Taylor Powling, Author at Motorsport Week https://www.motorsportweek.com/author/taylor_powling/ Motorsport Week is an independent, FIA accredited motorsport website delivering the latest Formula 1, Formula E, GP2, GP3, WEC, IndyCar, Nascar, Formula 3, WRC, WRX, DTM, IMSA and MotoGP news and results. Fri, 21 Mar 2025 11:30:43 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/cropped-favicon-1-32x32.png Taylor Powling, Author at Motorsport Week https://www.motorsportweek.com/author/taylor_powling/ 32 32 Oscar Piastri queries McLaren run plan that dented China F1 Sprint pole hopes https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/21/oscar-piastri-queries-mclaren-run-plan-that-dented-china-f1-sprint-pole-hopes/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/21/oscar-piastri-queries-mclaren-run-plan-that-dented-china-f1-sprint-pole-hopes/#respond Fri, 21 Mar 2025 11:45:00 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=202005 Oscar Piastri has queried the McLaren run plan in Sprint Qualifying at the Chinese GP

Oscar Piastri has queried the McLaren run plan that he suspects had a role in him missing out on pole position in Sprint Qualifying at F1's Chinese Grand Prix.

The post Oscar Piastri queries McLaren run plan that dented China F1 Sprint pole hopes appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
Oscar Piastri has queried the McLaren run plan in Sprint Qualifying at the Chinese GP

Oscar Piastri has queried the McLaren run plan that he suspects had a role in him missing out on pole position in Sprint Qualifying at Formula 1‘s Chinese Grand Prix.

Having won the opening race in Australia, McLaren’s status as the team to beat was consolidated as Lando Norris led Piastri in the sole practice session in Shanghai.

However, McLaren was beaten to pole position for tomorrow’s Sprint race as errors from Norris and Piastri enabled Lewis Hamilton to capitalise to put Ferrari on top.

READ MORE – Lewis Hamilton grabs Chinese GP Sprint Race pole

Norris committed mistakes on both of his attempts in SQ3 to be resigned to sixth, while Piastri, who had been on provisional pole, couldn’t improve on his second lap.

Piastri has claimed McLaren’s decision to send both drivers out for two timed runs rather than the singular-lap strategy its rivals employed proved counter-productive.

“I think probably quick at the wrong points of it, unfortunately,” the Australian, who got bumped down to third amid Max Verstappen’s last-gap run to second, reflected.

“Yeah, SQ1 and SQ2 felt good, then SQ3 we tried something a bit different and went out much earlier and tried two laps, which I’m not sure was the best thing in the end.

“But I think it’s something we need to have a look at.

“But the pace in the car is still very strong and I’m still confident to fight from third tomorrow.”

Oscar Piastri and McLaren missed out on Sprint pole in China to Lewis Hamilton
Oscar Piastri and McLaren missed out on Sprint pole in China to Lewis Hamilton

The ‘interesting challenge’ impacting teams in China

Piastri highlighted how the relaid asphalt at the Shanghai International Circuit has added to the complications the drivers have had to contend with upon F1’s return.

“It’s been difficult,” he conceded. “I think with the track surface, it’s got a lot of grip, but it’s peaky.

“I think it’s been pretty tough all day to keep on top of the car.

“Honestly, I think we did a good job of trying to tame it for Sprint Quali, just maybe got the run plan a bit wrong.

“It’s been an interesting challenge, the grip has been a lot better than last season which is nice. But some things we can do better tomorrow.”

READ MORE – Lando Norris laments ‘too difficult’ McLaren after China Sprint qualifying errors

The post Oscar Piastri queries McLaren run plan that dented China F1 Sprint pole hopes appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/21/oscar-piastri-queries-mclaren-run-plan-that-dented-china-f1-sprint-pole-hopes/feed/ 0
Charles Leclerc reveals the repeat China struggles behind Lewis Hamilton deficit https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/21/charles-leclerc-reveals-the-repeat-china-struggles-behind-lewis-hamilton-deficit/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/21/charles-leclerc-reveals-the-repeat-china-struggles-behind-lewis-hamilton-deficit/#respond Fri, 21 Mar 2025 10:26:10 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=201995 Charles Leclerc has struggled at the Chinese GP compared to Lewis Hamilton

Charles Leclerc has revealed that repeat struggles at the track which hosts the F1 Chinese Grand Prix are behind his gap to Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

The post Charles Leclerc reveals the repeat China struggles behind Lewis Hamilton deficit appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
Charles Leclerc has struggled at the Chinese GP compared to Lewis Hamilton

Charles Leclerc has revealed that repeat struggles at the track which hosts the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix are behind his gap to Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton was on song in his second race weekend with Ferrari as he edged out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to collect his maiden pole position with the Italian marque.

