Members of the royal family are not strangers to wild conspiracy theories or odd rumours. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex opened up over the hate and baseless rumours they faced when they were in The Firm many times before, but it seems they show no signs of stopping just yet. Meghan Markle is now facing a new rumour that she was ‘kicked off’ from Jimmy Kimmel Live – but it’s just another false story doing the rounds.

The alleged incident caused widespread outrage and arguments between social media users, when the story itself is quite lacklustre.

We take a look at the wild rumour and debunk the myths surrounding Meghan Markle and Jimmy Kimmel.

The Duchess of Sussex has been subject to cruel rumours (Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images)

Rumours claim Meghan Markle was kicked off Jimmy Kimmel

The latest case of a rumour getting out of hand involves Meghan Markle herself and the talkshow host Jimmy Kimmel.

Last week, there were reports the Duchess of Sussex was kicked off the late-night TV show after getting into a row with the host.

They claimed she was asked to leave the set following the ‘argument’ with the comedian.

But, it never happened, and royal fans have been duped once again. It’s similar to when Prince Harry followers were tricked into believing an extract from his memoir about bowling had been leaked ahead of its release.

The rumour, is just that. A rumour. Meghan Markle has not appeared or recorded a segment for Jimmy Kimmel.

Although she has been giving interviews and been in the public eye more over the past few months, following the launch of her brand As Ever and her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, her press schedule did not include the late night TV show.

Instead, the mum-of-two featured on Drew Barrymore’s chat show, and has done exclusive interviews with Vanity Fair and appeared on her first podcast interview with Jamie Kern Lima.
The Sussexes have not been on the show (Credit: ZUMA Press/Cover Images)

Late night host mocked the Sussexes

While the Sussexes have not appeared on his show, it doesn’t mean he’s never spoken about them.

Jimmy Kimmel has made brutal jibes at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s expense in the past.

This included a savage joke about the couple’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.

He condemned the allegations over how the former Suits actress was treated in the royal family before joking: “Meghan claims she was silenced during her time in the U.K. and after watching this last night, I have to say, I believe it.

“Imagine after centuries of inbreeding all of a sudden these people are concerned about the colour of a baby’s skin.”

“And by the way, they should hope that the kid looks more like Meghan than Harry”.

He added: “No offence, but I mean, Harry kind of looks like the guy who played Screech, may he rest in peace.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were mocked by Jimmy Kimmel on his TV show (Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images)

Jimmy Kimmel did mock Prince Harry

Then in January 2023, after the release of Harry’s memoir Spare, he cracked another joke at the Duke.

He mocked the prince by reading a parody picture book called The Prince and The Penis, in reference to the segment in his biography where Harry wrote about suffering frostbite on his nether regions.

Jimmy Kimmel said to his live audience: “Prince Harold’s [book] is so popular, they’re now releasing a version for kids. It’s a twist on The Princess and the Pea, it’s called The Prince and the Penis.”

The American funnyman then read aloud from the fake book: “At the chilly North Pole, a silly young codger took a walk in the snow, and froze his wee todger.

“‘Oh Mummy! Oh Mummy!’ He cried with a scream, and from then up on high she appeared with some cream. My poor little prince, put this on your willy. It will lessen the ache and make it less chilly.

“Mummy knelt down and gave him a squirt, into his trousers where his winkle still hurt.

“Back to her cloud his mother went soaring, and said this aloud, ‘should you ever have icy-chills on your hard-on, give it a rub with Elizabeth Arden.”

Photo: © IMAGO

Max Verstappen’s sim racing team, Team Redline, have reportedly been disqualified from a major esports event after they were found to be using a loophole in the rulebook.

The reigning F1 champion’s Esports team were taking part in the virtual 24 Hours of the Nurburgring, with Verstappen joining the live stream of the event to answer questions from fans.

The Red Bull F1 star was not competing this time around at the iconic track despite achieving success there both virtually and in reality in the past.

Three GT3 cars were entered into the 2025 event for Team Redline who dominated qualifying at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. The No. 71 Porsche of Gustavo Ariel, Enzo Bonito and Edoardo Leo took pole position with an 8:06.803, 0.149 seconds off the time of the No. 69 sister Porsche of Sam Kuitert, Luke McKeown and Cooper Webster.

Their No. 20 BMW was driven by Florian Lebigre, Chris Lulham and Diogo Pinto, who finished qualifying in seventh position.

Team Redline’s broadcast featured commentary from Luke Crane, who was joined by Verstappen, but things did not go to plan for his virtual outfit after critics quickly noticed them benefitting from an iRacing loophole.

Why was Verstappen’s Team Redline investigated?

Instead of starting from first, second and seventh on the grid after qualifying, Team Redline reset to the garage during their warm-up lap having gone out with as little fuel as possible and rain tyres despite dry conditions.

