January 4, 2025

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin believes the team’s fluctuating form over the 2024 Formula 1 season was a result of it being pegged back in development in trying to recover from a tough start.The Brackley-based squad opted for an entirely new approach with its W15 concept, opting for a more conventional sidepod solution and pushrod-activated rear suspension …Keep reading

Nasser Al-Attiyah believes the Dakar Rally must change its format after finding Saturday’s opening stage “boring” due to the need of prioritising strategy over results.The 2025 edition began with a tough and “pure” 431km test around Bisha in Saudi Arabia, but several drivers elected to compromise their result to secure a better starting position for the 48-hour marathon stage that …Keep reading

Carlos Sainz Sr admitted that he struggled to understand Saturday’s opening stage of the Dakar Rally, saying it was “very difficult to guess” and more akin to the event’s original roots.Leading Ford’s attack in the 431km test around Bisha in Saudi Arabia, reigning champion Sainz suffered an early setback when he lost time with a puncture on his new Raptor T1+.The matters were …Keep reading

Toyota driver Seth Quintero has been promoted to first place in Saturday’s opening stage of the Dakar Rally after he stopped to help a stranded Laia Sanz.Quintero was originally classified as runner-up in the 413km test in Bisha, 50s down on provisional winner Guerlain Chicherit of X-raid Mini, after a late shuffle in positions at the front of the order.But, a few hours after the entire …Keep reading

Guerlain Chicherit took a surprise victory for X-raid Mini in the opening stage of the 2025 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia after a long battle with Toyota rivals.Frenchman Chicherit was quick from the get-go in Saturday’s 499km test around Bisha, establishing an early advantage of over a minute in his Mini JCW Rally 3.0i.Chicherit was chased hard by a slew of drivers from Toyota’s factory …Keep reading

In 2024, Jorge Martin became the first rider in the MotoGP era to win the title with a satellite team, beating the same-spec factory Ducati of Francesco Bagnaia.It was a feat not seen in the premier class since Valentino Rossi won the 500cc title with the Honda Europe-managed Nastro Azzurro team in 2001 and Eddie Lawson claimed top honours in 1989 on a Honda entered by the private Rothmans …Keep reading

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has claimed the appearance of flexi-wings and the FIA’s decision not to take a more hardline approach towards them played a crucial factor in 2024’s Formula 1 constructors’ championship.The Scuderia was one of two teams, along with Red Bull, who sought clarification from F1’s governing body over the apparent use of flexing front wings by McLaren and …Keep reading