However, Leclerc was unable to rival the seven-time F1 champion as he propped up over two-tenths adrift in fourth place, behind Oscar Piastri in the leading McLaren.

Leclerc had trailed Hamilton in the standalone practice hour and that pattern was maintained across all three segments in the session that determines the Sprint grid.

The Monegasque explained how trouble getting the car rotated through the opening complex of corners was a limiting factor that also hampered him 12 months ago.

“I’ve struggled on my side of the garage,” Leclerc admitted. “From the beginning, I felt like I was a step back compared to Lewis and Lewis was faster today.

“Struggled a lot in Turns 1, 2, 3 which is more or less the same struggle that I had last year which is a bit of a shame.

“But apart from that everything was quite tight, so it’s a shame we start P4. But Lewis on pole, and hopefully we can have a good race tomorrow.”

Charles Leclerc has opened up on his struggles in China
Charles Leclerc has opened up on his struggles in China

Leclerc lacking confidence in Ferrari’s SF-25

Leclerc admitted he had more trust to explore the SF-25’s limits compared to the preceding practice session, but not enough to replicate the time Hamilton produced.

Asked how challenging FP1 was with the track conditions, Leclerc responded: “Very difficult. We really struggled to put everything in the right window.

“At the end of the day, it felt a little bit better in qualifying, but not where I wanted it to be.

“So still some work to be done for qualifying tomorrow. However, the race is another story and this we will only see tomorrow.”

Leclerc highlights decisive element to China Sprint

Leclerc suspects the high demand that is placed on the tyres at the Shanghai International Circuit will play a dominant role in the outcome of the 19-lap Sprint race.

“First we have a Sprint race which I think will be tricky around here with the tyres and we have to focus on that, then we’ll see about qualifying later on,” he added.

READ MORE – Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari car ‘came alive’ for ‘shock’ F1 Chinese GP Sprint pole

The post Charles Leclerc reveals the repeat China struggles behind Lewis Hamilton deficit appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/21/charles-leclerc-reveals-the-repeat-china-struggles-behind-lewis-hamilton-deficit/feed/ 0
Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari car ‘came alive’ for ‘shock’ F1 Chinese GP Sprint pole https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/21/lewis-hamilton-ferrari-car-came-alive-for-shock-f1-chinese-gp-sprint-pole/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/21/lewis-hamilton-ferrari-car-came-alive-for-shock-f1-chinese-gp-sprint-pole/#respond Fri, 21 Mar 2025 09:14:21 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=201980 Lewis Hamilton earned his maiden Ferrari pole position for the Chinese GP Sprint race

Lewis Hamilton revelled in his Ferrari F1 car "coming alive" as he bagged his maiden pole position with the team in Sprint Qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix.

The post Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari car ‘came alive’ for ‘shock’ F1 Chinese GP Sprint pole appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
Lewis Hamilton earned his maiden Ferrari pole position for the Chinese GP Sprint race

Lewis Hamilton revelled in his Ferrari Formula 1 car “coming alive” as he bagged his maiden pole position with the team in Sprint Qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Hamilton, the record pole and win holder at the Shanghai International Circuit, pipped Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to secure first position on the grid for the Sprint race.

The Briton had endured an arduous debut with Ferrari in Australia, but he had appeared much more at one with his SF-25 during the single practice hour this weekend.

Having held an upper hand over team-mate Charles Leclerc throughout the three segments, Hamilton’s sole run in SQ3 also saw him usurp the pacesetting McLarens.

The McLarens were unable to improve on their second attempts, while Verstappen came up short in a last-ditch bid to beat Hamilton’s track-record-setting benchmark.

“I didn’t expect that result, but so, so happy and so proud,” Hamilton, who edged out Verstappen by 0.018 seconds, beamed.

“The last race was a disaster for us, and clearly we knew that there was more performance in the car but we weren’t able to extract it.

“To come here to a track that I love: Shanghai, a beautiful place and the weather has been amazing.

“The car really came alive from lap one. We made some great changes, the team did a fantastic job through the break to get the car ready.

“I’m a bit in shock, I can’t believe we got a pole in the Sprint.

“Obviously it’s not the main race so we’ve got work to do tomorrow, but this puts us in good stead for the race.”

Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Ferrari SF-25. 21.03.2025. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Sprint Qualifying Day. – www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Charniaux / XPB Images

How Hamilton earned maiden Ferrari pole

Hamilton believes nailing the opening sector on his one-timed run in the SQ3 shootout was pivotal to claiming his first pole in red, a landmark he described as surreal.

“My first sector was really, really strong,” he recalled. “I think that’s where I made most of my improvement on that lap.

“But just little increments through the whole place.

“There’s still time to find for sure which I’ll try and make sure I apply to the next qualifying session we go out in.

“It’s amazing to see the number one as you stop and be in the red car, it’s pretty incredible.”

Hamilton in the dark on Ferrari race prospects

Hamilton has conceded that he goes into tomorrow’s 19-lap Sprint encounter in the dark over how the Ferrari SF-25 handles over a race distance in drier conditions.

“I didn’t get to do a race run in Bahrain. We did the race last weekend in the wet,” he highlighted.

“But tomorrow will be my first real race run and Sunday will be my first proper race run in the dry with this car.

“I’m hoping that we can hold onto it, but I think the McLaren is very, very fast, as is Max.

“We’re in a good position, we’ll stay positive and we’ll keep our heads high and keep pushing forward.”

READ MORE – Lewis Hamilton grabs Chinese GP Sprint Race pole

The post Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari car ‘came alive’ for ‘shock’ F1 Chinese GP Sprint pole appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/21/lewis-hamilton-ferrari-car-came-alive-for-shock-f1-chinese-gp-sprint-pole/feed/ 0
Charles Leclerc: Ferrari’s unlocked 2025 potential not enough to rival McLaren yet https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/20/charles-leclerc-ferraris-unlocked-2025-potential-not-enough-to-rival-mclaren-yet/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/20/charles-leclerc-ferraris-unlocked-2025-potential-not-enough-to-rival-mclaren-yet/#respond Thu, 20 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=201889 Charles Leclerc is convinced there is more to come from Ferrari in 2025

Charles Leclerc has reiterated that Ferrari's 2025 F1 car possesses "much better potential" than has been seen to date, but still not enough to match McLaren.

The post Charles Leclerc: Ferrari’s unlocked 2025 potential not enough to rival McLaren yet appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
Charles Leclerc is convinced there is more to come from Ferrari in 2025

Charles Leclerc has reiterated that Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 car possesses “much better potential” than has been seen to date, but still not enough to match McLaren.

Ferrari’s strong end to the previous campaign had witnessed it enter the current season expected to be engaged in a close battle with McLaren right at the sharp end.

But while that appeared poised to be the case when Leclerc topped FP2 in Australia, the Italian marque’s pace regressed as the season-opening weekend progressed.

Having languished seventh and eighth on the grid, Ferrari’s struggles in variable conditions and a strategic error culminated in the team attaining a meagre five points.

However, Leclerc, who crossed the line as the lead Ferrari in eighth, has continued to insist that the SF-25 machine is more competitive than was shown at Albert Park.

“There are many things that we can get that we can learn from this first weekend,” Leclerc said prior to this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.

“Obviously many things haven’t gone the way we wanted them to go but it’s only the first race of the season.

“We’ve learned many things since then and I’m sure that we’ll put all the bits together for this weekend and we’ll do a step forward.

“I remain convinced that the potential of the car is much better than what we have seen for that first weekend. But now we need to show that on track this weekend.”

Charles Leclerc is remaining calm about Ferrari's 2025 chances
Charles Leclerc is remaining calm about Ferrari’s 2025 chances

Ferrari not on McLaren’s level

However, the Monegasque has conceded that even a more optimised version of the SF-25 wouldn’t trouble the ominous benchmark McLaren laid down last weekend.

“The team is very motivated to turn things around,” Leclerc expressed.

“During the off-season there was a lot of noise, but I don’t think we are on McLaren’s level at the moment. But we’re closer than what we have seen in Melbourne.”

Ferrari awaiting SF-25 upgrades

Leclerc has suggested that Ferrari will be dependent on the circuit characteristics suiting the squad’s package to get closer to McLaren until it can introduce updates.

Asked how big the expected step would take Ferrari, Leclerc replied: “It’s difficult to know, because I think now every little difference can have a big influence on track.

“Also I think the track layout can have a big influence on whether you’re fast or not.

“If you look at the last four or five races of last year, it was Mercedes dominating in Las Vegas, us very fast in Mexico, McLaren very fast in Abu Dhabi and that was basically the same car.

“At this point of the season you don’t really have any upgrades. So I think there are many factors that come into play. We need to stay calm.”

