Brad Binder: "This year has been packed with obstacles" – Exclusive Interview

"Considering how events have unfolded, you wouldn’t anticipate being in 5th place in the championship."

Brad Binder shone brightly at the start of the MotoGP season in Qatar, but struggled to maintain that success throughout the next 19 races.

Two near wins at Lusail hinted that 2024 could finally be the season where Binder and KTM make a strong bid for the championship.

However, in the subsequent 38 races, the South African competitor did not secure another podium finish.

The RC16 fell behind the Ducatis, while Binder experienced a challenging season marked by a personal high of 19 crashes and some difficult qualifying sessions, such as starting from the last position at Le Mans.

Despite the challenges, he persevered and secured fifth place in the world championship, which was only one position lower than the previous year. Once more, he was the top performer among riders not using Ducati bikes.

Nevertheless, his point total was 76 less compared to his performance in 2023.

"Honestly, it's obvious that this season hasn't met our expectations," Binder stated in an exclusive interview with Crash.net.

In truth, we've been facing more challenges than we had anticipated.

"Nobody is really thrilled about our current situation, that's certain."

"The whole team, along with everyone at the factory, is putting in a tremendous amount of work, which provides me with a great deal of reassurance."

"I strongly believe that we won't be staying here much longer."

A mystery this season has been the impressive performance of Binder and KTM in Qatar, where they stood out amidst the competition between future title contenders Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin, only to lose their edge afterward.

Following his impressive performance in Lusail, where he earned 29 out of a possible 37 points, Binder's next strongest showing was in Aragon, where he secured 17 points.

According to Binder, one reason was that the Ducatis were affected by vibrations caused by the updated Michelin rear tire at Lusail. While his RC16 didn't seem to have this issue initially, the circumstances quickly changed.

"Frankly speaking, I noticed during the race in Qatar that the other riders were experiencing significant chatter, while we didn't have any," stated Binder, who was the sole KTM rider to finish among an all-Ducati top seven at Lusail.

"It seems they were definitely losing some time in certain areas. I managed to close the gap, particularly in a couple of corners where they were struggling with chattering. That really worked in our favor, I would say."

"Following that, it became apparent that they managed to make a minor advancement."

The MotoGP racer, who has won two races, also highlighted that he hasn't reached his full potential this year.

He mentioned that there were some races where they performed exceptionally well, but unfortunately, he hasn't had a remarkable year overall. He admitted to experiencing setbacks, encountering difficulties, and even qualifying last at Le Mans, of all places.

The past year has been filled with obstacles, yet being in fifth place in the championship standings is surprising considering the difficulties faced, including my numerous setbacks and crashes.

"It's not only us facing challenges; many others have experienced a tougher season than they expected."

Certainly, similar to Ducati's competitors, KTM struggled to completely master the updated rear tire.

"We're still figuring things out," Binder admitted. "We've discovered a few elements that appear to be more effective."

"The main focus right now is figuring out precisely what we require to increase our speed."

As part of that procedure, the final stages were utilized to collect information for the year 2025.

On the day before the Sepang event, he mentioned that they plan to experiment with a slightly altered downforce setup to determine if it can address any of their issues.

A challenge identified by Binder is the insufficient speed maintained through the corners.

He admitted that they are indeed experiencing a slight decline in mid-corner roll speed compared to previous times.

"That's one area we need to focus on improving. However, the situation is quite complicated and can't be resolved by simply identifying the issue and applying a quick fix."

Binder, who recorded the sixth-fastest time during the post-race testing in Barcelona, is set to return to the 2025 KTM prototype at Sepang in February.

For two decades, Peter has been present in the paddock, witnessing the arrival and departure of Valentino Rossi. He is deeply involved in covering the story of Suzuki's departure and the injury challenges faced by Marc Marquez.

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Six key races in the battle for the 2024 MotoGP championship

These were the six pivotal races where Jorge Martin outpaced Francesco Bagnaia by at least ten points, ultimately securing his championship victory…

At the end of this year's world championship, Jorge Martin, the new MotoGP champion, had a narrow lead of just ten points over his competitor Francesco Bagnaia, out of a possible 740 points for the season.

In these six races, Martin, who became the first satellite team rider to win a title in the 'MotoGP' era, surpassed the current double champion Bagnaia by at least that margin…

1. In the second round of the Portimao Grand Prix, Martin secured first place, earning 25 points, while Bagnaia did not finish the race, receiving no points.

Martin, representing Sprint, and Bagnaia, racing for GP, each secured a victory in the season's first race in Qatar. As they headed to Portugal, only three points separated them in the standings.

The duo finished in third and fourth positions during the Portimao Sprint. However, Martin managed to secure an unexpected 25-point lead against his key competitor by clinching victory in the grand prix. Meanwhile, Bagnaia faced difficulties and ended up crashing towards the end of the race after a clash with Marc Marquez while they were vying for fifth place.

Round 4 of the Jerez Sprint saw Martin clinching first place, earning 12 points, while Bagnaia did not finish the race, resulting in zero points for him

During the wet Jerez Sprint, Bagnaia experienced his second race of the season without earning points. The incident occurred on the third lap at Turn 1 when he was caught between Marco Bezzecchi and Brad Binder, leading to his crash and exit from the race.

Martin secured victory in the Sprint race; however, the next day saw a dramatic shift as Bagnaia claimed an impressive win in the Grand Prix, outperforming Marc Marquez, while Martin unfortunately crashed and did not finish.

Le Mans Sprint, Round 5: Martin finishes in first place, earning 12 points, while Bagnaia did not finish and receives 0 points.

Bagnaia did not complete his second consecutive Sprint and experienced his third race without points out of six attempts, owing to a technical problem at Le Mans.

