Nov 4, 2025 | Formula 1
Introduction: four races left, three contenders
With four laps to go, 2025 is a rare three-pointer in the title race. Max Verstappen unexpectedly came back into the picture. Five races after Zandvoort, his deficit was still 104 points. It has since been reduced to 36 points. McLaren leads the list with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Their battle between them is the main issue. That makes this denouement unpredictable.
A misstep could mean the end of a comeback
Underdogs often build momentum. They ride relaxed and dare to take risks. That helps in the hunt for the lead. Verstappen has fallen into that role in 2025, strange as that may sound given his titles. But one mistake can destroy everything.
A famous example is Heinz-Harald Frentzen in 1999. He drove the season of his life. After a string of good results, he was suddenly within reach of the leaders. On the Nürburgring weekend, everything still seemed possible.
Then his car stalled with ‘‘electrical problems’’. It later emerged that Frentzen had not switched off an anti-stall system after a pit stop. It was human error. The DNF made his chances of winning the title almost impossible. The short lesson: when you have no margin for error as an underdog, one incident kills you.
Mutual struggle can weaken a team
Historic three-team duels teach the same thing. When two teammates take points from each other too often, the third continues to benefit. That happened in 1986 and 2007.
In 1986, Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet had a lot of power inside Williams. Yet Alain Prost seized his chance when Williams broke through bad luck. In 2007, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton were each other's biggest competitors. Kimi Räikkönen took advantage and took the title.
At McLaren this year, Norris and Piastri are very close. Statistics show how narrow their mutual margin is. That balance makes it difficult for McLaren to protect one clear title contender. And that opens the door for Verstappen.
A teammate can actually be decisive
Not all teammates work against you. Sometimes they actively help a leader. That can be decisive in the denouement.
In 2007, Felipe Massa played exactly that role. He helped Kimi Räikkönen by staying behind him to manage points. In 2003, Rubens Barrichello helped, sometimes unintentionally, Michael Schumacher by keeping rivals away from him in crucial races.
In 2025, Yuki Tsunoda is not structurally in that role. He can sometimes support Verstappen on the track, but he does not have the level to consistently sacrifice strategies. If one McLaren driver falls, the other will naturally be able to help that team. McLaren has a culture that encourages cooperation, so a counted-out teammate can take on the role of helper.
It remains exciting until the last round
Three-pitch battles often make for unpredictable finals. Teams and drivers get nervous. This leads to mistakes or successive incidents.
In Adelaide 1986, fate turned in a few laps. A puncture and a reactive pit stop changed the outcome. In 2007, incidents and bad luck by Hamilton and others caused last-minute shifts that kept Räikkönen alive. In 2010, defensive play between the leaders opened up a chance for Sebastian Vettel to win.
For Verstappen, that is hopeful. As long as he stays in contention and McLaren remains hesitant, he could strike in the closing stages. Even with a big gap, surprises are still possible in these situations.
Practical lessons for the remaining races
- Drive clean and reliable. A DNF kills those who need to overtake.
- Manage internal relationships. One dominant teammate is useful.
- Use teammates strategically. A helper can be crucial in the final.
- Stay in the game. Small chances at the end can be decisive.
With four races to go, the denouement promises to remain exciting. Verstappen, Norris and Piastri each have a story to tell. A mistake or a smart move could determine the title change. That makes the final stage this season extra attractive to follow.
Nov 3, 2025 | DTM
McLaren support and targets for 2026
Dörr Motorsport has announced its intention to compete with McLaren in the DTM in 2026. Team boss Rainer Dörr says that in the final year of their three-year programme, the goal is to become and serious title contender. To that end, the team expects more support from Woking than in 2025.
Dörr already received technical help from McLaren in 2025, but the budget was borne entirely by the team. A more intensive collaboration is planned for 2026, possibly with additional engineers, more test miles and wider deployment support.
Riders and expectations
The driver line-up is crucial to those plans. Marvin KirchhF6fer is a possible option, but his factory deal with McLaren expires at the end of the year. Talks on extension are ongoing. According to the latest signals, KirchhF6fer seems to be staying with McLaren for the time being; among other things, he wrote pole for the 24 Stunden von Spa to his name this season.
However, the team has also previously indicated that it wants to continue with Ben DF6rr and Timo Glock. Rainer DF6rr said at the season finale in Hockenheim that they are happy with that driver combination and do not want to make any changes for the time being.
