F1 75 Live: What happened when we attempted to speak to all 20 drivers in a day

LONDON — “Didn’t I already do this?”

Liam Lawson has plenty to get used to as a fully-fledged Red Bull Racing Formula One driver, not least the additional media commitments.

As he took his seat in the ominously named ‘War Room’ for his second media roundtable in 20 minutes ahead of F1 75 Live at The O2 on Tuesday, his press officer assured him it was a different set of journalists than the previous one.

“Don’t worry, we’ll ask the same questions,” one told him.

Lawson laughed and was gracious with his time. But talking to the media is hardly a favorite activity for most F1 drivers, particularly right now when all that is on their minds is how their new cars will perform and what they might be able to achieve this season.

F1 75 Live at The O2 put considerable demands on all 10 teams — Lewis Hamilton said he got two hours of sleep after flying to Italy ahead of Ferrari’s launch the next day — but it was a good way to bring the grid together, particularly after such a big winter of change.

After my editors at The Athletic set me the task of trying to speak to the entire F1 grid in a single day (challenge accepted), here’s what I saw and heard through F1 75 Live’s media day.

Sauber’s new lineup could be fun

First up for media day at The O2 was Sauber, which is entering something of a transition year. A lot of focus is on its evolution into Audi’s works team next year, and after finishing last in 2024, new signings Nico Hülkenberg and reigning Formula Two champion Gabriel Bortoleto know they can’t expect the world going into 2025.

The dynamic between Hülkenberg and Bortoleto, two drivers at opposite ends of their F1 careers, was fun. Bortoleto’s character shone when he was in F2, and the hope is the added scrutiny of F1 won’t dull that. So far, so good. Hülkenberg, 37, said they’re enjoying a good partnership and sharing a bit of banter — evident from their interactions, even in the 15-minute news conference.

“I try to be myself as much as I can,” Bortoleto, 20, said. “I don’t try to be different when I’m on track or around cameras; I try to be who I am… Nico can say I try to be funny?”

“You are very funny,” Hülkenberg responded.

“Thank you,” Bortoleto said. A sweet, fun moment.

Doohan faces Colapinto questions

There were two obvious topics facing Alpine drivers Jack Doohan and Pierre Gasly. Firstly, their hair: Sky Sports F1’s David Croft asked if they’d cut each other’s hair, as both sported a more low downforce trim. Then, reporters asked Doohan about the winter arrival of Franco Colapinto as Alpine’s reserve driver.

Williams struck the deal for Alpine to sign him on a long-term loan. Colapinto’s arrival in January to much fanfare naturally seemed to put pressure on rookie Doohan, who is just one race into his F1 career after his late-season debut in Abu Dhabi last year.

But Doohan handled the questions well. He said Alpine told him that Colapinto was a test and reserve driver and then knocked back a question about whether he felt undermined by the arrival of a 21-year-old reserve driver on a long-term contract.

“I was a 21-year-old reserve driver last year with a long-term contract,” he pointed out. “I don’t really understand that as a question. But yeah, definitely not.” A third question on the subject was knocked back by Alpine’s press officer, who said they had “covered the Franco topic, so let’s move on.”

Unfortunately for Doohan, the questions will likely keep coming early in the year. The best way to stop them will be to perform on the track.

Didn’t pass your first driving test? Neither did Bearman

As its presentation during the F1 75 Live show proved, Haas is leaning more into its American identity this year. New drivers Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman have already spent time together in New York, going up the Empire State Building and sampling some local pizza (as you will read on The Athletic on Sunday). The vibes between them are good.

The biggest thing we learned from the Haas drivers? Bearman took two attempts to pass his driving test when he was 17.

“I shouldn’t have told you that,” he said, revealing he failed for not stopping at a stop sign. “I was crawling, but you’re meant to stop. We don’t have those on race tracks. That was my first sighting of a stop sign.

