Toto Wolff chooses to remain silent regarding Mercedes' prospects for the 2025 F1 season. The head of Mercedes, Toto Wolff, is being reserved when discussing the team's potential performance in F1 2025.

Toto Wolff expressed that he prefers to avoid discussing Mercedes' prospects for the 2025 F1 season in detail.

Mercedes aims to deliver a steadier performance in 2025 following a disappointing season the previous year.

Despite securing victories in four races, the Silver Arrows team found themselves bewildered by the unpredictable performance fluctuations of their W15 car, ultimately placing fourth in the constructors’ championship.

With Lewis Hamilton no longer part of the team, George Russell is now paired with the promising young driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Team principal Wolff is cautious about overhyping Mercedes.

Wolff prefers to observe the performance of the team's W16 car during pre-season testing in Bahrain later this month.

According to RacingNews365, Wolff mentioned that finding the optimal performance with these vehicles is quite challenging, and they have only managed to achieve it a handful of times.

"We were extremely dominant in Las Vegas, where we secured the top two positions, but at other circuits, we couldn't compete for a spot on the podium."

"I prefer to keep quiet for now and wait to see how we perform in the tests. That will show us if we've addressed the balance problems, figured out the tire situation, and then we'll know more."

Wolff has acknowledged that Mercedes won't be able to completely eliminate their performance inconsistencies in the next season.

Mercedes achieved an impressive first and second place finish in Las Vegas, where the event occurred under cooler weather. However, the team was puzzled by how competitive they were. In contrast, when racing in warmer conditions, a significant flaw in the car's performance became apparent.

He mentioned to the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport that the key is to stay on the favorable side as frequently as you can.

"You begin to identify connections, such as circuits where your vehicle performs well, practice runs where you tested your car's limits, tire types that blend well with your car, and optimal track temperatures for the vehicle’s performance."

He expressed his wish that the lessons learned during the winter would lead to a reassessment and modification of the development strategy for the 2025 vehicle.

"It will not be possible to eliminate these variations entirely. All teams are expected to experience them again in the coming year."

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2025 Official Sepang MotoGP Test – Day 1 Overview

Review of the first day's events at the 2025 Official Sepang MotoGP test.

All MotoGP racers hit the circuit for their initial 2025 outing during the Sepang Official test, happening from Wednesday through Friday.

Newcomers Ai Ogura, Fermin Aldeguer, and Somkiat Chantra, along with Yamaha's official test riders and their regular racers, participated in a three-day introductory test session at Malaysia's track during the weekend.

Other Honda racing competitors besides Chantra, including Joan Mir, Luca Marini, and Johann Zarco, were qualified to participate in the shakedown, yet they chose not to engage.

The group, along with current title holder Jorge Martin and newcomer to Ducati Lenovo, Marc Marquez, will be back on a MotoGP motorcycle for their first ride since the previous November in Barcelona.

Teams have only five days allocated for formal pre-season trials, with three days scheduled in Sepang followed by two days in Buriram, ahead of the 2025 MotoGP season's kick-off in Thailand on February 28.

Trials at Sepang are scheduled from 10 in the morning until 6 in the evening, succeeded by practice launches…

Concluding lap durations – Authorized Sepang MotoGP Trial: First Day

The quarter-hour warm-up session has just commenced, attracting both team participants and enthusiastic supporters to the starting line.

Johann Zarco overcomes his launch control system to execute a massive wheelie down the entire front straight!

The first day of trials concludes with Fabio Quartararo leading, followed by Marc Marquez, Alex Marquez, Fermin Aldeguer, Franco Morbidelli, and Joan Mir.

Marc Marquez makes a last-minute surge to secure the second position, narrowly missing the top spot by just 0.051 seconds behind Fabio Quartararo.

As day one draws to its final 25 minutes, Mir stands out by climbing to 5th position for Honda.

Leading quartet remains Quartararo, A. Marquez, Aldeguer, Morbidelli.

Raul Fernandez has concluded his testing session at Sepang.

Trackhouse has announced that he will be returning to Spain this evening due to a fractured metacarpal bone in his left hand.

Quartararo is clocking in fastest times in several sectors; he's a mere 0.016 seconds away from overtaking Alex Marquez for the lead… he manages to shave off an additional 0.2 seconds, securing the first position for Yamaha.

With 40 minutes remaining on the first day of the Official test, Alex Marquez leads the pack riding the Ducati GP24, followed by Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo and his Gresini teammate Fermin Aldeguer.

