🏁 Hot Stove

Max Verstappen: Some silly Max rumors I heard in the past few weeks: Aston has offered him a package of $1B, and he thinks Mercedes will have the best 2026 engine and could fancy a move that way. I don’t think the first one is credible, and the second one is interesting.. but I wouldn’t give either much weight at this time.

Lando Norris: Apparently someone driving Lando’s Ferrari F40 crashed it in Monaco while he was abroad. Imagine having to deliver that news? Last time Lando is letting that guy drive one of his whips.

Charles Leclerc: Was “very proud” of the team after they were able to fight for the Constructors’ title up to the final race of 2024, and how they turned up the performance in the second half of the season after early struggles and a mid-season slump.

Oscar Piastri: Reflecting on 2024, says “Especially in the middle part of the year, I was very happy with the level I was performing at, and I think I showed some pretty clear progress from last [2023] season” and added that he made his life too difficult in quali - but was better at gaining positions back in the race.

Carlos Sainz: Williams has called his technical knowledge a “blessing”, saying it will play a crucial role for 2026.

George Russell: Verstappen revealed he spoke with George after Abu Dhabi in an attempt to “start again next year” and clear the air after their fiery exchanges at the end of last season. Wouldn’t be surprised to see this rivalry heat up again.

Lewis Hamilton: “Today we start a new era” as he soaks in his first day at a new school - appearing at Ferrari HQ in Maranello for the first time.

Fernando Alonso: Have you seen Alonso’s neck? I knew these guys needed a strong one but my goodness. It’s yolked.

Pierre Gasly: Admits that the top teams are still out of reach despite the team’s turnaround throughout last year. “I definitely believe the car is going to be in a much better place to start with. And yeah, it just brings confidence to all of us.”

Nico Hulkenberg: Thinks his new team was able to make a “big correction” to their poor performing car in Vegas last year, and says while there is more to optimize they are heading in the right direction.

Yuki Tsunoda: After being passed on for the Red Bull seat, Red Bull TP Horner has admitted it may be tough to keep him around. Seems like his last shot may be a mid-season call up if Liam really struggles. But idk, seems like a long shot.

Lance Stroll: Alonso on his tenured teammate: “I am in the final part of my career and I try to help him as much as I can because he will be leading the team very soon.” Imagine Max and Lance as teammates? Yea I can’t either.

Esteban Ocon: TP Komatsu thinks his new race engineer Laura Mueller is a personality fit for him: “I knew as well as technical side, the personality side is very important, especially if you're a race engineer. So I could see the Laura/Esteban combination that could work really well.”

Alex Albon: Looking forward to the season - and even next season - to start “fighting as hard as we can with both cars from the outset this year and looking forward to opportunities ahead in 2026.” I was high on Williams last year, but with the whole squad talking about 2026 I think this year may be more like the last.

Ollie Bearman: Haas TP Komatsu thinks the young cub is a future Ferrari driver, adding “Every time he gets in the car, his feedback's been excellent. The approach has been excellent, speed has been great.”

Liam Lawson: Explains how one big overtake in the 2018 Toyota Racing Series in NZ caught the eye of Helmut Marko and helped propel him into the Red Bull junior program.

Jack Doohan: Rumor is his contract is only for the first six races. With Franco signed as the reserve driver and already bringing in some of Checo’s old sponsors… oh boy. I feel bad for Jack, season hasn’t even started and it feels like he’s already under pressure.

Kimi Antonelli: The hype is high for the teenage wunderkind, and Toto Wolff is making sure to keep expectations in check saying he “will make mistakes.” Not working Toto. Can’t wait to see what the kid can do. Consider my hype still high.

Gabriel Bartoleto: “I want to be winning races in the future” says the back to back F3 and F2 Champ. Welp, it ain’t gonna be this year. But he’s got a good pedigree: He’s the fourth driver to go back to back years winning F3 and F2, joining Leclerc, Russell, and Piastri. That’s good F1 company.

Isaac Hadjar: Showing respect to his new teammate saying “I look forward to working with and learning from Yuki, I’ve always looked up to him, he went through the Red Bull Junior Program, like myself, and we’ve shared a similar path to F1.”

McLaren: TP Stella explained how the team would change their approach if they find both their drivers fighting each other for the title this year: “We do want to have that kind of problem…we need to find solutions that, first of all, put the interests of the team and then the interests of the drivers. We’ll definitely see some Papaya Rules come into play in 2025 which will make for great drama.

Ferrari: Hamilton was all smiles during his first test session driving a Ferrari F1 car, calling it “one of the best feelings of my life.” Please let the car be fast..

Red Bull: TP Horner insists that the team can overcome the Newey and Wheatley departures. “But the show goes on, and I think we’ve got the strength and depth…We have that [with] what we're gearing up for in 2026 with our own power unit – is by far the biggest challenge and the most ambitious project this team has ever taken on.”

Mercedes: Toto confirms the team will continue with a black livery in 2025. Good choice.. black over silver imo.

Aston Martin: Won the “World Championship for most updates” last season. New TP Cowell says the 2025 goal is to be at least “90 percent certain [upgrades] are going to work on the track and meet our expectations.”

Alpine: TP Oakes is taking positives from the team’s jump to 6th in the Constructors’ last year, but says there’s “no magic” to continue moving up. “I think you’ve got to be pragmatic, but you can’t also just be resting on a plan – you’ve got to be flexible as well.” 

Haas: Laura Mueller becomes F1’s first female race engineer, will be in Ocon’s ear in his first Haas season. TP Komatsu thinks it’s a good match, calling them both “determined characters.”

Racing Bulls: Racing Director Alan Permane says getting Yuki to Red Bull should still remain a target for the team.

Williams: Admits that 2025 is not the priority as they look to focus on 2026 and the new regulations.

Kick Sauber: Alessandro Alunni Bravi is leaving his Team Representative and Managing Director role. Another change ahead of Audi taking over.. The current writing on the wall sure doesn’t seem positive.

• Dirty Downforce: The GOAT @F1DataAnalysis explains how it affects aero efficiency and car performance. Downforce to push the car down = Good, drag that slows the car down = Bad.

• Anotha’ One: Our favorite tech creator did his best DJ Khaled impression and dropped another great tech thread - this time about tire blistering and graining. Insufficient grip leads to sliding and grains the tire, which harms tire to road friction. If tire inflation and heat are too high, blistering is caused by air bubbles that form below the surface and causes uneven craters, harming grip.

• Will Buxton Move: The F1TV presenter is moving on from F1 to cover IndyCar for FOX in 2025. This Weekend Warmup fan is disappointed. Always enjoyed his perspective. I’ll have to check out some IndyCar races now…

• FIA’s Delicate Ears: The FIA released a guideline on fines and even possible championship point deductions for driver violations - including naughty words and things like “deeds or writings that have cause moral injury or loss to the FIA.” I have some naughty words to say about this whole thing 🙄 

• Drive to Survive Season 7: Everyone’s favorite docudrama returns on March 7th.

• Helmet of the Week: Our first HoW (that’s definitely awarded every week and never missed) of 2025 goes to Hamilton’s new Ferrari cap 🔽

Quick Question (My answer)

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