Welcome to TJ13’s daily rolling F1 news and comment. Here you’ll find the latest stories, rumours, and paddock whispers. We’ll be updating this page all day as the news breaks and the drama unfolds, so be sure to check back regularly for the latest updates straight from the F1 circus, and please leave a comment at the bottom of the page.
Toto Wolff set to sell 5% stake in Mercedes F1 in £4.6bn blockbuster deal – Updated 21:35 UK
Toto Wolff is reportedly set to sell around 5% of his one-third stake in the Mercedes Formula 1 team in a deal that values the outfit at an extraordinary £4.6 billion — the highest valuation ever for an F1 team. Both Sportico and BBC Sport have verified the sale, which would still see Wolff remain as team principal and CEO.
Mercedes’ other owners, Daimler and Ineos, each hold a third of the team and have confirmed that the structure and governance will remain unchanged. This valuation reflects Formula 1’s booming global popularity, boosted further by the success of the Brad Pitt F1 movie, which has grossed over $630 million worldwide, and marks a staggering rise since Ineos bought its stake for £208 million in 2022.
Mercedes currently sit second in the constructors’ standings, behind McLaren, with George Russell having taken two wins this season. The team is one of the most successful in Formula 1 history, having secured eight consecutive constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ championships between 2014 and 2021.
Elkann’s odd Ferrari comments deepen Maranello confusion – Updated 15:40 UK
Just when Ferrari fans thought things couldn’t get any stranger, chairman John Elkann intensified his criticism of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, telling them to “talk less” and focus on driving, and then bizarrely comparing Ferrari’s success in the World Endurance Championship to their current situation.
Following the team’s double DNF in Brazil, which dropped Ferrari to fourth in the constructors’ standings, Elkann insisted that the mechanics and engineers are ‘winning the pit stop championship’ and improving the car. However, he blamed the drivers for not being ‘up to par’. These remarks seem especially misplaced, given that Leclerc has scored all seven of Ferrari’s podiums this season and Hamilton has been battling with an unpredictable SF-25 that is prone to lifting and coasting in order to avoid disqualification.
Elkann then pointed to Ferrari’s WEC triumph in Bahrain as proof that “when Ferrari is a team, we win”, seemingly overlooking the fact that the WEC operates under Balance of Performance rules — a system that equalises cars by weight and power — which is completely alien to Formula 1. While the comparison was intended to motivate the team, it only served to highlight how disconnected Elkann seems from the realities of Formula 1 competition, as Maranello’s struggles continue to deepen, both on the track and in the boardroom.
Webber urges Piastri to ‘find the strength’ as title hopes fade – Updated 15:00 UK
Webber has urged Oscar Piastri to “activate his inner drive” after a series of challenging weekends left the Australian 24 points behind his teammate, Lando Norris, in the title race. Speaking to Channel 4, Webber admitted that Piastri’s recent dip in form had tested his resilience. He said: “It’s about strength of character, he needs to find the strength to fight back.”
Piastri’s Brazilian Grand Prix was another setback, involving a sprint crash and a 10-second race penalty for his collision with Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc at Turn 1. This cost him valuable ground to Norris, who took the victory while Piastri could only manage fifth place. Despite the frustration, Webber reminded fans that Piastri is only in his third season of Formula 1, calling his title contention “incredible” for a driver so early in his career.
With two weeks until the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Webber believes the break could provide the reset his driver needs. “We’ll get Oscar back on track,” he said. “He’s not lacking motivation — he just needs to dig deep.”
Wolff declares Verstappen’s title hopes ‘over’ as McLaren duo take control – Updated 12:30 UK
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has ruled Max Verstappen out of the 2025 championship, stating bluntly that “the ship has sailed” after the Dutchman’s drive from the pit lane to the podium in Brazil left him 49 points behind Lando Norris with only three races remaining. He said that the title battle is now firmly between Norris and his teammate, Oscar Piastri. Wolff praised McLaren’s composure under pressure, but warned that a single DNF could still turn the tables.
Drawing on his experience of managing Hamilton and Rosberg during their tense title battles, Wolff expressed confidence in McLaren’s Andrea Stella’s ability to maintain a clean rivalry, noting that both drivers are handling the pressure well. Meanwhile, Verstappen looks set to concede his crown after four consecutive titles, with Brazil marking another weekend of damage limitation rather than resurgence.