Joan Mir has now placed a second Honda within the top ten positions, while Johann Zarco is at the forefront of the RC213V effort, securing the 7th place.

Lap times at 5pm: Official Results from Day 1 of the Sepang MotoGP Test

Di Giannantonio achieves a new personal record, securing the 6th spot in speed rankings, right after Marc Marquez.

Remarkable performance by the youthful Italian, who is back on a MotoGP motorcycle for the first time since the Thai Grand Prix last October. He was uncertain about the endurance of his recovering shoulder.

It

Fabio di Giannantonio is delivering his top performances of the day, successfully making his way into the leading ten.

The GP25 rankings currently place Marc Marquez in 5th, Fabio di Giannantonio in 9th, and Francesco Bagnaia in 15th position.

Leading the pack with 60 minutes left on the clock: A. Marquez takes the lead, followed closely by Quartararo, Aldeguer, Morbidelli, M. Marquez, Zarco, Miller, and Acosta rounding out the top eight.

Morbidelli achieves a new personal record for the lap, yet stays in 4th place, trailing by 0.376 seconds.

Franco Morbidelli has launched another assault in the GP24.

The latest member of the VR46 team has secured the 4th position, indicating that Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, who is in 2nd place, is the sole rider not on a GP24 bike among the leading quartet.

Johann Zarco propels Honda to a fifth-place position, trailing Alex Marquez by just slightly more than half a second.

At Aprilia, which has reduced its lineup to only two racers for the 2025 season, Ai Ogura leads the team by securing the 10th position as the top RS-GP rider, followed by Marco Bezzecchi who is in 15th place.

Newcomer Aldeguer supports Alex Marquez's quick pace, marking the day's quickest time in the first sector with his GP24. Although his performance in the remaining sectors doesn't match up, he still manages to move up from 7th to 3rd place.

With less than 90 minutes remaining, Pedro Acosta and Fermin Aldeguer are setting personal bests, as indicated by the orange sectors lighting up. However, they still hold the 5th and 7th positions, respectively.

Several top-performing industries as identified by a Marquez – however, this time it's Alex, not Marc.

In November, Alex achieved the fastest time in Barcelona and has now dethroned Fabio Quartararo from the top spot, edging him out by a mere 0.016 seconds on his Gresini GP24.

Update from VR46: 'Franky Morbidelli experienced a fall at Turn 6. The rider is unharmed.'

The following riders are the swiftest who did not participate in the Shakedown test:

Marc Marquez finished in second place.

Pedro Acosta ranked 4th

Alex Marquez secured the 5th position.

Franco Morbidelli finished in seventh place.

Maverick Vinales finished in 9th place.

Maverick Vinales achieves his top performances in all four sectors, climbing from 14th to 9th place for Tech3 KTM.

This time, a different 'Fernandez' has taken a tumble, with Yamaha's test pilot Augusto Fernandez going down at Turn 9. 'Rider is safe'.

Jack Miller, wearing the number 6, is showcasing impressive sector times, as the latest addition to Pramac Yamaha, piloting a completely black M1, secures the third position on the timesheets, trailing by +0.622 seconds.

Following the GP25 assessment: Marc Marquez secured the 2nd position, trailing by 0.506 seconds, while Francesco Bagnaia placed 12th, lagging by 1.193 seconds. Fabio di Giannantonio, who had an earlier mishap, finished 18th with a gap of 1.782 seconds.

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Williams may soon finalize a major sponsorship deal for the 2025 Formula 1 season, according to reports.

Williams is said to be nearing an agreement for a Formula 1 title sponsorship with a major Australian tech company valued at several billion dollars.

According to a report by SportBusiness, Williams is reportedly nearing a deal to bring Atlassian on board as their title sponsor for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Atlassian is the company responsible for creating the project management tool known as Jira.

This would be the most recent sponsor that Williams has secured, following their announcement of a collaboration with Santander in December.

The Spanish financial institution has accompanied Carlos Sainz as he transitions from Ferrari to Williams.

Securing Sainz, who has claimed victory in four grand prix races, is a significant achievement for the Williams team.

After losing his spot at Ferrari to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, Sainz has moved to Williams, where he will team up with Alex Albon.

Last season, Williams secured the ninth spot in the constructors' championship, accumulating only 17 points.

