29 November 2025 | Formula 1
Brief summary
The sprint qualification in Qatar changed the picture for this race weekend. The starting grid for the sprint has been determined. The results may still influence the championship. The big points will only be awarded in the main race.
Key findings
- Oscar Piastri starts on pole for the sprint.
- Lando Norris is third and maintains a lead in the championship.
- Max Verstappen qualified disappointingly in sixth place.
- Fernando Alonso and Yuki Tsunoda finish fourth and fifth respectively.
- Lewis Hamilton was eliminated in Q1 and will start in eighteenth place.
Oscar Piastri — 1st
Piastri seems to be back on track after a bad spell. He qualified strongly and set the fastest time in the decisive lap. He was lucky that his teammate Norris was stuck in traffic. Piastri also made a big correction at Turn 4. That move probably cost him two tenths, but he had just enough speed left.
Max Verstappen — 6th
Verstappen faced a disappointing starting position. Sixth on the sprint grid is not the end of his title fight, but it is a missed opportunity. The race will have to show whether he can regain the lost ground. His weekend got off to an early bump when the car may have sustained damage after a trip off the track.
Fernando Alonso — 4th
Alonso achieved Aston Martin's best starting position of the season. He was at the front in SQ1 and SQ2. In SQ2, he encountered traffic, but he recovered in SQ3. The fact that he is ahead of the Red Bulls is surprising and a big plus for the team.
Lando Norris — 3rd
Norris made a mistake when it mattered and lost time. Despite this, he still leads the championship. However, his lead has narrowed. This increases the pressure on him and could have consequences on Sunday.
Yuki Tsunoda — 5th
Tsunoda finally finished ahead of Verstappen on the timesheet. For Red Bull, that is a remarkable result. It comes too late to change much this season, but it is a personal success for Tsunoda.
Lewis Hamilton — 18th
Hamilton did not make it through Q1. His recent form continued in Qatar. Afterwards, he said that there was no extra pace in the car, despite a different wing setting. That does not look good for Mercedes this weekend.
Alpine — 19th and 20th
Alpine fell back and finished with both cars at the rear. Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto were the slowest in qualifying. Colapinto in particular struggled and missed the cutoff by a wide margin. After the recent points in Brazil and Las Vegas, this is a disappointing Sunday afternoon.
Lance Stroll — 16th
Stroll did not make it past Q1, while his teammate Alonso is in fourth place. He seemed to stop his final fast attempt early and was eliminated. This is particularly painful given the points battle in the constructors' championship.
Gabriel Bortoleto — 13th
Bortoleto achieved a useful qualifying result. The result is small, but important for his confidence. He is starting to better compete with teammate Nico Hülkenberg again. The difference was minimal, but it works in his favour.
Liam Lawson — 17th
Lawson did not have a good weekend. He started in the wrong tyre for the ideal window and was unable to make enough progress. For him, the sprint will mainly be a learning experience for Sunday.
What does this mean for Sunday?
The sprint changes the cards, but the real points have not yet been distributed. Expect pressure on those in the top ten and recovery work for drivers starting low. The championship remains exciting, especially with the small margins between teammates.
Key points
- Piastri back in the lead — momentum for McLaren.
- Verstappen loses pace — challenge for Red Bull.
- Norris remains in the lead, but his advantage is shrinking.
- Alpine and some drivers must respond before the main race.
29 November 2025 | Formula 1
Increased surveillance following discovery of cuts
Pirelli introduced additional checks after the first day at Lusail. During Friday's practice sessions, deep cuts were found in several tyres. Inspections showed that the damage occurred on tyres on all four corners. There were no immediate tyre failures, but the supplier is on alert.
New gravel strips appear to be the cause
This problem is related to new and extended gravel strips on the circuit. Strips have been added at turns 6, 10 and 16. The strip at turn 14 has been extended and now starts earlier. Cars that drift wide drag loose gravel onto the asphalt. That gravel ends up on the track and on the kerbstones.
Gravel is sharp and penetrates more easily.
Pirelli's chief engineer Simone Berra says that the gravel is relatively sharp. It is not rounded off. As a result, it tends to cut into the rubber. Some sets were damaged down to the tyre structure, but the cords remained intact. If the structure is continuously exposed, a puncture may occur.
