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Formula 1

Austrian GP: Can Red Bull Maintain Dominance?

Formula 1 goes to the Red Bull Racing’s home turf. Can the Austrian team maintain their form and take another win?

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11 months ago

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Austrian GP: Can Red Bull Maintain Dominance?

The final week of June has brought yet another Grand Prix weekend in the world of Formula One. The triple header offers fans a perfect reason to stay indoors during the monsoons. After an amazing Spanish Grand Prix, the Austrian Grand Prix stands to provide more entertainment in an already entertaining championship. As McLaren and Lando Norris inch closer to the top while the Ferraris face their own fallout, the championship is heating up. So let’s get into what stories might take shape at the Red Bull Ring.

KNOW THE CIRCUIT

The Austrian Grand Prix will be held at the Red Bull Ring. A simple yet challenging circuit. The Red Bull Ring is a 4.318 km long FIA grade 1 race circuit. Home to the Austrian GP for F1 and MotoGP and briefly to the Styrian Grand Prix during the 2020-21 F1 season. With the race competed over 71 laps or 306 km, the circuit consists 10 corners and 3 DRS zones. A fairly short and simple track with the lap record held by Carlos Sainz Jr with a 1:05.619.

Austrian GP: Can Red Bull Maintain Dominance?

The defining feature of this beautiful track is the Bull sculpture looking over the track at turns 6 and 7. The track is home to the Red Bull Formula One team as Dietrich Mateschitz (co-founder of Red Bull) himself bought the track and renovated it after it was left unused for many years.

With a track having fast straights & heavy braking zones, action will be inevitable. Teams are now inching closer to being the best which will give Red Bull a good run for their money on home turf.

Read more about the Red Bull Ring

TEAM PERFORMANCES

The Spanish Grand Prix showed us that Red Bulls aren’t the strongest of the pack anymore. Let’s look at Qualifying itself. Lando Norris qualified on pole with a margin of two-hundredths of a second. It might not seem like much at first, but considering the RB20 was the fastest car at the season’s start, this is a big leap in performance for the Woking outfit. The Papaya team has finished on the podium and collected a good points haul in the past six races.

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The same can’t be said by for Ferrari and Mercedes. With the latter suffering from performance issues and the former suffering from one-up-ism. With Red Bull being the benchmark for all the teams, the Mercs have had a huge gap to fill. The 8x WCC winners have fallen short since their last championship campaign back in 2021. The German outfit has lacked performance since the new regulations came in place. Forcing the team to settle for points and finishing in the middle order of the pack. But Spain was a positive weekend for the team. The Mercedes duo locked out the second row for the race in qualifying. They finished in the same order with Lewis Hamilton scoring a podium for the team.

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The team tinted in red has its own power struggles with the drivers. On one hand, Charles Leclerc proved to be a worthy adversary on track after his podium spells and enthralling win in Monaco. On the other, the exiting Carlos Sainz Jr has a lot to show to other teams as evidence of his existence on the grid. With these two forces in the same team, clashes are bound to happen and one of them just occurred last weekend. Both drivers commented in the post-race interview and many speculate that there are many more clashes on their way as the season progresses.

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The Alpines and Astons have been polar opposites to each other. The Frenchmen have scored double points for two race weekends in a row and showed somewhat consistent performances. The Astons meanwhile have fallen off the order, placing lower than what they used to.

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TRACK LIMITS SITUATION

The Track Limits Fiasco from last year has also been taken into account by the FIA and changes have been made respectively. For those in the dark about the track limits situation, many drivers exceeded track limits last year which caused chaos for race control and the stewards. Sergio Perez’s lap in qualifying last year sealed the deal for him in Q3, but exceeding track limits nullified his efforts, resulting in him being knocked out in Q2.

By adding gravel traps to Turn 9 and 10 and embedding additional cameras and sensors on the track to monitor drivers, officials will significantly reduce the chances of drivers gaining an advantage, thereby improving the race’s quality.