Upon returning to the garage, the team switched to slicks and filled up the tank, adjusting the ride height of their vehicle and handing them a significant advantage over their rivals.

Although the move is technically possible in iRacing, this strategy was not allowed during the 24-hour event and Team Redline’s exploitation of the loophole caught the attention of many on the live stream.

Following immediate complaints, the live stream ended and the three Team Redline cars were investigated by iRacing for allegedly violating two elements of the official sporting code.

Under article 8.1.1.4 (cheating), the code states: “Members may not cheat or otherwise engage in conduct deemed by iRacing to be in conflict with the spirit or intent of the Simulation or Sporting Code.”

Alongside this, the team were investigated for violating article 8.1.1.9 (nefarious tactics) which says: “Drivers may not use nefarious tactics to gain an advantage in Qualifying or Racing. iRacing.com will determine what constitutes an advantage.”

Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Breakthrough: The Incredible Impact of the SF-25’s New Floor

After months of speculation and intrigue around Ferrari’s development program for 2025, the results are finally in—and they are nothing short of astonishing. Deep inside Maranello, surrounded by secrecy and eager anticipation, Ferrari engineers have unleashed a radical new floor for their SF-25 Formula 1 car. According to insiders, this single upgrade has delivered a transformative step that could change everything for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari in the season ahead.

The Quiet Revolution Beneath the Car

It’s no exaggeration to say that the floor of a Formula 1 car is its invisible powerhouse. Modern F1 floors are sculpted masterpieces designed to manage the airflow beneath the car, manipulating ground effect to generate massive downforce with minimal drag. For Ferrari, the original SF-25 floor had become both a performance bottleneck and a source of unpredictable handling—problematic for any driver, but especially for Hamilton, whose strength comes from his ability to drive on the limit with confidence.

After several unpublicized simulation runs, wind tunnel sessions, and clandestine on-track tests behind closed doors in Maranello, Ferrari’s engineering team pinpointed their weakness: turbulent airflow beneath the car was disrupting the rear diffuser and causing the kind of instability that plagued Hamilton’s first half of the season.

A Dramatic Redesign—And Shocking Early Results

The new floor, first tested in anger at the Red Bull Ring prior to the Austrian Grand Prix, has changed all that. Ferrari re-profiled the central Venturi tunnels, carefully contoured the floor edge, and revised the central keel. These updates have had a radical impact: airflow under the car is now far more stable, staying attached even during aggressive cornering and elevation changes that previously triggered mid-corner stalls.

When Charles Leclerc and a Ferrari junior driver completed their initial runs, the telemetry fed back into the Maranello factory triggered immediate excitement. The differences were described as “night and day”: the rear of the car felt significantly more planted, the nervousness that induced sudden grip loss was gone, and both drivers could attack apexes with newfound confidence.

Technical Insights: Why the New Floor Works

What makes this floor so special? It’s all about controlling the air:

Venturi Tunnel Redesign: The shape and geometry of the underfloor tunnels now allow smoother, faster airflow, which in turn generates more consistent ground effect downforce across a wider range of circuit types.
Diffuser Integration: The interaction between the diffuser and gearbox casing has been optimized, ensuring a more coherent exit flow from under the car. This has led to improved high-speed balance and stability under braking.
Thermal Benefits: Improved airflow has drastically reduced rear tire overheating, a persistent problem. Early data suggests tire wear is down by up to 17% per stint, fundamentally altering Ferrari’s race strategies.

The Hamilton Factor

Although Lewis Hamilton has yet to fully experience the new configuration in a Grand Prix weekend, every shred of feedback and every lap time improvement paints a clear picture: he is about to inherit a very different SF-25. Gone is the unpredictable, edgy machine that forced him to tiptoe into corners; in its place is a car that finally aligns with his natural, fluid driving style—precisely the condition under which Hamilton excels.

Engineers are whispering that Silverstone could see a pivotal moment for Hamilton. With confidence restored in the rear end, he can brake later, trail longer, and rotate the car precisely as he did in his dominant Mercedes years. For a driver who thrives on consistency and balance, this change is transformative.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Evidence from simulated race stints is compelling. Depending on tire compound and fuel load, lap times improved by 0.3 to 0.6 seconds over the previous specification. In the hyper-competitive world of modern Formula 1, that’s not just competitive—that’s championship challenging. Moreover, these gains have come without sacrificing reliability or cooling, both sensitive Ferrari concerns after recent publicized retirements.

Qualifying performance is expected to improve as well: the SF-25 can now run lower ride heights for more downforce, without destabilizing the rear. On tracks like Silverstone and Spa, where high-speed aerodynamic performance is king, that advantage could be critical.

Phase Two: The Suspension Upgrade

What’s even more exciting is that this is only the beginning. The new floor was specifically designed as a foundation for Ferrari’s upcoming rear suspension overhaul, set to debut at Silverstone. The new “no-roll” layout is expected to further stabilize the chassis through bumpy sections and quick direction changes—two areas where Hamilton previously lost time relative to rivals. When paired with the revised floor, the SF-25 will effectively become a B-spec car: reworked, reimagined, and race-ready.

