pourchaire, Magnussen, Stroll, Ocon, Gasly. Alonso, Sainz and Vandoorne out of the race.

Ricciardo takes P10 off Zhou, and unfortunately I think Haas have absolutely blown the points today

On Lap 50, and Verstappen is almost 5 seconds ahead of Leclerc and Hamilton. I think this one is over.

Russell having issues with his gearbox, will he make it to the end here?

Four laps to go, and it looks like Verstappen is gonna win here. Ferrari look like they've settled for second and third.

Hamilton immediately behind Leclerc, but they're sticking in position.

Piastri gets his teammate for P4! But Norris takes it back!

(LEC) "Tyres are gone, they're absolutely gone here."

Piastri takes fourth back off Norris and is now chasing down Leclerc and Hamilton!

LAST LAP

The tyre saving and tyre advantage has won it today for Max Verstappen, a brilliant drive from the Championship leader, who extends his advantage at the top for his fourth win of the season, MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE MIAMI GRAND PRIX!!

(BOZ) "And that's P2, Charles, P2. Great effort today."

(LEC) "Yeah, good job. The car was really good, we just didn't have the tyres at the end there. A shame, but a good podium."

(BOZ) "You've done a good job."

(ADA) "Taking the flag, so P3, Lewis."

(HAM) "Thank you to everyone in the factory for pushing. Thank you. Let's keep pushing."

(ADA) "Good job, thank you for the effort today Lewis."

Norris beats Piastri to P4 in the end! Bottas Sixth, Russell Seventh, Albon Eighth, Tsunoda ninth, Ricciardo tenth

Bottas broke down after the line! That's the third Red Flag of the day!

2025 MIAMI GRAND PRIX
RACE CLASSIFICATION

1. Max Verstappen 01.26.00
2. Charles Leclerc +10.635
3. Lewis Hamilton +0.299
4. Lando Norris +5.798
5. Oscar Piastri +0.783
6. Valtteri Bottas +4.900
7. George Russell +28.880
8. Alexander Albon +3.911
9. Yuki Tsunoda +0.565
10. Daniel Ricciardo +0.658
11. Zhou Guanyu +1 lap
12. Nico Hülkenberg +1 lap
13. Lance Stroll +1 lap
14. Pierre Gasly +1 lap
15. Esteban Ocon +1 lap
16. Kevin Magnussen +1 lap
17. Théo Pourchaire +1 lap
18. Fernando Alonso DNF
19. Carlos Sainz DNF
20. Stoffel Vandoorne DNF

DRIVER OF THE DAY: MAX VERSTAPPEN, Red Bull

A fantastic job to win out in what turned out to be a four car battle, Verstappen saved his tyres brilliantly, and raced away for an eventually comfortable win. Max Verstappen is your Driver of the Day!

FASTEST LAP AWARD
Yuki Tsunoda, RB 1.31.215

DHL FASTEST PITSTOP AWARD
Yuki Tsunoda, RB 2.361s

2025 FIA FORMULA 1 DRIVERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
After 6 Weekends

Verstappen 140
Leclerc 129
Hamilton 105
Norris 71
Bottas 57
Alonso 53
Piastri 52
Tsunoda 15
Sainz 15
Albon 14
Russell 13
Ricciardo 10
Vandoorne 8
Hülkenberg 2
Stroll 0
Zhou 0
Pourchaire 0
Magnussen 0
Gasly 0
Ocon 0

[sterile breach]

To think that if there were two Albons, Williams would be tied with Mercedes in the constructors standings. Wild

[foggy locust]

2025 FIA FORMULA 1 WORLD CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP
After 6 Weekends

Ferrari 234
Red Bull-Honda RBPT 193
McLaren-Mercedes 123
Aston Martin-Honda RBPT 65
Mercedes 28
Racing Bulls-Honda RBPT 25
Williams-Mercedes 14
Haas-Ferrari 2
Audi Sauber-Mercedes 0
Alpine-Renault 0

[foggy locust]

Right? Madness isn't it

[foggy locust]

EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX 2025
WEEKEND PREVIEW

It is once again time for the Formula 1 MSC Cruises Gran Premio Del Made In Italy E Dell'Emilia Romagna, 2025 edition.
Or as it's better known, Imola.
The circuit named after the founder of Ferrari and his son, the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari saw a famous home victory by Charles Leclerc here last year, and they could do with victory after a Max Verstappen win in China, ahead of the two-three of Ferrari.
This is of course also the first race on Italian soil for Lewis Hamilton as a driver for Ferrari. Hamilton and Leclerc face an uphill battle in the Drivers’ Championship right now, although they lead the Constructors. Leclerc is 11 points behind Verstappen after six races, Hamilton is already 35 behind. A home victory would be just the tonic that they need in the Drivers’ title, as well as increasing the Constructors.
This feels like a battle between Ferrari's strong cornering against Red Bull's dominant Top Speed. And while Max Verstappen has been superb so far in his quest to regain the Drivers’ title, Fernando Alonso hasn't quite got the grip of the RB21 as of yet, and has found himself fighting with the McLarens and Aston Martin of Bottas rather than his teammate and the two Ferraris. With an engine issue last time that ended his race, this could be a very important for Alonso.

McLaren came into this season with hopes of a title fight, one that hasn't quite materialised just yet. While it's still early and they're clearly the third best car, they've not been able to challenge Verstappen, Leclerc or Hamilton just yet. With upgrades having just been developed for Miami, we wait to see whether they will have the desired effect.

