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      Kika Gomes sizzles in striped bikini as she supports boyfriend Pierre Gasly at Aussie Grand Prix

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      MODEL Kika Gomes shows off her racy lines in a striped bikini — as she and F1 driver boyfriend Pierre Gasly find their love is still in the fast lane.Portuguese Kika, 22, and Frenchman Gasly, 29, who drives for Alpine, were together at the Aussie Grand Prix.Kika Gomes shows off her racy lines in a striped bikiniCredit: Capture Media AgencyKika, 22, and F1 driver Gasly, 29, were together at the Aussie Grand PrixCredit: GettyPierre qualified 9th for today’s race in Melbourne.Whatever the result, he’s already a winner.Kika has been dating F1 driver Pierre since last October.She grew up in the fast lane with racing driver dad Gonçalo and TV host mum Maria.Read more on Kika GomesKika, real name Francisca, has collaborated with several beachwear brands including Calzedonia and Natura Portugal.Her mum Maria is a top TV presenter and model, and dad Goncalo was a racing driver.Gasly, 27, drives for the Alpine team now co-owned by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Taylor Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce.He is considered as one of the sport’s biggest rising stars.Most read in MotorsportWatch Pierre Gasly’s F1 car burst into flames forcing Frenchman to leap out of fire ravaged Alpha Tauri More

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      ‘I just don’t think that’s correct’- Lando Norris hits out at Drive to Survive after controversial Max Verstappen clip

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      LANDO NORRIS and his fellow F1 stars are fed up with Netflix’s hit series Drive to Survive.The fly-on-the-wall show has ruffled feathers in the paddock after airing its explosive seventh series just over a fortnight ago.Lando Norris hit out at Netflix for their ‘fabricated nonsense’ and ‘made-up scripts’Credit: EPAThe McLaren driver feels the makers overdid it with his rivalry with Max VerstappenCredit: AFPMcLaren driver Norris has slammed the mega-hit docu-series as “fabricated nonsense” with “made-up scripts”.The British 24-year-old is particularly fuming about episode two, Frenemies, which depicted a bitter feud between himself and his pal Max Verstappen as the duo battled for the title.Norris, who lines up on pole for Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix season-opener in Melbourne, has urged the show to stop painting Red Bull’s world champ Verstappen as the villain.That has irked the Dutchman and his team since the series came out in 2019.READ MORE ON F1When asked what bothered him most about the latest season, Norris said: “The portrayal of Max, and how we were against each other so much.“There’s already drama, they can just show the facts of the drama. They don’t need to do anything more than that.“Maybe it needs to be more of a documentary of the season more than a show, like they’re trying to do.“It’s a good thing for F1, good for the fans, they still get to see a lot behind the scenes which you never get to see. Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”That’s important and I want them to keep doing it, but they need to come back to reality a bit more, it’s drifted too far away.”Netflix faced a backlash after airing a clip showing Verstappen looking glum in what appeared to be Miami when Norris secured his maiden win last term.F1 racing returns with the first event of the season the Australian Grand Prix But the cap he was wearing was from Zandvoort in Holland, where Norris also won, four months after Miami.Netflix said it was an “unintentional error” and have since changed the clip.Norris said: “They need to show the truth about people more. I’m not a fan of fake stuff. I want facts.“I don’t want made-up scripts and fabricated nonsense, which there is.“To portray someone in an incorrect way means people are going to have incorrect opinions on a person. F1 Australia results1. Lando Norris (McLaren)2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)4. George Russell (Mercedes)5. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)6. Alex Albon (Williams)7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)8. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)10. Carlos Sainz (Williams)11. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)12. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)13. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)14. Jack Doohan (Alpine)15. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)16. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)17. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)18. Liam Lawson (Red Bull)19. Esteban Ocon (Haas)20. Oliver Bearman (Haas)”It’s almost lying in some ways. I just don’t think that’s correct.“I don’t think you can paint someone in the wrong picture when it’s not the truth. That line needs to be made clear.”There is no denying that the mega-hit documentary has done wonders for the sport’s popularity. F1 has enjoyed an extraordinary resurgence thanks to the show, with the fanbase almost doubling, the average age of viewers lowering by four years to 32, while female participation has also doubled.And an F1 spokesperson has hit out at Norris’ comments, saying: “Drive to Survive has been a very important part of growing the sport and reaching new audiences.’ALWAYS AN AGENDA’“We should focus on the positive impact of the series and not criticise something that has been beneficial to the whole sport.”The show isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, with an eighth season expected to be confirmed and film crews buzzing around the paddock.But Norris is not the only one who is grumbling about the show, with Mercedes driver George Russell, 27, expressing concerns about over-dramatisation and the show’s “agenda”.Episode three brings into question Russell’s ability to lead the team after a run of mistakes, which he dispels with a superb pole at Silverstone.F1 reporter Isabelle Barker’s predictionI EXPECT Max Verstappen to go all guns blazing over the next six-rounds. I also think his experience and aggression could give him the edge.It seems too little too late for Norris showing consistency, despite that dominant win in Singapore last time out.You can’t help think what could have been had he sorted out his first-lap issues sooner.Norris needs to prove he has the mental fortitude, because we all know he’s got the speed, the team and the fastest car.Verstappen has endured an eight-race winless streak, but he has still managed to score points, with three second-places during that time.So I think the Dutchman will lift his fourth world-title this season, by the skin of his teeth. He said: “There were two extremes from the first half to the last half of the episode. “Ultimately, I don’t really care how I’m portrayed there. I care how I perform in the car and how I work with my team.“There’s always an agenda for the best storyline possible, and that’s just the way the world is with these entertainment programmes.”Meanwhile, Verstappen has never been a huge fan of the show and could not resist twisting the knife in at Netflix’s Miami mistake.In Melbourne he said with a hint of sarcasm: “Apparently I was very sad after Miami. I literally had the best time ever Sunday night, so I don’t know what I was upset about.”They need to show the truth about people more. I’m not a fan of fake stuff. I want facts.Lando NorrisOn Norris’ comments and the error, a spokesperson for the producers of Drive to Survive said: “In order to help make F1 appeal to a wider audience, we tell these stories in an entertaining and compelling way, which has helped drive leagues of new fans to the sport, a legacy we’re incredibly proud of.READ MORE SUN STORIES“The series is produced under incredible schedule pressure, and sometimes mistakes do happen.“When these are pointed out to us, as was the case with some footage of Max post Miami GP, we move to correct these unintentional errors.”Netflix even used an incorrect clip from months earlier during one Drive to Survive episodeCredit: RexGeorge Russell made his feelings clear about the seriesCredit: Getty More

