The Formula 1 paddock has never been a stranger to high-stakes drama, but the whispers circulating following the conclusion of the 2025 season feel different. They feel seismic. In a year that saw the coronation of a new world champion in Lando Norris and the startling decline of the sport’s most decorated driver, a new narrative has emerged that could fundamentally reshape the future of the sport. The rumor? Christian Horner, the mastermind behind Red Bull Racing’s historic dominance, is being heavily linked with a sensational move to Ferrari—a move insiders believe might be the only way to salvage Lewis Hamilton’s crumbling dream of an eighth world title.

A Champion in Crisis

To understand the magnitude of this potential shake-up, one must first look at the desolate reality of Lewis Hamilton’s current situation. The seven-time world champion has just concluded what he himself has labeled the “worst season” of his illustrious 20-year career. The statistics are nothing short of shocking for a man whose name is synonymous with winning.

Finishing the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in a dismal eighth place, Hamilton capped off a campaign entirely devoid of podium finishes. For the first time in two decades, the British legend failed to spray champagne even once during a main race. It is a staggering fall from grace for a driver who, until recently, seemed untouchable.

Johnny Herbert, the three-time Grand Prix winner and former FIA steward, offered a brutal assessment of Hamilton’s demeanor in an exclusive interview with TalkSport. Having observed the paddock dynamics closely, Herbert noted a distinct change in the champion’s aura.

“I’ve never seen him as grumpy,” Herbert revealed, cutting straight to the heart of the issue. “There is that frustration that he’s having at Ferrari at the moment.”

This grumpiness is not merely the petulance of a losing star; it is the visible distress of a “champion in crisis.” The fairy tale move to Ferrari, intended to emulate Michael Schumacher’s legendary resurgence, has seemingly turned into a nightmare. Hamilton is not just struggling with the car; he is struggling with the internal reality of being outperformed.

Throughout the 2025 season, Hamilton watched from the other side of the garage as his teammate, Charles Leclerc, consistently extracted performance from the same machinery. While Hamilton fought to break into the top five, Leclerc was digging out podiums and proving that the Ferrari was not completely undrivable.

“He’s frustrated with his own performances, but then he’s also looking across the garage and seeing Charles Leclerc actually being able to dig out some podium finishes and generally be faster than Lewis throughout the season,” Herbert explained. For a driver whose identity is built on being the fastest man on the track, the psychological blow of being comprehensively beaten by a teammate is devastating.

The “Schumacher Solution”

So, where does Christian Horner fit into this equation? The connection lies in the history of Ferrari itself. The team’s last golden era—the Schumacher dominance of the early 2000s—was not achieved by a driver alone. It was built by a ruthless, efficient organization led by Jean Todt and Ross Brawn.

The current Ferrari regime, led by Fred Vasseur, has failed to replicate that structure. Despite Vasseur signing a contract extension back in July, the paddock is rife with speculation that the decision was premature. The team’s inability to provide a championship-contending car has become a recurring theme, a cycle of false hope and crushing disappointment.

Enter Christian Horner. Having parted ways with Red Bull last summer, Horner is currently a free agent, and his résumé speaks for itself: eight Drivers’ Titles and six Constructors’ Championships. He knows how to build a winning machine from the ground up.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown recently fueled the fire, stating he believes the “unbelievable team boss” will inevitably return to the sport. Herbert takes this a step further, suggesting that if Ferrari’s fortunes do not turn around immediately in 2026, Horner could be the man drafted in to restore the Prancing Horse to glory.

“Ferrari wants someone to be able to bring it back to those wonderful winning ways that we saw with Michael Schumacher,” Herbert told TalkSport. “Would Christian be that person who could attract the right personnel… to be able to achieve a championship-winning constructor, but more importantly, the drivers’ [championship]?”

The logic is compelling. Horner’s strength at Red Bull was never just about strategy; it was about culture. He created an environment where winning was the only metric that mattered. He attracted top aerodynamicists, built a politically savvy operation, and shielded his team from external noise. These are precisely the qualities Ferrari has lacked for nearly two decades.

The 2026 Imperative

The timing of these rumors is critical. The 2026 season brings with it a sweeping set of new regulations, leveling the playing field and offering every team a chance to reset the hierarchy. For Hamilton, now 40 years old, this represents the final roll of the dice. He has confirmed he will race in 2026, putting retirement rumors to bed, but his patience is undoubtedly wearing thin.

Hamilton is facing a generational shift unlike anything he has encountered before. The “new guard” has firmly arrived. Lando Norris is now a World Champion. Max Verstappen remains a force of nature. Behind them, young talents like Kimi Antonelli, Arvid Lindblad, and Isack Hadjar are rising through the ranks, hungry to topple the sport’s “elder statesmen.”

In this landscape, Hamilton cannot afford another transition year. He needs a car—and a team—that works immediately.