Aston Martin meanwhile are the surprise package of the season so far, sitting fourth - however Stoffel Vandoorne is already under pressure for underperforming with that car - a problem the team had with Lance Stroll, one driver massively outperforming the other. While Valtteri Bottas has a podium and has seen a career renaissance, Vandoorne has struggled to put complete weekends together so far, and had a crash in Miami. And with a one year deal, the team may need much better results from him.

The Silver Arrows meanwhile have had a rough start to the season, having seen Carlos Sainz crash out in Miami, and Russell do the same in Saudi Arabia, the eight time Constructors Champions sit Fifth in the table, and have been the fifth best car. At what point do the team start looking towards 2026?

RB meanwhile are in potential talks with Andretti to become a brand new team, but for now, they remain the Red Bull junior team. And for now, they've been decent if not great and been somewhat outdeveloped by their rivals early in the season.

Williams meanwhile may have a track that suits their Medium Speed Cornering, their biggest strength, and are bringing upgrades designed at Monaco - low speed cornering territory. We'll worry about that next time around, but for now, Alex Albon scored points last time around and could do the same again, while Lance Stroll, who wanted to prove himself away from his father's team - has struggled so far this year.

Haas, or Haas Toyota as they are now known, are another team that have yet to bring upgrades and have struggled for development. The team came oh so close to points in Miami, with Zhou Guanyu's challenge fading towards the end and losing tenth place to Daniel Ricciardo. With just two on the board, changes must be made.

A future breakthrough may have taken place within the Renault works team - who may become a customer team in the near future, however, for now, this is a team very much looking towards 2026. One of two without points so far this season, they need a bit of luck.

As do Audi Sauber - just Audi as of next year, but the team are the clear back markers for now, and yet to bring upgrades. Definitely a team thinking about 2026, it'd take a minor miracle for them to score at Imola.

However, the great leveller may be coming on Sunday - rain is expected. It will likely be a one stop race, maybe two depending on the level of rain involved - and the intermediates, maybe even the wets, may well be required at Imola. Can Ferrari take a home victory, will Max Verstappen continue his fine early season form, or will someone else shock us all? You won't want to miss it.

[sterile breach]

The great equalizer is upon us

[foggy locust]

If it's as mad as a certain race in Sao Paulo...

[sterile breach]

Exactly what I was thinking

[foggy locust]

FP1 Reserves: Bedrin (Norris), Antonelli (Russell), Maloney (Albon), Aron (Stroll), Hauger (Hülkenberg), Boya (Pourchaire)

Big drama in FP1 as Mari Boya finds the wall! Théo Pourchaire's car has taken some heavy damage on that crash

FP1: VER BOT LEC
HAM P5

Max Verstappen goes 4 tenths quicker than title rival Charles Leclerc, with Valtteri Bottas in between. Andrea Kimi Antonelli was fourth and is starting to put himself into consideration for that Mercedes seat next season. Lewis Hamilton just behind in fifth.

FP2: LEC VER NOR
HAM P4

Leclerc goes quickest in the second session, almost two tenths ahead of Verstappen, while Norris is third and Hamilton fourth. A clean session with no incidents.

FP3: VER LEC NOR
HAM P4

Verstappen about 0.105 ahead of Leclerc, Norris and Hamilton also in the conversation.

Welcome to the Emilia Romagna area of Italia, and it is time for Qualifying! After two straight Sprint weekends, we are back to our regular schedule, and deep in Ferrari territory. While Max Verstappen has generally been the quickest through practice, Charles Leclerc has shown enough pace to give the Tifosi some hope here. How will it all play out? Stay tuned to find out.

We're green here in FP1!

4.00pm: Q1 is underway, and Lewis Hamilton is the first, and so far only, driver out on track.

4.02pm: With Hamilton halfway round, Ferrari are now sending Charles Lecleec out onto the track. Surprising that nobody has responded as of yet.

4.03pm: An 11.609 for Hamilton, an absolute clear run of things. Lando Norris the first non Ferrari driver to be heading out.

4.05pm: Leclerc takes a slipstream off Norris, but loses some time in the second sector, and he's 0.136 behind Hamilton.

4.07pm: Norris 1.167 behind Hamilton, and a full second behind Leclerc. Was that just a bad lap by the McLaren, or was it good ones by the Ferraris?

4.09pm: Bottas slots into third, and Piastri fourth. 6 tenths between Bottas and Hamilton. Russell Seventh behind Vandoorne.

4.10pm: The Red Bulls are going to be the main challengers here for Ferrari's pace, and Verstappen has emerged, with Alonso still in the pitlane, and now Alonso emerges from the pitlane with Verstappen halfway round.

4.11pm: Ocon into thirteenth, Verstappen is third, 3 tenths behind Hamilton. Ferrari might just have the pace here.

4.14pm: Alonso goes 2 and a half tenths behind, and into third place.

DRIVER AT RISK: Gasly
RELEGATION ZONE: Ocon, Hülkenberg, Magnussen, Pourchaire, Albon

4.15pm: Albon into 14th, make that 15th as Stroll has gone 8th! Albon at risk, will he make it through?

Hülkenberg into 13th and that knocks out Albon! Gasly is also out in 17th and Pourchaire 18th, both Alpines, Sainz and Zhou on fliers right now. Sainz goes 10th and he's safe. Zhou at risk, Hülkenberg on deck. Magnussen 17th, Ocon stays last and that's that, Zhou survives to Q2!

OUT IN Q1: Albon, Magnussen, Gasly, Pourchaire, Ocon

Q2 goes Green!