A Shift in Mindset

Perhaps the most significant effect has been psychological. Hamilton, who has been patient and positive in the media despite frustrations behind the scenes, now feels a resurgence of hope. Morale in the garage is up; for the first time all season, a sense of belief permeates the team. The team isn’t just managing expectations—they’re openly talking about race wins and an assault on Red Bull and McLaren at the sharp end of the field.

The Road Ahead

If the data holds and the upgrades work together as intended, the narrative of Hamilton’s first year in Ferrari red will shift from “what might have been” to “what might be.” Where once the SF-25 was an unpredictable beast, it is now an aerodynamic weapon ready for a title fight. Other teams have been put on notice: Ferrari and Hamilton are back, and they’re coming for victories.

In Formula 1, revolutions sometimes start not with headlines, but with silent, surgical brilliance deep in the factory. For Maranello, the story of 2025 could be remembered not for its rocky start, but for the moment when a new floor—hidden beneath the car—transformed everything. And for Lewis Hamilton, it could be the spark that lights a new chapter in his legendary story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChlNmMSS7ro

Photo: © IMAGO

An F1 star is facing a hefty penalty the next time they step into a car at a race weekend.

Valtteri Bottas will start five places back from wherever he qualifies if and when he makes it back into a race seat, after an incident at his final race for Sauber in Abu Dhabi last year.

The Finn collided heavily with Kevin Magnussen before retiring from the race, meaning that the stewards were forced to push his penalty down the road to his next race – which, at time of writing, has not happened.

The penalty was handed out to be ‘the equivalent of a drive-through penalty’ and came tied to three penalty points, which eagle-eyed readers may notice is a more severe penalty than Max Verstappen’s ten-second time penalty for ramming George Russell last weekend at the Spanish GP.

Bottas still keen on F1 race return

Bottas has been linked recently with Alpine thanks to their impending move to Mercedes power units, either to replace Franco Colapinto or Pierre Gasly, as well as Cadillac as they look to fill both of their vacant seats for their 2026 entry into the sport.

While the penalty would be irritating for Bottas’ first race with any team that snaps him up, it’s not severe enough to be a dealbreaker in anything other than a one-off race scenario, replacing a banned or injured driver.

The FIA’s statement on the penalty at the time read: “Car 77 was on the inside of Car 20 on the approach to Turn 6, misjudged his braking significantly and collided with Car 20 which was entering the corner on the regular racing line.

“As Car 77 retired from the race, the Steward determine that a grid drop is warranted which is the equivalent of a drive-through penalty and three penalty points are warranted due to the significant misjudgement of the driver.”

Seismic Shifts Ahead: Could George Russell and Max Verstappen Become F1’s Most Explosive Teammates?

In Formula 1, unpredictability is the only certainty. As 2026 approaches, that truth has never rung louder than in the deafening noise of the driver market rumor mill. Lately, the old saying “the most entertaining outcome is the most likely one” seems to be prophetic, with bombshell possibilities ricocheting around the paddock: George Russell is being heavily linked with a move to Aston Martin; Toto Wolff of Mercedes still dreams of pulling Max Verstappen from Red Bull; and, astonishingly, there’s a scenario developing where both Russell and Verstappen could find themselves not just on the same grid, but in the same garage.

If it comes to pass—be that in emerald green or silver—Formula 1 would face the most dramatic driver partnership since Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. Let’s unpack what’s driving this potential super-team, and what it would mean for Formula 1’s new era.

The George Russell Saga: A Man in Demand

Russell’s rise through Formula 1, from Williams underdog to Mercedes hope, has earned him a reputation as one of the grid’s fiercest competitors. Despite standout moments—including his breakthrough 2022 win in Brazil—Mercedes’ chronic underperformance since the last regulation change has left him with little to show in terms of title-chasing hardware.

With his current contract with the Silver Arrows set to expire at the end of 2025, the rumor mill is in overdrive. At the recent Australian Grand Prix, Russell was seen in deep conversation with McLaren’s senior figures Zac Brown and Andrea Stella. A week later at the Chinese GP, he was spotted with Alpine’s Flavio Briatore, and reports persist of preliminary discussions with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner—a known admirer, who once declared Red Bull would be “foolish” to ignore Russell’s potential.

Enter Aston Martin, now confirmed by the Times as an official contender for Russell’s signature. Led by the ambitious Lawrence Stroll and bolstered by the upcoming arrival of legendary car designer Adrian Newey and a new works engine partnership with Honda in 2026, the Silverstone squad is aiming high. Despite a tough 2024 so far, ambition and investment point to a team willing to buy out contracts to secure a potential world champion.