“It’s another hope that Ferrari want to turn things around with the new challenges of next year… and maybe they’ll be able to supply him the car that he needs,” Herbert noted. But hope is not a strategy. If Ferrari stumbles out of the gate in 2026, the pressure to replace Vasseur with a proven winner like Horner could become insurmountable.

The Ultimate Irony

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of this rumor is the potential dynamic between Hamilton and Horner. For over a decade, they were on opposite sides of F1’s fiercest war. The Red Bull vs. Mercedes rivalry defined an era, filled with bitter press conferences, on-track collisions, and tense championship battles.

Ideally, they are adversaries. But pragmatically? They might be exactly what the other needs. Hamilton needs a team principal who knows how to dethrone the competition. Horner needs a project worthy of his talents—a legacy-defining challenge like bringing the championship back to Maranello.

“The irony is almost too perfect,” analysts suggest. Hamilton might need his old enemy to achieve his ultimate dream. Ferrari might need to swallow its pride and admit that the current “friendly” approach isn’t working.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Hamilton left the safety of Mercedes to chase a ghost at Ferrari. So far, he has found only frustration. But the arrival of a figure like Christian Horner could signal a shift from romantic idealism to ruthless pragmatism.

As the F1 world heads into the winter break, all eyes are on Maranello. The 2025 season may have been a disaster for Lewis Hamilton, but if these shockwaves turn into reality, 2026 could host the most explosive comeback—and the most unexpected partnership—in the history of the sport.

The dust has finally settled on the 2025 Formula 1 season, and if your heart rate has returned to normal, you’re one of the lucky ones. We just witnessed one of the most intense, grueling, and statistically improbable championships in the history of the sport. A season spanning 24 races across the globe was ultimately decided by a margin so razor-thin—just two points—that it forces us to look back at every single lap, every pit stop, and every split-second decision with a magnifying glass.

While the history books will record the winner, for Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, the winter break will be haunted by the specter of “what if.” Both drivers were worthy of the crown, delivering performances that were nothing short of heroic. Yet, in a campaign defined by fine margins, they both fell agonizingly short. The narrative isn’t just about who won; it’s about the specific, painful moments where the title slipped through their fingers.

The Dutch Lion’s Rare Stumbles

For Max Verstappen, a driver who has become synonymous with robotic consistency, the 2025 season exposed a rare vulnerability: human emotion. The narrative that Verstappen only lost because of the car isn’t entirely accurate. Yes, the Red Bull RB21 struggled mid-season, but there were points left on the table by the driver himself.

The first crack in the armor appeared in Spain. It was a classic case of the “red mist” descending. In a situation where a calm head could have salvaged a P5 finish, frustration took the wheel. Verstappen, perhaps overcompensating for a car that wasn’t behaving, pushed beyond the limit and tumbled down to P10. In a championship decided by a mere brace of points, that swing was catastrophic. It highlighted a recurring theme: when Verstappen feels he isn’t the master of his own destiny—whether due to strategy or machinery—composure can sometimes desert him.

Then came the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, a track that usually rewards bravery. In treacherous wet conditions, we saw a rare, uncharacteristic error from the Dutchman. spinning on a safety car restart. It dropped him from a likely second place down to fifth. These weren’t mechanical failures; they were moments where the driver, usually a machine of precision, proved mortal.

However, to place the blame entirely on Max’s shoulders would be unfair. The reality is that for a massive chunk of the season, Red Bull was simply lost. The development war is where championships are often won or lost, and mid-season, McLaren simply out-developed them. The car wasn’t competitive, leaving Verstappen to fight with one hand tied behind his back.

And then, there was the sheer bad luck. The DNF in Austria, caused by a collision with the rookie sensation Antonelli, was completely out of his hands. He wasn’t going to win that race, but the lost points were massive. Similarly, a poorly timed Virtual Safety Car (VSC) in Mexico cost him three crucial points. When you lose the title by two, those three points in Mexico City feel like a dagger to the heart.

Piastri’s “Championship to Lose”

If Verstappen’s story is one of fighting against a fading machine, Oscar Piastri’s season feels like a tragedy of unfulfilled potential. In many ways, this was Piastri’s championship to lose—and unfortunately, he did. With the McLaren proving to be the fastest car for the majority of the year, the young Australian had the tools to conquer the world. But consistency, the hallmark of champions, eluded him at critical junctures.

The haunting began early in Australia. Losing the rear in the rain at his home Grand Prix turned a podium finish into a P9 slog. That single mistake cost him 16 points. In hindsight, that afternoon in Melbourne looms large over the final standings. It was a stark reminder that even the brightest talents are susceptible to pressure on home soil.

But it wasn’t just driving errors; the internal politics at McLaren played a massive role. The “Papaya Rules” became a buzzword for frustration. At Monza, team orders and a refusal to prioritize the lead driver cost Piastri three points—a tally that would have been enough to change the championship outcome. Later in Singapore, the friction with his teammate Lando Norris reached a boiling point, with on-track battles that surely cost the team optimal results.

