Carlos Sainz was one of many casualties at the Australian GP, uncharacteristically spinning out on lap 3 under Safety Car conditions. Another victim of the uncertain conditions was Isack Hadjar, who crashed out in the formation lap.

Having qualified better than any other rookie in P11, the Frenchman was understandably devastated after committing such an error.

Following the race, however, Red Bull’s Helmut Marko described Hadjar’s tears after the incident as “a bit embarrassing.”

Speaking to the media in China, Carlos Sainz has come to the 20-year-old’s defence.

Sainz, Hadjar amongst Australia casualties

With five rookies on the grid, mistakes are likely to be a recurring theme over the coming weeks and months.

This is not to suggest rookies cannot deliver strong results, as evidenced by Kimi Antonelli’s phenomenal rise from P16 to P4 in Melbourne.

Still, drivers are constantly learning in their debut campaigns – especially in wet conditions such as those in Australia.

Isack Hadjar was caught out unexpectedly at round one, though he certainly wasn’t the only casualty of Albert Park’s unforgiving conditions.

Even hugely experienced drivers like Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz – albeit due to varying factors – found themselves in the wall.

Like any young driver, the 20-year-old is under significant pressure to establish himself as an F1-calibre driver.

As part of the notoriously unpredictable Red Bull driver programme, Hadjar is arguably in a less forgiving environment than many of his peers.

Perhaps because of this, the public response to Helmut Marko’s “embarrassing” remarks was relatively strong.

Carlos Sainz: “Those emotions are always there”

Several drivers across the field were at one stage part of the Red Bull academy, including Carlos Sainz.

The Spaniard has spoken candidly in previous years about the pressurised environment at the Milton Keynes set-up.

His experiences are not just limited to his years with Toro Rosso, but also his time as a junior driver in Formula 2.

This perhaps makes Sainz better qualified than most to speak about the mental strain drivers experience – particularly as rookies.

The 30-year-old was asked by the media in Shanghai whether Hadjar’s tears were ’embarrassing’ or understandable:

“Understandable, completely understandable. You have so many other drivers going through the same emotions.

“Some choose to show it publicly, others don’t. But the reality is those emotions are always there

“It’s just a matter whether you want people to see it or not.

“In this case, Isack I guess couldn’t avoid everyone seeing it because of the situation he was in.”

Sainz raises an important point in this scenario, given that Isack Hadjar could not prevent the cameras from following him in the paddock.

Regardless, his reaction to the incident is hardly something new, as Carlos Sainz underlines:

“He tried I guess by keeping his helmet, which is a reaction that we’ve seen many drivers do in the past.

“And yeah, I’ve never heard it being criticised.”

The post Carlos Sainz defends Isack Hadjar amidst Marko comments appeared first on Last Word on Motorsports.

Max Verstappen, in traditional fashion, maximised the machinery at his disposal at the Australian GP. The Dutchman was McLaren’s closest challenger in Australia, though Red Bull are clearly a few steps behind their Woking-based rivals.

This weekend in China, a new FIA directive will address the growing prevalence of flexible rear wings.

Whilst the impact of this rule change is difficult to pinpoint, there are no doubts that Red Bull will be unaffected.

Red Bull unconcerned by new flexi-wing measures

Over the winter break, the topic of flexi front-wings came to the forefront – following an FIA announcement that stricter tests would be implemented at the Spanish GP.

However, the latest developments regarding wing aeroplasticity have added another dimension to this issue.

In Australia, the FIA used cameras to observe the rear wings of every team across the weekend. This step was taken in order to assess whether further regulations were necessary.

The implementation of harsher tests and a reduction to the amount of flexing permitted sends a resounding message.

Several teams were benefiting from this grey area – at least enough to warrant an FIA clampdown.

Red Bull were not among them, with the Milton Keynes outfit first raising suspicions about rivals using ‘Mini-DRS’ in pre-season testing.

Unlike other front-runners, Red Bull were late to begin pushing the limits of flexi-wings last season.

Embed from Getty Images

The Austrian team were instead focused on resolving the more underlying limitations of their 2024 challenger.

Regardless, Christian Horner’s personnel will surely welcome the latest regulatory amendment.

After all, their suspicion in Bahrain testing was that Ferrari and McLaren were beneficiaries of flexible rear wings.

Of course, both teams passed the FIA’s tests in Australia – rendering their wings legal.

However, it must be noted that what constitutes a legal rear wing has now changed. Not only will there be more thorough static tests, but the permitted slot gap (between the rear wing mainplane and flap) has been reduced.

