Welcome to Thursday’s edition of the RaceFans round-up.
Comment of the day
Max Verstappen to Mercedes next year? Not everyone is convinced by Zak Brown’s driver market prediction:
Doesn’t make much sense. Replacing Alonso at Aston at the end of 2026 is the most likely scenario IF Verstappen wanted to leave Red Bull, which I doubt he does. He will want to try the new regulation Red Bull before making a decision.
Stefano (@Alfa145)
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Girts, West Pearson, Adub Smallblock and Harsh Barsaiyan!
On this day in motorsport
- Born on this day in 1972: Pedro Lamy, who raced in F1 for Lotus and Minardi but broke his legs when he crashed heavily during a test at Silverstone in 1994, cleared a barrier and landed in a pedestrian tunnel
- 20 years ago today Fernando Alonso dominated the Malaysian Grand Prix for Renault
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Yes (@come-on-kubica)
20th March 2025, 5:14
I don’t think Zhou has a chance of coming back.
Also the planned Thailand gp – ugggh a street circuit hopefully it goes into rotation with another street circuit.
Frank
20th March 2025, 6:56
Very unlikely indeed. But we have seen earlier comebacks of drivers who did not set the track on fire with their results.
If he finds himself at the right place at the right moment with the right backing, we might yet see him back for another year.
His main problem is perhaps that there are lots of experienced drivers available now. But he may also have some commercial appeal that the others lack.
Jere (@jerejj)
20th March 2025, 7:15
@come-on-kubica – Definitely no chance unless Cadillac backs down on their American driver desire for the time being, which could become forced due to those drivers’ super license situations, in which case the lineup would most likely be either Perez-Bottas or Perez-Zhou.
Rotation is always a non-option for all temporary circuits due to the build-up process costs.
Frank – Except those drivers at least had vast or at least decent previous F1 racing experience rather than only 1-3 seasons, & he meets neither of Cadillac’s criteria, which are an American driver & vastly experienced F1 racer. Zhou’s limited experience is simply too much to jump both Perez & Bottas, especially the former who also has Carlos Slim’s backing & he’d also bring benefits to Cadillac concerning their only geographical market, which happens to be Mexico.
Jere (@jerejj)
20th March 2025, 7:10
COTD: I’m also in the mind that in any case he’d leave after the 2026 season at the very earliest just to see how Red Bull fares with the upcoming technical regulation changes.
Zhou article: Not necessarily a lot of drivers, not to mention more or less only ones with at least vast previous racing experience in F1, if not also some sporting success.
A street circuit in Bangkok has been the proposed one this whole time, but 2028 could be a relatively ambitious target, but probably still at least reasonably achievable.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
20th March 2025, 8:57
RIP Eddie Jordan. 76 is too young. Really saddened by this
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
20th March 2025, 11:36
How do I get a birthday message? It’s not obvious.
An Sionnach
20th March 2025, 12:18
I wouldn’t listen to anything Brown says. If would seem odd if Toto shut up about Max, although there are reasons he might do this beyond agreeing with Max to show a little respect.
Adam (@rocketpanda)
20th March 2025, 13:10
I don’t feel Zhou is good enough to come back. I don’t think he was terrible, decent on his day but there’s so many drivers out there without a seat that are quite deserving of it – including Zhou’s former team-mate who easily had the measure of him. In short if he comes back it’ll be because money put him there, not his talent, so I’d rather he stayed away. Reminds me of Giovinazzi – generally okay, but F1’s not really for just ‘okay’, is it?