The season’s low point, however, was undoubtedly Baku. It was a nightmare weekend where everything that could go wrong, did. A DNF, zero points, and a shattered confidence level left him reeling. This kicked off a “hemorrhaging” of points that defined the latter third of his season. The crash in the Austin Sprint—taking out his own teammate—was a disaster, followed by a botched strategy in Qatar that stripped him of a win.

Critically, Piastri suffered a catastrophic loss of pace from Singapore through to Qatar. While Verstappen was maximizing a slow car, Piastri was struggling to extract performance from a fast one. That drop in form, more than any single crash, was the nail in the coffin.

The Cruel Math of Formula 1

As we look toward 2026, the lessons of 2025 are clear. In a 24-race calendar, you cannot afford “off weekends.” Verstappen’s title defense was undone by a team that couldn’t keep up with development and a few moments of hot-headedness. Piastri’s challenge collapsed under the weight of unforced errors and a late-season form slump.

The beauty of this sport lies in its brutality. Three different drivers battled for the crown, showcasing different strengths and exposing different weaknesses. The ebb and flow of the season provided drama that no scriptwriter could dream up. But for Max and Oscar, the winter will be long. They will replay the spin in the rain, the ill-timed overtake, and the strategy call that went wrong.

They were both worthy. They both drove like titans. But in the end, the math of Formula 1 is unforgiving. Two points. That’s the difference between immortality and being the “first of the losers.” As the engines fire up for 2026, one thing is certain: they won’t make the same mistakes again.

It was supposed to be a formality. As the Formula 1 paddock exhaled after the conclusion of the 2025 championship, the post-season tests at the Yas Marina Circuit were billed as a routine gathering exercise for the 2026 Pirelli compounds. But beneath the calm surface of the twilight sessions, a storm was brewing inside the Ferrari garage—one that would vindicate a seven-time world champion and shake the foundations of the Scuderia’s technical department.

For months, Lewis Hamilton had been a lone voice of concern. Throughout the season, the British legend had reported a series of “phantom” anomalies in the SF25: intermittent vibrations, sudden instability in high-speed corners, and a terrifying, unpredictable loss of rear load. To the engineers staring at their monitors, the car looked fine. The telemetry showed no major failures. The simulations were green. Hamilton was told, repeatedly and politely, to adjust his driving style. He was told to adapt.

But in Abu Dhabi, the gaslighting ended.

The “Mule” That Told the Truth

Unbeknownst to the media, Ferrari had brought a heavily modified experimental car to the test—a “mule” designed to test theories that had been quietly circulating in the back offices of Maranello. This version of the SF25 was equipped with advanced sensors specifically tuned to capture structural micro-vibrations and airflow consistency.

When engineers finally cross-referenced the data from this experimental chassis with the logs from Hamilton’s race car, the results were not just illuminating; they were damning.

The investigation revealed a critical, physical incongruity between the digital sensors and the driver’s physical reality. The SF25 suffered from a catastrophic, albeit intermittent, break in its aerodynamic seal. Under specific conditions—such as the compression of the suspension in high-speed turns or heavy braking—the airflow under the floor would detach for milliseconds.

In layman’s terms? The car literally stopped “sticking” to the track for a fraction of a second.

It was a structural failure masked by an overly sensitive aerodynamic architecture. No wind tunnel had replicated it because it required the chaotic violence of a real track to manifest. It was a “ghost” flaw—invisible to the computers, but violently obvious to a driver of Hamilton’s caliber.

Hamilton’s Silence Speaks Volumes

Witnesses in the garage described the moment the data was finalized. The atmosphere shifted from clinical analysis to solemn realization. When the findings were presented—confirming that the car had been technically compromised from the very first race—Hamilton’s reaction was described as “glacial.”

There was no “I told you so.” There was no outburst. According to sources present, Hamilton simply nodded, a look of resignation and validation washing over him. The months of doubting his own adaptation, the struggle to tame a car that felt “alive one moment and dead the next,” were not the result of aging reflexes or a mismatch with the machinery. It was a scientific, mechanical failure that the team had failed to catch.

This discovery changes the narrative of the entire 2025 season. It implies that Ferrari raced a potentially dangerous car for months, prioritizing simulation numbers over the feedback of the most experienced driver on the grid.

Leclerc’s Emotional Rollercoaster

If Hamilton felt vindication, Charles Leclerc felt shock. The Monegasque driver was called into a private meeting in Maranello shortly after the data was processed. Shown the direct overlap between Hamilton’s complaints and his own “unexplained” errors, Leclerc reportedly realized that his own struggles were part of the same systemic failure.

For a driver known to take the weight of the world on his shoulders, often blaming himself for every slide or lost tenth, this was a paradigm shift. The “inconsistencies” he had battled weren’t in his head; they were in the carbon fiber beneath him.

