How restrictive testing regulations cost Lawson his seat, Red Bull to run special white livery at Japanese GP, and other big updates

How restrictive testing regulations cost Lawson his seat

Liam Lawson’s removal from Red Bull after just two races shows how F1’s testing rules make it harder for young drivers. Unlike past rookies who had lots of testing, Lawson only had 11 race weekends in two years and little time in a current F1 car. With limited pre-season testing and no in-season practice, he had to learn during real races, where mistakes matter more. Red Bull also didn’t use Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) to help him, while other teams gave their young drivers extra track time.

Click here to read the full article byThomas Maher (planetf1.com)

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Red Bull to run special white livery at Japanese GP

Red Bull will reportedly run a special white livery at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix to mark its final home race with Honda before their 2026 split. Honda, which has powered Red Bull since 2019, will move to Aston Martin in 2026, while Red Bull partners with Ford. The tribute livery is inspired by Honda’s "Championship White," a significant color in Japanese motorsport history. Max Verstappen will also wear a special white helmet, which he revealed on social media with the caption, "For you," alongside the Japanese flag.

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

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The welding secret behind F1’s life-saving halo

The titanium halo saved Romain Grosjean’s life in his 2020 crash, but few know that a flawless welding process was key to its strength. Traditional welding couldn’t meet FIA’s extreme safety standards, so LKN WeldTitan developed a specialized purge chamber to protect titanium from contamination. This ensured the halo could withstand massive forces, like the weight of a London double-decker bus, without weakening. After several life-saving incidents, including Zhou Guanyu’s 2022 crash, the once-criticized halo is now universally recognized as a vital F1 safety feature.

Click here to read the full article by Erwin Jaeggi (motorsport.com)

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Where do F1 drivers live?

More than half of the 20 Formula One drivers live within a mile of each other in Monaco. So, which drivers are based there, and where do the others reside? The reason so many choose Monaco? There's no personal income tax, so their salaries, sponsorships, and more remain untaxed. That adds up to massive savings for drivers earning tens of millions.

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Painting the ultimate driver

Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon teamed up with two rising karting stars to create their version of the ultimate Formula 1 driver. Once the countdown ended, the kids paired with each driver had some wild ideas—extra eyes to see more, extra arms to do more. And Alex Albon had his own suggestion: extra 'courage.’