Bagnaia stated that the bike was acting unpredictably, which forced him to withdraw.

Martin achieved his sole 37-point maximum weekend of the season by securing victories in both French races, while Bagnaia came in a close third behind Martin and Marc Marquez in the grand prix.

Round 12 of the Aragon Grand Prix saw Martin finish in second place, earning him 20 points, while Bagnaia did not finish and received zero points.

Despite Bagnaia's fall during the Sprints at Catalunya and Silverstone, which were the 6th and 10th rounds respectively, Martin managed to earn only six points from Catalunya and nine from Silverstone.

The Spanish rider committed errors during the Mugello Sprint and, more prominently, at the Sachsenring Grand Prix, which was the ninth round. It was at this event that Bagnaia claimed the championship lead for the first time since the Qatar race.

Martin regained the lead at Silverstone, but it wasn't until the 12th round at Aragon that the Spaniard managed to widen his lead over Bagnaia by more than 10 points in one race. He secured second place behind Marc Marquez, while his main competitor, Bagnaia, suffered a crash following a crucial late-race collision with Alex Marquez while battling for third place.

With only a single point and difficulties maintaining traction during the Sprint, the Aragon weekend turned out to be Bagnaia's most challenging of the season.

Round 14 of the Grand Prix took place in Misano, located in Emilia Romagna. Martin secured second place, earning 20 points, while Bagnaia did not finish the race and received no points.

At the San Marino round, Bagnaia managed to reduce Martin's lead in the championship by 16 points, capitalizing on Martin's significant error of pitting when it started to drizzle during the Grand Prix. Bagnaia further narrowed the gap by an additional three points by clinching victory in the Emilia Romagna Sprint, during MotoGP’s second stop at his home circuit.

Approaching the Grand Prix, Bagnaia trailed Martin by only four points. However, he faced his seventh non-finish of the season after crashing during a braking maneuver as he attempted to catch up with Martin and Enea Bastianini.

The sole positive outcome for Bagnaia was Bastianini's victory over Martin, achieved through a contentious maneuver on the final lap.

6. Sepang Sprint, Race 19: Martin finishes first, earning 12 points, while Bagnaia does not finish and receives 0 points.

The sixth and last significant shift benefiting Martin occurred during the second-to-last round at Sepang, and it was undoubtedly the most expensive.

Bagnaia maintained his chances for the championship by securing a victory in the rainy conditions at Buriram the weekend before, reducing Martin's advantage to 17 points.

There were 74 points up for grabs, and Bagnaia was considered the more formidable competitor at Sepang. He made an impressive start by securing pole position ahead of Martin, setting a new lap record in the process.

In the concluding surprise of what Bagnaia described as a 'season filled with errors,' due to the non-finishes both he and Martin experienced, the Ducati Lenovo racer lost control and fell from second place behind the Pramac competitor during the Sprint. This incident marked his eighth and last non-finish of the season.

As Bagnaia clinched victory in the last three races, Martin secured podium finishes each time, ultimately securing the championship title during the 40th and last race of the season in Barcelona. It was here that Bagnaia also achieved his fifth flawless 37-point score of the year.

Bagnaia’s Top Five Key Races…

These are the five races, listed in the order they occurred, where Bagnaia managed to significantly reduce Martin's lead in the world championship standings by at least ten points, thereby sustaining his chances for the title.

Jerez GP, 4th Round: Bagnaia secured victory and earned 25 points, while Martin did not finish. Mugello Sprint, 7th Round: Bagnaia again took first place, gaining 12 points, with Martin failing to complete the race. Sachsenring GP, 9th Round: Bagnaia clinched another win with 25 points, as Martin did not finish. San Marino GP, 13th Round: Bagnaia finished in second place, collecting 19 points, and Martin came in 15th. Mandalika Sprint, 15th Round: Bagnaia was victorious once more, adding 12 points to his tally, and Martin finished in 10th place.

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For two decades, Peter has been involved in the paddock, witnessing the arrival and departure of Valentino Rossi. He is currently at the center of the news regarding Suzuki's departure and Marc Marquez's struggles with injuries.

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Red Bull has recognized that Liam Lawson is up against a significant challenge when competing with Max Verstappen.

Christian Horner, the head of the Red Bull team, has acknowledged that joining Max Verstappen as a teammate in Formula 1 will be a challenging prospect for Liam Lawson.

A 22-year-old from New Zealand has been elevated from the Racing Bulls team to join world champion Verstappen in 2025, after Red Bull decided to release Sergio Perez.

On Thursday, Lawson's advancement was officially announced, following the news of Perez's exit from Red Bull, which broke on Wednesday.

Even though Lawson has participated in just 11 grand prix races during his two separate periods with Racing Bulls in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Red Bull is confident that he is prepared to team up with four-time world champion Verstappen.

Lawson is set to be Verstappen's fifth partner at Red Bull since 2016, succeeding Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Perez.

Partnering with Verstappen in Formula 1 is considered the most challenging role due to the Dutch driver's remarkable consistency and exceptional performance.

After Ricciardo's departure from the team, Red Bull has determined that Gasly, Albon, and Perez do not meet the criteria for the second seat.

Horner referred to Lawson as a "true competitor" and recognized the significant challenge that lies ahead for Red Bull's latest driver.

"Liam has shown through his time with Racing Bulls that he can consistently achieve impressive outcomes. According to Horner, Liam is a true competitor who isn't hesitant to challenge the top racers and emerge victorious."

Competing with Max, who has won the championship four times and is considered one of the all-time greats in Formula 1, is certainly intimidating. However, I am confident that Liam has the ability to meet this challenge and achieve impressive results for our team in the coming year.