DRIVER MARKET AND TEAM SWITCH-UPS

Carlos Sainz has still shown uncertainty in his decision to move to a new team. William Or Sauber/Audi could be his main target but Alpine seems to be a viable option considering the heavy changes occurring within the French team’s Management. Speaking of Alpine, Flavio Briatore is back on the team as an Executive Advisor. The Renault CEO, Luca de Meo, has appointed the former team principal to rejoin. This will be Briatore’s return to Formula One after his infamous Crashgate scandal at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

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The FIA has lowered the age limit for new entrants in Formula One. They have reduced the age limit to 17 years. This could lead to teams scouting for young guns to hop into their cars to score points and give them experience for better driving in the future. The most exciting prospect in this scenario is Mercedes and Kimi Antonelli. After Lewis Hamilton exits the team, the German team will be scouting for young blood. they have specifically been eyeing Kimi for a while and even issued a request to reduce the age limit to help Kimi seal a contract with them. This could lead to a new face on the grid, come 2025 or even later.

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Schedule and Where To Watch

This race weekend is a sprint weekend, allowing drivers to score extra points in an additional shorter race on Saturday. With all the frontrunners “closer than ever before,” we could see an exciting battle for valuable points this weekend. You can watch all the sessions live on F1TV or Fancode.

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Formula 1

Formula 1 Heads to Imola GP: What to look out for this weekend

Formula 1 returns to the historic Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit for the Imola GP to kick off the European leg of the championship. With the current contract set to expire this year, this could be Imola’s final Grand Prix for the foreseeable future.

Published

4 days ago

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May 16, 2025

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Formula 1 Heads to Imola GP: What to look out for this weekend
Credit - Formula 1

Imola GP: Formula 1 returns to one of its most iconic venues as the 2025 season heads to Imola GP for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Steeped in history and backed by passionate fans, the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit offers an unforgiving layout that demands precision and bravery. Following a run of high-speed tracks, this technical challenge marks a pivotal shift in the championship narrative. As teams arrive in Italy, all eyes are on who can conquer the old-school demands of this legendary circuit.

About The Track

Track layout for the Imola GP.
Credit – Formula 1


The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari—better known as Imola—is a classic driver’s circuit steeped in Formula 1 heritage. Nestled in the rolling hills of Emilia-Romagna, this 4.9-kilometer track runs counter-clockwise—one of the few circuits on the calendar to do so. Imola is renowned for its flowing rhythm, technical demands, and minimal margin for error, with narrow asphalt and unforgiving gravel traps lining much of the layout. Unlike many modern venues, it retains a distinctly old-school character, with elevation changes that challenge both car setup and driver focus.

Among its most iconic sections are the high-speed, downhill sweep of Piratella, the tricky Acque Minerali complex with its undulating surface, and the Variante Alta chicane, which demands aggressive use of the curbs and perfect timing. Overtaking is notoriously difficult here, but the best opportunities typically come into the Tamburello chicane at the end of the main straight or under braking into Rivazza—especially when DRS and tire strategy shake things up in the closing stages.


Pirelli’s Specification

Formula 1 Heads to Imola GP: What to look out for this weekend
Credit – Pirelli


The new C6 compound is set to make its race debut at the Imola GP, as Pirelli has selected the softest trio from its 2025 range for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend: C4 as Hard, C5 as Medium, and C6 as Soft. This will mark the first appearance of the C6 on this season’s cars, as it was not used during pre-season testing in Bahrain.

Homologated for circuits that place minimal stress on tyres, the C6 is expected to offer superior grip over a single flying lap—particularly on Imola’s relatively smooth and low-abrasion surface. While it’s unlikely to feature in race stints due to durability concerns, data gathered here, as well as from upcoming races in Monaco and Montreal, will help Pirelli assess its viability for use in the latter half of the season.

Stories This Weekend

Franco Colapinto’s Alpine Debut

Franco Colapinto returns to the Formula 1 paddock with the French outfit, Alpine. The team recently announced the departure of Team Principal Oliver Oakes, and shortly after confirmed that Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan for the next five Grands Prix.

