Motorsport by Apex | No waffle Formula 1® analysis & deep dives from two fans, for every fan.

WRC drivers and FIA settle swearing dispute

WRC drivers and FIA settle swearing dispute

Ahead of the Rally Islas Canarias this weekend, the World Rally Drivers Alliance (WoRDA) has reached an agreement with the FIA over their swearing fine dispute, meaning that stage-end interviews will return.

A new championship leader & penalty controversies: Winners and losers from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

A new championship leader & penalty controversies: Winners and losers from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Winners and Losers from Qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Winners and Losers from Qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

McLaren’s staggering long run advantage: Free practice race pace analysis

McLaren’s staggering long run advantage: Free practice race pace analysis

Teams place emphasis on wings with Jeddah upgrades

Teams place emphasis on wings with Jeddah upgrades

Next Race

Miami Grand Prix

Location: Miami, USA

FP1: May 2, 12:30pm
Sprint Qualifying: May 2, 3:30pm
Sprint Race: May 3, 11:00am
Qualifying: May 3, 4:00pm
Race: May 4, 4:00pm

motorsportbyapex

Leclerc equals Alonso at Ferrari…👏 With his

Leclerc equals Alonso at Ferrari…👏

With his first podium of 2025 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc now has 44 podiums for Ferrari - the same number Fernando Alonso achieved in his five seasons with the Scuderia 🏎️

While he was already 6th on the list of Ferrari podium earners, with one more podium Charles will move up to 5th ahead of Alonso with 6 podiums left ahead to Raikkonen, who sits 4th on the list. Interestingly, Leclerc is the only current Ferrari driver in the top 6 of the list so the only one with the chance to keep moving up it as his career advances…👀

Although Ferrari had been further off the pace for the past few weeks, Jeddah saw them able to fight closer to the front with Leclerc’s offset strategy meaning he was able to move up from P4 to make it onto the podium in P3. 🛞

Speaking after the race, Charles said they’d “absolutely maximised everything” to make it possible… “We executed the race perfectly, both in terms of strategy and the pit stop.”

Things may be improving on the race side, but Vasseur is targeting improvements in their qualifying form to make more podiums, and wins, possible…

So could Leclerc overtake Raikkonen by the end of the year too? 🤔

-
📸: Scuderia Ferrari Media
-
#f1 #formula1 #charlesleclerc #fernandoalonso #scuderiaferrari #michaelschumacher #rubensbarrichello #sebastianvettel #kimiraikkonen #f1statistics #f1stats #f1analysis #f1explained #f1racing #f1fans

Was Jeddah Mercedes’ “worst” race yet? 🤔

Was Jeddah Mercedes’ “worst” race yet? 🤔

-

📸: Mercedes AMG Media

-

#f1 #formula1 #mercedesamgf1 #GeorgeRussell #kimiantonelli #totowolff #f1data #f1tyres #f1tech #f1statistics #saudiarabiangp #f1analysis #f12025 #f1explained #f1racing #f1fans

Is George Russell the most consistent driver of 20

Is George Russell the most consistent driver of 2025? 👀

George Russell has finished in the top 5 in every Grand Prix so far this year, including three podiums with a highest finish of P2 in Bahrain. 👏

While last time out in Jeddah was trickier for Mercedes, with Toto Wolff even calling it their “worst performance so far”, Russell was still able to manage overheating tyres and bring home a P5 finish and 10 points…

And that seems to be the theme of Mercedes’ year so far - grabbing important points and podium finishes despite not having the fastest car - a consistency that will no doubt pay off by the end of year in terms of the Constructors’ standings if it can continue. 🏁

It’s a pattern of performance that’s been enabled by their car being a more “stable and consistent platform” as Toto Wolff put it, allowing Russell and Antonelli to extract its performance and feel confident in how it behaves…

While there may still be a gap to McLaren and Red Bull out front and it seems tyre overheating may be a “weakness” of their car, in Russell’s words, the team are encouraged by the points they’ve put on the board so far even so (111 to be exact!).