In Melbourne the regulations stated the maximum distance was 2mm. This has been reduced drastically to 0.5mm, effective immediately for the Chinese GP.

This means some teams whose wings were technically legal will have to be adjusted this weekend.

A significant performance impact?

Like any technical change in F1, assessing the impact of these new regulations is tricky.

Until now, outside of team personnel, only estimates have been made to determine the lap-time advantage from using flexi-wings.

Embed from Getty Images

The performance gain is certainly not insignificant – otherwise teams would not have complained and the FIA would not have responded so decisively after Australia.

As it stands, most estimates suggest that teams forced to give up their ‘Mini-DRS’ advantage could lose a few tenths per lap.

This obviously won’t send a front-runner to the back of the grid, but this delta is still noteworthy.

With such fine margins separating the field, especially in qualifying, a few tenths can be game-changing.

Because the Chinese GP is a Sprint weekend, teams will have very limited time to optimise their set-up.

This could complicate efforts to draw conclusions about the impact of the FIA’s new technical directive.

Still, with further restrictions due for the Japanese GP, the next few weeks should create a clearer picture on the winners and losers.

The post Red Bull unfazed ahead of new flexi-wing restrictions appeared first on Last Word on Motorsports.

Lance Stroll stayed out of trouble and executed a solid race to claim P6 in Australia. His result secured crucial points for Aston Martin, especially since Fernando Alonso spun into the wall – falling victim to gravel that was pushed out on track.

Owing to the conditions on race day, assessing the AM25’s actual pace is difficult.

According to team principal Andy Cowell, however, there are reasons for Aston Martin to be cautiously optimistic.

Aston Martin show flashes of pace in Melbourne

The early stages of qualifying were promising for Aston Martin, with Fernando Alonso setting one of the best times Q1.

Unfortunately for the British squad, Alonso suffered floor damage at the beginning of Q2 – costing him performance and preventing him from reaching the final stage.

Although extrapolating from such a small sample size is difficult, the AMR25 looks more competitive than many suspected after testing.

Alonso was certainly being held up by Gasly on Sunday – though his crash obviously makes it difficult to draw conclusions.

Regardless, Aston appear in a far less precarious position than some outlets reported after pre-season.

The team confirmed the AMR25’s progress in Melbourne, both in terms of performance and drivability.

Moreover, Aston Martin have not been mentioned as a team likely to suffer from the FIA’s incoming technical directive (to be implemented this weekend).

Embed from Getty Images

Andy Cowell outlines the roadmap for Aston

At this stage last year, the Silverstone-based squad were actually in a strong position.

Only a few tenths separated Alonso from Pole Position in Jeddah and China – in an AMR24 that was competitive in qualifying.

It was the team’s long-run pace that created concern, before an upgrade package in Imola derailed Aston Martin’s campaign.

Because of this, establishing a strong foundation for 2025 is crucial.

Speaking after the chequered flag in Melbourne, team principal Aston Martin discussed the developments in the pipeline:

“We have upgrades we are currently working on,” he told as.com.

“We all have limitations in the CFS, wind tunnel and wind tunnel.

“So it’s a challenge to decide where to focus on to develop the car.”

Embed from Getty Images

Like every other team, Aston Martin must balance their 2026 development with this season.

Considering the gap to the front-runners, Aston are likely to focus on next set of regulations.

Adrian Newey has concentrated on the 2026 project since arriving at the factory in early March.

Still, this does not mean some improvements – albeit in a limited capacity – won’t arrive in the next few months:

“We do a mix,” Cowell continued.

“From Monday I’ll be in the factory to talk about the areas where we will focus on to find the most potential.

“Whether it’s development, reliability or procedural issues, there are details we can improve…

“Our feet are on the ground, we are working to find solutions. In Q1 we did good sectors, and later in Q2 – less so. We have to find out way.

“Fernando’s pace in the five laps before the crash was very competitive, until the point we decided to push. 

“So there is potential in the car.”

The post Aston Martin have upgrades in the pipeline, see potential in AMR25 appeared first on Last Word on Motorsports.

The first round of 2025 was extremely unpredictable, with wet conditions throwing a spanner in the works immediately. Even before the rain, several midfield drivers (Tsunoda, Albon, Gasly, Sainz) upset the front-runners in qualifying.

On race day, whilst rain made it difficult to directly compare performance, the likes of Williams and VCARB showed solid pace.

This increases the pressure on the top teams ahead of this weekend’s Chinese GP – when a new technical directive could impact performance.

Why the FIA’s latest directive matters

As mentioned previously on LWOS, the FIA is implementing new measures to control the ‘Mini-DRS’ phenomenon that is becoming increasingly prevalent across the field.