“But typical me, or typical racing driver, I thought I could pass my test without any lessons. That was probably where I went wrong. I took a few lessons before the second one.” Bearman is now driving an Alfa Romeo Tonale company car, which he said was “wonderful.”

It’s a fun fact that adds to Bearman’s charm, who, from the cheers inside The O2 later that evening, is already a hit among F1 fans. And as the old saying goes, those who pass their test the second time often make for better drivers.

George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli backstage during F1 75 Live (Bryn Lennon – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Antonelli is already showing wisdom beyond his years

The post-Lewis Hamilton era is underway at Mercedes, with George Russell moving into the more senior ‘team leader’ role after being joined by 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli (who, unlike Bearman, passed his driving test first time a few weeks ago).

Russell has always been an old soul in F1, quickly becoming one of the leading voices for the drivers through the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association. But it already feels like the same is true of Antonelli. An old head on incredibly young shoulders.

Antonelli spoke well about his preparations for his rookie F1 season, including his “intense” training and spending plenty of time at the factory, and restated his belief that he is not looking to replace Hamilton — an impossible task — but is simply the next Mercedes driver eager to write his own story. He knows there’ll be a learning curve, particularly after such a rapid rise up the junior ranks, and was open about the expectation for struggles.

“Are you sure you’re not older than 18?” Russell said after Antonelli had finished an answer. “You talk so well, this guy.”

Tsunoda and Hadjar won’t ‘fudge’ things up

Since the FIA announced new stewarding guidelines relating to ‘misconduct’ going into 2025 (including the potential for fines, points deductions and race bans), swearing has remained a storyline through the winter. As I wrote last year, it’s a rather tedious matter that surely distracts from more pressing issues, but alas.

Yuki Tsunoda has drawn attention for his radio rants in the past, even though he has calmed down in recent years. And if you’ve watched F2, you’ll know that Tsunoda’s new Racing Bulls teammate, Isack Hadjar, can also get a bit spicy over the airwaves at times. So, who better to ask about this new FIA clampdown?

Tsunoda was on the same page as the rest of the grid, saying that while there are words you don’t want to hear and a time and a place for such language, that kind of emotion in sport is what “shows your personality” — particularly over the radio.

“In general (in) sports, it’s not just us swearing,” Tsunoda said. “But yeah. I guess for us, we need proper training to not swear much. Actually, I don’t swear as much recently. I’ll try to not, uh, fudge up and not get fined.” Very well played, Yuki.

Peter Bayer, the team’s CEO, gently put his hand on Tsunoda’s arm when discussing the topic after the F1 Commission meeting and the need to “keep these emotions alive” in sport.

Music is not Alex Albon’s strong suit

F1 75 Live undid much of the need for teams to hold launches this year, but that did not stop McLaren or Williams from doing their own events last week at Silverstone to coincide with their shakedown tests of the new car.

As we’d already spoken to Alex Albon and new arrival Carlos Sainz (who noted he was joining his fifth team in 10 years), there wasn’t much more to ask them. I asked Albon for his thoughts on F1 75 Live as an event, which he said was a good way to bring the paddock together, but joked such shows were “not my bread and butter.”

Nor is music, as we found out. As I grabbed the mic to ask a second question after an awkward lull, a journalist said, “You can’t ask the same thing again,” before their colleague joked, “What’s your favorite Take That song?” (The British band performed to close the show later in the evening.)

Albon heard and laughed, so I jokingly asked him before trying to move on to my actual question. But another journalist wanted to know. “What is the answer to that? We can’t ask a question without an answer!”

“Who even sings in Take That? Who’s the lead singer?” Albon said. “How old is Take That?” (“Older than you,” I told him.)

“We had an influencer ask us music questions just now; it was awful,” Albon said. “My lack of music knowledge is awful.”

