Valentino Rossi unveils an extensive lineup for the 100Km of Champions race, featuring renowned names like Michael Dunlop and Pedro Acosta among others set to compete in Tavullia.

The 2025 edition of Valentino Rossi's 100Km of Champions flat track race, held at his ranch in Tavullia, is set to showcase an impressive lineup, featuring riders such as Pedro Acosta and Michael Dunlop.

For more than a decade, Rossi's VR46 Ranch has hosted an annual gathering organized by the MotoGP icon, attracting prominent figures from various motorcycle racing disciplines.

The event scheduled for 2025 is set to occur on January 10th and 11th, and the participant list will be made public this Friday.

Leading the event once again is Rossi, the nine-time grand prix world champion, and 2024 will also see the participation of MotoGP's exciting newcomer, Pedro Acosta.

Representing MotoGP, two-time world champion and VR46 Academy participant Francesco Bagnaia is set to attend, alongside Enea Bastianini, Marco Bezzecchi, Augusto Fernandez, Luca Marini, Franco Morbidelli, and Miguel Oliveira.

Racers such as Xavi Artigas, Manu Gonzalez, and Tatsuki Suzuki will compete in the other grand prix categories.

Michael Dunlop, the most triumphant competitor in the history of the Isle of Man TT, is set to compete alongside Davey Todd, who has previously claimed victory in the Senior TT.

Ryan Vickers and Tim Neave have teamed up with British Superbike paddock member Todd, as Nicolo Bulega and Dominique Aegerter represent World Superbikes.

Last year, Marini and Rossi emerged victorious in the team event during the main race. Additionally, Marini secured a win in the Americana event.

Complete list of participants:

Valentino Rossi, Pedro Acosta, Dominique Aegerter, Xavier Artigas, Francesco Bagnaia, Lorenzo Baldassarri, Elia Bartolini, Enea Bastianini, James Douglas Beach, Marco Belli, Matteo Bertelle, Marco Bezzecchi, Nicolo Bulega, Federico Caricasulo, Mattia Casadei, Thomas Chareyre, Davey Todd, Michael Dunlop, Filippo Fuligini, Federico Fuligni, Matteo Gabarrini, Manu Gonzalez, Sammy Halbert, Kurvinen Lasse, Andrea Locatelli, Luca Lunetta, Andrea Mantovani, Luca Marini, Andrea Migno, Franco Morbidelli, Diogo Moreira, Stefano Nepa, Miguel Oliveira, Luca Ottaviani, Mattia Pasini, Matteo Patacca, Gautier Paulin, Tito Rabat, Jose Antonio Rueda, Alberto Surra, Tatsuki Suzuki, Tim Neave, Ryan Vickers.

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Nico Rosberg suggests that an F1 star has struggled to reach their potential and has damaged relationships along the way. "Additionally, his social skills weren't the strongest, especially when it came to networking with team leaders to secure a favorable position…"

Nico Rosberg, who won the Formula 1 world championship in 2016, has suggested that Nico Hulkenberg's career has been less successful than it could have been partly due to his deficiency in "social intelligence."

Although Hulkenberg is well-regarded, he has yet to secure a podium finish in Formula 1.

The German driver had several chances to achieve this, especially during his time at Force India. However, due to either strategic decisions or driver mistakes, he has yet to make it onto the podium.

Hulkenberg was let go by Renault after the 2019 season, which left him without a regular driving position and instead serving as a reserve and test driver for Racing Point.

In 2023, he eventually came back, and since rejoining Haas, his standing has improved significantly.

Hulkenberg is set to take charge of Audi's initiative, guiding Sauber in the year 2025 as the German company prepares to join Formula 1 the following year.

In an interview with Sky Sports towards the close of 2024, Rosberg shared his thoughts on how a fellow competitor from his own nation had not lived up to expectations in Formula 1.

Rosberg expressed his astonishment that Nico Hulkenberg has never secured a podium finish. He noted that Hulkenberg was an exceptional talent during his rise through Formula 3 and Formula 2, and he occasionally demonstrated remarkable skill in Formula 1.

"Yet, for some reason, he hadn't previously met those expectations, except for this year, when he truly appeared extraordinary, consistently getting the most out of the car."

During the qualifying sessions this year, he has consistently been one of the top performers on the entire grid, and it has been incredible to witness.