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      F1’s Gabriel Bortoleto cheered on by mysterious computer scientist girlfriend Isabella Bernardini who keeps low profile

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      GABRIEL BORTOLETO’S girlfriend is a computer science whizz who is studying to work in cyber security.The F1 prodigy has been dating Isabella Bernardini, 21, since she was 17 and he was 16.Isabella Bernardini watches on as Gabriel Bortoleto racesCredit: RexGorgeous Isabella seemed intrigued during the Australian Grand Prix qualifiersCredit: RexGabriel Bortoleto is one of six rookies in F1 this seasonCredit: RexLike Bortoleto she is from Brazil but is currently pursuing a degree in computer science in Eindhoven in the Netherlands.Bernardini keeps herself to herself with a private Instagram account with just over 2.5k followers.Bortoleto, who has a whopping one million followers on Instagram, also doesn’t delve too much into his private life, rarely posting her on his social media.Bernadini isn’t the only girlfriend on the grid who has been working tirelessly at university.Read more F1 newsRed Bull driver Liam Lawson’s girlfriend recently graduated from the renowned Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences.Meanwhile, Oliver Bearman’s ex-girlfriend Estelle Ogilvy, who plans on pursuing a career in modeling, is also a law student.It is Bortoleto’s first season on the F1 grid, having signed for Sauber in November last year.He recently hit out at comments made by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko who said he was a ‘B’ category driver, despite the Brazilian youngster’s back-to-back championship successes in F3 and F2.Most read in MotorsportBortoleto has vowed to “prove him wrong” and make him “regret what he said”.Behind the scenes in Australia GP paddock including F1 star Lewis Hamilton’s new Ferrari baseAfter all, the youngster arguably has the biggest racing credentials out of this season’s six rookies.He is one of only four drivers, with Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Oscar Piastri, to win those back-to-back F3 and F2 titles.His racing career was saved by Fernando Alonso when the two-time world champion sponsored him in 2022 before he was snapped up by the McLaren development programme a year later.They allowed Bortoleto, who says his favourite movie is Interstellar and his favourite TV show is Peaky Blinders, to then join Sauber for this season, with McLaren chief Zak Brown calling him a “great racing driver”.Bortoleto’s father Lincoln, is the co-founder of one of the biggest Internet providers in the world, Americanet following a merger with Vero in 2023.Liam Lawson’s girlfriend Hannah St. John is another new Wag on the F1 sceneCredit: INSTAGRAM @hannahstjohnBortoletto seen in action for Sauber in qualifying at the Australian Grand PrixCredit: Rex More