McLaren were the first to push the regulatory limits with their rear wings at Baku last year.

During the winter, the FIA determined it was necessary to impose harsher tests and regulations.

This was in response to fears that teams had found ways to pass the FIA’s static tests (which measures wing flexing) whilst still benefiting from the aeroplasticity of flexi-wings on track.

Although a new technical directive was due to be applied at the Spanish GP (round 9), the FIA were proactive.

F1’s sporting body introduced new cameras to monitor rear wing movement last weekend in Australia.

Their response was swift and emphatic, introducing new measures for teams to adhere to at the Chinese GP.

Embed from Getty Images

Further restrictions and tests will be imposed at round three in Japan. The aim is to completely eliminate this grey area for the remainder of 2025.

For the FIA to immediately implement a new technical directive indicates that several teams were benefiting from a flexible rear wing.

Although the performance gain from this component is unclear, the impact of revising their wings to be compliant with the regulations should cost certain teams a few tenths per lap.

The question, inevitably, is who will be most impacted.

McLaren and Ferrari under the spotlight in Shanghai

Previously on LWOS, we analysed the potential winners and losers from the FIA’s latest clampdown.

Over the winter break, the FIA’s first steps to restrict flexi front-wings (separate though not unrelated to the changes for this weekend) generated different reactions across the grid.

McLaren, understood to have started pushing this area before anyone else, were relatively unbothered by the latest announcement over winter.

The same can be said for Ferrari, who downplayed the impact of the incoming directive.

However, at pre-season testing, it was Red Bull who suggested that Ferrari and McLaren were still benefiting from ‘Mini-DRS’.

Embed from Getty Images

This was the suspicion of Red Bull’s technical director – Pierre Wache. It was the Frenchman’s comments that reignited concerns about flexible wings in pre-season.

According to a report from it.motorsport, there are four main teams suspected to have benefited from flexi-wings in Australia:

Ferrari, McLaren, Alpine and Haas.

At this stage, reaching conclusions about which teams were pushing the limits of the regulations is difficult.

Only the FIA and teams themselves will have concrete data on this issue.

Still, considering that adjustments to become compliant with the regulations have been ordered immediately, anyone who was gaining an advantage in this area will be caught out.

Even if they only lose a few tenths per lap, it could tip the scales in an increasingly competitive field.

Considering that teams are already switching their focus to the 2026 regulations, any difficulties at the early stages of this year could complicate resource allocation further down the line.

The post F1 News: Teams brace for impact ahead of new FIA regulations appeared first on Last Word on Motorsports.

The 2025 F1 Academy season is shaping up to be the most exciting chapter yet for the all-female single-seater series.

F1 Academy Prepares for Action

With new circuits, an expanded grid, and the return of reverse grid racing, fans have plenty to look forward to as the championship continues its rise on the global stage.

The 2025 F1 Academy Season Calendar

The 2025 F1 Academy calendar spans seven rounds and 14 races. As in 2024, each event will run alongside an F1 Grand Prix weekend.

This season introduces three new locations, adding new challenges to the competition.

The campaign begins at the Shanghai International Circuit from 21-23 March, marking F1 Academy’s debut in China.

From there, the action heads to familiar ground in Jeddah and Miami, before Canada’s Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve hosts Round 4. This is another first for the series.

After the summer break, the series resumes at Zandvoort, which becomes the only track to feature in all three seasons.

Singapore’s Marina Bay Street Circuit follows in early October, while the season reaches its finale under the lights of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit from 20-22 November.

The series will become the first single-seater support race to compete on the streets of Las Vegas.

2025 F1 Academy Season Calendar:

A Bigger Grid

For its third season, F1 Academy expands from 15 to 18 cars. This reflects the series’ growing success alongside the ever-increasing female talent pool.

2025 locked in. #F1Academy pic.twitter.com/0B6a2cmG4F

— F1 Academy (@f1academy) March 17, 2025

British outfit Hitech Grand Prix joins the grid, fielding two full-time drivers and a Wild Card entry at every round.

They join returning teams ART Grand Prix, Campos Racing, MP Motorsport, PREMA Racing, and Rodin Motorsport.

Each team will line up three cars, providing more young women aged 16 to 25 with vital opportunities to showcase their skills.

With every F1 team continuing their support through nominated drivers, the field features some of the brightest prospects in motorsport.

2025 grid loading… #F1Academy pic.twitter.com/TBjamGLXKb

— F1 Academy (@f1academy) March 14, 2025

Key partnerships from brands such as American Express, Charlotte Tilbury, PUMA, Tommy Hilfiger, and TAG Heuer further highlight the talent pool.

