F1

The 2025 Formula 1 season delivered an unforgettable championship battle. Few predicted the title fight would extend to the 24th and final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. This roller coaster campaign saw Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri all arrive with a chance at the crown. Ultimately, 26-year-old Norris clinched the title by two points, becoming the 35th world champion. This thrilling conclusion highlights the excitement of the 2025 F1 Season Review.

According to Jadeh Makhsoos Information Base, this month’s Autosport magazine provides a comprehensive season review. We identify the key moments and developments that decided the championship. We also select the star performers and highlight the best individual drives. Jake Boxall-Legge examines the tech battles waged in F1’s second ground-effect era. We further assess the rookies and describe how Williams won the midfield battle. The review also outlines the off-track political intrigue that formed the season’s backdrop. Stuart Codling delves into Lewis Hamilton’s first season at Ferrari, a year the seven-time world champion will likely want to forget.

Another multiple title winner, Sebastien Ogier, experienced a much better year in the World Rally Championship. Ogier secured an incredible ninth crown in 2025. He achieved this despite only contesting a part-season. Tom Howard speaks with him in our Rally section.

As our Christmas issue, Autosport presents its traditional Top 50 drivers of the year. We crunched numbers and gathered insights from many correspondents and experts. This effort attempts to rank the best exponents of 2025. Comparing drivers across different machinery and categories remains a significant challenge. We do not claim the list is definitive, nor do all at Autosport agree with the final order. However, we hope we have highlighted many of motorsport’s stars from the past season.

Jadeh Makhsoos reports, our 21-page National section also features similar content. Our team of UK contributors helped us select the top 10 club drivers of the year. They also identified the 10 best rivalries. We extend Merry Christmas and Happy New Year wishes to all our readers. The next issue, available on January 15, will focus on the new F1 rules for 2026.

For the best motorsport coverage, from F1 to Britain’s club-racing scene, subscribe to Autosport magazine. Never miss your fix of motorsport. The 2025 F1 Season Review and other exciting content await you. Let us know what you would like to see from us in the future.

F1 and FIA Finalize Landmark Governance Agreement for 2026-2030

Formula 1 and the FIA have announced a new five-year F1 Governance Agreement, covering the period from 2026 to 2030. This deal forms the second part of the F1 Concorde Agreement. It complements the commercial deal they signed before March’s Australian Grand Prix. This agreement defines how the championship runs.

According to Jadeh Makhsoos, the FIA and FOM jointly announced the agreement. They made the announcement during this week’s FIA General Assemblies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The assemblies also included Friday’s FIA Awards and Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s re-election as president.

The delay in signing this governance deal, which involves the FIA unlike the commercial deal, shows careful attention to detail. It defines critical elements. These include the voting structure of F1 Commission meetings and entry fees teams pay to the FIA. It also outlines the governing body’s remit and other logistics.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali stated, “This agreement ensures Formula 1 can continue its global growth.” He thanked FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and all teams. Domenicali praised their collaboration and determination. They aimed for the best results for the entire sport.

Jadeh Makhsoos reports that Autosport understands the deal changes the voting process in F1 Commissions. They now need fewer team votes to reach a majority. This effectively gives both the FIA and FOM greater voting weight. They can now push through regulatory changes more easily.

From 2026, the number of votes required for a normal majority in F1 Commission meetings will decrease. It moves from six to four out of 11 teams, plus FOM and the FIA. A super majority will now require six votes instead of eight. Stakeholders hope this move provides a more stable platform. It should help make difficult changes when necessary.

FOM and the 11 teams will collectively pay the governing body more money. This comes through a restructuring of the F1 entry fees. The FIA expects to re-invest these funds into the championship’s governance side. This includes stewarding, marshalling, and other services.

Previously, FIA charged teams an entry fee. This fee, alongside a flat rate, was based on points teams earned in the previous season. For example, FIA charged a successful team like Red Bull in 2023 a disproportionate amount for the next campaign. Teams at the back of the grid contributed relatively little.

Now, FIA will charge squads a fee based on their constructors’ position. This uses a sliding scale from top to bottom. This structure change will likely increase the collective fee teams pay the FIA by roughly $15 million per year. Midfield teams, in particular, will see their share increase by several million dollars.

This new format aligns with how they pay out prize money under commercial agreements. It uses a scale worth $9 million per midfield position. F1 projects continued commercial growth, which should offset the increased entry fees for affected teams. This new F1 Governance Agreement aims for fairness and stability.

