No focus on Formula 1 for Shwartzman

The young Russian-Israeli driver has partnered with his former junior Formula team, PREMA Racing, who are making their bold leap into the INDYCAR scene. With a debut in Charlotte, North Carolina, PREMA—a name synonymous with developing F1 talent—is aiming high in its new endeavor. And with Shwartzman leading the charge, there’s an air of quiet confidence that they’re here to make an impact.

PREMA Racing, a powerhouse in junior formula racing, officially unveiled its INDYCAR entry for the 2025 season on January 10th. The announcement, hosted at General Motors’ Charlotte Technical Center, brought plenty of fanfare—and for good reason. PREMA’s lineup includes Robert Shwartzman and Callum Ilott, set to drive the team’s No. 90 and No. 83 Chevrolet-powered cars. For Shwartzman, this marks a return to the team that helped him achieve some of his most significant milestones, including the 2019 FIA Formula 3 Championship and six F2 victories.

In a conversation with journalist Bob Pockrass, Shwartzman addressed the big question on everyone’s mind: Why leave Formula 1 behind?

“It doesn’t depend on me. In Formula One there is quite a lot of things going around that I have no control of. I come here with the thought that this is a place where I’m gonna be racing for quite a while,” Shwartzman said honestly. “My target is to bring myself and the team to the top level… If there’s obviously any interest from Formula One we’re gonna discuss… But I don’t put my focus on it. My focus here is to bring up the car in P1.”

Robert Shwartzman leaves his role as Ferrari F1 reserve driver to race IndyCar full time in 2025 for Prema. He explained to me how he views the move in relation to any F1 hopes in the years down the road ⁦@IndyCarOnFOX⁩ pic.twitter.com/7ms9hEsct4

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 10, 2025

Shwartzman’s path to INDYCAR hasn’t been a straightforward one. After two stellar F2 seasons that showcased his raw speed and talent, the doors to a full-time Formula 1 seat remained frustratingly closed. While he was definitely in contention for the title, he lost out on the F2 championship to his teammates, Mick Schumacher and Oscar Piastri in 2020 and 2021, respectively. This may have hurt his chances as while he could compete on the level of his teammates and even beat them, consistency is where he suffered.

Despite his role as Scuderia Ferrari’s test and reserve driver—which included free practice sessions—Shwartzman found himself competing in the Prancing Horse’s endurance racing program to keep his skills sharp. Wins in the FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar class and at the Lone Star Le Mans proved his versatility, but it was PREMA’s new adventure in America that reignited his passion for open-wheel single-seaters.

PREMA’s American Dream

PREMA Racing’s decision to enter INDYCAR is as ambitious as it is exciting. Founded in 1983, the Italian team has long been a dominant force in junior categories, serving as a springboard for stars like Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, and Esteban Ocon. But even with 80 championship titles to their name, PREMA wanted more.

“We were looking for a new challenge,” said team owner Rene Rosin. “The next step was quite natural, to be one of the most competitive and important championships worldwide. INDYCAR offers a variety of tracks—ovals, street circuits, road courses—and that’s a challenge we’re excited to tackle.”

Leading the effort alongside Shwartzman and Ilott is a supporting cast brimming with experience. Formula 1 and INDYCAR veteran Romain Grosjean joins as a reserve driver, while Ryan Briscoe brings his wealth of knowledge as an advisor. “The combination of talent and experience we’ve assembled is formidable,” said PREMA CEO Piers Phillips. “Robert’s adaptability across multiple series and Callum’s familiarity with INDYCAR will help us accelerate our learning curve.”

For Callum Ilott, the partnership with PREMA feels like a homecoming as well. Having raced for the team in Formula 3, Ilott’s familiarity with their methods and ethos could prove invaluable as they adapt to INDYCAR’s unique demands.

PREMA’s move also further cements the growing appeal of American motorsport as a viable alternative for drivers whose F1 aspirations have stalled, with former drivers like Marcus Ericsson and Romain Grosjean finding success in the series. Grosjean has been racing in the IndyCar series since 2021 and has racked up eleven top-5 finishes and 22 top-10 finishes.

For Shwartzman, the goal is simple yet ambitious. “INDYCAR has the best racing at this stage,” he said. “With PREMA, we’ve achieved so much in the past. I’m here to build on that and push this team to the top.”

The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 2, 2025, will be the first proper test for this new venture. For PREMA, the transition from junior formula dominance to the competitive world of American open-wheel racing is a chance to prove their already legendary mettle on a global stage. For Shwartzman, it’s an opportunity to reignite his career and perhaps, one day, circle back to the F1 dream that started it all.

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The American-European confluence in Sin City was followed up by F. They gave the green light to Andretti Global in conjunction with General Motors. As a result, not only was the 1978 Formula One World Champion’s wish fulfilled, but F1 saw a rapid boost to its global reach.

F1 gets quick reward for roping in Mario Andretti

Max Verstappen won his fourth title in a row at Saturday’s Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix. But F1’s viewership growth has been slower lately, with 1.12 million viewers, as compared to Verstappen’s 2022 and 2023 stints. Nonetheless, F1 is now more popular as it ticks all the boxes on the audience expansion checklist – youth, women, and ethnic minorities watch F1 more. Now, the sport is ready to expand this audience to the USA with Mario Andretti’s arrival.

On Monday, F1 announced it reached “an agreement in principle with General Motors to support bringing GM/Cadillac” to the grid as the sport’s 11th team in 2026. Andretti Global will run the team. The results were instant and jaw-dropping. Within a day of Formula One’s link-up with Mario Andretti, the stock market soared. NASCAR journalist Adam Stern reported the changes: “@F1’s stock hit a 52-week high today after granting @GM its long-running bid to enter the series in 2026.” 

