Dragon Racing announces Andrea Caldarelli from Super GT and Maximilian Günther, associated with Mercedes in Formula 3, as participants in the upcoming Formula E rookie test in Marrakesh.

Following the E-Prix in Marrakesh on January 13th, all 10 teams participating in Formula E will extend their stay for an extra day. This extension is to accommodate a rookie test, which will involve entries of two cars per team. This test is exclusively available to drivers who have not yet obtained an e-licence.

Dragon Racing has announced that it will participate in the upcoming Formula E rookie test in Marrakesh with Super GT driver Andrea Caldarelli and Maximilian Günther, who is associated with Mercedes and competes in Formula 3.

Following the E-Prix in Marrakesh on January 13, all 10 teams competing in Formula E will extend their stay by one day to participate in a rookie test. This test allows teams to run two cars each and is exclusively available to drivers who have not yet obtained an e-licence.

The trailing Dragon squad has officially announced its team members, welcoming Caldarelli for his inaugural race in a single-seater after nearly a three-year hiatus. Throughout his driving career, the Italian racer has maintained connections with Toyota, having tested one of its Formula 1 vehicles in 2008.

At 20 years old, Günther clinched the third spot in the FIA European Formula 3 championship this year, trailing behind Lando Norris and Joel Eriksson. His racing agenda for 2018 remains undecided.

The young driver supported by Mercedes is set to experience driving a Formula E car for the first time during the rookie test in Marrakesh. This comes as the German carmaker prepares to join the championship with its own team beginning in the sixth season, which kicks off in 2019.

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Charles Leclerc Criticizes Misleading Media Coverage on Relationship with Carlos Sainz

Charles Leclerc has expressed his disapproval of how the media has represented his remarks concerning his departing Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz.

Charles Leclerc has taken steps to clarify the nature of his relationship with his ex-Ferrari Formula 1 teammate, Carlos Sainz.

Following four seasons together at Ferrari, Leclerc and Sainz will no longer be teammates. Sainz is set to join Williams, which opens up a spot for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is transferring from Mercedes.

Leclerc expressed his frustration over how his remarks before the second-to-last race of the season in Qatar were misinterpreted.

Before the Qatar Grand Prix, the driver from Monaco expressed, "I've mentioned this often; on one side, it's not as though I'll be missing him intensely since he'll still be around in the paddock, probably just about 20 meters away."

During the final race of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Leclerc expressed his dissatisfaction with the way certain media organizations had represented his remarks.

"In recent days, I've noticed a number of inaccurate headlines," stated Leclerc.

The statement I made has been somewhat misinterpreted. Regarding my comment about not missing Carlos, I simply meant that he is only 20 meters away from me in the paddock.

"I've genuinely had a fantastic connection with Carlos. As an individual, he's truly a great person."

"We have consistently maintained an exceptionally strong relationship."

Leclerc maintains that their relationship is ‘really good.’ Despite experiencing some tensions on the track, particularly during the Las Vegas Grand Prix which led to Leclerc expressing his frustration over the radio, he emphasized that they share a solid relationship.

Leclerc acknowledged that while there have been moments of friction on the track, it is a common occurrence.

"In the end, while both of us compete for Ferrari, our goal is also to secure race victories."

"When we are in such close competition on the track, there will inevitably be disagreements between the parties involved."

"What stands out to me is that each time we faced a situation like this, we emerged a little stronger and more united."

"We have an exceptionally strong bond and share many interests beyond just racing."

"While [Sainz] won't be with the team next year, I believe we'll probably still attend races together to enjoy each other's company."

"Our relationship is very strong, so I genuinely hope everything goes well for him."

Starting in 2025, Leclerc will team up with Hamilton, marking his third different Ferrari partner.

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Daniel Ricciardo comments on the ongoing dispute between Max Verstappen and George Russell, describing it as "a challenging conflict to overcome." Ricciardo shares his thoughts on the tension between Verstappen and Russell.

Daniel Ricciardo has shared his thoughts on the disagreement between Max Verstappen and George Russell that occurred at the end of the F1 season.

The final race of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was overshadowed by a verbal clash between Verstappen and Russell.

This occurred after the Qatar Grand Prix, where Verstappen received a one-position grid penalty due to a minor incident with Russell during the qualifying session.

Verstappen was annoyed by Russell's involvement in the penalty decision and his behavior during the meeting with the stewards.

Following the race on Sunday, the racer from the Netherlands stated that he no longer had any respect for Russell. He maintained this position during the press event in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Russell responded strongly to Verstappen, suggesting that Verstappen struggles to cope with challenges. He also alluded multiple times to Verstappen's conduct during the 2021 championship fight with Lewis Hamilton.

Since that time, Verstappen has suggested that he might mend fences with Russell, expressing his belief that "we will resolve it once more."