Toto’s Dream: The Lure of Verstappen

Meanwhile, Mercedes chief Toto Wolff is playing a longer, bolder game. Wolff has never shied from his admiration for Max Verstappen—or for his desire to lure the reigning world champion away from Red Bull. The relationship between Verstappen, Red Bull management, and the ever-expanding F1 calendar is becoming increasingly strained. The Dutch star has suggested early retirement is a possibility due to Red Bull politics and personal burnout.

Wolff’s approach has been tactful, even defending Verstappen after a tense on-track incident with Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix. “If it was road rage, it wasn’t a very clever one,” Wolff remarked, implying Verstappen was playing strategic games rather than acting out emotionally. What’s clear is that Wolff is keen to keep relations open, avoiding public criticism to ensure Mercedes remains a serious landing spot, should Verstappen choose to leave Red Bull.

Amid all this, Wolff’s recent remarks on Russell’s contract—“we’re totally clear on how this is going to go… we won’t wait till September to sort it”—may hint at discussions and contingency plans that go well beyond contractual loyalty.

Russell + Verstappen: The Oil-and-Water Superteam

What if both George Russell and Max Verstappen end up at the same team in 2026? Whether it’s at a newly revitalized Aston Martin or at Mercedes, it would redefine the shape of the championship.

On-paper, it’s a dream team: Russell is a proven race winner and fierce battler, while Verstappen is the generational benchmark with four championships and counting. But put them side-by-side in the garage, and it’s not just competitiveness you get—there’s bound to be conflict. Their on-track tussles have often spilled over into public spats, with accusations of recklessness and poor racecraft. F1 fans can imagine the team radio messages—the fireworks, the debates, the strategy meetings fraught with tension.

Managing such a pairing would demand world-class diplomacy from the team principal—whether it’s Mike Krack at Aston Martin or Toto Wolff at Mercedes—and conflict resolution skills worthy of a world leader. Every team order would become a political live grenade; every on-track battle would feel like a last-lap title decider.

The 2026 F1 Reset: New Rules, New Powerhouses

Adding to the excitement is the wholesale reset arriving in 2026. New technical regulations and engine formulas promise a shakeup on the scale of 2009 or 2014. Aston Martin, with Adrian Newey overseeing their design overhaul and Honda supplying fresh power, is positioning itself as a future powerhouse. Meanwhile, Red Bull will face the challenge of integrating Ford as its new engine partner, an undertaking that, if mishandled, could shatter their current hegemony.

The driver market chaos extends beyond Russell and Verstappen. Established names under contract, like Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, could be unseated if a true title-winning window opens. Flavio Briatore’s return to Alpine, McLaren’s ongoing resurgence, and Ferrari’s perennial quest for glory all add up to the busiest, most unpredictable market in years.

Can It Work? Or Are We Headed for a Civil War?

History teaches us that F1’s biggest rivalries often come from within—think Senna vs. Prost, Rosberg vs. Hamilton. The prospect of Russell and Verstappen sharing a garage offers not just the promise of on-track excellence, but also the tantalizing risk of implosion.

Could they coexist? Or would we see the fiercest intra-team battle in decades? Given their personalities and ultra-competitive streaks, it’s hard to imagine a calm alliance. But F1 thrives on these rivalries. As regulations reset and old hierarchies collapse, there’s never been a better time for a new, explosive partnership to take center stage.

One thing is certain: by the time the lights go out in March 2026, Formula 1 could have a new super-team—and box office levels of drama to match.

Max Verstappen Issues Stark Warning to Red Bull: Are F1’s Dominators Facing Collapse?

A storm is brewing atop Formula 1’s most storied podium. Max Verstappen, the undisputed king of modern F1, has fired a blunt warning to Red Bull Racing: Without urgent upgrades, their iron grip on the world title may be slipping away. As rivals surge and cracks emerge from within, Red Bull finds itself battling not just their competitors, but potentially, their own greatest asset.

What’s really unfolding within the walls of Formula 1’s most dominant team, and what could Verstappen’s ultimatum mean for the future of F1?

Red Bull’s Era of Invincibility – and What’s Changed

In 2023, Red Bull was simply untouchable. The RB19, a technological marvel conceived by legendary designer Adrian Newey and honed to perfection by the team, propelled Verstappen to a host of records, including an astounding 19 wins in 22 races and a record-shattering 575 points. The result: Champagne on the podium and an aura of invincibility.

But 2024 brought new challenges. Technical rule tweaks, rapidly developing rivals, and Red Bull’s own internal tumult have closed the gap. The new RB21, anticipated to be yet another tour de force, seemingly struggles – particularly on tight, technical circuits, in tricky wind conditions, and over long stints where tire degradation bites. Even Verstappen himself has admitted after a string of subdued results, “We’re not where we need to be. It’s tough out there.”

