Netflix may be gearing up to take over F1 broadcasting rights in the United States, with ESPN’s deal set to expire at the end of this year. ESPN first secured exclusive rights to broadcast the sport in the US in 2018. The broadcaster paid no fees for the rights to the first year as Liberty Media sought to expand the sport’s reach in America. A subsequent deal from 2019-2022 saw ESPN, owned by Disney, pay $5m annually and ESPN now reportedly pays $90m per year under its current deal. Those costs are expected to increase as interest in the sport grows. Netflix, which already produces F1’s popular Drive to Survive docuseries, has been expanding its involvement in live sports broadcasting. Late last year the company hired Kate Jackson to run their live sports division, having previously worked as ESPN’s vice president of production. Since then, the company has been successful in their live sports investments, breaking records for the most-streamed sports event of all time when it hosted the Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul boxing match in November. It also broadcasted some NFL games on Christmas Day and has secured a ten-year global deal with WWE.
Netflix has announced the seventh season of its popular Drive to Survive docuseries will be released on March 7. This is the week between pre-season testing in Bahrain and the season opener in Australia. The series, which premiered in 2019, has introduced many new fans to Formula One with its deep (if not over-dramatized) look behind the scenes of the sport. This year’s installment could feature, among other things, the fall of Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Perez, although it will notably be the first season without Guenther Steiner on the pit wall. The former Haas team principal became the de facto main character of the series with his raw unfiltered appearances in the episodes but was dropped by Haas ahead of the 2024 season. Additionally, it is the final season under Formula One’s current contract with Netflix.
Warner Brothers and Apple TV released a new teaser trailer for the upcoming F1 movie starring Brad Pitt. The 30-second trailer was aired during the NFL Super Bowl broadcast, recycling some footage from the previous teaser trailer revealed in July. Set mostly to music, the latest teaser trailer showcases some heated on-track and off-track moments from the film, ending with some F1 commentary by Sky Sports commentator David Croft. The film is set for a theatrical release in the summer of 2025.
Formula One has confirmed the start times of the races on the 2025 calendar. The most notable change is that the Las Vegas Grand Prix has been moved forward by two hours, starting at 8pm local time. Previously, the event was held at 10pm to minimize disruption to the city. Moving the race to 8pm now matches the other night races on the calendar and makes the race more desirable for broadcasters in Eastern North America. Click here to see the full list of race start times in your region.
Aston Martin became the last team to announce their car launch plans. The team’s new AMR25 car will be unveiled to the public in an online event on February 23, just one day before it hits the track for the first time in Bahrain.
Pirelli was back on track this week with a second tyre test. This time, it was the slick tyres being tested at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain. Ferrari and McLaren assisted, running a total of 632 laps over two days. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton split the two days in half in the SF-24, while Lando Norris completed the first day of testing with Oscar Piastri driving the MCL60 on the final day. Both cars were modified for testing the new 2026 slick tyres. Next week, Pirelli will be at Jerez de la Frontera circuit with Alpine, McLaren, and Mercedes for another tyre test on February 13 and 14.
Sauber announced its plans to establish a base in the United Kingdom ahead of Audi’s 2026 takeover. The team will remain headquartered in Switzerland, with its power unit department operating out of Germany. This new third base, located in the south of England with seven other teams, will allow the team to recruit existing talent already employed by Formula One teams. The new facility will not be included in the FIA’s proposed cost cap exception in 2026, which is planned to give Sauber a higher budget cap to account for Switzerland’s high cost of living.
Former Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu has joined Ferrari as a reserve driver for 2025. Zhou, who was previously a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, finds himself without a seat for 2025 as Sauber opted to completely refresh their driver lineup. Zhou will share duties with fellow ex-Sauber driver Antonio Giovinazzi. The Chinese driver’s continued relationship with Ferrari could help him in the future, with the new Cadillac team planning to take on Ferrari power units and gearboxes for 2026.
Red Bull has appointed Richard Wood as Liam Lawson’s new race engineer for 2025. Wood previously worked as Sergio Perez’s performance engineer, also getting a lot of experience on the pit wall while Perez’s race engineer Hugh Bird was on paternity leave last year. Bird will remain with the team but in a new management role in the suspension department, allowing him to spend more time at the Red Bull factory and less time trackside.
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.