Wild Cards Return

After proving a success in 2024, Wild Card entries return with an updated format.

Hitech Grand Prix will manage the Wild Card at every round, allowing these one-off entrants to compete for points in both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships.

Each Grand Prix gives local drivers the chance to race on home soil. The first Wild Card is already confirmed. China’s Shi Wei will join the field in Shanghai.

With Wild Cards offering a pathway into full-time seats, 2025 could be a breakout year for new stars.

Four former Wild Cards – Courtney Crone, Ella Lloyd, Alisha Palmowski, and Nina Gademan – have earned full-time drives this season.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Durksen Leads 2025 Formula 2 Championship After Australia

What is New to the Racing Format?

One of the biggest changes for 2025 is the return of reverse grid racing.

This is designed to heat the competition and reward consistency across the weekend. Each race weekend will feature two Free Practice sessions, one 30-minute Qualifying session, and two races.

Race 1 now sees a reverse grid: the top eight qualifiers will be flipped. Positions nine to 18 will start as they qualified. Points will be awarded to the top eight finishers, with a bonus point available for the fastest lap within the top eight.

Race 2 remains unchanged, with the grid set by each driver’s fastest lap in Qualifying. The top 10 finishers score points, alongside a bonus for pole position and fastest lap.

Points Allocation:

Looking Ahead

Every lap counts.

Here’s how the F1 Academy race weekends will unfold in 2025. #F1Academy pic.twitter.com/BWhU0tFfIH

— F1 Academy (@f1academy) March 18, 2025

As the countdown begins for the season opener in Shanghai, excitement is building around the 2025 F1 Academy season. With new circuits, fresh faces, and an expanded grid, this year is set to deliver competition, close racing, and a representation of the best emerging female talent in motorsport.

READ NEXT: FIA Announce New Technical Directive: Which Teams Will Benefit?

Main Photo

IMAGO / Panoramic by PsnewZ

Recording Date: 25.08.2024

The post Everything You Need to Know About the 2025 F1 Academy Season appeared first on Last Word on Motorsports.

The second round of the 2025 F1 season takes us to the Shanghai International Circuit for the Chinese Grand Prix. F1 Academy will also open its anticipated 2025 season here.

From the 21st to 23rd of March

The Chinese Grand Prix has played an important role in F1’s expansion into Asia, delivering thrilling races and memorable moments since its inaugural event in 2004.

R A C E W E E K (again!)

Next stop, Shanghai #F1 #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/SJxG1pFSrx

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 17, 2025

The Schedule

*Track Time

Origins and Early Ambitions

China’s ambition to host an F1 race dates back to the early 1990s.

The government initially planned to stage a Grand Prix at the Zhuhai International Circuit, which opened in 1996.

The venue was provisionally included on the 1999 F1 calendar. However, it failed to meet the FIA’s standards. This led to its cancellation.

Determined to bring F1 to the country, China decided on a more ambitious project. The focus was on Shanghai.

Plans were drawn up for a new world-class circuit in Shanghai, and in April 2003, work began on transforming a marshland in the Jiading District into a state-of-the-art racing facility.

After eighteen months of construction and a reported $450 million investment, the Shanghai International Circuit was completed, ready to host its first Grand Prix in 2004.

The First Race and Early Years

The inaugural F1 Chinese Grand Prix took place on 26 September 2004.

It was one of two new additions to the F1 calendar that season, alongside Bahrain, marking a significant moment in the sport’s global expansion.

Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello claimed victory in the race, which became a driver and fan favourite thanks to its challenging layout and unique design.

The following year, the Shanghai race gained further prestige by hosting the final round of the 2005 season.

Fernando Alonso, having already secured his maiden world championship title, became victorious and helped Renault claim the Constructors’ Championship.

In 2006, Michael Schumacher secured his final F1 victory in Shanghai, demonstrating his mastery of changing conditions.

The race continued to grow, featuring key moments such as Lewis Hamilton’s title hopes weakening in the pit lane gravel trap in 2007 and Sebastian Vettel’s wet-weather victory for Red Bull in 2009.

READ MORE: Norris Claimed Australia Victory Despite Late Floor Damage

Contract Uncertainty and Financial Challenges

Despite its popularity, the Chinese Grand Prix faced financial difficulties.

In 2008, Qiu Weichang, a senior race official, suggested that the event’s future was under review due to ongoing financial losses.

Uncertainty followed over the race’s long-term viability, with the initial seven-year contract expiring in 2010.

Although Bernie Ecclestone reassured fans that the event would continue, negotiations between F1 Management and race organisers took until February 2011 to finalise a renewed agreement. This reportedly involved a reduced hosting fee.