With another warm race coming up in Miami, the team are targeting improving this apparent tyre overheating issue before then to enable them to continue competing consistently at the front.

Can they do it to allow Russells’ top 5 trend to continue? 🤔

-
📸: Mercedes AMG Media
-
#f1 #formula1 #GeorgeRussell #mercedesamgf1 #kimiantonelli #totowolff #f1statistics #f1stats #f1analysis #f1explained #f1racing #f1fans

Could Max Verstappen have won the Saudi Arabian Gr

Could Max Verstappen have won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix without his penalty? 👀

-

📸: Red Bull Content Pool / Getty Images @redbull

-

#f1 #formula1 #maxverstappen #redbullracing #oscarpiastri #mclaren #f1penalty #f1data #saudiarabiangp #f1analysis #f12025 #f1explained #f1racing #f1fans

Williams take their most double points finishes in

Williams take their most double points finishes in a year since 2021…and it’s only been 5 races 🤯

With a P8-P9 finish at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Williams have taken their second double points finish this year - putting another 6 points on the board to take their total to 25 👏

It also means that 2025 is the first year they’ve recorded two or more double points finishes since 2021 - where they earned 10 points at each of the Belgian and Hungarian Grands Prix with Russell and Latifi…

To find their next year with multiple double points finishes we have to go back to 2017, where Stroll and Massa both finished in the points at the Malaysian, Italian and Austrian Grands Prix. But it took until round 9 for their first of these to come in 2017, whereas this year it took only two races 😮

James Vowles said their success so far this year is testament to them having “two world-class drivers at the top of their game”, enabling the use of strategies like the one seen in the race around Jeddah…

Sainz dropped his pace later in the race to pick up Albon in his DRS to help them defend their positions from Hadjar who was attempting an attack from behind, a tactic that proved critical in them securing this result!

Albon said they’d “played a great team game” to get a “well-earned, proper points finish”, in James Vowles words…💪

With this, they now sit P5 in the Constructors’, and it’s hard to believe there won’t be more double points finishes over the next 19 races…👀

-
📸: Williams Racing Media // By Courtesy of Pirelli
-
#f1 #formula1 #williamsracing #alexalbon #carlossainz #jamesvowles #f1statistics #f1stats #francocolapinto #logansargeant #GeorgeRussell #nicholaslatifi #lancestroll #sergeysirotkin #felipemassa #f1points #f1analysis #f1explained #f1racing #f1fans

Max overtakes Seb for P2 in a prestigious list…😮

After his P2 finish in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and the 18 points this came with, Max Verstappen has moved ahead of Sebastian Vettel to become the second best points scoring driver in Formula 1 🤯

Maybe it’s no surprise that Lewis Hamilton is the driver with the most points scored ever in F1, with his most successful season in terms of points scoring coming in 2019 when he earned 413 over 21 grands prix and 11 victories - averaging 19.67 points per race 👏

Though Max has just edged out Sebastian Vettel from 2nd place in this list, 2023 was the year that contributed most to his points total. Over what was the most dominant year in Formula 1 history for points scoring, among other records, Max earned 575 points over 22 race weekends, including 19 Grand Prix victories and 21 podiums. 🏆

While this domination hasn’t continued this year, Max is still putting in podium and win earning performances where possible to keep his points tally thriving, and with 87 on the board so far he is just 12 off the lead of the championship currently…

Of course Sebastian Vettel is now retired so his points tally isn’t increasing like Hamilton or Verstappen’s, but Vettel’s 3,098 points stand as a pretty incredible number that it would take some work for Fernando Alonso, the fourth placed driver on the list, to overtake (Fernando is currently on 2,337 points).