4.25pm: Ferrari sending both drivers out immediately to try and get clear track in front of them. Norris heading out early too in Q2.

4.28pm: Leclerc does a 11.548, Hamilton 0.391 behind. Stormer of a lap from Leclerc. Norris has a better first lap this time, going 0.423 behind.

4.29pm: And Verstappen just 0.075 behind Leclerc. The two Astons Fifth and sixth for now.

4.31pm: Ricciardo into sixth, ahead of Vandoorne.

4.33pm: Alonso has just been on the radio to complain about Piastri slowing him down here. The two are both on outlaps and right in each other's space. Lance Stroll goes 10th and Vandoorne is in the drop zone.

4.35pm: Alonso Sixth, and despite going fastest in the final sector, Piastri is just 13th. Vandoorne up to ninth.

DRIVER AT RISK: Ricciardo
RELEGATION ZONE: Tsunoda, Stroll, Piastri, Zhou, Hülkenberg

4.39pm: Verstappen and Norris opting not to do a final flier, where as Leclerc, Hamilton, Bottas and Alonso are all on track. Stroll back up to ninth, Ricciardo doesn't improve and he's likely out.

4.40pm: Leclerc doesn't improve but Hamilton goes to P1! Tsunoda on a flier, Hülkenberg up to ninth so Stroll is out. Sainz at risk now, Vandoorne doesn't improve, he's out! Tsunoda meanwhile goes 11th! Sainz just gets through!

OUT IN Q2: Tsunoda, Stroll, Vandoorne, Ricciardo, Zhou

Q3 is Green! Who's taking Pole today?

4.49pm: Leclerc, Hamilton, Norris and Russell the four on track early here in Q3.

4.50pm: Verstappen and Alonso starting their outlaps as Ferrari are on their fliers. It is very tight between Hamilton and Leclerc - Leclerc quicker through S1, Hamilton through S2.

4.51pm: Hamilton sets a 11.406, Leclerc just 0.097 behind! Norris meanwhile 4 tenths back, Russell a full second back

4.53pm: Verstappen 4th, 0.662 behind Hamilton! Alonso goes 0.394 behind the Ferrari.

4.54pm: Bottas into fifth, while Piastri is Seventh. Hülkenberg ninth, Sainz...goes ninth.

Q3 AS IT STANDS: Hamilton, Leclerc, Alonso, Norris, Bottas, Verstappen, Piastri, Russell, Sainz, Hülkenberg

4.58pm: Alonso first on track and he's improved through S1 and S2...but stays Third! Norris still Fourth.

Verstappen purple through S1, Russell and Piastri improving, Hamilton purple, Leclerc purple, Russell stays eighth, Verstappen goes Second! Piastri up to fifth, Sainz ninth, Leclerc doesn't improve from Third, Sainz Eighth, but IT IS POLE POSITION FOR LEWIS HAMILTON!!

(ADA) "And that is P1 Lewis, P1!"

(HAM) "YESS! Get in there, let's go boys! Wooo!"

Q3: Hamilton, Verstappen, Leclerc, Alonso, Piastri, Norris, Bottas, Sainz, Russell, Hülkenberg

2025 EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX
STARTING GRID

HAM VER

LEC ALO

PIA NOR

BOT SAI

RUS HÜL

TSU STR

VAN RIC

ZHO ALB

MAG GAS

POU OCO

In a little town 25 miles away from Bologna, known to the world as Imola, we have the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The Tifosi are here in numbers, and the Tifosi expects. However also here in a significant amount is the rain, and that could very much turn the tide of this Grand Prix.

Esteban Ocon starts at the very back, alongside Théo Pourchaire, while Pierre Gasly and Kevin Magnussen are one row ahead of their teammates. Alexander Albon begins sixteenth, while Zhou Guanyu is 15th. It's Daniel Ricciardo and Stoffel Vandoorne on the seventh row, while Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda are on row six. Nico Hülkenberg starts in the points scoring positions on a day Haas badly need them, then George Russell is just behind Carlos Sainz and Valtteri Bottas. McLaren are on row three with Oscar Piastri starting ahead of Lando Norris, while Fernando Alonso begins fourth and defending Champion Charles Leclerc starts third for the Scuderia. Championship leader Max Verstappen is on the front row, and in his Italian debut for Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton is on Pole Position.

AND IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO

Hamilton holds the lead, Leclerc going for P2 and takes P2 off Verstappen! Tsunoda up ahead of Hülkenberg, Ricciardo ahead of Vandoorne already, Magnussen ahead of Albon

Early problems with Esteban Ocon as he has a big lock-up!

Ricciardo runs very wide there! He's able to get it back on track quickly, however.

Hamilton, Leclerc and Verstappen, all on the Intermediates, have opened up a healthy gap to Alonso in P4, who is struggling a lot on the full Wets.

Pourchaire has a big lock-up there and he slides off!

Hamilton with about a 1 second advantage over Leclerc, who in turn now with about 1.7 over Verstappen.

Piastri going for P4 and takes it off Alonso, who is an absolute sitting duck on the full Wets!

(LEC) "Tyres feel very warm here."

(BOZ) "And we need to do some slight LiCo for a couple of laps."

A big coming together as Nico Hülkenberg misjudged a move and collides straight into George Russell! Hülkenberg now 17th, Russell 18th!

PITSTOP: Russell had his tyres completely wrecked in that incident, and makes a stop for brand new Ints.

(ADA) "Some LiCo please."

(HAM) "Yeah, understood."

(ADA) "For your info, we have the fastest lap."

HAMILTON

ZHOU

That was surprising as the Haas driver takes the FL away from the leader of the race!