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      ‘Should be on every F1 track’ – Eagle-eyed fans ecstatic after spotting subtle change to iconic Australia GP track

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      EAGLE-EYED Formula One fans were elated to discover a subtle change to the Australia Grand Prix circuit.F1 fans have flocked to Albert Park in Melbourne for the season opener to watch their heroes get back behind the wheel.F1 fans have gone crazy after spotting a subtle change to the Australia GPCredit: TikTok/mattamysIt is a subtle but impactful change designed to improve fan visibilityCredit: TikTok/mattamysPainting the fence black is a similar hack used for chicken wireCredit: TikTok/mattamysFans will be able to see the race better due to the fence seemingly blending more into the backgroundCredit: TikTok/mattamysIn 2024 more than 125,000 fans attended the Grand Prix weekend, with practice sessions at this year’s event surpassing the records set last year.But the lucky few fans who got tickets to go and watch F1 on the start-finish straight will benefit from a small but impactful change made to the iconic circuit.Fans in the grandstands are usually protected from potential crashes by a grey fence around the track.However, this year that fence has been painted a more striking tone of black.READ MORE IN F1The change was pointed out by TikToker Mattamys – who has nearly 5,000 followers on the social media platform – and was the “first thing” he noticed upon arrival.The new colour scheme will help fan visibility by blending in more with the background.It is a common trick used with chicken wire to help improve aesthetics and give a sense of invisibility to them.Reacting to the change, one fan on social media said: “That should be on every F1 track.”Most read in MotorsportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSA second said: “Really good for photography.”A third said: “And it looks so much better.”‘Shock to the system’ – Lewis Hamilton makes surprise admission about progress in Ferrari car ahead of wet Australian GPAnother said: “Great for photos and also visibility, good idea.”It is unclear whether this change will extend to other circuits around the calendar.However, the change has not been extended to the full track, with only the start-finish straight having the change made.Other changes on track were also made to this year’s race after George Russell and Alex Albon suffered horrifying crashes last season.F1 Australia results1. Lando Norris (McLaren)2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)4. George Russell (Mercedes)5. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)6. Alex Albon (Williams)7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)8. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)10. Carlos Sainz (Williams)11. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)12. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)13. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)14. Jack Doohan (Alpine)15. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)16. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)17. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)18. Liam Lawson (Red Bull)19. Esteban Ocon (Haas)20. Oliver Bearman (Haas)The changes have come at Turns 6 and 7.The first change has seen the barrier moved and angled differently to stop a car bouncing back into the track.Sections of the kerbing have been slightly flattened to reduce the risk of potential instability caused by the bumps.Meanwhile, adjustments have also been made to the gravel traps by bringing them closer to the kerbs.READ MORE SUN STORIESLando Norris took pole ahead of home favourite Oscar Piastri as McLaren secured a front-row lockout during qualifying.Max Verstappen managed P3 with George Russell P4, while Lewis Hamilton qualified down in P8 as he admitted he has a “big learning curve” to go through this weekend on his Ferrari debut. More

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      ‘Shock to the system’ – Lewis Hamilton makes surprise admission about progress in Ferrari car ahead of wet Australian GP