Bringing millions of new eyes to the sport, this profitable consequence is sure to attain new heights. However, certain changes contributed to this outcome. Michael Andretti, co-founder of Andretti Global and former IndyCar and F1 driver was apparently a divisive figure, with an unpopular confrontational approach. It was only after he stepped down from his role and Dan Towriss stepped in that F1 agreed to go ahead.

.@F1‘s stock hit a 52-week high today after granting@GM its long-running bid to enter the series in 2026. pic.twitter.com/zThNWmB7C2

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) November 26, 2024

Now Mario Andretti, the F1 sensation, will serve in an advisory capacity in the Cadillac team. Greg Maffei, president, and chief executive officer of F1 commercial rights holder Liberty Media, said: “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport.” 

General Motors’ involvement drew the admiration of the president of F1’s governing body the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem as well. “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners.”

This massive turn of events brought an emotional smile to Mario Andretti himself.

Bridging two worlds

Mario Andretti is probably the most successful driver to drive as an American. However, he was born in Italy and stayed there until 15 years of age. After establishing world-class fame in F1 – in 1978, he picked up 6 victories on his way to the championship – Andretti confessed he wanted to build a truly American team with an American driver.

“My first love was Formula 1, and now – 70 years later – the F1 paddock is still my happy place. I’m absolutely thrilled with Cadillac, Formula 1, Mark Walter, and Dan Towriss,” Mario Andretti said in the announcement. “To still be involved at this stage of my life — I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.” The 84-year-old further professed his love of racing: “I’ll help where I can, a non-executive role with the team, not involved in day-to-day operations (because I don’t want a job), but offering advice, inspiration, friendship anywhere I can. I am beyond fortunate.”

The big boost announcement of GM’s entry to F1 may be an obvious impact of an American manufacturer and team joining the sport. Apart from Haas, there is no American team on the grid. However, with Liberty Media’s expansion plans in the US, GM’s entry may just be the perfect next step for the American expansion. F1 tested the waters first with the Miami GP, and then the Las Vegas GP. More importantly, it can be a stepping stone for American drivers on the grid.

Evidently, things are hunky-dory at present between F1 and Andretti Global. As the American motorsports team takes strides internationally, let us wait to see what it achieves next year. Phil Hill of Florida was one of the first American-born Formula One champions (winning the Italian Grand Prix in 1961). Logan Sargeant, a Florida native, became the first American F1 driver since 2015 when he raced in 2023. But Sargeant lost his ride in 2024. Finally, F1 is allowing Andretti’s dream to materialize – and the motorsports veteran is ecstatic about it.

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Carrying the burden of being 7x champ Michael Schumacher‘s son, Mick couldn’t handle the F1 pressure with Haas. Like Sargeant, his two years were filled with crashes that cost the American team around $3.35 million in reparations (as per Crash.net). But he is still the lesser of two evils. Sargeant has cost Williams nearly $5 million in 1.5 years.

After the 23-year-old American’s FP3 crash, which was his fourth of the year, Team Principal James Vowles was furious. “Hundreds of hours were invested in the update, it looks like it’s working, but there are only a few of them in the world,” he told Sky F1. “The worst part is when youâ€ve just introduced it and it ends up crashing into the wall on the track,” he dismally added.

According to F1 Insider, James Vowles is now indeed considering a short-term replacement for Sargeant starting from the next race at the Italian GP in Monza. And according to the murmurs, Schumacher Jr. is in the running.

But this still doesn’t explain why Schumacher is the favorite. Why isn’t Lewis Hamilton‘s successor Andrea Kimi Antonelli being given half a year of F1 experience before his debut in 2025? If not him, even Red Bull’s proven talent, Liam Lawson, might be available. But here’s why Schumacher has the best argument.

Sky F1 expert explains why Mick Schumacher trumps Kimi Antonelli and Liam Lawson for Williams swap

After Guenther Steiner axed Mick Schumacher from Haas, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff saved the German. He hired Schumacher as a reserve driver for the Silver Arrows. Soon after, McLaren made an agreement with Mercedes, making Schumacher a common reserve driver for both teams. So the 25-year-old knows the Mercedes engine (which McLaren and Williams use) like the back of his hand.

Apart from this, Sky F1’s Craig Slater also reveals why Williams is averse to putting Antonelli or Lawson alongside Alex Albon. “Could Kimi Antonelli be allowed into that seat to give him F1 practice before his year at Mercedes? I understand there is zero interest from Mercedes in putting Antonelli into the Williams,” he said.

Slater also explained how Lawson’s Red Bull ties could complicate a smooth swap. “It is also tricky for Williams to put Liam Lawson in there, who is part of the Red Bull program. Mick Schumacher, given his contractual availability, is perhaps the likeliest driver if Williams decide to switch out Sargeant,” he concluded in favor of the Alpine driver.

If Williams indeed puts Schumacher in their FW46, this would be his best shot at auditioning for the vacant Audi seat. The Italian GP would be his first test – a track where Williams could have an edge because of the upgrades and their straight-line speed. He has to prove himself in what will probably be his second and final shot at excelling in F1.

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We’ve already lost Jules Bianchi in 2015- it was at the Japanese GP and the racing conditions were terrible. That tragic incident led to stricter measures for rainy races. But since there are no parameters to control the drivers from hitting the barriers, Logan Sargeant had to relive the nightmares of Romain Grosjean from 2020. Luckily, both drivers have emerged safe and alive from their burning cars. But the fear had clearly gripped the grid, with people chanting silent prayers.