Team boss James Vowles believes that Sainz joining the team will be instrumental in their efforts to advance their position on the grid in the years ahead.

"He's thoroughly enjoying it," Vowles mentioned to Autosport during the Autosport Awards earlier this week.

The instant he got into the car in Abu Dhabi, it was clear his focus had shifted. This is his desired place, this is his chosen path, and he's integral to our success. He's blending in seamlessly.

He is an exceptional individual who not only carries the experience of winning races but also has a strong drive and ambition for Williams to achieve success.

Vowles stated that the input from both him and Alex is crucial in propelling the team ahead. The focus has shifted to fine-tuning details to gain milliseconds, rather than addressing larger issues.

"In only a matter of weeks, there has been genuine progress with new ideas and concepts on how to enact change and advance."

Williams plans to introduce their Formula 1 car for the 2025 season next week, with the event scheduled for February 14 at Silverstone, known as the venue for the British Grand Prix.

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Jorge Martin rushed to the hospital following two falls during the Sepang MotoGP test, while Raul Fernandez sustains a broken metacarpal.

BREAKING UPDATE: Jorge Martin sidelined for Sepang test following severe accident injuries

Defending MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin experienced a disastrous beginning to the 2025 pre-season testing, encountering two highside crashes on his Aprilia during the initial hours at Sepang.

The accidents happened during the sharp initial bends.

After his initial tumble, Martin managed to get back on his bike and return using a maintenance path.

The subsequent event occurred just after Martin had navigated the right turn of Turn 1. As he transitioned his RS-GP to the left to enter Turn 2, he encountered a loss of control at the rear.

The Spanish man was catapulted upwards, flipping in the air before forcefully landing on his feet and subsequently crashing face-first onto the pavement.

Jorge Martin experienced a dramatic highside crash at the second turn 😳#MotoGP #SepangTest pic.twitter.com/NmhUuWQPq8— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) February 5, 2025

The meeting was momentarily halted as he was transported to the medical center via ambulance. He has since been moved to a nearby hospital for additional examinations.

Considering the magnitude of the crash, it would be unexpected for Martin to make a comeback to the circuit immediately on the first day. Furthermore, his participation in the remaining testing sessions remains uncertain until the outcomes of the medical examinations are revealed.

Aprilia announced: "Following an incident at Turn 2, Jorge Martin has been transported to the track's medical facility. He is scheduled for additional health assessments, and we will provide an official health update as soon as it becomes available."

An updated statement announced: "Jorge is scheduled to be transported to Aurelius Hospital in Nilai, which is 6 kilometers away from the circuit, for medical examinations. Currently, he is experiencing pain in his left foot and right hand."

Martin had finished only 13 laps and was in the 21st position when he experienced his second crash. This happened as he commenced his first fast lap during his third attempt.

April's initial day took a further downturn

The day for Aprilia took a further hit just after 1pm, when Trackhouse announced that Raul Fernandez had sustained a fracture in the metacarpal bone of his left hand.

Fernandez suffered a fractured toe during what seems to be an incident on an out-lap, however, the primary concern is his hand injury. Consequently, he will be unable to participate in the remainder of the testing session.

The Spanish rider sustained injuries on the first day of the Sepang test last year, leading him to miss the remainder of the event because of significant bruising to his hip and pelvis.

Ai Ogura, the newcomer on Fernandez's team, luckily emerged unscathed from a high-speed crash at Turn 1.

By midday, Ogura had emerged as the quickest rider on an Aprilia, securing the 18th spot, with Martin's teammate from the official team, Marco Bezzecchi, trailing behind him.

This morning, VR46 rider Fabio di Giannantonio escaped injury after crashing at Turn 5 (as shown in the image), and it's also been reported that Pedro Acosta, who recently joined Red Bull KTM, experienced a fall.

Peter has spent two decades in the racing circuit, witnessing Valentino Rossi's rise and retirement. He is leading the coverage on Suzuki's departure and the challenges Marc Marquez faces with his injuries.

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2025 Sepang MotoGP Official Test Outcomes – Day 1 (Wednesday)

Concluding lap times for the first day of the 2025 Sepang MotoGP official test, recorded at 6pm on Wednesday.

UPDATE: Following the conclusion of testing, di Giannantonio experienced another crash at Turn 5 during the practice starts, resulting in a fractured left collarbone. He will be returning to Italy this evening.

Updates on results every hour…

Monster Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo leads the pack on a breezy first day at the Official Sepang MotoGP test as the fastest shakedown rider.

