The final weekend of 2024 has concluded, and the Formula 1 world continues its preparations for what promises to be a dramatic 2025 season. As teams finalise their technical programmes and drivers complete their off-season commitments, several stories have emerged that shed light on the personalities and relationships shaping the sport’s immediate future. From revelations about Lando Norris secretly lapping the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife years before Max Verstappen‘s high-profile appearance, to ongoing speculation surrounding the future of Red Bull’s key technical personnel, the paddock remains anything but quiet during the winter break.
McLaren star’s forbidden lap record predates Verstappen’s Nordschleife debut
While Max Verstappen made headlines last September by competing in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie and claiming victory in the 57th ADAC Barbarossapreis, it has now emerged that Lando Norris had already conquered the fearsome Nordschleife several years earlier. The 2024 world champion set an unofficial lap record at the facility in 2021, piloting an E36-generation BMW 325i provided by Ringfreaks, a company that specialises in track day vehicle hire at the German circuit.
According to Ray Francis from Ringfreaks, Norris completed his record-setting lap despite explicit instructions from McLaren management not to participate. The revelation adds another layer to the competitive dynamic between Verstappen and Norris, showing that both drivers share an unquenchable appetite for racing beyond their official Formula 1 duties. The Nordschleife, with its 154 corners spread across more than 20 kilometres, represents one of motorsport’s ultimate challenges, and Norris’s early conquest of the circuit demonstrates the fearless approach that eventually carried him to championship glory.
Verstappen explains technical philosophy behind car setup preferences
The four-time world champion has built his reputation not only on raw speed but on technical understanding that allows him to extract maximum performance from machinery that might challenge other drivers. Speaking with Brazilian media outlet Pelas Pistas, Verstappen detailed his preference for oversteer characteristics when developing car balance, offering insight into the mindset that has made him one of the sport’s most complete performers.
“Understeer is slow, no matter what you do,” Verstappen stated plainly when asked about his setup philosophy. “Whatever feels comfortable, it’s simply slower. If you want a fast car, that has to come through the front end.” The Red Bull driver acknowledged that understeer can be managed in certain qualifying scenarios but becomes fundamentally limiting when fighting for pole position. “You might get through Q1 with understeer, but in Q3 you cannot afford that. Those final few tenths demand front-end precision.”
This technical approach has become a hallmark of Verstappen’s collaboration with his engineering team at Red Bull Racing, where the willingness to work with a more challenging car balance has frequently delivered performance advantages over competitors who prioritise stability over ultimate lap time.
Lambiase’s future becomes increasingly uncertain amid team interest
Gianpiero Lambiase has served as Verstappen’s race engineer since the Spanish Grand Prix in 2016, a partnership that has now yielded four world championships and become one of Formula 1’s most recognisable relationships. Despite Red Bull Racing confirming to media outlets just two days after the Abu Dhabi season finale that Lambiase would remain with the team, subsequent reports have cast doubt on that assurance.
The Race reported on Boxing Day that Lambiase had conducted discussions with Aston Martin regarding a senior technical position with the Silverstone-based team. Now, Spanish-language motorsport publications have added Williams to the list of teams pursuing the highly-regarded engineer. The Grove outfit, entering a new chapter with Carlos Sainz joining Alex Albon for 2025, may see Lambiase as a key addition to their technical leadership as they attempt to close the gap to the midfield frontrunners.
For Verstappen, the potential departure of Lambiase would represent a significant adjustment. The pair’s radio exchanges have become legendary for their directness and mutual understanding, with Lambiase’s calm demeanour often providing the perfect counterbalance to Verstappen’s intensity during races.
Hamilton’s near-miss with Sauber revealed by team founder
Peter Sauber has disclosed that Lewis Hamilton came remarkably close to racing for the Swiss team approximately two decades ago, before his explosive entry into Formula 1 with McLaren in 2007. The team founder explained that McLaren had explored loaning their young protégé to Sauber for experience before committing him to a race seat with the Woking team.