A new contract secured the Grand Prix’s place on the calendar until 2017, with another three-year extension signed in 2017 to keep the race running through 2020.

By 2019, the Chinese Grand Prix had achieved a historic milestone, hosting F1’s 1000th World Championship race.

COVID-19 Disruptions and the Event’s Return

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted F1 and the Chinese Grand Prix.

The 2020 race, initially scheduled for 19 April, was postponed and later cancelled as the pandemic’s severity increased.

Organisers announced races in 2021, 2022, and 2023, but each was scrapped due to ongoing travel restrictions and logistical concerns.

After a four-year absence, F1 finally returned to China in 2024, reintroducing a well-liked stop on the calendar.

In December 2024, it was announced that F1 will return to Shanghai until 2030 at the latest.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: TRIDENT’s Triumph Amid Turbulence at 2025 F3 Opener

F1 Academy Opens

F1 Academy’s 2025 season begins in Shanghai, supporting the F1 weekend.

WE ARE SO BACK. #F1Academy #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/WLc4FHIZXw

— F1 Academy (@f1academy) March 17, 2025

This is a first for China and highlights its commitment to increasing the circuit’s visibility worldwide.

Key Data

The Chinese Grand Prix remains a key part of the F1, offering a challenging circuit and an incredible atmosphere for drivers and spectators alike.

READ NEXT: FIA Announce New Technical Directive: Which Teams Will Benefit?

Main Photo

IMAGO / HochZwei

Recording Date: 21.04.2024

The post F1: History of the Chinese Grand Prix appeared first on Last Word on Motorsports.

Prior to last weekend’s Australian GP, there was one major controversy in F1 bubbling behind the scenes. Not for the first time, the FIA was investigating the issue of flexible rear wings – often referred to as ‘Mini-DRS’.

This innovation, first observed at McLaren in Baku last year, has been the subject of significant discussion among teams.

Over the winter, the FIA decided to impose tougher measures and tests on the emergence of flexi-wings.

However, after last weekend’s action in Melbourne, the FIA have immediately pushed forward with the implementation of an even stricter technical regulation.

Why the FIA are introducing stricter regulations

F1 is a sport, perhaps more than any other, defined by grey areas.

Teams often push the limits of the regulations in order to achieve advantages over their rivals.

In some cases, the FIA give the green light for teams to implement ideas that involve a more unique interpretation of the regulations.

At the end of last year, it was understood that flexi-wings would fall under this category.

Over the winter, however, the FIA decided that tougher measures were necessary.

Specifically, new technical regulations were drafted to eliminate front wing flexing – a grey area that has attracted immense attention in recent months.

These changes were set to be applied for the Spanish GP, providing teams with some breathing space to make adjustments.

Crucially, though, the FIA also introduced certain measures (such as new cameras) to observe rear wing movement at round one.

The Federation’s observations have triggered an immediate reaction, with the intention of preventing teams from circumventing their tests.

Traditionally, the FIA would test wing flexing using static tests.

However, it is understood that some teams have found methods to pass these static tests – whilst still benefiting from flexible wings on track.

As a result, new measures are being enforced – effective immediately.

Winners and losers from the FIA’s latest directive

At this stage, it is unclear exactly how the latest FIA clampdown will impact the pecking order.

It is no secret that McLaren were the first to push the limits of aeroelasticity of last season.

However, this does not necessarily mean they will be the most affected by these technical changes.

After all, the Woking-based operation stated over winter that stricter tests were not a major concern.

Still, it should be noted that the expectation before Australia was that tougher tests would be implemented at the Spanish GP (round 9), rather than in China.

This means teams have to make instant alterations, rather than more gradual ones.

Regardless, this weekend in Shanghai will provide more clarity on how the MCL39 is affected.

Elsewhere on the grid, some teams will benefit from this change – provided they were not already pushing the limits of what the regulations permitted.

Crucially, it was Red Bull Technical Director, Pierre Wache, who first suggested during pre-season testing that other teams were still using the ‘Mini-DRS’ trick.

In fact, Wache specifically pointed the finger at McLaren and Ferrari:

“It is still going on,” he told The Race in Bahrain.

“I think Ferrari and McLaren are doing the Mini-DRS stuff still.”

Embed from Getty Images

Considering that Red Bull first sounded the alarm in testing, it seems safe to assume the RB21 should be unaffected.

Then again, even this hypothesis is difficult to verify, at least before this weekend’s Chinese GP begins.

Still, it seems clear there will be more conversations about flexi-wings over the coming weeks.

