Following Red Bull F1's 2025 rejection, what lies ahead for Yuki Tsunoda?

Yuki Tsunoda is at a pivotal juncture in his F1 career following a 2025 rebuff from Red Bull, according to Lewis Larkam.

Yuki Tsunoda is approaching a pivotal moment in his Formula 1 career, having not been considered for a promotion by the main Red Bull squad.

Red Bull has chosen to elevate Liam Lawson from the Racing Bulls team, opting for him over Tsunoda to fill Sergio Perez's spot in 2025. This move ensures that he will spend a fifth season with their junior team. It is anticipated that he will be teamed up with Red Bull's young star and the second-place finisher in the Formula 2 championship, Isack Hadjar.

This strongly indicates that Red Bull does not consider Tsunoda a viable contender for their main team, suggesting instead that he fits better within their affiliate team, serving as a valuable benchmark to assess the performance of their upcoming drivers.

After benefiting from his current situation for quite some time, Tsunoda now believes he is prepared to advance to the next level.

"The only thing within my control is how well I perform, as demonstrated by my results this year," Tsunoda recently expressed to Sky Sports F1, having outperformed Lawson in each of the six races they both competed in towards the end of 2024.

"I believe in my abilities and try to demonstrate my stable outcomes as frequently as I can, with the hope that it will alter their perspective."

"I'll give it my all and understand my capabilities once I'm in Red Bull."

Despite his assertion that his technical input during the end-of-season test in the RB20 left a positive impression on Red Bull, he won't be given the chance, as Lawson has been chosen for the 2025 slot instead.

Tsunoda has demonstrated his speed in single-lap performances, outperforming Ricciardo and Lawson in qualifying sessions. Moreover, he has developed into a steadier driver, focusing on improving his emotional control and curbing his habit of emotional reactions over the team radio, which was considered his most significant flaw.

At 24 years old, with nearly a century of grand prix races under his belt, the driver from Japan is at a crossroads in his career. He must decide whether to remain loyal to the Red Bull team, holding onto the hope of altering their perception, or to embark on a new journey with a different team.

What other options does Tsunoda have? 

Red Bull has decided to keep Tsunoda on board, with their agreement extending only through the 2025 season. This leaves him without a team for 2026, coinciding with the major changes planned for F1's rules.

Should Tsunoda contemplate severing his connection with Red Bull, an enticing opportunity might present itself at Aston Martin.

In an exciting development, Aston Martin is set to be Honda's official Formula 1 team, as the Japanese company will replace Mercedes as their engine supplier starting in 2026, according to a new agreement.

Tsunoda's association with Aston Martin arises from his support by Honda.

However, such a decision would ultimately hinge on elements beyond Tsunoda’s influence.

A key question is whether Fernando Alonso will choose to continue his illustrious Formula 1 career past the conclusion of the 2026 season, which marks the end of his existing contract.

The double world champion, set to be 45 at the end of his current contract, has acknowledged viewing 2026 as his last season in Formula 1. Yet, the Spanish driver is not completely ruling out the possibility of extending his career further.

The performance of Aston Martin at the onset of Formula 1's latest regulations, featuring a vehicle crafted by Adrian Newey, will play a crucial role in Alonso's choice. Should he see even a slight possibility of securing his third world championship, he is likely to remain with the team.

The second seat is held by Lance Stroll, whose father, Lawrence Stroll, is a billionaire and the owner of Aston Martin. Lance's position on the team appears secure for as long as he chooses to continue his racing career, making it unlikely that his father would ever remove him from the squad.

Despite the clear allure of the Aston Martin-Honda partnership for Tsunoda, it appears there might not be space available for him.

There might also be opportunities available with the upcoming Audi F1 team set for 2026, contingent upon the performance of their latest additions, Nico Hulkenberg and newcomer Gabriel Bortoleto, or with Cadillac, which seems set to join as the 11th team in the world championship.

The project supported by General Motors could present an opportunity for Tsunoda to consider forming his own team, akin to the paths former Red Bull racers Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly took with Williams and Alpine, respectively.

Tsunoda might also be encouraged by Carlos Sainz's achievements following his departure from Red Bull, especially considering he was also passed over.

The racer, celebrated for clinching victory at four grand prix events, and has been a part of teams like McLaren and Ferrari, is now transitioning to Williams, demonstrating that a change of scenery can indeed prove to be more fruitful.

