Sauber to establish a British facility in preparation for Audi's Formula 1 entry

Sauber plans to establish a facility in the UK this year, in preparation for Audi's entry into Formula 1 in 2026.

The Switzerland-based team will transform into the Audi F1 factory team in the upcoming season as the German automotive heavyweight makes its official debut in the world championship.

Audi's impending entry has prompted Sauber to reveal plans for establishing a technology hub in the UK, aimed at widening its access to a larger base of engineering professionals.

Throughout their history in Formula 1, Sauber has maintained operations from their base in Hinwil, a municipality in Switzerland.

Audi's power unit division will expand its operations to include a facility in Neuburg, Germany, in addition to its existing site in Hinwil.

Furthermore, Sauber is set to establish a third site within the area famously referred to as the UK's 'motorsport valley'.

Sauber is considering several potential locations for their facility, which include Bicester, Silverstone, and Milton Keynes.

Sauber aims to have its technical center up and running in the UK by the summer of 2025.

"We are thrilled to announce the creation of our tech hub in the UK, which will serve as an addition to our primary location in Hinwil. This site will remain at the forefront of our engineering activities and witness the most significant expansion of our team," said Mattia Binotto, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer at Sauber.

"Entering the UK market enables us to stay connected to one of the globe's most vibrant motorsport environments. We aim to establish a robust, cooperative framework between Hinwil and the UK, fostering innovation and enhancing performance."

In the 2024 constructors' championship, Sauber ended up at the bottom of the standings, having amassed a mere four points throughout the 24-race season.

Nico Hulkenberg is set to team up with Formula 2 champion and first-time Formula 1 driver Gabriel Bortoleto, creating Sauber's revamped driving duo for the 2025 season.

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2025 Sepang MotoGP Test – Day 1: Live Coverage

Stay tuned for real-time updates from the first day of the 2025 Official MotoGP test at Sepang, happening on Wednesday. All MotoGP riders are hitting the track for the initial time this year, with the testing session scheduled from Wednesday through Friday.

Newcomers Ai Ogura, Fermin Aldeguer, and Somkiat Chantra, along with Yamaha's factory test riders and permanent race riders, participated in a three-day Shakedown test at the Malaysian track over the weekend.

Apart from Chantra, the Honda racing team had other riders like Joan Mir, Luca Marini, and Johann Zarco, who were also allowed to participate in the shakedown. However, they chose not to join in.

The group, which includes current titleholder Jorge Martin and newcomer Marc Marquez from Ducati Lenovo, will be getting back on a MotoGP bike for the first time since their last ride in Barcelona in November.

There are only five days allocated for official pre-season testing before the 2025 MotoGP season kicks off in Thailand on February 28. These test sessions include three days at Sepang followed by two days at Buriram.

The testing sessions at Sepang are scheduled from 10 in the morning until 6 in the evening, with practice starts occurring afterward.

The second section of the initial series of sharp turns is a left-hand corner known as Turn 2.

Jorge Martin has experienced another crash, occurring this time at the second turn. The red flags have been raised.

Following an earlier crash, world champion Jorge Martin has returned to the race and is aiming to better his 21st position.

Franco Morbidelli tops the list with 22 laps completed, while Jack Miller and Pedro Acosta have each completed 18 laps.

To put it differently, it's essentially the entire distance of a grand prix, though it was divided into shorter segments earlier today.

It

Franco Morbidelli advances to 6th place, positioning himself between Marc Marquez and Fabio Quartararo.

Newcomer Fermin Aldeguer from Gresini remains the leading GP24 and Ducati competitor, securing the third position right behind the Pramac racers.

Lower in the rankings, Francesco Bagnaia currently occupies the 11th spot, while Jorge Martin, the Aprilia world champion, is in 21st place following his fall at Turn 1.