READ MORE – Charles Leclerc rues spin costing Ferrari potential F1 Australian GP podium

The post Charles Leclerc: Ferrari’s unlocked 2025 potential not enough to rival McLaren yet appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/20/charles-leclerc-ferraris-unlocked-2025-potential-not-enough-to-rival-mclaren-yet/feed/ 0
McLaren could have looked like ‘complete idiots’ without F1 team order in Australia https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/20/mclaren-could-have-looked-like-complete-idiots-without-f1-team-order-in-australia/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/20/mclaren-could-have-looked-like-complete-idiots-without-f1-team-order-in-australia/#respond Thu, 20 Mar 2025 12:45:00 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=201860 McLaren used team orders to hold position in the 2025 Australian GP

Lando Norris has claimed McLaren would have looked like "complete idiots" had it not used team orders to prevent an incident in the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

The post McLaren could have looked like ‘complete idiots’ without F1 team order in Australia appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
McLaren used team orders to hold position in the 2025 Australian GP

Lando Norris has claimed McLaren would have looked like “complete idiots” had it not used team orders to prevent an incident in the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

McLaren was dominating proceedings in a rain-hit season-opening race at the Albert Park Circuit when the team told Oscar Piastri to maintain position behind Norris.

The Woking-based squad’s intervention went against the stance that the two would be authorised to race one another amid the mutual desire to land the Drivers’ title.

However, McLaren boss Andrea Stella revealed post-race that concern over navigating lapped cars ahead with more rain on the horizon prompted the team to step in.

Norris, who went on to win the race as a spin consigned Piastri to ninth, disclosed that he was unaware that his team-mate had been instructed to remain behind him.

The Briton was adamant McLaren made the correct call, though, as he highlighted how it would have been embarrassing had an ensuing battle culminated in a crash.

“So I didn’t really know about it because they said it to Oscar, not to me,” Norris told media including Motorsport Week.

“And it was literally just for two or three laps as we went through the backmarkers.

“It was risky conditions, and we’d look like complete idiots if we attempted to race and both ended up off the track – or worse, out of the race – when we had a great result in hand.

“It was just for a couple of laps that they asked us to hold position, and then he was free to race again.

“We were free to race all the way up until that point, and then there was just a holding period for a few laps. After that, it was back to normal.

“I think that’s all I really knew about it. I’m sure we’ll talk about it more – we even had a little chat about it this morning.”

Lando Norris believes McLaren's rivals might have to adapt to new rear-wing flexibility measures
Lando Norris has insisted McLaren was right to use a team order in Australia

McLaren prioritised the team result

Norris dismissed suggestions that McLaren had sought to prioritise him, citing that Piastri was permitted to race him once the circumstances were more appropriate.

“From the team’s perspective, it wasn’t about me or Oscar, it was about McLaren – we’re first and second, let’s not do anything silly when we don’t need to,” he said.

“There’s still a lot of opportunity left for Oscar to race me, and it would have been stupid to try and force a situation when we’re behind backmarkers, blue flags.

“If you go offline at that part of the race, you’re in the wall. At that stage of the race, I was still trying to think I need get these tyres to last until Lap 54 or whatever.

“I think Oscar was just pushing a bit more and trying to get past me. But yeah, it was all comfortable from my side.”

READ MORE – Oscar Piastri casts ‘clear’ verdict on McLaren F1 team orders

The post McLaren could have looked like ‘complete idiots’ without F1 team order in Australia appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/20/mclaren-could-have-looked-like-complete-idiots-without-f1-team-order-in-australia/feed/ 0
Yuki Tsunoda highlights Red Bull ‘tradition’ amid torrid Liam Lawson F1 debut https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/20/yuki-tsunoda-highlights-red-bull-tradition-amid-torrid-liam-lawson-f1-debut/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/20/yuki-tsunoda-highlights-red-bull-tradition-amid-torrid-liam-lawson-f1-debut/#respond Thu, 20 Mar 2025 10:47:24 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=201762 Yuki Tsunoda has insisted rumours surrounding Red Bull are commonplace

Yuki Tsunoda has claimed that rumours surrounding the Red Bull group are "tradition" amid Liam Lawson's nightmare weekend in the F1 Australian Grand Prix.

The post Yuki Tsunoda highlights Red Bull ‘tradition’ amid torrid Liam Lawson F1 debut appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
Yuki Tsunoda has insisted rumours surrounding Red Bull are commonplace

Yuki Tsunoda has claimed that rumours surrounding the Red Bull group are “tradition” amid Liam Lawson’s nightmare weekend in the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

Lawson endured a disastrous maiden outing with the parent Red Bull team as, having missed FP3, he rued several mistakes which consigned him to a Q1 elimination.

