Rwanda bids to host Africa's first race since 1993, McLaren's entry fee jumps to £4.8m after title win, and other big updates

Rwanda bids to host Africa's first race since 1993

Rwanda's president, Paul Kagame, announced the country's bid to host an F1 race during the FIA's general assembly in Kigali. A new circuit, designed by former F1 driver Alex Wurz, is planned near Bugesera airport, which is set to open in 2026. Discussions with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali have been positive, and Rwanda is now seen as the leading candidate for Africa's return to F1 after plans for Kyalami fell through. Lewis Hamilton supports the idea, saying it's important for F1 to return to Africa and that Rwanda would be a great place to host a race.

Click here to read the full article by Lewis Larkam (crash.net)

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McLaren's entry fee jumps to £4.8m after title win

McLaren's win in the Constructors' Championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix means its entry fee for 2025 will rise to £4.8 million ($6.1 million). The team finished just 14 points ahead of Ferrari, and as the top team, McLaren has to pay the highest fee, which includes a base fee and extra costs for points scored in 2024. This fee is much higher than McLaren's past fees and is more than the combined fees of several other teams. McLaren also gets the largest share of the F1 prize money, with $140 million, ahead of Ferrari and Red Bull.

Click here to read the full article by Shayni Solanki (motorsportweek.com)

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2025 design ideas shaping RB's final 2024 update

RB tested a new nose and front wing design in Friday practice but quickly returned to their usual setup for the weekend. During the test, they used a Kiel probe rake to gather data on how airflow was affected by the changes. The updates included a redesigned nose tip, altered flap geometry, and a reworked endplate with a rounded profile and skewed surfaces. These changes were meant to improve balance and airflow control, which led to removing the canards and changing the diveplane shape.

Click here to read the full article by Matt Somerfield (motorsport.com)

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Drivers go head-to-head in four challenges

Things are about to get intense as eight drivers take on four challenges. You’ve got Verstappen, Checo, Tsunoda, Lawson, Hadjar, and even Visa Cash App RB and F1 Academy drivers in the mix. Some of the games are Guess the Eyes, Hot Wire, and a few others. But what you really want to know is who scored the most points. So take a look!

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Colapinto's road to F1

From dream to drive, Franco Colapinto talks about his journey to Formula One. He talks us through his pivotal moments in Formula 3, the pressure of breaking into F1, and the preparation it takes to earn a seat on the grid. Williams Racing sporting director Sven Smeets also talks about the challenges associated with motorsports.