The present list of the leading ten:

Jack Miller, representing Pramac Yamaha

Miguel Oliveira, riding for Pramac Yamaha

Fermin Aldeguer, a member of the Gresini Ducati team

Alex Rins, representing Monster Yamaha

Marc Marquez (racing for Ducati Lenovo)

Fabio Quartararo, who races for Monster Yamaha

Pedro Acosta (KTM team backed by Red Bull)

Luca Marini, a rider for Honda Castrol

Augusto Fernandez, part of the Yamaha testing team

Alex Marquez, who rides for Gresini Ducati.

One of Alex Rins' bikes features a gleaming, unpainted chassis on the right, while the bike to the left, which is his regular model, sports the traditional black frame.

It's not unexpected since they have already spent two days at the Shakedown, but currently, all four Yamaha riders are among the top six performers.

At 11:20 AM, the Pramac Yamaha team is leading with a one-two finish. Jack Miller has reclaimed the top spot by clocking a time of 1 minute and 58.623 seconds, placing him 0.294 seconds ahead of his teammate, Miguel Oliveira.

This morning, Johann Zarco is taking his initial MotoGP laps of the year, similar to Marini and Mir, as he did not participate in the Shakedown.

The LCR racer has been testing two separate Honda bikes and is presently positioned in 12th place.

Pedro Acosta, now a rider for the new KTM factory team, advances to sixth position, trailing by 0.735 seconds, making him the fastest on an RC16.

The weather is creating an urgent situation in this area.

The sky is cloudy, the wind is strong, and the temperature is relatively cool for Sepang. Rain could start falling at any time.

The display indicates that current world champion Jorge Martin has had an accident at the first turn. The rider is unharmed.

Sepang MotoGP Official Test: Lap Times Recorded at 11am – Click Here

Marc Marquez did not enhance his performance in his second attempt, maintaining his position in 4th place with a gap of 0.327 seconds.

Luca Marini heads to the pit lane, maintaining his position in 6th place. Marini's bike features the updated paint scheme, but it includes the black rear seat unit from the prototype, which lacks any winglets and was previously utilized by Aleix Espargaro during the Shakedown.

Marc Marquez begins his second attempt.

This morning, the Factory Aprilia team shared insightful details about their upcoming plans.

– Jorge Martín and Marco Bezzecchi will have access to three motorcycles each, making a total of six motorcycles in their garage.

– In the morning, the riders will begin with the initial RS-GP25 model that was trialed in Barcelona, followed by the RS-GP25 version that the Noale Racing Department subsequently refined.

– The main aim for today is to help the riders get accustomed to the bike, after which the focus will shift to optimizing both the mechanical and electronic setups. Throughout the day, they will also test new components that have been introduced across all areas.

– The testing plan for the upcoming days has already been established but will be adjusted based on the outcomes of today's activities.

The official test roster includes only two test riders: Andrea Dovizioso from Yamaha and Augusto Fernandez.

The additional test riders who were present at the Shakedown are not anticipated to come back.

This is yet another indication of the commitment Yamaha is demonstrating.

With slightly more than 30 minutes elapsed, Miguel Oliveira, who didn't make much of a splash on the timesheets during the Shakedown, has now placed his Pramac motorcycle in the leading position.

Newcomer Aldeguer holds the second position, while Alex Rins secures third place, and Marc Marquez, who is just beginning his initial laps of the year, finds himself in fourth.

Discussing the Yamaha motorcycles, it appears that they maintain one bike with recent components and another with features expected in the latter part of 2024.

The Pramac bikes are most distinguishable by their colors: one bike, used by Miller and Oliveira, is painted black, while the other features the complete race design.

At Monster, each of the four motorcycles sports its complete set of colors, yet Quartararo and Rins each have one bike equipped with the latest chassis, which remains unpainted.

Fermin Aldeguer, racing for Gresini Ducati, currently leads with a lap time of 1 minute and 59.140 seconds. This performance is being compared to Fabio Quartararo's best Shakedown lap, which was completed in 1 minute and 57.794 seconds.

Current titleholder Jorge Martin and last season's second-place finisher Francesco Bagnaia have already hit the track, while Bagnaia's new partner, Marc Marquez, has not begun his testing sessions yet.

Jack Miller is leading in speed, closely followed by newcomer Fermin Aldeguer, with both having participated recently in the Shakedown.

