Former team owner and media personality Eddie Jordan has revealed his battle with an “aggressive” cancer. When speaking with David Coulthard in the Formula For Success podcast, Jordan revealed that he has been diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer, which has since spread to his spine and pelvis. the 76-year-old Irishman founded Jordan Grand Prix in 1991, which ran until it was sold to Midland at the end of 2005. After his time in F1, he moved to the media, working with the BBC and Channel 4. He has reduced his media schedule recently while he receives medical treatment.
Don’t waste or put it off. Go and get tested, because in life, you’ve got chances. And there is so much medical advice out there and so many things that you can do to extend your lifetime. Go and do it. Don’t be stupid. Don’t be shy. It’s not a shy thing. Look after your body, guys.
Eddie Jordan on the Formula For Success podcast
Ferrari has agreed to supply the new Cadillac F1 team with power units when they arrive on the grid in 2024. Although General Motors plans to field its own power units eventually, it will not be ready until at least 2028. This means they need to run as a customer team for at least 2026 and 2027. Ferrari currently supplies two customer teams: Haas and Sauber. The idea with Cadillac will ensure the Italian outfit will still have two teams with Sauber set to swap to the Audi power unit once the team is taken over by the German automakers.
Rwanda has officially announced a bid to join the F1 calendar with a new circuit. As originally reported in September, Rwanda has been eager to join Formula One, meeting with F1 officials on multiple occasions. Plans have been proposed to hold the race at a circuit close to the planned Bugesera airport near the capital city of Kigali. The circuit is being designed by former F1 driver Alexander Wurz, the mind behind the new Qiddiya circuit that will host the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when it’s completed in 2028 or 2029. If the race successfully wins a slot on the calendar, it would become the first race in Africa since the 1993 South African Grand Prix in Kyalami. Rwanda has already earned some recognition in Formula One, hosting this year’s FIA Prize Gala.
Legends from the motorsport world gathered in Rwanda for the annual FIA Prize Gala on Friday. The event saw Max Verstappen receive his fourth World Drivers’ Championship trophy and McLaren was also awarded their World Constructors’ Championship trophy. New for this year, an Action of the Year award was given to each series voted by fans on social media. Formula One had three moments nominated for the award: Alex Albon’s thrilling double overtake on Esteban Ocon and Daniel Ricciardo in the final chicane during the damp Canadian Grand Prix; Oscar Piastri’s race-changing overtake to take the lead from Lando Norris at turn four in the Italian Grand Prix; and Sergio Perez’s exciting double overtake on the battling Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso during the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Race. Fans awarded Perez the Action of the Year award. The event also saw Formula 2 champion and future Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto crowded Rookie of the Year. Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone was given the FIA President’s Innovation Medal Award.
The FIA has approved an assortment of governance amendments, many of which revolve around the ethics and auditing of the organization. The Ethics Committee will now report to the FIA President and FIA Senate President, previously reporting to only the FIA President. The committee now also has “the power to independently assess whether or not to launch an investigation.” To prevent leaking confidential information to the media, the FIA General Assemblies approved measures to limit the distribution of Ethics Committee Reports. Changes to the FIA International Sporting Code were also approved, notably expanding the definition of “misconduct” under Article 20 to cover “incitement”. This change aligns closely with its “United Against Online Abuse campaign” which aims to “create a more responsible and respectful environment not only among competitors but also with officials and volunteers”.
New driving cooling regulations have been added for the 2025 season to protect drivers in hot temperatures. Under the new regulations, the race weekend will be declared a “heat hazard” if the FIA’s official weather radar predicts temperatures exceeding 30.5°C. This will require teams to fit driver cooling systems, increasing the minimum weight requirements by 5kg for the entire weekend. Previously, teams did not want to add these devices to the cars because the added weight would make the cars slower.
Tweaks to the DRS regulations have been made for 2025 to address the “mini-DRS” controversy from 2024. At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, it was noted that the rear wing on both McLaren cars flexed to create a small gap even when the DRS was closed. Although McLaren was not punished, they did make various changes to the rear wing throughout the season and the issue was not seen in subsequent races. To prevent teams from abusing this approach, the regulations now require a minimum gap of 9.4-13mm between the top and bottom elements of the rear wing when the DRS is closed. This is a small reduction from the 10-15mm permitted under the 2024 regulations.
The drivers hit the circuit for the final time in 2024 for the post-season Abu Dhabi test. There were some familiar faces mixed in with the rookies, as teams allocated their second cars to new-comers. Some drivers, like Carlos Sainz, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, and Jack Doohan used the nine-hour test session to become acquainted with their new teams. Others, like Yuki Tsunoda, used the opportunity to try and impress future teams, as the Japanese driver tested the Red Bull for the first time. The Leclerc brothers were both on the circuit again with Ferrari, although it was Charles who set the fastest time of the day. Liam Lawson, still hoping to claim the sole remaining seat on the 2025 grid at RB, logged the most mileage of the day, completing 159 laps around the Yas Marina Circuit. Frederik Vesti recorded the fewest laps in the Mercedes, completing only 55 laps in the morning. It was to be expected, as he only participated in the morning session while Andrea Kimi Antonelli recovered from the flu. Despite all of the inexperienced drivers getting their taste of an F1 car, there were no notable incidents in the test.
It can be challenging for even the most avid fans to keep up with the fast-paced world of Formula One. The Weekly F1 Recap is a series published each Monday that breaks down the action, both on and off the circuit, into bit-sized pieces. It's perfect for casual and experienced fans alike.
