Oct 27, 2025 | DTM
The crash at Hockenheim and a painful echo
Rene Rast lost a possible fourth title at the recent DTM final in Hockenheim after he got involved in a chain reaction in the Spitzkehre on the first lap. That corner seems to keep turning against him: the same spot also cost him a championship early in his career.
At Hockenheim, Rast came out of the first lap as a casualty, his car too badly damaged to continue driving. With that, his championship chances evaporated in one fell swoop.
What exactly happened in 2006
In 2006, Rast raced in the Seat Leon Cup and started the final race weekend as championship leader, from the front row, on a drying track. As in Hockenheim later, things went wrong on the first lap: defending champion Thomas Marschall hit Erik Janis, causing Janis to collide with Rast again. Rast had to abandon the race as his car was too badly damaged.
The race organisers pointed to Erik Janis as the culprit and awarded him a penalty. Florian Gruber, who came to the final third in the championship, took advantage and took the championship with a satisfactory result. Rast finished second that season, with three wins, and eventually missed out on the title by just three points.
- Season: 2006, Seat Leon Cup - title loss due to incident in Spitzkehre
- Drivers involved: Rene Rast, Thomas Marschall, Erik Janis, Florian Gruber
- Results: Janis penalised as perpetrator; Gruber benefited
- Rast: three season victories, finishes two points short of the lead
Setback finally led to breakthrough
After that disappointment, Rast picked up where he left off. In 2007, he switched to the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland. A year later, he won the title in that series. Between 2010 and 2012, he made a name for himself in the Porsche Supercup with three titles in a row.
Despite his success in Porsche, Rast also had setbacks: BMW and Audi did not initially see him as a DTM contender. It was only in 2016 that he made his DTM debut at Zandvoort due to an injury to Adrien Tambay, and a year later he took his first DTM title in his rookie year.
The parallel between 2006 and the recent Hockenheim incident shows how one turn in one lap can change careers. For Rast, it ultimately remained a path with deep setbacks, but also with a strong comeback and later great success.
Oct 27, 2025 | Formula 1
Main outcome
The stewards have explained why Lewis Hamilton received a time penalty in the Mexican Grand Prix. Max Verstappen received no penalty for the collision at Turn 1. The stewards investigated several moments in the battle between the two drivers.
The collision at Turn 1
It started with an overtaking attempt in Turn 1 on lap six. Verstappen dived in on the inside. Coming out of the corner, the two touched briefly. As a result, Hamilton slid slightly to the outside.
The stewards ruled that Verstappen's car was clearly in front of Hamilton's mirror at the inside point. That meant Verstappen was entitled to the ideal line. The collision remained light. Neither car sustained any damage. Therefore, the stewards qualified it as a racing incident and imposed no penalty.
Turn 2 and Turn 3
After the collision, the cars drove side by side for a short time. Verstappen hit the grass at Turn 2 and returned after Turn 3. In doing so, he did not lose a penalty, according to the stewards.
Turn 4: two investigations
Shortly afterwards, discussion arose on Turn 4 about rejoining the track. Hamilton came to the corner at high speed and stalled. He went into the run-off lane, cutting across the grass to get back in front of Verstappen.
This resulted in two investigations. The first was about not using the prescribed asphalt exit lane. The stewards felt the car had too much speed to safely use that asphalt lane. Therefore, they saw a just cause for it.
The second investigation dealt with whether Hamilton had gained a permanent advantage by leaving the track. The stewards decided that this was the case. Hamilton had gained a position and did not give it back. He was therefore given a 10-second time penalty.
Stewards' viewpoint
Their main arguments were brief: Verstappen had enough of the front for Hamilton on entering Turn 1 to lay claim to the line. The wheels touched lightly, leading to no sporting consequence. By Turn 4, on the other hand, Hamilton had gained a lasting advantage by using the grass.
Response from Hamilton
Hamilton reacted critically after the race. He called the incident in Turn 1 simply racing. He said he found it hard to understand why he was the only one to get a 10-second penalty.
Brief overview
- Turn 1: minor collision, assessed as racing incident, no penalty.
- Turn 2/3: Verstappen temporarily on the grass, no penalty.
