Jacques Villeneuve says McLaren's "papaya rules" are mocked simply because the team gave a name to standard driver conduct protocols. He argues every team has such rules but branding them made McLaren a target, as seen in the controversial team orders at Monza.
Nico Rosberg has disclosed that he decided to retire from Formula 1 the exact moment he crossed the line to win the 2016 World Championship, telling Sky F1 he "wanted to go out on the top." The shock retirement, announced just days after his title triumph, ended his fierce rivalry with Lewis Hamilton.
Max Verstappen has openly disapproved of Red Bull's decision to demote Liam Lawson after only two races in 2025, calling it premature and damaging. He argues such a swift move can ruin a young driver's top-team chances and highlights the added difficulty of adapting to a car built around his own driving style.
Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli received two penalties for aggressive driving in an off-season karting race, denying him a podium. However, he obliterated the lap record by over three seconds, showcasing the raw pace that makes him a top contender for a 2026 F1 seat.
Newly crowned 2025 Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris has shared intimate photos from the FIA Prize Giving Gala, calling it the night he had waited for his entire life. The McLaren driver secured the title by just two points in a dramatic season finale.
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur says the team is "evaluating all options" for Lewis Hamilton's race engineer in 2026, potentially ending his partnership with Riccardo Adami. This follows a fraught 2025 season marked by tense radio communications and Hamilton's significant deficit to teammate Charles Leclerc.
McLaren's 2025 constructors' championship total of 833 points fell just 27 points short of Red Bull's all-time season record. The team would have broken the record with 863 points had it not been for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's disqualification from the Las Vegas GP due to excessive plank wear.
Daniel Ricciardo is launching a new scholarship through his karting series to fund a young driver's entry into the 2027 Ginetta Junior Championship. He will personally select two candidates for an assessment, with the winner getting a fully paid drive. This move cements his post-F1 role in developing the next generation of racing talent.
Max Verstappen explained that while he and Yuki Tsunoda ran similar car setups at Red Bull, Tsunoda consistently used a version with more understeer, highlighting the fine-tuning and personal driving style required to match the champion's performance.
F1's 2025 season review shows record-breaking growth, with the global fanbase hitting 827 million. Attendance and digital engagement soared, while a significant shift toward younger and female fans highlights the sport's expanding appeal, backed by commercial successes like a blockbuster movie and new broadcast deals.
Sky Sports analyst Bernie Collins names McLaren's Oscar Piastri, not champion Max Verstappen, as her 2025 F1 driver of the year, highlighting his dominant early-season form. In other news, Mercedes releases an audio teaser of its 2026 power unit, offering a first listen to the sport's upcoming technical era.
A specially liveried Alliance Airlines plane honoring Sir Jack Brabham has arrived in Australia. The green and gold design commemorates his unique 1966 F1 World Championship, won in a car he manufactured himself—a feat never repeated in the sport's history.