After the Singapore Grand Prix, Ricciardo, who had exited from Formula 1, shared his perspective on the matter.

During an interview with The Red Flags Podcast, Ricciardo remarked, "It's compelling TV. This is the first instance I've witnessed George getting upset."

When questioned about whether it was wise to engage in a rivalry with the current world champion, Ricciardo replied: "Not right now. The young guy, Verstappen, is really on point. I think it's a challenging fight to come out on top of."

Ricciardo has expressed a clear disinterest in returning to Formula 1, despite potential interest from Cadillac.

Cadillac is preparing to join Formula 1 as the 11th team in 2026 and has been associated with various drivers.

It is anticipated that they will bring on board an American talent, with Colton Herta being the leading contender.

Aside from that, it is anticipated that Cadillac will prioritize seasoned drivers, considering options such as Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen, and possibly Sergio Perez, who may be available.

It seems that the ex-Red Bull racer has fully stepped away from Formula 1.

In a brief interaction with a fan, Ricciardo was questioned about Cadillac and responded by saying, "No, I'm finished."

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Lucas di Grassi, the reigning Formula E champion, will incur a 10-position grid penalty for the upcoming Santiago E-Prix in Chile on Saturday, due to an inverter replacement in his Audi ABT Schaeffler vehicle.

Di Grassi has experienced a challenging beginning to the season, unable to earn any points in the first three races due to several reliability problems faced by the Audi team.

After the final race in Marrakesh, the Brazilian driver confessed to Crash.net that defending his title has become increasingly difficult, especially after the recent grid penalty in Santiago worsened his situation.

Reigning Formula E titleholder Lucas di Grassi faces a 10-position grid penalty at the upcoming Santiago E-Prix in Chile on Saturday due to an inverter replacement in his Audi ABT Schaeffler vehicle.

Di Grassi has faced a challenging beginning to the season, unable to secure any points in the first three races due to several reliability problems with the Audi team.

The Brazilian confessed to Crash.net after the final race in Marrakesh that he was facing a tough battle to keep his title, with the recent grid penalty in Santiago further complicating his situation.

Officials in Santiago announced that di Grassi would incur a 10-position penalty on the starting grid due to replacing the inverter in his vehicle, after previously utilizing his permitted one-time change during the previous race in Marrakesh due to a qualifying problem.

"Allan McNish, the team principal for Audi, stated that they resolved the problems they encountered in Marrakesh."

"We replicated the issue on our testing setup, but since the part is secured by the FIA, we couldn't repair it without facing a sanction."

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Max Verstappen engaged in 'productive discussions' with Mercedes

Max Verstappen shares insights into his discussions with Mercedes while contemplating his future in Formula 1 with Red Bull.

Max Verstappen shared that he engaged in "highly productive discussions" with Mercedes regarding the possibility of becoming part of their team.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion became Mercedes' top choice for a driver after Lewis Hamilton unexpectedly revealed in February that he would be joining Ferrari for the 2025 season.

Mercedes' team boss, Toto Wolff, made efforts for several months to attract Max Verstappen during a challenging beginning of the season for Red Bull. However, he ultimately abandoned his pursuit to sign the 27-year-old Dutch driver away from Red Bull.

Wolff chose to elevate the young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli from Mercedes to join George Russell for the upcoming season, while dismissing rumors about attempting to secure Verstappen in the near future.

In an interview with the Dutch broadcaster Viaplay, Verstappen discussed the conversations he had with Mercedes while contemplating his future in Formula 1.

"The major teams certainly catch people's attention, yet I am already part of a significant team myself. I've experienced considerable success with them, and it genuinely feels like a second family to me," Verstappen revealed.

"Naturally, we maintain open communication with one another. I'm truthful when I say that we've had meetings. Our discussions have been productive, and I believe everyone has consistently approached them with honesty and transparency."

"Conversely, I have a strong sense of loyalty to my team, and it feels like a place where I truly belong. As a result, there's not much more I need to accomplish right now. Given my youth, there's plenty of time for new opportunities and developments down the road."

Verstappen has 'no issues to raise'

Max Verstappen, whose contract with Red Bull extends through 2028, emphasized once again that he is "extremely satisfied" with the team based in Milton Keynes and has no intention of departing.

This comes even though the controversy involving Red Bull team boss Christian Horner earlier this year led to tensions with Jos Verstappen, Max's father, and resulted in the exit of major figures such as iconic designer Adrian Newey and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley.

He explained that in Formula 1, it's rare for a person to break their contract. Unlike in football, where players might sign a five-year deal but depart after just one year, this isn't usually the goal in F1.

"It's impossible to predict what the future holds, whether that's next year or two years from now. Since it's beyond my control, I don't spend much time worrying about it. Right now, I'm extremely satisfied with my current situation, especially after securing another championship victory."