Tsunoda might think about switching surroundings after being overlooked by Red Bull.

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Red Bull concedes that Liam Lawson has a challenging battle ahead with Max Verstappen

Red Bull's team leader, Christian Horner, has acknowledged that Liam Lawson is up against a challenging mission in joining Max Verstappen as a Formula 1 teammate.

The 22-year-old from New Zealand has been elevated from the affiliated Racing Bulls team to compete alongside world champion Verstappen in 2025, after Red Bull made the decision to part ways with Sergio Perez.

Lawson's elevation to a new position was officially verified on Thursday, just a day following the announcement of Perez's exit from Red Bull.

Despite participating in just 11 Formula 1 races over two seasons with Racing Bulls in 2023 and 2024, Red Bull is confident that Lawson is prepared to team up with four-time world champion Verstappen.

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

Being paired with Verstappen as a teammate is considered the most challenging role in F1, due to the Dutch driver's remarkable steadiness and impressive performances.

Following Ricciardo's departure, Red Bull has considered Gasly, Albon, and Perez as insufficiently competitive for the team's second driver position.

Horner, referring to Lawson as a "genuine competitor," recognized the significant challenge facing Red Bull's latest recruit.

"Horner stated, 'Throughout his time at Racing Bulls, Liam has shown he's not just able to achieve impressive outcomes, but he's also a true competitor, willing to challenge the elite and emerge victorious.'"

"It's undeniable that competing side by side with Max, who has clinched the championship four times and is unquestionably among the most remarkable talents in F1 history, presents a formidable challenge. However, I'm confident that Liam is up to the task and will secure some impressive achievements for our team in the upcoming year."

Lawson aims to gain insights from Verstappen

Chosen over Yuki Tsunoda, albeit without a decisive victory over his teammate, Lawson seeks to absorb knowledge from Verstappen’s “skillset”.

Lawson expressed, "Being named a driver for Red Bull Racing fulfills a dream I've had since I was eight. This achievement is the culmination of years of ambition and effort."

The experience up to this point has been truly amazing. I'm thrilled at the opportunity to collaborate with Max and absorb knowledge from a world champion; I'm confident that I will greatly benefit from his skill and experience. I'm eagerly looking forward to starting.

On average, Lawson trailed Tsunoda by 0.077 seconds per lap and managed to qualify ahead of the Japanese driver in the sprint races only in Brazil and Qatar.

Red Bull is confident that Lawson is ready for advancement, having demonstrated impressive capabilities in single laps as well as throughout entire races. Moreover, Lawson has gained Red Bull's admiration for his insightful technical input and positive mindset.

Upon his comeback following Red Bull's parting with Ricciardo, Lawson quickly made an impact by delivering an impressive performance, advancing through the pack to secure a ninth-place finish at the United States Grand Prix.

He concluded the race in the identical spot at a rain-soaked and chaotic Sao Paulo Grand Prix, after achieving a personal record by qualifying in fifth place.

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Max Verstappen expresses gratitude towards Sergio Perez: "My thanks will endure forever"

Max Verstappen acknowledges Sergio Perez's contributions

Max Verstappen has expressed his gratitude to Sergio Perez for his transparency and sincerity throughout their tenure as Formula 1 teammates.

On Wednesday, Red Bull revealed their decision to split with Perez before the 2025 season, effectively concluding his F1 journey – at least temporarily.

The following day, it was revealed that Liam Lawson would join Verstappen as his new partner for the 2025 season.

Lawson is set to become Verstappen's fifth teammate at Red Bull, following Perez, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, and Daniel Ricciardo.

Verstappen acknowledged Perez's significant input at Red Bull, highlighting the attributes he displayed both as an individual and as an F1 colleague.

In a brief clip shared on Red Bull's digital platforms, he recalled, "I have memories of this one," referring to an image of Perez and Verstappen celebrating in parc ferme following the Abu Dhabi 2021 event.

"He's been an incredible ally to me on the team. As evident in this photo, his assistance during the race was imperative to its outcome. I'll forever be grateful to him for his support."

"In my opinion, the truly essential aspect has consistently been its enjoyable, uncomplicated, and sincere nature."

"It's rare to have a teammate whom you can speak so highly of.

