(Motorsport-Total.com) – How do you make the most of an unexpected five-week break? This was the question facing the Formula 1 teams and drivers after the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix had to be canceled. The outbreak of the Iran war destabilized the entire Middle East and disrupted the start of the season.
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Since there was no prescribed “shutdown” like in the summer break, the course of action was clear: the updates originally planned for April were bundled into a massive package for Miami. The simulators were running hot in the factories and the development departments were working at full capacity – always within the tight constraints of the budget cap and aero restrictions.
“The more you drive on track, the more you learn about the car, the tires, and the entire package,” explains Ferrari’s Technical Director, Loic Serra. “If you drive less, this learning process simply does not happen. It freezes the correlation for two or three weeks – but it does not stop development based on what you already know. It’s more of a small interruption in the learning curve.”
But development was not only done on the computer. A look back at the activities in the paddock.
Mercedes: Guesswork and Nordschleife Power
On April 17, Mercedes caused a stir on social media. A photo showed a driver in a nameless overall in front of the W12 – fans immediately speculated: Is Romain Grosjean finally getting his farewell test five years after Toto Wolff’s offer?
The reveal was less nostalgic but promising: it was the helmet of Doriane Pin. The current F1 Academy champion made her test debut in a Formula 1 car and completed 76 laps on the National Circuit in Silverstone.
“Nothing compares to Formula 1,” the Frenchwoman enthused afterwards. “Even in LMP2 we reach 325 km/h at Le Mans, but the braking point and downforce in Formula 1 are a different world.”
In addition, Mercedes sent the current W17 for a Pirelli test at the Nürburgring. George Russell (127 laps) and Kimi Antonelli (109 laps) collected important data in typical Eifel weather.
McLaren: Poaching at Red Bull
McLaren joined Mercedes at the Nürburgring, with Oscar Piastri being slowed by technical problems on the first day. It was more productive for Lando Norris with 108 laps. The juniors also got their chance: Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli was allowed to run in Silverstone.
The real bombshell, however, dropped off track: McLaren has secured the services of Gianpiero Lambiase. The long-time race engineer of Max Verstappen will leave Red Bull and join Woking as Chief Racing Officer under Andrea Stella by 2028 at the latest.
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Red Bull: “Brain Drain” and Verstappen Frustration
The personnel drain at Red Bull is now taking on dramatic proportions. After Newey, Marshall, Wheatley, and others, Lambiase is now also leaving the ship. The new team principal Laurent Mekies faces a major challenge and must virtually rebuild the team.
Verstappen used the break for a trip to the Green Hell. At the Nürburgring 24h qualifiers, he showed his class but was set back on Sunday by a damaged front splitter. Before that, there was a “Filming Day” in Silverstone, where Red Bull reportedly tested an innovative “Macarena” wing in Ferrari style.
Ferrari: Innovations in Monza
Ferrari continues to cause a stir with its rotating rear wing. What was only briefly seen in training in China was now tested in a new version during a Filming Day in Monza.
Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton sat behind the wheel. Hamilton, who visited the Coachella Festival in between, also completed a mammoth program during a Pirelli tire retest in Fiorano (297 laps).
Williams & Audi: Endless Construction Sites
Meanwhile, Williams is on red alert. After the team failed four crash tests and the car is 28 kilograms overweight, the break is a blessing. “We need every single hour to be competitive at all in Miami,” James Vowles admits openly. A completely new, lighter chassis is expected to arrive in Monza in September.
Things are also not running smoothly at Audi yet. Although the powertrain is praised, Mattia Binotto criticizes the drivability: “The car is unstable under braking and acceleration, the gear shifts are too harsh.” Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto tried to sort out the problems during a Filming Day on April 16. The brand icon Allan McNish was also presented as the new sporting director.
Aston Martin & Cadillac: Opposite Worlds
Nerves are frayed at Aston Martin. The first car designed by Adrian Newey suffers from extreme vibrations of the Honda engine. Lance Stroll fled in frustration to the GT World Challenge at Paul Ricard but experienced a weekend to forget – penalties and gearbox damage.
Quite different is the mood at Cadillac: the newcomer is the surprise of the season and is doing remarkably well. Valtteri Bottas used the time for cycling races and is looking forward to the home race in Miami, where Cadillac will compete with a special livery.
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