Ducati's new team member Marc Marquez clinched an impressive second place finish, outpacing the GP24 bikes of his sibling Alex Marquez, newcomer Fermin Aldeguer, and Franco Morbidelli.

Joan Mir secures a sixth-place finish for Honda. Leading the effort for KTM, Pedro Acosta finishes 11th, while newcomer Ai Ogura emerges as the best-performing RS-GP rider for Aprilia, landing in 16th on a challenging day for the team.

Raul Fernandez, a member of the Trackhouse team, has incurred a hand fracture and is set to fly back to Spain this evening. Meanwhile, current world champion Jorge Martin is continuing to receive medical evaluations in the hospital.

Today also witnessed crashes involving di Giannantonio, Ogura, Acosta, Enea Bastianini, and Morbidelli.

Rider has moved up X spots from the previous hour.

Rider maintains the same rank as the last hour.

X Rider has dropped X places since the last hour.

Quickest Trial Run Duration

Fabio Quartararo on a Yamaha clocked in at 1 minute and 57.794 seconds on Day

Authoritative records from the Sepang MotoGP

Top Circuit Time: Francesco Bagnaia on a Ducati clocked at 1 minute and 56.337 seconds (2024)

Quickest lap time in the race: Alex Marquez on a Ducati clocked at 1 minute 58.979 seconds (2023)

Rider has moved up X spots since the last hour.

The cyclist remains in the same spot as they were an hour ago.

˅X Rider has dropped X places since the last hour.

Quickest time recorded during Shakedown Test

Fabio Quartararo, representing Yamaha, clocked in at 1 minute and 57.794 seconds on Day

Established Records at the Sepang MotoGP

Top circuit time: Francesco Bagnaia achieved a time of 1 minute and 56.337 seconds (2024)

Quickest lap time in the race: Alex Marquez achieved it in 1 minute and 58.979 seconds (2023).

Following a three-day introductory session for newcomers, official test riders, and competing racers from Yamaha and Honda, the Official Sepang MotoGP Test, which includes all riders and teams for the 2025 season, kicked off at 10am on Wednesday in Malaysia.

The initial goal is to surpass Fabio Quartararo's leading Shakedown lap of 1m 57.794s recorded on Sunday.

Formal assessments are scheduled from 10 in the morning to 6 in the evening on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, with practice launches occurring afterwards.

Following the Sepang trials, just a single official test remains, scheduled in Buriram on February 12-13, ahead of the season's inaugural race in Thailand on February 28.

From the Thai Grand Prix onwards, Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia will have their engine designs locked until the conclusion of 2026. This move aims to cut down on development expenses before transitioning to the upcoming 850cc phase in 2027.

Honda and Yamaha presently have the liberty to progress with their engine innovations, thanks to their D-level concession status.

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Alex Marquez believes that the true capabilities of the factory MotoGP bikes have not been fully demonstrated. He stated, "We're performing well but staying grounded."

Alex Marquez expressed that it would be ideal for the 2025 MotoGP season to kick off immediately, given his impressive performance in recent tests. However, he cautioned that the true capabilities of the manufacturers are yet to be fully revealed.

The Gresini team member has taken over the GP24 Ducati, a motorcycle that was a powerhouse last year, securing victories in 19 out of 20 races and earning the brand its third consecutive world championship.

After beginning his 2023 season impressively as a Ducati rider on the GP22, Marquez faced challenges in 2024 when he transitioned to the problematic GP23 model.

During the Barcelona test last November, Marquez led the pack on the GP24. At the Sepang test on the second day, he secured the third-fastest time, trailing the top pace by only 0.130 seconds.

At present, Marquez holds the position of the second-fastest Ducati rider in the test, trailing only behind Franco Morbidelli, who led on the second day. However, Marquez believes that his lead will soon diminish.

Marquez expressed that it would be ideal to participate in the Thailand race as early as tomorrow.

"That would be ideal. However, I believe they will continue to make progress. The Ducati team at the factory was definitely experimenting with various components."

"Tomorrow might be the last day, but particularly in Thailand, they will consolidate everything, revealing the true capabilities of not only Ducati but also KTM and the other manufacturers."

"We're performing well, moving quickly, and maintaining strength."

"However, we must stay grounded as the pre-season has a long way to go."

