Bottas returns to Mercedes as reserve driver, Hamilton to test old car before 2025 Ferrari launch, and other big updates

Hamilton to test old car before 2025 Ferrari launch

Ferrari has revealed that its 2025 Formula 1 car will be unveiled on February 19, one day after the official season launch in London. The team aims to secure the world championship, with Lewis Hamilton joining Charles Leclerc for the season. Hamilton's first test with Ferrari will likely be in the 2023 SF-23 car, depending on weather conditions in northern Italy. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said the team must stay focused on performance, as the schedule between the season launch and car unveiling is very tight.

Click here to read the full article by Saajan Jogia (si.com)

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Bottas returns to Mercedes as reserve driver

Mercedes confirmed that Valtteri Bottas will return as the team's official reserve driver for 2025. Bottas previously raced for Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, securing 10 wins and 58 podiums. After a challenging stint at Sauber, where he scored no points in 2024, Bottas lost his seat for 2025. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff welcomed him back, saying his past help will be important for the team's future.

Click here to read the full article at motorsportweek.com

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Red Bull's Lawson move undermines Ricciardo gamble

Red Bull promoting Liam Lawson over Sergio Perez ends a long contract saga but makes their past decisions look questionable. They tried to revive Daniel Ricciardo's career, which cost Lawson a seat earlier, even though Lawson did well in 2023. Perez's poor form showed the mistake of relying on Ricciardo, who struggled against Yuki Tsunoda. Now, Lawson has to support Verstappen, while Red Bull's indecisive choices have made their driver plans more difficult.

Click here to read the full article by Jake Boxall-Legge (motorsport.com)

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What's next for Tsunoda?

Yuki Tsunoda's F1 career is at a turning point after Red Bull picked Liam Lawson for 2025 instead of him. He will stay with the Racing Bulls team for a fifth season alongside Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar. Even though he has improved his skills and feedback, Red Bull still sees him as someone against whom to compare their young drivers. Now, Tsunoda must decide if he should stick with Red Bull and hope for a future chance or look for new opportunities, like Aston Martin or Audi, for 2026.

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

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Why F1 must tackle its tire waste issue

Formula 1's tire usage remains a major area of waste, with Pirelli reporting that 34% of the 8016 sets supplied in 2024 were never used. This includes slick tires that were mounted but never used or only used briefly in qualifying. The issue contributes to unnecessary manufacturing, transportation, and disposal of tires, raising environmental concerns. While Pirelli has made some improvements, such as reusing rain tires, the need for more effective tire usage and potential changes in regulations to reduce waste remains a pressing issue.

Click here to read the full article by Jonathan Noble (motorsport.com)