Lawson aims to gain insights from Verstappen

Despite not decisively outperforming his teammate, Lawson was chosen over Yuki Tsunoda and is eager to draw on Verstappen's "expertise" for guidance.

Lawson expressed that being named a driver for Red Bull Racing is a dream he has had since he was eight years old, and he has been striving to achieve this goal throughout his life.

The journey up to this point has been amazing. I'm really thrilled to team up with Max and gain insights from a world champion. I'm certain that his knowledge will be invaluable to me. I'm eager to start.

Lawson's lap times were generally slower than Tsunoda's by 0.077 seconds, and he only managed to outpace the Japanese driver in qualifying for the sprint events in Brazil and Qatar.

Red Bull believes that Lawson has the potential to advance further, having shown impressive abilities both in single-lap performance and throughout race distances. Additionally, Lawson has caught Red Bull's attention with his technical insights and strong mindset.

Upon his return following Red Bull's decision to part ways with Ricciardo, Lawson made an immediate impact by delivering an impressive performance. He navigated through the pack to secure a ninth-place finish at the United States Grand Prix.

He ended the race in the same spot at a chaotic and rainy Sao Paulo Grand Prix, after achieving his best-ever qualifying position of fifth place.

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MV Agusta is set to be sold as KTM faces financial difficulties, leading to an investigation. The administrator is placing KTM's shares in the renowned Italian company on the market.

The administrator is overseeing the sale of KTM's majority share of 50.1% in MV Agusta, as the Financial Market Authority has initiated an investigation into the Pierer Mobility Group.

The Austrian company is currently experiencing a significant financial crisis, prompting it to initiate self-management measures to avoid going bankrupt.

Over the past few weeks, KTM has dismissed hundreds of employees, and more job cuts are anticipated. Additionally, the company's workers will not receive their salaries during the Christmas period.

Recent speculation has surfaced regarding the potential sale of KTM's majority ownership in MV Agusta. The Austrian company initially acquired shares in the Italian motorcycle brand in 2022.

This week, a regional court in Austria revealed that plans are in motion for the administrator to sell PMG's 50.1% controlling interest in MV Agusta.

MV Agusta is facing similar overproduction challenges as KTM, as reported by Autosport. There are currently 2,000 unsold units from the brand stored in an Austrian warehouse. Meanwhile, employees in Italy have consented to reductions in their salaries.

KTM is under scrutiny from Austria’s Financial Market Authority to determine if PMG adhered to disclosure requirements.

As reported by the Austrian Press Agency, the focus of the investigation will be on the period between May and November when PMG revised its business projections and experienced changes in its leadership.

At the beginning of this year, the number of members on KTM's board was reduced from six to two, due to the fact that the extent of the company's financial difficulties had not been completely uncovered.

A gathering of the creditors is scheduled for Friday, where they will decide whether KTM can remain in business.

Recently, KTM has not provided much information on how this scenario might impact its MotoGP plans. However, several individuals mentioned back in November that the 2025 schedule will proceed as intended.

Subsequently, there were media speculations suggesting a halt in development. Despite this, KTM participated in a private testing session at Jerez last week, featuring Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa.

KTM's monetary problems have affected its other grand prix endeavors, leading to the disappearance of the GASGAS and Husqvarna brands from the Moto2 and Moto3 lineups for the 2025 season.

The Tech3 MotoGP team, which operated under the GASGAS name during 2023 and 2024, is set to revert to the KTM brand in 2025.

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Max Verstappen shares a goodbye note with Sergio Perez, expressing gratitude by saying, "I will always be grateful."

Max Verstappen honors Sergio Perez.

Max Verstappen expressed his gratitude towards Sergio Perez, appreciating his directness and sincerity throughout their partnership as teammates in Formula 1.

On Wednesday, Red Bull revealed that they would be ending their partnership with Perez before the 2025 season, effectively concluding his career in Formula 1 for the time being.

Just 24 hours afterward, it was revealed that Liam Lawson would be joining Verstappen as his new teammate for the 2025 season.

Lawson is set to become the fifth teammate of Verstappen at Red Bull, following in the footsteps of Perez, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, and Daniel Ricciardo.

Verstappen expressed his appreciation for Perez's role at Red Bull, highlighting not only his skills as an F1 teammate but also his admirable personal qualities.

In a brief video shared on Red Bull's social media platforms, he remarked, "I recall this moment [referring to a photo of Perez and Verstappen celebrating in parc ferme following the 2021 Abu Dhabi race]."

"He has been an excellent teammate to me. As evident in this image, his assistance in that race was crucial, and it wouldn't have been possible without him. I will forever be grateful to him for that."

"I believe the key factor has always been to keep things enjoyable, simple, and sincere."

"It's rare to have a teammate about whom you can say so many positive things."

"I'm really grateful to Checo personally, not just as a colleague. Collaborating with him has been a great experience."

Perez's Key Contribution to Verstappen's Maiden F1 Championship

Although Red Bull did not secure the 2021 constructors’ championship, losing it to Mercedes, Perez's support was vital in assisting Verstappen to clinch the drivers’ championship.

During the Turkish Grand Prix, Perez's defensive driving prevented Lewis Hamilton from securing important points, possibly denying him a spot on the podium.

In the final race of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Perez played a pivotal role by firmly defending against and delaying Hamilton. This strategy prevented the seven-time world champion from having enough time for a pit stop when the Virtual Safety Car or Safety Car was activated.

Despite Michael Masi's mismanagement of the race, if Hamilton had managed to establish a large enough lead over Verstappen, he could have pitted to change to new tires and possibly stayed in front following the disputed Safety Car restart.

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2025 F1 Driver Line-Up: Which Drivers Are Confirmed and Speculated for the 2025 Season?