For Ben DF6rr, the outlook is positive. The 20-year-old made a clear leap forward this season. He grabbed his first DTM pole and would have finished second at the Sachsenring without disqualification. Rainer DF6rr expects McLaren to give Ben more chances and allow him to compete in other series as well. A move from junior profile to work driver is not out of the question.
Timo Glock had a difficult comeback. After three years without races, he did not really get going this season and his best result was 11th place. However, according to the team, Glock has the speed and it is mainly a matter of getting used to it; they are counting on a better season start in 2026.
- Goal 2026: compete for the DTM title with more factory support.
- Status KirchhF6fer: contract expires, extension under discussion.
- Ben DF6rr: Clear progression and more commitment expected from McLaren.
- Timo Glock: weaker season, but team counts on recovery after getting used to it.
- 2025: technical support from McLaren, but budget borne by Dörr.
Rainer DF6rr draws a positive conclusion about his team's development: consistent top-10 qualifying, a pole, a podium (which was later disqualified) and fastest lap show progress. Now the question is how much additional support from Woking will become concrete and how that translates into results in 2026.
Nov 3, 2025 | Car interior
Do you also suffer from crumbs between your car seats, a dusty dashboard or mysterious stains on your upholstery? You are not the only one. Many car owners pay a lot of attention to the outside of their car, but forget about the interior. While that is exactly where you spend every drive! A clean and fresh interior not only enhances your driving pleasure, but also keeps the value of your car at the same level. In this blog, I will give you practical tips on how to properly maintain the interior of your car.
Why regular interior maintenance is important
The interior of your car is exposed to dust, dirt and all kinds of liquids on a daily basis. Think mud under your shoes, coffee stains and greasy fingerprints on the dashboard. To clean different surfaces, you can a special interior cleaner use, which is suitable for multiple materials. Dirt and bacteria accumulate, which is not only annoying for your nasal membranes, but also for your airways. Dust and allergens can cause breathing problems, especially in people who are sensitive. Moreover, dirt eventually corrodes materials. Leather chairs can discolour and plastic parts can become dull. Regular maintenance prevents this and keeps your car looking good for longer. A clean interior also helps maintain the value of your car. If you ever want to sell your car, a fresh interior makes a good impression on potential buyers.
Vacuuming: the basis of interior cleaning
Vacuuming is the first step towards a clean car interior. Ideally, do this weekly, or at least every fortnight. Dust and crumbs mainly collect between the seats, under the floor mats and in the cracks of the back seat. First take out the floor mats and pat them out well. Then thoroughly vacuum every nook and cranny of your car. Use different attachments for your hoover. A narrow brush is useful for air vents and small cracks, while a wider brush is suitable for the seats and floor. Don't forget the boot, where dirt also accumulates. Regular vacuuming will already keep most of the dirt out. It is a simple job that makes a lot of difference.
Keeping upholstery clean
Your car's upholstery requires special attention. Whether you have fabric or leather seats, both need their own approach. With fabric upholstery, it is important to tackle stains immediately. The longer a stain stays in, the harder it will be to get it out. Dab the stain gently with a damp cloth and use a car upholstery cleaner for stubborn stains. Do not rub too hard as you will only push the dirt deeper into the fabric. Leather upholstery requires a different approach. Leather is more sensitive to water and should be cleaned with gentle, appropriate products. Use a microfibre cloth and always work carefully. After cleaning, you can treat leather with a conditioner to keep it supple. Want to prevent stains? Then you can work preventively with a protective spray that repels liquids.
Dashboard and plastic parts care
The dashboard and other plastic parts attract a lot of dust. Wipe them regularly with a dry or slightly damp microfibre cloth. Do not use aggressive cleaning agents, as they can damage or dull the plastic. Be especially careful with displays and buttons. These are sensitive and can be damaged by too much moisture or rubbing too hard. Therefore, always work carefully and use a soft cloth. Plastic in the car can be discoloured by sunlight. A product with UV protection helps to counteract this and keeps your dashboard looking nice for longer. Spray it on a cloth and spread it evenly over the surface. This will keep your dashboard looking neat and prevent it from cracking due to drying out.
Cleaning windows inside
The inside of your car windows is often forgotten, but deserves as much attention as the outside. Deposits and haze collect on the inside due to wash-outs from the dashboard and other plastic parts. This can impair your visibility, especially when the sun is low or oncoming traffic with bright headlights. Clean the windows with a suitable glass cleaner and a clean microfibre cloth. Spray the cleaner on the cloth and not directly on the window, this way you avoid staining the dashboard. Polish in circular motions and work from top to bottom. Clear windows are not only more pleasant, but also safer. You can better see where you are driving and run less risk of unexpected situations.