Alex Marquez highlights Ducati's advantage

Marquez observes that the GP24 shows a significant enhancement in corner-entry performance compared to the GP23. Additionally, he mentions experiencing "a slight increase in sensation" during acceleration, thanks to the GP24's ride height mechanism.

"I feel most at ease particularly when entering corners," he mentioned.

"In 2023, I struggled with braking points, mainly because there was excessive weight at the front, which resulted in pressure from the rear."

"This motorcycle is truly designed for this specific rear tire, making it much easier to enter turns and maintain the bike's balance."

"[Using the ride height device] during certain accelerations, you notice a slight improvement, allowing you to apply more torque since there is a reduction in front wheel lift."

"In certain sections, like Turn 3 in Thailand, it will offer a significant advantage. However, even a gain of just 0.003 seconds is always appreciated."

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Joan Mir's fastest lap during the Sepang MotoGP test was thwarted due to his bike running out of fuel. On Thursday at Sepang, Honda showed encouraging progress.

Honda's Joan Mir believes that during the MotoGP Sepang test on Thursday, he could have improved his time by three-tenths of a second if he hadn't run out of fuel on his final fast lap.

On Wednesday, the Japanese company seemed to start strong, with 2020 world champion Mir placing sixth on the timesheets and stating it was his best testing day with Honda to date.

The impressive performance carried over into the second day of testing at Sepang, where Mir maintained his position in sixth place. He managed to enhance his time from 1 minute and 58.1 seconds to 1 minute and 57.791 seconds, nearly a full second quicker than his qualifying lap at last year's Malaysian Grand Prix.

He might have achieved an even faster time if he hadn't run out of fuel at the final turn during his best lap, which prevented him from securing a position in the top four.

On Thursday, Mir concentrated on testing the engine and is of the opinion that the 2025 model shows improvement. However, he acknowledges that it still requires an increase in power.

He mentioned that they tested the final 2024 setup alongside the latest engine specifications for this year.

"Initially, making the decision was challenging, as we installed the engine and it likely didn't suit my preferences very well."

"In the morning, I wasn't particularly pleased, but we dedicated significant effort to adjusting the electronic aspects. Our goal was to ensure the engine was properly configured, focusing on elements like engine braking and throttle management."

"It's a new engine, yet it retains the characteristics of last year's model. The overall feel is quite alike. Ultimately, I was pleased and I've already mentioned that, in my opinion, the 2025 version is superior or, to put it differently, holds more promise."

"We managed to enhance our lap time compared to yesterday. However, I encountered a fuel shortage at the final corner. Consequently, I reached the finish line with the bike running at reduced power."

"We were just three-tenths behind, which means we're quite close despite the issue. Overall, I'm pleased with our progress, but there are still some areas that need improvement."

"For instance, when the track heats up, we all face difficulties. We lag behind the rest."

"We are lagging behind in lap times compared to our competitors. They seem to manage this aspect more effectively. For some reason, our bike begins to skid slightly, complicating matters for us, especially when the temperature rises."

"We need to address that issue. Tomorrow, we'll focus on refining the electronics and configuration. I believe there's still room for improvement."

Joan Mir highlights continued issues with Honda

The problems with rear grip that have been troubling Honda for several years were not resolved by the new engine that Mir favored.

"Our acceleration has slightly improved, but the main focus is on enhancing the top speed," he mentioned.

"We increased our speed by 1 kph on the straight, but we likely need an additional four or five kph."

"That's the situation right now. Yesterday, we were somewhat content with a less powerful engine, but today, with a bit more horsepower, the bike is easier to handle. It's an improvement."

Luca Marini, who finished 15th on Thursday, dedicated his day to evaluating new aerodynamics and feels that the newest version represents a noticeable improvement.

"Today's agenda centered entirely on aerodynamics. I experimented with various setups, including fairings and wings, and I'm pleased because we ultimately discovered the ideal balance," he remarked.

"We need to determine whether it will be ready for Buriram or if we’ll have to kick off the season using the previous package. The old package is still excellent, as it took us all day to find an improved balance with the previous fairing."

"We'll find out soon enough. The improvements in turning are significant, and there's been no sacrifice in acceleration, wheelie control, or braking ability. Overall, it was an excellent achievement."

Statements made by Peter McLaren, the editor of Crash MotoGP

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Additional time on the track doesn't benefit Fabio Quartararo in MotoGP tests

The Yamaha racer asserts that his impressive testing speed isn't due to spending more time on the track.

