Formula One proved it will continue to innovate as on Tuesday evening in London, the first ever combined launch of the F1 teams new liveries took place at the O2 arena in England. Initially Ferrari were unhappy about the location given the extra cost for them to transport their employees and equipment across Europe together with the fact fewer Italians would attend than had the event been held in Italy.

Yet as it turned out, Fred Vasseur, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton received the most rapturous of welcomes compared to the other teams seven minute presentations, though in part this was due to British fans favourite Lewis Hamilton is now wearing the Maranello red racing overalls.

Ferrari too broadcast a montage oaf the team’s history since its inception which included an emotional segment of the voice of their founding father and legend, Enzo Ferrari articulating the passion that should be felt when motor racing.

 

 

 

FOM organise US style F1 extravaganza 

The event was organised by Formula One Management, now owned by Liberty Media, and it had all the feel of a big US sporting occasion with the spectacular light shows and array of international music artists.

One of the biggest cheers of the night came when Williams team principal, James Vowles strode onto the stage to introduce the new livery of their 2025 F1 car and he opened the segment in true rock and roll style hailing, “Hello London” to rapturous applause. George Russell looked nervous having been called out by British comedian Jack Whitehall, who played the role of MC, for his role in the war of words towards the end of 2024 he initiated with Max Verstappen.

Verstappen too did not escape the the mockery of Whitehall with the world champion having claimed when he first heard of the big event, “I hope I’m sick.” The MC played on this during his opening warm up segment: “We are joined tonight by some of the biggest names in Formula One, like out reigning world champion – yes he is so excited to be here right now,” a section of the crowd then jeered but Whitehall persisted: “Some drivers just want to drive, not this guy oh yeah… he’s so excited to be here, give it up for Max Verstappen.”

Max too was ribbed over his spat with Russell when Jack Whitehall concluded: “Cheer up Max it could have been worse – you could be sitting next to George Russell.” The arena erupted as one. The reference was to the prank played by the other 18 F1 competitors on George and Max at the end of season drivers’ dinner, where they had agreed to sit the pair together.

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FIA conspicuous by their absence

It was noticeable that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem was absent along with other Hugh ranking officials from F1’s governing body. Whitehall engaged internationally renown potty mouth chef, Gordon Ramsey to make fun of the FIA’s recent regulation changes over swearing and Ramsey predictably obliged, appealing to the audience claiming that “swearing is all part of the industry” and if a driver swears “no one should give a SHIT.”

F1 writers around the world waited with baited breath to see the response from the FIA the following day, over the topic which Ben Sulayem has made his personal crusade. Yet none came.

Red Bull team boss, Christian Horner also suffered boos from an element of the crowd as he strode to centre stage to begin Red Bull’s seven minute livery launch. He handled it with a smile going on to state, the team livery of the RB21 for 2025, would remain the same as in 2024 in honour of Verstappen’s fourth consecutive F1 drivers’ title.

The response from the FIA was a little surprising given they presidents penchant for acting in a defensive manner whenever the good name of his organisation is besmirched. F1 writer Thomas Maher on BlueSky now claims that unnamed FIA officials were “unhappy” with a particular aspect of the big night for Formula One.

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“Sources” state FI “unhappy” with F175

“Sources have indicated some unhappiness within the FIA about last nights show at the O2,” wrote Maher. “No, not because of the FIA themselves being booed, but because of the booing of Max Verstappen and Christian Horner.” This is because the FIA have a current agenda to stamp out abuse directed towards officials or anyone involved in F1 following a study which found online abuse routinely targets referees and officials.

Their findings in the ‘United Against Online Abuse Campaign’ revealed there has been a rise in racist and misogynistic abuse online, along with threats and harm towards competitors and families.

Christian Horner confirmed back in 2023, that children of his staff had been bullied at school following Zak brown and Toto Wolff leading the Wolff pack calling out Red Bull for cheating by spending over the cost cap. A paddock furore as whipped up adding fuel to the fire despite the fact Red Bull were deemed to have committed a minor infringement of the F1 financial regulations, who amounted to around a third of one percent of the capped spending limit.

Ben Sulyamen believes F1 drivers’ swearing adds to a febrile online environment where trolls hunt down in packs anyone who is deemed to be a pariah. The dog whistle trigger is often caused by people being called “cheats” and “liars” together with other derogatory names.

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F1 driver swearing row to continue

Yet in reality, driver swearing in F1 is pretty much never aimed at another person, a point repeatedly made my the drivers themselves. The evening was received with a mixed response. There were those who see the ongoing ‘Americanisation” of Formula One through the likes of Netflix, with their popular driver to survive series., as a negative.

Yet the musical and light show spectacular is argued to be reaching a whole new audience for the sport, which was once the domain of middle aged white men who were known as petrol heads.

The topic of the new regulations which mean F1 drivers are penalised three times the amount of all other FIA regulated sports for swearing is set to dominate during the early season. Further an authoritarian one month ban will be enforced for and driver who is found guilty of using bad language three times across the F1 calendar.

the drivers have yet to meet to discuss the matter, but last time the topic came up it resulted in a unanimous letter of complaint from the F1 competoitoprts to Mohammed Ben Sulayem himself.

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The Formula One teams were on display as a collective for the first time since the final race of the 2024 season. Ferrari stole the show as Fred Vasseur, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton received the biggest roar of approval of the night as they arrived on stager following a video tape scrolling through the history of the iconic Italian red team.

Mercedes seven minute time allotment was by comparison relatively subdued following the host Jack Whitehall ribbing both George Russell and Max Verstappen for their handbags at dawn dispute over the final two rounds of last year.

Wolff made a desperate attempt to spear upbeat, uttering his favourite English word “unbelievable” several times in his opening remarks.“What an incredible evening and an event from F1,” said the Mercedes boss. “The sport continues to set new milestones with such occasions, and I hope the thousands watching in the arena, and everyone tuning in at home, thoroughly enjoyed it…. READ MORE