The New Zealander’s anguish was compounded in the race as he struggled to progress until a spin on a damp track brought a premature end to a miserable weekend.

Meanwhile, Tsunoda thrived in the Racing Bulls as he qualified fifth – two tenths behind Max Verstappen – and was running in the top five until a botched strategic call.

Tsunoda’s exploits prompted McLaren CEO Zak Brown to express that Red Bull commits to “strange driver choices” regarding its decision to promote Lawson instead.

But although he valued Brown’s comment, Tsunoda pinpointed that he is accustomed to speculation swirling about changes in the Red Bull stable across a campaign.

“I appreciate what Zak said to me in the press, but it’s just one race,” Tsunoda told media including Motorsport Week.

“These things have been going on since last year [after the] first race. Daniel [Ricciardo to replace] Checo [Perez], myself [to replace] Checo, Liam [to replace] Checo.

“It’s a bit of a tradition for our group. It’s positive but at the same time, I just have to keep [doing] what I’m doing.

“In the end, they chose this line-up last year at the end of the season. Maybe they have a clear plan for the future, I don’t know.”

The call to pit Yuki Tsunoda from Racing Bulls in Australia came too late
The call to pit Yuki Tsunoda from Racing Bulls in Australia came too late

Tsunoda explains Racing Bulls blunder

Tsunoda had passed Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari to reclaim his original starting place when a rain shower descended on the Albert Park Circuit which unravelled his race.

Racing Bulls, like the side’s more established Italian counterparts, made a late switch to the Intermediates, culminating in Tsunoda slipping outside the points to 12th.

“It was hard for myself as well to monitor every single corner because every lap it kept changing,” he recalled.

“The lap before, sector one was not raining, but one lap later it was complete rain and we reacted too late.

“I don’t think I made a mistake, to be honest, in terms of communications and everything, I’m pretty happy with it.

“It just didn’t go the way we wanted. The Safety Car came out a lap after I pitted, which wasn’t bad.

“At the same time, we know what has happened, and the team apologised to me right after the race.”

READ MORE – Racing Bulls apologises to Yuki Tsunoda after F1 Australian GP blunder

The post Yuki Tsunoda highlights Red Bull ‘tradition’ amid torrid Liam Lawson F1 debut appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/20/yuki-tsunoda-highlights-red-bull-tradition-amid-torrid-liam-lawson-f1-debut/feed/ 0
George Russell: McLaren won’t maximise F1 advantage greater than Red Bull ever had https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/20/george-russell-mclaren-wont-maximise-f1-advantage-greater-than-red-bull-ever-had/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/20/george-russell-mclaren-wont-maximise-f1-advantage-greater-than-red-bull-ever-had/#respond Thu, 20 Mar 2025 09:03:34 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=201840 McLaren's advantage has eclipsed Red Bull's previous heights, according to George Russell

George Russell has contended that McLaren's current advantage has surpassed the one that Red Bull possessed at the height of the team's dominance in F1.

The post George Russell: McLaren won’t maximise F1 advantage greater than Red Bull ever had appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
McLaren's advantage has eclipsed Red Bull's previous heights, according to George Russell

George Russell has contended that McLaren’s current advantage has surpassed the one that Red Bull possessed at the height of the team’s dominance in Formula 1.

The widespread consensus that McLaren would be the side to beat was realised last weekend as Lando Norris prevailed in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

But while his winning margin over Max Verstappen’s Red Bull was less than a second, intermittent weather and Safety Car interventions shrouded McLaren’s true gap.

Indeed, having survived Verstappen’s initial charge in the opening stages, Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri created a 14-second lead over the Dutchman in 10 laps.

Even prior to the race, Russell had claimed that McLaren’s front-row lockout demonstrated it could switch attention to the new 2026 rules now and still win both titles.

The Briton has doubled down on that view amid McLaren’s victorious start, as he argued the team’s advantage has eclipsed what Red Bull boasted at its peak in 2023.

However, Russell has predicted that the McLaren drivers won’t capitalise on its supremacy as well as Verstappen did when he drove the RB19 to 19 wins in 22 rounds.

I think their car is definitely capable of winning every race,” Russell said.

“Their car should win every race, but I don’t think they will win every race this year. Let’s see. 

“The gap they have this year on everybody is bigger than Red Bull has ever had.