Logan Sargeant’s Zandvoort dreams may have come to an end as his FP3 meets a fiery end

On Friday, Nico Hulkenberg hit the barrier during FP2 and brought out the red flags. However, that accident wasn’t as severe as Sargeant’s. The American driver participating in the third and final practice session before the qualifiers had just set the fourth-fastest lap time at Zandvoort today. Everything seemed to go great, but it all ended quickly. Logan Sargeant dropped two wheels on the grass losing control and hitting the barriers on the exit of Turn 3 before bouncing back onto the circuit.

Had the situation been under control, Sargeant could’ve bounced back into the qualifiers with renewed confidence. However, this is not the case. The Williams driver quickly leaped out of the damaged car right after the crash as smoke began to engulf the rear of the stricken FW46. Soon flames began to lap up the squashed chassis. Passing drivers like George Russell slowed down to indicate that his peer had to escape from the burning car. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, and others seemed equally concerned.

Logan crash causing a Red Flag
byu/cristi93 informula1

Fire marshals were able to extinguish the flames and return the damaged car to the William pits. But the impact was huge, and it looks most unlikely for Sargeant to participate in the qualifiers later today. The accident was massive and the damage to the barriers was also huge. This led to lengthy repairs, costing drivers valuable practice time in tricky conditions. Logan Sargeant was immediately rushed to the medical center for a quick check-up, given the volume of the accident. Most importantly, he was cleared of injury.

This accident and the flames that began to engulf Sargeant’s car bring back the horrific memories of watching former F1 driver Romain Grosjean’s car burn before our eyes. The 2020 Bahrain GP will be etched in the history of Formula 1 as one of the greatest nightmares of all time.

Sargeant’s burning car brought flashbacks from Romain Grosjean’s appalling crash in 2020

Former wingman of Haas, Romain Grosjean was quite a name in the F1 paddock. But who knew he’d become one of the drivers in F1’s history to defy fire? The fateful 2020 Bahrain GP changed the trajectory of his career. Grosjean had started the race in Sakhir from P19. The race had hardly moved a few laps when the Frenchman moved across the track and touched with Daniil Kvyat’s AlphaTauri before spearing off the track and into the barrier just after Turn 3. Grosjean’s car was heavy with fuel and was badly damaged in the crash.

The impact of  67G! A force that was equivalent to 67 times his body weight. By comparison, heavy braking in an F1 car produces about 6 Gs. The dreadful, hungry flames licked the entire body of the car, from the chassis to the rear. Fire marshals, medical team, and rescue teams rushed to the accident spot- hoping to find the Haas driver breathing. Every driver waited in the pits, praying that Romain would emerge alive. Miracles do happen! Just moments later Grosjean leapt from the burning wreckage as the marshals and safety officials began putting the fire out. A short statement from the team said: “Romain has some minor burns on his hands and ankles but otherwise he is ok. He is with the doctors just now.”

A gap of four years and nothing much has changed. The same fear of flames is deeply instilled in the hearts and minds of the F1 daredevils. Both Logan Sargeant and Romain Grosjean were lucky enough to fight the odds. Williams faces trouble as their chassis suffers damage for the second time. As of now, looking at the conditions, Sargeant most likely won’t be there for the Qualifiers, but for the race tomorrow, who knows?

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But it won’t come easy at all because the next generation of potential world champions is here. Unlike 2024, where the entire grid remained unchanged, 2025 will bring three new faces. Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes, Jack Doohan at Alpine, and Oliver Bearman at Haas: the trio has nothing to lose but a point to prove when they line up on the grid next year. Let us start off with the man of the moment.

Jack Doohan promises Daniel Ricciardo-like magic for Alpine

On the eve of FP1 at the Dutch Grand Prix, Alpine announced the promotion of Jack Doohan, their reserve driver. After amazing performances that made him the F3 runner-up and F2’s second runner-up, the French team snatched him before anyone else could and finally promoted him as Esteban Ocon’s replacement for 2025 and beyond. After all, Oscar Piastri had left them red-faced in 2022, and they couldn’t let such history repeat itself.

Being the son of 5x MotoGP champ Mick Doohan, the Aussie could turn out as the next Daniel Ricciardo. Like our beloved Honey Badger, Doohan is already media-ready. Being an insider and a racer who knows what drivers and teams go through year-round, he was hired by F1TV as a presenter alongside the likes of Will Buxton and Laura Winter. Doohan has been a part of nearly every post-race show for F1TV.

On the racing side, like his compatriot, Ricciardo, Doohan also started off as a Red Bull junior driver. Incidentally, they both were at the Milton-Keynes outfit from 2017 to 2019, before the Honey Badger abandoned the Verstappen challenge and jumped ship to Renault while Doohan continued for 2 more years in the junior program. In 2021, as Ricciardo left Renault for McLaren, Doohan made a “no-brainer” switch to Renault, which was rebranded to Alpine that year.

However, unlike Ricciardo, Doohan has had a much better junior career in F3 and F2. With the Enstone outfit finally fulfilling his F1 dream, he has nowhere to go but up. But the presence of two more rookies on the grid will only increase the pressure to perform. This brings us to Ferrari’s future star.

Oliver Bearman – the next Charles Leclerc

Fate is a funny thing. At the Saudi Arabian GP this year, Carlos Sainz‘s swollen appendix paved the way for Oliver Bearman to stun the world. The Ferrari reserve driver’s F1 call-up came earlier than anticipated. Though there wasn’t a dream circumstance leading to it, the teenager welcomed it with open arms nonetheless. And boy, did he prove himself to bag the 2025 Haas seat alongside Esteban Ocon.