Naturally, the car requires some enhancements, which is quite understandable. However, I feel positive about my place in the team, where I can truly be myself.

"Everyone is putting in maximum effort to consistently provide me with top-quality resources. I have no complaints in that regard."

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VIDEO: Nico Rosberg Showcases Electric Racing Power in Berlin

Nico Rosberg, the 2016 Formula 1 World Champion, made a highly awaited comeback to racing circuits on Saturday in Berlin, where he showcased the capabilities of the upcoming 'Gen2' Formula E vehicle. This new electric race car is set to debut in the championship starting from its fifth season.

Rosberg made it clear that he hadn't considered a comeback to motorsport since his retirement announcement, which came shortly after his F1 championship victory in Abu Dhabi. Despite this, the German expressed his pleasure in testing a Formula E vehicle for the first time, following his recent investment in the series.

2016 Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg returned to the circuit in Berlin on Saturday, where he showcased the new 'Gen2' Formula E car during a demo drive. This car will debut in the series starting with its fifth season.

Rosberg emphasized that he had no intentions of making a comeback to motorsport following his retirement announcement, which came shortly after his F1 championship victory in Abu Dhabi. Despite this, the German took pleasure in his inaugural test drive in a Formula E car, having recently become an investor in the electric racing series.

Rosberg seized the opportunity to execute several high-speed laps around the Tempelhof Airport track, the same venue for the Berlin E-Prix later that day. He drove aggressively, even though there were instances where he veered off course and almost collided with the barrier.

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Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are predicted to be the major rivals to watch in Formula 1 by 2025. The focus for Piastri is solely on himself, disregarding others, which is the mindset he needs to bring into the upcoming season where McLaren is expected to lead the pack.

Former Formula 1 racer Johnny Herbert anticipates that the competition within the McLaren team will be the major showdown in 2025.

McLaren clinched their first F1 constructors' championship victory since 1998, edging out Ferrari in a close battle for this year's title.

Throughout the year, Lando Norris generally held an advantage over Oscar Piastri, but there were still several intense moments between the two.

In Hungary, Piastri managed to pass Norris at the beginning of the race, but he fell behind again during the second set of pit stops.

Consequently, McLaren instructed Norris to let Piastri pass, a directive the British driver was initially hesitant to follow.

During the first lap at Monza, Piastri made a move on Norris, which resulted in Norris falling behind and allowed Charles Leclerc to take the victory in the race.

McLaren revealed that starting from the Azerbaijan event, Piastri will have the job of supporting Norris.

The differences in their performance meant Piastri wasn't required to yield to Norris until the sprint race. However, Norris returned the gesture during the Saturday race in Qatar.

In a conversation with CoinPoker, Herbert anticipates that the competition between Norris and Piastri will be one of the most talked-about narratives of 2025.

"He [Piastri] possesses the correct mindset," he remarked. "His focus is solely on himself, and he isn't concerned with others. This is the approach he needs to maintain as McLaren enters the new season as the frontrunner."

Oscar is represented by Mark Webber as his manager. He understands the task ahead of him: if he starts off strong and takes control, he'll be in an excellent position. However, it's unlikely that Lando will make it easy for him. Lando has consistently excelled in his qualifying rounds and continues to deliver outstanding performances during races.

"The rivalry will drive both individuals to perform better. I admire Oscar's determined mentality. The most anticipated showdown next season is expected to be between Oscar and Lando! McLaren is predicted to lead the way, surpassing Red Bull, followed by Ferrari and Mercedes."

A significant year for Piastri

Following an impressive debut season, Piastri faced challenges in making substantial progress, especially in the qualifying rounds of his second year.

Throughout the 24 races, Piastri managed to qualify ahead of Norris just four times.

His finest performance occurred during the race day.

Although Piastri may not match Norris in sheer speed, his skill in close racing situations and calmness during crucial times have led to several significant performances.

To pose a genuine challenge to Norris, he must improve his performance in qualifying and enhance his overall speed.

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The latest auditory experience from Formula E vehicles

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Lewis frequently travels globally to cover Grands Prix events for Crash.net. He primarily focuses on on-site reporting, sharing the narratives of key figures within the sport.

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Pascal Wehrlein disqualified from leading position in Paris Formula E race, both Mahindra vehicles fail to meet tyre pressure standards

Pascal Wehrlein has lost his pole position for the Formula E event in Paris on Saturday, following a ruling that both vehicles from the Mahindra team did not maintain the necessary tyre pressure minimum.

Wehrlein managed to surpass Nissan's Oliver Rowland, securing his second Formula E pole position at the Les Invalides circuit in Paris on a Saturday afternoon. However, due to a rule violation, he will start the race from the back of the grid.