PITSTOP: Verstappen is in! He makes the switch to full Wets!

(LEC) "The rain is getting a lot heavier, visibility is very, very bad here."

(BOZ) "Yeah, Copy, Charles. Do your best here."

(ADA) "We believe it's Class 3 rain for around 15 laps. Box, box."

(BOZ) "Box this lap Charles, we think the rain is going to be stronger now. Box."

PITSTOPS: Hamilton and Piastri in, Leclerc stays out an extra lap. Hamilton rejoins P6, Piastri P11.

PITSTOPS: Ricciardo has a delay! Leclerc comes in from the lead, but has staying out another lap helped him? Piastri ends up staying out after all! Leclerc rejoins just ahead of Verstappen!

Russell runs very very wide has had nothing but issues today!

PITSTOPS: Zhou, Albon and Pourchaire all make stops.

PITSTOP: Piastri cones in from the lead! He's lost a lot of time on the Intermediates here, and he rejoins P7.

CAR 27 (Hülkenberg)

PITSTOPS: Bottas comes in for his stop, as Hülkenberg serves his five second penalty.

(BOZ) "You're doing a good job Charles, good overtake. Gap to Lewis is 2.6."

Alonso is on very old tyres, but is doing his damnest to hold up Hamilton. In the process, he's allowing Leclerc a big way back onto this race. Hamilton finally gets the move done for P1, but Leclerc is very much in play now!

Also, worth noting that Lance Stroll is currently running P6.

Pierre Gasly meanwhile is just outside the points.

Leclerc has just had the same issue that his teammate had with getting past Alonso, and now Alonso remains close to Leclerc. Verstappen back in play too.

Lap 22: Hamilton, Leclerc, Alonso, Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Stroll, Sainz, Tsunoda, Bottas

Magnussen, running 12th at the moment, runs wide and loses a lot of time to Gasly in P11.

Hamilton has a 3.8 advantage to Leclerc right now, and as it stands, he's on the right path to winning this race.

Hülkenberg complaining on the radio about a mechanical fault! That may have come about from his tangle with Russell earlier in this race.

PITSTOP: Norris is in! He's sticking to the blue wets, McLaren believing the weather is going to get wetter, but the rain seems to be decreasing a little! He rejoins P10.

Verstappen gets P3 off Alonso! No team orders, surprisingly, and Alonso is still on his original tyres.

PITSTOP: Lance Stroll is in, and he's onto the Intermediates! Williams betting in the opposite direction of McLaren!

(BOZ) "So Charles, some Class 1 Rain expected soon. Class 1."

(LEC) "Copy. Plan C?"

(BOZ) "Plan C is a go."

(BOZ) "Box, box, pit confirm for inters."

(LEC) "Copy, box."

(ADA) "Box this lap for new inters."

PITSTOPS: Ferrari double stack! Hamilton in, Leclerc in, both in cleanly and away. Verstappen fourteen seconds ahead of Hamilton In P2, Piastri two behind and 1.4 ahead of Leclerc, now P4.

[sterile breach]

who was in front at the stack?

[foggy locust]

PITSTOP: Alonso finally makes his first stop! He's in for new inters. He rejoins P9.

[foggy locust]

Hamilton

Lap 30, and Verstappen leads. He's on the Wets however, but the rain is only just letting up. He may have given himself enough time if he sticks it out until it gets Wetter. Let's see how this goes.

BOTH Bottas and Vandoorne are having issues with their car! Problems in the Aston Martin garage!

Disaster for Gasly who has a spin on Turn 7! He's lucky to avoid the barrier there, but drops from P16 to P18. With Magnussen of Alpine currently in the points, problems for Audi Sauber.

HAMILTON

Lap 34: Verstappen, Hamilton, Leclerc, Piastri, Alonso, Sainz, Tsunoda, Bottas, Norris, Magnussen, Zhou, Vandoorne, Stroll, Ocon, Albon, Ricciardo, Pourchaire, Hülkenberg, Gasly, Russell

(ADA) "We are flying out there. Very good pace. Verstappen in front, 1.7 in front. Focus on consistency."

(HAM) "Yeah, understood."

Hamilton retakes the lead from Verstappen! Verstappen now really struggling on the Wets!

Vandoorne with a big spin off into the gravel! He's able to get the car going again however!

Leclerc putting Verstappen under pressure and Leclerc retakes second in the race!!

PITSTOP: RB are taking a gamble here! Tsunoda is going onto the Wets, and while it is rainy heavily, its still not quite at Wets weather! Ocon in too and Away!

PITSTOP: VERSTAPPEN IS IN! Verstappen onto the full Wets! Sainz as well takes on the Wets!

(ADA) "Box, box"

(HAM) "Gonna box this lap."

(BOZ) "Box, Charles, Box this lap"

PITSTOPS: Alonso, Piastri and Stroll now all onto the full Wets!

PITSTOPS: The Ferraris are in! Hamilton in first, 2.428, Leclerc follows, 2.243, good stops from the Ferraris and they retain the 1-2 for now!

Lap 42: Hamilton, Leclerc, Verstappen, Alonso, Bottas, Norris, Piastri, Sainz, Magnussen, Zhou

PITSTOP: Magnussen comes in and his chances of points might have gone by waiting too long! He's down to P15!

IT'S DISASTER FOR VANDOORNE. A puncture continues to completely wreck his afternoon, and he's trying to get that Aaton Martin back to the pits!

Magnussen spins off right in front of Vandoorne! If his chances of points weren't gone before now, that has ABSOLUTELY ended them.