"Certainly, there are still uncertainties regarding his race speed and technique at times, but he has performed admirably in those areas this year."

Hulkenberg ‘damaged relationships’ in F1

Although he consistently excelled in the midfield, Hulkenberg, unlike Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, has never been given the opportunity to race in a leading car.

Hulkenberg was negotiating with Ferrari for the 2014 season, but the team chose Kimi Raikkonen instead.

He was considered a candidate to become part of Red Bull's team in 2021, but ultimately, Perez was chosen instead.

"If you demonstrate that you are among the top performers, you'll earn the opportunity to drive the prized car, and he never truly proved that," Rosberg remarked.

"In addition, he struggled with social skills, particularly in terms of understanding social dynamics and collaborating effectively with team leaders to advance his position. Early in his career, he damaged some professional relationships, which is an area where he could have improved."

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Suzuka Revelation Aids Johann Zarco’s MotoGP Journey with Honda

French Rider Discusses Mindset Shift in 2024 Season

Johann Zarco acknowledged that he became aware of "mental issues" during a challenging beginning to his initial MotoGP season with Honda, following a test session for the Suzuka 8 Hours.

The French rider signed up with the LCR team for the 2024 season under Honda's banner, but faced difficulties in achieving strong performances during the initial months of the year.

However, improvements made to the RC213V allowed Zarco to regularly score points during the latter part of the season.

In the last nine races, he consistently earned points, achieving Honda's top performance of the season with an eighth-place finish at the Thai Grand Prix.

Zarco mentioned that not only did he make improvements with the bike, but he also had a breakthrough regarding his mindset during a test for the Suzuka 8 Hours. This newfound perspective helped him enhance his performance in MotoGP.

In an interview with Paddock-GP, Zarco expressed satisfaction with his mental growth throughout the year.

"I believe this realization came after I tested the bike for the Suzuka 8 Hours, where I noticed that I had nearly identical feedback and issues as I did in MotoGP."

"I thought to myself, 'the issues you face in MotoGP are mirrored by the challenges you have mentally.'"

"You have emotions and convictions that must be expressed. Try to see the topic from a new perspective."

"When I began doing that, I improved my ability to ride the MotoGP bike, staying within its limits, though we still have a long way to go."

"That factor enabled me to significantly stand out from the other riders as the year concluded."

He mentioned, "The endurance bike is regarded as the top choice, and I found myself assuming it would be significantly simpler."

"Riding quickly on any bicycle is quite challenging and demands specific skills. It served as an important reminder for me to maintain those skills or learn how to adjust to them."

Zarco concluded his inaugural season with HRC as their leading competitor, securing 17th place in the rankings.

He was victorious at the Suzuka 8 Hours race, teaming up with Takumi Takahashi and Teppei Nagoe for Team HRC.

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Flavio Briatore expresses doubts about Ferrari's decision to bring Lewis Hamilton on board: 'I question if it's a wise move.' Flavio Briatore is among those raising concerns about Ferrari's choice to sign Lewis Hamilton.

Flavio Briatore has expressed doubts, alongside Eddie Jordan, about Ferrari's choice to replace Carlos Sainz with Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

On the night before the previous season began, it was revealed that Hamilton would be making a surprising switch to Ferrari, concluding his lengthy partnership with Mercedes.

In March, Hamilton is set to race for Ferrari for the first time at the Australian Grand Prix as he aims to secure an unprecedented eighth world championship.

Alpine's executive advisor, Briatore, shared his opinion on Ferrari's choice to swap Sainz for Hamilton.

"It will be unusual to witness Lewis driving for Ferrari," Briatore mentioned to sport.de. "Naturally, I respect these kinds of choices, but I also question if it's a logical move. Ferrari already had two excellent drivers in Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz."

"I can't comprehend why this successful duo was separated. It's not my place to make judgments, but if I had held a role of authority at Ferrari, I would not have chosen to bring Lewis on board."

"Essentially, having Lewis race for Ferrari would benefit Formula 1. Since what's advantageous for the sport is also beneficial for me, I see it as a positive move. Additionally, it would likely boost television viewership and ratings. We should wait and observe how he performs with Ferrari; only time will provide the answer."

Carlos Sainz and his teammate Charles Leclerc came very close to winning the 2024 Formula 1 constructors' championship but ultimately fell short.