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      LEWIS HAMILTON joked that he doesn’t even know where the wet switch is on his new Ferrari with Melbourne’s race set for rain. The seven-time world champion is struggling to get to grips with his new car as he finished a disappointing eighth in his first qualifying session of the season for the Italian team. Lewis Hamilton fears a nightmare Ferrari race debut in the wetCredit: GettyHamilton managed P8 after a tough qualifying sessionCredit: AFPHamilton spun during Q2 as he got to grips with his new machineryCredit: GettyAll eyes are on the 40-year-old as his hunt for an elusive, record eighth driver’s title kicks off in Albert Park this Sunday.  He is adjusting to Ferrari’s power unit having only driven with Mercedes power throughout his career, including during his six-years at McLaren between 2007 and 2012. Hamilton said: “Honestly, I thought I was further along than I was and then I got here. “After FP1 I was like, jeez, I’ve still got a way to go. There’s still a ton of tools and the engineers are popping up like ‘hey, what about this?’ I’ve never tried that what does it do?READ MORE IN F1“There’s one thing saying it, but actually going out and feeling it. We did some good work trying to move the car forward. “When you have a problem in the car and you come in, normally when you’ve got the experience you can say, ‘this is where I want to go with it’, but I don’t know which tool to use at the moment. “I’m heavily reliant for the first time on my engineers. They’ve done a great job, but in the past I would say, this is what I want. That setting, this setting, and I can’t do that anymore. “I don’t even know where the wet switch is really. I don’t know which buttons I’m going to switch towards tomorrow. So, that’s going to be new.”Most read in MotorsportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSHamilton’s team-mate Charles Leclerc only managed one place better in seventh despite looking strong in the practice sessions. It is 1-0 to the Monegasque in their qualifying head-to-head, with Leclerc out-qualifying his new team-mate by two tenths of a second in the end. Behind the scenes in Australia GP paddock including F1 star Lewis Hamilton’s new Ferrari baseHamilton added: “It’s going to be for the first time in the wet, in an uncomfortable position in this car. “I think it’s going to be a shock to the system when I get out there, but I’m going to be learning on the fly, and just giving it everything.“We’re just improving every single lap, session on session. Big learning curve this weekend. “The car was so much different from the moment I left the pit lane just feeling so much different than I’ve ever experienced here.”It’s been a much slower process to really build confidence in the car. If you look at the high speed everywhere, I’ve been down all weekend.“Charles just had it from the get go. From the minute he went out, he knew what the car does. For me, I was just building up to that through the weekend.”F1 Australia results1. Lando Norris (McLaren)2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)4. George Russell (Mercedes)5. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)6. Alex Albon (Williams)7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)8. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)10. Carlos Sainz (Williams)11. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)12. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)13. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)14. Jack Doohan (Alpine)15. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)16. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)17. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)18. Liam Lawson (Red Bull)19. Esteban Ocon (Haas)20. Oliver Bearman (Haas) More

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      Lando Norris celebrates dream start to F1 season at Australian GP qualifying but more struggles ahead for Hamilton

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      LANDO NORRIS produced a blistering drive to secure pole position in qualifying as his title charge began. When the British 24-year-old crossed the line, he said: “What an amazing way to start the year. An unbelievable car. Let’s keep it up baby.”Lando Norris started his title charge by taking pole in AustraliaCredit: GettyIt was a front row lockout for McLaren as Oscar Piastri scored P2, while Max Verstappen only managed thirdCredit: ReutersLewis Hamilton had a tough qualifying as he spun out before only managing P8Credit: AFPHis McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri came in second in front of his home crowd in Melbourne while Max Verstappen looked dejected as he had to settle for third. Lewis Hamilton struggled on his Ferrari qualifying debut, clearly still getting to grips with the car as he finished all the way down in eighth. It’s also 1-0 to Charles Leclerc in their qualifying head-to-head, with the Monegasque out qualifying his new team-mate by two tenths of a second in the end and finishing seventh.Hamilton said to his engineer Riccardo Adami after the session: “I don’t know what happened there, mate.”READ MORE IN F1To which Adami replied: “Tough one. Overall a good job.”Hamilton even spun during Q2 of his first qualifying session, but thankfully managed to advance to the pole-position shootout. Two Williams drivers reached Q3 at Albert Park for the first time in ten years, with Carlos Sainz in 10th and Alex Albon finishing in sixth.It was a bad day in the office for Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli who was booted out in Q1 in P16 while his team-mate George Russell produced a solid drive to grab fourth.Most read in MotorsportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSRed Bull’s Liam Lawson looked no better than Sergio Perez, who he replaced at the team, with a scruffy performance leaving him axed in Q1 in 18th. It was also a surprisingly quick session for Yuki Tsunoda and Racing Bulls, with the Japanese driver qualifying in P5 while rookie team-mate Isack Hadjar finished P11.Behind the scenes in Australia GP paddock including F1 star Lewis Hamilton’s new Ferrari baseElsewhere it was a nightmare day for Haas, as they qualified as the bottom two with Ollie Bearman not even setting a lap after a problem with his gearbox.F1 Australia results1. Lando Norris (McLaren)2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)4. George Russell (Mercedes)5. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)6. Alex Albon (Williams)7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)8. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)10. Carlos Sainz (Williams)11. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)12. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)13. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)14. Jack Doohan (Alpine)15. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)16. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)17. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)18. Liam Lawson (Red Bull)19. Esteban Ocon (Haas)20. Oliver Bearman (Haas) More