Care tips for a fresh interior
Besides regular cleaning, here are a few handy tips to keep your interior fresh. Ventilate your car regularly by opening the windows, especially after a trip where you have carried a lot. Try to be careful with food and drink in the car. Crumbs and spilt liquids are the biggest culprits. Clean your floor mats separately, outside the car. Pat them out, vacuum them and wash them with soap and water if necessary. Plan a thorough cleaning at least once a year in which you tackle every nook and cranny. Does your car not smell fresh? Then use an odour remover instead of an air freshener. That only masks odours, while an odour remover tackles the source. These tips will help you keep your car's interior in top condition. A clean interior makes every drive that little bit more enjoyable!
Nov 2, 2025 | DTM
Test dates and location
The DTM has fixed the official pre-season test for 2026 at the Red-Bull-Ring in Spielberg. The ADAC has booked the circuit from 14 to 16 April, exactly a week before the season opener takes place there (24-26 April).
On Monday 13 April, a separate day is reserved for TV teams and photographers. This should provide content for the 2026 DTM campaign. Since the teams will already be in Spielberg, it makes sense that the first day of testing should start immediately afterwards.
The DTM will share the test days at Red-Bull-Ring with the ADAC GT Masters and GT4 Germany. It is not yet final whether each series will get a full day or whether the three days will be split.
New DTM tyre and testing approach
Important note: in 2026, the DTM will run on a special Pirelli tyre used exclusively in the DTM. Previously, the GT3 cars ran on the PZero DHF (2023-2024) and later on its successor DHG (2025). The ADAC GT Masters will stay with the DHG tyre.
The new tyre is expected to be softer than the DHG. Teams must therefore use the limited testing opportunities smartly to build up experience quickly. This is extra relevant because tyre heating is still not allowed in the DTM, which affects usage and warm-up.
The ADAC wants to centrally organise test planning in 2026. After the 2025 test activities - with an official test at Oschersleben and additional sessions at Lausitzring and Sachsenring - the organisation now wants to coordinate all tests itself. This is likely to make testing cheaper and more uniform for teams.
- Booked test dates Red-Bull-Ring: 14-16 April (content day 13 April)
- New Pirelli tyres: exclusive to DTM in 2026
- Tyre warming remains banned
The central organisation also allows the ADAC to monitor tyre consumption and the number of allocated sets. In addition, they can collect data for the Balance of Performance (BoP) during testing.
Follow-up test sites and rules
There are reports that the ADAC wants to offer test days at several DTM circuits next season. Among others, the following venues are on the list according to those plans:
- Spielberg (Red-Bull-Ring)
- Lausitzring
- Oschersleben
- Nürburgring
- Sachsenring
- Hockenheim
From the beginning of November, tests on DTM circuits will be fully permitted for teams for the time being. The new testing regulations are still being worked out. As the special Pirelli tyre will only be available through the series managers and is not yet readily available, early winter tests may be limited in their useful insights.
In summary, the official DTM test will take place in Spielberg just before the start of the season. With the introduction of a DTM-specific tyre and the centralisation of test planning, the ADAC aims to give more control over costs, tyre consumption and BoP data. For teams, this means that every test day in 2026 will have extra value.
Nov 1, 2025 | Formula 1
A new voice in the paddock
Damon Hill, 1996 Formula One world champion, and Johnny Herbert, winner of three grands prix, have jointly launched a podcast. The series is called Stay On Track. They pool their experience and talk freely about racing and its effects on drivers. The tone is personal and straightforward.
What is episode one about?
In the first episode, they use their own careers as a starting point. They discuss current events and how pressure races can weigh on riders. Below are the main topics covered:
- Which side of the McLaren camp they would rather choose as the 2025 title race nears its denouement.
- The toll a title camp can take on a driver, and how that pressure has seemingly affected Oscar Piastri this season.
- Their own experiences with criticism during their careers and how they dealt with it.
- Various anecdotes and insights from their years in the paddock.
How do you listen or watch?
There is a video version of the first episode and the series is also available as a podcast. Choose the platform you are comfortable with and listen or watch at your convenience. Join Damon and Johnny and decide for yourself if they really stay on track.
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