This is the current contract status for each F1 driver as we look towards the 2025 season.

Here is the list of Formula 1 drivers for the 2025 season, along with details about each driver's contract status.

Red Bull Racing has Max Verstappen secured under a long-term contract, though it includes a clause allowing him to leave if Helmut Marko departs from the team. However, Verstappen is confident that this scenario will not occur.

Sergio Perez's exit was revealed just one week prior to Christmas, after an unsuccessful season in 2024.

The following day, it was revealed that Liam Lawson would take his place.

Lewis Hamilton's major transfer to Ferrari in 2025 is the pivotal change that the driver market hinged on.

He will team up with Charles Leclerc, who has also signed a long-term contract to remain with the team.

Due to Hamilton joining the team, Carlos Sainz was displaced from his position.

Mercedes has secured George Russell's services through the conclusion of 2025. Meanwhile, the young prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli will move up from Formula 2 after only one season to take over from Lewis Hamilton, who is set to join Ferrari.

McLaren has secured long-term contracts for their thrilling pair of drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Aston Martin announced that Lance Stroll, who is the son of the team's billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll, has secured a contract that extends into the next year and further into the future.

Fernando Alonso has entered into a long-term agreement with Aston Martin, severing ties with Mercedes.

Williams successfully secured a deal to add Ferrari's Carlos Sainz to their team.

Carlos Sainz was replaced by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, leading him to explore opportunities with teams such as Mercedes, Red Bull, Sauber, and Alpine during the initial months of 2024.

As his choices became limited, he decided to trust the team led by James Vowles.

Renowned racer Alex Albon has caught the attention of leading teams, yet he has once again expressed his dedication to staying with Williams.

For the second half of 2024, Franco Colapinto will be driving for Williams, having taken over from Logan Sargeant. Colapinto currently has no contract for the 2025 season, and Williams does not have a spot available for him. However, other teams are reportedly interested in him.

Pierre Gasly has entered into a new extended agreement with Alpine.

The team announced that Esteban Ocon will not be part of their driving lineup in 2025.

Jack Doohan was announced as the successor to Ocon. Doohan is set to participate in his first season as a rookie in 2025.

Visa Cash Application Report: RB Update

Despite not securing a position with Red Bull's main team, Yuki Tsunoda will continue to be part of the RB organization.

As Lawson advances to a higher position, Isack Hadjar is anticipated to fill his previous role.

Nico Hulkenberg is set to leave Haas and sign a multi-year contract with Sauber beginning in 2025.

Gabriel Bortoleto, who is currently competing in Formula 2, has been chosen to partner with Hulkenberg. Bortoleto is set to start his first season in Formula 1 next year.

Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou of Sauber were released from their contracts by the team.

Starting in 2026, Sauber will be rebranded as Audi, with the German company having ambitious goals.

Haas F1 Team has announced that Nico Hulkenberg is set to depart for Sauber. Additionally, Kevin Magnussen's contract is coming to an end, and the team has confirmed his departure as well.

Ferrari's young talent, Oliver Bearman, made a significant impact during his first Formula 1 appearance, stepping in for the unwell Carlos Sainz. As a result of his impressive performance, he has secured a permanent position at Haas, taking over from Hulkenberg.

Esteban Ocon has joined the team alongside Bearman, moving over from Alpine.

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For ten years, James worked as a sports reporter at Sky Sports, where he covered a wide range of topics, including American sports, football, and Formula 1.

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Ferrari's leader reveals that discussions to persuade Lewis Hamilton were straightforward. Fred Vasseur mentioned that persuading Lewis Hamilton to become part of Ferrari was "not difficult."

Fred Vasseur has discussed for the first time the conversations he had with Lewis Hamilton, which resulted in Hamilton deciding to sign with Ferrari.

Lewis Hamilton, who has won the world championship seven times, has decided to end his remarkable 12-year career with Mercedes. This decision paves the way for a major move to their competitors, Ferrari, starting in 2025

The announcement made in February took the Formula 1 community by surprise and is considered one of the most significant driver changes in the history of the world championship.

During Ferrari's yearly Christmas lunch with the press to mark the end of the season, team principal Vasseur remarked that persuading Hamilton to become part of the team was "very easy."

In 2023, we achieved more victories than Mercedes, which made it easy to persuade him that Ferrari would be a promising opportunity, Vasseur stated.

He had been dreaming of racing for Ferrari for around 22 or 23 years, as we talked about it back in 2004. This made the decision relatively easy.

"Occasionally, it's about luck or having everything fall into place, like him being available and Ferrari having an open seat at the same time."

"Connecting with him was straightforward. Our discussions began a year ago, and persuading him was effortless."

Vasseur expressed that he was 'never concerned' about Hamilton's performance. In his last season with Mercedes, the 39-year-old Hamilton faced a challenging time as he was consistently outperformed by his younger teammate, George Russell, during the qualifying rounds throughout the season.

Hamilton, who holds the record for the most pole positions in Formula 1 with 104, admitted during the second-to-last race of the season in Qatar that he is "definitely not fast any more" due to his difficulties in one-lap qualifying.

At the end of the year, Russell was 22 points ahead in the drivers' championship, while Hamilton finished in seventh place overall, marking the lowest ranking of his grand prix career so far.

Nonetheless, Hamilton concluded his time with Mercedes by delivering an impressive comeback performance. Starting from 16th position on the grid, he advanced to finish fourth in the final race of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This included executing a last-lap maneuver to overtake Russell, closing a 14-second gap.

Vasseur maintains that he was "absolutely not concerned" about Hamilton's performance lately.

"He believed the qualifying session was challenging, but also felt that Lewis's performance during the Abu Dhabi qualifying wasn't connected to it," he stated.