Insiders suggest this has triggered a shift in Leclerc’s mentality. He is no longer willing to cover for the car’s deficiencies with raw talent alone. The revelation has reportedly emboldened him to demand a technical structure that supports its drivers rather than questioning them.

The Race Against Time

Now, Ferrari faces a nightmare scenario. The flaw is foundational. Fixing it isn’t a matter of tweaking a wing angle; it requires a redesign of the subfloor, the diffuser, and potentially the rear suspension geometry.

With the 2026 development race already underway, the team must now decide how to allocate resources. They have to “redo the car without redoing the season,” a nearly impossible task in the budget cap era.

But the biggest repair job might not be on the car at all—it might be on the trust between the drivers and the engineers. Lewis Hamilton has proven that even in the age of big data, the human sensor is the most accurate tool in the garage. Ferrari ignored him once. They likely won’t make that mistake again.

The Formula 1 paddock has been thrown into turmoil following the conclusion of a dramatic 2025 season, with a bombshell claim suggesting that the driver market is about to be turned on its head. While the headlines should belong to Lando Norris, who successfully claimed the World Championship, the focus has shifted to the dark cloud hovering over the other side of the McLaren garage. According to former Grand Prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya, Oscar Piastri and his manager, Mark Webber, are not just unhappy—they are already in active talks with rival teams to secure an exit from Woking.

The Guarantee That Shook the Paddock

In a sport where rumors are currency, few statements carry the weight of a “guarantee” from a figure as outspoken as Juan Pablo Montoya. Speaking in a candid interview following the season finale, the Colombian ex-racer dropped a grenade into the post-season calm. “I guarantee you that Oscar Piastri and Mark Webber are already talking to another F1 team,” Montoya declared.

This is not merely speculation about a driver testing the waters; it is an assertion that the trust between Piastri and McLaren has fundamentally fractured. The catalyst for this potential split appears to be deeply rooted in the team’s management of the 2025 championship battle—a battle that saw Piastri go from leading the standings to finishing a distant third, watching his teammate lift the trophy he felt was within his grasp.

The Monza Betrayal: A Turning Point

To understand the severity of the situation, one must look back to the pivotal moment at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. At that stage of the season, Piastri was flying high, having won seven races in the first half of the campaign and holding a commanding 34-point advantage over Norris. He was the man to beat.

However, the dynamic shifted violently when McLaren issued a controversial team order asking Piastri to move aside for Norris. The team justified the decision by citing a need to maintain parity after Norris suffered from a slow pit stop strategy. To Piastri, and to many observers, it felt like a violation of the “let them race” status quo. The psychological impact was immediate and devastating.

Montoya points to this moment as the beginning of the end for Piastri’s title charge. The Australian was visibly unhappy with the instruction, and the mental scars lingered long after the checkered flag waved in Italy.

The Downward Spiral

The aftermath of Monza was nothing short of catastrophic for the 24-year-old Australian. In the subsequent round at Baku, Piastri admitted the events of Italy were still playing on his mind. The result was his worst weekend of the campaign, marred by two crashes and a false start.

The slide continued relentlessly. Across the United States and Mexico City Grands Prix, Piastri struggled to find grip and rhythm, managing only a pair of fifth-place finishes. In a stunning reversal of fortune, he failed to win a single race in the final nine rounds of the season. The 47-point swing against him was brutal. By the time the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concluded, his 34-point lead had transformed into a 13-point deficit, and he had been leapfrogged not only by Norris but also by Max Verstappen.

Montoya’s analysis suggests this collapse wasn’t just about car performance; it was a crisis of confidence and a reaction to a perceived lack of support. “Mark isn’t very happy with McLaren,” Montoya noted, “but the question is whether Oscar is very unhappy with McLaren.”

The Mark Webber Factor: History Repeating Itself?

Perhaps the most intriguing element of this saga is the role of Mark Webber. Piastri’s manager is no stranger to the bitterness of team favoritism. During his time at Red Bull Racing alongside Sebastian Vettel (2009-2013), Webber famously battled against a team culture he felt was biased toward the German champion. The “Multi 21” saga and the “not bad for a number two driver” comments are etched into F1 history.

Montoya warns that Webber’s personal scars might be influencing the current situation. “I think they need to be careful and make sure that Webber’s scars from his time as a race car driver have nothing to do with Oscar’s career,” he cautioned.

Is Webber seeing history repeat itself? Watching another young Australian talent lead a championship only to be sidelined for a chosen favorite might be triggering a defensive reaction. If Webber believes McLaren is molding itself around Norris—much like Red Bull did around Vettel—he may be aggressively pushing for a move to protect his client’s future.

Where Could Piastri Go?

If the talks Montoya “guarantees” are happening result in a move, where could a talent like Piastri land? The implications would be seismic for the 2026 grid.