One of the initial riders to hit the track was Honda's Luca Marini, who did not participate in the Shakedown event but was the first to start riding today.

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Lewis Hamilton Experiences Driving a Different Ferrari F1 Vehicle in Barcelona

A significant day unfolds for Lewis Hamilton as he takes the wheel of a Ferrari F1 car once again.

On Tuesday, Lewis Hamilton resumed his training for the 2025 season by taking a Ferrari F1 car for a spin in Barcelona.

On this occasion, Hamilton had the chance to pilot Ferrari's 2024 contender, dubbed the SF-24.

The SF-24 came close to clinching the F1 constructors' title but was edged out by McLaren, despite Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz securing five victories in the 2024 season.

In theory, the 2024 model represented a notable improvement over its forerunner, the SF-23, which was piloted by Hamilton the previous week.

The seven-time world champion experienced a crash in the 2023 vehicle on his second day of testing last week at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Ferrari is participating in a Pirelli trial aimed at evaluating tyres for the upcoming season, and this involvement necessitated an atypical adjustment to their setup.

According to Autoracer, Hamilton's Ferrari was configured to mimic the 2026 regulations by employing significantly reduced downforce levels.

It's unusual for Barcelona, as teams typically choose to use significantly more downforce throughout the season due to the characteristics of the track's corners.

The anticipated regulations for 2026, which forecast a reduction in downforce by 20 percent, are likely to provide Pirelli with more valuable information through the adjustment changes, aiding in their ongoing tire development efforts.

Pirelli has not disclosed the exact details of the test, but it appears that for Hamilton, the experience was much more seamless compared to the previous week.

Leclerc recovers lost position

From the other half of the Ferrari team, Leclerc was active as well, behind the wheel of the SF-23.

This used up part of his designated mileage for testing earlier models of cars.

Leclerc lost valuable track time last week due to Hamilton's crash.

The familiar noises of Sunday are nearly upon us again 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/4yWCixKyv8— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 4, 2025

Ferrari wasn't the sole squad conducting trials in Barcelona, as McLaren was also collaborating with Pirelli on the development of their tyres for the 2026 season.

Sky Sports Italy also disclosed that Alpine attended the event at the Spanish track.

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Lewis Hamilton Experiences Driving a Ferrari F1 Vehicle in Barcelona for the First Time

A significant moment for Lewis Hamilton as he takes the wheel of a Ferrari F1 vehicle.

Lewis Hamilton resumed his position in a Ferrari Formula 1 vehicle on Tuesday, furthering his readiness for the 2025 season in Barcelona.

On this occasion, Hamilton had the chance to pilot Ferrari's 2024 contender, the SF-24.

The SF-24 came close to clinching the F1 constructors' title but was edged out by McLaren, despite Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz securing five victories in 2024.

In documentation, the 2024 model represented a major improvement over its forerunner – the SF-23, that Hamilton piloted the previous week.

During his second day of testing last week at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the seven-time world champion experienced a crash in the 2023 car.

Nonetheless, Ferrari is participating in a Pirelli trial aimed at evaluating tyres for the upcoming year, leading to an unexpected modification in their setup.

According to Autoracer, Hamilton's Ferrari was configured to have very minimal downforce to mimic the regulations set for 2026.

It's unusual for Barcelona, as teams typically prefer to use higher downforce throughout the season due to the characteristics of the turns.

Anticipated regulations for 2026 are predicted to decrease downforce by 20 percent, and this adjustment in setup is poised to provide Pirelli with more accurate information to aid in their ongoing tire development efforts.

Pirelli has not disclosed the precise details of the recent test, but indications suggest that Hamilton experienced a much smoother process than he did the previous week.

Leclerc recovers lost territory

From the other end of the Ferrari team space, Leclerc was similarly engaged, piloting the SF-23.

This used up a portion of his designated mileage for testing earlier models of cars.

Leclerc lost valuable track time last week due to Hamilton's crash.

The iconic noises of Sunday are nearly upon us once more 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/4yWCixKyv8— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 4, 2025

Ferrari wasn't the sole team conducting tests in Barcelona, as McLaren was also collaborating with Pirelli on the development of their tyres for 2026.

