Formula 1
Azerbaijan Ascendancy: Victory for Verstappen, Redemption for Williams on the Caspian Streets
Baku never disappoints — and the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was no exception. On the twisting streets along the Caspian Sea, drama unfolded at every turn, with crashes, safety cars, and strategy gambles keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Verstappen launched cleanly from the front, but the chasing pack wasted no time in piling on the pressure. A first-lap incident, Oscar Piastri crashing into the wall, immediately brought out the safety car, setting the tone for a race that would be dictated as much by chaos as by speed.
Behind him, heartbreak struck: a bold Ferrari challenge ended with a nasty strategies , while McLaren’s podium dreams dissolved in the pits. Max opting for a medium – downforce package, striking a balance between the long straight speed and tight middle sectors. This gave him a strong top-end speed without compromising too much of the grip he received. His first stint on the softs paved him way as he managed effectively extending their life. Second stint on hards, won him the race. McLaren tried to undercut by pitting early, failed to do so due to the traffic and a slow stop (4 seconds) stationed them behind the Ferraris and Yuki in his Redbull. Verstappen tamed his rivals once again.
His teammate, Yuki scored P6 fighting a Williams, McLaren and a Ferrari. Proving consistency is key.
The Underdog Roars: Williams Shocks Baku
Williams arrived in Baku with a bold philosophy “strip the car for straight-line speed”.While others opted for stability in the tight castle track,Williams gambled on a low-drag system that made them the fastest car through the speed traps. Carlos Sainz secured his first podium of this year, making it a Willaims’s podium after 4 years.
Setup changes were a huge plus to Carlos Sainz’s driving style, qualifying on the front row with Max. While Alex Albon struggled to make it into Q2, Carlos Sainz put up an extraordinary lap all together. As carnage erupted in the midfield on lap 1, the drivers kept their noses clean, climbing places without having to give away some of the risky moves. Due to the safety car neutralising the race, they extended their first stint on softs. Due to the pitstop, he received an undercut from Russel as he stole the spot with one of the cleanest pitstop from Mercedes.
The joy among the fans all over were humongous. The defensive driving was flawless,calm, calculated, and uncompromising. When the checkered flag fell, Williams had secured a P3 “their best team result in recent memory”.
A Weekend to forget for the McLarens
McLaren left Azerbaijan with a lingering sense of “what could have been.” Fast on the straights, brave in wheel-to-wheel combat, but ultimately undone by strategy, brakes and tire struggles, McLaren’s 2025 Baku campaign was a case study in how fine margins define success and failure in Formula 1.
Oscar Piastri’s Baku Grand Prix ended in sorrow, a brutal crash into the barriers. A false start and misjudgment of gap level landed him to P20. Malfunctioning of MCL38, put him straight into the castle at turn 5. As the championship battle intensifies, they’ll hope Piastri’s mistake becomes a lesson and not a recurring incident.
Norris with a low-drag package struggled to make to the top 5. Qualifying was a equally disaster for both due to package and set up differences. The decision paid dividends in qualifying, with their cars consistently among the fastest through the speed traps. However, that came at a cost: A DNF and P7 finish by the end of the race.
“Oscar was pushing right where he needed to. In Baku, you take risks — sometimes it pays off, sometimes the walls win.” – Andrea Stella(Team Principal) (post race)
Mercedes Surprise Surge
After months of chasing the frontrunners, the Silver Arrows finally returned to the podium, proving that persistence, strategy, and precision still run deep. George Russel pulled his W16 to P2 in the almighty turns of Baku while the McLarens pushed aggressively and paid the price in the long run.
The defining moment came when Mercedes timed their stop perfectly under the Virtual Safety Car. While Ferrari and McLaren hesitated, Mercedes seized the opportunity, saving precious seconds. Emerging in clean air, they were able to undercut one Williams of Carlos Sainz, leapfrogging into podium contention.
Kimi Antonelli successfully scored P4 position unable to overtake Carlos with a few laps of time. Mercedes team together proved that this race result was a statement that they are still present in the constructor’s title.
Baku Bravery: Racing Bulls Take the Fight to the Midfield
Redbull’s sister team secured a splendid result with Liam Lawson with a P5, his best career finish and Issack Hadjar in P10, earning 11 valuable points. Racing bulls opted for a medium downforce setup adjusting to the curves of Baku. This team is proving it can better than its sister team and with time, its proving true.
Ferrari Truma continues.
Both the Ferrari drivers failed to keep with the mid field. They were asked to swap but didn’t make a mark. Yuki survived Lewis Hamilton losing large amount of time. Charles on the other hand, had a splendid first stint but lost pace due to the McLarens.