"He performed exceptionally well in both the Vegas and Abu Dhabi races. I was not concerned at all about this matter, not even slightly."

This scenario, and I'm not blaming Lewis or Mercedes, is challenging to handle. It's understandable that if things aren't going smoothly, it could strain the relationship.

His mental state wasn't great, yet when it came to Brazil, he had a clear understanding. Despite this, his recent performances at several events have been impressive, so I have no concerns.

Lewis Hamilton is set to join Ferrari as Charles Leclerc's teammate, taking over the position previously held by Carlos Sainz, who is moving to Williams.

Vasseur expressed that he isn't especially concerned about the situation involving Charles and Lewis. He mentioned that the two have a great deal of respect for one another and are well-acquainted, having discussed this matter for several months.

"It's far preferable to compete for the top three positions rather than battling for the last spots. Having conversations and strategies about achieving high rankings is a positive challenge for a team. I'm truly convinced that the team's performance is driven by the healthy competition between the two."

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What lies ahead for Yuki Tsunoda following Red Bull's decision for 2025?

Yuki Tsunoda finds himself at a pivotal moment in his F1 career after Red Bull's 2025 decision, reports Lewis Larkam.

Yuki Tsunoda is approaching a pivotal moment in his Formula 1 career after not being selected by the top-tier Red Bull team.

Red Bull has opted to elevate their Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson to replace Sergio Perez in 2025, resulting in Yuki Tsunoda spending a fifth season with their secondary team. Isack Hadjar, a Red Bull junior who finished as the runner-up in the Formula 2 championship, is anticipated to be his teammate.

Red Bull's decision strongly indicates that they do not consider Tsunoda a viable candidate for their main team. Instead, they see him as a valuable benchmark for evaluating other young drivers while he competes with their affiliated team.

Although this approach has benefited Tsunoda for multiple years, he believes he is now prepared for advancement.

Yuki Tsunoda, who managed to outpace Liam Lawson in qualifying at each of the six races that the New Zealander participated in towards the end of 2024, recently expressed to Sky Sports F1 that his focus remains solely on delivering strong performances as he has been doing this year.

"I have confidence in my abilities and aim to demonstrate my steady achievements, hoping that it will eventually alter their perspective."

"I will give my best effort and am confident in my abilities once I join Red Bull."

Although he stated that he had "impressed" Red Bull with his technical insights during his test drive at the end of the season in the RB20, he will not receive that chance. Instead, Lawson has been chosen for the 2025 season.

Tsunoda has demonstrated his speed in single-lap performance, achieving a superior qualifying record compared to Ricciardo and Lawson. Additionally, he has improved his consistency as a driver and has addressed his emotional reactions and outbursts during team radio communications, which were considered his most significant flaw.

At 24 years old, the seasoned Japanese grand prix driver, having nearly 100 races under his belt, is confronted with a challenging career decision: should he remain with the Red Bull team and aim to sway their opinion, or should he depart to pursue new opportunities with a different team?

Which other teams might Tsunoda consider joining?

Red Bull has decided to keep Tsunoda for now, but their agreement only lasts through the 2025 season. This means he will become a free agent in 2026, coinciding with major changes to F1's regulations.

If Tsunoda chooses to part ways with Red Bull, one of the most fascinating possibilities could be joining Aston Martin.

In an exciting development, Aston Martin is set to transform into Honda's official Formula 1 team. This change will occur when Honda assumes the role of their power unit supplier, taking over from Mercedes, starting in 2026.

Due to his association with Honda, Tsunoda is already being connected to Aston Martin.

However, making such a decision would ultimately rely on elements that Tsunoda cannot influence.

The initial question revolves around whether Fernando Alonso will choose to continue his illustrious Formula 1 career once his existing contract concludes at the end of the 2026 season.

The double world champion, set to turn 45 when his contract expires, has confessed he is viewing 2026 as potentially his last year in Formula 1. Nevertheless, the Spanish driver is not ruling out the possibility of extending his career beyond that.

The key factor influencing Alonso's decision will be how competitive Aston Martin is as Formula 1 enters a new regulatory period, with their car being designed by Adrian Newey. Should Alonso see any possibility of clinching a third world championship, he is likely to remain with the team.

The second seat belongs to Lance Stroll, whose father, Lawrence, is the billionaire owner of Aston Martin. Lance's position is essentially secure for as long as he wishes to continue racing, and it seems unlikely that his father would remove him from the team.

While the partnership between Aston Martin and Honda could be very attractive to Tsunoda, there might not be a spot available for him.

There might be opportunities with the Audi Formula 1 team set to launch in 2026, contingent on the performances of recent additions Nico Hulkenberg and newcomer Gabriel Bortoleto. Alternatively, positions could be available at Cadillac, which appears on track to become the 11th team in the world championship.

The initiative supported by General Motors could be a potential path for Tsunoda if he is interested in creating a team centered around himself, akin to what former Red Bull drivers Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly have achieved with Williams and Alpine, respectively.

Yuki Tsunoda might find motivation in Carlos Sainz’s achievements, which came after he parted ways with Red Bull when he was similarly passed over.

The driver, who has won four grand prix races, has previously competed for McLaren and Ferrari and is now transitioning to Williams, demonstrating that change can lead to better opportunities.

Red Bull's decision to overlook Tsunoda could lead him to think about switching to a different team.

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Title: The F1 Drivers Red Bull Dropped Early

Sergio Perez managed to remain with Red Bull for four years before being let go at the conclusion of the 2024 F1 season. However, numerous other drivers at Red Bull faced dismissal much sooner…

Christian Klien

At the beginning of Red Bull's journey in Formula 1, Christian Klien was the initial casualty of the team's unforgiving approach.