Fabio Quartararo feels that participating in the shakedown hasn't provided him with any benefits, as he maintained impressive speed on his Yamaha during Thursday's Sepang MotoGP test.

Yamaha's new M1 had a promising beginning in the pre-season testing for the 2025 season, as Quartararo recorded the fastest time on the first day at Sepang and secured the second position on the following day.

Over the two-day period, three out of the four factory M1 motorcycles consistently ranked within the top 10. Quartararo made significant progress, enhancing his time from 1 minute and 57.555 seconds to 1 minute and 57.324 seconds on Thursday.

The Yamaha race team had an additional two days on the track by participating in the shakedown. However, Quartararo feels that this is not a factor in their impressive performance on the timesheets this week.

When questioned about whether his impressive speed was due to additional time on the track, he replied, "I don't believe that's the case. On the second day of the shakedown, I managed a time of 1 minute and 57.7 seconds, and I achieved this while it was raining."

"I believe it doesn't actually provide any benefit."

"In my opinion, it's beneficial for my physical fitness because there's no opportunity to ride the GP bike during the winter, so it was advantageous for me to do it."

"Frankly, after completing so many laps on this track, I'm really glad that tomorrow is the final one and we'll be switching to a different track."

On Thursday, Quartararo concentrated primarily on adjusting the electronics with the aim of enhancing the Yamaha's rear grip. However, he admitted that they "didn't really achieve" the improvements he was hoping for in this regard.

Although the rear grip has gotten better in high-speed turns, Quartararo acknowledges that it remains an issue in areas requiring low-gear acceleration. This will make the upcoming test in Buriram next week more challenging.

When questioned about whether the rear grip had gotten better, he responded, "In certain aspects, it has; in others, it hasn't."

"It's a toss-up. Our riding technique has improved significantly, but we're still struggling with traction."

The Buriram test is expected to be more challenging, but our engine has improved in speed compared to last year.

"I believe this will be beneficial. However, we face significant challenges with rear grip, particularly when navigating through low-speed corners."

"When navigating fast corners, the traction isn't too problematic. However, we face significant challenges when accelerating from very slow corners."

"The primary objective for Buriram is to concentrate on this, and during the four days we have spent here, it has been the central focus of our testing efforts."

Yamaha has been exploring a range of new innovations, with one of the most noticeable being a new chassis design compared to the one they tested in Barcelona last November.

Quartararo doesn't think the new model is inferior, but he favors the older version because it suits his riding style better.

He expressed a preference for the older black version from the Barcelona test, though he mentioned that the newer version isn't bad and isn't worse than the older one.

The way I ride makes me more comfortable with last year's model. However, during testing, I was also very quick with the new model, and they are really quite similar. If I had to pick, though, I'd go for the black one.

Remarks shared by Crash MotoGP's Editor, Peter McLaren

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A look into the past suggests how Ferrari might act if an unexpected replacement was required in Formula 1. Although Zhou Guanyu and Antonio Giovinazzi hold positions as Ferrari's official reserve drivers, it seems improbable that they will actually compete for the team, according to journalist Lewis Larkam.

Zhou Guanyu and Antonio Giovinazzi have recently been named as Ferrari's backup drivers for the 2025 season, although it's improbable that either will compete for the Formula 1 team.

Substitute drivers play an essential role in a Formula 1 team. They usually engage in simulator tasks to support the racing team during grand prix weekends and take part in specific testing activities throughout the year.

Crucially, they are prepared to step in as a substitute for a team if one of their usual drivers is unable to compete. This situation is not as uncommon as it might appear, as demonstrated by multiple examples in recent seasons.

On Wednesday, it was announced that Zhou, who was previously with Sauber, has been appointed as one of the two reserve drivers for Ferrari. However, this appointment doesn't guarantee that he will compete while wearing the famous red uniform.

Zhou has taken over the position of Ferrari's reserve driver for 2025, succeeding Oliver Bearman, who has landed a permanent role with Haas.

Zhou Guanyu is returning to the Ferrari team, partnering with Antonio Giovinazzi as our official reserve driver. Zhou was part of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy for four years, from 2015 to 2018. He will share the reserve driver responsibilities with Antonio during the 2025 season.

Although Bearman is not currently serving as an official reserve driver for Ferrari, he is likely to be called upon if the team unexpectedly needs a replacement for either Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc.