Jerome d'Ambrosio, another team member who had secured the sixth position in qualifying, will also be moved to the back of the pack due to the violation.

Pascal Wehrlein has lost his pole position spot for the upcoming Formula E race in Paris on Saturday due to both Mahindra vehicles being found to have operated with tyre pressures below the mandated minimum level.

Wehrlein secured his second Formula E pole position at the Les Invalides circuit in Paris on a Saturday afternoon, surpassing Nissan's Oliver Rowland. However, due to a violation, he will be relegated to the back of the grid.

Jerome d'Ambrosio, who had secured the sixth position in the qualifiers, will also be relegated to the back of the pack due to the infraction.

This elevates Rowland to the top spot, while his Nissan colleague Sebastien Buemi secures a position next to him at the forefront of the starting lineup.

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Liberty Media faces a new challenge from the European Union regarding its acquisition of MotoGP. The EU is preparing to investigate the planned takeover.

Liberty Media's proposed acquisition of the MotoGP World Championship is facing scrutiny from the European Union, which plans to investigate the transaction.

According to reports from business networks Bloomberg and Reuters, the European Union's newly appointed antitrust leader, Teresa Ribera, along with her team, are concerned that the 3.5 billion euro agreement might hinder competition in the fields of broadcasting and streaming by consolidating the ownership of the MotoGP and F1 brands.

Earlier this year, the American corporation that owns Formula 1 revealed its decision to purchase Dorna Sports and MotoGP, securing an 86% majority stake. Following this announcement, Liberty Media has been working through the required regulatory procedures to finalize the acquisition by the end of the year.

In August, Liberty Media revealed its intention to sell $825 million worth of F1 shares to help finance its proposed purchase of MotoGP.

In November, the company's CEO, Greg Maffei, announced that the acquisition of MotoGP had been submitted to the European Commission for approval.

He mentioned, "Regarding MotoGP, we have submitted a request to the European Commission for regulatory approval, and we anticipate obtaining it by the end of the year."

The European Commission has a deadline of December 19th to decide on Liberty's acquisition of MotoGP. However, with recent developments, it is reported that authorities are getting ready to start a phase 2 investigation by the same deadline. This information, highlighted in a Bloomberg report, also notes that the decision is still preliminary and could be altered.

In 2006, CVC Capital acquired Formula 1 but was compelled by competition authorities to relinquish its stake in MotoGP. This move was due to concerns of monopolistic practices in the motorsport industry, leading to the sale of MotoGP to its current owner, Bridgepoint.

In October of this year, Belgian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Pascal Arimont requested that the European Commission look into Liberty Media due to concerns that it may have a monopoly in global motorsport, given its ownership of Formula 1 and MotoGP.

Despite past challenges, Liberty has remained optimistic from the start that the outcome will be different this time. When Reuters contacted Liberty Media for a statement, the company did not provide a response at this time.

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VIDEO: Highlights from the Formula E Paris E-Prix

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MotoGP's Unwanted Award for 'Underachiever of the Year' Handed Out

Our specialists reveal the rider whose performance fell short of expectations in 2024

Everyone aims to avoid falling short of their potential.

Regrettably, during the 2024 MotoGP season, one competitor caught our attention by achieving far less than what we had expected.

In yet another season where Ducati took the lead, Marc Marquez showcased the potential of the GP23, but his fellow competitors struggled to keep up, highlighting his exceptional talent.

This led our specialists to consider which rider in MotoGP fell short of expectations the most this year…

Marco Bezzecchi was anticipated to be a persistent challenger to the leading contenders for the championship once more in 2024. In 2023, he secured victories in three grand prix events, ultimately finishing third in the rankings while representing VR46.

However, in 2024, he did not achieve that level of performance

A significant factor was the GP23's poor compatibility with his aggressive braking technique. Meanwhile, his teammate, Fabio Di Giannantonio, rode the identical motorcycle and led by 12 points in the rankings, even though he missed the last two races due to surgery.

Marco Bezzecchi now has a challenging task at Aprilia as an official team rider, competing against current world champion Jorge Martin.

Jordan Moreland highlights that Marco Bezzecchi delivered impressive performances throughout 2023, ultimately securing a position within the top three of the World Championship standings.

In 2024, his performance fell short as he was trailing by 239 points compared to Marc Marquez's leading GP23 score.

We are hopeful that he will enhance his performance with Aprilia in 2025.

Marco Bezzecchi, who finished just behind Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin last season with three Grand Prix victories, has surprisingly fallen to 12th place in this year's world championship standings, ranking last among Ducati riders.

His standout moment was reaching the podium in Jerez.

Following the signing of Bezzecchi for the 2025 season, Aprilia's Massimo Rivola commented, "In my opinion, the true Bezzecchi is the one we saw last year, not the version we've seen this year."

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