Given that the FIA felt the need to immediately implement new measures after their observations in Australia, this new directive could have a significant impact across the field.

The post FIA announce new Technical Directive: Which teams will benefit? appeared first on Last Word on Motorsports.

The 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship commenced with the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit, where TRIDENT Motorsport showcased remarkable resilience.

Despite a challenging start in the Sprint Race, the team rebounded spectacularly in the Feature Race, securing a one-two finish.

TRIDENT’s Strategic Approach for the Race Weekend

TRIDENT Motorsport’s strategic approach during the 2025 F3 opening weekend was a masterclass in adaptability and foresight, enabling the team to navigate the unpredictable conditions of the Albert Park Circuit with exceptional skill.

Practice Session: Laying the Groundwork

In the Free Practice session, the team focused on establishing a strong baseline setup, allowing their drivers to extract maximum performance from the car.

This momentum carried into Qualifying with Rafael Câmara securing pole position and Noah Stromsted clinching second place, resulting in a front-row lockout for the team.

Their strategy involved an early out-lap to avoid potential red flags, ensuring clear track space for optimal lap times.

Câmara reflected on this tactic, stating:

“We followed our program that we had discussed before, and then only for the last run we went a bit earlier. We were doing’ out, push’ because we didn’t have enough time because of the Red Flag” – Rafael Câmara, Trident. 

READ NEXT: Campos Racing Struggles in 2025 F2 Season Opener in Australia

Sprint Race: Navigating Setbacks

The Sprint Race presented unforeseen challenges for TRIDENT. Câmara, starting from 12th due to the reverse grid format, was involved in an incident that led to his retirement.

Noah Strømsted and Charlie Wurz also faced difficulties, resulting in a triple DNF for the team.

Feature Race: Strategic Mastery in Adverse Conditions

Undeterred by earlier setbacks, TRIDENT approached the Feature Race with a meticulously crafted strategy, particularly given the wet and unpredictable conditions.

The race commenced after multiple formation laps and a rolling start due to heavy rain.

Câmara capitalized on his pole position, quickly building a gap from his competitors. He managed the challenging conditions adeptly, stating:

“There were tough conditions where it was the first time on wets this weekend, but I think the team did an amazing job to keep it all clean” – Rafael Câmara, TRIDENT.

First thoughts from the #F3 Feature Race top three…

Rafael Camâra, Noah Strømsted, and Théophile Nael! #AusGPhttps://t.co/xE7HAzel46

— Formula 3 (@Formula3) March 16, 2025

Strømsted maintained his position, ensuring a strong team presence at the front.

The race was punctuated by safety car periods due to the on-track incidents, but both TRIDENT drivers remained focused, executing flawless restarts and maintaining their lead positions.

The team’s ability to adapt their strategy to the evolving weather conditions was evident.

Both drivers adapted seamlessly to the wet conditions, with Câmara managing tyre wear effectively to secure victory.

He noted the importance of maintaining the racing line to preserve grip. Strømsted echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the difficulty of finding rhythm amidst the spray.

TRIDENT’s strategic approach was therefore characterized by proactive planning and real-time adaptability.

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Championship Standings: A Promising Outlook

Following the Melbourne round, TRIDENT’s drivers occupy prominent positions in the championship standings.

Câmara leads with 26 points. Strømsted holds third place with 18 points, with Wurz placed tenth after his sixth-place finish in the Feature Race.

Collectively, these results position TRIDENT at the forefront of both the Driver’s and Team’s Championships, setting a positive tone for the season ahead.

A Brazilian rookie taking victory in his #F3 Feature Race debut in the number 5 car of @trident_team…

You know how this story ends! #RoadToF1 pic.twitter.com/lGqcy3fDX9

— Formula 3 (@Formula3) March 16, 2025

TRIDENT Motorsport’s performance in Australia exemplifies strategic excellence. Overcoming early setbacks, the team leveraged planning and adaptability to secure top positions.

This strong start boosts the team’s morale and establishes them as strong contenders in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship. 

READ NEXT: Tsunoda Should Be at Red Bull Instead of Lawson, Says Zak Brown

Main Photo

IMAGO / PsnewZ

Recording Date: 16.03.2025

The post TRIDENT’s Triumph Amid Turbulence at 2025 F3 Opener appeared first on Last Word on Motorsports.

Yuki Tsunoda was one of the stand-out performances in Australia, qualifying in a fantastic 5th for VCARB. The Japanese driver was in contention for a top 6 finish on race day, only for a strategic blunder at VCARB’s pit-wall to cost him.