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      F1 chief in talks to add mouthwatering new street race to calendar in city loved by Brits

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      FORMULA ONE CEO Stefano Domenicali has teased plans to add a mouthwatering new race to the calendar.The boom in popularity of F1 since the takeover of Liberty Media has seen an increase in the number of races during the season from 20 in 2017 to 24 in 2025 – the most there have ever been.F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has hinted at the possibility of a race in ThailandCredit: GettyThe track would be a street race in Bangkok, a hotspot for UK touristsCredit: GettyHowever, expanding the calendar even more, or at least replacing traditional races with new markets, is an idea actively being explored by F1 chiefs.The 2025 F1 season is starting this weekend in Melbourne, Australia, however, straight afterwards Domenicali has revealed he will be travelling to Thailand to discuss a potential race being held in Bangkok.Speaking to Sky Sports, Domenicali said: “I think that the good thing that we were able to do in the last couple of years is to focus on the places that we do believe represent the future for F1.”We receive a lot of attention from other places in the world. READ MORE IN F1″By the way, I’m just finishing the race here in Melbourne, I go to Bangkok to see [if] there is a potential interest from the government to develop something there.”Thailand is reported to have welcomed more than 35 million tourists in 2024 – the highest numbers since 2017.And it is estimated that in 2023 more than 460,000 tourists from the United Kingdom made the journey to the Southeast Asian country.So it would stand to reason that an F1 race in Thailand would also attract plenty of tourists from the UK.Most read in MotorsportCheltenham Festival betting offers and free betsThai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was seen in attendance at last season’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix before he revealed there had been discussions over a race in the country.He had written: “In line with the Thai Government’s intention to bring F1 racing to Thailand in the near future, I visited the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari and had a discussion with executives of the Formula One Group.Ollie Bearman suffers worst possible start to F1 season “This resonates with our policy to place Thailand on the global radar for international events and activities.”This season F1 has three races in Asia; China, Japan and Singapore, while there have previously been races in Malaysia, South Korea and India.F1 was set to host the first ever Vietnam GP after signing a 10-year deal in 2018 worth £540million.However, it was axed due to the coronavirus pandemic and later dropped and deserted after city mayor Nguyen Duc Chung – a major supporter of the race – was arrested and later sent to prison on charges of corruption.Earlier this week, it was announced Domenicali had signed a new deal to carry on as F1 CEO until 2029.Races all over the world have been touted, with potential returns to Africa and a new race in South America, possibly Argentina, being heavily speculated.Domenicali added: “We have other places in Europe, and as you know there are interests in Africa, there are interests in South America now.”READ MORE SUN STORIESHowever, adding a new street race to the calendar may spark controversy among fans who are upset that traditional tracks are being replaced by tracks which are not designed to promote good racing.Las Vegas has been a controversial addition to the calendar despite the spectacle it delivers, while Miami has also proven to be divisive among fans for the quality of racing it produces. More

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      Every F1 rule change revealed ahead of new season with fastest lap bonus point scrapped and swearing sanctions