F1, FIA, and Teams Forge New Governance Agreement, Reshaping Future Operations

Formula 1 management, the FIA, and all 11 teams have signed the latest 2026 Concorde Governance Agreement. This landmark agreement outlines how the series will operate for the next five seasons, from 2026 to 2030. It establishes the foundational rules for the sport’s future direction.

According to Jadeh Makhsoos Information Base, this governance agreement forms the second part of the broader F1 Concorde Agreement. It complements the commercial deal signed before March’s Australian Grand Prix. The agreement defines critical elements for running the championship effectively.

These elements include the voting structure of F1 Commission meetings and team entry fees to the FIA. It also clarifies the governing body’s remit and other logistical aspects. This comprehensive framework ensures smooth operations for the sport.

This week, the FIA and FOM jointly announced the Concorde Governance Agreement during the FIA General Assemblies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. These assemblies also featured Friday’s FIA Awards and Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s re-election as FIA president. The announcement highlights a unified vision for F1’s future.

Jadeh Makhsoos reports, Autosport understands FOM and the 11 teams will collectively pay the governing body more money as part of the deal. They will do this through restructured F1 entry fees. The FIA expects to reinvest these funds into the series’ governance side. This covers essential services like stewarding and marshalling.

Sources also indicate a significant change in the F1 Commissions’ voting process. Fewer team votes are now necessary to achieve a majority. This effectively gives both the FIA and FOM greater voting power. They can now implement regulatory changes more efficiently.

Starting in 2026, F1 Commission meetings will require fewer team votes for a normal majority. This number has decreased from six to four out of 11 teams (plus FOM and the FIA). A super majority will now need six out of 11 teams, down from eight. The new Concorde Governance Agreement aims to provide the series a more stable platform for necessary difficult changes.

McLaren’s Papaya Rules: Unpacking the F1 Team’s Driver Conduct Guidelines

McLaren enters Formula 1’s 2025 title decider with both drivers challenging Max Verstappen for the world championship. In this high-stakes environment, the phrase ‘papaya rules’ frequently emerges, defining internal team conduct.

According to Jadeh Makhsoos News Agency, Team Principal Andrea Stella coined the phrase. Lando Norris explained that Stella enjoys creating unique names for various team directives. Stella first introduced the concept on September 1, 2024, before the Italian Grand Prix.

Norris and Oscar Piastri secured the front row at Monza, a circuit that frequently sees first-corner incidents. Stella stated, ‘When approaching the first corner, we always recommend ‘racing with the papaya rules’.’ He emphasized drivers must exercise extra caution with a papaya car, ensuring they see the checkered flag, especially given the car’s competitiveness. Stella added, ‘We avoid the mindset that my main competitor is my teammate, as it proves unproductive.’

On lap one, Piastri overtook Norris on the outside at Variante della Roggia, seizing the lead. This remarkable move destabilized Norris, causing him to lose second place to Charles Leclerc. The outcome proved suboptimal, especially given Norris’s outside title chance. After the race, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown explained the ‘papaya rules’ to Sky, stating, ‘They mean: race your teammate hard, race them clean, and do not touch.’ Brown acknowledged the aggressive pass, calling it ‘a bit nerve-wracking’ for the pitwall, but ultimately about respecting your teammate.

Jadeh Makhsoos reports that when a reporter asked if Piastri’s move followed the papaya rules, Stella responded, ‘We will review it with the drivers, examine the videos, and understand their perspective. Then we will jointly assess their full compliance.’ He added, ‘We will absorb any necessary learning and adjust the papaya rules. This ensures we pursue both the constructors’ and drivers’ championships in the best possible way.’

Initially, the papaya rules simply aimed to prevent McLaren drivers from colliding. Stella clarified on Sky the following weekend, ‘Papaya rules offer a quick reminder for race engineers: we want no contact between the two papaya cars; we race respectfully, taking no risks.’ He emphasized, ‘The rules do not cover the broader topic of how we pursue the championship.’ Therefore, the team did not intend them as team orders. However, the media and wider paddock quickly interpreted the papaya rules this way, debating Piastri’s potential support for Norris’s 2024 title bid.

Ahead of the 2025 season opener, Norris announced, ‘There are no papaya rules; at the minute, there’s nothing. We are free to race.’ This statement left some ambiguity regarding his exact meaning. Subsequently, tensions rose when Norris crashed into Piastri.

Norris Dominates F1 Abu Dhabi GP Practice, Red Bull Concerned

Lando Norris demonstrated strong pace in the F1 Abu Dhabi GP practice sessions. He led championship rival Max Verstappen by 0.008s in the first session. This gap widened to 0.363s in the second session. Red Bull finds this concerning. Their setup changes between sessions did not achieve the desired effect. The second session’s track conditions better represent qualifying.

