F1 Today | To the moon and back, all F1 bosses hail Verstappen, Horner weary of Hamilton's Ferrari rise

Perez axed, but not really, Lawson suffers

Rumours of Red Bull Racing offering recently ousted Sergio Perez an ambassadorial role within the team have proven true, with Austrian Team's Chief, Christian Horner, stating as such in a recent interview with Talksport. Liam Lawson the driver who'll take Perez' place in Red Bull next year has suffered a flourish of online abuse from Japanese and Latin American, to which the New Zealand born racer has responded by simply not reading them.

In more Red Bull related news, Horner also share his thoughts on Max Verstappen’s relationship with Lewis Hamilton, claiming that, though both world champions would not be taking holiday trips together anytime soon, there was respect between the two. The recently made CBE team principal also reflected on Hamilton's transfer to Ferrari and while fearing a potential resurgence of the seven time world champion, he also foresaw a possible issue for the Maranello based squad having to manage driver dynamics between Hamilton and Ferrari ace, Charles Leclerc.

Alonso hopes for better '25, Verstappen - Norris friendship under stress

In other news Fernando Alonso has reflected on what was a rather bleak 2024 for the Spaniard and the Silverstone based outfit, Aston Martin, from which, they expected a bit more. Oscar Piastri, in turn, looks back with satisfaction on a season which saw him and McLaren rise to the very top of the field taking the Constructors’ title back to Woking for the first time in 26 years.

However the young Australian star is aware that in order to vy for the Drivers' title he will need to up his game. His teammate, Lando Norris, already a multiple Grand Prix winner, saw his friendship with Max Verstappen tested during the 2024 Drivers' title fight, a battle that according to Jos Verstappen put the relationship between both drivers under much stress, but that the now four time world champion managed to circumvent very well due to his maturity.

Verstappen preferred by all team bosses

Verstappen also received a high honour from some of the most relevant figures in the F1 paddock: team bosses unanimously chose him as the top driver of the season, which shows the high regard they all have the Dutchman in.

Speaking of which, F3 British talent, Callum Voisin, listed the skills of various F1 drivers and used them to conform the ultimate driver, listing Verstappen's bravery, Hamilton's goat-like Saturday speed, Norris’ cornering ability, Alonso’s intelligence and former world champion Jenson Button’s wet weather driving skills, to Formula 3’s official website, he of course, did not forget to add his own smoothness to the mix.

Montoya warns Antonelli and claims FIA Stewards' bias

With 2026 on the horizon, when asked by media including GPBlog, Verstappen and fellow racer Nico Hulkenberg claimed that it was too soon to tell if the changes would be positive or negative in light of the regulatory overhaul the series will undergo in little over a year's time. Franco Colapinto, one of F1’s star rookies this season, added that team's still needed to “understand a lot” about the upcoming regs.

In more rookie related news, Juan Pablo Montoya, former McLaren and Williams Racing talent shared his views on Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s rookie season in 2025 and forecasted two very different ways that it could go for the Mercedes protégé. The candid Colombian also commented on the FIA Stewards’ decision making, which has long been under the spotlight due to what many judge to be the inconsistent nature in their issuing of penalties, and Montoya states that both precedent and Steward sympathy also weighs in heavily in the Stewards' room when the officials pass judgement on an incident.

F1 makes it to the moon and back, Hungaroring undergoes renovations 

It's been a long season and Pirelli has the statistics to back it up. The F1 teams have gone to the moon and back, at least in terms of distance traveled on the Italian manufacturer’s rubber. The Hungaroring is currently undergoing substantial renovations looking ahead to the 2025 season, during which they hope to contribute yet again to another enthralling F1 trip to the moon and back.