Hamilton defies Ferrari orders as tensions rise inside Maranello – Updated 11:00 UK
Keith Collantine of RaceFans reports that Ferrari told Lewis Hamilton not to un-lap himself from Oscar Piastri during the Brazilian Grand Prix — but the seven-time champion went ahead anyway. Hamilton, struggling with floor damage and set to retire, passed the McLaren despite his engineer’s warnings. The move frustrated Piastri, who lost almost a second following Hamilton’s wake before McLaren opted not to pit him, fearing a DRS train behind the Racing Bulls and Alpine. Moments later, Ferrari boxed Hamilton to retire, leaving many to wonder why the team didn’t prevent the unnecessary scrap in the first place.
It capped off a miserable weekend for Hamilton, whose clash with Franco Colapinto earned him a penalty and who later admitted Ferrari’s 2025 season has been “a nightmare.” For McLaren, it was another reminder of how easily small disruptions can swing the title fight, with Piastri’s penalty and lost time compounding a weekend where Lando Norris pulled 24 points clear in the championship.
Hamilton fires back at Ferrari president’s criticism – 07:10 UK
Lewis Hamilton has issued a pointed social media response after Ferrari president John Elkann publicly questioned his and his teammate Charles Leclerc’s commitment to the team’s success. Delivered in Milan, Elkann’s comments aimed to rekindle some semblance of unity after a disastrous weekend in Brazil — but the implication was unmistakable: “Drivers who think more about themselves need to focus on the team”.
Yesterday, Hamilton called his first season with Ferrari “a nightmare”. Today, he posted images of himself in the garage with the Ferrari engine cover and Brazilian flag, followed by the statement: “I back my team. I back myself… I will not give up. Not now, not then, not ever. Thank you, Brazil, always.” This message echoed the tone he had struck earlier when he dismissed his critics as ‘older drivers who didn’t achieve much’.
For TJ13’s jury, this is more than just a PR blip. It’s a subtle fanfare of tension waving above the paddock. Ferrari may crave unity, but when the public and the drivers seem to be speaking different languages, rumours gather faster than press releases.
Twenty-eight years on: The day Schumacher was erased from F1 history
Today marks twenty-eight years since Formula 1 delivered one of its most dramatic and divisive verdicts. Michael Schumacher, who was then chasing his first Ferrari title, was disqualified from the 1997 championship after colliding with Jacques Villeneuve during their decisive showdown at Jerez.
Schumacher’s failed lunge at Dry Sack Corner sent his Ferrari into the gravel, while Villeneuve limped home in third place to secure the title. Initially ruled a racing incident, the FIA later deemed Schumacher’s move deliberate, though ‘not made with malice or premeditation’. The punishment was unprecedented: Schumacher was erased from the drivers’ standings entirely, while Ferrari’s constructors’ points remained intact.
Instead of a race ban, the FIA ordered Schumacher to spend a week promoting road safety in 1998 — an oddly poetic irony for a man who had just been punished for reckless driving. The German press called the decision ‘crazy’, and fans remain divided to this day. To some, it was harsh justice. To others, it was the moment that the sport finally put an end to Schumacher’s win-at-all-costs reputation.
Norris downplays Vegas chances: “We were miles off last year” – 07:00 UK
After his back-to-back wins in Mexico and Brazil, Lando Norris has warned that McLaren may struggle to keep their hot streak alive under the Las Vegas lights. Speaking to Keith Collantine of RaceFans, the championship leader admitted he’s “not really looking forward” to the next round, calling last year’s Vegas outing “our worst race.”
The Briton, who crashed in the inaugural 2023 event and finished a distant sixth in 2024, says McLaren have worked hard to address their weaknesses on the low-grip, high-speed street circuit. But he’s keeping expectations realistic, pointing out Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari were all stronger there last time around.
“I always try to be honest,” Norris said. “If I don’t think we’re going to be quick, I don’t think we’re going to be quick… We’ve never been good in Vegas, so I’m not the most confident going into that race.”
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
I think the Ferrari drivers need to take the warning from Elkann with a pinch of salt, he has to be seen to be tough but knows that really it’s the car that’s a pile of dog S