As always, let’s take a look at the two main news stories from today, Wednesday, October 1, in Formula 1. Max Verstappen - Photo: RacePictures
Following Christian Horner’s departure—official after twenty years of remarkable success—the arrival of Laurent Mekies as Red Bull’s new CEO and team principal has injected fresh energy into the team.
In recent races,
Max Verstappen has reasserted his dominance, winning convincingly in both Monza and Baku after already securing an impressive second place at home in Zandvoort.
In a recent interview, the four-time world champion spoke about how the atmosphere within the team has shifted since the leadership change, describing it as far more positive, though he admitted he is not yet fully satisfied with the performance side.
Max Verstappen speaking after winning the Azerbaijan GP - Photo: RacePictures
After a very delicate period,
Kimi Antonelli — who had been at the center of market speculation in recent weeks following a string of poor results, particularly in comparison with his teammate — finally delivered a solid performance in Baku last weekend, securing a strong fourth place just behind Carlos Sainz, who claimed his first podium with Williams and the first of his 2025 season.
Like Russell, the young Italian driver’s contract expires at the end of the season, with Mercedes yet to officially announce the renewal of either, even though the Max Verstappen option has long been off the table. Speaking on the eve of the Singapore weekend,
Toto Wolff sought to put Antonelli’s future to rest once and for all.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli Photo: Race Pictures
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