Mercedes accused of copying Red Bull after W16 reveal in Bahrain, Why McLaren ditched their onboard digital ads panels, and other big updates

Mercedes accused of copying Red Bull after W16 reveal in Bahrain

Mercedes have taken design ideas from past Red Bull cars for their W16, and Ted Kravitz says they made them even more extreme. The car has a new nose, front wing changes, a redesigned floor, updated rear suspension, and reshaped sidepods with vertical air intakes like Red Bull’s RB20. It also has an overbite sidepod inlet, where the top part sticks out over the main intake, a design Red Bull used last year. Kravitz even called it the “silver-black-and-grey Red Bull” because of how much it looks like their rival’s car.

Click here to read the full article by Michelle Foster (planetf1.com)

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Why McLaren ditched their onboard digital ads panels

McLaren’s onboard digital advertising panels, which were introduced in 2022, have been removed from their 2025 car. The team stopped using them in 2024 to maximize performance, as the panels added a small amount of extra weight. Instead, McLaren has replaced them with a permanent brand logo on the new MCL39. Despite calling the technology a “game-changer,” the team prioritized performance, similar to Red Bull’s decision to drop fan-designed liveries to save weight.

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

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Massa’s 2008 title case goes to court in October 2025

Felipe Massa will go to court from October 28-31, 2025, to challenge the results of the 2008 Formula 1 season. His case concerns the "Crashgate" scandal at the Singapore Grand Prix, where Renault told Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash on purpose, causing chaos that cost Massa important points. Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone later said he and the FIA knew about the plan but kept it secret, which supports Massa’s claim that he was unfairly denied the title. Massa wants the results changed, which could take away Lewis Hamilton’s first F1 championship.

Click here to read the full article by Phillip van Osten (f1i.com)

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What's changed with Alpine's 2025 car

Alpine started 2024 badly with a car that was too heavy and hard to control, but it improved by the end of the season. The new bosses, Oliver Oakes and Flavio Briatore, know there’s no quick fix, only hard work. Visually, the A525 appears to be an evolution of last year’s car, with minor tweaks to the front suspension, sidepods, and floor design. While adjustments to the floor edge and rear suspension may improve airflow and stability, testing will determine whether these refinements translate into better performance.

Click here to read the full article by Gary Anderson (the-race.com)

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Why teams use flow-vis paint in testing

F1 teams use flow-vis paint, a mixture of colored powder and paraffin, to study how air moves over their cars during testing and practice sessions. It is applied to areas like the wings and sidepods, and as the car moves, the paint spreads to show airflow patterns. Too much paint can pool and distort results, while too little may not provide clear data, making its application a precise task. Once the paint dries, teams take photos and analyze the streaks to understand how their car’s aerodynamics are performing.

Click here to read the full article by Cambridge Kisby (motorsportmagazine.com)