We got used to seeing Charles and Carlos in the middle of chess matches on their jets going from one race to the next, so it is nice to see that Charles will still be able to practice his Queens Gambit with Lewis!

There has been a constant buzz about the security of Jack Doohan’s seat going into this season.

Franco Colapinto was signed on as a reserve driver with Alpine and ever since the was been a sense that it is a matter of if, not when Alpine decides to swap out Doohan for Colapinto.

We always wonder how much of the noise we see online reaches and impacts the drivers, so it was kind of nice to see Doohan directly address the challenges he faces head on and own his future.

"I was a 21-year-old reserve driver last year with a long-term contract. To be one of 20 Formula 1 drivers in the world, I would do anything to be in Formula 1 and sacrifice everything.” - Jack Doohan

The FIA is planning to enhance the excitement of the Monaco Grand Prix by mandating additional pit stops. This initiative aims to address the challenges of overtaking on Monaco's narrow circuit, which often leads to processional races. The proposal, discussed during a recent F1 Commission meeting in London, suggests increasing the number of compulsory pit stops from the current single stop to potentially two or more. This change would introduce greater strategic complexity, possibly requiring teams to utilize all three tire compounds during the race. The specifics of this proposal are set to be further examined by the Sporting Advisory Committee in the coming weeks.

For an in-season change, there needs to be unanimous agreement from the Sporting Advisory Committee.

“Obviously Monaco, you can't change the layout of the circuit. And of course, as we've seen previously, with particularly these cars as big as they are now, the race is very much dictated by the Saturday [qualifying session]," Red Bull boss Christian Horner said.

Red Bull Racing's Team Principal, Christian Horner, has addressed remarks made by former Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey regarding the team's development challenges during the 2024 Formula 1 season.

Newey suggested that Red Bull's difficulties stemmed from a lack of experience within the team. In response, Horner refuted this claim, asserting that the issues were more complex and not merely a result of inexperience. He praised the team's problem-solving approach, emphasizing their depth of expertise and resilience in overcoming technical challenges.

With Max Verstappen securing seven victories in the first ten races they looked unstoppable. However, as the season progressed the performance gap closed dramatically, leading to a ten-race winless streak for Red Bull.

Newey, who stepped back from his F1 duties in May 2024, observed that the RB20 became increasingly difficult to drive and suggested that the team's persistence in a particular development direction, possibly due to inexperience, contributed to their mid-season struggles.

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella emphasized McLaren's commitment to maintaining equal opportunities for both drivers, ensuring a fair and competitive environment. Stella highlighted the importance of adhering to the team's established racing principles, stating that any driver not aligned with these values "is not the right driver for McLaren."

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have expressed strong ambitions to contend for the World Championship. Reflecting on his experiences from the previous season.

Norris emphasized his readiness to challenge four-time champion Max Verstappen more assertively. He acknowledged learning from past on-track encounters and is determined to adopt a more strategic and bold approach in the upcoming season.

Norris stated, "I'm taking one race at a time... Everyone knows that we want to beat each other and you want to be the top dog in the team."

Piastri, entering his third season with McLaren, is equally optimistic about his prospects. After addressing inconsistencies from last year, he believes he's poised to vie for the championship.

Piastri remarked, "I want to win the world championship this year and hopefully we have a car that's capable of doing that from the start."

As McLaren aims to defend its constructors' title and secure the drivers' championship, the synergy between Norris and Piastri, combined with the team's steadfast principles, will be pivotal in navigating the challenges of the forthcoming season.