After initially outperforming Vitantonio Liuzzi to claim the second seat at Red Bull next to David Coulthard, Klien was substituted by Liuzzi for four races, despite beginning the 2005 season strongly.

Following Liuzzi's inability to meet anticipated performance levels in his designated appearances, Klien was reinstated for the remainder of the season.

However, this situation did not last long. Klien was replaced by Robert Doornbos for the last races of the 2006 season. Despite this change, neither Klien nor Doornbos secured the position for 2007, as Red Bull opted to bring in Mark Webber instead.

Scott Speed made history as the first American to compete in Formula 1 since Michael Andretti did so in 1993. He was selected as a driver for Toro Rosso, partnering with Liuzzi, for the team's inaugural season in 2006.

After an underwhelming beginning to the 2007 season and not securing any points for Toro Rosso, Speed was replaced by the up-and-coming talent, Sebastian Vettel.

It was reported that Speed got into a physical fight with team boss Franz Tost, although Tost has refuted these claims. Speed also openly criticized his team prior to being let go after participating in 10 races.

Sebastien Bourdais joined Red Bull's secondary team as a partner to Sebastian Vettel. He found it challenging to keep up with his younger colleague and also faced some unfortunate situations.

During his debut, the French driver had to retire due to engine trouble after reaching as high as fourth place. In 2008 at Spa, he was set for a podium finish until late rain affected the race. His best qualifying position was ruined at Monza when his car failed to engage first gear on the starting grid. Additionally, he faced a contentious penalty in Japan that cost him a points finish.

Facing off against Swiss newcomer Sebastien Buemi in 2009 after Vettel was promoted to Red Bull, Bourdais did not meet the expectations set for him and was let go midway through the season.

Sebastien Buemi, at the age of 20, had a remarkable beginning to his Formula 1 career. He surpassed the performance of the veteran Bourdais and concluded his first season as the leading newcomer.

In 2010, Buemi was the top-ranked driver for Toro Rosso, consistently outperforming his teammates Bourdais and later Jaime Alguersuari during his three-year stint with the team. However, despite his successes, Buemi faced the disappointment of being replaced in 2012 when Toro Rosso decided to bring in Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

Sebastien Buemi, who later achieved titles in both Formula E and the World Endurance Championship, continues to be affiliated with the Red Bull organization, serving as one of their backup drivers.

Jaime Alguersuari

At the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, Alguersuari became the youngest driver in Formula 1 history to race, being just 19 years and 125 days old at the time.

Alguersuari accumulated 31 points over the course of 46 Formula 1 races, but his departure from the Red Bull program was marked by conflict. He and Buemi were replaced by Ricciardo and Vergne.

After a short period competing in Formula E, Alguersuari decided to leave the world of motorsport in 2015 to focus on a new path as a DJ, adopting the stage name 'Squire'.

Jean-Eric Vergne joined Formula 1 in 2012 as a member of Toro Rosso's updated team, racing alongside Ricciardo.

The French driver, who received high praise, was seen as unlucky for not being promoted to Red Bull. In his debut season, he outperformed Ricciardo, but in the second year, Ricciardo excelled and secured a spot with Red Bull for the 2014 season.

In 2014, Vergne remained with Toro Rosso, teaming up with newcomer Daniil Kvyat. Unfortunately, Vergne faced a series of unfortunate events, including the announcement from Red Bull that Max Verstappen would replace him at Toro Rosso. This marked the second occasion where Red Bull passed over Vergne, opting to promote Kvyat to fill the spot left by Vettel instead.

Daniil Kvyat has experienced being let go by Red Bull three times, a record no one else holds. Red Bull's ruthless strategy in Formula 1 has impacted Kvyat like no other driver.

Following a promising debut season with Toro Rosso, Kvyat was recruited by Red Bull. He had a strong start, finishing 2015 as Red Bull's highest point earner, surpassing Ricciardo throughout the year.

In 2016, Kvyat's career took a turn for the worse. He became known as the 'torpedo' after a collision with Vettel during a race in China, where he still managed to reach the podium. Things got worse during his home race in Russia, where he hit Vettel twice within just two corners, accidentally affecting Ricciardo's race as well.

It turned out to be the final straw, leading to the Russian driver's abrupt dismissal at the following race in Spain, as Red Bull cleared the way for their rising star, Verstappen.

Kvyat being moved down after only four races in the season established a new approach for Red Bull in managing their young drivers.

Daniil Kvyat's performance at Toro Rosso significantly declined, resulting in him losing his position twice in just a few weeks. Initially, Pierre Gasly replaced him, followed by Brendon Hartley.

Although Kvyat was dropped from Red Bull’s driver program at the close of 2017, he made a comeback for a third time with the team in 2019 after Gasly was moved up to Red Bull. After spending two seasons there, he departed once more when he was beaten by Yuki Tsunoda for the 2021 seat.

Brendon Hartley had to be patient for nine years before Red Bull finally gave him a chance. This opportunity arose when he replaced Kvyat towards the close of the 2017 season.

After enduring a challenging season paired with the faster Gasly, Hartley was the next driver to be dismissed, having only managed to score points in three of the 21 races during 2018.

Helmut Marko, who oversees the development of drivers at Red Bull, concluded that the Kiwi's performances did not sufficiently impress to warrant future consideration for a spot on the Red Bull team. As a result, Hartley's time in the Red Bull driver program was notably brief.

Pierre Gasly

In 2019, Pierre Gasly's tenure as a driver for Red Bull was short-lived, as he participated in only 12 races before being reassigned to Toro Rosso. In a swap, Alex Albon took his place at Red Bull.