Verstappen’s Alarm: Not Just Frustration

Verstappen’s recent comments, however, are not routine post-race grumbling. According to Racing News 365, he has made it clear to team management that significant, immediate development is non-negotiable. In his own words: “We need to improve if we want to win championships.” The subtext could scarcely be louder – and more dangerous – for Red Bull’s ambitions.

Team principal Christian Horner has echoed the urgency, conceding after a tough result: “We’ve got to keep in touch with McLaren. To beat them, we must start taking points off them.” The sense of pressure – long alien to Milton Keynes – is suddenly palpable.

The Performance Clause That Could Change Everything

Here’s the twist: Whispers in the F1 paddock suggest Verstappen’s multi-year contract contains a performance clause. In essence, if Red Bull can no longer supply a car capable of championship contention, the Dutchman could activate an exit option – free to field offers from title-hungry rivals.

Verstappen is contracted through 2028, but in Formula 1, contracts are as robust as a diffuser in a gravel trap when performance lags. Teams and drivers alike know that paperwork rarely holds sway over ambitions and reputations.

Why Red Bull Is Faltering: The Newey Factor and More

Several factors have contributed to Red Bull’s suddenly shaky perch:

Adrian Newey’s Departure: The technical visionary who shaped Red Bull’s dominant philosophy quietly exited, leaving the technical team struggling with “correlation issues” between their simulation tools and real-world data. The loss of his creative steering has been more disruptive than expected.
Internal Dynamics Shift: Sources suggest a battle of opinions behind closed doors, as new leadership and the ever-present pressure to maintain dominance sow uncertainty within the engineering ranks.
Development Conservatism: In contrast to their rivals, Red Bull has taken a risk-averse approach to updates in 2024. As McLaren, Ferrari, and even Mercedes aim high with aggressive upgrades, Red Bull’s incremental philosophy risks being left behind.

The result: Verstappen now finds himself in the foreign position of pursuer, not leader.

McLaren’s Meteoric Rise – The New Benchmark?

As Red Bull stumbles, McLaren has seized the mantle of F1’s pacesetter. Under Andrea Stella’s leadership, the Woking-based outfit’s MCL39B is now a formidable benchmark. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have powered McLaren into genuine contention, thanks to:

Advanced simulation and data analytics
Sharp strategic calls and lightning pit stops
A focused, unified team philosophy

Verstappen has openly admitted, “McLaren are very strong. They have the pace and consistency we used to have.” Suddenly, the hunter has become the hunted.

The Driver Market Wildcard

Should Verstappen’s patience run thinner, the repercussions would rattle the entire F1 landscape. Both Mercedes and Aston Martin have expressed interest in courting the star Dutchman should he become available. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has refused to dismiss a future approach, and Aston Martin, with their ambitious Honda works partnership for 2026, have quietly positioned themselves as a dark horse for superstar acquisition.

The Crucial Countdown: Five Races to Redemption

The next five races will be season-defining. If Red Bull introduces successful upgrades and Verstappen returns to his winning ways, tensions may subside. Failure, though, will amplify the spotlight and embolden rival offers. Verstappen’s own words drive the point home: “I’m here to win. That’s why I race.” Any sign of complacency, and a seismic transfer could follow.

The Looming Regulation Overhaul

The chaos may only intensify with the 2026 regulation reset. Radical engine rules, expanded freedoms in chassis design, and a leveled financial playing field promise renewed competition. Red Bull, long the standard-bearer for technical excellence, risks being overtaken not just by McLaren, but by a resurgent Ferrari, an agile Mercedes, or a resourced-upstart like Aston Martin.

In this boiling cauldron, Verstappen’s patience – and Red Bull’s capacity for innovation – will face their supreme test.

The Verdict: A Turning Point for Formula 1

What we’re witnessing might not just be a mid-season slump, but a pivotal moment in F1 history. Red Bull’s fate – and Verstappen’s – now hinges on a simple truth: Adapt or be overtaken. The mantle of dominance is never secure in Formula 1. Mercedes once looked unassailable, only for Red Bull to engineer their downfall. Can McLaren, Ferrari, or another step up and do the same – and tempt Verstappen into a daring leap?

One thing is certain: If Red Bull does not rally, the driver market and the 2026 revolution may herald a new era, with Verstappen at its heart – perhaps not in Red Bull colors, but under a new flag, ready to rewrite records and legends anew.

Stay tuned – because in Formula 1, today’s titans can be tomorrow’s underdogs. And as Verstappen has made clear, he only races for victory. Will Red Bull rise to the challenge, or will this be the year the empire begins to crumble?

The Great Getaway: How Lewis Hamilton Uncovered Ferrari’s Silent Campaign

At 0:02, Lewis Hamilton’s start from the grid was pure poetry—a blend of instinct, skill, and desire for victory. The Ferraris snapped close, their wheels nearly tangling with his. Yet, what played out was not the kind of visible clash that ignites headlines or incites penalties. Instead, it was an invisible struggle, one that simmered far beneath the surface of Formula 1: a data leak, a buried secret, and a revelation that changed Hamilton’s understanding of his new home at Ferrari.