“But when Max was in that [2023] car he was pretty reliable every single lap he did every single run in Q3, throughout qualifying, never really a question. 

“Hopefully we can be there to capitalise like we were at the [previous] weekend, as that should have been a 1-2 for those guys.”

George Russell has claimed that McLaren has all but won the F1 2025 titles
George Russell has claimed that McLaren has all but won the F1 2025 titles

FIA clampdown won’t hinder McLaren much

The discussion during the build-up to this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix has surrounded whether an FIA clampdown on flexible rear wings could destabilise McLaren.

But with Norris adamant the team hasn’t had to make changes to its car, Russell has conceded the ruling wouldn’t have altered the outcome at the Albert Park Circuit.

“If the TD (Technical Directive) was there in Melbourne they definitely would have won the race because they’re just so far ahead,” the Mercedes driver highlighted.

Where does McLaren’s advantage lie?

Instead, Russell has reiterated that McLaren’s cutting edge over the competition resides in how the team’s MCL39 car preserves the Pirelli tyre better over a race stint.

“If you’re talking about trying to find that amount of lap time in downforce that isn’t going to happen in a season and it’s never happened in a season,” he elaborated.

“They’re clearly doing something better than the rest, clearly substantially quicker than everybody when the tyres are getting hot.

“We saw that in the Bahrain test. We saw it in sector three in [Australia] qualifying, they were four-tenths faster than everyone else in sector three.

“Same car they had in sector one and two, only difference is tyre overheating.

“There’s room for us to improve but…and we know we have room to improve but we don’t feel like there are masses of opportunities to improve in that region, it’s quite tightly controlled.

“So they’re clearly doing something pretty trick and that gap is huge.”

READ MORE – McLaren ‘surprised’ by overall competitiveness of 2025 F1 car

The post George Russell: McLaren won’t maximise F1 advantage greater than Red Bull ever had appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/20/george-russell-mclaren-wont-maximise-f1-advantage-greater-than-red-bull-ever-had/feed/ 0
Liam Lawson hits back at Zak Brown over Red Bull F1 seat claim https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/20/liam-lawson-hits-back-at-zak-brown-over-red-bull-f1-seat-claim/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/20/liam-lawson-hits-back-at-zak-brown-over-red-bull-f1-seat-claim/#respond Thu, 20 Mar 2025 07:44:57 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=201831 Liam Lawson has dismissed Zak Brown's claim over the Red Bull seat he occupies

Liam Lawson has said he "couldn't care less" about Zak Brown's view amid the McLaren CEO's claim that Yuki Tsunoda merited a Red Bull drive in F1 over him.

The post Liam Lawson hits back at Zak Brown over Red Bull F1 seat claim appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
Liam Lawson has dismissed Zak Brown's claim over the Red Bull seat he occupies

Liam Lawson has said he “couldn’t care less” about Zak Brown’s view amid the McLaren CEO’s claim that Yuki Tsunoda merited a Red Bull drive in Formula 1 over him.

Lawson encountered a tumultuous maiden weekend with Red Bull in Australia as an attempt to rebound from a Q1 elimination ended in a crash that curtailed his race.

The New Zealander had trailed behind his more experienced team-mate Max Verstappen throughout practice, prompting him to assert that he was “slow” in the RB21.

READ MORE – Liam Lawson suggests leading cause behind disastrous F1 Australian GP qualifying

That culminated in Lawson being the lowest-placed Red Bull-backed driver on the grid, with Tsunoda, who was overlooked, propelling his Racing Bulls into the top five.

Brown pounced on the chance to aim a snide dig at Red Bull as he proclaimed that Tsunoda warranted the promotion, branding the group’s decision-making “strange”.

However, Lawson, who has been tasked with supporting Red Bull’s hopes in the Constructors’ Championship, has insisted that Brown’s comment hasn’t bothered him.

“I couldn’t care less what Zak says, to be honest with you,” Lawson declared.

“I don’t think I’ve spoken to him, ever and I haven’t read any social media over the last two weeks.”

Christian Horner took a positive from a difficult Red Bull debut for Liam Lawson
Liam Lawson struggled on his Red Bull debut

Lawson aiming to build Red Bull momentum

Lawson’s debut with the parent Red Bull team at Albert Park marked his 12th race start in F1, with his previous appearances coming over two stints with Racing Bulls.

But while his Red Bull career started on a disastrous note, Lawson is relishing the opportunity to gain some momentum with four races coming in the next five weeks.