The French driver, who joined the team after Ricciardo's surprising move to Renault, found it difficult to keep up with Verstappen's results. At the time he was replaced, he was in sixth place in the championship standings with 63 points.

Since Verstappen secured third place with 181 points during the same period, Gasly's performance in the first half of the season was seen as a significant setback for Red Bull in their constructors' championship competition against Ferrari.

Pierre Gasly managed to regain his earlier performance levels with Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri, achieving his inaugural podium finish in Formula 1 and later securing an impressive win at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix.

Alex Albon

Similar to the individual he succeeded, Albon's inability to match Verstappen's level was ultimately his undoing.

Although Alex Albon secured two podium finishes, Red Bull believed his performance over his 18-month tenure with the team was insufficient to warrant retaining him.

In the 2020 racing season, Albon was consistently outperformed by Verstappen in the qualifying rounds. As a result, Albon was moved to the position of reserve driver for Red Bull in 2021, while Sergio Perez was brought on to the team.

Albon is currently thriving at Williams, the team that offered the British-born Thai driver the opportunity to compete full-time on the grid again in 2022.

Sergio Perez

Statistically, Perez performed significantly better than those who came before him, staying as Verstappen's teammate for a total of four seasons.

He showed up just as Red Bull got back into the fight for the championship.

Although his performance didn't enable the team to win the constructors' championship in 2021, ultimately losing to Mercedes, he was instrumental in the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, supporting Verstappen in his battle for the title against Hamilton.

During 2022, he experienced his most successful year with Red Bull. He secured several impressive wins, including one in Singapore, but just fell short of achieving second place in the drivers’ championship.

Nevertheless, it was sufficient for Red Bull to clinch their first constructors' championship since 2013. Yet, in 2023, issues became more apparent. Despite a promising beginning, Perez's performance significantly declined during the season's midpoint.

During Verstappen's impressive series of 10 consecutive race victories, Perez frequently had difficulty advancing to Q3. However, a late-season improvement helped him avoid embarrassment, ultimately earning him the second-place position in the championship. This achievement marked the first time Red Bull secured the top two positions in the drivers' standings.

The year 2024 marked the definitive end for Perez. As in the past, he began the year with promising performances but soon lost momentum. Unlike in 2022 and 2023, this time he was unable to bounce back.

Ending up 280 points behind Verstappen caused Red Bull to fall behind McLaren and Ferrari in the constructors' championship, leading to their decision to terminate Perez's contract a year early.

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Five Pivotal Instances Leading to Sergio Perez Losing His Red Bull F1 Seat for 2025

An examination of the crucial events that led to Sergio Perez being dropped from the Red Bull F1 team for the 2025 season.

Sergio Perez's journey in Formula 1 has temporarily concluded after Red Bull chose to replace him with Liam Lawson for the 2025 season.

In 2024, Perez's performance was not maintainable, ending up a remarkable 280 points behind his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen. This outcome led to Red Bull slipping to third place in the F1 constructors' championship that year, trailing McLaren and Ferrari.

The decision came so late that Perez has no spots left on the grid for 2025, forcing him to spend a year away from racing. Considering the stress and pressure he has faced, along with his disappointing performances, this break might actually be beneficial.

Should Perez decide to make a return to Formula 1 at some point, his skill in the midfield and substantial financial support could pave the way for a successful comeback, if he desires it.

What were the pivotal events that led to his eventual dismissal?

Signs of instability appeared in 2023. Throughout his four-year stint with Red Bull, Perez has frequently experienced a slump in performance halfway through the season. However, he usually manages to regain his form by the season's conclusion. For instance, in 2021, Perez endured a stretch of eight races without finishing in the top three during the European segment of the season, but he concluded the year on a high note with several podium finishes.

In a similar fashion in 2022, he managed to secure a podium finish in just one of the six races between Canada and Monza. However, he made a strong comeback later in the year, achieving what many consider the most impressive victory of his career at the Singapore Grand Prix.

In 2023, Perez faced significant challenges, especially during the qualifying sessions. Despite having the most powerful car in the history of Formula 1, he was unable to reach Q3 in five races in a row.

Despite subsequent attempts, Perez never managed to qualify above third place, suggesting to Red Bull that there were underlying issues. Nonetheless, Red Bull's team principal, Christian Horner, was pleased with the outcome as Perez maintained his position as runner-up in the drivers' championship. This result secured a 1-2 finish for the team in the standings, a feat they hadn't accomplished during the era of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.

Lost Opportunity in Australia

Perez began the 2024 season impressively, securing a spot on the podium in four of the first five races. Nevertheless, an early exit for Verstappen in one race presented Perez with a potential victory that slipped away.

At Albert Park, Ferrari seized the opportunity, securing both first and second place. Meanwhile, Perez found himself isolated, finishing in an uninspired fifth position.

Starting from a disadvantage due to a grid penalty, Perez faced a setback, especially as Red Bull had the strongest car on the track, making it a missed chance for him.

Contract renewal fails to tackle downturn

The Mexican driver's usual mid-season decline began with a difficult weekend in Monaco. Just before the upcoming race in Canada, Red Bull surprised everyone by extending his contract through the end of 2025.

Even though Perez's performance had declined, Red Bull aimed to provide him with reassurance so he would have one less concern.

Towards the end of the year, Horner admitted that the situation was ineffective, and his performance continued to decline.

At that point, Sergio was clearly doing an excellent job, achieving podium finishes in four of the first five races.

"In an effort to calm his thoughts and maintain his performance for the remainder of the season, we decided to act sooner than planned, but unfortunately, it didn't pan out as intended. Such is life," explained Horner.

His performance was so lacking that Red Bull thought about substituting him over the summer pause.

