F1 named most popular sports series with over 750m fans

Formula One has seen remarkable growth, with its global fanbase exceeding 750 million, a 5.7% increase since 2021, adding 50 million fans in three years. Women make up 41% of the fanbase; the fastest-growing group is women aged 16 to 24. Saudi Arabia saw an 11% increase in fans this year, while the average team sponsorship deal is now $5.08 million, up 56% since 2019. The influence of Netflix’s Drive to Survive remains strong, driving 25% of new fans and encouraging 35% of surveyed viewers to watch more races.

Click here to read the full article by Cian Brittle (blackbookmotorsport.com)

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FIA to change governance rules after controversies

The FIA is looking to make changes after investigations into Mohammed Ben Sulayem that have been submitted to a vote on December 13th. A substantial number of key personnel have quit or been axed by the FIA for their lack of belief in the way the body is being run including its sporting director, F1 technical director, digital director, head of commercial legal affairs, governance and regulatory director, race director, the head of the women in motorsport commission, secretary general of mobility and director of communications, and 3 senior HR staff.

The changes proposed would put the President HIMSELF and President of the senate in charge of ALL investigations (including those into the president) and the senate body would no longer investigate complaints. They also would like to remove the audit committee.

Click here to read the full article by Ben Hunt (autosport.com)

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The error that ruined Norris' Qatar GP chances

Lando Norris suffered a costly mistake at the Qatar Grand Prix, where he failed to react to a yellow flag, leading to a ten-second stop-and-go penalty. Despite McLaren's strong performance throughout the weekend, Norris’ penalty put him at the back of the field, though he fought back to finish in tenth place. The mistake occurred when Norris didn't lift in response to the yellow flag zone while Max Verstappen did, slightly reducing the gap between them. He admitted his mistake, apologized to the team, and said he didn't try to gain an advantage by ignoring the yellow flag.

Click here to read the full article by Balazs Szabo (f1technical.net)

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How much does DRS improve overtaking?

The Drag Reduction System (DRS) gives a pursuing driver a speed boost of 10-12 km/h, making overtaking easier on straights. It works by opening a flap on the rear wing to reduce drag and increase top speed, but it can only be activated in designated zones when the following car is within one second of the car ahead. While DRS has increased overtaking and excitement, some critics argue that it has made overtaking feel artificial, with drivers often relying on DRS zones. As F1 evolves, the system will be phased out for overtaking by 2026 but will remain a key part of racing strategies.

Click here to read the full article by George Howson (f1chronicle.com)

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Colapinto's hopes fade as teams lose interest

Franco Colapinto's chances of securing a full-time Formula 1 seat in 2025 have dwindled as Red Bull and Alpine have lost interest. After replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams in 2024, Colapinto impressed early on, but a series of crashes in Brazil and Las Vegas weakened Red Bull’s confidence in him. Alpine also moved away from considering him, turning its focus back to its confirmed rookie, Jack Doohan. With Red Bull now backing its junior Isack Hadjar, Colapinto will likely remain with Williams as a reserve driver in 2025.

Click here to read the full article by Scott Mitchell-Malm (the-race.com)