They ended the season trailing McLaren by 13 points following Lando Norris's victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Ferrari has not won a championship title since 2008, the year they secured the constructors' championship with drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen.

Eddie Jordan describes the situation as "suicidal"

Jordan expressed doubts about Ferrari's choice to change their drivers for the 2025 season.

The individual from Ireland described the choice as "suicidal" while looking back on the season.

Jordan expressed that Fred Vasseur had the potential to lead this team to significant achievements. However, he now faces the challenge of uniting the team and reconciling differences, which includes integrating a new member and managing various egos.

"Lewis is an exceptionally kind individual. I doubt there are many people on the grid who are nicer than Lewis Hamilton, so I believe he won't face any issues in that regard."

"Nonetheless, my criticism is directed at John Elkann of Ferrari for approving and finalizing that agreement. It was incredibly reckless to let Carlos go."

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Five Riders from Other Series Who Might Shine in 2025

Our top choices for standout riders to keep an eye on beyond MotoGP in 2025.

Marc Marquez has teamed up with Francesco Bagnaia at the Ducati Lenovo Team, while Pedro Acosta has moved to the factory KTM team, and Jorge Martin is set to join Aprilia in 2025. These changes promise an exhilarating season for MotoGP enthusiasts. But what about the action beyond the top tier of motorcycle racing? Who will stand out in other categories?

Toprak Razgatlioglu's performance in the 2024 season, when evaluated numerically, falls short of the impressive results achieved by Alvaro Bautista in his 2023 season.

In the year Bautista secured his second world championship, he achieved victory in 27 races, whereas Razgatlioglu only claimed victory in 18 races during his championship year. Additionally, Razgatlioglu's total points in 2024 were 101 fewer than what Bautista accumulated in the previous year.

A significant factor was Razgatlioglu's accident during practice at Magny-Cours, where he suffered a punctured lung. This injury sidelined him for two rounds, causing him to miss six races.

During the races he participated in, Razgatlioglu failed to secure a podium finish three times. Two of these instances occurred at the opening round in Phillip Island, with one being due to a critical bike malfunction. The third instance was a ninth-place finish in the Superpole Race at Assen, where he severely wore out an SCQ tire after approximately three laps.

It's important to remember that Razgatlioglu's championship victory in 2024 marked his debut season riding the BMW M1000 RR. This motorcycle had never clinched a win in dry conditions before and hadn't secured any victories at all since 2021. Prior to this year, BMW had never claimed a championship title, and the SMR team, which has been managing BMW's factory racing operations in WorldSBK since their transition from BSB in 2016, had also never achieved such success.

This suggests that Razgatlioglu has potential for further development with BMW, a prospect that might not be particularly encouraging for his competitors in the WorldSBK lineup this year.

Actually, the idea may not be very appealing even to some fans viewing from their homes. Razgatlioglu is undeniably one of the most thrilling racers in modern motorcycle racing history and possibly the most thrilling currently. However, people can tire of seeing one competitor dominate.

Ultimately, it's hard to deny that Marc Marquez brings a lot of excitement to the track as a rider. However, by the time the 2014 MotoGP season reached Indianapolis, his overwhelming success had started to lose its thrill.

In the 2024 Moto3 season, David Alonso put on an impressive show of superiority. Out of 20 races, he secured 14 victories and stood on the podium 15 times, showcasing his ability to win both when he had the speed advantage and when he did not. Throughout the season, he consistently demonstrated a sharper racing intellect than any of his rivals.

Following an impressive season, Alonso is set to advance to Moto2 in 2025. The main issue revolves around his physique; while it was ideal for Moto3, it may not be as compatible with the larger and heavier Moto2 bikes.

If Alonso's size does become a challenge, the wisdom, modesty, and composure he demonstrated in 2024 are likely to help him find a way to overcome it.

If Alonso's stature doesn't affect his performance, the Colombian has the talent to transform a strong setup into a triumph. With 18 victories to his name, he matches the achievements of the new MotoGP World Champion Jorge Martin and Alex Rins. Among the full-time competitors in 2025, only Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez have more wins.

A true indicator of a rider's potential for greatness is their ability to swiftly adjust to a new motorcycle or racing category. In 2025, we'll have the opportunity to observe how rapidly Alonso, who is undeniably the most thrilling talent in the junior ranks right now, can make this transition.