Sky Sports Italy has also disclosed that Alpine attended the event at the Spanish track.

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Results from Day 1 of the 2025 Official Sepang MotoGP Testing (Wednesday)

Here are the lap times recorded on the first day of the 2025 Official Sepang MotoGP test held on Wednesday.

Top Speed Achieved During Shakedown Test

Fabio Quartararo, riding for Yamaha, recorded a time of 1 minute and 57.794 seconds on

Sepang MotoGP Official Records

Fastest lap: Francesco Bagnaia recorded a time of 1 minute 56.337 seconds in 2024.

Quickest lap of the race: Alex Marquez achieved a time of 1 minute and 58.979 seconds in 2023.

Following a three-day practice session for newcomers, official test riders, and Yamaha and Honda racers, the Sepang MotoGP Test officially kicked off in Malaysia. This event, which started at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, includes all the riders and teams participating in the 2025 season.

The initial goal is to surpass Fabio Quartararo's leading Shakedown time of 1 minute and 57.794 seconds, recorded on Sunday.

Formal assessments are conducted between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and are succeeded by practice starts.

Following the test session at Sepang, there will be just one final official test scheduled at Buriram on February 12-13, ahead of the start of the Thai season on February 28.

The engine specifications for Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia will be locked in from the Thai Grand Prix through to the end of 2026. This decision aims to cut down on development expenses as the industry gears up for the upcoming 850cc era starting in 2027.

Honda and Yamaha have the liberty to proceed with developing their engines, thanks to their D concession status.

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Unveiled: Lewis Hamilton’s Lap Time Compared to Charles Leclerc in Recent Ferrari Test

Information from Lewis Hamilton's most recent test with Ferrari F1 shows a comparison with Charles Leclerc.

On Tuesday, Lewis Hamilton had his inaugural experience driving Ferrari's latest Formula 1 vehicle at the Barcelona circuit.

The driver, who has won the world championship seven times, made a comeback with Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix location. This appearance occurred almost a week following his crash involving the team's 2023 vehicle at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Lewis Hamilton and his new teammate, Charles Leclerc, are teaming up with McLaren to participate in a two-day test session for Pirelli tires, aimed at supporting their development for the 2026 season.

In contrast to Hamilton's earlier private sessions with Ferrari, this initiative was organized for Pirelli's advantage and directed by Formula 1's tire provider.

The purpose of the test is to assess the newest designs for the 2026 tires, specifically the C1, C2, and C3 hard compounds.

Both Ferrari and McLaren have adapted their cars for the current competition. Meanwhile, Hamilton experienced driving the SF-24 for the first time, following his earlier test sessions with the SF-23.

Hamilton outpaces Leclerc Lando Norris achieved the quickest lap of the day, clocking in at 1 minute 15.215 seconds, while completing 159 laps driving McLaren's 2023 MCL60.

Following on the leaderboard was Hamilton, who completed 87 laps with a time of 1 minute and 15.930 seconds. Although Hamilton outpaced the two Ferrari drivers, the lap times hold little significance during testing.

Leclerc completed 86 laps, achieving his fastest time of 1 minute and 16.060 seconds.

Reports suggest that Ferrari conducted a TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) session with their SF-23 on Tuesday. This was done to allow both Hamilton and Leclerc to recover the time lost due to Hamilton's accident the previous week.

Pirelli's tire testing is set to proceed on Wednesday. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are scheduled to share the driving responsibilities for Ferrari, while Oscar Piastri will replace Lando Norris in the driver's seat at McLaren.

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Uncovered: Lewis Hamilton's Lap Timing Compared to Charles Leclerc in Recent Ferrari Test

Recent data from Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari Formula 1 test session has shown a performance comparison with Charles Leclerc.

On Tuesday, Lewis Hamilton took his initial drive in Ferrari's latest Formula 1 vehicle at the Barcelona circuit.