"I am truly grateful to Checo on a personal level, not just as a colleague. Collaborating with him has been a wonderful experience."

Perez was instrumental in Verstappen securing his inaugural F1 championship

Despite Red Bull not clinching the 2021 team championship, falling to Mercedes, Perez's contribution towards Verstappen's championship victory was pivotal.

Perez's defensive maneuvers during the Turkish Grand Prix resulted in Lewis Hamilton losing vital points, possibly even a spot on the podium.

Significantly, during the final race of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Perez played a pivotal role. His strong defensive driving and strategic positioning on the track prevented Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, from establishing a large enough gap to make a pit stop when the Virtual Safety Car or Safety Car was activated.

Despite Michael Masi's controversial management of the race, if Hamilton had managed to create enough of a lead to make a pit stop without losing his position to Verstappen, he might have still been able to change to new tyres and possibly maintain his lead following the contentious restart after the Safety Car period.

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Ferrari chief explains persuading Lewis Hamilton was straightforward

Fred Vasseur reveals convincing Lewis Hamilton to sign with Ferrari was a straightforward process.

Fred Vasseur has for the first time discussed his conversations with Lewis Hamilton which resulted in his decision to become part of Ferrari.

After a remarkable 12 years with Mercedes, during which he secured seven world championships, Hamilton has announced his departure from the team. Starting in 2025, he will join forces with their competitors, Ferrari, in a move that

The announcement in February took the F1 community by surprise, marking what many consider to be the most significant driver switch in the global championship's history.

During Ferrari's yearly Christmas media luncheon marking the end of the season, team leader Vasseur mentioned that persuading Hamilton to come aboard was "effortless."

"In 2023, our team secured more victories than Mercedes, making it easier to persuade him that joining Ferrari would be a beneficial endeavor," Vasseur stated.

He had been harboring the ambition to race for Ferrari for over two decades, a topic we had touched upon back in 2004, indicating that it wasn't a far-fetched goal.

Occasionally, it's a case of serendipity or everything falling into place, such as him being available and Ferrari having an open spot, among other factors.

"Establishing communication was straightforward. Our discussions began a year ago and persuading him proved to be effortless."

Vasseur never felt concerned about Hamilton's performance

Hamilton experienced an underwhelming last season with Mercedes, as the 39-year-old was significantly outperformed in qualifying rounds throughout the season by his junior teammate, George Russell.

During the single-lap battles, Hamilton, who holds the highest number of pole positions in Formula 1 history with 104, admitted before the season's second-to-last race in Qatar that he is "certainly not speedy anymore."

Russell concluded the season with a 22-point lead in the drivers' championship, while Hamilton secured the 7th position in the standings, the lowest ranking he has ever achieved in his Formula 1 career so far.

Nonetheless, Hamilton concluded his time with Mercedes on a high note, impressively climbing from 16th position at the start to finish fourth at the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This included a dramatic final-lap maneuver to pass Russell, having closed a 14-second deficit.

Vasseur emphatically states he was "not at all concerned" about Hamilton's performance lately.

"He seemed to have a challenging time during qualifying, but also, in my opinion, the qualifying session in Abu Dhabi wasn't necessarily reflective of Lewis's performance," he commented.

He performed exceptionally well in both Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi races. Truly, I was never – absolutely never – concerned about this scenario.

"This circumstance, and it's not a slight against Lewis or Mercedes, but this circumstance presents challenges to navigate. It's comprehensible that if things aren't progressing smoothly, there could be strain within this partnership."

"His mental state wasn't in the best condition, yet his performance in Brazil was notably strong, as an illustration. Furthermore, his achievements in the recent few competitions have been impressive, so I have no concerns whatsoever."

Hamilton is set to join forces with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, taking over the spot from Carlos Sainz, who is moving to Williams.

"Charles and Lewis, this doesn't concern me much," Vasseur remarked. "There's a great deal of mutual admiration between them, they're familiar with each other, and they've been discussing this for months already.

Battling for the top positions, such as first and third or second and third, is vastly preferable to competing for 19th and 20th places. Having such discussions and strategies within a team is beneficial, and I am firmly of the belief that the team's performance is significantly boosted by the healthy competition between its members.

