F1 Season Updates & Thoughts

F1 season strikes again! Time to unwrap some of the most pressing news of the season. 

Starting off hot with a controversial call, Lewis Hamilton faces a 10-second time penalty at the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix. For leaving the track and supposedly gaining an “advantage” over Max Verstappen at turn four. It sounds reasonable at first, but in the same race, there had been multiple earlier incidents of drivers, including Verstappen, doing the exact same thing, and none received a penalty except Hamilton. Leaving fans to believe it was due to racial bias against Hamilton that he received a penalty. Hamilton is no stranger to controversy; he has actively spoken out in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement on the track and is currently the only Black driver in F1. Despite the strides he’s made to gain acceptance over his long career, it seems there is still room to go, and the fans are fed up with the glass ceiling.

Moving on, driver Yuki Tsunoda is said to be leaving the Red Bull F1 program after the 2025 season, a tragedy for those viewers attached to his lovable, five foot three inches of charm. Rumors on who will replace him and where he will go spread like wildfire, but there is currently no reliable information on the details of this new chapter in Red Bull’s history.

In team news, Audi’s big Formula 1 2026 launch event in Munich is spinning heads. The freshly debuted livery is undeniably stunning, with many fans comparing it to the futuristic, neon cars in the “Tron” movie series. What a shame it’ll be wasted on Hulkenberg and Bortoleto, who have had a sub-par performance this season.

On the topic of poor performance, in Ferrari, John Elkann made a controversial statement on his two drivers after a dismal performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix, saying they should “talk less” and focus more on racing, blaming his own drivers for their bad performance, not the car, which has been repeatedly shown to be inferior to other models, even when tested against your uncles 35-year-old rusting Dodge Ram.

There are currently only three races left in the season, with fans gripping the edge of their seats. McLaren and Verstappen are head-to-head. Well, Verstappen certainly is trying. His ascent from pit lane to podium in Brazil shocked the world, but not really; we all know the man is talented. Still, the McLaren team has been performing undeniably well, usually only a single place apart in the final podiums. However, Lando Norris is leading on his teammate, Oscar Piastri, to the devastation of most F1 fans, who like Piastri for champion. Piastri has also had a shorter career than Norris, which many say proves his talent, as he is able to hold a candle to a much more seasoned teammate. 

No matter who you like for Champion, or what team you’re rooting for, the Las Vegas race is going to be instrumental for every racer, so make sure to stay tuned and up to date to see the race results and answer the burning question in every F1 fan’s mind: Max vs. McLaren; who will win the championship?