F1 F1 2025 Season

[Festerz]

Valtteri Bottas makes F1 return with McLaren

Valtteri Bottas is busy in Spain for McLaren on testing duties.

racingnews365.com

Very interesting. I get that McLaren is a Mercedes customer and so Bottas' services can be utilised for them as needed but it raises some obvious dilemmas when Mercedes and McLaren teams are such fierce rivals in this years championship.

Being the reserve driver for both teams means that he needs to get a detailed understanding of the 'systems and procedures' of both teams and their cars. The Chinese walls that must be in place to prevent the flow of sensitive information between the teams must be very strict - and a lot of trust placed in Bottas to adhere to them.

 

[Barrybran]

Very interesting. I get that McLaren is a Mercedes customer and so Bottas' services can be utilised for them as needed but it raises some obvious dilemmas when Mercedes and McLaren teams are such fierce rivals in this years championship.

Being the reserve driver for both teams means that he needs to get a detailed understanding of the 'systems and procedures' of both teams and their cars. The Chinese walls that must be in place to prevent the flow of sensitive information between the teams must be very strict - and a lot of trust placed in Bottas to adhere to them.

This isn't new. Mick Schumacher was reserve driver for Mercedes and Williams at the same time.

 

[Festerz]

This isn't new. Mick Schumacher was reserve driver for Mercedes and Williams at the same time.

Williams when Mick Schumacher was a driver wasn't the front line championship contender and rival to Mercedes that McLaren is now.

 

[Barrybran]

Williams when Mick Schumacher was a driver wasn't the front line championship contender and rival to Mercedes that McLaren is now.

Ok. Mercedes when Schumacher was a reserve driver was though. If McLaren weren't comfortable with Bottas driving their car, he wouldn't be driving their car.

 

[DamoESP]

That is a brilliant video and not just for Albon's very clear explanation of the way the RB is tuned to Verstappen's specific needs to the detriment of his team mates but for his carefully considered, intelligent and very honest reflections on life as a Red Bull driver.

Thanx for posting.

If you ever get the chance, watch the full interview, its great

 

[Not Important]

Very interesting. I get that McLaren is a Mercedes customer and so Bottas' services can be utilised for them as needed but it raises some obvious dilemmas when Mercedes and McLaren teams are such fierce rivals in this years championship.

Being the reserve driver for both teams means that he needs to get a detailed understanding of the 'systems and procedures' of both teams and their cars. The Chinese walls that must be in place to prevent the flow of sensitive information between the teams must be very strict - and a lot of trust placed in Bottas to adhere to them

i do think the headline was a bit misleading. he’s more a benz appointment than a mclaren one. some task being across the intricacies all those cars it must be said.

 

[gaskin]

Lol @ the new video The Race have put out. It is titled "Why Lando Norris is struggling more in the 2025 McLaren."

Yeah, because a win and a 2nd place in the two races so far is struggling. Stupid Pom campaigners.

 

[Skull Face]

Lol @ the new video The Race have put out. It is titled "Why Lando Norris is struggling more in the 2025 McLaren."

Yeah, because a win and a 2nd place in the two races so far is struggling. Stupid Pom campaigners.

They got to cope somehow if the Aussie rookie outdoes him and wins the championship

 

[Bradesmaen]

Lol @ the new video The Race have put out. It is titled "Why Lando Norris is struggling more in the 2025 McLaren."

Yeah, because a win and a 2nd place in the two races so far is struggling. Stupid Pom campaigners.

I prevented The Race from appearing on my feed, same with Driver 61. They're terrible.

 

[skam85]

I prevented The Race from appearing on my feed, same with Driver 61. They're terrible.

I don't mind the Race mostly, although Edd is in love with Alex Albon. Always puts him so high in the race rankings.

Bring Back V10s is a great podcast which has made them more tolerable, if it was just their puff pieces or race pods I'd tend to agree I reckon

 

[royboy2]

 

[nobbyiscool]

View attachment 2268534

Social media is already completely ****ing unusable today, can we not pollute serious and reasonable threads with this shit please?

 

[Jatz]

Lighten up mate, clearly a bit of humour.

 

[Cromulant]

Of all the things to blow up about.

 

[skam85]

nobby needs to be cooler it seems

 

[royboy2]

Social media is already completely ****ing unusable today, can we not pollute serious and reasonable threads with this shit please?

Wow, Who took the Jam out of your doughnut?

 

[Cromulant]

Wow, Who took the Jam out of your doughnut?

To be fair, id react that way if you promised me jam in a donut and I didnt get it

 

[skam85]

To be fair, id react that way if you promised me jam in a donut and I didnt get it

especially the ones at the MCG, they're elite

 

[nobbyiscool]

Wow, Who took the Jam out of your doughnut?

To be fair, id react that way if you promised me jam in a donut and I didnt get it

It'd look like a tobacconist when I was done with the joint

 

[manureid]

View attachment 2268534

Could only be made better if you clicked the Street Circuit Map and got Rickrolled

 

[DamoESP]

Looks like this came out a few days ago but hasn't been posted yet, a very good read and insight into PIA's mindset:

Oscar Piastri: I’m no No2, I’m here to become world champion
Australian, 23, is not playing second fiddle to Lando Norris at McLaren, and though not one for grand statements, says he is “good enough to beat the very best”

https://archive.is/be7dq

 

[drd23]

 

[Jatz]

It's beautiful.

I'm going to constantly forget that's a Red Bull all weekend but it's beautiful!

 

[royboy2]

Haas also have a Cherry blossom livery for this weekend