Indeed, Bearman has previously stepped in for such a situation when he was summoned in Saudi Arabia last year to replace Carlos Sainz, who was sidelined due to appendicitis.

At only 18 years of age, Bearman made history as the youngest British driver to participate in a Formula 1 race. He secured the 11th position in the qualifying rounds and eventually crossed the finish line in seventh place, surpassing Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion.

Bearman earned points for Haas during a standout substitute performance in Azerbaijan, stepping in while Kevin Magnussen was sidelined due to a race suspension.

Considering that Ferrari is already aware of Bearman's capabilities and sees him as a potential future star, it seems logical that he would be their top pick. Given the strong technical partnership between Haas and Ferrari, as well as Bearman's status as essentially a loaned asset to Haas, it is expected that Haas would be accommodating in this regard.

In this situation, Ferrari could offer Zhou or Giovinazzi to Haas, who also have the option to rely on Magnussen if he isn't tied up with sportscar obligations. Alternatively, Haas could consider Pietro Fittipaldi, who has previously filled in for the team on two occasions.

This kind of scenario has occurred before.

In 2020, Lewis Hamilton had to sit out the Bahrain Grand Prix due to a positive COVID-19 test, leading Mercedes to bring in George Russell, who was driving for Williams at the time, as his substitute.

At that point, Russell was not formally a Mercedes reserve driver, but the two teams had an agreement similar to the partnership Ferrari and Haas have with Bearman.

On that specific event, Williams swapped Russell for their backup driver, Jack Aitken, following an agreement reached between both sides overnight.

If Ferrari required a quick replacement, it would be unsurprising if they chose to utilize Bearman in a similar manner.

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

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2025 MotoGP Sepang Official Test: Fabio Quartararo Outpaces Marc Marquez on Opening Day

Eventful Initial Day of Malaysian Testing Sessions

On the first day of the 2025 MotoGP Sepang test, Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo was ahead of Marc Marquez, while the current champion, Jorge Martin, experienced a severe crash.

Quartararo dominated the initial day of testing at Sepang, consistently leading the timing charts after participating in the previous week's shakedown sessions on the track.

The Yamaha team's racer concluded the day at the top of the timesheets, clocking in at 1 minute and 57.555 seconds, as he conducted tests on three different M1 models.

Yamaha is fielding a total of 12 motorcycles, distributed among its factory team riders, Pramac, and test rider Augusto Fernandez, in an effort to climb up the rankings.

Quartararo was in the lead at the two-hour mark with a time of 1 minute 57.999 seconds, later enhancing it to 1 minute 57.754 seconds.

With slightly more than 30 minutes remaining, Quartararo established a new standard with a lap time of 1 minute and 57.555 seconds, marginally exceeding a second from the all-time fastest lap at Sepang.

In the latter stages of the competition, the reigning world champion faced a strong challenge from Ducati's official team member, Marc Marquez. Marquez recorded a time of 1 minute and 57.606 seconds over the course of 54 laps, riding the team's

He outpaced his brother Alex Marquez, who rides for Gresini Ducati and momentarily took the lead on Wednesday, while their newcomer teammate Fermin Aldeguer trailed by 0.297 seconds, finishing fourth.

Aldeguer participated in the shakedown last week, which explains his remarkable standing on the first day.

The headline on Wednesday centered around the significant accident involving current world champion Martin, who was thrown off his Aprilia at Turn 2 earlier in the day.

Martin, who experienced two crashes on his second day riding for Aprilia, has been transported to the hospital for additional examinations.

During a day marked by numerous crashes in the test sessions, several competitors experienced falls. Among them was Franco Morbidelli of VR46 Ducati, who, despite the mishap, escaped injury and secured the fifth position riding his GP24.

Joan Mir led the Honda riders by finishing sixth, followed by Fabio Di Giannantonio from VR46, who was back after skipping two rounds in 2024 for shoulder surgery.

Jack Miller secured the eighth position for the Pramac Yamaha team, followed by Johann Zarco from LCR Honda and Miguel Oliveira, who is also part of the Pramac team, riding the other M1.

Pedro Acosta emerged as the top KTM rider, finishing 11th despite experiencing a minor fall earlier in the day.

He led his team member, Brad Binder, and Maverick Vinales from Tech3 KTM. On his official Ducati, Francesco Bagnaia placed 17th with a time of 1m58.947s, followed closely by Marco Bezzecchi in 18th position for Aprilia.