McLaren knows it has lost its F1 underdog status

F1 75 Live did offer a first chance to speak to McLaren Racing’s CEO Zak Brown, who said the team had to “be greedy” this year and target both titles, ideally with a 1-2 in the drivers’ standings. He talked up how close the competition will be in F1 this year, expecting as many as eight different winners, and praised F1 for trying something new with the event at The O2.

“It feels like there’s a big rock concert about ready to happen tonight,” Brown said. He has always highlighted the importance of getting the sport closer to the fans and even floated the idea of making test events or launches more accessible to fans. I’m not so sure the entire grid is as keen.

Bortoleto, Ocon and Alonso speak at F1 75 Live (Dave Benett – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Alonso’s advice for F1’s 100th anniversary

Jack Whitehall earned praise for his hosting performance at F1 75 Live on Tuesday night, landing a number of really good jokes. He made the obvious ‘Mike Krack’ joke twice, but Krack is no longer the man in charge at Aston Martin after his winter move to chief trackside officer.

Taking over is Andy Cowell, who was named Aston Martin’s group CEO late last year before taking on the team principal duties in January. Cowell’s job is to try and get Aston Martin back on course to achieve its lofty ambitions after it slid into midfield no-man’s land last year.

Cowell spoke alongside drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, who didn’t give a lot away in terms of goals and ambitions for the coming season. The 2025 car is an evolution of last year, and with the major rule change coming in 2026, as well as the arrivals of Honda and F1 design legend Adrian Newey at the team — he starts in two weeks — that may be the target.

Perhaps the most interesting detail came from Alonso, the only active F1 driver to attend an F1 ‘legends’ dinner held in London on Monday night. Among its attendees were world champions Sir Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti and Nigel Mansell, as well as former F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone. Everyone who attended was invited to write some words or a phrase into a special book that will not be opened until F1’s 100th anniversary in 2050.

“It will be nice for the next generation — I may still be at the table — to open that box and see what was written there,” Alonso said.

Lawson prepares for life in F1’s toughest seat

Red Bull did more media than any other team ahead of F1 75 Live, holding a quick news conference before breakout sessions with Max Verstappen, Lawson and team principal Christian Horner.

Verstappen addressed F1’s swearing matter, suggesting that the FIA focus on more pressing issues. He was also asked about last year’s tension with George Russell, saying he had no plans to carry any “beef” into the new year.

Lawson is preparing for his first full season, going straight into a top team. He admitted his rapid rise still hasn’t fully sunk in, but he no longer feels like a rookie. The task of going up against Verstappen is a big one, but the New Zealander feels ready for it. Horner and others within Red Bull have all noted Lawson’s confidence. It’ll be needed for life in F1’s toughest seat, as predecessors Sergio Pérez, Albon and Gasly will all attest.

Lawson was relaxed with the media, speaking of his excitement for the first race in Australia, where he expects a lot of support from his native New Zealand. But at one stage, he interrupted his own answer when he got distracted by a journalist.

“Sorry, dude, you look exactly like Timothee Chamalet,” Lawson said. The anointed journalist was delighted that it was picked up on the record. Just wait until he hears about the lookalike competitions.

… and Ferrari waits a day

Ferrari was the only team not to hold any media availability ahead of F1 75 Live, instead conducting a series of news conferences the following day as part of the launch of its new car.

On the night at The O2, the loudest cheers were given when Lewis Hamilton walked out in his red race suit in public for the first time. He mentioned being “invigorated” by the move, something that was clear when we got a fuller chance to speak with him the next day. Clearly, the championship is on his mind going into this new adventure.

Teammate Charles Leclerc and team principal Fred Vasseur noted how well Hamilton had slotted in at Maranello. But with fierce competition expected to continue this year, it won’t be until testing that we’ll get a first reading of just how realistic any front-runners’ title ambitions will be.

Showtime is finished. Next stop? Bahrain for preseason testing and, at last, the return to track action in 2025.

(Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photos: Clive Mason – Formula 1,
Getty Images, Mark Thompson, Henry Nichollas/AFP, Karwai Tang/WireImage)