The seven-time world champion made a comeback for Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix location, almost a week following an incident where he crashed the 2023 model of the team's car at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Hamilton, alongside his new teammate Charles Leclerc and the McLaren team, is participating in a two-day Pirelli tire testing session to support the development for 2026.

In contrast to Hamilton's earlier private sessions with Ferrari, this program was organized for Pirelli's purposes and directed by Formula 1's tire manufacturer.

The primary aim of the test is to assess the newest designs for the 2026 tires, specifically looking at the C1, C2, and C3 hard compounds.

Ferrari and McLaren have both adapted their cars for the current season, but for Hamilton, this was his initial experience behind the wheel of the SF-24, following his earlier tests with the SF-23.

Hamilton outpaces Leclerc

Lando Norris recorded the quickest lap of the day, clocking in at 1 minute and 15.215 seconds, while running 159 laps in McLaren's 2023 MCL60 model.

Following him on the leaderboard was Hamilton, who completed 87 laps with a time of 1 minute and 15.930 seconds. Although Hamilton was faster than the two Ferrari drivers, it's important to note that lap times hold little significance during testing.

Leclerc completed 86 laps and achieved his fastest lap time at 1 minute and 16.060 seconds.

Reports suggest that Ferrari conducted a TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) session with their SF-23 on Tuesday. This test was aimed at allowing both Hamilton and Leclerc to recover lost time due to Hamilton's accident the previous week.

The testing of Pirelli tires is set to resume on Wednesday. For Ferrari, Hamilton and Leclerc will share the driving responsibilities once more. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri will replace Norris as the driver for McLaren.

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Pramac promises to instill Ducati's "mindset" in Yamaha

"They're very receptive to our perspective on racing"

The head of the Pramac team, Gino Borsoi, claims that his team will introduce Ducati's "best mentality" to Yamaha's MotoGP initiative in 2025.

From 2004 until the close of 2024, Pramac acted as a satellite team for Ducati and secured the riders' championship in the previous year with Jorge Martin.

In the past few years, Pramac has formed a strong partnership with the factory in Bologna, deploying two factory bikes and playing a crucial part in their development process.

Although there was an opportunity to continue its partnership with Ducati until after 2024, the decision was made to partner with Yamaha instead. This choice came after Ducati reversed its prior plan to advance Jorge Martin, opting instead to bring Marc Marquez on board to team up with Francesco Bagnaia in 2025.

Pramac's leader, Borsoi, has mentioned that with Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira riding the two factory M1 bikes, Yamaha is "very attentive to our racing perspective."

Borsoi mentioned to GPOne that having a significant number of Italians within the Yamaha team and organization makes communication more straightforward.

Communicating and getting to know one another was easy, and they gave us a warm welcome immediately. They embraced us, making us feel like family effortlessly and without any issues.

"Actually, I have to mention that they are paying close attention to our perspective on racing, including our approach to weekend events."

"We are available to assist with whatever they need."

"Our mindset is influenced by Ducati, which is currently leading the way. However, I am confident that over time, we will gradually achieve the outcomes that Yamaha is entitled to and return it to the top position."

After two consecutive years of competing for the world championship, Borsoi acknowledges that he is "beginning anew" with Yamaha in 2025, as the Japanese brand aims to climb the rankings.

"I have spent many years consistently competing at the forefront, even before my time with Pramac," Borsoi remarked.

"Perhaps I became too accustomed to it, but beginning anew requires learning, rebuilding the foundation, and recognizing the challenges involved in reviving a project like Yamaha."

"This experience might help me improve in the future, so I embrace this challenge eagerly, especially since Yamaha has been very welcoming to us."

"They are eager to return to their desired position and are putting in substantial financial resources to achieve it."

"This seems to be the first instance where Yamaha has put in such a significant financial investment. They've brought in numerous technicians and are undertaking many innovative initiatives."

"This project is thrilling, and if we achieve success, it will be another historic milestone for us, similar to what we accomplished with Ducati."

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Lewis Hamilton experiences driving a different Ferrari F1 car in Barcelona

A significant occasion for Lewis Hamilton as he drives a Ferrari F1 car once more.