- Turn 4: Hamilton cut across the grass and gained a lasting advantage.
- Consequence: Hamilton received a 10-second time penalty.
The stewards also referred to previous similar cases where no further action was taken. But in this case, track abandonment on Turn 4 did result in a penalty.
Oct 27, 2025 | Formula 1
Decision remains postponed for now
Red Bull is waiting longer to choose its line-ups for 2026. The team initially wanted to provide clarity after the Mexican Grand Prix. That schedule has now been changed.
Favourites and uncertainties
Isack Hadjar still seems to be the leading candidate for promotion to the senior team. This would give Max Verstappen his fourth teammate in just over 12 months. Still, it is not certain that Yuki Tsunoda will be replaced.
Uncertainty in second team
For the second team, Racing Bulls, the situation is unclear. Tsunoda could possibly return there alongside Liam Lawson. Another option is for one of them to be paired with rookie Arvid Lindblad. Red Bull is keeping all options open.
Why Red Bull is taking more time
Team advisor Helmut Marko had previously indicated that the choice could fall after Mexico. That deadline has now been pushed back. Laurent Mekies, team principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing, said Tsunoda is “taking steps forward”. That is one of the reasons for waiting.
Tsunoda's weekend in Mexico
Tsunoda suffered bad luck at his pit stop in Mexico. As a result, he missed out on an apparent top-10 finish. However, he was close to Verstappen in qualifying and his first stint in the race was strong. Mekies stressed that Tsunoda was only a few tenths behind Verstappen in qualifying.
Key facts at a glance
- Hadjar is still seen as favourite for promotion.
- Tsunoda showed improvements in Mexico, but a pit stop cost him results.
- Racing Bulls line-up (Tsunoda, Lawson or Lindblad) undecided.
- Red Bull wants to make the decision before the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Tsunoda's minor qualifying deficits versus Verstappen (2025)
- 0.163s - Hungary
- 0.211s - Mexico
- 0.263s - Austria
- 0.381s - Belgium
- 0.464s - Canada
Timing and strategic considerations
Red Bull does not want a decision that distracts teams at the decisive stage of the championship. Verstappen's remaining chances for the drivers' championship come into play. The constructors' battle for both teams is also a factor. A public announcement could disrupt the team focus.
Mekies indicated that the team has the freedom to choose quietly. Still, Red Bull does not want to wait until mid-December like last year. The aim remains to clarify before Abu Dhabi, both internally and possibly publicly.
What lies ahead?
The decision depends on several elements. Form and performance weigh in. Team goals in the final phase of the season are also important. Red Bull considers those parameters before announcing the news.
Oct 27, 2025 | Formula 1
Mexican GP puts title fight on edge
Lando Norris won convincingly in Mexico. He drove from pole to win by a wide margin. As a result, he now tops the championship. It is a clear message: Norris should be competing for the title.
Norris dominated, Piastri lost ground
Norris had a top weekend. Everything fell together well for him. Oscar Piastri, on the other hand, had a difficult race weekend. He lost places at the start and hit back problems around the first pit stops. In the end, Piastri crossed the line in fifth place. He finished well behind his teammate. This is worrying for Piastri, as we saw this pattern earlier this season.
Verstappen fights back to podium
Max Verstappen did not come out of qualifying looking pretty. Yet he still dragged out a podium in the race. That shows resilience. Without the virtual safety car, he might even have finished second. His result keeps the tension in the title race.
What does this mean for the championship?
The title fight is now a real triangle between Norris, Piastri and Verstappen. Nothing has been decided. There are still four grands prix and two sprint races to go. A total of 116 points are still on the table. Small mistakes or technical problems could prove very expensive later on.
Key points to remember:
- Norris has the lead, but only by one point.
- Verstappen is still behind, but is back in contention thanks to his podium.
- Piastri needs to stop his recent dip in form to avoid slipping in the championship.
Why this is good for sport
This kind of change makes the title race exciting. The upcoming circuits differ greatly from each other. That could change the proportions again. Also, McLaren and Red Bull each have their strengths and weaknesses. In the end, the title cannot be decided only on the best days. Instead, it may depend on who does the least wrong on the bad days.
