McLaren seeks mediation with Palou over $30m lawsuit, How Ferrari and Ducati face similar challenges in 2025, and other big updates

McLaren seeks mediation with Palou over $30m lawsuit

Alex Palou will face McLaren in a mediation hearing in London next week over a $30 million breach of contract lawsuit. The Spanish IndyCar champion, who is currently racing in the 24 Hours of Daytona, will attend the hearing after the race ends. If mediation fails, a trial is expected later this year. This follows Palou’s earlier contract dispute with McLaren in 2022, which resulted in a revised agreement for him to join the team in 2024 after a breach of his Chip Ganassi Racing deal.

Click here to read the full article at racingnews365.com

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How Ferrari and Ducati face similar challenges in 2025

Two Italian teams, Ferrari in Formula 1 and Ducati in MotoGP have recruited world champions Lewis Hamilton and Marc Marquez for the 2025 season. Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari has sparked both excitement and criticism, with questions about how Charles Leclerc will adapt to sharing the spotlight. Ducati faces similar tensions, pairing two-time champion Francesco Bagnaia with Marquez, who has a contentious history with the team and its riders. Both teams are enjoying the initial publicity, but managing these high-profile drivers effectively will be crucial as the season progresses.

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

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Ferrari and UniCredit to mark new partnership with Milan event

In September 2024, Ferrari announced a multi-year partnership with UniCredit, replacing Santander as its major sponsor after Carlos Sainz's departure. The partnership started this year and was confirmed at a press conference in Milan. The company plans to offer new services and experiences to Ferrari fans and UniCredit customers. They will host an event in Milan in March 2025 to mark the partnership. Both companies are focused on sustainability, with Ferrari aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030 and UniCredit working on social projects, including helping with education.

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

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FIA steward sets expectations for rule changes

Johnny Herbert shared his thoughts on the new F1 rules for wheel-to-wheel racing, saying he doesn’t expect anything unusual when the season starts in Australia. The new rules focus on stopping drivers from forcing others off the track and blocking corners unfairly. Herbert, who criticized Max Verstappen’s racing last year, agrees with the changes, saying they bring back the spirit of karting where drivers have to fight for space. He added that incidents and complaints will still happen, but that’s just part of the job for stewards.

Click here to read the full article by Samuel Coop (racingnews365.com)

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Why Red Bull is fast-tracking Lindblad's debut

Red Bull is pushing Arvid Lindblad’s F1 debut to 2025. Helmut Marko thinks Lindblad is the best talent in the team, even though other drivers like Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson have been promoted. Lindblad has already impressed in karting and Formula 3, even at just 16 years old. Red Bull is speeding up his training to have him ready for a possible F1 seat in 2026, especially if drivers like Yuki Tsunoda leave or don’t perform.

Click here to read the full article by Tim Kraaij (gpblog.com)