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Valtteri Bottas rejoins Mercedes as backup driver for the 2025 Formula 1 campaign

Valtteri Bottas is set to rejoin Mercedes in the role of backup driver for the 2025 Formula 1 campaign.

After failing to secure a permanent seat at Sauber for the coming season, there was strong speculation about Bottas making a comeback to Mercedes.

On Thursday afternoon, Mercedes announced that Bottas has been tapped to serve as the team's third driver for the 2025 season.

Between 2017 and 2021, Bottas was a part of the Mercedes team, where he raced alongside Lewis

Throughout their tenure as partners, the duo maintained an unbroken winning streak in the constructors' championship, despite facing intense rivalry from Ferrari and Red Bull.

Bottas aims to keep his profile high during his time with Mercedes, as he sets his sights on a return to the race lineup in 2026.

Discussing recent developments, Bottas expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I'm delighted to clarify my situation that's been in question for the last month. My next chapter involves rejoining the Mercedes team as their Third Driver for the 2025 season, and I couldn't be happier about it. My gratitude goes out to Toto, the Brackley crew, and everyone associated with the three-pointed star for their warm reception upon my return.

"In spite of the hurdles encountered over the recent years, I remain confident in my ability to offer a lot more to Formula 1. Ever since I was a young child of five years old in my hometown of Nastola, Finland, my ambition has been to excel in the premier class of motorsport."

"Over my 12-year journey in F1 racing, I've had the privilege of experiencing numerous unforgettable highlights. Now, as I make my way back to where many of these highlights occurred, I am eager to apply everything I've learned to assist the team in improving and moving closer to our objective of competing for world titles."

Is Bottas Eyeing a Formula 1 Comeback in 2026?

Bottas is keen on securing a spot for the 2026 season, following his departure from the Audi project.

His choices are restricted, given that most of the roster is committed to long-term contracts.

Cadillac is poised to enter the Formula 1 scene in 2026 as a potential eleventh team, offering Bottas another opportunity to make a comeback to F1.

However, he'll be up against formidable rivals, as several seasoned competitors are waiting in the wings.

Sergio Perez finds himself without a team following his departure from Red Bull, alongside Kevin Magnussen and Zhou Guanyu, who are also missing from the lineup.

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Lewis Hamilton Remembers the Touching Decision by Mercedes to Adopt a Black Livery

Lewis Hamilton looks back on the courageous move by Mercedes to go with black in 2020

Lewis Hamilton expressed his astonishment over Mercedes' decision to adopt a black color scheme for their cars in the 2020 Formula 1 season.

Hamilton and team leader Toto Wolff indulged in nostalgia by reviewing each of their title-winning vehicles.

In a video published on Mercedes' YouTube channel, Hamilton and Wolff took a trip down memory lane with the W05 – the vehicle that clinched the 2014 championship – and continued their journey through to the legendary W11 of 2020.

In a surprising move during the 2020 season, which was heavily impacted by COVID, Mercedes abandoned their iconic silver color scheme in favor of a completely black livery.

The dark-colored design was a tribute to Formula 1's efforts to enhance diversity and equality within the sport, a campaign actively supported by Hamilton during that period.

In 2021, Mercedes continued with the entirely black design but introduced a mix of black and silver into their color scheme.

When discussing the shift in team colors, Hamilton openly expressed his astonishment at Mercedes' willingness to make such a change.

"Truly, I was in shock. I found myself at my father's place right after our conversation about painting the car black. It was unbelievable when you rang me up to say that everyone was on board," Hamilton remarked.

"Wolff cut in urgently."

Hamilton shared, "That call truly touched my heart. I was at my father's place, and I recall ending the call and thinking, 'Wow, they're actually making the car black, they've consented.'"

"Wolff commented, saying, 'For Mercedes, it was a monumental leap. The Silver Arrows took to the track in black.'"

"Black suited it the most. It had a nightrider vibe to it, you know? It appeared really cool. That's the reason we've stayed with it," Hamilton remarked.

"Wolff emphasized that they will proceed."

"Will you go on?" was Hamilton's response.

"Wolff confirmed, "Indeed, it's the item you provided."

Mercedes' 2020 W11 is often considered the fastest Formula 1 car of all time.

Although it didn't achieve the same level of success as Red Bull's RB19, which triumphed in 21 out of 22 races, it was arguably the quickest in terms of outright speed.