At 18 years, 10 months, and 1 day old, Bearman set Jeddah ablaze and muscled his way from P11 to P7, leaving 7x champ Lewis Hamilton in the dust. Yet, the Ferrari-bound Mercedes driver was the first to congratulate and embrace him and also endorse him for a full-time F1 seat for 2025. Charles Leclerc was equally blown away and echoed Hamilton in showering praise on Bearman, who became the third youngest driver to make his F1 debut after Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll.

Lo and Behold! Haas put their faith in Ollie and he was announced as the first F1 rookie of 2025. Bearman’s junior career has been very impressive and boasts of two F4 championships (ADAC and Italian) and a second runner-up trophy in F3.

If we liken Bearman to Leclerc, his better-performing PREMA Racing teammate, Antonelli, becomes the Verstappen. Though the rookie duo’s relationship doesn’t date back to their karting days like Verstappen and Leclerc, they have seen a lifetime of friendship and rivalry in a shorter time. “Weâ€ve always been following each other and stepping up around the same time,” Bearman told Sky Sports. “Iâ€ve known Kimi for a long time, we raced each other a little bit in F4, a lot on the simulator, now weâ€re team-mates in F2. I hope for him that he will be in F1 as well because he deserves it.”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli – The Max Verstappen that Toto Wolff deserved

Doohan & Bearman’s contract announcements might have made waves, but Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s will cause shockwaves. For the 2025 Mercedes seat, the 17-year-old was up against the generational talent that he was likened to becoming in the future. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff was desperately trying to lure Max Verstappen for the Lewis Hamilton-created vacancy. The Austrian didn’t want to miss his second shot at signing the reigning champ, having lost a 17-year-old Verstappen to Red Bull in 2014.

But because Red Bull has returned to stable waters after a turbulent patch, the Dutchman has decided to stay for 2025. This has nearly sealed Antonelli as Hamilton’s successor at Mercedes. In a hilarious turn of events, Wolff even accidentally confirmed his signing, which was otherwise set to be announced at the Italian GP, Antonelli’s home race. “The two drivers in our car next year have our full support. I want to make it work with George and Kimi,” he inadvertently said ahead of the Dutch GP.

Antonelli has been hailed the “best driver in an F3 car since Max Verstappen.” So, his replacing a 7-time champion in a victory-contender team is more than justifiable. Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner, who was very vocal about including younger drivers in F1, is also wholeheartedly backing him.

In 2025, with such rookies eyeing podiums and race wins, the competition will be unbelievable. Moreover, the grid will converge further and midfield teams like Aston Martin could be in the mix for more. Verstappen could still win the championship but it’ll get as close as 2021 controversially did. Between wheel-t0-wheel battles between racers from 3 generations and setting up for the 2026 regulations reset, teams are in for a wild ride.

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The drama began when Uralkali, Haas’s former title sponsor, claimed that the team had failed to meet a court-ordered deadline to return funds owed from a sponsorship deal that was terminated back in March 2022. After Russia invaded Ukraine, Haas decided to cut ties with Uralkali and dropped their driver Nikita Mazepin, leading to a long-running dispute. But then a Swiss arbitration court ruled that while Haas was justified in terminating the sponsorship, they must refund a portion of the $13 million paid for the 2022 season, estimated to be around $9 million and deliver a 2021 race car to Uralkali.

But you see, right now the Haas team has been underinvesting, which has resulted in poor performance on the track this season. With rivals like AlphaTauri and Sauber ramping up their spending, Haas runs the risk of being left behind. While in the past, Owner Gene Haas had assured that they did not have any issues with funding and attracting sponsors in F1. Over time, the urgency of the situation intensified when Uralkali sent bailiffs to the Zandvoort paddock to assess Haas’s assets, potentially paving the way for the seizure of cars and equipment if the payment isn’t made soon.

The pressure is mounting as Gene Haas scrambles to resolve the situation before the Italian GP takes place. They claim to have the funds ready but are navigating complex international sanctions related to their former sponsor. However, the team insists they remain committed to meeting their obligations, but time is running out. If they fail to make the payment by the court’s deadline, they could find themselves unable to race in Monza, which would be a devastating blow to their already struggling season.

Mazepin’s possible comeback may complicate the situation for Haas F1 team

Lately, news headlines hint at Nikita Mazepin’s potential return after Haas dropped him in 2022. Not so long ago, European Union lifted sanctions against him which can make it easier for him to come back to F1. While he has talked about his readiness to be back in the game; he says he has kept himself fit with that in mind. And the rumors linking him to Alpine, especially amid significant changes in the team’s management structure seem to have fueled his ambition. If his father can invest in the Hitech Grand Prix, then this might open doors for Mazepin to rejoin the grid while connected through Alpine.

His way back to Formula 1 will, however, be challenging. Restrictions from the UK and Canada could affect his ability to race in those countries. And above all that, he does not have a super license†which is essentially necessary for competing at the F1 level!

Even if Mazepin overcomes the challenges, he faces stiff competition from talented drivers with limited employment opportunities in F1. Yet when Mazepin previously appeared in F1 with Haas, his performance was weak as he scored zero points making many people question whether or not he deserves another chance.

Even so, the Haas F1 Team is hanging by a thread as Uralkali looms large, compounded by their financial issues. The team must find its way through these stormy waters before the Italian GP comes up next weekend. Not to mention that Mazepin’s potential comeback could impact their championship position and alter the F1 grid. Whatâ€s your take on the whole situation?