Davey Todd had been considered a prospective winner of the TT races since at least 2022. He fulfilled this expectation in 2024 by clinching victories in both the second Superstock TT and the Senior TT in the previous year.

The Englishman is not just a skilled equestrian but also a remarkably impressive one.

He's not typically known for handling the bike with the same dramatic flair as someone like Michael Dunlop. However, he's more than capable of sliding the bike sideways, often resembling the style used in short circuit racing, all while maintaining a sense of perfect control.

Apart from the Tourist Trophy (TT) races, Todd is expected to be the top contender at this year's North West 200 on the larger motorcycles, particularly since Glenn Irwin has decided to retire from road racing in 2025.

In addition, Todd is set to return to the British Superbike Championship (BSB) this year after clinching his second National Superstock championship in three years in 2024. Although the BMW didn't prove to be the most competitive option in the championship last season, the FHO team has achieved victory with BMW in BSB as recently as 2023.

In summary, by 2025, Davey Todd might prove himself to be the top all-rounder, excelling on road courses and competing fiercely with Britain's finest on short tracks.

Nicolo Bulega emerged as the rider who came closest to matching the performance of Toprak Razgatlioglu, who established himself as the top competitor in WorldSBK last year.

Although it may not seem particularly thrilling on its own, this was Bulega's first year in the competition. During this season, he needed to prove himself within a factory Ducati team that had been centered around Alvaro Bautista for the past two years.

In his second year competing in the Superbike class, it is unlikely that Bulega will experience a downturn in performance. Although Razgatlioglu is expected to make strides in his second year with BMW, the Italian rider remains a strong contender to make the 2025 season more competitive than 2024.

Guido Pini recently joined the Moto3 World Championship roster for the 2025 season. Just last month, he revealed that he had signed with the Intact GP team.

He is set to team up with David Munoz at Intact. Munoz is another racer who entered Moto3 with high expectations, but has generally fallen short of meeting them thus far.

Pini, who is set to celebrate his 17th birthday later this month, participated in just seven races during last year's JuniorGP series. Despite it being his debut, he impressively secured second place in the championship, achieving three victories, two runner-up finishes, and two fourth-place results.

The Italian athlete is presently being managed by Emilio Alzamora. Alzamora has a history of managing the careers of Alex and Marc Marquez. However, the Italian is now recuperating from his second significant injury within a year.

In 2024, Pini's participation in races was limited mainly because he suffered injuries at the start of the previous year. These injuries forced him to miss the opening three rounds of JuniorGP. Additionally, just last week, the young Italian broke both of his legs during a training mishap.

Given these factors, Pini is expected to face some challenges as he starts his career in Grands Prix racing. Known for his impressive height, Pini brings with him an outstanding resume. He claimed victory in the European Talent Cup in 2022 and secured second place the following year, just behind Max Quiles. Quiles, mentored by the renowned Marc Marquez, is also set to make his debut in the World Championship this year, competing with the Aspar team.

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Five Issues Lewis Hamilton Needs to Address Swiftly at Ferrari

What obstacles will Lewis Hamilton encounter driving for Ferrari in the F1 series in 2025?

The year 2025 marks the beginning of a new era for Lewis Hamilton as he steps into the role of a Ferrari driver, embarking on a fresh chapter in his distinguished Formula 1 career. With the season's first race in Melbourne just 71 days away, Hamilton is now immersed in an intense period of preparation to adjust to his new environment at Maranello.

Here are the major obstacles Hamilton must tackle as he sets out on this fresh endeavor:

Adjusting to Ferrari's Atmosphere

Before focusing on racing activities, Hamilton needs to fully integrate into Ferrari's distinctive setting. Just as with any fresh employment opportunity, becoming accustomed to the new environment and establishing connections with team members is crucial for achieving victory.

Hamilton demonstrated his skillfulness in making bold decisions by unexpectedly switching to Mercedes in 2013; however, Ferrari poses a unique obstacle. Stemming from its Italian heritage, Ferrari is deeply entrenched in passion and emotion, markedly differing from his previous teams.

Although English is commonly used in Maranello, having a fundamental understanding of Italian would certainly facilitate Hamilton's adaptation and enhance interactions with the team members.