Piastri’s Winning Streak

Oscar Piastri is riding a career-high wave with a three-race winning streak, extending his points advantage over teammate Lando Norris. After a missed opportunity in Miami, Norris will be looking to bounce back—and the Imola GP could be just the place to do it. The Brit has historically performed well here, often exceeding expectations at this classic circuit.

Antonelli’s Home Race

It’s Kimi Antonelli’s first home race weekend of the season—and of his Formula 1 career. While the home support is guaranteed, it also brings immense pressure to deliver on familiar soil. With Mercedes introducing a fresh upgrade package for the Imola GP, Antonelli will be aiming to close the gap to the front. The German outfit will be hoping to hit the ground running and turn a new page in their 2025 campaign.

Big Showings For Ferrari

Ferrari heads into its first home race of the season at Imola, and that means one thing—the Tifosi will be out in full force. The team is bringing a significant upgrade package this weekend, hoping it will unlock more performance and bring clarity to the car’s behavior. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have historically performed well at this circuit, and with the home crowd behind them, they’ll be aiming to secure a solid haul of points.

Weekend Schedule

Weather Forecast

Friday: 19°C, Wind 11 km/h, 1% chance of rain
Saturday: 21°C, Wind 11 km/h, 5% chance of rain
Sunday: 23°C, Wind 13 km/h, 46% chance of rain in spots in the afternoon.

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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Formula 1

Miami GP Thrills: Piastri’s Hat-Trick Seals McLaren’s Domination

Published

2 weeks ago

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May 8, 2025

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Miami GP Thrills: Piastri’s Hat-Trick Seals McLaren’s Domination
Credit - the-race.com

Papaya Power: McLaren’s Statement Weekend

McLaren delivered a flawless performance in Miami GP, walking away with maximum points in both the Sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix. In what has become a familiar sight, Oscar Piastri led the charge, claiming his third consecutive Grand Prix victory and cementing his status as the 2025 title favorite.

Saturday’s Sprint was briefly derailed for Piastri by a late-race Safety Car, allowing teammate Lando Norris to swoop in and snatch P1. However, Sunday belonged to Oscar, who cruised to victory after Norris’s early clash with Max Verstappen at Turn 1. The incident forced Norris off track, denying him a proper shot at the win.

Post-race, Norris made headlines by stating, “It’s crash or don’t pass with Max,” accusing Verstappen of “not racing smart.” While Norris showed pace, the challenge now is translating it into strategic, successful racecraft under pressure.


Verstappen Fights Hard, But Falls Short

Red Bull faced a rare stumble in the Miami GP. Max Verstappen’s weekend began with a nightmare — a 10-second penalty for an unsafe pit release during the Sprint dropped him to P17, marking his first non-scoring finish in nearly a decade.

Miami GP - Max Verstappen
Credit – Red Bull Content Pool

Yuki Tsunoda salvaged some pride by finishing P6 in the Sprint and grabbing the final point in Sunday’s race. Verstappen’s recovery drive in the Grand Prix was gritty but not enough. After fierce battles with the McLarens and a post-Safety Car shuffle, he found himself stuck behind George Russell, finishing a frustrated P4.

Mercedes Returns to the Podium

Kimi Antonelli shocked the grid on Friday with a sensational Sprint pole, showing that Mercedes’ future is bright. But a Turn 1 tangle with Piastri and a drive-through penalty — triggered by Verstappen’s unsafe release — derailed his Sprint hopes.

In Sunday’s race, the rookie started P3 but dropped back to finish P6. George Russell, meanwhile, quietly went about his business. After being outqualified by Antonelli, Russell capitalized on a mid-race Safety Car to leapfrog Verstappen and secure a hard-earned P3 — Mercedes’ first Miami GP podium.

Williams Shows True Grit

The Grove-based outfit impressed again with sheer pace. While Saturday’s Sprint didn’t go their way — Carlos Sainz suffered a puncture and Albon missed the top ten — Sunday was a redemption story.