The Leak That Changed Everything

Hamilton had never been meant to see it: a 42-page internal document, dense with jargon and priorities, quietly listing technical preferences, development paths, and subtle decisions that, when combined, spelled a chilling conclusion—his very legacy was being managed, not cultivated. The Ferrari garage didn’t erupt in chaos when he confronted them. Instead, it fell into a long, telling silence. There was no confusion or denial. In that moment, the message was clear: the transition from Mercedes to Ferrari was not just about driving a faster car. It was about control, narrative, and power.

Hamilton had been sold a dream. Ferrari, sleeping giant of Formula 1, and Hamilton, seven-time world champion, united under the prancing horse—a combination set to spark a new era. That was the surface. Behind closed doors, beneath the dazzling press conferences and eager fanfare, Hamilton discovered he’d been cast in a different role: not as a champion, but as a placeholder—useful for attention, headlines, and symbolism, while the organization built its real future around someone else.

Reading The Signs: When Success Becomes Threat

What Hamilton found in the documentation wasn’t dramatic sabotage. There were no doctored bolts or obvious engineering mishaps. Instead, the document mapped a quieter resistance: subtle decisions in simulator settings, delayed responses to setup requests, and priorities that always seemed to drift to the other side of the garage. Every decision, every pause or nod in a meeting, began to form patterns.

At first, he chalked it up to the chaos of a new team. Ferrari promised parity—equal treatment, open collaboration, a new car developed with input from both drivers. But the appearance of harmony gave way to friction as testing began. Parts Hamilton requested were often “not available” or “still in development,” while his teammate, Charles Leclerc, always seemed to receive exactly what he needed, exactly when he needed it.

Simulator sessions began to feel like experiments, sometimes borderline unworkable, with session data either unavailable or cut short. When Hamilton pushed for certain changes, the answers were always professional but never timely. Review requests for prior session data were met with technical excuses or outright denials.

The deeper Hamilton looked, the more the cracks widened.

The Leclerc Agenda

Hamilton’s growing unease wasn’t just technical. In team engineering briefings, strategy debriefs, and media interactions, the dynamic was unmistakable. The heart of Ferrari beat for Charles Leclerc—a driver whose legacy at the team stretched back to his earliest days in Formula 2, with a cadre of engineers and strategists who had grown with him, trusted him, and built their professional futures around his success.

On the other side, Hamilton’s crew was a rotating cast—skilled professionals, no doubt, but without that foundation of trust and shared history. In Formula 1, where milliseconds can make the difference, unified support isn’t just an advantage—it’s a necessity.

Strategic calls further exposed the bias. Radios would calmly request Hamilton to “manage tires” or “think long term,” even when he was within striking distance of a podium, while Leclerc received the green light to attack or chase a target lap time. Subtle, unrequested changes—brake bias, aerodynamics, floor tweaks—altered Hamilton’s car just enough to blunt his edge.

The Power of Silence

What made Ferrari’s campaign so effective was its subtlety. There were no public disputes, no leaks to the media, no direct sabotage. Instead, there was silence: decisions not made, instructions not given, data quietly missing, moments of hesitation and delay that could always be attributed to routine delays or half-explained technical issues.

And while public interviews and Italian press coverage kept the spotlight on Leclerc as the future, Hamilton became the “experienced backup,” valuable more as a mentor and public figure than as Ferrari’s principal hope. Where the world saw equals, Hamilton saw the machinery of a narrative being quietly constructed, his role as a championship contender systematically diminished.

Hamilton’s Quiet Battle

Faced with this campaign, Hamilton chose not to fight with outbursts or ultimatums. Instead, he responded the only way a real champion could: by pushing harder than ever before. Every lap, every data point, every race became a new argument—evidence that even without the full weight of Ferrari’s apparatus behind him, his instinct, experience, and talent remained supreme.

He pressed for clarity. He demanded answers in closed meetings. And he adapted—extracting pace from unfavorable setups, finding speed where the data insisted there was none. But he also saw the writing on the wall: in Ferrari’s carefully managed environment, winning was no longer just about driving. It was about fitting into a deeper, more political system.

Ferrari’s Future and Hamilton’s Legacy

The drama unfolding inside Ferrari during the 2025 season may be invisible to outsiders, but it is no less real. The Italian press now focuses on Leclerc as Ferrari’s golden hope, while Hamilton is discussed with the reserved language reserved for supporting cast. This is not just about which driver crosses the finish line first; it’s about control of a legacy.

For Lewis Hamilton, the greatest battle was not on the tarmac but within the politics and silence of Maranello—where every instruction, or lack of one, shaped not just a season, but history itself.

And in this arena, sometimes the most decisive moves come not with a bang, but with a whisper.