Ferrari arrived in Azerbaijan with confidence, running a high-downforce setup aimed at maximising grip through the tight castle section. While they were quick in the technical sector, the lack of straight-line speed left them vulnerable. A weakness that would haunt them on race day. The opening laps showed Ferrari’s fragility. Though they managed to hold track position early on, McLaren and Williams repeatedly threatened on the 2km main straight.Ferrari facing another hard time raised questions among fans, F1 enthusiasts, etc.
Race Result
Constructor Standings
On to Singapore!
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix of 2025 delivered everything Baku is known for chaos, heartbreak, and breathtaking drama. From Verstappen’s relentless charge to Mercedes’ podium redemption, Williams’ resurgence, and McLaren’s costly misfortune, the race was a rollercoaster of shifting fortunes.
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.
Formula 1
How did Kush Maini perform in the Formula 1 post-season test?
Kush Maini became only the third Indian driver to take part in an official Formula 1 session, after Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok.
Kush Maini got a chance to drive Alpine’s 2025 challenger, the A525 in the post-season young driver test on Tuesday following the Abu Dhabi GP. This marked his first time driving a modern Formula 1 machinery, as the previous F1 tests were part of the ‘Testing Previous Cars’ programme. He also became the third Indian driver to take part in a official Formula 1 session, which is more than a decade later.
How were the test cars different from the ones used in 2025 Abu Dhabi GP weekend?
Regular drivers and rookie drivers ran two different types of cars during the test. A mule car adapted to approximate 2026 performance levels was assigned to the senior and more experienced drivers, while lightly modified 2025 cars were used by the young and rookie drivers. It’s also worth noting that a 290-300 kmph speed limit was enforced throughout the test. It should also be noted that the lap times are not representative, as each team follows different run plan and testing objectives set by Pirelli.
The Performance? Super impressive!
Desi Racing Co understands that both Kush Maini and Pierre Gasly ran the 2026 mule car, unlike several other teams. Both drivers followed the same run plan, with only minor setup changes tailored to their individual driving styles, while the baseline setup remained identical.
The only key difference between the two cars was tyre allocation. Maini ran on the 2025 tyres, while Gasly tested the new 2026 rubber. Across the test, Kush Maini finished just 0.111 seconds off Pierre Gasly’s pace, an impressive showing for the Indian driver given it was his first outing in the A525.
The Morning session
Kush Maini took to the track for the first time in modern Formula 1 machinery and set a best time of 1:27.544, just a tenth of a second slower than Pierre Gasly’s 1:27.433.
The Afternoon session
Kush Maini headed out in the afternoon session for two race runs alongside Pierre Gasly. We understand that on one of Maini’s runs, he was quicker than Gasly, while on the second he matched Gasly’s pace. After completing the two runs, Maini’s day came to an end, while Gasly stayed on track for one additional race run.
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.
Formula 1
Red Bull Promote Arvid Lindblad to Formula 1, a Driver with Indian Heritage
Red Bull has promoted junior driver Arvid Lindblad to Formula 1, confirming that he will join their sister outfit, Racing Bulls, for the 2026 season.
Eighteen-year-old British driver Arvid Lindblad has been promoted to Formula 1 for the 2026 season and will line up for Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s junior team. Lindblad also carries a notable link to India through his mother’s side, a heritage he has acknowledged proudly while speaking about his family background.
Early career
His first full season in cars came in 2023, when he contested the Formula 4 UAE Championship and the Italian F4 Championship. Strong early results, including six wins and a dominant triple victory at Monza, helped establish his reputation. He capped off his F4 campaign by winning the Macau F4 World Cup, a prestigious non-championship event that often serves as a proving ground for future stars.
In 2024, Lindblad stepped into FIA Formula 3 with Prema Racing and delivered one of the standout rookie seasons in memory. A victory in Bahrain made him the youngest F3 winner in history, and a double win at Silverstone underscored his racecraft and maturity. Finishing 4th in the standings and earning the Aramco Best Rookie Award solidified his place among the category’s elite.
The momentum carried into 2025 as he advanced to FIA Formula 2 with Campos Racing. Once again, he made history, claiming a milestone win in Jeddah to become the youngest race winner in F2. Two victories, four podiums, and a 7th-place championship finish highlighted a season of rapid learning and refinement. His trajectory was further validated when he received special dispensation to make his Formula 1 practice debut for Red Bull Racing at Silverstone — an opportunity rarely granted to drivers so early in their careers.
Indian connection
Born in London to a Swedish father and an Indian mother, Arvid Lindblad grew up in a home shaped by more than one culture. His mother, Anita, comes from an Indian family, and that background has remained a quiet but steady part of his life. Arvid Anand Olof Lindblad’s Indian roots come from his mother’s side of the family, a detail he has acknowledged openly when speaking about his upbringing.