“Always as a driver, if you have a good weekend, sometimes you want to sit on it for a little bit,” he said. 

“Then you have a bad weekend, you just want to go racing again. So for me, yes, it’s good. 

“But also, [it’s good] to have lots of races at the start of the season. We have a week off [after China] and then a triple header. 

“With how sort of little experience having this car, it’s just going to be good to do more weekends to get more comfortable and familiar.”

READ MORE – Christian Horner highlights positive from incident-ridden Liam Lawson Red Bull F1 debut

The post Liam Lawson hits back at Zak Brown over Red Bull F1 seat claim appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/20/liam-lawson-hits-back-at-zak-brown-over-red-bull-f1-seat-claim/feed/ 0
Oscar Piastri casts ‘clear’ verdict on McLaren F1 team orders https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/19/oscar-piastri-casts-clear-verdict-on-mclaren-f1-team-orders/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/19/oscar-piastri-casts-clear-verdict-on-mclaren-f1-team-orders/#respond Wed, 19 Mar 2025 13:45:00 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=201758 McLaren used a team order during the Australian GP

Oscar Piastri has insisted that McLaren's stance on team orders remains "clear", despite being told not to overtake Lando Norris in F1's Australian Grand Prix.

The post Oscar Piastri casts ‘clear’ verdict on McLaren F1 team orders appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
McLaren used a team order during the Australian GP

Oscar Piastri has insisted that McLaren’s stance on team orders remains “clear”, despite being told not to overtake Lando Norris in Formula 1‘s Australian Grand Prix.

Piastri experienced heartbreak on home soil last weekend as a probable podium slipped through his grasp when he span with 13 laps to go in changeable conditions.

The Australian, who recovered to ninth, had still been in contention to win the race prior to that moment as he was running behind team-mate Norris in a McLaren 1-2.

Piastri had spied his chance earlier in the race to pass Norris as he pumped in successive fastest laps as the track dried to cut the gap down to less than one second.

But while McLaren approached the campaign adamant that both drivers would be allowed to race, Piastri’s race engineer Tom Stallard instructed him to hold position.

Piastri obliged, with McLaren boss Andrea Stella explaining how concern over navigating lapped cars and an uncertain weather radar triggered the side’s intervention.

The home hero divulged that he intended to hold discussions with the team about the situation, but he denied suggestions that the call was made to prioritise Norris.

“I think today’s race and the circumstances were pretty extreme,” Piastri told media including Motorsport Week.

“We were approaching back markers, one dry line, not knowing if there was going to be rain to come.

“So I’ll speak to the team and try and understand better what the thinking was, but I think it’s always clear that those kind of calls can come in either direction.”

Oscar Piastri has insisted McLaren's stance on team orders remains 'clear'
Oscar Piastri has insisted McLaren’s stance on team orders remains ‘clear’

Piastri suggests Australia win was improbable

The decision would be rendered irrelevant to the eventual race outcome as Piastri becoming beached in the grass on Lap 44 resigned him to a damage limitation run.

Piastri has indicated that he would have struggled to overhaul Norris regardless, though, admitting that his mid-race charge had seen him use up the grip on his tyres.

“Yeah, we were holding position before that,” he added.

“I think by the time we were free to race I kind of killed my front left a little bit getting to the back of Lando, so by that point there wasn’t much I could do.

“So I think that was probably a pretty minor moment in today’s race.”

McLaren denies intervention impacted Piastri

As Piastri alluded to, McLaren had permitted him to race Norris, but a wide moment at Turn 6 handed the Briton, who would go on to secure the win, breathing room.

Asked whether the previous instruction had upset Piastri’s momentum, Brown told Sky Sports F1: “I don’t think that had anything to do with it.

“We- Andrea and I on the pit wall – actually just kind of released him to go racing, and we just wanted to make sure we cleared the traffic.

“So that was a hold for a moment, and then it looked like he dropped a wheel and then fell back a bit of a gap.

“But I just think they were pushing really hard in very tricky conditions.”

READ MORE – McLaren reveals Lando Norris won F1 Australian GP with ‘badly damaged’ floor

The post Oscar Piastri casts ‘clear’ verdict on McLaren F1 team orders appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/19/oscar-piastri-casts-clear-verdict-on-mclaren-f1-team-orders/feed/ 0
Max Verstappen makes admission on Red Bull win prospects in F1 2025 https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/19/max-verstappen-makes-admission-on-red-bull-win-prospects-in-f1-2025/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/19/max-verstappen-makes-admission-on-red-bull-win-prospects-in-f1-2025/#respond Wed, 19 Mar 2025 09:45:00 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=201688 Max Verstappen has admitted Red Bull has work to do to be in contention to win races in 2025

Max Verstappen has admitted Red Bull has "a lot of work to do" to be in contention to win races in the 2025 F1 season based on the team's deficit to McLaren.