PITSTOPS: Zhou makes a atop and rejoins P13. Going to be a big ask for points for him now. Vandoorne has dragged that Aston Martin back to the pitlane, and gotten another set of Wets.

Vandoorne has come out of the pits, and immediately spun off. Just am awful, awful day for the Belgian driver.

Lap 47: Hamilton 11 seconds clear of Leclerc, who's 11.7 ahead of Verstappen. Verstappen 12 ahead of Alonso, Alonso 11 ahead of Bottas. Bottas 3 ahead of the two battling McLarens, Sainz 11 back, Tsunoda 10 back, Stroll 10 back, Albon 10 back outside the points.

(ADA) "This is a brilliant pace Lewis, keep this up."

Piastri goes around Norris, who is really, really struggling with his much older tyres.

(BOZ) "We need some LiCo for engine and tyre temps"

(LEC) "Can we not push for this?"

(BOZ) "Not just now, engine and tyres overheating a bit here."

Pourchaire with a lock-up! The rookie really struggling with the heavy rain conditions here.

Piastri going for fifth, and Piastri takes fifth from Bottas!

Ocon, chasing Ricciardo for P13, runs wide. Doesn't look like he lost a lot of time, though.

Magnussen with a lock-up at turn 7! Does well to avoid the barriers, but Alpine keep shooting themselves in the foot here.

(ADA) "25 laps to go."

(HAM) "25?"

(ADA) "Sorry, five laps to go."

(HAM) "More like it."

Lap 60: Hamilton, Leclerc, Verstappen, Alonso, Piastri, Bottas, Norris, Sainz, Tsunoda, Stroll, Zhou, Ocon, Magnussen, Ricciardo, Pourchaire, Albon, Gasly, Vandoorne, Hülkenberg, Russell

Oh my God...Vandoorne has a SECOND PUNCTURE

Lewis Hamilton has completely controlled this race, he's been dominant all afternoon, and has completely deserved this, he takes his second race victory for Scuderia Ferrari, this time on Italian soil, LEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX AND IT IS A 1-2 FOR THE SCUDERIA ON THEIR HOME TURF!!!

(ADA) "And that's P1, Lewis, P1!"

(HAM) "WOOO! Thank you, all of the guys and girls at the factory, thank you to the entire team, this one means a lot."

(ADA) "Brilliant win, well earned Lewis."

(BOZ) "And that's P2, Charles! Nicely driven, really good job today!"

(LEC) "Good job. Thank you. Good for the team, congrats to Lewis, and let's keep pushing for these titles."

(BOZ) "You've done well. Good job today Charles."

Verstappen P3, Alonso Fourth, Piastri fifth, Sainz Sixth, Bottas Seventh, Norris Eighth, Tsunoda Ninth, Stroll tenth.

2025 EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX
RACE CLASSIFICATION

1. Lewis Hamilton 01:32:34
2. Charles Leclerc +11.162
3. Max Verstappen +10.286
4. Fernando Alonso +18.527
5. Oscar Piastri +17.510
6. Carlos Sainz +16.687
7. Valtteri Bottas +3.240
8. Lando Norris +4.604
9. Yuki Tsunoda +1 lap
10. Lance Stroll +1 lap
11. Zhou Guanyu +1 lap
12. Esteban Ocon +1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen +1 lap
14. Théo Pourchaire +1 lap
15. Daniel Ricciardo +1 lap
16. Alexander Albon +2 laps
17. Pierre Gasly +2 laps
18. Nico Hülkenberg +2 laps
19. George Russell +3 laps
20. Stoffel Vandoorne +3 laps

DRIVER OF THE DAY: LEWIS HAMILTON

Who else could it have been today? Lewis rolled back the years with a dominant drive in the Imola rain to take his second Ferrari victory. Lewis Hamilton is your Driver of the Day!

FASTEST LAP AWARD
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari 1.21.638

DHL FASTEST PITSTOP AWARD
Lando Norris, McLaren 2.147s

FIA FORMULA 1 WORLD DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP 2025

Verstappen 155
Leclerc 147
Hamilton 131
Norris 75
Alonso 65
Bottas 63
Piastri 62
Sainz 23
Tsunoda 17
Albon 14
Russell 13
Ricciardo 10
Vandoorne 8
Hülkenberg 2
Stroll 1
Zhou 0
Ocon 0
Magnussen 0
Pourchaire 0
Gasly 0

FIA FORMULA 1 WORLD CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP 2025

Ferrari 278
Red Bull-Honda RBPT 220
McLaren-Mercedes 137
Aston Martin-Honda RBPT 71
Mercedes 36
Racing Bulls-Honda RBPT 27
Williams-Mercedes 15
Haas-Ferrari 2
Alpine-Renault 0
Audi Sauber-Mercedes 0

[foggy locust]

TENSION AT MERCEDES?

Reports coming out of Monaco that Mercedes have held an emergency meeting with their two drivers, George Russell and Carlos Sainz, with Team Principal and part-owner Toto Wolff and the Mercedes board.

Mercedes have gotten off to a rough start to the season, and reports of the two Drivers not getting along have been rife - with Russell criticising Sainz for requesting Team orders at Suzuka and China.

As well as that, a DNF for both drivers in the first several races, and George Russell getting caught out by Nico Hülkenberg in an incident at Imola has meant the eight time Champions sit Fifth in the table, just nine points above RB.

It's believed that this meeting has been requested by Wolff to try and ease tension between his driver pairing, as well as to try and focus them on better results.