Conclusion
Mexico brought the top three closer together. Norris proved he is in contention for the title. Verstappen showed character with his recovery to the podium. Piastri is under pressure and needs to respond. The denouement promises to be another exciting stage.
Oct 27, 2025 | Formula 1
Overview of a volatile race
The 2025 Mexican Grand Prix delivered plenty of action and unexpected shifts in the standings. Some teams grabbed plenty of returns. Others lost chances or points. Below I cover the main winners and losers of the weekend.
Main winners
Ollie Bearman (4th)
Bearman had shown good race pace during the simulations. Haas and he now cashed in on that opportunity. He took advantage of an incident between Hamilton, Verstappen and Russell. After that, he drove smart and kept faster cars behind him. It was his best F1 hour to date. Esteban Ocon also scored points, taking Haas to eighth place among constructors. That is important in the battle for spot six in the championship.
Lando Norris (1st)
Norris dominated the weekend from start to finish. He is now top of the championship. The win was convincing and well-timed. McLaren showed strong speed on dry tracks, like last year in Brazil. If the weather cooperates, McLaren can put up a weekend like this more often.
Max Verstappen (3rd)
Verstappen made the most of a tough Sunday. His stint on the softs was very strong. As a result, he closed a big gap and returned to the podium. On a day like this, it shows how important it is to limit damage. This podium finish keeps his title fight alive.
Charles Leclerc (2nd)
Leclerc pulled in a solid second place. Ferrari seemed a little short against Verstappen at times, but Leclerc took advantage early in the race. Thanks to his performance, a Ferrari stayed in front. Two podiums in a row are a welcome boost. Ferrari is now one point ahead of Mercedes in the battle for second place among constructors.
Gabriel Bortoleto (10th)
Bortoleto grabbed the last point with a clever strategy. Sauber chose medium to soft and that proved just a little quicker in the midfield. He took advantage of a slow pit stop by Tsunoda and overtook Hadjar briskly at Turn 1. For Sauber, this was a nice salvation after a difficult weekend.
Main losers
Yuki Tsunoda (11th)
Tsunoda showed moments of speed and kept Piastri behind him for a while. But he also had long stretches where his pace dropped away. A slow pit stop cost him valuable places. As a result, he lost points that might have been attainable. His expectation of a top-six place was therefore too optimistic.
Oscar Piastri (5th)
Piastri rode sensibly and fought his way back after a mediocre qualifying session. Fifth place was a neat recovery. Still, the result is painful in the title race. He lost too many points in a weekend where he could have scored.
George Russell (6th)
Russell was forcefully leading his points on the radio, trying to force progress. Yet his race did not go as expected. He had to deal with actions from other drivers and lost ground. In the end, he finished outside the podium. It was a disappointing day given the expectations.
Lewis Hamilton (8th)
Hamilton seemed well away at the start, but an incident at Turn 4 cost him a lot of time. He received a penalty for not giving back position or time gained. The 10-second time penalty after the pit stop threw away his podium opportunity. It was an expensive mistake in a race where he could have scored.
Carlos Sainz (DNF)
Sainz had a bad start and got involved in a collision. That collision caused vibrations that damaged the pit-lane limiter. The problems caused him two penalties, including a drive-through. In the end, he had to abandon the car. For him, it was a weekend to quickly forget.
Alpine (15th and 16th)
Alpine experienced probably the worst weekend of their season. Both cars were far from the field. It became a long and lonely afternoon for both drivers. This result shows how big the gap is sometimes.
Racing Bulls (13th and DNF)
Racing Bulls again remained without points. That is now three races in a row without a score. Sainz's starting crash hit Lawson and Hadjar was fouled early in Turn 6. As a result, the team dropped far back. With several teams close together, this negative pace could become costly.
Summary conclusions
- Bearman and Haas took full advantage and recorded a game-changing result.
- Norris grabs the lead and confirms McLaren's dry-weather speed.
- Verstappen keeps title fight alive by limiting damage.
- Sainz, Alpine and Racing Bulls lost the most this weekend.
The outcome in Mexico changes the season. Some teams gained new energy. Others face remedial work. Next races will be crucial in the title and constructors' battle.
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