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In the bigger picture, Verstappen also expects Lando Norris to give a close fight for the 2024 championship, despite the McLaren driver being 78 points behind. The Dutch GP results will set the tone for the second half of 2024, but there is a twist. It won’t be a straightforward weekend with the heavens predicted to open on Zandvoort.

Dutch GP weather forecast: Rain returns to spice up the race at Zandvoort

Zandvoort is a tricky track to excel at. With steep banking on corners (18 degrees near the end) and a rich history to the old-school track, it’s a driver’s nightmare-like heaven. “Fast, furious, and unforgiving” is how McLaren‘s website describes the circuit. With the difficulty level already set to ‘world-class’, rain promises the ultimate chaos. Here’s what the weather for the Dutch GP weekend looks like:

Friday, August 23: Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2

The weather on the Free Practice day will serve as a sweet welcome for all the teams and drivers. As per Williams F1’s forecast, a drizzle will grace Zandvoort extending for the entire day before easing in the evening. Other weather models contradict this with the chance of rain slightly increasing as the day progresses. But the bottom line, it will rain and temperatures peak at 22 degrees Celsius.

Southwest winds will blow at the speed of 40 to 55 km/h, occasionally going over 65 km/h. The winds will relent in the evening, dropping to speeds between 25 and 40 km/h. Humidity will be high, ranging from 75% to 81%.

Saturday, August 24: Free Practice 3 and Qualifying

On the big qualifying day, the chances of rain increase to 65%. Free Practice 3 will expect more rain than in qualifying. The Southwest winds will lose more power, dropping between 15 and 30 km/h in the day. Humidity levels remain similar, at around 75%.

Sunday, August 25: Race Day

The Intermediate tires that assist drivers on wet tracks might get to rest for the Dutch GP. After two rainy days, race day will be mostly sunny, with the winds heading west at similar speeds as Saturday. Humidity drops slightly but remains high at 64%. Now that you know what to expect from mother nature, let’s head to what the circuit brings to drivers.

The “epic” Zandvoort – Why F1 drivers love the old-school Dutch circuit

Zandvoort is one of the oldest tracks on the calendar, dating back to the third F1 championship in 1952. As celebrated as it was in the early years, the 1970s cast a dark shadow over it. Fatal crashes in 1970 and 1973 destroyed the track’s reputation. Though peace was restored in the coming decade, the Dutch GP lost its place on the calendar in 1985, with the company managing the track going out of business.

In 2021, after a 35-year intermission, the Dutch GP finally returned to F1. The safety precautions were massively upped and all the drivers who were racing at Zandvoort for the first time in their F1 careers found it exhilarating. “Oh man, that track is epic,” said Lewis Hamilton, adding, “Itâ€s really fantastic. It brought so many memories when I first got out there when I was driving here because I knew it was great when I was in Formula 3, but itâ€s crazy in a Formula 1 car. The speed weâ€re going through Turn 7, itâ€s a real racing circuit.”

His then-Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas also “enjoyed” the unique, banked corners. But the undulating circuit also brought some physical challenges, as Sergio Perez explained. “Itâ€s been pretty challenging, also the long run, physically as well, itâ€s on the hard side because you have so many right-hand corners consecutively. Itâ€s a pretty unique challenge, very different to the tracks we have been to,” the Red Bull driver said.

Then-AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly was left flabbergasted by the banked corners, like Bottas. “On TV, all the bankings are always smaller, and when you get in the car, it is always more impressive. Especially Turn 3 is pretty insane. Itâ€s like sliding into a toboggan or a similar feeling, but with an F1 car at such speed, itâ€s quite unique.” Even Carlos Sainz was taken aback by the corners that he’d “never experienced before.”

The Dutch GP pit lane is also relatively shorter, and it only adds to the challenge. Teams have to be more careful about releasing their drivers after a pit stop, and drivers have to be more mindful of other cars if the team messes up. With the weather forecast taken care of and what drivers love about the track, let’s move on to what the drivers are expecting from the 2024 Dutch GP.

Dutch GP 2024: Driver & team expectations for the rollercoaster weekend

Let’s begin with Haas, who entered the second half of 2024 in their best form since joining F1 in 2016. Team Principal Ayao Komatsu cannot help but get swept away in the Orange Army-led enthusiasm. “The atmosphere in Zandvoort is very unique,” he says. “Itâ€s more like a football stadium than a Formula 1 event really, especially before the race on the grid with the music and Orange Army.”

Nico Hulkenberg, who has raced a lot at Zandvoort in his junior career, expects to create more good memories but is wary of the ‘tricky’ overtaking. Kevin Magnussen, like Komatsu, is also quite excited. “The Dutch Grand Prix has a crazy atmosphere with the Orange Army, which is about 99 percent of the fans there.” VCARB, which is Haas’ main rival for P6 in the constructors’, has a lot riding on the Dutch GP. This is Daniel Ricciardo‘s only race to impress the Red Bull bosses because September is the deadline to announce reserve driver, Liam Lawson’s future.

However, Red Bull itself is in shaky waters. Helmut Marko expects no improvement to the ‘imbalanced’ RB20 at Zandvoort. Though Max Verstappen will easily tame his car, it is Sergio Perez who could suffer more. The Mexican driver has the most to lose despite his Red Bull seat being safe for the rest of 2024.

With two wins from three races before the summer break, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes will aim to capitalize on the momentum. If the 7-time champion takes his 3rd victory of 2024 at the Dutch GP, he will also pass Verstappen in career win percentage – Hamilton’s 30.35% will increase to 30.54%, and Verstappen’s will drop from 30.65% to 30.5%.