“Almost nobody knows that twenty years ago, Lewis Hamilton was on the verge of racing for Sauber,” Sauber revealed in an interview with Swiss publication Blick. “He was part of McLaren, and they wanted to send him to Hinwil for a kind of apprenticeship. McLaren representatives met Lewis and his father Anthony, me, and our lawyer Monisha Kaltenborn at Zurich airport.”
The negotiations ultimately fell through, and Hamilton made his Formula 1 debut directly with McLaren the following season, immediately challenging for race victories and narrowly missing the 2007 championship as a rookie. The revelation provides fascinating context to Hamilton’s career trajectory and raises questions about how different his path might have been had the Sauber arrangement materialised. With Hamilton now preparing to join Ferrari for the 2025 season, the seven-time champion will finally experience life outside the Mercedes family that has defined his career.
Bortoleto adopts Verstappen’s simulator discipline for F1 preparation
Gabriel Bortoleto, one of several rookies joining the 2025 grid with Kick Sauber, has shared insights into how he learned from observing Verstappen’s approach to simulator work. The Brazilian, who arrives in Formula 1 fresh from championship success in Formula 2, explained that the reigning world champion’s professional attitude to virtual racing has influenced his own preparation methods.
“He drives much more respectfully on the sim, leaving space when racing side by side,” Bortoleto joked when asked by Pelas Pistas how Verstappen behaves in the virtual environment compared to reality. “Actually, I think he drives the same in reality as on the sim. This is what I appreciate about him, and it’s an approach I’ve adopted myself.”
The rookie revealed that he previously treated simulator sessions less seriously, occasionally deliberately spinning the car with the knowledge that virtual mistakes carry no consequences. “I saw that he never does that. He treats every lap professionally, which makes him faster when it counts.” This disciplined approach to sim racing mirrors the wider professionalism that has characterised Verstappen’s entire working method, where every activity is treated as an opportunity to improve rather than simply pass time.
FIA superlicence fees reflect competitive 2024 championship battle
The financial cost of competing in Formula 1 extends beyond team budgets and driver salaries, with the FIA requiring all participants to hold a superlicence that must be renewed annually. The cost of this mandatory credential varies according to championship performance, with drivers who scored more points in the previous season paying substantially higher fees.
For 2025, Norris faces the highest superlicence cost on the grid following his championship-winning campaign, with his fee reaching approximately €950,000. Verstappen’s renewal sits marginally lower at around €940,000, reflecting his strong but ultimately second-place finish in 2024. The sliding scale system means that rookie drivers entering Formula 1 pay only the base rate of approximately €11,000, while established competitors at the front of the field contribute substantially more to the governing body’s coffers.
This financial structure has occasionally drawn criticism from teams and drivers who question whether the FIA should effectively tax success so heavily, though the governing body maintains that the system helps fund grassroots motorsport development and regulatory oversight. With several rookies joining the 2025 grid, the disparity between their modest fees and those paid by championship contenders underscores the financial gulf that exists even before performance-related salary considerations.
What this means going forward
These off-season revelations highlight the constant evolution occurring beneath Formula 1’s surface, even during periods when cars remain silent. Lambiase’s uncertain future at Red Bull Racing could trigger a significant reshuffling of technical personnel across multiple teams, potentially influencing competitive dynamics for seasons to come. Meanwhile, the personal stories emerging about drivers like Norris and Hamilton remind audiences that Formula 1’s current stars possess depth and history that extends far beyond their official race weekends.
As teams finalise preparations for pre-season testing, these narrative threads will continue developing. Williams and Aston Martin’s pursuit of senior technical talent demonstrates the escalating arms race for experienced personnel, whilst the rookies joining the grid for 2025 face the challenge of matching the professionalism and technical understanding displayed by established champions. The coming season promises not only on-track battles but continued intrigue surrounding the relationships and decisions that ultimately determine championship outcomes.