The post Max Verstappen makes admission on Red Bull win prospects in F1 2025 appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
Max Verstappen has admitted Red Bull has work to do to be in contention to win races in 2025

Max Verstappen has admitted Red Bull has “a lot of work to do” to be in contention to win races in the 2025 Formula 1 season based on the team’s deficit to McLaren.

Verstappen started the new campaign on the podium as he came home in second place, less than one second behind Lando Norris in a chaotic Australian Grand Prix.

However, the eventual margin at the end flattered Red Bull’s competitiveness as intermittent rain and multiple Safety Car interventions eliminated the lead Norris held.

Having passed Oscar Piastri at the start, Verstappen split the McLarens until struggles with tyre degradation triggered a mistake as he ran deep at Turn 11 on Lap 17.

The Dutchman proceeded to spurn time at an alarming rate as he dropped 18 seconds behind until Fernando Alonso’s crash on Lap 34 neutralised proceedings again.

Despite being satisfied with the result, Verstappen is under no illusion that Red Bull isn’t in a position to challenge McLaren on merit with the RB21 in its current guise.

“I think it’s good compared to the teams behind us,” Verstappen told media including Motorsport Week.

“But if you look at the first stint, we were quite a bit off. As soon as the tyres started to overheat, we had no chance. McLaren just took off.

“So, we still have a lot of work to do to fight for a win.

“But yeah, I’m happy that we are second here. It’s basically one place better than we should have been. And it’s 18 more points than I had last year at this race.”

Max Verstappen salvaged second place in the Australian GP
Max Verstappen salvaged second place in the Australian GP

Verstappen denies Red Bull missed chance to win

Verstappen inherited the lead on Lap 44 when a rain shower caused both McLarens to run wide at Turn 12, pitching Piastri into a spin and sending Norris into the pits.

Red Bull elected to leave Verstappen out on slicks across the next two laps, prompting questions about whether the team had missed a golden chance to beat Norris.

However, the reigning F1 champion concurred with Red Bull boss Christian Horner that stopping even a lap earlier wouldn’t have changed his overall finishing position.

“We were on the Medium, and of course, you never know how that’s going to work out,” he explained.

“But I thought it was quite a sensible call with 15, 16, or 20 laps to go when the Safety Car came out.

“Then, of course, it started to rain. I saw them go off in front of me, kept it clean, and when I saw Oscar rejoining, I thought, “Well, let’s stay out,” because it was only those three corners.

“The rest was still dry. When I continued, basically, the first two sectors were fine – it was just if I could survive the final sector. I think that lap I did was okay.

“If there wasn’t much more rain coming, I thought it could work.

“You also have to factor in that even if they caught me on an Inter, they’d have to box again for slicks, if it’s not going to rain anymore.

“So, it was fine. I thought, “We’ll do another lap,” but then, unfortunately, on that lap, the first sector was still okay-ish, but then in Sector 2, it started to rain a bit too much and we had to box.

“But in hindsight, it wouldn’t have mattered. If I’d boxed with Lando, it would have been P2. If I’d boxed the next lap, it would have been P2. And the lap that I did box, I was also P2.

“So, we tried something else—it might have worked. In a way, it didn’t work, but we didn’t lose any position, so it’s fine.”

Lando Norris headed Max Verstappen home in the Australian GP
Lando Norris headed Max Verstappen home in the Australian GP

Verstappen powerless to mount Norris attack

Verstappen denied he could have overtaken Norris with the late pressure he applied, citing the damp conditions made it impossible to venture outside the racing line.

Questioned on whether he was wishing there was one more lap, Verstappen retorted: “No, not so much, to be honest.

“I just tried my best, tried to be close, tried to put a bit of pressure on, but it’s very hard to pass around here. There was only one line.

“Even if I had gotten a run into whatever, Turn 9, you have to go onto the wet part, so you can’t really do a lot. But at least it was close. It looked good on TV!”

READ MORE – Red Bull highlights ‘quite strange’ McLaren advantage in F1 2025

The post Max Verstappen makes admission on Red Bull win prospects in F1 2025 appeared first on Motorsport Week.

]]>
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/19/max-verstappen-makes-admission-on-red-bull-win-prospects-in-f1-2025/feed/ 0