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has weighed in, suggesting Red Bull Racing as a potential, albeit complicated, destination. The idea of Piastri partnering with Max Verstappen is tantalizing, though Herbert questions if Piastri would want to jump from the frying pan into the fire of another intense teammate rivalry. “Would he want to go into that environment?” Herbert asked.

Aston Martin also looms as a dark horse. With massive investment in state-of-the-art facilities and the inevitable retirement of Fernando Alonso on the horizon, the Lawrence Stroll-owned team could be looking for their next franchise driver.

McLaren’s Defense and the Road Ahead

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has moved quickly to extinguish the flames of speculation. In the wake of Norris’s title win, Brown publicly reaffirmed the team’s commitment to Piastri, calling him a future world champion who would win “multiple titles” with the team. These comments were clearly designed to present a united front, but in the shark tank of Formula 1, public votes of confidence often precede private divorces.

The reality remains that Piastri is under contract, and no official announcement has been made. However, the smoke is getting thicker. The combination of a mental collapse, contentious team orders, and a manager with a history of fighting team politics creates a volatile mix.

The 2026 season was supposed to be about McLaren defending a title. Instead, it might be defined by a civil war or a shock departure. As Montoya bluntly put it, Piastri needs to learn from this. “It’s a good lesson for him that what he’s doing isn’t good enough… and that he needs to figure out how to get the team to work better and faster around him.”

Whether he tries to apply that lesson at McLaren or in the colors of a rival team remains the biggest question of the off-season. One thing is certain: if Oscar Piastri walks away from a championship-winning car, it will be the biggest driver market shock of the decade.

The 2025 Formula 1 season has finally concluded, leaving in its wake a trail of shattered expectations, bruised egos, and a war of words that threatens to overshadow the racing itself. For Lewis Hamilton, the year that was supposed to be a fairytale swan song with Ferrari has morphed into a statistical horror show. Yet, as the seven-time world champion faced the media after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he didn’t look like a man ready to surrender. He looked like a man ready for a fight.

The “Nightmare” by the Numbers

To understand the ferocity of the current debate, one must first look at the wreckage of Hamilton’s debut season in red. The statistics are, frankly, shocking for a driver of his caliber. For the first time in his illustrious 19-year career, Hamilton finished a season without a single Grand Prix podium. Not one.

The final tally paints a grim picture: he finished sixth in the championship with 156 points, a staggering 86 points behind his teammate Charles Leclerc. The internal battle wasn’t just lost; it was a rout. Leclerc out-qualified Hamilton 19-5 and beat him in 18 of the 21 races where both finished. The low points were brutal—qualifying dead last in Las Vegas, crashing out in Zandvoort and Brazil, and a humiliating exit in Q1 to cap off the season.

It is, by every measurable metric, the worst season of Lewis Hamilton’s life. And the vultures, inevitably, have started circling.

The Chorus of Critics

Leading the charge is a familiar foe: Nico Rosberg. The only teammate to ever beat Hamilton to a championship—and who promptly retired days later—has been vocal in his assessment. Speaking on Sky F1, Rosberg dropped a bombshell, suggesting Hamilton is “trapped” in a situation with no dignified exit.

“He’s stuck because retiring now isn’t really an option,” Rosberg argued, painting a picture of a legend cornered by his own choices. “This isn’t a worthy ending… it’s putting a little scratch on his legacy right now.”

Rosberg wasn’t alone. Ralf Schumacher went further, claiming Ferrari is “doomed” unless they replace Hamilton with fresh blood like Oliver Bearman, citing Hamilton’s refusal to use the simulator as a fatal flaw in modern F1. David Coulthard labeled the Vegas performance “embarrassing.” The consensus among the punditry class is clear: Father Time has caught up, and the seven-time champ is on the ropes.

Hamilton’s Defiant Clapback

When confronted with these suggestions—that he should step aside for the good of his legacy—Hamilton’s response was icy, arrogant, and undeniably powerful.

“I wouldn’t say anything to them,” Hamilton said, his voice steady. “Because none of them have done what I’ve done, and they’re not even on my level.”

It was a statement that sucked the air out of the room. In one sentence, Hamilton reminded the world of the gap between a pundit and a legend. He isn’t just a driver; he is the record holder for wins, poles, and championships. When he says they aren’t on his level, he isn’t boasting; he is citing the record books.

However, defiance doesn’t fix a slow car. Hamilton’s struggle, as he sees it, isn’t about age or ability—it’s about the machinery. Since the introduction of ground-effect regulations in 2022, the cars have simply not suited his instinctive, aggressive driving style. The 2025 Ferrari was no different.

The Hope for 2026

So, why stay? Why endure the humiliation of fighting for fourth place when you are the greatest of all time? The answer lies in the future: 2026.

The sport is bracing for a massive regulatory overhaul next year, a reset button that could change everything. Hamilton is banking his entire future on the hope that the new regulations will finally give him a car he can dance with. His commitment remains absolute; despite the misery of 2025, he participated in the post-season tests, working with the team to salvage the future.

