A series of tests on a BMW M3 demonstrated that lighter wheels offer measurable but relatively small improvements in acceleration, braking, and lap times, with subjective feedback indicating better steering feel. While high-end lightweight wheels can be costly, for most drivers, the performance gains may not justify the expense, though enthusiasts and racers can benefit from the reduced rotational and unsprung weight.
Lando Norris won the Mexico Grand Prix with a dominant performance, attributing his success to a better feel with his McLaren car after a challenging season, and ended a winless streak while retaking the championship lead, emphasizing the importance of driver-car compatibility.
Oscar Piastri's unexpected lack of pace in qualifying at the Mexican Grand Prix is attributed to a combination of factors, including possible car issues and driving technique mismatched to low-grip conditions, with his team suggesting it's a calibration challenge rather than a mechanical problem. Despite his struggles, Piastri remains optimistic about improving in the race and future events.
The first day of practice for the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix revealed mixed performances among F1 teams, with Red Bull's Verstappen showing strong qualifying pace but struggles on long runs, while McLaren's Norris faced handling issues. Grip levels were low, affecting consistency and lap times, and teams are expected to make balance adjustments as the weekend progresses.
Ford's CEO Jim Farley responded to Chevrolet's Corvette ZR1's Nürburgring record with a competitive 'Game on,' signaling Ford's intention to reclaim the title, though the Mustang GTD currently faces challenges due to weight and power differences.
The 2026 Mazda CX-5 continues to use a traditional six-speed automatic transmission because Mazda believes it offers the best performance with their Skyactiv-G engine, despite many competitors shifting to more gears. The vehicle maintains its driving DNA and performance expectations, even with increased size and weight, and Mazda plans to evaluate the transmission's future use in hybrid models.
Bentley has replaced its W-12 engine in the Bentayga Speed with a smaller 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, resulting in increased horsepower (641 hp), lighter weight, faster acceleration (0-62 mph in 3.4 seconds), and a higher top speed of 193 mph. The update includes subtle styling tweaks, improved driving dynamics with rear-wheel steering, and optional performance features like carbon-ceramic brakes and a sport exhaust. Despite losing the W-12, Bentley maintains its luxury and performance appeal, with future models expected to shift entirely to electric power.
Max Verstappen revealed that Red Bull's long-standing issue with their car's inability to handle kerbs and bumps, evident since 2022, was exposed during the Monaco GP qualifying. Despite various setup changes, Verstappen struggled, qualifying P6 and ending his qualifying streak. He admitted that the problem is fundamental and not easily fixable, with Red Bull still trying to understand the issue.
For the first time in 2024, Red Bull and Max Verstappen failed to secure pole position, with Verstappen starting behind Ferraris, McLarens, and a Mercedes, and teammate Sergio Perez out in Q1. The Monaco circuit exposed Red Bull's ongoing issue with handling bumps and kerbs, a problem Verstappen claims has existed since 2022. Despite attempts to adjust the car's setup, the fundamental mechanical issue remains, threatening Red Bull's dominance on certain tracks.
Max Verstappen reveals that Red Bull's struggles at the Monaco Grand Prix are due to a long-standing issue with the car's handling over bumps and kerbs, a problem masked by their previous car advantage. Despite recent difficulties, Verstappen remains focused on consistency for the title race, acknowledging that the team needs to understand and fix the fundamental problem to improve performance across all tracks.
Max Verstappen criticized Red Bull Racing after long-standing issues with their Formula 1 car were exposed during the Monaco Grand Prix, where he qualified sixth. Verstappen described the car as "bouncing like a kangaroo" and likened it to a go-kart, struggling particularly in low-speed corners due to its inability to handle bumps and kerbs. He noted that these issues have persisted since 2022 but were previously masked by the car's overall performance advantage.
Formula One teams and drivers face just three days of preseason testing at the Bahrain International Circuit to understand how their new cars work in the real world. The testing process involves rigorous debugging, refining, and setup adjustments to ensure the cars are fast and reliable for the upcoming season. However, interpreting headline lap times can be misleading due to factors such as fuel loads, tire compounds, and track conditions. While some order usually emerges from testing, it may not be representative of the first race, as teams continue to develop rapidly and make upgrades between testing and the season opener.
Lewis Hamilton has described Mercedes' struggles at the Miami GP as a "kick in the gut" after ending up seventh in FP2, nearly one second adrift of pacesetter Max Verstappen. Hamilton said that the team was trying lots of different things to find a good balance with the car, but it was a little bit difficult to take sometimes. He also felt that the performance of the W14 had felt no better than the difficult 2022 car, and the team was desperate for the next race at Imola when a major update is due to arrive.