“I’m very proud of my Indian heritage. My mum is Indian and I’m very proud of that. I carry that with me.”- Arvid Lindblad
His mother, Anita Ahuja, adds that while Arvid may not wear his Indian identity on his sleeve, it is reflected in the confidence and clarity with which he is navigating his career at such a young age.
“He’s incredibly close to his grandparents, my parents. My mom is Sikh, my dad is Hindu. My husband Stefan and I were married in a Hindu ceremony and a Christian ceremony, and both my sons were baptised in the Church, Gurudwara and Temple. Arvid himself isn’t probably aware of it, but he has deep Indian values – work hard, be humble and be grateful for all we have,” she says.
The closest to an Indian F1 driver?
Although Arvid Lindblad doesn’t race under the Indian flag, he may be the closest connection India has to a Formula 1 driver in the near future. At the moment, it seems unlikely that Kush Maini will get a full-time F1 seat, and the next group of Indian talents are still early in their careers.
Akshay Bohra and Dion Gowda have only just completed their first season in Formula Regional in 2025, which means they are still some steps away from the levels needed for F2 and eventually F1. Another young driver with potential is Aryaman Bansal, who has just finished his debut season in single-seaters, but he too remains several years from reaching the top of the motorsport ladder.
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.
Formula 1
A New Chapter in Mexico — Norris Seizes the Lead, Verstappen Stumbles
Under the blazing sun and deafening roar of the Foro Sol, the Brit delivered a masterclass in control, courage, and composure, claiming victory at the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix in stunning fashion.
From the very first corner, chaos reigned. A three-wide battle into Turn 1 saw contact between Verstappen, Leclerc, Hamilton and Russel scattering carbon fibre and shaking up the order. Amid the carnage, Norris held his nerve — slicing through the opening lap with surgical precision while others scrambled for grip on medium tires.
Norris Dominates as McLaren Turn Mexico City Orange
The 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix turned into a showcase of precision, pace, and pure composure from the papaya outfit as Lando Norris stormed to a commanding victory with 30.3 seconds difference from the second place while Oscar Piastri backed him with a strong top-five finish.
It wasn’t just Norris’ pace that won McLaren the race ,it was their strategic brilliance. With the track temperatures soaring and tyres blistering early, McLaren pulled the trigger first. An early undercut gave Norris clear air, while Red Bull and Ferrari hesitated a lap or two too long.Behind him, Oscar Piastri played the perfect support act — defending fiercely, keeping pressure on rivals, and ensuring both cars stayed in podium contention.As Norris crossed the line, the roar inside the Foro Sol stadium was deafening. Confetti rained down, the grandstands turned papaya orange, and McLaren’s pit wall erupted in celebration.
“When your teammate wins the race, finishing fifth is nothing that extravagant.The car’s not changed for a while now. It’s nothing to do with the car. … Clearly Lando’s found it a bit easier to dial into that and I haven’t. Plenty of analysis to try get on top of that.”
-Oscar Piastri(post race)
Leclerc Salvages Podium Amid Mexican Mayhem
The signs were there early — Ferrari’s pace looked strong in qualifying, with Leclerc lining up on the second row and Lewis Hamilton just behind. Both cars had shown impressive speed through the twisty middle sector, suggesting that if they stayed clear at Turn 1, they could fight McLaren and Red Bull head-on.
As the lights went out, Leclerc dived into the first corner alongside Verstappen, Russel and Lewis. The four cars went wheel-to-wheel, sparks flying — until contact between the Red Bull and the Ferrari sent Leclerc slightly off balance. Carbon fibre scattered, Hamilton and Russel dropped down the order, and Leclerc was forced to regroup in fourth, his chance at victory seemingly gone in seconds.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, endured a frustrating afternoon. Caught in midfield traffic after a slow pit stop, his SF-25 never quite found the rhythm it had in practice. Still, his defensive work kept Ferrari in the points, denying rivals valuable positions.Ferrari leave Mexico knowing they still have the speed to challenge — but the margins are razor thin. With McLaren’s momentum growing and Red Bull wounded, every pit stop and every corner matters more than ever.
“It was very very very dirty off the line and did the best I could to keep the car kind of or bring it back to the safely. And thats all I hope for.”
-Lewis Hamilton(Post race)
Red Bull’s Grit Shines in Mexico’s Madness
For years, Mexico City has been Red Bull territory ,a circuit carved in the name of Max Verstappen, a place where he’s made the impossible look routine. And in 2025, even when chaos reigned and rivals rose, the three-time world champion reminded everyone why he’s still the benchmark ,fighting through damage, strategy swings, and relentless pressure to claw his way onto the podium with a performance soaked in aggression and pride.