On Tuesday, Lewis Hamilton took the wheel of a Ferrari Formula 1 car in Barcelona as part of his ongoing preparation for the 2025 season.

On this occasion, Hamilton had the chance to get behind the wheel of Ferrari's 2024 race car, the SF-24.

The SF-24 just fell short of securing the F1 constructors’ championship, losing to McLaren, while Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz managed to clinch victory in five races during 2024.

According to the official details, the 2024 vehicle represented a major improvement over its earlier model, the SF-23, which Hamilton tested last week.

Last week, the seven-time world champion had an accident with the 2023 car on his second day of driving at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Ferrari is participating in a Pirelli test aimed at evaluating the tires for the upcoming year. Consequently, they had to implement an atypical adjustment in their setup.

According to Autoracer, Hamilton's Ferrari was configured with very minimal downforce to mimic the regulations for 2026.

Typically, Barcelona teams choose to use more downforce during the season due to the characteristics of the corners, making this situation unusual.

As the 2026 regulations are anticipated to cause a 20% decrease in downforce, the adjustment in setup is likely to provide Pirelli with improved information for their ongoing tire development.

Pirelli has not yet disclosed the precise events of the test, but it appears that Hamilton experienced a much smoother session compared to the previous week.

Leclerc recovers from setbacks

Meanwhile, at the Ferrari team, Leclerc was busy behind the wheel, piloting the SF-23.

This used a portion of the miles he was allowed for testing earlier car models.

Last week, Leclerc lost valuable practice time due to Hamilton's crash.

The familiar sounds of Sundays are nearly here again 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/4yWCixKyv8— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 4, 2025

The familiar sounds of Sundays are nearly here again 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/4yWCixKyv8

Ferrari wasn't the only team conducting tests in Barcelona; McLaren was also there, helping Pirelli with their tire developments for 2026.

According to Sky Sports Italy, Alpine was also at the circuit in Spain.

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KTM's latest MotoGP team leader adopts a "straight talk policy"

"He's incredibly direct and approachable"

Brad Binder has expressed his approval of Aki Ajo taking on the role of team manager for KTM's MotoGP factory racing squad, appreciating the Finn's straightforward approach.

Ajo has been closely linked with managing KTM's official teams in both the Moto2 and Moto3 categories, nurturing talents such as Marc Marquez, Binder, and Pedro Acosta, who progressed through his squads before advancing to MotoGP.

Binder secured the Moto3 championship in 2016 with Ajo Motorsport and was a contender for the title in Moto2 with the team from Finland before making his MotoGP debut in 2020.

Discover further: Amidst internal turmoil, KTM's MotoGP initiative remains steadfast.

Binder is thrilled about Ajo stepping in as the new team manager for the factory squad in 2025, taking over from Francesco Guidotti. He admires Ajo's straightforward and direct management style.

"Truthfully, having Aki as a teammate is quite amazing for me since, as you know, we've already shared a few years together in both Moto3 and Moto2," Binder expressed after KTM's 2025 unveiling event.

"I'm quite fond of his unique approach to doing things."

In my experience, he's incredibly direct and approachable, always open for a conversation whether it's about something you believe is correct or incorrect, or just to discuss current situations.

"Aki always has a straightforward approach, ensuring that whatever he communicates is honest and genuine. It's going to be awesome, and I'm really excited about it."

Binder concluded the 2024 season in the sixth position overall, emerging as the leading KTM competitor, despite achieving just two podium finishes, both during the season's first race in Qatar.

The individual from South Africa mentioned that when faced with challenges, his instinct was to increase his efforts, yet he recognizes the importance of altering this strategy by the year 2025.

"Binder mentioned, 'In my career, there have been several instances where my desires exceeded what I actually received at those moments.'"

"Whenever I encounter obstacles, my immediate response is to put in more effort."

"Clearly, putting in more effort last year didn't yield the desired results, as it seemed I spent more time falling off than actually riding the bike at the start of the year."

"Indeed, it was quite an educational journey for me, definitely, and now I've gained a much better grasp on how to manage situations when they don't unfold as favorably as I'd anticipated."