Photo: © IMAGO

Former Red Bull F1 driver Sergio Perez has been linked with a surprise move to a current team on the grid, as rumours of his return to the sport get ever stronger.

Perez was axed by the Red Bull team in 2024, following four full seasons with the Milton Keynes-based outfit, where he claimed five grands prix victories and helped them claim two constructors’ titles.

However, the recent performances of Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull car alongside Max Verstappen have improved Perez’s standing in the sport, shining a different light on his dismal 2024 performances.

It has led to rumours that Perez could be a sought-after driver for 2026, with new regulations making it crucial for teams to have a stable driver lineup.

The outfit most strongly linked with acquiring Perez’s services have been new team Cadillac, who are said to be seeking at least one experienced F1 racer for their first season in the sport in 2026.

Now, however, respected F1 pundit Lawrence Barretto has suggested that the Mexican racer could instead join a current team on the F1 grid, with Alpine reportedly holding talks with the 35-year-old.

“Perez took some time out with his family to evaluate his options and he ultimately realised he wanted back in,” Barretto said in a column on the official F1 website. “So he and his management began exploring the market.

“My sources tell me the Mexican has spoken to multiple teams, including Cadillac and Alpine, about a return to a race seat next season. Perez is hungry to get back on the grid and it is that motivation that could be very appealing to teams in need of a driver.”

Will Perez race in 2026?

Perez and his management team have made no secret of his desire to return to the sport, and he appears at the front of a long line of recently axed drivers that are also looking for a way back into the sport.

Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu and Mick Schumacher have also been linked with a move to the new Cadillac team, but Perez’s recent role within a championship-winning team makes him the frontrunner.

However, could Alpine sweep in for the Mexican? The team’s driver lineup is uncertain for 2026, with only Pierre Gasly nailed on to be at the team when new regulations sweep into the sport.

Jack Doohan was axed earlier this season and replaced by Franco Colapinto, but executive advisor Flavio Briatore has suggested that the move is one of several potential switches in 2025, as the team try to find the right combination.

Bottas recently revealed that he held talks with Alpine last year, but Perez would surely be the Enstone outfit’s favoured choice, if they can tempt the Mexican to take a gamble on their future improvement.

Photo: © IMAGO

George Russell has joked that Lewis Hamilton’s music habits were the ‘real reason’ for his departure from Mercedes last year.

Hamilton ditched the Brackley-based outfit after 12 highly-successful seasons at the end of 2024, taking to Ferrari to live out what he called a ‘childhood dream’, and to try and once again challenge for an eighth world title.

However, Hamilton’s early season form with the Maranello outfit has been disappointing to say the least, while former team-mate Russell has gone from strength to strength as Mercedes’ team leader.

The 27-year-old has already claimed four podiums in 2025, and sits fourth in the drivers’ championship, 40 points above Ferrari’s Hamilton.

Russell and Hamilton were thought to share a close relationship at Mercedes during their time as team-mates, and they still hold a lot of respect for one another, but Russell has let slip one thing that may have slightly annoyed him about the seven-time world champion.

“Big red flag,” Russell boldly confessed when asked about team-mates playing their music too loudly in a video on the F1 YouTube channel.

“I mean I’ve had that for three years! That’s the real reason Lewis had to leave, the music was too loud,” the Mercedes star joked.

Russell misses out on Hamilton success

When Russell arrived at Mercedes, the team had just won eight consecutive constructors’ championship trophies.

Hamilton himself had claimed drivers’ championship success in six of the previous eight seasons, and the all-British driver lineup was a tantalising prospect heading into the 2022 season.

However, since then neither Mercedes, Hamilton nor Russell have been able to win a championship as Red Bull and now McLaren have dominated the sport.

Russell has claimed three grand prix victories so far in his time with the team, while Hamilton claimed two in the three seasons that the pair were team-mates.

Having gone their separate ways, both British drivers will be hoping for more success in 2025, and beyond, as new regulations look to provide both of their respective teams with a chance to improve their current standing in F1’s pecking order.

Aston Martin’s Crucial Dilemma: Who Should Replace Lance Stroll Amid an Uncertain Recovery?

Aston Martin is facing a precarious, high-stakes situation as the 2024 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix approaches. Team boss Mike Krack has delivered sobering updates on Lance Stroll’s uncertain recovery, casting doubt over the Canadian’s participation in what should be the high point of his season—a home race in Montreal. Should Stroll remain sidelined, the Silverstone-based squad must select a stand-in. The situation raises critical questions about Aston Martin’s direction, both for this one race and for the team’s future as a whole.

This scenario casts the spotlight not only on the team’s short-term contingency plans but also rekindles the debate about the long-term sustainability of the Stroll project, spearheaded by Lawrence Stroll, the team’s principal owner and Lance’s father. For a team with championship ambitions, settling for sentiment over performance could soon prove costly.

