F1 Fast Five: Madrid GP's 'scam' status sparks political disagreement, Mercedes holds up Hamilton's Ferrari debut, and other big updates

Madrid GP's 'scam' status sparks political disagreement

In 2026, the Madrid Grand Prix is set to debut, but it has ignited fierce debate among local politicians, with accusations of it being "a scam" and unprofitable. The hosting fee is $25 million per year, adding up to $250 million over the next decade, yet no main sponsor has been secured. Deputy Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Sports Luis Martín believes the race will help the local economy. However, critics like Pablo Gómez Perpinyà worry that if private investors don’t join in, taxpayers will end up paying for it, similar to past failures in Valencia.

Click here to read the full article by Ian Parkes (racingnews365.com)

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Mercedes holds up Hamilton's Ferrari debut

Lewis Hamilton must wait until 2025 to test for Ferrari because he is still under contract with Mercedes. He surprised everyone by saying he would leave Mercedes at the end of 2024 after 18 years with the team. Mercedes says Hamilton cannot test for Ferrari this December because they have promotional work to do after their long partnership. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz, who Hamilton will replace, is trying to leave Ferrari early to join Williams in 2025.

Click here to read the full article by Dan Lawrence (motorsportweek.com)

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Daniil Kvyat to take on driverless AI car at Suzuka

Next month, former Red Bull Racing F1 driver Daniil Kvyat will race against a modified Dallara SF23, which utilizes advanced sensors and computer systems. This "Man vs. Machine" race is part of the Super Formula finale on November 9th and 10th. This event follows the successful inaugural AI race at Yas Marina, where the driverless cars demonstrated both speed and humorous mistakes. A2RL CEO Stephane Timpano is excited to see how the AI performs against a real driver.

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

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Best driver line-up for 2025

Williams’ team boss, James Vowles, claimed that Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz would be the best driver line-up in 2025, and this started a debate among writers about which teams have the top pairings. McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are considered strong choices because Norris is getting better at handling pressure, and Piastri is showing great potential. Mercedes has George Russell and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, mixing experience with youthful energy. At the same time, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are strong based on their combined success, even though it’s unclear how well they will work together. Haas’ drivers, Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon, are also seen as a good choice.

Click here to read the full article at motorsport.com

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Kamala Harris reveals 'love' for F1 and Hamilton

Kamala Harris has revealed she is a fan of Lewis Hamilton and was sharp in her rebuttal that her passion for Formula One was a “campaign thing. F1 has surged in popularity in the United States in recent years, with Netflix’s Drive to Survive a factor in an increase in interest stateside.