F1 News
F1 Today | Haas' 2025 car leaked, Ben Sulayem wants 12th F1 team
The countdown to the Australian Grand Prix continues, with the 'F1 75' livery event at London's O2 Arena just two days away. Today, Haas F1 had a shakedown at Silverstone for their new VF-25, not allowing any journalists or cameras in to try and keep their 2025 car a secret. However, a picture was leaked, now showing what the American team challenge will look like for 2025. As well as that, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has expressed his desire to add a 12th team to the F1 grid, plus more from Guenther Steiner's exclusive interview with GPblog.
Haas' 2025 car leaked: What do we know?
Next month, the 2025 F1 season will kick off in Melbourne at the Albert Park Circuit, with teams all preparing before the season gets underway, with winter testing in Bahrain coming up later on in February. One team who got out onto the track today were Haas, with the American team conducting a shakedown of their 2025 car behind closed doors at Silverstone.
The hope was to have no journalists and cameras at the British track, but unfortunately for Ayao Komatsu's tea,, there was a leaked photograph of the VF-25, Haas' challenging for this season. It was Esteban Ocon behind the wheel of the Haas, giving the 2025 car its first run.
From that leaked photo, there appear to be some changes made from last year's car to this year's. To find out what those changes are, be sure to read about them right here!
Ben Sulayem hoping for a 12th team on the grid
For 2026, there will be a brand-new team entering the premier class of motorsport, with Cadillac and General Motors joining F1. The American team have been opting for a move for a few years but had their bids blocked previously. However, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and his governing body accepted a bid from Cadillac to join the grid in 2026, joining as the 11th team when the sport will undergo another regulation change.
The Emirati was influential in the acceptance of Cadillac's bid, but he is not done with wanting new constructors in the sport, as he wants to add a 12th team, saying, "It's been my dream for the last two years that the big countries should have a presence in Formula 1."
But what 'big country' is he hoping to bring to the grid? China, with Geely the most obvious manufacturer if there were to be a Chinese team joined the grid, already having a stake in the Aston Martin F1 team. They also have Guanyu Zhou as an ambassador for the huge brand.
Steiner sees more progress at Alpine thanks to Briatore
Speaking exclusively with GPblog, former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has his say on the transition made by Alpine F1 team thanks to great work done by new team principal Oliver Oakes, but also the (re)-entrance of Flavio Briatore.
The flamboyant Italian has always been very prolific wherever he works, with success at Benetton and Renault in the past showing that. In May 2024, he joined Alpine, and since then, there has been a major improvement in the French team, highlighted by their brilliant double podium at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
"Flavio goes through with a very practical approach, not listening to bull****," Steiner said, perhaps a similar approach that he had while at Haas. But it is working well at Alpine, and they will be looking to continue that success into 2025.
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