The Scarlet Mirage: Hamilton’s Ferrari Honeymoon Turns Sour
When Lewis Hamilton announced his seismic switch to Ferrari for 2025, the world’s media (and, let’s be honest, Ferrari’s own PR department) erupted in a chorus of “Viva la rivoluzione!” The reality, as we approach the European leg of the season, is rather less operatic. Hamilton, now 40, has found himself mired in the midfield, with only a Shanghai sprint win to show for his efforts.
He sits a lowly seventh in the championship, and the tifosi’s patience is already wearing thinner than a Pirelli soft after 20 laps at Silverstone.
Hamilton’s Miami weekend was a microcosm of his season: a promising third in the sprint, followed by a dismal eighth in the Grand Prix after qualifying 12th. The radio exchanges between Hamilton and his engineers were, shall we say, “robust.” At one point, both he and Charles Leclerc seemed more interested in squabbling over P7 than in chasing the leaders.
Lewis Hamilton, after the Miami Grand Prix:
“I think this car really does have performance. But something’s holding us back at the moment. We’ve lost performance since China, and it’s there, it’s just we can’t use it. Until we get a fix for that, then this is where we are.”
Leclerc, meanwhile, has fared little better. The Monegasque is fifth in the standings, but his Miami weekend was arguably his worst yet: a crash before the sprint, a lacklustre eighth in the Grand Prix, and a growing sense of resignation.
Charles Leclerc, post-Miami:
“There wasn’t much more in the car, so I think we need to separate the two things. Yes, we need to fix those issues that probably cost us one position, but the other seven or six positions are down to the car, and we need to make it better.”
Ferrari’s technical woes are compounded by a car that, according to both drivers, has “hidden” pace—somewhere in Maranello, perhaps, but not on the track. The team’s much-vaunted upgrades have failed to deliver, and the spectre of another wasted season looms large. If you’re looking for a historical parallel, think Jean Alesi’s Ferrari years: plenty of promise, precious little payoff.
See on Instagram: Ferrari’s 2025 Livery Reveal
Mercedes’ New Prodigy: Kimi Antonelli Steps Into the Spotlight
While Ferrari flounders, Mercedes has found a new darling in 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli. The Italian rookie, thrust into the seat vacated by Hamilton, has been the revelation of the season. After six races and two sprints, Antonelli sits sixth in the championship—just five points behind Leclerc and seven ahead of Hamilton.
Not bad for a teenager who, this time last year, was still being asked for ID at Italian nightclubs.
Antonelli’s qualifying performances have been particularly impressive. In Miami, he outqualified George Russell twice, even snatching pole for the sprint. His racecraft is raw but improving, and his composure under pressure has drawn praise from all quarters.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal:
“I think the high point definitely [is] seeing the speed on a single lap – great. That’s another proof of his talent and a good indication of how the future can be.”
Antonelli himself is refreshingly candid about his learning curve:
“I need to check the race pace. Today was just not good, especially on the hard. I really struggled to make the tyre work in the stint, I was just sliding a lot around and I couldn’t really find a lap time. So I definitely need to analyse what went wrong in order to be better for Imola.”
The historical parallel here is irresistible: Antonelli’s debut season echoes that of Lewis Hamilton in 2007, when the Briton burst onto the scene with McLaren. The difference? Antonelli is doing it in an era of relentless media scrutiny and with the added pressure of being Mercedes’ great hope for the post-Hamilton era.
See on Instagram: Mercedes’ Miami Sprint Pole
See on X: Antonelli’s First Sprint Pole
Red Bull’s $150 Million Breakup: Bybit Out, New Sponsors In
In the world of Formula 1, money talks—and sometimes, it walks. Red Bull has ended its $150 million partnership with crypto exchange Bybit ahead of the 2025 season, closing the book on a three-year deal that was, at times, more volatile than a wet qualifying session at Spa. The decision, according to insiders, reflects a shift in Red Bull’s brand strategy and a move towards more “mutually beneficial” partnerships.
To fill the $50 million per year gap, Red Bull has already lined up new sponsors, including AvaTrade and Neat, whose logos will now adorn the RB21, driver overalls, and pit crew helmets. Expect more announcements at the team’s livery reveal in London—a spectacle that, if history is any guide, will feature more pyrotechnics than a Monaco fireworks display.
See on Instagram: Red Bull’s Sponsor Shuffle
The 2025 Grid: New Faces, Old Rivalries
The 2025 driver line-up is a heady mix of established stars and fresh talent. The headline moves—Hamilton to Ferrari, Antonelli to Mercedes, Lawson to Red Bull—have shaken up the pecking order. Here’s how the grid looks:
- McLaren: Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri
- Ferrari: Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton
- Red Bull: Max Verstappen, Liam Lawson
- Mercedes: Kimi Antonelli, George Russell
- Aston Martin: Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso
- Alpine: Pierre Gasly, Jack Doohan
- Haas: Oliver Bearman, Esteban Ocon
- RB: Yuki Tsunoda, Isack Hadjar
- Williams: Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz
- Kick Sauber: Nico Hülkenberg, Gabriel Bortoleto
The influx of rookies—Antonelli, Hadjar, Doohan, Bortoleto—marks the biggest generational shift since the late 1980s, when Senna, Prost, and Mansell ruled the roost. The question is: who will seize the moment, and who will be left reminiscing about “the good old days” of 2024?
Read: F1 2025 driver line-ups: Who’s on the grid?
Regulation Roulette: What’s New in 2025?
No Formula 1 season would be complete without a raft of new rules, and 2025 is no exception. Among the most significant changes:
- Minimum driver weight increased to 82 kg (from 80 kg), with the car’s minimum weight now 800 kg.
- Mandatory driver cooling systems for races above 30.5°C.
- DRS slot gap reduced, making overtaking slightly less “push-button.”
- Fastest lap point abolished—no more late-race pit stops for a solitary point.
- Young driver practice: Each team must run a rookie in two FP sessions per car.
- Testing restrictions: Only 20 days with last year’s car, and 1,000 km for active drivers.
- Qualifying backup: If qualifying is cancelled, the grid is set by championship order.
If you’re feeling déjà vu, you’re not alone. The sport’s perennial quest for “fairness” and “excitement” has produced more rule tweaks than a 1990s Benetton diffuser.
Read: What rules and regulations are new for the 2025 F1 season
The American Question: Miami’s Contract Extended, Fans Groan
In a move that will delight Miami’s event planners and dismay purists, Formula 1 has extended the Miami Grand Prix contract until 2041. The Circuit of the Americas remains the only US track with genuine racing pedigree, but commercial interests have, as ever, trumped tradition. As one commentator put it, “Miami is a party with a race attached, not the other way around.”
Watch: Why American Formula 1 Races Are SO BAD
The Next Chapter: Imola, Monaco, and Beyond
As the circus heads to Imola and then Monaco, the pressure is mounting. Ferrari desperately needs a home boost, Mercedes wants to convert Antonelli’s promise into podiums, and Red Bull—despite off-track sponsor drama—remains the team to beat. The midfield is as tight as ever, with McLaren, Aston Martin, and Alpine all capable of springing a surprise.
If history teaches us anything, it’s that the only certainty in Formula 1 is uncertainty. As the late, great Murray Walker once said, “Anything can happen in Formula 1, and it usually does.”