Sainz joined Mercedes from Ferrari in the offseason, while Russell has been there since 2022 and is out of contract at the end of the season.

2025 MONACO GRAND PRIX
WEEKEND PREVIEW

To the Jewel in the Crown, then. It is one of the best weekends in Motorsport - Two of the three of the Triple Crown - the Indy 500 later on Sunday, and of course, the Monaco Grand Prix.

And this time last year, it was won by one of their own. Charles Leclerc took a home victory - the first Monegasque driver to win on the streets of Monaco in 93 years - and broke a long held curse on his way to his first World Championship.

This year, the Champion returns currently 8 points down on his title rival Max Verstappen, with Lewis Hamilton 16 points behind Leclerc and 24 behind Verstappen. Hamilton was victorious on Italian soil as Ferrari took a massive 1-2 at Imola, a big much needed win for the Scuderia. On the slow corners of Monaco, Ferrari should be favourites to go back to back - can Leclerc go back to back at home? Hamilton meanwhile has won this race three times, and a fourth would put him right back in the Championship conversation.

However Verstappen still leads the Championship, and remains the biggest threat to the two Ferraris. Both Verstappen and teammate Fernando Alonso both have two victories around the streets of Monaco - Alonso in 2006 and 2007, Verstappen in 2021 and 2023 - and a win for Red Bull could very well bring down the gap to Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship.

McLaren remain the third force in Formula 1 and have broken slightly more clear of an early Aston Martin challenge, but can either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri challenge for a victory around this famous circuit? They brought upgrades to Miami, and while Piastri was fifth in Italy, Norris struggled to eighth - both cars well off the pace of the front four, however.

Aston Martin have a bit of a second driver crisis - again. Valtteri Bottas has seen a career resurgence in British Racing Green, however Stoffel Vandoorne's future with the team is already under question after a last place finish at Imola - albeit partly due to two punctures. Vandoorne is under pressure, and could do with a result in Monaco.

Speaking of “could do with a result” - Mercedes. The Silver Arrows have had a rough start to the season, sit fifth in the Championship, and new stories of problems with George Russell and Carlos Sainz as teammates are coming to light. Can Mercedes make this lineup work?

The Racing Bulls-Andretti rumours are warming up, but on the track, the team are off to a decent, if not fantastic - start to the year. Sitting sixth in the Championship, RB face questions about the future of the Red Bull junior team coming into this weekend. Daniel Ricciardo famously won here in 2018 for Red Bull's factory team - would take a minor miracle for him or Tsunoda to win this weekend.

Williams have targeted Monaco this season as a place they could pick up points - and are bringing upgrades to seal that fact. The team sit seventh in the Championship and have started this season quite well, just 12 points off RB and could very well challenge for Sixth, especially if these upgrades work as hoped.

Haas meanwhile are also bringing upgrades to Monaco - but the team have thrown away a couple of opportunities for points already this season, and this is a track that doesn't overally suit their car, which means they may struggle to be in a position to throw away those opportunities in the first place.

Meanwhile for Alpine and Audi Sauber, the two scoreless teams, this also doesn't look like a huge opportunity for points. Kevin Magnussen came close at Imola until a strategy error cost him any chance, while Esteban Ocon has struggled to get to grips with Alpine's 2025 challenger.

His former teammate Pierre Gasly has had a miserable time so far under Mattia Binotto's Audi Sauber team, the worst car on the grid as it stands, while Théo Pourchaire will take part in his first Monaco Grand Prix, and will need a lot of luck to make it a success.

78 laps of the 3.337km circuit await us - this is the shortest race of the season in terms of race distance. Overtaking will be at a premium, so it is arguably the most important qualifying of the season. Who will be victorious on the streets of Monte Carlo?

FP1 Reserves: Dürksen (Verstappen), Antonelli (Sainz), Maini (Ocon), Maloney (Stroll), Montoya (Bottas)

Antonelli, who is my prediction for a Merc seat in 2026, is running #84

Leclerc bumps the barrier at Tabac! Looks like he's got minor front wing damage,but that's all.

FP1: HAM PIA LEC

Lewis Hamilton goes quickest ahead of Oscar Piastri, with Charles Leclerc, who tested the barrier, 3rd. Dürksen fifth behind Alonso, Anfonelli seventh, Maloney eighth.

FP2: HAM LEC ALO

Hamilton again quickest ahead of Leclerc and Alonso. Verstappen P4.

FP3: LEC ALO HAM

Leclerc goes fastest on home soil, followed by Alonso and Hamilton.

Welcome to Monaco, and welcome to Qualifying! The Jewel in the Crown of the Pinnacle of Motorsport, it is the 70th Monaco Grand Prix weekend, and the most important qualifying of the season. Overtaking is going to be very difficult tomorrow, today matters. Ferrari topped all three practices, Lewis Hamilton has been flying but Charles Leclerc wants his fourth Pole here at his home GP, and you cannot count out Red Bull or McLaren either.

Q1 is Green!

4.00pm: Charles Leclerc first one out on track at his home Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo, both also out on track. Leclerc and Ricciardo both former winners here.

4.03pm: Leclerc with a 08.714. Sainz went purple in S1 but is 0.340 behind. Ricciardo Third, a full 1.435 behind, and not happy with that lap.

4.05pm: Norris eight tenths back and not ideal for McLaren. Hamilton goes fastest, 0.141 ahead of Leclerc!

4.06pm: Stroll into Fifth in the Williams. Williams have been showing some pace this weekend so far.

4.09pm: Piastri up to fourth, meanwhile Albon takes sixth!

