Valtteri Bottas has extended some pivotal advice to Gabriel Bortoleto, the rookie driver preparing for the 2025 Formula 1 season, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion as he embarks on his debut. Bottas, who has seen his own career take various turns—including returning to Mercedes as a reserve driver after parting ways with the team at the end of 2021—recognized the pressures Bortoleto will face racing for Stake F1 amid his anticipated F1 debut.
Bortoleto, the reigning Formula 2 champion, replaces Bottas alongside Nico Hülkenberg at Stake F1 for the upcoming season. “Well, to any new driver, my advice always is to not be too harsh on yourself and give yourself some time,” Bottas told select media, including RacingNews365, during discussions at Abu Dhabi. With Stake having scored just four points last season, Bottas expects Bortoleto’s rookie year to be particularly challenging due to the team’s uncompetitive car package.
Despite the hurdles, Bottas has faith the young driver will handle the pressure, taking solace from having Hülkenberg’s experience to lean on. “It takes lots of learning in this sport, but the drivers nowadays are so well prepared,” Bottas said. He added, “I think he’ll be fine, but I’m expecting a tough season.”
Meanwhile, Alpine adviser Flavio Briatore has made waves by asserting he would not have pursued Lewis Hamilton had he been at the helm of Ferrari. Following Ferrari’s controversial decision to sign Hamilton, Briatore questioned the logic behind displacing Carlos Sainz, who had formed what he deemed a strong driver partnership alongside Charles Leclerc. “Ferrari had two top drivers... I don’t understand why this great duo was torn apart,” Briatore told Sport Bild.
The inquiry sheds light on Hamilton’s capabilities as he strives for a record-breaking eighth championship, which is now shadowed by the team pressure from Leclerc, who speaks fluent Italian. Briatore did, nonetheless, acknowledge the positive effect of having Hamilton at Ferrari, predicting it could boost F1’s popularity and television ratings.
Eddie Jordan, another former team owner, expressed his frustration over proposals to award points down to 12th place—a suggestion he labeled “nonsense.” With the F1 Commission unanimously voting against the change, Jordan, shared his strong feelings about meritocratic principles within racing. “For me, when you finish second, you’re the first of the losers,” he stated. “It’s just nonsense.”
This sentiment was echoed by former driver David Coulthard, who questioned the value of awarding points for positions outside the top 10. “Who remembers who finished fourth?” said Coulthard, adding credibility to Jordan’s viewpoint. “It’s just spreading the financial love,” he remarked, emphasizing the need to keep the competition at its highest level.
On the brighter side of the paddock, Lando Norris has revealed he turned down several offers to leave McLaren, leading the Woking-based team to its first F1 constructors’ title since 1998. Norris, who joined McLaren as a young driver back in 2017, has shown loyalty to the team he believes held the potential to return to the top.
“I had opportunities to not be in papaya and to maybe go on and win races earlier,” he shared, expressing pride in sticking with the team throughout their tough times, including their struggles early last season.
“I think the thing I’ll be proudest and most happy about is the fact I’m still here,” said Norris. His commitment shines through, as he cites the countless ups and downs they have faced together, underscoring his and the team’s hard work to overcome adversity.
Looking forward to the future, Aston Martin reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne ranked Max Verstappen above the great Sebastian Vettel, noting the significant accomplishments of the reigning champion, who matched Vettel's title streak of four consecutive championships. Vandoorne commented on the challenges Verstappen faced last season and praised his ability to maintain top-tier performance, providing insight on the evolution of competition within the sport.
“I think Max is a step ahead of Vettel by now,” said Vandoorne, reflecting on Verstappen’s remarkable capability to win even under duress. This validates Verstappen’s standing as one of the top contenders going forward.
Despite the immense expectations—like potentially matching Michael Schumacher’s record of five consecutive titles—Verstappen himself has downplayed the significance of such records. “I mean, I would like to win, yeah,” Verstappen said, focusing instead on team performance and competitiveness for the upcoming year.
Finally, Toto Wolff has reflected upon the handling of situations following the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, expressing disappointment with Red Bull’s actions and what he calls their “entitlement.” He believes both Verstappen and Hamilton showcased their elite skills throughout the turbulent season and deserved recognition for their respective accomplishments.
“There was not one word from Christian Horner or the other team acknowledging it... It was like entitlement,” Wolff remarked. He voiced his continual respect for both drivers, noting how they stood out due to their performance amid fierce competition.
These insights, critiques, and developments collectively paint a vibrant picture of the current Formula 1 scene, filled with anticipation as the upcoming season looms just around the corner, with new rookies entering the fray, established drivers making strategic moves, and the sport itself adapting to ever-evolving dynamics on the track.