A chance not taken in Baku

Following the summer break, Perez managed to keep his position despite widespread rumors that Daniel Ricciardo might take over. The race in Azerbaijan presented Perez with a significant chance to achieve a notable result.

In Baku, Perez has been the sole driver to truly surpass Verstappen's performance on that track, which Red Bull was counting on due to the series of street circuits. Acknowledging Perez's abilities, he delivered a strong performance in Baku, legitimately outpacing Verstappen.

He contended with Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc for victory, but in the final laps, he collided with Carlos Sainz, resulting in both drivers crashing into the barrier.

Damage from an avoidable crash, along with a collision largely blamed on Perez, resulted in yet another lost chance.

Home Ground Disappointment

As the season drew to a close, Perez's situation deteriorated further, yet the race in Mexico City offered him a chance to regain his performance.

Perez attributed his early exit from Q1 to a problem with the brakes while competing in front of his fans at home. On race day, his performance was nearly humiliating, with a penalty issued for positioning his car incorrectly in the grid box at the start.

In his conflict with his eventual replacement, Lawson, he ended up getting lapped and finishing at the bottom of the standings. Over the course of the last five races, Perez managed to earn only two points, which was less than the total achieved by Sauber's Zhou Guanyu.

Due to his performance, Red Bull is no longer in the running for the constructors’ championship as they approach the Abu Dhabi race, prompting a crucial choice before the New Year. Over his four seasons with Red Bull, Perez secured a second-place finish once and contributed to the team's two constructors’ championship victories.

His arrival happened just as Red Bull was back in the running for the championship, a privilege that Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon did not experience.

Perez plans to step away from Formula 1, worn out by the fierce rivalry and in search of a respite. His comeback to the sport hinges on his willingness to compete among mid-tier teams and if those teams still see him as a strong contender amidst a lineup brimming with youthful and promising racers.

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Aspar provides aid to those affected by floods in Valencia

The Moto2 and Moto3 teams persist with their support initiatives this week

The Aspar team has initiated the distribution of essential home appliances to those affected by the floods in Valencia, as a component of its continuous aid initiatives in the city where the team is headquartered.

At the end of October, catastrophic floods in Spain's Valencia region resulted in the tragic loss of more than 200 lives.

The floodwaters inflicted extensive damage on the area's infrastructure, affecting residences as well.

Severe harm to the entry routes at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit resulted in the cancellation of the Valencia Grand Prix. Subsequently, the MotoGP event was relocated to Barcelona and was renamed the Solidarity GP of Valencia.

The Aspar team, which manages teams in both Moto2 and Moto3, has played a leading role in MotoGP's initiatives to offer assistance to Valencia.

A GoFundMe page was initially created and has successfully collected over €150,000. The funds are currently being utilized to supply essential household appliances to more than 2300 individuals impacted by the flooding.

A short announcement from the team mentioned that the assistance the motorcycling community is offering to flood victims in Valencia is starting to show positive results.

The Aspar Team has started handing out essential home appliances and furniture to residents in the towns of Algemesí and Guadassuar, located in the Ribera Alta area.

This week, the team started handing out these essential items, made possible by the support.

You can still contribute to Aspar's fundraiser, which is accessible at this link.

During the Solidarity GP weekend, MotoGP's fundraising activities, which encompassed ticket sales and unique auctions, successfully generated over €1.5 million.

The Ricardo Tormo Circuit was given a donation of €50,000 from the Assen circuit, the location of the Dutch Grand Prix, to assist with the costs of repairing equipment that was damaged during the flooding at the track.

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Initial information about Ferrari's 2025 F1 vehicle is starting to surface, with the team confirming the unveiling date ahead of the upcoming season.

Ferrari is the first Formula 1 team to announce when they will unveil their car for the 2025 season.

The Italian team is set to reveal their 2025 car on February 19, following the collective F1 season launch event at London's O2 Arena on February 18.

All ten teams, along with their twenty drivers, are set to attend the F1 season launch event, where the 2025 car designs will be unveiled on display vehicles.

Ferrari is set to test their actual vehicle for the first time at a private event held at Fiorano, prior to shipping it off to Bahrain for the pre-season testing sessions.

Lewis Hamilton is set to drive his first Ferrari Formula 1 car. The seven-time world champion will make a major move from competing team Mercedes to join forces with Charles Leclerc starting in 2025.

Hamilton is expected to have a private test session with a two-year-old Ferrari at either the Fiorano or Mugello track before the Scuderia unveils its new car.

Prepare yourself to see our 2025 competitor #ScuderiaFerrari pic.twitter.com/RZEZxRJ4YG — Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) December 18, 2024

Initial Insights into Ferrari's 2025 Model Unveiled

During Ferrari's yearly media luncheon marking the end of the season, team principal Fred Vasseur shared some preliminary information about the 2025 vehicle.

Vasseur announced that Ferrari's newest Formula 1 car will feature a nearly entirely new design.

Even though teams are focusing heavily on preparing for the major rule changes set for 2026, Ferrari is implementing major modifications to their 2025 vehicle.

"There are times when you are unaware of the risks you are taking, and it's only afterwards that you recognize how risky it was," Vasseur stated.

"The vehicle is set to be entirely new. We anticipate that less than 1% of the components will be retained from previous models. While this is a distinct undertaking, it applies to everyone in the industry."

Ferrari is aiming for their car to break a 16-year dry spell in F1 titles after narrowly losing to McLaren in the constructors' championship last season. The team ended up 14 points short of securing their first championship since 2008.

Vasseur emphasized the importance of concentrating on the upcoming season. He noted that the time frame from the start to the launch is only a few weeks, urging everyone to prioritize performance.

"We are planning the championship kickoff and the car unveiling. These are already two major events, and adding another would be overwhelming."

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