Sebastian’s most successful season for points scoring came in 2013, the year he earned his final championship, with 13 wins from 19 grands prix, 16 podiums and a points total of 397 💪

Though Max has just surpassed Sebastian’s total, it will take some major points scoring over a few more years at least to reach Lewis’ total, especially as Lewis’ also keeps growing 👀

-
📸: Mercedes AMG Media // Red Bull Content Pool / Getty Images @redbull
-
#f1 #formula1 #lewishamilton #mercedesamgf1 #scuderiaferrari #mclaren #maxverstappen #redbullracing #tororosso #sebastianvettel #astonmartinf1 #f1statistics #f1history #f1stats #f1facts #f12025 #f1analysis #f1explained #f1racing #f1fans

An Aussie on top of the world for the first time i

An Aussie on top of the world for the first time in 15 years 👏

With his win of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri has become the first Australian to lead the F1 Drivers’ Championship since Mark Webber in 2010, who, coincidentally, is now Oscar’s manager 👀

Webber held the lead at several points over the 2010 season with the last time being after the Japanese Grand Prix before his 14 point lead was eroded by Fernando Alonso winning the following race in South Korea. Ultimately though it was his teammate, Sebastian Vettel, who claimed his maiden title that year…

With 25 points on the board again in Jeddah after his third win of the 2025 season, Oscar now has a 10 point lead in the standings over his teammate Lando Norris who sits P2, with then just a further two points back to Max Verstappen in P3.

This win also now puts him equal for career victories with Lando Norris - at 5 each - showing perhaps just how neck and neck it might be from here…🤔

-
📸: Red Bull Content Pool / Getty Images @redbull
-
#f1 #formula1 #oscarpiastri #mclaren #markwebber #redbullracing #f1history #f1stats #f1facts #f12025 #f12010 #SaudiArabianGP #f1analysis #f1explained #f1racing #f1fans

Can Max hold off the McLarens’ superior pace? 👀

-

#f1 #formula1 #maxverstappen #redbullracing #oscarpiastri #landonorris #mclaren #f1strategy #f1data #saudiarabiangp #f1pirelli #pirellif1 #f1analysis #f12025 #f1explained #f1racing #f1fans

Max Verstappen takes the Jeddah lap record…away

Max Verstappen takes the Jeddah lap record…away from himself 👀

A risky, bold strategy from Red Bull in the final part of Q3 set Max up with the best chance of evolving his lap time on his final run and he did just that, finding the smallest of margins over Oscar Piastri to claim his 42nd career pole and 2nd around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. 👏

Not only this, but it was also a lap good enough for a new record around Jeddah - beating the past record, also set by Max with his pole lap in 2024, by 0.178s!

Interestingly though, despite the margin to P2 this year being just 0.010s, it’s not the only time we’ve seen pole be decided by a tiny margin around this lap - Sergio Perez claimed the top spot in 2022 by just 0.025s over Charles Leclerc. 😮

Max’s “simply lovely” lap means Red Bull have claimed four out of five pole positions for the Saudi Arabian GP since it joined the calendar in 2021, with Lewis Hamilton still standing as the only non-Red Bull driver in this list of polesitters.

75% of wins of the Saudi Arabian Grands Prix have come from pole position, with Max also being the only driver to claim multiple wins of this race…

So can he add a third to the list later today, or is the pace of the McLaren just too strong to hold off? 🤔

-
📸: By Courtesy of Pirelli // Red Bull Content Pool / Getty Images @redbull
-
#f1 #formula1 #maxverstappen #redbullracing #f1pole #f1statistics #saudiarabiangp #f1facts #sergioperez #lewishamilton #f1analysis #f1explained #f1racing #f1fans

What made the difference to allow Max to claim pol

What made the difference to allow Max to claim pole in Jeddah? 🤔

-

📸: Red Bull Content Pool / Getty Images @redbull

-

#f1 #formula1 #maxverstappen #redbullracing #oscarpiastri #mclaren #f1pole #f1qualifying #saudiarabiangp #f1data #f1analysis #f12025 #f1explained #f1racing #f1fans

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

A new championship leader & penalty controversies: Winners and losers from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

A new championship leader & penalty controversies: Winners and losers from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Winners and Losers from Qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Winners and Losers from Qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - APRIL 18: Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 18, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Steven Tee/LAT Images)