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      FORMULA ONE is going to look a little different in 2025 – after a host of new rules.The new F1 season is set to be one of the closest title fights in modern history when it kick starts in Melbourne on Sunday.This season is the latest before a major change in regulationsDefending champion Max Verstappen will begin his F1 title defence this weekendBefore lights out at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend, several key technical and regulatory tweaks will come into effect.Most are in response to controversies that occurred last season, before the major overhaul to technical regulations from 2026.Here SunSport runs you through the main ones that are worth knowing about.Goodbye fastest lap bonus pointSince 2019, a driver that finished in the top 10 of a race was eligible for an extra championship point if they set the fastest lap.READ MORE F1 NEWSBut this rule – the only change to the points system- has been removed in arguably the biggest of the changes introduced.While the bonus point had led to drivers pushing in the closing stages of races, there had been controversy over teams making late pit stops or attempts to block rivals.This was notable when drivers outside the top 10 posted the fastest lap, which took the bonus away from title contenders. Last season, Daniel Ricciardo denied Lando Norris an extra point for the fastest lap of the race at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.Most read in MotorsportRicciardo was driving for Red Bull’s junior team Visa Cash App RB.Norris was locked in a tight fight with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for the drivers title – which can be lost and won with a single point.Daniel Ricciardo pitted to change to soft tyres and go for the fastest lap time in SingaporeCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHeavier cars and cooling systemsIf you believe the current F1 cars are too big, we have some bad news for you.Car mass is up 2kg from 798kg to 800kg this season, which combines both cars and drivers. The change is due to the minimum driver weight having been increased by 2kg from 80kg to 82kg, which partially accounts for the taller drivers such as George Russell and Esteban Ocon.Driver weight includes their helmet, race suit and shoes. Teams will also be required to fit a mandated driver cooling system in the event of a heat hazard.The hazard would be declared when the temperature is forecast to be 31 degrees or above during a sprint or Grand Prix race.Car weights will be increased by 2kg for practice, qualifying and sprint qualifying when cooling systems are required.Russell was heartbreakingly stripped of his Belgian GP win last season, when his car was found underweight after it was drained of fuel during the usual post-race checks.Car mass is up 2kg from 798kg to 800kg this seasonRed Bull’s Christian Horner gives low down on car before F1 season kicks off with Australian Grand Prix Mini-DRS and flexible wings One of the main technical points that arose during the 2024 campaign was McLaren’s rear-wing design.At high speeds the rear wing of the MCL38 tilted backward under heavy aerodynamic load, creating a gap in the win that was termed a “mini-DRS.”While McLaren was instructed to alter their design in September, the FIA has tightened up the technical regulations regarding both the rear wing and the Drag Reduction System (DRS).The FIA have tightened technical regulations regarding the rear wing and Drag Reduction System.Under the new regulations outlined in Article 3.10 of the Technical Regulations, the minimum gap in the rear wing has decreased from 10-15mm to 9.4-13mm. The FIA will introduce stricter front wing regulations to come into force at the Spanish GP in June – much to Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko’s dismay.The FIA tightened technical regulations regarding the rear wing and Drag Reduction SystemF1 2025 gridHere are the confirmed driver line ups for the F1 2025 season:Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Liam LawsonFerrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis HamiltonMercedes: George Russell and Kimi AntonelliMcLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar PiastriAston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance StrollWilliams: Alex Albon and Carlos SainzSauber: Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel BortoletoAlpine: Pierre Gasly and Jack DoohanRB: Yuki Tsunoda and Isack HadjarHaas: Ollie Bearman and Esteban OconNo swearingDrivers face possible one-month BANS if they repeatedly swear or criticise the governing body.The controversial move is prompted by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s determination to cut out bad language.Verstappen was the first big victim of this clampdown after he used X-rated language during a press conference at the Singapore GP.The four-time world champion was ordered do “community service” and spend time with grassroot competitors in Rwanda.Under the new guidelines, a first offence would result in a £33,750 fine, a second offence £67,4300 and a suspended one-month ban. A third offence would bring a £100,000 fine, a one-month ban and the deduction of championship points.F1 personnel could also be punished for causing moral injury or loss to the FIA; incitement to violence or hatred; political, religious or personal statements that do not align with FIA neutrality.Failure to comply with FIA instructions at official ceremonies is also punishable.Max Verstappen was not impressed after being told off for swearing at a press conferenceMohammed Ben Sulayem wants to cut out bad languageTwo-stop race in MonacoF1 has made Monaco a two-stop minimum Grand Prix in bid to improve racing.It’s mainly in response to drivers – namely Hamilton’s- complaints last year after an early red flag allowed a free tyre change.This meant they adhered to the regulated stop before completing the circuit without further changes.A lack of overtaking at the iconic street circuit has been criticised for affecting the spectacle of the event.Tweaks to qualifying based on championship positionThis is to cover the situation in Brazil last year when qualifying was touch and go due to bad weather.The forecast of more heavy rain from mid-afternoon in Sao Paulo led to the decision to bring the race time forward.That saw qualifying moved to an early start time because there must be a minimum of four hours between the end of qualifying and the start of the race.So, the grid for the race will be defined by the drivers championship position, IF qualifying cannot take place.This is to cover off the situation in Brazil last year if qualifying could not have gone ahead due to bad weatherCredit: RexMore practice for rookies and test timeThe mandatory FP1 running for rookie drivers has been expanded for 2025.Each team will be required to run four young drivers free practice sessions.This is an increase over the previous requirement of two.Teams will choose which weekends their rookies will participate in, with the finale in Abu Dhabi often being a favourite.During the season, teams have a limited allowance of testing of previous cars – which are aged between two and four years old. READ MORE SUN STORIESThey will not be allowed to exceed 1,000km of running in total.Teams can only have one of these cars available to run during a test at any time. More