Consequences for sprint and race
Pirelli and the FIA are monitoring the situation closely. If further damage occurs, they can intervene immediately. Possible measures include deploying a safety car or even a red flag to remove the gravel. For now, there is no immediate cause for panic, but the warning remains in place.
Additional complication: limit on tyre usage
Tyre life is already limited in this race. Pirelli is applying a maximum of 25 laps per set of tyres this weekend. That makes strategies sensitive. Teams now have to take into account both wear and tear and the risk of cuts from gravel.
Key points
- Deep cuts in tyres discovered after Friday practice sessions at Lusail.
- Cuts occurred on tyres at all four corners.
- New/extended gravel strips at turns 6, 10, 14 and 16.
- Gravel is sharp and not rounded, making it easier to cut.
- Pirelli and FIA keep traffic and track clear; measures possible (safety car/red flag).
- A maximum of 25 laps per set of tyres this weekend increases the pressure on teams.
In summary: Pirelli is increasing vigilance. Teams must adjust their strategies. The FIA may actively intervene if the gravel continues to cause problems. For the time being, there are no immediate tyre failures, but the risk remains during sprints and races.
27 November 2025 | Formula 1
New roles within the team
Adrian Newey will become team principal at Aston Martin from the start of 2026. He joined the team earlier this season as managing technical partner. His responsibilities will be expanded from next year.
Andy Cowell will take on the new role of chief strategy officer. In this role, he will focus on collaboration with the new engine partner Honda and fuel supplier Aramco.
Background and reasons
Cowell joined the company as CEO just over a year ago. Last winter, he also took on the role of team principal. This was part of a restructuring process aimed at making progress and preparing the team for Newey.
Nevertheless, there have been signs of disagreement between Newey and Cowell over the direction of the team in recent months. Newey was quick to point out where he saw room for improvement. Among other things, he mentioned that the simulation facilities at the team's infrastructure were not up to the desired standard.
When Newey delved deeper into the processes, he requested further changes. This led to the departure of seven senior members of the aerodynamics department, including aerodynamics director Eric Blandin. The lack of consensus on the direction to take ultimately proved to be the reason for the new approach.
Other candidates and decision-making
Other names were also mentioned for the role of team principal. Christian Horner and Andreas Seidl, among others, were in the running. The team ultimately decided to give Newey the position. Owner Lawrence Stroll says that everyone involved agrees with the change.
What does this mean for 2026?
Newey said he has seen a lot of individual talent in the team. He wants to put the team in the best position to compete in 2026. Aston Martin will then become a works team, which, combined with the new regulations, will be a considerable challenge.
As chief strategy officer, Cowell will focus on maximising the collaboration between the team, Honda and Aramco. Stroll praised Cowell for his leadership and said that Newey's creative and technical expertise will give him more scope to contribute.
- Newey to become team principal from 2026
- Cowell becomes chief strategy officer
- Focus on collaboration with Honda and Aramco
- Departure of several senior aeronautical staff members
- Objective: to compete under new rules in 2026
The new management must ensure a clear course of action and better results on the track.
27 November 2025 | DTM
Pirelli test at Le Castellet
Nicki Thiim was recently spotted at the Pirelli test in Le Castellet, where the Comtoyou team was present with an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo. Pirelli will release a special DTM tyre in 2026 and is testing various prototypes in southern France to see how they work with GT3 cars.
This is a pure DTM test. Comtoyou is participating on behalf of Aston Martin Racing alongside other factory teams. The team did not want to officially reveal who was behind the wheel, but Thiim himself posted a photo of the Vantage on Instagram and reported that he was first in Monaco and later in Le Castellet.
Signs that it is time to switch
The fact that Thiim drives for Comtoyou is strong circumstantial evidence, but not conclusive proof, that he will be racing for Aston Martin in the DTM in 2026. However, there are several signs that point in that direction.
According to information circulating among insiders, Aston Martin does not want Thiim to continue racing for other brands in the DTM. In 2024 and 2025, he drove for the Lamborghini teams SSR Performance and Abt with his manufacturer's permission. That permission may be withdrawn next year.
Thiim is 36 and has won the GTE class at Le Mans, achieved success in the WEC and major endurance races at the Nürburgring and Spa, among other things. The only thing missing from his list of achievements is the DTM title. This seems to be a major motivation for him to go all out for a comeback in the series.