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Jack Miller: Yamaha's Comprehensive Approach to 2025 MotoGP Bike

Australian Commends Yamaha's Off-Season Efforts in Preparation for Upcoming Season

Jack Miller mentions that Yamaha is thoroughly exploring every possibility in the development of their 2025 MotoGP motorcycle as the pre-season trials kick off.

The Australian is making a comeback to Pramac in 2025 following a challenging two-year stint with KTM's main team and will be handling Yamaha equipment for the first time ever in his professional journey.

Miller, who was already seen on the Sepang circuit earlier this week during the shakedown, is joining the Yamaha team while it's in a phase of development. However, he expresses confidence in the efforts the engineering team has put in throughout the offseason.

"He conveyed to Sport TV his conviction that the team has dedicated immense effort, starting from our Barcelona test at the previous season's conclusion up to our current status."

"I'm convinced we're in the phase of construction, which definitely means we're facing many days of diligent effort ahead."

"Thankfully, we have additional days for testing and a plentiful supply of parts from Yamaha."

"They are exhausting every option in their efforts to restore the M1 to its leading position."

Miller expresses that it's a tremendous privilege to ride for Yamaha, a brand he admired since his childhood. He's also eager to repay the faith of those who have gambled on his potential.

Last year, there was a moment when it seemed Miller's career in MotoGP was coming to an end, until an opportunity arose with the Pramac team during the summer.

"He expressed his anticipation."

"Facing a fresh challenge in mastering a new motorcycle."

"Therefore, I'm eagerly anticipating this opportunity, and truly, rejoining the Pramac team gives me a sense of returning home, it's very inviting."

"Eager to honor the confidence and risks that others have placed in me."

Collaborating with Yamaha brings me immense joy. Given its status as a colossal enterprise, I've always admired it from a young age. Now, having the opportunity to pilot the M1 is an incredible privilege for me.

"I am excited about playing a minor role in Yamaha's future achievements."

The initial formal pre-season trial kicks off this week, spanning from February 5th to 7th in Malaysia, followed by two concluding days of testing in Thailand on February 12th and 13th.

As a manufacturer with concession privileges, Yamaha will have the liberty to conduct tests throughout the season using its racing team riders.

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Sauber plans to establish a new facility in the United Kingdom in preparation for Audi's entry into Formula 1.

Sauber plans to establish a facility in the United Kingdom this year in preparation for Audi's entry into Formula 1 in 2026.

The team headquartered in Switzerland is set to transform into the Audi F1 factory team next season as the German automotive powerhouse makes its official debut in the world championship.

As Audi prepares for its entry, Sauber has revealed plans to establish a technology hub in the United Kingdom, aiming to draw in a wider range of engineering experts.

Throughout their history in Formula 1, Sauber has conducted their operations from their base located in Hinwil, a municipality in Switzerland.

Expanding their operations, Audi's power unit team will be based in Neuburg, Germany, alongside their existing facilities in Hinwil.

Furthermore, Sauber plans to establish an additional site within the area commonly referred to as the UK's 'motorsport valley'.

Sauber is considering several places for their new site, including Bicester, Silverstone, and Milton Keynes.

Sauber aims to have their technical center up and running in the UK by the summer of 2025.

Mattia Binotto, the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer at Sauber, expressed enthusiasm about setting up a new technical center in the UK. He mentioned that this new site will support their primary location in Hinwil, which will remain the hub for their main engineering activities and experience the most significant team expansion.

Moving into the UK enables us to stay connected to a highly vibrant motorsport community. Our goal is to establish a robust, cooperative network between Hinwil and the UK, fostering innovation and enhancing performance.

In the 2024 constructors’ championship, Sauber ended up in the last position, managing to secure only four points over the course of the 24-race season.

Nico Hulkenberg is set to join forces with Formula 2 champion and newcomer to Formula 1, Gabriel Bortoleto, as part of Sauber's revamped driver team for the 2025 season.

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Lewis frequently travels globally to cover Grands Prix for Crash.net. He often provides on-site reports, sharing the narratives of key figures within the sport.

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