Lance Stroll’s Struggles and Injury Woes

Stroll’s F1 career has been eventful, often defended against critiques by virtue of his father’s deep investment in the team. Nonetheless, repeated underperformance compared to illustrious teammates—and sometimes even house reserve drivers—has made his seat one of the most scrutinized on the grid. While Stroll showed impressive grit by returning to action shortly after a hand-breaking cycling accident ahead of the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix, his comeback didn’t address persistent questions about his ultimate potential.

Reports surfaced after the 2023 Spanish round that Stroll’s frustrations had boiled over, with an incident in the garage that led to further questions about his focus and temperament. A subsequent operation was reported, suggesting that physical pain was perhaps compounding mental and emotional strain. Nevertheless, the deeper concern for Aston Martin fans—and F1 observers at large—is whether Stroll is still the best fit, or even a viable one, for a team with lofty ambitions.

Clear Options for Canada: Drugovich, Vandoorne, and a Surprising Bottas Twist

Aston Martin’s immediate task is clear: replace Stroll, possibly as a one-off, for his home event. The front-runner for the temporary gig is Felipe Drugovich, the team’s official reserve driver and 2022 Formula 2 Champion. Both Drugovich and Aston Martin have made it plain that Formula 1 would take priority for the Brazilian in the event he is called up, potentially sidelining his existing commitments with Cadillac at Le Mans.

Drugovich has been waiting for exactly this type of opportunity—a chance to make his mark in F1. However, putting him in the car would be a gamble; with no prior Grand Prix race starts, he would be making his competitive debut at one of the season’s most pressure-filled weekends.

Alternatively, the team could turn to their other reserve, Stoffel Vandoorne. The Belgian has extensive racing—and sim—experience, including several seasons in F1 with McLaren. His steady, methodical approach would likely guarantee the team a solid, if unspectacular, weekend.

Yet a shock candidate has recently emerged: Valtteri Bottas. Bottas, a proven race-winner with Mercedes and now a mainstay at struggling Sauber, is on the hunt for a 2025 race seat. His familiarity with the Mercedes power unit (Aston Martin’s supplier until 2026) and vast experience make him an enticing, low-risk option if the team wishes to maximize points in the ultra-competitive Constructors’ Championship.

Beyond Canada: Opening Lawrence Stroll’s Eyes

This acute problem—the absence of a primary driver for a key event—may finally force Lawrence Stroll to reckon with a question F1 fans have asked for years: Does sentiment trump results? While few can question a father’s commitment, Formula 1’s ruthless environment punishes complacency and rewards only results. If Drugovich, Vandoorne, or Bottas outperforms expectations and scores points in the midfield-fight, the pressure to reassess the driver line-up will become irresistible.

Bottas, in particular, is at a career crossroads. With 246 Grand Prix starts, he has the pedigree and the hunger to deliver; sidelined at Sauber (now Audi works team), Bottas’s motivation to secure a competitive seat for 2025—and potentially beyond with Cadillac—is evident. Were he to deliver a standout performance, it could cement his case for a full-time return with another team. Such a performance would also be damning evidence that Aston’s current car is underdelivering due more to the driver than the machinery.

The Broader Context: Aston Martin’s Future and the 2026 Revolution

This shake-up comes at a time of pivotal transition for Aston Martin. The team, buoyed by successive investments and the hiring of F1 design legend Adrian Newey, has its sights set on Grand Prix wins and even world titles in the next regulation era. Honda’s works power units arrive in 2026; Fernando Alonso is expected to retire soon after. Thus, finding a proven, championship-calibre driver to partner a future superstar—should the stars align for a Max Verstappen coup—becomes the obvious mandate.

Allowing sentimental or sub-par performances to dictate race seats risks undermining all the progress made since Lawrence Stroll acquired the team. If an interim driver delivers results that outshine Stroll’s track record, Lawrence may have no choice but to separate family from business and plan for a new era, both for his team and his son.

Who Should Get the Nod?

With Aston Martin in a constructors’ knife fight, every point is crucial. While Drugovich, as the reserve, is the natural first choice, Bottas presents an opportunity to score solidly and send a message of intent: Aston Martin is here to fight, not to experiment. For the Stroll project, the writing may already be on the wall; a strong performance from any stand-in will only expose the team’s need to prioritize results.

Conclusion: A Moment of Truth for Aston Martin

Aston Martin’s impending driver decision for Canada is not just about filling a seat; it’s about defining the team’s ethos and future. Choosing an experienced head like Bottas could stabilize and galvanize their charge for points. Opting for Drugovich or Vandoorne would honor internal structure, but may not maximize immediate returns. Either way, the Grand Prix may force Lawrence Stroll to confront a reality every great F1 team must eventually face: results must always come before relationships.

Will this crisis catalyze a new era for Aston Martin, or will sentiment dilute their ambitions? As Canada looms, the next chapter in Silverstone’s story is about to be written.