His future team, Ferrari, is bringing a massive upgrade package with a revamped floor on the SF24. This could throw them back in the mix for consistent podiums if the ‘bouncing’ issue is taken care of. McLaren, on the other hand, has been on the money since Lando Norris’ Miami GP win. The Briton also has fond memories here from his F3 days. “I also raced in Zandvoort in 2017 in Formula 3, and I must honestly say that I found it one of the coolest tracks to race on: physically demanding, but really fun,” he says ahead of the Dutch GP.

With all drivers revitalized after the summer break, Zandvoort promises to deliver an absolute thriller. There could not be a better destination for F1 to kick off the second half of 2024.

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Even before his debut, the 19-year-old is fearing the inevitable. Bearman is used to staying away from his family. He left his home to move to Italy with Ferrari, and throughout the year Ollie has to travel around the world. Only summer breaks and weeks off are the only times he can spend with his loved ones. Moreover, F1 and motorsport in general are so competitive and fierce that sometimes even friendships are at stake for championship titles.

Oliver Bearman shares his fears and experiences with loneliness in the racing world

The Haas-bound driver moved out of his home at the age of 15. It must have been difficult in the initial days. “At the beginning, I found it difficult,” shared Oliver Bearman. All his friends and family were in the UK and he knew no one in Maranello. However, with time, things began to ease for Ollie. There were times when he’d question himself: “How much do I want this?” He wanted to know if the sacrifices he was making were worth everything or not. But, right now, it looks like Bearman’s efforts and compromises were for the best.

At the same time, Oliver shares how he felt in his tough times. His statements resonate with Lando Norris’ previous claims on how isolated one can feel in motorsport. Ollie stated: “At some stages, there wasn’t any light at the end of the tunnel. That’s difficult to stay motivated and driven. When you don’t see an end goal; and I remember some points where you know loneliness is a real thing in top-level sport.” It is probably the busy schedule that keeps them going. Sometimes, it’s sad to just realize how much drivers like Oliver Bearman are giving up at such a young age to pursue their dreams.

Staying away from family and not seeing friends for long periods are just a few of the sacrifices. A lot more goes into the creation of an F1 driver. The most interesting part of this is the fact the drivers never regret their decision. Even Lando Norris has shared how challenging it can be, especially with constant loneliness.

Lando Norris weighed in on the isolation he left initially and sometimes even now

Just like Oliver Bearman, even Lando Norris had to give up on many beautiful things in life. When kids his age were going to school and making new friends, Lando was out in the circuits, karting- chasing his passion. “My whole life was racing. Whenever I was at school I was watching racing videos, and sitting on my own. Obviously, I did make some friends, but not best friends,” shared the McLaren driver.

The stress is intense, but Lando doesn’t complain. “Itâ€s a different life,” he says of the Formula 1 world, continuing, “A lonely one in many respects. But Iâ€ve never been one to say, ‘I wish I could go back and change it’. Iâ€m very, very lucky to be a Formula 1 driver. I would never complain.” Despite the loneliness that F1 has to offer, Lando loves his profession. Of course, he’s given his all into reaching the pinnacle of motorsport. This is everything that drivers like Oliver Bearman, Lando Norris, and others ever wanted.

Life in F1 is indeed difficult. These petrolhead, speed freaks rarely show their human side. It can be saddening at times, but it is what it is. Now that the summer break is about to end, the same grid will commence. Will loneliness return? Yes. But will the drivers cave in? Never.

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Ferrari foreman, Fred Vasseur has denied such claims, but we never know when and what happens in the sport. The claims are getting stronger, especially now that Haas has picked Ollie. Ferrari has close ties with Haas, Oliver Bearman trains as a Ferrari Academy driver, and Lewis Hamilton will retire from Ferrari. Moreover, the 19-year-old has expressed his desire to drive for the Prancing Horse in the future. With his urgent debut at the Saudi Arabian GP, Oliver became the youngest Ferrari driver on an F1 track.

Meanwhile, the F2 wonderkid said: “I think Ferrari is one of the most iconic brands in the world and, of course within racing and F1. So first of all to have made my debut with Ferrari, which hasnâ€t happened for a very long time. The fact that I became the youngest Ferrari driver was something very special for me.” Bearman further added: “Of course, I want to win world championships, and to do that with Ferrari is my dream.” The Maranello-based team is every driver’s dream; Hamilton waited his whole career to wear the red suit, and Ollie might follow the same path.

Amidst all the rumors and buzz in the paddock about Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari shift, an impending loom persists. The unforeseen retirement of the Mercedes ace. Of course, Maranello will be his last stop, but when will the news come?

Lewis Hamilton gives a glimpse of what his retirement would be like

Speaking with Esquire earlier this year, the 7x champ shared what goes on in his mind at times. Does Lewis Hamilton think about retirement? Of course, he does. ” There are days Iâ€m like, shoot, I donâ€t know how much longer I can go.” He often thinks about long breaks that the F1 drivers don’t get. The entire year is nothing but a chaotic relay from one pitstop to another. “But I do have mentally a plan of where I would like to extend to. Iâ€ve just got to strategize and sequence things,” said the F1 legend.

Is there ever going to be a moment when Hamilton will stop loving his profession? He said: “Thatâ€s the moment that hopefully never happens, in the sense that Iâ€ve fallen out of love with it. But I will know when I need to stop.” It’s nearly impossible for Lewis to fall out of love with F1. His achievements and accolades scream that he was destined for this. However, Lewis Hamilton will know when his time will tick to the last moment of his career. Although fans wouldn’t want that (neither will Lewis), it is inevitable.