However, Tsunoda’s strong performance did not go unnoticed – especially as former teammate Liam Lawson spent most of his weekend at the back of the field.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has wasted no time in raising questions about Red Bull’s driver pairing.

Yuki Tsunoda validated, Brown joins Red Bull criticism

Since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure in 2018, Red Bull have failed to put someone able to compete against Max Verstappen in their second seat.

Verstappen outscored Sergio Perez by over 500 points across 2023 and 2024, evidence of the desperate need for a change.

The general consensus last year was that Tsunoda deserved an opportunity at the Milton Keynes squad.

Having outperformed De Vries, Ricciardo and Lawson in successive seasons, the Japanese driver did everything within his power to demonstrate his abilities.

Embed from Getty Images

In many ways (having largely matched Pierre Gasly in 2022) Red Bull’s surprise that Tsunoda outperformed De Vries was an early example of the Austrian team’s failure to correctly recognise his speed.

Liam Lawson struggled massively in round one, both in terms of pace and consistency.

Although wet conditions made things difficult on Sunday, this does not excuse the Kiwi driver’s failure to compete for points.

Zak Brown seems to share this perspective, with the McLaren CEO questioning Red Bull’s driver selection:

“I think it’s going to be a very exciting year,” he told Sky Sports.

“Yuki did a great job, probably the guy who should be in the Red Bull – if you look at how he’s performed.

“But they {Red Bull] seem to make some strange driver choices from time to time.”

Embed from Getty Images

Tsunoda picks up where he left off

Frankly, there is little evidence to suggest that Red Bull will consider Yuki Tsunoda for a promotion.

Whilst his performance in Australia is excellent, the 24-year-old has driven at a high level for years – and it still failed to change his perception at Milton Keynes.

Having made so many errors with driver selection, Red Bull are likely to have Lawson plenty of time to deliver results.

This is something LWOS anticipated in previous articles, where we concluded that Lawson can expect a significant grace period in 2025.

In any case, Tsunoda’s objectives and approach will continue as normal. VCARB look to have a competitive car this year, which should plenty of chances for strong results – especially in qualifying.

VCARB team principal Laurent Mekies praised his lead driver after his efforts in Melbourne:

“As for the race, Yuki was performing very strongly until the rain returned. There is nowhere to hide, we got our last call wrong, and it cost us very dearly today.

“For this we apologise to Yuki. The gamble to keep him out didn’t pay off but it’s part of the harshness of motorsport.

“There is only one way to improve, by working harder together as a team and to come back stronger.”

The post Tsunoda should be at Red Bull instead of Lawson, says Zak Brown appeared first on Last Word on Motorsports.

The NASCAR Cup Series was all ready for the high-speed action of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This race didn’t disappoint, as plenty was expected of the Hendrick Motorsports cars.  They had won four straight spring races at Las Vegas coming in, and this certainly seemed like a chance for a fifth in a row early on. Ford, however, got the last laugh, as Josh Berry took advantage of several pit road problems that plagued the field throughout the race to score his first career Cup win.

The Wood Brothers were able to find victory lane once again, for the 101st time in history. Josh Berry, who’s had a bumpy start to his Cup career, has certainly arrived now.

From the short track to the big stage!@joshberry's first career win comes at @LVMotorSpeedway! pic.twitter.com/Vmxm54Zsy8

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 16, 2025

Josh Berry Takes Advantage of Top Contender’s Mistakes, Earns First Cup Win at Las Vegas

Michael McDowell put Spire Motorsports on the pole for this race for the first time in the organization’s history. That quickly went sour, as he faded quickly and out of contention. This seems to be a theme for Spire outside of Carson Hocevar this season. McDowell wasn’t the only comer and goer this weekend, as Ryan Blaney and the red-hot Christopher Bell had to start at the rear of the field.

This race was full of major issues, especially on pit road, as the sport’s biggest names were all busted for something. Whether it be speeding or not getting a tire lug tight. This race had plenty of drama on the pit lane, to say the least.

Struggles Continue for Big Names

Ryan Blaney’s issues this weekend started in practice as he got in the wall and had to start at the rear of the field. After racing his way up into the Top 20 during the first stanza of Sunday’s race, Blaney had some issues on his first green flag stop as his crew struggled to get things done. The slow stop cost him two laps.

It has been a rough weekend for Ryan Blaney in Vegas. #NASCARonFS1 pic.twitter.com/zGy0vGlUyM

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 16, 2025

It was only made worse moments later, as Chase Briscoe lost a wheel after his pit stop, which brought out the first yellow of the race. Brisoce’s tire situation started the race down a rough path when it came to pit road.

