Mercedes bans Bottas from nude calendars, McLaren set to unveil “extreme” MCL39, and other big updates

Mercedes bans Bottas from nude calendars

Valtteri Bottas has been told he can no longer make nude calendars, but Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has given him the freedom to keep his mullet. Bottas, who had a successful run at Mercedes before moving to Alfa Romeo, raised £121,000 for charity with his "Bottass 2024" calendar. Mercedes has asked him to tone down some of his eccentricities, though they still want him to stay authentic. Now a reserve driver for Mercedes, Bottas is expected to mentor the team's rising star, Kimi Antonelli.

Click here to read the full article by Callum McAvoy (metro.co.uk)

‍

McLaren set to unveil “extreme” MCL39 

Ferrari and McLaren are the favorites for the 2025 Constructors’ Championship, but both teams are making big changes to their cars. McLaren’s MCL39 will radically depart from its title-winning 2024 car, with CEO Zak Brown calling it a "brave risk." Both teams are already testing ideas for 2026 since some of the new rules are similar to the current ones. McLaren wants to use 2025 to get ahead early, but Ferrari is also making big updates, like a new front suspension.

Click here to read the full article by Elizabeth Blackstock (planetf1.com)

‍

Pirelli completes first 2025 test with McLaren

Pirelli tested its new wet and intermediate tires for the 2026 season with McLaren at Paul Ricard. The test, which was held over two days, saw McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris complete a combined 243 laps on a wet track, with Piastri posting a best time of 1'07''008 and Norris 1'07''956. The track was artificially watered to ensure consistent conditions for the test, which gathered crucial data for the new rain tires. Pirelli’s Mario Isola said the test gave useful data and mentioned more tests in Spain with McLaren, Ferrari, Alpine, and Mercedes soon.

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

‍

2025 deals that almost went through

The reshaped 2025 F1 line-up includes big changes, like Hamilton in a Ferrari, Kimi Antonelli in a Mercedes, and Liam Lawson at Red Bull, but several potential deals didn’t materialize. Alonso was close to joining Mercedes or Red Bull but chose to stay with Aston Martin. Lawson was also considered by Sauber but ended up staying with Red Bull, and Albon nearly returned to the team but signed a new deal with Williams. Other missed opportunities included Ocon at Williams, Tsunoda moving to Haas, and Sainz considering a switch to Alpine, but he ultimately chose Williams.

Click here to read the full article by Matt Beer (the-race.com)  

‍

Inside the complex world of F1 logistics

Formula 1 logistics are extremely complex, and they involve the rapid transportation of large quantities of high-tech equipment across multiple continents, often with tight turnaround times between races. No other sport has travel logistics as intense as Formula 1. If you're curious about how F1 logistics work, you're about to find out.