4.13pm: Verstappen went quickest in S1, but dropped off after that and sits Fourth behind Alonso. Russell just sixteenth atm.

DRIVER AT RISK: Vandoorne
RELEGATION ZONE: Russell, Magnussen, Hülkenberg, Gasly, Pourchaire

4.15pm: Norris goes up to second. Vandoorne stays 15th, he might be out in Q1! Russell up to 9th, big, big problems for Vandoorne now!

4.17pm: Magnussen just 16th, so he's likely out. Ocon at risk right now, Gasly and Pourchaire on fliers, Hülkenberg on an outlap.

Gasly stays 19th and he's out! Zhou still 14th, Pourchaire goes 16th! Hülkenberg cannot do enough and he's out in 19th!

OUT IN Q1: Pourchaire, Magnussen, Vandoorne, Hülkenberg, Gasly

Q2 is Green!

4.27pm: Hamilton first on track, and currently, unsurprisingly, going Purple in S1.

4.28pm: Hamilton with an 08.965...not as fast as his Q1 time, but this was on Used Softs. Leclerc out on track now. Piastri goes 0.173 ahead of Hamilton!

4.30pm: Leclerc goes 0.037 faster than Piastri! Russell into P5, Albon P6. Verstappen and Norris on track now.

4.32pm: Verstappen into P3, tying the exact same time as Piastri!

4.33pm: Norris goes quickest! He's 0.036 ahead of Leclerc!

4.35pm: Russell goes wide, will he lose that one for track limits?

DRIVER AT RISK: Russell
RELEGATION ZONE: Ricciardo, Sainz, Zhou, Ocon, Albon

Norris and Verstappen staying in the pits, risky for Verstappen in P5, Albon up into 8th, Ocon however is out in Q2! Taunoda now at risk, Hamilton goes quickest, Leclerc P3 still. Russell tenth, but then Sainz Eighth and that knocks Russell out! Stroll at risk now, Tsunoda and Zhou on fliers. Tsunoda stays 12th, Ricciardo 13th, Zhou 14th, both Williams into Q3!

OUT IN Q2: Russell, Tsunoda, Ricciardo, Zhou, Ocon

Q3 is a go! Who will take Pole?

4.49pm: The early laps are a go here. Hamilton and Leclerc both on track early, Alonso, Piastri, Bottas and Stroll as well.

4.51pm: Hamilton initially goes fastest, then Leclerc takes P1! Piastri 6 tenths back, Verstappen 0.543 back!

4.53pm: Alonso into fifth, then Bottas takes fifth off him! Sainz seventh.

4.54pm: Stroll goes ninth, then Norris up to sixth.

Q3 AS IT STANDS: Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Piastri, Bottas, Norris, Alonso, Albon, Sainz, Stroll

4.56pm: Final laps of this session beginning now.

4.58pm: Stroll into P9, ahead of Sainz. Verstappen stays Third!

Piastri up to Third, Hamilton stays second, Leclerc on Pole for now, Norris, Alonso and Albon on fliers, Bottas fifth, Albon stays eighth, Norris stays Sixth and Alonso Seventh, IT IS A FOURTH HOME POLE POSITION FOR CHARLES LECLERC!!!

(BOZ) "And that's Pole! Well done Charles!"

(LEC) "Let's goooo! Ah, good job, good job. We'll finish the job tomorrow, but for now, good job."

Q3: Leclerc, Hamilton, Piastri, Verstappen, Bottas, Norris, Alonso, Albon, Stroll, Sainz

I am going to hit the pause button for now, because I'm very tired and I'm going to do the race itself tomorrow!

[foggy locust]

2025 MONACO GRAND PRIX
STARTING GRID

LEC HAM

PIA VER

BOT NOR

ALO ALB

STR SAI

RUS TSU

RIC ZHO

OCO POU

MAG VAN

HÜL GAS

[foggy locust]

It is almost time for the most famous race of them all, the 70th Monaco Grand Prix, on this Super Sunday of Motorsport, and it's one of their own on Pole Position for the fourth time, going for his second straight victory here. 78 laps of this famous 3.337 km Circuit de Monaco, and five previous winners of this race are on the grid today.

Pierre Gasly starts at the very back alongside Nico Hülkenberg, while Stoffel Vandoorne had a nightmare Q1 and starts 18th beside Kevin Magnussen. Théo Pourchaire is beside Esteban Ocon on row seven, then it's Zhou Guanyu just ahead beside 2018 Winner Daniel Ricciardo. Yuki Tsunoda is 12th, one spot ahead of his teammate, while George Russell starts 11th. Into the top ten and Carlos Sainz is tenth with Lance Stroll ninth, Alex Albon just ahead of his teammate while 2006 and 2007 Winner Fernando Alonso starts Seventh. Row three sees Lando Norris and Valtteri Bottas, with 2021/2023 winner Max Verstappen Fourth and Oscar Piastri Third, and Ferrari lock out the front row. Lewis Hamilton has win here in 2008, 2016 and 2019 and starts second, and last year's winner, Monaco's own World Champion Charles Leclerc, starts on Pole for the fourth time at his home Grand Prix.

AND IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO

Leclerc holds the lead through Sainte Devote, Lewis Hamilton second, Max Verstappen ahead of Oscar Piastri, Valtteri Bottas fifth Fernando Alonso's ahead of Lando Norris, Lance Stroll and George Russell ahead of Alex Albon, Ricciardo eleventh, Sainz is down to 12th, Vandoorne now last!

