Simply, Weekly Racing - Week 2 of July

A waterlogged British Grand Prix, Verstappen's future, the return of V8 engines, and fresh continental ambitions.

This Week's Highlights

Norris takes his home Grand Prix. Lando Norris finally did it at a chaotic British Grand Prix, narrowing the championship gap to just 8 points behind teammate Oscar Piastri. McLaren secured a 1-2 finish, but there's a complex story behind those results.

Hulkenberg's fairy tale. Nico Hulkenberg claimed his first podium in 239 Grand Prix starts—an emotional breakthrough that had the entire paddock celebrating. Going from 19th on the grid to 3rd place was one of the greatest comeback drives in F1 history.

Red Bull's admission. Red Bull has conceded they can't catch McLaren. Marko admitted: "We still have some updates coming, but it won't be enough to get close to McLaren."

Verstappen and Mercedes. Max Verstappen's Mercedes move rumors are heating up the paddock once again. This time, even Hamilton has weighed in.

FIA's future: Two competing visions. The battle for the FIA presidency has begun. President Ben Sulayem has unveiled his radical vision featuring V8 engine revival and a 12th Chinese team.

Race Report: 2025 British Grand Prix

Unpredictable British weather dominated Silverstone. From the chaos emerged new heroes, while the championship fight plunged deeper into uncertainty.

Results Summary

Race Highlights: The Decisive Moment

A single steward decision changed everything. During the safety car restart, race leader Oscar Piastri received a 10-second time penalty for what officials called "erratic braking." The stewards cited FIA regulation 55.15 for "irregular deceleration," but frankly, it felt harsh.

Piastri called it "harsh," and even rival Max Verstappen questioned the decision. This incident goes beyond a simple penalty—it sets a precedent for restart tactics that the FIA will enforce going forward. But it's also reignited that age-old debate about "consistency" in stewarding.

Driver Performances: Heroes and Heartbreak

Lando Norris - Dream Realized Norris delivered when it mattered most. Two wins in a row have ignited his championship challenge. That post-race "Shooey" celebration perfectly captured his joy. Winning your home Grand Prix—that's something special for any British driver.

Nico Hulkenberg - Veteran Class Hulkenberg proved that persistence pays off. After 239 starts, his first podium was worth the wait. His defensive driving against Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari was the highlight of the day. The entire paddock celebrated with him—a moment that felt genuinely earned after such a long journey.

Oscar Piastri - Bitter Disappointment Piastri had the pace all weekend, consistently faster than his teammate. But one steward decision cost him everything. His post-penalty request for team orders revealed the championship pressure he's feeling. You could sense the weight of leading the title fight.

Team Strategies: High Stakes Gambling

McLaren Absolutely nailed it. Their high-downforce setup was perfect for the wet conditions, delivering dominant performance when it mattered. The 1-2 finish wasn't luck—it was preparation meeting opportunity. Everything from weather prediction to strategy execution was spot-on.

Red Bull Their gamble backfired spectacularly. Banking on a 20% rain forecast, they went with low downforce and paid the price. Verstappen's qualifying pace came from a risky setup that worked in dry conditions but was a disaster in the wet. Even Max's talent couldn't overcome that fundamental miscalculation.

Mercedes Strategic failure across the board. Starting on hards only to change after 10 laps was amateurish. One measly point to show for it. Wrong tire choice from the get-go.

Ferrari Another disappointment. Their strong practice and qualifying pace vanished come race day. The chronic power steering issues seem to resurface at the worst moments. Their high-speed corner weakness was painfully exposed during the race stint.

Paddock Whispers

Off-track, the future of F1 is being shaped by some massive chess moves.

Red Bull's Honest Assessment

The most shocking news came from Red Bull themselves. Helmut Marko admitted McLaren's superiority: "We still have some updates coming, but it won't be enough to get close to McLaren."

Marko elaborated: "The fastest lap in qualifying was a combination of Verstappen and a risky setup. But as we saw, that went wrong in the race. I think we have to admit that McLaren is superior and it's very difficult to even get close to them this season."

This essentially confirms Red Bull has fallen out of title contention for 2025. The dynasty is crumbling before our eyes.

Storm Center: Verstappen and Mercedes

Red Bull's struggles have fueled superstar driver speculation. Max Verstappen's potential 2026 Mercedes move is back in the headlines.

Red Bull's Helmut Marko tried to shut down the rumors: "Verstappen hasn't signed with Mercedes and can't sign with them." But the controversy won't die down. Even Verstappen's sim racing with Mercedes cars is making headlines now.

Former Mercedes, current Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton's comments are telling. He said there would be no "problem" with Verstappen joining Mercedes. He also expressed regret about previously dismissing Red Bull as just a "drinks company."

Hamilton described Mercedes as an "incredible team" that will "build incredible engines," practically endorsing Verstappen's potential move. This isn't just lip service—Hamilton seems to genuinely believe Verstappen's Mercedes switch is realistic.

Alpine's Uncertain Future

Since the Renault Group CEO's departure, Alpine F1 team sale rumors have intensified. Hyundai was mentioned as a potential buyer, but their motorsport president officially denied interest. Alpine is set to switch to Mercedes engines from 2026.

Alpine's future remains murky. If a sale materializes, it would trigger another seismic shift in the F1 grid.

Beyond the Grid

The Battle for FIA's Future

A power struggle for F1's governance has begun. Former F1 steward Tim Mayer has declared his candidacy against incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem for the FIA presidency. Mayer criticizes Ben Sulayem's leadership for "centralizing power" and promises change.

Ben Sulayem's Vision: V8s, 12 Teams, and China

Facing this challenge, President Ben Sulayem has clarified his vision in recent interviews.

V8 Engine Revival - He boldly stated that "loud, light, simple, and cheap" V8 engines will return by 2029. This would cut costs by over 50% compared to current hybrid engines and reduce car weight by 90-100kg.

12th Team - He suggested expanding the grid to 12 teams, saying "there should be more teams than races."

China Beckons - He's particularly positive about a Chinese team proposal, asking "wouldn't we make more money if China comes in?" This reveals his ambitions for F1's commercial expansion.

Honestly, Ben Sulayem's vision is intriguing. V8 engine revival would appeal to fans, and 12-team expansion means more opportunities. But is it actually feasible?

F1's Expansion: South Africa's Return?

As part of F1's global expansion efforts, South Africa's Grand Prix return is gaining attention. The South African government recently announced they've completed selecting a potential promoter for F1.

However, Cape Town has alleged bias in the selection process, creating controversy. The ball is now in F1 Management's court, pending final cabinet approval. But F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has made it clear that adjusting the already packed 24-race calendar remains a challenge.

F1's Commercial Roar: Partnerships and Fandom

Through LVMH, Glenmorangie became the 'Official Whisky of F1' with a Harrison Ford-fronted campaign.

New Fans, New Era - The July 1st global fan survey results showcase F1's successful expansion. The fanbase is younger, more female (3/4 of new fans are women), and increasingly American.

90% of respondents said they're emotionally invested in race results. 76% believe sponsors improve the sport. That's incredibly high engagement levels. It proves F1 has evolved beyond just sport into entertainment.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Championship Standings - Lando Norris's victory has closed the gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri to just 8 points. McLaren has strengthened their constructors' championship lead.

This Week's Number: 239 - The number of Grand Prix starts it took Nico Hulkenberg to claim his first F1 podium. A long wait that made the moment even more precious.

Next Wednesday, another story unfolds.