Maybe the odd link between Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari stint and Oliver Bearman’s Haas seat is a drag. But at the same time, it isn’t completely impossible. we’ll never know what decisions and strategies the teams are making behind closed doors. Moreover, the future is yet to unfold. So all we can do for now is to wait and watch patiently. What is your take on this? Share below.

The post After Lewis Hamilton’s Retirement Claim, Potential Successor Oliver Bearman’s Ferrari Dream Resurfaces appeared first on EssentiallySports.

First off, Tom Coronel has shared some bold words on Ferrari hiring Lewis Hamilton, and Jos Verstappen has squashed his own son’s dreams too. Next, Frederic Vasseur has talked about the difficulties he faced as the Ferrari leader while Flavio Briatore has claimed he sees Oscar Piastri as a deserving World Championship candidate. But it gets even spicier from here on as some great news headlines have been revealed this week–but what are they?

F1 analyst makes bold claim about Lewis Hamilton’s position at Ferrari

With the arrival of the 2025 season, Lewis Hamilton will move to Maranello to race for Ferrari after spending 12 years at Mercedes. While the Italian team will shell out $100 million per year to keep Lewis with them, F1 analyst Tom Coronel feels that the 39-year-old was not the first name on their recruitment list. The Briton reckoned, “I think it was a masterstroke by Ferrari that they took him, but of course they would have preferred Max [Verstappen]. Ferrari can only become World Champions with Max, they wonâ€t succeed with Hamilton. He is second choice, but better second than third.”

Thus, Coronel has made the bold prediction that despite Fred Vasseur’s hiring of Lewis Hamilton, his team will still keep waiting for a World Championship win. As long as the Maranello outfit does not bring in Max Verstappen, its chances of breaking a losing streak of 16 years will not be successful.

Max Verstappen gets a blow to his Le Mans dreams from father Jos

Max Verstappen has already attained 3 F1 World Championship wins in his bag and he wants to get glory in the other racing leagues as well. The Dutchman is already a part of Team Redline thanks to his sim-racing affinity. However, he wants to take on the challenge in real life now as he has hinted at dreams of taking part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Meanwhile, his father Jos had tested one of the Le Mans cars 4 years back.

Thus, fans thought they might catch the father-son duo pair up for one of the future editions of the endurance racing championship. But Jos has rained on those plans since he has said he wants to keep going at rallying for now. “No, I enjoy rallying,” he said. “Let the young guys race at Le Mans; I find rallying much more exciting.”

Frederic Vasseur gets candid about the “challenge” of leading Ferrari

For Ferrari leader Mattia Binotto, the job of keeping the “mood” of his team solid has been challenging. The Frenchman has made some radical changes ever since stepping into the Italian team by succeeding Mattia Binotto. But to date, he has not led the Scuderia to a World Championship victory yet. In the current season, there have been some races in which Ferrari has shown dominance. But at others, the mistakes of its recruits Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are too big to overlook.

Speaking on the challenges of steering such a legacy team, Vasseur has said, “Itâ€s a huge challenge, itâ€s probably the most demanding job in my business. But the mood is there and the mood is important for the final result. We have to keep our positive attitude and try to do a better job.”

Ferrari might make a radical change in its approach to the 2025 challenger

2025 will be a year full of changes for Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton will debut for the team next season. Some reports confirm that the Maranello outfit will also debut a new approach toward building its car for F1 ’25. Being a legacy squad, Ferrari has followed a conventional method to produce its challengers since 1989. For 36 years, the legendary red racecars have had the push-rod suspension set-up. But in 2025, for the first time, Ferrari will feature cars with pull-rod front suspension that the entire grid is using at this point except for the Scuderia and Haas.

This shift to the pull-rod suspension will make life easier for newcomer Lewis Hamilton since he has driven cars with a similar setup for Mercedes already. However, Charles Leclerc might find it difficult to adapt to the change since he has always used the push-rod suspension in prior seasons.

Fernando Alonso defies age by dreaming of a Championship for AMR in 2026

42 might seem like an age to retire from Formula 1 for most people, but for Fernando Alonso, his Championship chase has not yet begun. 2 years ago, the Spaniard signed a contract with Aston Martin Racing. At that time, Nando had talked about how he was switching teams because he believed in AMR boss Lawrence Stroll’s target for the team to win the World Championship. However, that has not yet happened.

But as all the teams are now preparing for a massive rule change that will come in 2026 from the FIA, Alonso believes that will be his team’s best chance to become dominant in the grid. He commented to Motorsportweek, “We want to be champions. We want to be competitive next year and also take the big opportunity in 2026. Itâ€s not the time to be frustrated. Itâ€s time to enjoy the process of becoming a big team.”

Jacques Villeneuve shoots back at Lance Stroll’s critics with a “simple” comment

Canadian ex-racer Jacques Villeneuve has come to Lance Stroll’s rescue. Speaking of his fellow Canadian, Villeneuve took a dog at all those critics who claim Stroll is occupying a seat in F1 just because his father is the boss of his team. Indeed, Lawrence Stroll is the principal shareholder of the Aston Martin Racing team. But Jacques believes there is nothing wrong with Stroll’s situation. So, he said, “Lance Stroll is one of the drivers who most deserves to continue driving in Formula 1 because his father bought the team. Aston Martin could have gone bankrupt without the help of Lawrence Stroll. It’s as simple as that.”

However, Villeneuve did not take too kindly to Daniel Ricciardo’s prospects in F1. He asked, “Whyâ€s he [Ricciardo] still in F1?” Thus, Jacques Villeneuve raised the question of why the Aussie was still an active racer in Formula 1 when his results clearly reflected the fact that his retirement was drawing closer.