Albon delivered a stellar P5 finish, once again showing his maturity and speed under pressure. Sainz, engaged in a fierce midfield battle, brought home a solid P9. Together, they added 12 points to Williams’ growing tally and continued to punch above their weight.

Ferrari: Strategic Misfires and Internal Friction

It was a weekend of contrasts for Ferrari. Saturday saw Charles Leclerc crash on his out lap to the grid, ending his Sprint before it began. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton capitalized on a slick tire gamble to take a surprising P3.

Sunday was far less fruitful. Ferrari lacked race pace, and strategic confusion reigned — with Hamilton on fresher tires stuck behind Leclerc for several laps. Frustrated radio calls highlighted growing tension. The Scuderia crossed the line in P7 and P8, continuing their trend of inconsistent race-day execution.

Aston Martin: Lone Points for Stroll

A chaotic weekend yielded just four points for Aston Martin, courtesy of Lance Stroll’s composed Sunday drive. Fernando Alonso had a forgettable outing, with Sprint-ending contact and a solo spin in the same corner during the race capping off a frustrating weekend.

Alpine’s Tumultuous Turn: On and Off Track

Alpine’s on-track performance continued to underwhelm — Pierre Gasly snatched a single Sprint point, while Jack Doohan’s Grand Prix ended on Lap 1 due to a puncture.

The big story, however, was off-track. Team Principal Oliver Oakes stepped down, replaced by the returning Flavio Briatore. In another shake-up, Doohan was dropped, with Argentine talent Franco Colapinto announced as his replacement for Imola.

Standings


Oscar Piastri now leads the Drivers’ Championship with authority, while McLaren’s back-to-back double podiums have catapulted them into the lead in the Constructors’ standings.

Next Stop: Imola

The paddock now heads to Imola — a track where McLaren traditionally shines. Lando Norris has fond memories here, while Piastri will be keen to extend his winning streak. All eyes will also be on debutant Franco Colapinto and whether Max Verstappen can claw back momentum in the title fight.

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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Formula 1

Jack Doohan: The Unfortunate Case of Aussie in 2025

Published

2 weeks ago

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May 7, 2025

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Jack Doohan: The Unfortunate Case of Aussie in 2025

May 7 2025 – a date Jack Doohan will never forget – marked the day that Argentine driver Franco Colapinto was announced as Doohan’s replacement at Alpine. Son of Mick Doohan, Australian rookie Jack Doohan had been under pressure of losing his seat way before he got to start his first full season at Albert Park, his home race. Rumours of him having only 5 races to prove his worth, until eventually being replaced by Colapinto, started spreading across the paddock during F1 testing. And since then, it had only gotten worse for Doohan with his rookie errors, and sub-par performance.

With a top tier start to his karting career, the kid from Gold Coast, Queensland, seemed to be destined for greatness. The son of a five-time MotoGP World Champion, introduced to racing in a kart gifted by a seven-time Formula 1 World Champion – it was a story that set the stage for Doohan’s career. Unfortunately for him, genes and funding were not enough to save his short-lived Formula 1 career at Alpine.

Let’s review his performance across the seven races he took part in as an Alpine driver.

Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto

SEASON OPENERS

Jack Doohan had a lukewarm debut in Melbourne, having qualified P14 , with his teammate Pierre Gasly outqualifying him at P9. The wet season opener was a tricky race for the rookies as even F1 veterans, like Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, struggled to keep the car on track. Doohan under slippery conditions ended his race in the barriers, at turn 5 on the first lap.

Jack expressed his views on his disappointing start to the season during post-race interviews:

“Lesson Learned.”

Shanghai was an opportunity for Doohan to come back stronger after a disappointing season opener in front of his home crowd. Despite starting the Sprint Race at P16, he finished last at P20.

Jack Doohan: The Unfortunate Case of Aussie in 2025

Jack was also given a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision with Gabriel Bortoleto, but the penalty made no difference, as he qualified P20 anyway. He was handed another 10-second time penalty during the race for forcing Isack Hadjar off the track, resulting in him finishing P13.