Brand-new Vehicle

In his initial period with Ferrari, Hamilton will confront the hurdle of getting accustomed to a completely new vehicle, including a varied setup of the steering wheel. Having piloted a Mercedes for more than ten years, Hamilton has become deeply familiar with it.

Given the vast array of controls and options accessible to a driver via the steering wheel, it's essential for Hamilton to learn and grasp these features before pre-season testing commences to ensure he's quickly acclimated. Undoubtedly, he'll dedicate multiple days to training in the team's simulator to get acquainted with his new vehicle.

End of an Era for Hamilton

In a first for more than ten years, Hamilton is set to compete without the presence of his longtime partner, Peter "Bono" Bonnington.

Hamilton and Bonnington were a well-known duo of driver and race engineer during their period with Mercedes. Nonetheless, Bonnington is set to stay on at Brackley, having been elevated to the position of Head of Race Engineering.

Lewis Hamilton's engineering support at Ferrari is set to come from Riccardo Adami, a seasoned professional known for his collaborations with Sebastian Vettel and, more recently, Carlos Sainz.

The bond between a driver and their engineer is key to achieving victory in Formula 1. From adjusting the car's setup, making strategic decisions, to offering encouragement during the race, the role of an F1 race engineer is fundamental.

Hamilton is well-versed in going head-to-head with strong teammates, having competed with Fernando Alonso during his debut season and teamed up with Jenson Button at McLaren.

Although Leclerc has not reached this significant achievement, it's clear that the driver from Monaco possesses the necessary skills to accomplish it. At the age of 27, Leclerc is nearing the prime of his career, marked by an impressive 2024 season where he secured third place in the drivers' championship.

Hamilton can take comfort in the fact that, although Leclerc's speed is unmistakable, he does not possess a harsh demeanor. Ideally, this means that even though their competition on the track may be fierce, Hamilton is likely to experience smoother relations with him off the track, unlike the tension-filled times he had with Nico Rosberg or Alonso.

Nonetheless, overcoming Leclerc at 40 years old continues to be a tough task.

Eliminating the challenges of 2024

A final issue that Hamilton needs to address is overcoming the challenges that arose in 2024.

In what was his concluding chapter with Mercedes, he managed to secure two wins, yet it marked the most underwhelming season of his professional journey. Across the board, George Russell outperformed him in nearly all aspects.

The most troubling element of Hamilton's season has been his performance during the qualifying rounds. Throughout the 24 races, Hamilton was only able to beat Russell in qualifying on five occasions.

Considering Leclerc's reputation as the quickest driver in Formula 1 for single-lap speed, Hamilton needs to enhance his performance in this aspect. Moreover, with a highly competitive fight anticipated among the top four teams, Hamilton must avoid beginning the race from positions six or seven on the grid.

He must move on from his underwhelming 2024 season, trusting it was just a minor setback in an otherwise illustrious career.

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Max Verstappen requests a change in Red Bull F1 paint scheme for a bit of variation

“We’ve seen a lot of matte-blue vehicles, but I believe it’s occasionally refreshing to add a bit of variety.”

Max Verstappen has called on Red Bull to update their Formula 1 paint scheme for the 2025 racing year.

Over the years, Red Bull has maintained a steady visual identity for their Formula 1 cars, opting for a matte dark blue color scheme.

Nonetheless, the minimal diversity seems to have annoyed their lead driver.

In contrast to Ferrari, which is known for its classic scarlet red often combined with hints of yellow, black, or white, Red Bull has consistently adhered to its color palette, opting for a matte finish.

During his appearance on the Talking Bulls podcast, Verstappen shared his wish for the RB21's paint scheme to be "somewhat unique."

The quadruple world champion mentioned Red Bull's previous vehicles, known for their shinier exterior.

"When I return to the factory, you'll start to get the picture," Verstappen mentioned. "I'm eager to lay eyes on my own vehicle. I'm hoping for a somewhat unique livery. In fact, it was a topic of conversation for me today. I have a real fondness for cars that sport a glossy finish.

"We've seen a lot of cars in matte blue, but occasionally, it feels good to add a bit of excitement."

The unveiling of Red Bull's latest car design and colors will occur at the upcoming event, F1 75 Live, open to the public.