As the lights went out at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Verstappen launched hard from the grid. But in the long sprint to Turn 1, three cars, one line, and no mercy. Had contact, sparks flew, Max had to leave the track. Aggressively overtook 3 cars in 4 laps, fire exit over the corners, superfast pitstop, Max was unstoppable on the track. On the 3rd lap, Max met his 2021 rival Lewis Hamilton, collided and Lewis had to leave the track but gained an advantage and hence lodging a 10 second penalty to himself.
With ten laps to go, Verstappen reeled in Leclerc, dive-bomb after a dive-bomb The move was undone . The crowd gasped. Red Bull was back on the podium not by dominance, but by sheer force of will.
“That was quite hectic, and then a bit of rallying in between Turns 1 and 2. That was quite fun!”
-Max Verstappen(Post race)
HA HA HAAS HAS DONE IT!
Haas began the weekend quietly. No one — not even their rivals — expected fireworks. But from the moment the lights went out, the VF-25 looked alive. Bearman launched off the line with the composure of a veteran, threading through the Turn 1 chaos that saw debris fly and big names stumble.By Lap 10, the 20-year-old Brit found himself running inside the top 6, matching the pace of Ferraris and Mercedes on merit. His calm voice over the radio contrasted the storm around him — clear, focused, unshaken.
And when George Russell began to close in during the final laps, Bearman refused to blink. His defensive driving was textbook — calm under pressure, precise in every braking zone. The chequered flag came with thunderous cheers as he crossed the line P4 — just shy of a podium, but miles ahead of expectations.
Ocon, meanwhile, executed a patient race from the midfield. Smart tyre management and a perfectly timed undercut propelled him into the points, cementing Haas’s dream afternoon.
“That’s how we fight — smart, clean, and together.”
– Ocon(post race)
Mercedes Salvage Solid Points in Mexico
The altitude of Mexico City wasn’t kind to the Silver Arrows, but Mercedes once again showed grit and consistency as Kimi Antonelli and George Russell crossed the line P6 and P7, securing valuable points in a weekend that demanded precision over power.
It wasn’t a race of fireworks — it was one of quiet determination. Amidst the chaos of overheating brakes, fading tyres, and the relentless pace of the front-runners, Mercedes found calm in control, keeping both cars within the top 10 from start to finish.The team’s Mexico package didn’t bring the leap they had hoped for, but the consistent performance underlined progress in reliability and race balance — both crucial as the season edges toward its final rounds.
“”It was an afternoon of damage limitation, ultimately, and our championship fight remains nail-bitingly close. Onwards to Brazil”
-Russel (Post Race Debrief)Stake Rookie gets a point!
Gabriel Bortoleto has scored P10 in a hard-fought race. Did crazy overtakes with experienced tire management proved fruitful to Stake getting valuable race while being in contention for the mid-field place in the constructors.
Hulkenburg on the other hand, unfortunately had to split away due to a Power issue in the car resulting in a DNF.
Heart-wrenching weekend comes to an End: Williams Trauma
Williams Racing arrived with quiet confidence — but left with heavy hearts.
What began as a promising weekend ended in frustration, as Carlos Sainz’s race ended prematurely with a heartbreaking DNF due to a contact he had in turn 1, while Alex Albon battled hard but fell just short of the points in an afternoon that tested both car and driver to the limit.
On the other side of the garage, Alex Albon endured a rollercoaster race.A late stint on worn mediums saw him defend valiantly from the Alpines and the Haas of Esteban Ocon — but it wasn’t enough.He eventually crossed the line, agonizingly close to points, leaving the team with nothing to show for a weekend of hard work.
For Team Principal James Vowles, it was a weekend of what-ifs. The team’s Mexico setup looked competitive in qualifying, but the high temperatures and thin air exposed the limits of their cooling package.
Still, the pace shown before Sainz’s retirement gave Williams hope that their updates are moving in the right direction.
“A very difficult day. The positive news is the car was very fast.But we were unable to use it. In the case of Carlos, the race was over after turn 1 and the damage resulted in both a flat spot but also damage to our wheel.”
– James Vowels(post race)
Sao Paulo awaits!
From Verstappen’s podium roar to Bearman’s breakthrough and Sainz’s silent heartbreak, Mexico 2025 was a race that bled emotion.
Every team left with something — some with silverware, others with scars — but all with fire for what’s next.
And as the paddock packs up for São Paulo, one truth remains:
No one’s safe, no one’s settled, and the fight is far from over.
Lets take a look at driver’s championship!
Team Standings heading on!
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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