ASIAN TRIPLE HEADER

The Japanese GP was an uneventful race, with the top 10 finishing in the same order as they qualified, apart from Lewis Hamilton and Isack Hadjar swapping between P7 and P8. In contrast, Jack Doohan’s P15 finish, having started 4 places below – at P19 – sounds delightful. But despite his efforts of maintaining a clean race, he’ll be remembered for his crash during FP2. Doohan forgot to manually press the DRS button to close the rear wing flap, resulting in a hefty crash at Turn 1. Although it was similar to Marcus Ericsson’s infamous crash due to DRS failure at Monza 2018, in Doohan’s case, it was confirmed to be a driver error, rather than a mechanical failure.

After the pre-season testing at Bahrain, the teams had enough data about the track and their cars to bring necessary upgrades. Alpine’s package seemed promising as Doohan put his car up at a career-best P11 in qualifying, which he converted into a P14 in the race, earning a 5-second time penalty for impeding track limits.

Jeddah, another uneventful race for Doohan, was where he qualified P17 and ended the race in the same position, while his teammate Gasly retired due to collision damage.

FLAWED AT FLORIDA

Miami being a sprint weekend, provided Doohan with 2 separate racing events to prove his worth to his team. He qualified P17 for the sprint and remained at the back of the field, only finishing ahead of Max Verstappen, who dropped to last after his 10-second time penalty. Unfortunately, this seemed to be the highlight of his weekend as he retired after a collision with Lawson on the first lap of the Grand Prix.

Alpine Struggles

The BWT Alpine F1 Team stands at 9th position in the World Constructors Championship 2025 with 7 points – merely one point ahead of Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber at 10th. With the Doohan drama going on, Oliver Oakes, Alpine’s team principal, seemed to be his only support within the team. Oakes – who relaunched Hitech GP, a British motor racing team in 2015 – is close with Jack, as he raced for the same team in the F3 Asian Championship in 2019. As power struggles arise within the team during discussions related to Doohan’s future, they issued a statement on 7th May 2025 announcing Oliver’s resignation with immediate effect.

The news of Flavio Briatore taking over Oliver Oakes’ role at the team was music to Colapinto’s ears, as he had been very critical of Doohan from the start while praising the Argentine throughout.

Flavio comments on the situation, denying favouritism rumours:

“I don’t accept it when they say that Doohan was under pressure, because when you arrive in Formula 1, everyone is under pressure.”

Multiple reports claimed that Franco Colapinto was set to replace Doohan from the Imola GP. And just 12 hours after Oliver’s resignment, BWT Alpine F1 Team announces the Franco-Doohan swap with immediate effect. It all lined up perfectly for Franco Colapinto but also for Italian businessman Flavio Briatore, who had been looking for his comeback in Formula 1 after being banned from the sport in 2008 for cheating scandals.

Although it has been stated that Franco makes the step up only for the next 5 races, judging by his past performances and Alpine’s bias towards him, it looks like he is here to stay for the remainder of the season. He will be closely monitored till the Austrian GP as Jack Doohan still stays with the team, taking on the role of first-choice Reserve Driver.

Alpine’s choice to let Franco take the seat, albeit rushed, seems justified. The young Argentine’s Formula 1 track record is exceptional, having made his debut with Williams last year as he replaced the underperforming Logan Sargeant. He performed really well and kept his then-teammate Alex Albon on his toes. In his second race at Baku, he outscored Nicolas Latifi and Logan Sargeant’s total points tally in 68 GPs, finishing P8.

Even though Jack didn’t deliver his best performance, you can’t not feel bad for the rookie. 6 races should not be the benchmark for a rookie to perform at the highest levels, but unfortunately in this day and age of Formula 1, it is pretty much do or die. With multiple young talents waiting for you to slip up, make a mistake, and snatch your seat, average performance sees no place to thrive.

Doohan says, after the swap:

“I will keep my head down, keep working hard.”

It is tough to see someone’s career start with a kart gifted from seven-time F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher, and end abruptly with only 7 races under his name. Never finishing in points and 2 DNFs; we, with a heavy heart, bid goodbye to Jack Doohan.

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