The W11 consistently outperformed its rivals in qualifying sessions, frequently finishing more than 0.7 seconds ahead of the next fastest team.

The pandemic-induced abbreviated season led to fewer wins for Mercedes.

Mistakes during the races in Monza and Bahrain affected the performance of the W11, preventing it from securing as many victories as it was capable of.

Max Verstappen's exceptional performance for Red Bull led to his victories at both the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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Charles Leclerc 'ready to face' Lewis Hamilton: "The competition will elevate him"

"Charles has made significant progress this year. Facing this competition will elevate him to the performance he and Ferrari require."

Former Formula One driver Johnny Herbert believes Charles Leclerc will elevate his performance in anticipation of Lewis Hamilton joining in 2025.

In 2025, Leclerc is set to join forces with Hamilton at Ferrari, a move that sees the driver from Monaco partnering with a seasoned world champion, a situation he has navigated before.

Throughout his initial two seasons with Ferrari, Leclerc teamed up with Sebastian Vettel.

Over the course of two seasons, Leclerc consistently outperformed, leading to Vettel's departure from the team.

Despite Carlos Sainz putting up a formidable contest, Leclerc has consistently been Ferrari's top contender for chasing the championship title.

In a conversation with Plejmo.com, Herbert expressed his support for Leclerc, encouraging him not to restrain himself upon Hamilton's arrival next season.

“Charles [Leclerc] will be assertive,” Herbert declared. “Upon [Sebastian] Vettel’s arrival as a four-time world champion, Charles stepped in and swiftly became the team’s new front-runner, outshining Sebastian. He will certainly not shy away from competing with Lewis [Hamilton].

"He understands the importance of being alert and considerate, recognizing his potential to intimidate. Nonetheless, he's committed to excelling in his performance once the competition begins.

"Charles has made significant progress this year. The upcoming challenge will elevate him to the standard both he and Ferrari are aiming for."

Ferrari announces unveiling date for 2025 Formula 1 vehicle

Before 2025 has even arrived, Ferrari has scheduled a debut for their latest competitor.

The unveiling of the 2025 Ferrari Formula 1 vehicle is scheduled for February 19, following the day after the sport's inaugural season kick-off.

Teams are anticipated to present demonstration vehicles at 'F1 75 Live', while still retaining the option to conduct their individual launches.

In recent years, Ferrari has unveiled their vehicles, subsequently conducting initial test runs at their Fiorano circuit.

This might offer Hamilton an initial experience with his new Ferrari before the pre-season trials set for late February.

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McLaren promises bold moves for 2025 F1 vehicle aiming for championship win

McLaren plans to embrace 'risks' for their 2025 Formula 1 car

McLaren's chief executive, Zak Brown, disclosed that his squad is embarking on bold ventures with their Formula 1 car for the 2025 season.

The squad secured their inaugural Formula 1 constructors' championship since 1998 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix earlier in the month, edging out Ferrari for the title by a slim margin of 14 points.

McLaren has made an impressive comeback, being the team with the slowest pace at the beginning of the 2023 season.

With no changes to the regulations during the off-season, McLaren is anticipated to lead the pack, especially after their impressive performance in the latter part of the season.

Despite possessing a favorable position, Brown has acknowledged that the team will take courageous steps in terms of design and development choices.

"Brown stated that they are heading into the upcoming year with maximum momentum," as reported by Motorsport.com.

"I believe our team's mentality has shifted, especially regarding our confidence and the willingness to embrace bold moves in the development of next year's car."

"The squad isn't focused on making minor adjustments, believing the car is already satisfactory. Instead, they're implementing bold, risky innovations for next year's vehicle."

"I believe the only way to lead is by striving to outperform everyone, rather than the initial mindset we had at the beginning of the year, which was essentially 'let's aim to match their level.'"

The current mentality has shifted to: "Our goal is to outperform everyone."

McLaren sets sights on F1 drivers’ championship

Following their success in winning the constructors’ championship, McLaren aims to elevate their achievement by capturing the drivers’ championship next season.

The most recent time they clinched the drivers' championship was in 2008, thanks to Lewis Hamilton.

Lando Norris secured the second position in the championship standings, trailing behind Max Verstappen, who clinched the championship title during the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2024.