Trackhouse Aprilia's Raul Fernandez experienced a severe accident on the first day at Sepang, leading to an injury that has sidelined him. He is currently en route to Barcelona to undergo surgery.

Complete results from the first day of testing at Sep

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Michelin responded to claims that a tire defect led to Jorge Martin's test crash, asserting that "the tire is not problematic."

Piero Taramasso from Michelin stated that there were "no issues" with the tires used by Aprilia's Jorge Martin during his severe crash on the first day of the Sepang MotoGP test.

The current world champion experienced two crashes in rapid succession at the beginning of the first day of the Sepang pre-season test. The second incident was a severe highside that resulted in several fractures.

Due to his injuries, Martin will miss the rest of the test and potentially the rest of his pre-season. He is returning to Spain for surgery scheduled for Friday.

On Wednesday, Aprilia's CEO, Massimo Rivola, informed reporters that according to the team's data, both the rider and the bike were functioning properly, and the tyres were within the optimal performance range.

Without directly accusing Michelin of being at fault for the accident, Taramasso has supported the tire company, claiming their investigations revealed no issues with Martin's tires.

"When accidents occur, it's crucial to investigate the cause, and understandably, the tyres are integral to both the bike and the entire setup," he explained to Sky Italy on Thursday.

"We examined the back tire of Jorge's vehicle and confirmed that it was produced last year. It had not been subjected to any heating, which meant it retained all the characteristics needed for optimal performance. This is precisely why we chose to bring it to this event."

"After examining the tire following Jorge's runs, we found it performed effectively. The tire's appearance indicates that it functioned well on both the left and right sides."

"When tires fail, they typically appear glossy and slick, but Jorge's tire did not show those characteristics."

"Additionally, when examining the lap times: initially, he completed the first four to five laps at a pace similar to the other racers. During his second attempt, he was quicker than competitors such as Francesco Bagnaia and Brad Binder."

"He experienced two crashes, which is unusual because he managed to continue for 13 laps. Typically, when a tire isn't performing well, riders return to the pit and request a change after just two or three laps."

As Massimo Rivola correctly pointed out, the pressure and temperature levels were appropriate.

"From the standpoint of the tires, everything was functioning smoothly. Based on our observations and the data available, we haven't encountered any issues."

In spite of the fractures, Aprilia announced on Thursday that Martin did not sustain any major injuries. The brand is optimistic that he will be prepared for the season's opening round in Thailand later this month.

If Martin is unable to participate in the second test at Buriram next week, he'll enter his inaugural season with the official Aprilia team as the current world champion, having logged just 90 laps on the RS-GP.

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Brad Binder discusses advancements in emulating Pedro Acosta’s riding technique on the KTM. Brad Binder provides insights into his Thursday testing session at Sepang.

Brad Binder confessed that he plans to emulate certain aspects of Pedro Acosta's riding techniques to get more performance out of his KTM.

After the second day of the official MotoGP test in Sepang, Binder managed to achieve the 11th-fastest time. He has been trying out some of the techniques for entering corners that Acosta mastered during his impressive debut season last year.

This season, Acosta will be teaming up with Binder in the official team garage to motivate the veteran rider to perform at his best.

When questioned about mimicking Acosta's approach into the corners, Binder responded, "I've been attempting to shave off a few meters in various places."

"When I try to exert effort, I tend to fall back on familiar habits. It's an area for improvement moving forward."

"I’ve already noticed advantages in my riding technique and how I bring the bike to a halt, particularly by adjusting the front angle to be sharper and sooner."

"I've discovered some interesting aspects to experiment with."

Brad Binder provides insights on KTM's testing progress. Reflecting on Thursday's test session at Sepang, Binder remarked, "The morning began on a positive note as we conducted consecutive runs, experimenting with various engine setups. It was a fascinating experience."

"In the afternoon, we experimented with different suspension configurations. We discovered some elements that slightly enhance the potential."

"This evening, we will gather and organize everything."

The recently observed tail on the KTM has not fully resolved the vibration problems.

"It's still being developed. According to Binder, the balance appears to be improving for certain challenges we face."

"We still have to put in effort to gather the necessary information."

Binder observed last year that his rear tire was exerting pressure on the front, but this issue has not come up again in Sepang.

"Oddly, this track feels alright," he remarked. "At least for now!"

"However, this test can be misleading. The traction is excellent. To truly understand it, you should try it on a track that hasn't been used."

"However, the front part has been comfortable."

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

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