South Africa set to raise $100m for F1 comeback, Inside the F1 factory that landed Newey, and other big updates

South Africa set to raise $100m for F1 comeback

South Africa is working to bring Formula One racing back to the country, with a targeted return in 2026 or 2027, led by Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie. The Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, which last hosted an F1 race in 1993, is expected to play a key role, and a newly formed committee is guiding the bid process. Financially, hosting the event requires a massive investment of R2 billion annually, but the proposal has drawn interest from sponsors like Red Bull and Heineken, along with potential hospitality deals. McKenzie is hopeful the event will bring economic and social benefits.

Click here to read the full article by Alex Harrington (si.com)

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Inside the F1 factory that landed Newey

Aston Martin is making big changes in Formula 1 starting in 2026. They will switch to Honda engines, make their own gearboxes, and have Adrian Newey, the famous designer, join the team at their new factory. Newey, who worked with Red Bull for 20 years, was attracted by the exciting project, the new car rules, and a big salary offer of around £30 million a year. The new factory is huge, with state-of-the-art equipment like a wind tunnel and simulator to improve the team’s work. Lawrence Stroll is investing £200 million to help Aston Martin move from being Force India to one of the best teams in F1.

Click here to read the full article by Samarth Kanal, Edd Straw & Scott Mitchell-Malm (the-race.com)

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The 2024 season in numbers

The 2024 Formula 1 season started with Red Bull and Max Verstappen dominating but quickly became one of the most competitive in years. Verstappen's record-breaking run of pole positions continued until a mid-season slump, allowing rivals like Ferrari and McLaren to claim victories. Notably, Lando Norris ended his long wait for a win, while Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc also secured their first victories of the year. McLaren won the constructors' title after 26 years, while Verstappen won his fourth straight driver's championship. Seven drivers won multiple races, and Oscar Piastri also got his first win.

Click here to read the full article by Keith Collantine (racefans.net)

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Hamilton faces tougher challenge than Russell

Lewis Hamilton had his worst season in F1 in 2024, losing to George Russell in qualifying, but he remains competitive in race pace. Despite Russell’s qualifying edge, Hamilton consistently outperformed him in races, keeping their overall points tally very close. Looking ahead to 2025, Hamilton faces a new challenge in Charles Leclerc, who is a strong qualifier but struggles with race conversions, with a low pole-to-win ratio. Hamilton will need to use his race performance to overcome Leclerc’s qualifying skills and secure the top role at Ferrari.

Click here to read the full article by Pablo Hidalgo (planetf1.com)

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Marko shares updates on Verstappen's 2025 car

Helmut Marko has shared an update on Red Bull's 2025 F1 car, which is aimed at helping Max Verstappen win a fifth consecutive drivers' title. The RB20, which had a narrow working window and struggled with curbs, left Verstappen unhappy by the end of the 2024 season. Marko said the new car is almost ready and focuses on working well on all tracks, not just specific ones. The team thinks they've fixed the issues but will confirm this during testing in Bahrain.

Click here to read the full article by Gerd Jansen & Nick Golding (racingnews365.com)