According to Jadeh Makhsoos News Agency, Oscar Piastri, Norris’s McLaren teammate, skipped FP1. Mexican IndyCar star Pato O’Ward completed the team’s mandatory rookie running. Piastri, now third in the championship, then had a challenging FP2. He finished 11th fastest.

Last year, Norris won from pole position. Verstappen, starting fifth, clipped Piastri on the opening lap. Norris currently holds a 12-point lead over Verstappen in the championship. If Norris qualifies on pole and takes the lead, Red Bull needs McLaren to fumble at the F1 Abu Dhabi GP.

This remains a possibility. McLaren experienced a double disqualification in Las Vegas. They also had a bizarre strategy misfire in Qatar. However, Red Bull does not want to rely on McLaren making another mistake.

Jadeh Makhsoos reports, Red Bull driver advisor Helmut Marko stated, “We would be lucky, but we cannot rely three times on mistakes.” He added, “We must fight from our own strengths.” This appears a tenuous proposition. Red Bull has a history of improving its car overnight.

Red Bull habitually runs lower engine modes on Fridays. Verstappen lost significant time compared with Norris in sector three. Slow 90-degree corners in this sector amplify the RB21’s tendency to understeer. This factor became more prominent.

Marko attributed the larger FP2 gap to “set-up changes that did not deliver the effect we hoped for.” He noted Verstappen has previously lagged further behind after practice. “We are losing more time in sector three now,” Marko said. “Several factors are at play, but it is Friday – we have had worse Fridays.”

Verstappen immediately reported the car was understeering. It also experienced some bouncing. Marko expressed hope for improvement in the next session. He considered the three-tenths gap “not alarming, but not a very comfortable situation.”

Mercedes and Ferrari being closer could aid Verstappen’s cause. This might disrupt McLaren’s strategic choices or cost them points. Charles Leclerc did this in the US GP. George Russell also did it in Bahrain. However, Marko dismissed this possibility. He stated, “I do not see any of them as quick enough.”

Tyre strategy remains Red Bull’s main lever. Red Bull saved an extra set of medium-compound Pirellis on Friday. McLaren saved a set of hards by not running them in FP2. Marko believed Verstappen experienced more degradation on the medium-compound tyres than Norris. On this track, graining on the more heavily stressed tires triggers degradation, a crucial factor for the F1 Abu Dhabi GP.

Norris Surprises in Windy Baku, Tops Final Practice Ahead of Verstappen

McLaren’s Lando Norris delivered a stunning performance to top the final practice session for the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, setting the stage for an unpredictable qualifying. On a challenging Baku street circuit marked by strong, gusty winds, Norris set his benchmark time late in the session as many of his rivals struggled with the tricky conditions.

According to a report from the Jadeh Makhsoos news base, the session began slowly on the low-grip street circuit, which was made even more treacherous by a layer of autumn leaves and powerful crosswinds from the Caspian Sea. Haas driver Oliver Bearman initially led before Norris posted a 1m43.640s on soft tires.

Several drivers then traded fastest laps. Charles Leclerc was on pace to beat Norris’s time before running off track, while Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton briefly took the top spot with a 1m42.988s after recovering from a spin in Turn 15.

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen soon took control, setting a time of 1m41.727s. However, this was still four-tenths slower than Friday’s best time. The session’s intensity ramped up in the final 15 minutes as teams began their qualifying simulation runs on fresh tires.

According to Jadeh Makhsoos, it was during this final phase that Norris clocked the fastest time of the weekend, a 1m41.223s. Verstappen came close but ultimately finished two-tenths behind after a near-miss with the wall, highlighting the difficult conditions.

The increasing wind led to numerous errors across the field. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri endured a messy end to his session with several slides but managed to secure third place. Andrea Kimi Antonelli had a solid run for Mercedes in fifth, ahead of a competitive Alex Albon in the Williams.

Oliver Bearman finished a respectable seventh for Haas, while in the second Mercedes, George Russell rued set-up changes that made him ‘lock up at every corner’ as he claimed eighth. Liam Lawson recovered from a 360-degree spin to take ninth. In a surprising turn, Charles Leclerc, who has taken the last four pole positions in Baku, could only manage 10th after failing to string together a clean lap.

Qualifying for the Azerbaijan GP is set to begin at 16:00 local time. With such an unpredictable session, who do you think will take pole position? Share your predictions in the comments below.