Norris acknowledges that he must enhance his skills in various aspects to surpass Verstappen.

From an operational standpoint, McLaren must make similar adjustments, having squandered multiple opportunities for victories throughout the season.

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McLaren has committed to adopting 'bold strategies' with their 2025 Formula 1 vehicle as they aim for the drivers' championship. The team plans to embrace 'risks' with the design of their 2025 race car.

McLaren's CEO, Zak Brown, has disclosed that his team is embracing 'bold risks' with their Formula 1 car for the 2025 season.

Earlier this month at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the team secured their first F1 constructors' championship since 1998, edging out Ferrari by a slim margin of 14 points.

McLaren has experienced an impressive comeback, especially considering they were the slowest team at the beginning of the 2023 season.

As the regulations haven't changed during the winter, McLaren is anticipated to be the leading team, thanks to their impressive performance in the latter part of the year.

Even though they have the upper hand, Brown has confessed that the team plans to be daring with their design and development choices.

According to Motorsport.com, Brown mentioned that they are entering the upcoming year at their maximum capability.

"We're approaching things differently now, feeling more confident and ready to take bold steps as we work on developing next year's car."

The team isn't approaching things with a mindset of making small adjustments, thinking the car is already in a good place. For next year's model, they're taking bold and daring risks.

"I believe that to lead, you must aim to surpass everyone, rather than just aiming to match their level, which was our approach at the beginning of this year."

The change in mindset is happening now: 'Our goal is to outperform everyone else.'

McLaren aims to capture the F1 drivers' championship

Following their success in winning the constructors' championship, McLaren is setting its sights on achieving the drivers' title next season.

The most recent time they won a drivers' championship was in 2008, thanks to Lewis Hamilton.

Lando Norris secured a second-place finish, trailing far behind Max Verstappen, who clinched the championship during the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2024.

Norris has admitted that he must enhance his skills in various aspects to surpass Verstappen.

From an operational standpoint, McLaren must replicate their efforts, as they have missed out on several potential victories throughout the season.

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Charles Leclerc is unfazed by Lewis Hamilton: "Facing the challenge will elevate him." "Throughout this year, Charles has made significant progress. This challenge will push him to reach the level both he and Ferrari require."

Former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert has suggested that Charles Leclerc will improve his performance before Lewis Hamilton joins the team in 2025.

In 2025, Leclerc is set to join forces with Hamilton at Ferrari. However, partnering with a driver who has won several world championships is not new for the driver from Monaco.

In his initial two seasons with Ferrari, Leclerc teamed up with Sebastian Vettel.

Over the course of both seasons, Leclerc consistently outperformed, which eventually led to Vettel's departure from the team.

Although Carlos Sainz has offered a solid challenge, Leclerc continues to be Ferrari's strongest contender for a championship chase.

In an interview with Plejmo.com, Herbert encouraged Leclerc to be assertive and not hesitate when Hamilton joins the team next year.

According to Herbert, Charles Leclerc will not hesitate to assert himself. When Sebastian Vettel joined the team as a four-time world champion, Leclerc managed to become the team's leading driver. He won't be intimidated by Lewis Hamilton.

He understands the importance of being both cautious and respectful, fully aware of the potential threat he poses. However, he is determined to be at his best when the conflict begins.

"Charles has made significant progress this year. The challenge will elevate him and Ferrari to the level they require."

Ferrari announces the unveiling date for their 2025 Formula 1 car

Even though 2025 is still in the future, Ferrari has already scheduled the debut of their upcoming race car.

The unveiling of Ferrari's Formula 1 car for the 2025 season is scheduled for February 19, following the sport's first-ever season launch event.

Teams are anticipated to present show cars at the 'F1 75 Live' event, while they are still permitted to conduct their individual launch events separately.

In the past few years, Ferrari has been unveiling their vehicles prior to conducting a test run at their Fiorano circuit.

This would allow Hamilton to experience his new Ferrari before the pre-season tests begin in late February.

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Lewis Hamilton remembers the poignant moment when Mercedes decided to change their car livery to black in 2020.

Lewis Hamilton has expressed his surprise that Mercedes consented to change their livery to black for the 2020 F1 season.

Lewis Hamilton and team principal Toto Wolff reminisced about the past as they reviewed all their championship-winning vehicles.