F1 75 Live is an exclusive event to kick off the season, featuring appearances from all 10 participating teams.

It is anticipated that all 10 teams will unveil their new designs for the next season, though the real cars for 2025 are probably not going to be shown.

In 2025, Verstappen aims to secure his fifth straight F1 championship win.

Nevertheless, he faces a significant challenge, considering Red Bull's strong finish to the 2024 F1 season.

Securing victories in seven out of the first ten races, Verstappen managed to claim only two additional victories as both McLaren and Ferrari surpassed Red Bull in the competitive hierarchy.

Red Bull must regroup and equip Verstappen with the necessary resources to outperform Lando Norris and both Ferrari drivers in the 2025 championship race.

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Jacques Villeneuve Clarifies His Stance on Daniel Ricciardo Remarks

Jacques Villeneuve Shares Insights on His Previous Comments about Daniel Ricciardo

1997 Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve found no pleasure in seeing his critiques of Daniel Ricciardo validated after Ricciardo was let go.

Ricciardo parted ways with RB subsequent to the Singapore Grand Prix due to another challenging weekend.

Choosing to let him go halfway through the season essentially marked the conclusion of Ricciardo's career in Formula 1, as the driver himself has since stated he has absolutely no desire to come back to the sport with Cadillac.

During the weekend of the Canadian Grand Prix, Villeneuve did not hold back his criticism of Ricciardo.

While serving as an analyst for Sky Sports F1 in Montreal, Villeneuve raised doubts about Ricciardo's continued participation in the sport.

The ex-Williams racer questioned, "Why is he still competing in F1? Why?"

For the past four or five years, we've been hearing the same narrative repeatedly: 'We need to improve the car for him.' Apologies, but that's been the storyline for five years. No, this is F1.

"Perhaps you go the extra mile for someone like Lewis Hamilton, who has several championships under his belt. You wouldn't do the same for a driver who just doesn't measure up."

"If you're not up to the mark, pack your bags because there's always someone ready to fill your shoes. This has been the unwavering rule in racing; it represents the ultimate achievement in the sport."

"There's no justification for continuing to find reasons to excuse the situation. Everyone keeps mentioning the initial season or the first couple of seasons—during that time, he was outperforming a Vettel who was exhausted, attempting to innovate with the car in order to secure victories but ultimately complicating his weekends."

"At that point, he managed to outperform Verstappen throughout half a season while Verstappen was only 18 and at the beginning of his career. However, following that period, he ceased to outperform anyone."

Ricciardo responded to the Canadian's earlier comments over the weekend, expressing his disappointment in the criticism. He noted that given Villeneuve's own success in F1, he expected more understanding and empathy for his situation.

Despite efforts, Ricciardo's performance remained stagnant, leading to Liam Lawson stepping in to partner with Yuki Tsunoda for the rest of the season.

Villeneuve's critique gains validation following Ricciardo's F1 exit

As Ricciardo exits the F1 scene, Villeneuve's earlier criticisms seem warranted.

Nonetheless, Villeneuve doesn’t see Ricciardo's departure from F1 as a confirmation of his own remarks.

"I never intended to be proven correct. The response was mixed, with much of it negative but some positive," he shared with Sportscasting.

The topic sparked widespread conversation. The focus wasn't on tearing anyone down, but rather confronting the truth. I believe individuals acknowledged, 'Alright, Jacques raises a valid argument, we should delve into this further,' and that indeed occurred. That's the aspect I'm pleased with.

"My emotions remain unchanged irrespective of whether Daniel Ricciardo continued with Red Bull. It's not that I'm expressing joy over his departure from F1. Rather, I'm simply pleased to have highlighted the truth."

"Daniel continues to maintain a positive reputation and a successful career; it hasn't caused him any harm. The discussion was initially about the motorsport world, which somehow lost focus on the significant issues. Essentially, it was about voicing the opinions that were on everyone's mind. My stance isn't about feeling justified regarding his absence from F1 or otherwise."

"In punditry, the aim is to focus on relevant topics. This doesn't guarantee correctness, and achieving impartiality is challenging despite efforts to the contrary. Our emotions inevitably influence us. The goal is to provide substantial content and insights to spark meaningful conversations. That's something I take pride in."

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Eddie Jordan criticizes Ferrari's decision to choose Lewis Hamilton over Carlos Sainz, calling it a disastrous move.