AND SAINZ IS IN THE WALL AT SAINT DEVOTE ON LAP 2! DISASTER FOR MERCEDES AGAIN!

He's able to keep going but he's fallen to the back!

At the front, Leclerc is 0.524 ahead of Hamilton, and Verstappen is just behind, meanwhile the three of them have cleared four seconds to Piastri!

(BOZ) "This is a good pace so far, keep this level up."

(LEC) "Copy."

(ADA) "You're free to race Lewis, but don't take any big risks!"

(HAM) "Understood."

Magnussen having issues with his power, and he's down the radio to his team about it.

At the hairpin, Russell goes for Eighth on Stroll and takes Eighth off Stroll!!

Leclerc about a second ahead, and controlling the pace as it stands.

Lap 10: Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Piastri, Bottas, Alonso, Norris, Russell, Stroll, Albon, Ricciardo, Tsunoda, Magnussen, Ocon, Zhou, Pourchaire, Gasly, Hülkenberg, Sainz, Vandoorne

Leclerc currently about 3 seconds up on Hamilton. Early days in this race, however.

(BOZ) "How are the tyres Charles?"

(LEC) "They're good, they're fine."

(BOZ) "Copy, gap to Lewis is 3.1, keep this pace up."

The closest on-track battle at present is Fernando Alonso vs. Lando Norris for P6. Alonso holds it by 0.501, but Lando pressuring.

Looks like Magnussen and Zhou had contact! Magnussen seems to have come off worse of the two, and taken on some damage!

Vandoorne tries to overtake Sainz and sends both cars into the wall!! That's the end of both men's races, that had started very badly! SAFETY CAR!

(BOZ) "Box now, box."

(ADA) "Box Lewis, Box this lap."

PITSTOPS: Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen all pit, in fact everyone bar Piastri, Alonso, Russell and Albon have stopped! Leclerc returns to the track in P1, Piastri stays out and gains track position on Hamilton, Alonso ahead of Verstappen, Russell and Albon up ahead of Norris

Lap 18, under SC: Leclerc, Piastri, Hamilton, Alonso, Verstappen, Russell, Albon, Bottas, Norris, Ricciardo, Stroll, Tsunoda, Zhou, Magnussen, Gasly, Hülkenberg, Pourchaire, Ocon. Vandoorne and Sainz out of the race.

(LEC) "The safety car is a bit too slow."

(BOZ) "Copy, focus on working on the front tyres, Charles."

(ADA) "We don't think those tyres will last too long on Piastri's car, Lewis."

(HAM) "Yeah, I think we will get P2 back soon."

Magnussen with an engine problem! Might be major issues for the lead Alpine!

WE GO MOTOR RACING ON LAP 21 AGAIN

Off the restart, Leclerc is already building a gap to the field, Piastri holding up Hamilton, Alonso just ahead of his teammate, Leclerc is already 2 seconds up!

Leclerc has had a phenomenal restart and now leads by over 3 seconds.

Meanwhile there's a scuffle by the two Red Bulls at the Piscine, and Verstappen takes fourth off Alonso!

Hamilton is trying to simultaneously get past Piastri while defending from Verstappen. All of this is benefitting Leclerc, who already has a healthy lead.

LECLERC

A bit of a DRS train forming behind Piastri, who we remind you, is yet to pit in this race. He didn't come in under the Safety Car.

Hamilton going for the move going into Saint Devote and he now goes into P2! He's got some gap to make up on Leclerc though, as the gap is almost six seconds!

Verstappen now clears Piastri for third, and the McLaren garage should be thinking about when to bring him in at this point.

Lap 28: Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Piastri, Alonso, Bottas, Norris, Russell, Albon, Ricciardo

PITSTOP: Russell is the first to come in without the benefit of the Safety Car...and that's a bit delayed for him! He rejoins 18th and last, and Mercedes afternoon gets worse and worse.

Stroll goes wide at Turn 16 by the pool, and he's given his first track limits warning.

Hamilton has reduced the gap to 4.5 to his teammate..he's also dragging Verstappen with him!

Hamilton closing a bit on Leclerc, with the gap now 4.2.

We're keeping pit watch on Piastri, Alonso and Albon. All three could do with a Safety Car right now.

THERE'S THE SAFETY CAR! Pourchaire with a very, very risky move on Magnussen that sends him into the wall and out of the race! Safety Car deployed, great news for Piastri and Alonso!

PITSTOPS: Piastri, Bottas, Alonso, Ricciardo, Zhou, Magnussen all come in.

Lap 38, under SC: Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Bottas, Alonso, Stroll, Gasly, Hülkenberg, Ocon, Ricciardo, Russell, Tsunoda, Zhou, Albon, Magnussen. Pourchaire, Vandoorne and Sainz all out of the race.

Magnussen, Pourchaire, Vandoorne and Sainz to all face the stewards after the race.

Some surprise that Verstappen and Norris didn't pit under that Safety Car. Might be problematic for both later in the race. Same with Stroll, Gasly, Hülkenberg and Ocon.

(BOZ) "Safety Car in. And push."

Aston Martin are having a rough day, Bottas having issues with his gearbox!

Well, this could be a big twist in the Drivers' Championship. Verstappen having technical issues!

HAMILTON

Lando Norris is going for third, and Norris takes third from Verstappen!!

PITSTOP: VERSTAPPEN IN! Red Bull are gambling big time here on fresh Softs, and Verstappen now last in the pack!

More mechanical issues for the Renault factory team - Ocon having issues with his car!

As it stands, this is a massive swing towards Leclerc in the WDC. Hamilton about 1.5 behind Leclerc now.