In a video published on Mercedes' YouTube channel, Hamilton and Wolff took a look back at the W05, the car that clinched the championship in 2014, and continued their journey through to the renowned W11 from 2020.

During the 2020 season, which was impacted by COVID-19, Mercedes surprised everyone by abandoning their usual silver color scheme in favor of an all-black look.

The dark-colored design paid tribute to Formula 1's efforts to enhance diversity and equality within the sport, an initiative championed by Hamilton during that period.

In 2021, the completely black design persisted, but Mercedes has now introduced a mix of black and silver.

In discussing the new livery, Hamilton openly shared his thoughts and expressed his surprise that Mercedes consented to the change.

"I was genuinely shocked. After our conversation about changing the car's color to black, I was at my father's place. I was in disbelief when you called to tell me that everyone was on board," Hamilton remarked.

"Let's move swiftly," Wolff interrupted.

Hamilton described the phone call as highly emotional. He recalled being at his father's home, and upon ending the call, he thought to himself, "Wow, they are actually changing the car to black, they've given their approval."

"It represented a significant move for Mercedes, as the Silver Arrows competed in black," Wolff commented.

"The black color made it look the most impressive. It reminded me of a nightrider, if you get what I mean? It appeared really stylish. That's the reason we chose it," Hamilton explained.

"We're planning to keep moving forward," Wolff stated.

"Do you plan to keep going?" Hamilton responded.

“Yes, it's what you delivered,” Wolff finished.

The fastest car in Formula 1 history is often considered to be the Mercedes W11 from the 2020 season.

Although it didn't achieve the same level of success as Red Bull's RB19, which secured victories in 21 out of 22 races, it might have been the quickest in terms of raw speed.

The W11 consistently showed its superiority during qualifying sessions, frequently finishing more than 0.7 seconds ahead of the team in second place.

Mercedes lost out on more wins because the pandemic led to a shortened season.

Mistakes in operations during the events in Monza and Bahrain led to the W11 not securing as many victories as it was capable of achieving.

Max Verstappen's exceptional performance for Red Bull led him to victories at both the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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Valtteri Bottas is set to come back to Mercedes as a reserve driver for the 2025 Formula 1 season. In 2025, Valtteri Bottas will rejoin Mercedes.

Valtteri Bottas is set to come back to Mercedes as their backup driver for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

After failing to secure a full-time position with Sauber for the upcoming year, there was widespread speculation about Bottas potentially rejoining Mercedes.

On Thursday afternoon, Mercedes announced that Bottas will serve as the team's third driver for the 2025 season.

Valtteri Bottas was with the Mercedes team for a duration of five years, from 2017 to 202

During their tenure as teammates, the duo managed to stay undefeated in the constructors' championship, even in the face of tough challenges from Ferrari and Red Bull.

Valtteri Bottas aims to keep the spotlight on himself at Mercedes, as he prepares for a return to competitive racing in 2026.

In a recent announcement, Bottas expressed his satisfaction by stating, "After weeks of speculation, I'm excited to reveal that I'll be rejoining the Mercedes team as their Third Driver for the 2025 season. This feels like coming home, and I couldn't be happier. I'm grateful to Toto, the crew in Brackley, and everyone associated with the Mercedes brand for their warm welcome back."

"In spite of the difficulties faced in recent years, I am confident that I have much more to give to Formula 1. Ever since I was a young child of five in Nastola, Finland, my ambition has been to succeed in the highest level of motorsport."

Over the past 12 years, I've been lucky to experience numerous amazing moments throughout my Formula 1 career. Going back to the venue where many of these memories were made, I'm eager to leverage all the insights I've gathered to assist the team in performing well and advancing towards our aim of competing for world championships.

Is there a chance Bottas will come back to F1 in 2026?

After not securing a place with the Audi team, Bottas will be looking for an opportunity to join the grid in 2026.

His choices are restricted, as most of the grid members have contracts lasting several years.

Cadillac plans to enter the Formula 1 circuit in 2026, potentially as an 11th team, which could provide Bottas with another opportunity to come back to F1.

He will encounter tough competition, as there are several seasoned individuals waiting on the sidelines.

Sergio Perez is currently without a team following his release from Red Bull, and both Kevin Magnussen and Zhou Guanyu are also absent from the lineup.

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