Chase Briscoe's team lost a tire. pic.twitter.com/4bP9pa9FfH

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 16, 2025

The yellow shook up the field. Some speed penalties did as well. Starting with Denny Hamlin, who was busted for speeding during his green flag stop. Hamlin’s penalty was topped during the yellow, as Kyle Busch looked like he was going to contend for the lead on the next restart, only to have to serve a penalty for speeding as well on his stop. The pit road police were out in full force in Las Vegas.

After those early issues, the rest of the first stage went green, and Austin Cindric was able to hold off the likes of Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott to capture the green and white checkered flag.

Stage 1: Austin Cindric!
Stage 2: ???
Stage 3: ???#NASCARonFS1 | https://t.co/XUF5a2ZHos https://t.co/YyTmAJA0bB pic.twitter.com/IhK7sDDAOM

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 16, 2025

Stage two saw more pit road issues arise, as Alex Bowman had to pull in for a loose wheel, not to mention his teammate, Elliott, who was caught speeding on the stage break pitstop. It was pretty clear that making mistakes on the pitlane was going to cost everybody. While the favorites were having problems, Josh Berry was keeping his nose clean, much like he has been for the last several weeks.

Tighten Those Wheels, Please

Briscoe’s tire situation during stage one was huge, but Busch took the cake in stage two, as his tire completely flew off at a much higher speed. It became clear that pit crews were struggling this weekend to get the one lug tight. Busch’s mistakes in races continue to ruin good cars and runs. It’s crazy at this point.

Kyle Busch has taken the No. 8 machine to the garage. Here's a closer look at what happened:#NASCARonFS1 | https://t.co/XUF5a2ZHos https://t.co/EZhP2dBNlY pic.twitter.com/vWzUaB5H3f

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 16, 2025

When will he catch the right break? I’ve heard of bad luck, but what Busch’s has been through is a drought. He’s not alone as Ty Gibbs’ misery season continued with another finish outside the top 20. Though this was his best in his last nine races at least, finishing 22nd.

The second stage finished with the winner of the last two Pennzoil 400s, Kyle Larson, taking the green and white checkered flag.

Cautions Breed Cautions

With all the pit road issues, the third stage paved the way for some massive incidents. You know how I said the weekend wasn’t good for Blaney. Well it got ten times worse as he was caught up in a multi-car crash on Lap 194.

A frustrating weekend for Ryan Blaney continues. Here's what happened: https://t.co/nHYziKb1ie pic.twitter.com/RJZUTv5RMp

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 16, 2025

That wasn’t the final wreck, as fuel saving started to become the name of the game. That started to play into Team Penske’s hand with Joey Logano, with Josh Berry and Daniel Suarez also in the picture.

One final caution with 20 or so to go: bunch the field up one more time. Everyone came to the pit lane, and Berry and Suarez lucked out at the front. All four Hendrick cars were right around the Top 10, and William Byron certainly looked ready to strike.

Though Byron was making a charge, Ross Chastain blocked him as he tried to fight for the third spot. That was an issue in itself, but Josh Berry showed some strength that the Wood Brothers have been looking for decades now.

NEW LEADER: JOSH BERRY IN THE WOOD BROTHERS 21 MACHINE! pic.twitter.com/FlkxVHkaJE

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 16, 2025

READ MORE: Harrison Burton Pulls Ultimate Upset, Gets 100th Win For Wood Brothers

Having a Last Name That Starts with a B is paying off so far in 2025

Josh passed Suarez with 16 laps left and didn’t look back as he cruised to his first career cup win. It also marked the just the second win for the Wood Brothers since 2017. It was also the team’s first win on a mile and track since Atlanta in 1993 with Morgan Shepherd. What Josh Berry proved is that he belongs and that WBR is back in business.

There's nothing like the first one. @joshberry is now a NASCAR Cup Series winner! He talks with @JamieLittleTV after climbing out in Vegas. pic.twitter.com/Z5rZ7CFlql

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 16, 2025

Not only that, but it’s certainly a good thing to have a last name that starts with a B, so far this season. Five races have run so far, and all have been won by a driver with a last name that starts with a B. That’s William Byron (Daytona), Christopher Bell (Atlanta, COTA, Phoenix), and now Josh Berry (Las Vegas). Congratulations on your first, Josh. Plenty more to come in your future, I’m sure.

READ NEXT: Justin Allgaier Shines Brightest in Xfinity Series at Las Vegas

Featured Image Credit: Chris Graythen, Getty Images. 3/16/2025

The post Josh Berry Takes Advantage of Top Contenders Mistakes, Earns First Cup Win at Las Vegas appeared first on Last Word on Motorsports.