McLaren’s staggering long run advantage: Free practice race pace analysis

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - APRIL 18: Liam Lawson of New Zealand driving the (30) Visa Cash App Racing Bulls VCARB 02 on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 18, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202504181057 // Usage for editorial use only //

Teams place emphasis on wings with Jeddah upgrades

5 stories to watch for over the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend

5 stories to watch for over the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend

Deep Dives

SUZUKA, JAPAN - APRIL 06: Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes leads Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes, Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Scuderia Ferrari SF-25 and George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W16 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit on April 06, 2025 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Lessons to learn from the Japanese Grand Prix: Overtaking, tyres and the fickle nature of Formula 1

SOCHI, RUSSIA - APRIL 27: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz of Spain and Scuderia Toro Rosso and Daniil Kvyat of Russia and Scuderia Toro Rosso pose for a photo during previews to the Formula One Grand Prix of Russia on April 27, 2017 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI201704300139 // Usage for editorial use only //

Does the Red Bull driver progression path work?

Lando Norris, McLaren, at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix.

“Too difficult of a car to drive”: What the data says about how McLaren compared to rivals in Sprint qualifying

James Vowles (GBR) Team Principle, Williams Racing. Australian Grand Prix, Sunday 2nd April 2023. Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia.

The ‘Vowles-Effect’: Two years of James Vowles at Williams

Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 team launch their 2025 car, the AMR25.

Aston Martin’s AMR25 puts focus on driveability

Daniil Kvyat of Russia and Infiniti Red Bull Racing drives during day four of Formula One Winter Testing at Circuito de Jerez on February 4, 2015 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.

Camouflage cars: A look at F1’s unique testing liveries

SUZUKA, JAPAN - APRIL 06: Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes leads Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes, Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Scuderia Ferrari SF-25 and George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W16 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit on April 06, 2025 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Lessons to learn from the Japanese Grand Prix: Overtaking, tyres and the fickle nature of Formula 1

SOCHI, RUSSIA - APRIL 27: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz of Spain and Scuderia Toro Rosso and Daniil Kvyat of Russia and Scuderia Toro Rosso pose for a photo during previews to the Formula One Grand Prix of Russia on April 27, 2017 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI201704300139 // Usage for editorial use only //

Does the Red Bull driver progression path work?

Lando Norris, McLaren, at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix.

“Too difficult of a car to drive”: What the data says about how McLaren compared to rivals in Sprint qualifying

James Vowles (GBR) Team Principle, Williams Racing. Australian Grand Prix, Sunday 2nd April 2023. Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia.

The ‘Vowles-Effect’: Two years of James Vowles at Williams

Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 team launch their 2025 car, the AMR25.

Aston Martin’s AMR25 puts focus on driveability

Daniil Kvyat of Russia and Infiniti Red Bull Racing drives during day four of Formula One Winter Testing at Circuito de Jerez on February 4, 2015 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.

Camouflage cars: A look at F1’s unique testing liveries

Strategy

SUZUKA, JAPAN - APRIL 06: Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes leads Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes, Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Scuderia Ferrari SF-25 and George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W16 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit on April 06, 2025 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Lessons to learn from the Japanese Grand Prix: Overtaking, tyres and the fickle nature of Formula 1

Scuderia Ferrari during the Formula 1 Lenovo Japanese Grand Prix 2025, 3rd round of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship from April 4 to 6, 2025 on the Suzuka Circuit, in Suzuka, Japan - Photo Antonin Vincent / DPPI

Pirelli left with questions as times tumble in Suzuka

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MARCH 22: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Scuderia Ferrari SF-25 leads Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 on track during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on March 22, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

Tyre degradation poses big problem for the Chinese Grand Prix

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MARCH 22: Pole position qualifier Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren and Aarif Lee pose with the Pirelli Pole Position Award during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on March 22, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

The marginal gains behind Piastri’s “mega” Pole Position lap

Carlos Sainz on track in Abu Dhabi as the sun sets.

Ferrari’s championship hopes dwindle as McLaren “in a league of their own”

Pirelli soft and medium tyres.