“The love for racing… and the constant focus on a dream I hold hope in my heart for,” Hamilton explained when asked what drives him. That dream is undoubtedly the elusive eighth world title, the tie-breaker with Michael Schumacher that would seal his status as the undisputed GOAT.

Disconnecting from the Noise

For now, however, Hamilton is done talking. In a revealing moment of vulnerability, he admitted to being exhausted by the “Matrix” of F1—the photoshoots, the media, the noise. His plan for the winter is drastic: total isolation.

“Nobody will be able to get in touch with me this winter because I won’t have my phone,” he declared. “It’s going in the bin.”

It sounds like a man who needs to heal. Whether he is healing to return as a warrior or simply retreating from a battle he can no longer win remains the question on everyone’s lips.

Genius or Hubris?

The dynamic between Hamilton and Rosberg remains as electric and toxic as ever, a decade after their title fight. Rosberg views Hamilton’s persistence as a mistake, a refusal to accept the reality that he (Rosberg) accepted at 31: quit while you’re ahead. Hamilton views it as a lack of resolve.

Who is right? The statistics of 2025 back the critics. The history of the sport, however, warns against betting against Lewis Hamilton. He has been written off before, only to rise again.

As the F1 world heads into the winter break, the lines are drawn. The critics say it’s over. The stats say it’s over. But the man in the cockpit says he’s just getting started. 2026 will determine whether this stubbornness is the tragic hubris of a fading star, or the unyielding genius of a champion who knows something we don’t. Until then, Lewis Hamilton’s phone is in the trash, and the rest of us are left wondering: is the dream still alive?

Gemma Atkinson and her fiancé Gorka Marquez have opened up about how their daughter, Mia, copes with their long-distance relationship.

Ever since they met on the 2017 series of Strictly Come Dancing, Gemma and Gorka have been forced to spend a lot of time apart for their careers.

And now, six years after they started dating, they seem to have found a system that works for them. But that doesn’t mean it is without its difficulties.

Gemma and Gorka have been in a lon-distance romance since the start of their relationship (Credit: Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)

Gemma Atkinson on long-distance impact on daughter Mia

Speaking to Heat Magazine, Gemma and Gorka opened up on how their relationship works for them.

When asked how they “navigate” long-distance, Gorka admitted by this point both of them are “used to it”.

He explained: “Some relationships, the couple are always together. So, when they have to go away for a job, or separate for a period of time, it’s harder. But for us, we did long-distance from the beginning.”

Gemma admitted they found it “difficult” and “tough” when Gorka was away for months during the pandemic, as the Strictly cast had to be in a bubble together, and their daughter, Mia, was only one.

Speaking about how Mia, now six, copes while Gorka is away, Gemma admitted that they Facetime a lot, but it was “easier” when she was younger. The couple also have a young son, Thiago, who is two years old.

Gemma said: “It was easier when Mia was younger because I could take her to rehearsals. Now, though, it’s restricted because she is in school. I can’t just nip her out for a week to go and see him.”

The couple have now revealed that when Gorka only has a day or two off, he doesn’t head home now. This is so that he doesn’t cause more distress for Mia. The dancer, who has been working on the Spanish version of Strictly this year, explained: “This time, I didn’t come home every week. And actually it was easier for Mia.”

Gemma agreed: “If he comes and then goes, it is harder for her. For him to be back for a week, then leave, then come back, it’s the whole saying goodbye every time. We mark on the calendar when he is home and she can count down.”

Gemma has a countdown for Mia (Credit: SplashNews.com)

When are Gemma and Gorka getting married?

Back in 2021, Gemma and Gorka made the beautiful announcement that they were engaged. But four years later, they aren’t married yet.

However, Gemma has been very open about why that hasn’t happened yet, as she initially didn’t want to lose the connection to her dad, who died when she was 17 years old.

But in recent months, Gemma has revealed that the pair are starting to think more about it.

Just a few weeks ago, while at Pride of Britain, Gemma sparked rumours she and Gorka had gotten married as many believed she wore a ‘wedding dress’. But after the backlash, Gorka even hit out in Gemma’s defence against the trolls.

Tom Fletcher and his 11-year-old son Buzz delivered one of the most emotional moments of this year’s Children In Need, stunning millions of viewers with a father-son duet so moving that social media erupted into tears.

Buzz, often jokingly dubbed a “nepo baby”, proved he needed no such label tonight as he stepped onto the BBC stage alongside his McFly star dad and sang Thread of Hope with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

The song, written by Tom especially for Pudsey and the new 25-minute animated CBeebies film Thread of Hope, became the emotional centrepiece of the night. And as soon as the final note faded, Buzz couldn’t hide his pride. Beaming, he said that performing with his dad at Children In Need felt “absolutely incredible” and admitted he had always wanted to follow in Tom’s footsteps after watching him on stage with McFly.

