Lewis Hamilton suffered a crash on his second day of testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with Ferrari. Although the Brit was unharmed, the car was too damaged for Charles Leclerc to participate in his afternoon running. Although this three-day private test is held behind closed doors, it’s known that Hamilton collided with the barriers after spinning in turn 12 while running a modified version of the 2023 SF-23 car. As part of the Testing of Previous Cars regulations, teams are allowed to run up to four days and 1000km using a car that’s at least two years old.
Former driver and media pundit Johnny Herbert has been removed from the FIA stewards. Herbert’s role as an FIA steward was hotly debated last season when Max Verstappen was penalized twice at the Mexican Grand Prix, with some suggesting potential bias. A statement from the FIA stated that Herbert’s role as FIA steward and media personality were “incompatible”. Herbert was a long-time presenter on Sky Sports, although he sat out weekends where he was working as a steward. He also has some commercial arrangements with betting companies, which are believed to be a large reason behind the decision to remove Herbert from the FIA steward lineup.
The FIA will introduce stricter tests to clamp down on controversial flex-wings. The flexibility of wings has been a big talking point over the last couple of seasons as teams push the limits. Although the FIA initially said it was happy with the current testing to prevent teams from exploiting the rules, they have now announced new tests. Effective at the start of the 2025 season, the FIA will expand its tests on the rear wing. The front wing tests will be tightened from the Spanish Grand Prix in June, providing teams an opportunity to adjust to the new rules.
Changes to the Albert Park Circuit, host of the Australian Grand Prix, have been made to improve safety. Particular attention was paid to turn six and seven, the scene of George Russell’s big late-race shunt with Fernando Alonso in the 2024 race. The left wall in the area has been moved to a new angle, preventing cars from bouncing back onto the racing line during a crash. Additionally, the gravel trap has been extended. The FIA also mandated new negative kerbs be installed in those corners. The negative kerb is lower than the racing surface, as opposed to regular kerbs which are raised and are more likely to unsettle cars that run over them.
The South African government has extended its ambitious deadline for potential hosts of a Formula One race. As reported last week, the South African government has been accepting bids from race organizers to host a South African round of the Formula One championship as early as 2026. The bid deadline was initially January 31 but has now been extended until March 18, allowing prospectus bidders more time to create a plan. Kyalami, which last hosted the race in 1993, and Cape Town, which hosted a one-off Formula E race in 2023, are both believed to be on the list of potential venues.
Pirelli conducted a two-day test of the 2026 wet tyres in collaboration with McLaren. The test was held at the Circuit Paul Ricard, using a shorter 3.463km layout. The circuit is ideal for wet tyre testing thanks to its sprinkler system. Running was limited on the first morning due to freezing weather conditions, although Oscar Piastri still managed to log 120 laps in the 2023 MCL60. Lando Norris was behind the wheel on the second day, recording 123 laps. Pirelli has two additional two-day test sessions planned in Spain before the start of pre-season testing: one on February 4-5 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with McLaren and Ferrari; and another on February 12-13 with Alpine, Mercedes, and McLaren at Jerez.
Mercedes became the third team to announce their car launch on February 24, two days before the start of pre-season testing. Mercedes has opted against holding its traditional Silverstone launch event, instead waiting to unveil the car, dubbed the W16, in Bahrain ahead of a filming day.
Red Bull also announced the launch date of their 2025 challenger, the RB21, on February 25. Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson log their first mileage in the new car during the team’s filming day at the Bahrain circuit, the day before pre-season testing begins. Although Red Bull often hosts its own launch event, the team has decided that the global event at the O2 Arena in London is sufficient.
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.