"Letting go of Carlos was a complete mistake."

Former Formula 1 team proprietor Eddie Jordan has criticized Ferrari's choice to swap Carlos Sainz for Lewis Hamilton, calling it "utterly catastrophic".

The year 2025 has dawned, marking the start of Lewis Hamilton's tenure with Ferrari in Formula 1, as Carlos Sainz Jr. embarks on a new chapter with Williams

Nonetheless, Jordan has raised doubts about Hamilton's surprising move to Maranello for the next season.

The choice to bring Hamilton on board was finalized before the start of the 2024 season, which turned out to be the most underwhelming season yet for the athlete who had previously clinched the world championship seven times.

Conversely, Sainz experienced an impressive concluding season with Ferrari, as they came close to clinching the constructors' championship but fell short by 13 points to McLaren.

On the Formula for Success podcast, Jordan and his fellow presenter David Coulthard highlighted their "FFS moment" of the year.

Coulthard remarked, "It's the FFS moment, the 'for heaven's sake moment of the year'."

"For me, the most surprising event of the year had to be Lewis joining Ferrari. It totally caught me off guard. What about you? What was your 'I can't believe it' moment of the year?"

Jordan concurred with Coulthard, yet offered a more critical assessment of Ferrari's decision.

The individual, aged 76, expressed agreement, stating, "We see eye to eye on this matter. My point of frustration is, I question John Elkann, the chairman of the group, about his rationale behind dismissing Carlos. They had a harmonious, well-organized team that understood collaboration. The drivers had a good relationship with each other.

Fred Vasseur was presented with a golden chance to lead the team to significant triumphs. He must now focus on fostering unity and healing any divisions so that a new team member, along with all the associated egos, can be successfully integrated.

"Lewis stands out as an exceptionally kind individual. It's hard to find anyone on the grid who surpasses Lewis Hamilton in niceness, so I doubt he'll face any issues in that regard."

"Nonetheless, my frustration is directed toward John Elkann of Ferrari for approving and finalizing that agreement. It was utterly reckless to let Carlos go."

Hamilton takes on the challenge of breaking Ferrari's winless streak

As 2025 unfolds, Hamilton has commenced his role at Ferrari.

The individual, who is 39 years old, has been given the responsibility of bringing an end to Ferrari's long-standing championship dry spell, which has been ongoing since

Ferrari has not clinched a championship victory since their victory in the constructors' title in 2008.

The most recent championship win for their drivers came in 2007, thanks to Kimi Raikkonen.

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Flavio Briatore ignites rumors about Jack Doohan: "Time will tell throughout the season"

Speculation persists regarding Jack Doohan's potential in Formula 1

Alpine F1 senior consultant Flavio Briatore has further ignited rumors regarding Jack Doohan's potential role within the squad.

Rumors about Doohan's career prospects have surged following his first F1 appearance at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

In light of Franco Colapinto's impressive performance, there were rumors that Briatore and Alpine were considering the Argentine for their team.

Nonetheless, the substantial monetary requirements needed to release Colapinto from his agreement with Williams, paired with his disappointing performance towards the season's end, made pursuing him an unfeasible option.

In 2025, Doohan will be teaming up with Pierre Gasly to compete for Alpine.

Doohan is set to begin the season, but his prospects for the long haul remain uncertain.

In an interview with the French newspaper Le Parisien, Briatore remained notably noncommittal.

"Briatore asserted, "Death is the sole certainty. We're kicking off the year with Pierre and Jack, that's a promise. What happens throughout the season, we'll figure out as it unfolds."

"I need to assist the group in attaining a position where it can secure successes."

"The person behind the wheel is responsible for completing the efforts of nearly a thousand individuals supporting him."

"Everyone is accountable to just a pair of individuals. Should there be a driver failing to advance or yield outcomes, they will be replaced."

Alpine concluded the 2024 Formula 1 season as the standout midfield team.

Their twin-podium achievement at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix boosted their position to sixth in the constructors' standings.

A major improvement bundle introduced at the United States Grand Prix significantly boosted their performance, especially when piloted by Gasly.

Gasly earned points in four out of the last five races, with a failure to finish in Las Vegas.

Alpine has chosen to switch to Mercedes power units starting in 2026, moving away from their in-house engine program.

