F1 2025 - Watchalong Thread

[Brazilianadventure]

Happy New Year.

We start with the first all teams season launch on 18 February. Ferrari reveal their 2025 car the day after.

Pre season testing will take place on 26 to 28 February in Bahrain. Australia will host the opening race on Sunday March 16th.

F1 Movie - no spoilers

The cinema was lovely and cool, slightly busier than usual - there were 8 of us! The benefits of being retired. 😀

Lewis is producer and Stefano Domenicali is an Executive producer. This has clearly made a big impact on the access the film crew had. Lewis and historical F1 is threaded throughout the film. I would love to do a what did we spot once everyone has seen the film.

It has to be accessible to a wide audience and so the story is Hollywood. The race scenes and music are brilliantly done. I watched it on an Odeon isense and I imagine XMAX would be even better.

Silverstone looked wonderful.

I was disappointed Simone Ashley’s role was cut but it’s a long film and so can understand why.

I agree with @MercedesLeftWheelNut it’s good fun but F1 purists will spend a lot of time critiquing it. For non-F1 fans it’s a good film.

I count myself as a bit of a F1 purist and loved the film, everything about it, yes there were a couple of things I could nitpick over but chose to ignore them hahaha.. I am retired and saw it at 2pm yesterday, around 40 people in our cinema, it was a Vue, our local IMAX I don't go to anymore as leg room is horrendous and I spend the whole film thinking about wanting to stretch my legs 😱

I watched the Team Principal's chat yesterday, what does everyone think about Max going to Mercedes? Where would George go in the unlikely event of Max joining Mercedes? Felt a bit sorry for George when he was saying that of course Mercedes are talking to Max and others, not a particular fan of George but even so.. that scenario would be almost as shocking as Lewis going to Ferrari!

Got my seat for quali in the bar! Will miss the race tomorrow :(

@BeKindOpalBear it is great being able to go to the cinema in the afternoon. Glad you enjoyed the film.

I do feel for George but this is the nature of F1. Merc would be mad not to try to get Max if he is free. The suggestion is it would be Kimi who is set aside. To be fair, Toto has always looked after his drivers and others e.g. helping Bottas to Sauber, Albon to Williams.

I do wonder if Max might walk away from F1, he is already trying other cars/racing series. He is still online racing and I understand he is involved in developing sim/game racing games. So he has a lot of other options.

I have seen snippets online of Max with Penelope and he seems like a really lovely step parent (sort of). I imagine he is an involved Dad and possibly wants something different for his daughter so other racing series that keep him closer to home with less media attention may appeal.

Do we think Lando will keep the lead out of turn one?

I think so. If nothing else the McLaren is faster than the Ferrari which is second on the grid. Lando will also be fired up this week after his very public brain fade in Canada.

On the topic if the Max to Mercedes rumours I would feel for either George it Kimi if they got dropped from the team. In the case of Kimi I feel it would be especially rough because Mercedes uncharacteristically rushed him through the junior ladder and badly handled his Monza FP1 and announcement last year. I know F1 is notoriously ruthless but it still would be pretty brutal.

I still think Max might sit back and see how the teams deal with the new regulations in 2026 before deciding his future.

On a purely selfish note. I really want Max to stay at RBR for next season. We are planning to take DS to Zandvoort for his 18th. He is a RBR diehard, since Seb was there, but he does love Max.
It would be a perfect combination for him (DH and I will just have to grin and bear it, we will have to crackout all the McLaren and Williams merch for balance)

Fred Vasseur has left Austria and gone home for personal reasons

I hope everything is ok.

@gingercat02 🤞for Zandvoort. I agree Max may stay at RBR for 2026 then decide whether or not to move.

Good on Bernie & Ted doing a grid walk focusing on the women in the teams. They are doing this as part of international Women in Engineering Day.

was just coming on to say this

Wow it’s 🔥 for everyone on the grid. Not just Carlos.

Max and Kimi out!

OMG that’s really going to hurt Max in the championship.

Lewis and George having an epic lap 1 battle.

I normally feel sorry for drivers who crash out when it isn't their fault, especially when it's because another driver takes them out (as opposed to mechanical failure). Not sorry when it happens to Max, though!

Well driven Lando & Oscar. The Ferrari upgrade seems to have moved them forward. Lewis definitely a better race.

The Merc, as always, badly affected by the heat.

Well done to Lawson and Bortaletto.

Hopefully Merc can avoid the heat related issues with the 2026 car. There’s a lot more hot races than cool ones.

It’s Silverstone Race Week. For everyone going have an amazing time and remember suncream and waterproofs - you never know which you might get, possibly both on the same day.

We are going! I’m so excited, it’s my first actual race.

We are in a stand, undercover I think, so hopefully we will be reasonably OK whether it’s rain or sun.

@RockaLock Silverstone is a good place for your first GP. Have a wonderful time.

Not going to Silverstone but I am going to McLaren Live and the Williams Fan Zone in London later on this week.

Lando and Piastri are there tomorrow! we're going too, but no times for appearances, just pure luck if we get to seem them 🙏

I am going too, so excited!

@BeKindOpalBearfab! Whereabouts will you be? We are in one of the Woodcote stands.