Oscar Piastri reveals he won his maiden F1 race while racing with a broken rib

There is something going on with McLaren racers and their Grand Prix wins coming right after they have sustained an injury or surgery. For Lando Norris, his maiden F1 race victory came at the Miami GP. Days before that race, Lando had hurt his nose while partying. Also, at the start of the 2024 season, ex-papaya army man Carlos Sainz had to undergo an emergency appendectomy that led to the Spaniard being out of the Jeddah GP. However, he came back all the stronger in Australia and clinched his first race win of the year.

Now, another McLaren talent, Oscar Piastri has revealed that he had a broken rib when he was racing for the win at the Hungarian GP.

F1’s kingmaker Flavio Briatore sees a World Champion in Oscar Piastri

Flavio Briatore is a name that you just cannot ignore in F1. Yes, the Italian has been a part of some shady incidents such as the 2008 Singapore GP Crashgate where Nelson Piquet Jr. had deliberately crashed to make Fernando Alonso the race winner. However, Briatore’s knack for discovering talent is famous in the F1 town. And this time, Flavio Briatore has spotted talent at McLaren’s garage. The 74-year-old has claimed that Oscar Piastri has World Championship-winning potential.

The F1 veteran, who has previously played mentor to GOATs of the sport like Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, thus speculated, “Piastri, I believe, is one of the next world champions. If heâ€s not (world champion) next year, 2027, heâ€ll be there. If McLaren still has this car, Piastri will be one of the best drivers.”

Johnny Herbert: Lando Norris is suffering from the “mental aspect” of F1

Lando Norris has already established himself as the breakout star of the 2024 season of F1. With his debut win in Miami and several close podium finishes, he is up in the second spot in the pecking order, right behind Max Verstappen. With a 78-point gap, the Briton is inches away from catching up with his F1 title rival. But at a time like this, he ruined his run at the Belgian GP before the summer break began. Reflecting on his fault, Lando had said, “I think I just need to reset. Iâ€ve given away a lot of points over the last three, four races, just because of stupid stuff and mistakes, bad starts.”

But ex-racer Johnny Herbert knows exactly what is going wrong with Lando. The Briton said, “It is the mental side which is very tough. Lando is very honest, but in my opinion, it is something he should have kept to himself and not shared with the world.” Thus, perhaps Herbert wants Lando to keep a cool head at his race outings so that he can bring the Championship back to McLaren.

Tom Coronel delivers brutal verdict on Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 hopes

For 12 long years, Daniel Ricciardo has kept up a steady presence in the F1 paddocks. He has not spent a single season during this period where he did not have a regular racing seat. While McLaren had ousted him in 2023, he still found a way to replace Nyck deVries at AlphaTauri (now called Racing Bulls) as Helmut Marko was unimpressed with the Dutchman’s results. But F1 analyst Tom Coronel believes Ricciardo’s chances have run out. He said, “He didnâ€t succeed at McLaren, he didnâ€t succeed at AlphaTauri [now called VCARB], and he will never succeed again. Then I think: be honest with yourself.”

Thus, Coronel delivered the verdict that Ricciardo should hang his boots and retire from F1. For the next season, he still does not have a contract with any of the teams yet. But there remains a chance that Danny Ricc can prove Coronel wrong by landing a second season at Racing Bulls or bagging the promotion to Sergio Perez’s seat at Red Bull beside Max Verstappen.

Daniel Ricciardo nominates Yuki Tsunoda for becoming teammate to Max Verstappen

Yuki Tsunoda might become Racing Bull’s longest-serving racer ever since he will be entering his 5th year with the team in 2025. But the Japanese had plans to move into Red Bull way before this. As Sergio Perez’s position at the Austrian outfit is uncertain right now, Tsunoda could have captured the Mexican’s seat. However, RBR has announced that Checo will continue racing for them for the rest of the current season. This means, Tsunoda will be stuck at VCARB for much longer than expected. However, as per Yuki’s teammate Daniel Ricciardo, the 24-year-old has improved a lot since his F1 debut.

Ricciardo said, “Probably a lot of people still think about his [Yuki Tsunoda’s] first year where he made a lot of mistakes. [But] heâ€s definitely grown a lot in the last couple of years.” While the Honey Badger might have given Yuki a glowing recommendation for becoming Max Verstappen’s teammate, it all rests upon the team’s bosses to decide whether they want to switch Sergio Perez with a new recruit now.

Ex-Brabham racer contradicts popular belief regarding James Vowles’ leadership

In 2021, Williams had flourished under Jost Capito’s leadership as George Russell earned a podium finish. However, the following year saw Russell’s exit and then, Williams ranked last in the Championship. As a result, Capito stepped down from his role in the team and passed the baton to James Vowles. With an experience of 20 years in F1, the ex-Mercedes man got the gears running as soon as he joined Williams. According to some reports, he has recruited 700 new workers for the Grove outfit in these two years.

However, the results have remained the same for Williams despite Vowles’ efforts. As of now, the team has earned just 4 Championship points from the first thirteen races. Hence, ex-F1 racer Marc Surer has said that contrary to popular belief, James Vowles is not a perfect boss for Williams. The Swiss also mentioned, “They [Williams] have become worse this year, you must not forget that! I have often said that James Vowles is simply over-estimated. Jost Capito built a car with his people. James Vowles came to Williams, took the car, and they drove fully into the points. All the praises went to James Vowles, not the one who built the car.”

Thus, these are the top news headlines from this week that you have to know about. From Lewis Hamilton being called a second choice for Ferrari to Max Verstappen missing out on a Le Mans debut with his dad–the F1 town has seen it all in this week. Do you think the next week will also bring up some similar shocking news too? Share in the comments.

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