Fans flocked to X in floods of emotion. One viewer wrote that they were “sobbing at Tom Fletcher and his kid”, while another declared the duet “everything and more”.

Tom shares Buzz, Buddy, and Max with his wife, author and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher. Earlier this year, Buzz made headlines when he landed a role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical Starlight Express.

The telethon continued delivering unforgettable moments — none more jaw-dropping than Sara Cox’s live revelation that her brutal 135-mile marathon challenge raised an extraordinary £9,523,028. Stunned and visibly shaking, Sara gasped and covered her mouth as Paddy McGuinness announced the total. Fighting tears, she told viewers, “A massive thank you, I could not have done it without you… there’s a lot of bad things going on in the world, but Children In Need reminds you there is more good.”

Prince William also recorded a heartfelt video message, praising her strength and telling her the nation was proud.

Elsewhere, Lewis Capaldi unveiled his brand-new single The Day That I Die, while EastEnders fans were sent into hysterics by a sketch featuring mini versions of Kat Slater, Billy Mitchell, and Phil Mitchell storming through the Queen Vic. One viewer joked that the kids were “better actors than the adults”.

Strictly Come Dancing’s Neil Jones showed courage of a different kind as he returned to the stage for a charity workout — just one day after announcing the heartbreaking death of his father David. Despite the grief, Neil smiled for the cameras, sparkling in his competition outfit as he joined Mel Giedroyc and Joe Wicks.

Rochelle Humes stunned in a strapless burgundy gown, while hosts Vernon Kay, Paddy McGuinness, Lenny Rush, Big Zuu and Mel Giedroyc kept the energy soaring during the telethon’s Simpsons-themed opening and surprise celebrity appearances.

By the end of the night, Children In Need 2025 had achieved the unthinkable: an astronomical £45 million, powered by music, laughter, and moments that united the country.

Charlene White has revealed she has been left in tears over ‘horrific abuse’ from online trolls.

The Loose Women presenter, 40, told how she has been targeted by vicious social media users in the past, including some who started a petition to try and get her fired from ITV which they called the ‘Sack the S**g campaign’.

She said: ‘I do get some horrific abuse. But it’s the weird dynamic that because it happens so often, I’m very used to it – which I shouldn’t have to be. I’m a black woman in the public eye, so for a lot of people I’m fair game.

‘It all came to a head when a member of the EDL [English Defence League] said, “I’ve heard there’s a black girl on ITV that doesn’t wear a poppy” and told his followers to abuse me in any way they could find me.

Charlene said she received several thousand comments along with the petition to try and get her sacked from ITV, describing the abuse as ‘overwhelming’.

She said: ‘As long as it doesn’t get as bad as that, it’s manageable. But that upset me a lot. It takes a lot to make me cry, but it got to a point where it was really overwhelming and really did make me cry. It’s never been to that particular level since.’

Charlene added she gets online abuse anytime she speaks publicly about race, which she thinks is down to a lack of education.

The broadcaster is co-hosting a new documentary called Trevor McDonald & Charlene White: Has George Floyd Changed Britain?

The show looks at Britain’s response to race in the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing and whether there has been change since.

Charlene said she hopes the documentary will inspire conversations ‘by the coffee machine’ among co-workers.

The star likened the conversation around race to that previously had around sexism, saying she would like racism to be called out the same way discrimination against women is.

Charlene White has revealed she has been left in tears over ‘horrific abuse’ from online trolls.

The Loose Women presenter, 40, told how she has been targeted by vicious social media users in the past, including some who started a petition to try and get her fired from ITV which they called the ‘Sack the S**g campaign’.

Speaking to Love Sunday magazine, Charlene said she believes a lot of trolls think she is ‘fair game’ because she is a ‘black woman in the public eye’.

She said: ‘I do get some horrific abuse. But it’s the weird dynamic that because it happens so often, I’m very used to it – which I shouldn’t have to be. I’m a black woman in the public eye, so for a lot of people I’m fair game.

‘It all came to a head when a member of the EDL [English Defence League] said, “I’ve heard there’s a black girl on ITV that doesn’t wear a poppy” and told his followers to abuse me in any way they could find me.

Charlene said she received several thousand comments along with the petition to try and get her sacked from ITV, describing the abuse as ‘overwhelming’.

She said: ‘As long as it doesn’t get as bad as that, it’s manageable. But that upset me a lot. It takes a lot to make me cry, but it got to a point where it was really overwhelming and really did make me cry. It’s never been to that particular level since.’

Charlene added she gets online abuse anytime she speaks publicly about race, which she thinks is down to a lack of education.

The broadcaster is co-hosting a new documentary called Trevor McDonald & Charlene White: Has George Floyd Changed Britain?

The show looks at Britain’s response to race in the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing and whether there has been change since.

Charlene said she hopes the documentary will inspire conversations ‘by the coffee machine’ among co-workers.