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Aston Martin issued a caution about Adrian Newey: "Success isn't assured by just one person"

Can Adrian Newey achieve success with Aston Martin?

Ex-McLaren F1 technician Marc Priestley cautioned Aston Martin that acquiring Adrian Newey might not automatically fix their ongoing performance issues.

In September 2024, Aston Martin declared that Newey would take on the role of Managing Technical Partner.

Newey is set to head up Aston Martin's design division, stepping into the position before the year ends.

Nonetheless, Priestley has cautioned that solely relying on Newey does not assure Aston Martin's continued triumph.

In a conversation with Casino Uden Rofus, Priestley expressed: “Adrian Newey is an outstanding engineer with a remarkable intellect, yet the creation of a new F1 vehicle does not rest on the shoulders of a single person to ensure its success.

"It's not that I'm discounting Aston Martin's team, but there's clear proof their efforts in crafting a competitive car and enhancing it over the season haven't quite hit the mark."

"Newey is coming onboard a squad that hasn't seen much triumph, yet Aston Martin has recently acquired cutting-edge facilities, and the team is expanding quickly."

Mixed Outcomes for Aston Martin

Following Lawrence Stroll's takeover of the Silverstone-based team, their achievements have been inconsistent.

In 2020, under the name Racing Point, they clinched fourth place in the F1 constructors' standings, achieving a victory at the Sakhir Grand Prix.

In 2023, Aston Martin experienced their most successful season to date, thanks in large part to Fernando Alonso joining the team. They kicked off the year strong, ranking just behind Red Bull in terms of speed, and with Alonso's help, they secured six podium finishes in the first eight races.

Alonso barely missed securing a victory in Monaco, as Aston Martin's strategy faltered under fluctuating weather conditions.

Nonetheless, the previous couple of years have seen Aston Martin fall into a recognizable routine of facing challenges in advancing their vehicle consistently over the racing season.

Alonso attributed Aston Martin's development challenges to issues with the Mercedes wind tunnel.

"The solution or answer isn't straightforward. If it were, we likely would have approached it in a simpler manner," the Spaniard explained to the BBC's Chequered Flag podcast.

"I believe there's an issue with grasping some aspects of the car's internal mechanics, including the challenges with wind tunnel testing that Mercedes encountered last year during the car's development phase. Our ability to utilize the wind tunnel is somewhat restricted since we use the Mercedes tunnel."

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Jorge Martin asserts he won't assume the role of Aprilia's MotoGP team captain as Espargaro once did

"I sense the obligation to spearhead this initiative"

MotoGP champion Jorge Martin has acknowledged that he "will never fulfill the role of Captain" at Aprilia in the same way Aleix Espargaro did, yet he "is open to taking on the leadership" within the team.

Over his last eight seasons in MotoGP, Espargaro was pivotal in transforming Aprilia from a team that typically finished in the middle of the pack into one that achieved race victories.

He declared his departure from racing at the Catalan Grand Prix and will serve as Honda's test rider in the coming year.

A little more than a week after revealing his decision to retire, Martin entered into a long-term agreement with the Aprilia factory team, following Ducati's reversal on their initial plan to elevate him to their primary team for the 2025 season.

During his tenure with Aprilia, Espargaro earned the nickname 'the Captain' due to his leadership qualities.

Martin believes that achieving the same level of success will be challenging for him.

"I believe I'll never manage to match Aleix's role as 'Captain,' given his nine-year tenure during which he elevated Aprilia from obscurity to achieving race victories and contending for the world championship," he shared with AS.

"I'm willing to take on that duty. I believe it's my role to spearhead this project, and I'm committed to doing whatever necessary, within my capabilities, to elevate this bike to its utmost potential."

Martin is of the opinion that Espargaro would have remained with Aprilia for at least an additional year if he had made his decision to join the Italian brand sooner.

"Had I made the choice to join this brand sooner than I did, Aleix would definitely have extended his contract for at least one more year," he further stated.

"Yet, existence comprises various circumstances and instances."

Espargaro and Martin share an exceptionally tight bond, with the former often affectionately calling the current world champion his son multiple times.

In addition to his role as a test rider for Honda, Espargaro has agreed to serve as an ambassador for the Lidl-Trek cycling team in the coming year.

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