Comtoyou and the role of Aston Martin
Comtoyou made its DTM debut in 2025 and showed positive signs at the season finale in Hockenheim, including pole position for Gilles Magnus. Team boss Francois Verbist remained tight-lipped about test data and drivers, stating that the information was confidential.
The team hopes for more support from the factory team in 2026. Verbist has already indicated that it would be desirable to have two cars at the start in order to better develop strategies and learn more. If Aston Martin offers more operational support, the arrival of a factory driver seems likely — and Nicki Thiim knows the DTM like no other within the Aston framework.
- Why Thiim is a logical candidate: experience with GT3, DTM knowledge and hunger for the title.
- Why Comtoyou insists: more learning points with two cars and better factory support.
- Uncertainties: official confirmation is lacking and Aston Martin may adjust its driver policy.
Now what?
The coming weeks and months will make it clearer whether Thiim will actually be part of the Aston Martin programme in 2026. For now, there are strong indications: his presence at the Pirelli test, the possible expiry of releases by Aston Martin and Comtoyou's desire for more factory support.
For Thiim, a move to Comtoyou could be the final piece of the puzzle in his quest for that coveted DTM title. For Comtoyou, an experienced factory driver would bring extra knowledge and credibility. Official confirmations are still pending, but the lines to Aston Martin seem clearly drawn.
27 November 2025 | Formula 1
What happened in Las Vegas
McLaren issued a statement after the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Both of the team's cars were disqualified. The floor panel had too much wear and tear. As a result, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were not included in the results.
On paper, Norris finished second and Piastri was in fourth place. Due to the disqualification, Norris lost the six points he could have gained on Piastri. This allowed Max Verstappen to draw level with Piastri in the battle for second place. Norris's lead over Verstappen shrunk from 42 to 24 points.
Main cause: porpoising and a faulty sensor
McLaren says that aerodynamic oscillations, or porpoising, caused premature wear on the board. These vertical fluctuations were greater than expected. The teams had little dry practice time in Vegas. As a result, McLaren did not anticipate this degree of porpoising.
In addition, McLaren lost a sensor on Piastri's car. That sensor measures how close the car gets to the asphalt. Without that data, the team was unable to properly track the movements of Piastri's car. Norris's telemetry was still working, which made monitoring easier.
Actions during the race
The team noticed that this was becoming a problem in the opening laps. Later in the race, Norris slowed down considerably and coasted. He tried to avoid scraping the kerb. This measure worked sometimes, but not everywhere.
McLaren states that braking down speed in some corners helped, but in other places it actually hindered progress. The combination of the car's operating range and the characteristics of the circuit rendered many actions ineffective.
What McLaren had already done and what remains unclear
McLaren claims that it did not take any excessive risks with the ride height. For qualifying and the race, the team even added extra margin compared to the settings used in free practice. However, that margin was negated by unexpected, large vertical oscillations.
It is not yet entirely clear why McLaren encountered so many problems in Vegas. Street circuits are inherently bumpier, which makes them more susceptible to plank wear. However, other teams did not receive any penalties during inspections, not even cars from the top ten. McLaren is continuing to investigate what exactly triggered the issue.
- Sensor on Piastri's car failed, resulting in incomplete telemetry.
- Porpoising caused high plank wear.
- Norris attempted to reduce speed to minimise damage.
- Other teams were not disqualified.
Consequences for the championship and team policy
The double disqualification has direct consequences for the championship. Verstappen benefited and is now closer to Norris. Piastri also lost out in practical terms because both cars were set back.
Questions are being raised as to whether McLaren will have to choose which driver to protect if both remain in contention for the title. Team principal Andrea Stella said there is no reason to do so as long as the numbers do not require it. According to the team, the drivers will be free to race in Qatar.
Looking ahead: Qatar and lessons for Woking
The race in Qatar at Lusail is a completely different circuit to Vegas. McLaren therefore does not expect a repeat of the same problem. Nevertheless, the situation provided useful information about the car's working range and porpoising behaviour.
Stella praised the technical team in Woking for their quick response and investigation. McLaren intends to use the new insights to prevent similar surprises in the future.
In summary: a sensor malfunction on Piastri's car prevented proper monitoring. Large vertical oscillations caused unforeseen plank wear. This led to two disqualifications and changed the championship standings.
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