Pirelli prepares for the season finale: Abu Dhabi tyre preview

SUZUKA, JAPAN - APRIL 06: Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes leads Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes, Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Scuderia Ferrari SF-25 and George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W16 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit on April 06, 2025 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Lessons to learn from the Japanese Grand Prix: Overtaking, tyres and the fickle nature of Formula 1

Scuderia Ferrari during the Formula 1 Lenovo Japanese Grand Prix 2025, 3rd round of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship from April 4 to 6, 2025 on the Suzuka Circuit, in Suzuka, Japan - Photo Antonin Vincent / DPPI

Pirelli left with questions as times tumble in Suzuka

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MARCH 22: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Scuderia Ferrari SF-25 leads Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 on track during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on March 22, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

Tyre degradation poses big problem for the Chinese Grand Prix

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MARCH 22: Pole position qualifier Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren and Aarif Lee pose with the Pirelli Pole Position Award during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on March 22, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

The marginal gains behind Piastri’s “mega” Pole Position lap

Carlos Sainz on track in Abu Dhabi as the sun sets.

Ferrari’s championship hopes dwindle as McLaren “in a league of their own”

Pirelli soft and medium tyres.

Pirelli prepares for the season finale: Abu Dhabi tyre preview

Driver Market

Ryo Hirokawa (left) and Franco Colapinto (right) sign as Alpine reserve drivers.

Why Alpine have expanded their driver pool despite having their 2025 lineup secured

Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson in Visa Cash App RB F1 Team uniform.

Why have Red Bull promoted Lawson over Tsunoda? What the data says

Valtteri Bottas winks at the camera at the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Valtteri Bottas reveals ‘What’s Next?’ as he returns to Mercedes as a reserve driver

Sergio Perez prepares his helmet in the Red Bull Racing garage.

Sergio Perez leaves Red Bull Racing with immediate effect

Sergio Perez enters the Abu Dhabi paddock.

“He’s been such a great team player” – Christian Horner hints at an unusual end to Perez’s “really disappointing” season

Kevin Magnussen.

Kevin Magnussen announces his post-F1 racing future with BMW

Ryo Hirokawa (left) and Franco Colapinto (right) sign as Alpine reserve drivers.

Why Alpine have expanded their driver pool despite having their 2025 lineup secured

Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson in Visa Cash App RB F1 Team uniform.

Why have Red Bull promoted Lawson over Tsunoda? What the data says

Valtteri Bottas winks at the camera at the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Valtteri Bottas reveals ‘What’s Next?’ as he returns to Mercedes as a reserve driver

Sergio Perez prepares his helmet in the Red Bull Racing garage.

Sergio Perez leaves Red Bull Racing with immediate effect

Sergio Perez enters the Abu Dhabi paddock.

“He’s been such a great team player” – Christian Horner hints at an unusual end to Perez’s “really disappointing” season

Kevin Magnussen.

Kevin Magnussen announces his post-F1 racing future with BMW

2026 Regulations

Render of Cadillac and General Motors Formula 1 car, as they prepare to enter in 2026.

Cadillac formally approved to join the F1 grid in 2026

Charles Leclerc, driver for Scuderia Ferrari, tests Pirelli's 2026 Formula 1 tyres at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya.

Are the narrower 2026 tyres “worse”? Pirelli continue development for the new regulations

A render of the new F1 2026 car on track.

FIA release new 2026 F1 car renders in line with regulation changes

Render of F1 car with Cadillac livery.

Why Formula 1 made a U-turn on its 11th team decision

Render of Cadillac and General Motors Formula 1 car, as they prepare to enter in 2026.

Cadillac formally approved to join the F1 grid in 2026

Charles Leclerc, driver for Scuderia Ferrari, tests Pirelli's 2026 Formula 1 tyres at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya.

Are the narrower 2026 tyres “worse”? Pirelli continue development for the new regulations

A render of the new F1 2026 car on track.

FIA release new 2026 F1 car renders in line with regulation changes

Render of F1 car with Cadillac livery.

Why Formula 1 made a U-turn on its 11th team decision