The star likened the conversation around race to that previously had around sexism, saying she would like racism to be called out the same way discrimination against women is.

According to The Sun, Alex, best known for fronting The One Show for 15 years, is “in talks” to co-host the BBC dance competition alongside The Chase favourite Bradley Walsh. Insiders say the pairing is seen as “a perfect balance,” combining Bradley’s humour and Alex’s calm professionalism.

“Tess and Claudia’s exit plan has been known for a while,” a source revealed. “Bradley and Alex are both accomplished broadcasters. He brings the wisecracks, and she’s the steady hand who thrives under live TV pressure. Alex is also a huge Strictly fan — this would be her dream gig.”

BBC bosses are reportedly keen to “refresh” the series with a new logo and updated energy but have reassured fans that the studio, theme music, and judging panel will remain unchanged.

Alex is no stranger to the Strictly ballroom — she previously competed on the show in 2011, making it all the way to the semi-finals with professional partner James Jordan.

The shake-up comes after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman jointly confirmed in September that they would be leaving at the end of this season. Their heartfelt statement read: “Hosting Strictly together has been an absolute dream. We always said we’d leave together — and now feels like the right time.”

While Claudia is rumoured to be developing her own chat show, Tess is reportedly considering a move to the US. PR expert Mark Borkowski told The Mirror that Tess’s decision “feels strategic,” adding: “This could be her Madonna reinvention phase — same warmth, new edge. She has the polish to slide into glossy American TV without missing a beat.”

With potential replacements including Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark, Fleur East, and Hannah Waddingham, the BBC appears to be carefully shaping a new era for its Saturday night juggernaut — one that could see Alex Jones stepping firmly into the spotlight once again.

The emotional revelation turned an ordinary broadcast into a raw and deeply human moment that left listeners in tears.

 “It’s Been One Blow After Another”

Health update: Broadcaster Chris Evans has revealed he’s been diagnosed with skin cancer

Speaking with a trembling voice, Chris shared the painful truth with his audience:

“It feels like life has thrown everything at us lately… Dad’s gone, Mum’s still in treatment, and now this. But I’m trying to stay hopeful — because I know how lucky I am that mine was caught early.”

Family man: Chris has three sons and one daughter with professional golfer and part-time model Natasha, 38

The much-loved presenter explained that doctors diagnosed him with melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, but assured listeners that it was detected at an extremely early stage, giving him strong chances of a full recovery.

 “An Angel Saved My Life”

The running enthusiast jokingly added : ‘I can’t run for a month afterwards so I’m going to do nothing but run until then. Is that OK?’

Chris credited a simple act of kindness for saving his life.
He told listeners how his massage therapist — whom he described as “an angel sent from heaven” — noticed an unusual freckle on his leg during a routine session.

Fame and fortune: Chris became a household name thanks to his wild lifestyle and TV show, TFI Friday – pictured with Billie Piper in the 2000s who he later married and divorced

Doctors later confirmed that the freckle was an early-stage melanoma. Chris said his treatment is scheduled for September 14, adding that he would be taking a short break from running, one of his greatest passions.

 “Dad Would Want Me to Keep Fighting”

Step back in time: The couple were married from 2001 – 2007 and famously went on one long booze bender together

Chris then opened up about the pain of losing his father earlier this summer — a loss that came just as his mother was beginning a new round of chemotherapy.

“Dad’s passing broke us. He was always the strong one, the funny one. And now, seeing Mum fight every day — it’s hard. But if they can be that brave, so can I.”

Tying the knot: Billie and Chris married in a secret Las Vegas ceremony at the Little Church of the West for which she wore flips flops and a sarong, with the groom in an open-necked shirt (pictured on their wedding day in 2001)
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Colleagues and fans were quick to send messages of love and strength. One co-host described the moment as “heartbreaking but inspiring,” while listeners flooded social media with messages like “We’re with you, Chris. Keep fighting — for yourself and your family.”

 “Caught Early — That’s the Miracle”

Chris emphasised the importance of early detection, urging listeners to pay attention to any changes in their skin:

“If you see something that doesn’t look right — a freckle, a mole, anything — get it checked. That’s what saved me.”

He went on to explain that his cancer was classified as Stage 0, one of the earliest and most treatable stages possible.

“It’s a miracle they caught it this early. I’m grateful — for the doctors, for my family, for that one person who cared enough to say something.”

 A Message of Hope

TFI Friday: Chris had all the greats on his hugely popular talk show in the 90s and 00s – pictured with Noel Fielding
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Despite enduring unimaginable pain — losing his father, watching his mother fight for her life, and now facing his own diagnosis — Chris Evans remains a symbol of courage and optimism.

“We’ve been through hell as a family,” he admitted. “But even now, we laugh, we talk, we remember the good days. That’s what keeps us going.”

His honesty and vulnerability have sparked an outpouring of compassion from fans and colleagues across the country. Many called his live revelation “one of the bravest moments in British radio.”