F1 2025 COTA Pre-Race Thread

Deliveries have arrived.

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Nice pic!!

 

You mean there are still more races to go? Will Bad Bunny provide entertainment during the pit stops?

 

Looks like there is a better race track outside of the fences. ...

 

IMO it’s one of the ugliest and most boring tracks.

 

The specifications imposed by the FIA in the design of new tracks leave very little leeway for the architect.
The FIA limits the number and the length of straights, decides the number of corners (and their radius), also imposes zones of quick changes of direction (like chicanes, or corners 3 to 10 at COTA), etc ...
This is why new circuits opened in the last 2 decades look so unnatural, apart from the fact that many were designed by the same architect.
The list of F1 circuit specifications is published in a booklet available from the FIA.

 

could be more boring, we could be back at Monaco

 

Monaco is an historical street circuit dating back to the 1920s.

COTA is a purpose built permanent track opened only a few years ago..

 

Monaco circuit isn’t boring, but the cars are.

 

Cars are also WAY TOO BIG for Monaco. It's like having a boxing match in a phone booth.

 

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/the-latest-flexi-wing-tricks-shaking-up-the-f1-order/

F1 teams' latest flexi-wing tricks shaking up the order
Oct 11, 2025
by Rosario Giuliana

Mercedes' Singapore Grand Prix night race victory illuminated a Formula 1 technical scenario that's been in the shadows in recent months: front-wing flexing.

There was little attention among fans on the new front wings both Mercedes and Red Bull brought to Singapore. Both teams have continued to introduce aerodynamic updates in this area over recent races, despite most resources now being redirected toward their 2026 cars.

Mercedes, in Belgium at the end of July, and Red Bull, in the Netherlands a month later, had already introduced specific front wing modifications to try to end the season on a high note.

The technical directives introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix four months ago were designed to limit wing flexing. It's fair to assume that both Mercedes and Red Bull have been working on composite materials that allow flexing that's within those tightened rules but limit the effects of the clampdown.

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The wing introduced by Mercedes for Singapore was officially presented as an aerodynamic update – a barely visible one – to the upper flap, although onboard cameras clearly showed significant flexing.

From what we understand, the Mercedes engineers have successfully continued their work on front-wing flexibility, focusing specifically on the flap, which, since the Spanish Grand Prix, cannot flex more than 3mm under a perpendicular load of 60N.

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In parallel, Red Bull brought to Singapore a new front-wing specification, the result of continuous aerodynamic development aimed at reducing understeer on the RB21. However, it also appears to be part of an effort to make the wing flex strategically under certain loads.

The new front wing, designed in Milton Keynes and used exclusively by Max Verstappen in Singapore, features a different positioning of the hooks, which serve a key structural purpose for the elements.

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The real secret behind these cars has always been the controlled flexing of the front wing, which allows for optimal set-ups without sacrificing straightline efficiency.

Circumventing the constraints of technical directive TD018 is not a simple task, but the teams have had time to first comply with the directive ahead of the Spanish GP, and later to work on materials to regain a level of aeroelasticity advantageous enough to pass FIA inspections.

Mercedes, since spring, is believed to have worked on introducing a front wing capable of replicating pre-Spain flex levels, this time by focusing primarily on the flap rather than the entire wing body – mainly due to cost and time limitations, as the 2026 car has already been in the windtunnel since early summer.

Where Ferrari's got stuck
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But the situation at Ferrari is far less encouraging.

In Azerbaijan last month, the team lost second place in the constructors' championship standings, and Singapore proved to be another disappointing weekend of running far from the top.

There are now several warning signs suggesting that the Ferrari SF-25 has stagnated, unexpectedly overtaken by Mercedes and Red Bull, who have managed to improve despite already having one eye on 2026.

Our information indicates that, following the introduction of TD018, Ferrari has not continued development of the front wing, abandoning efforts on controlled flexibility.

As a result, the SF-25's wing has remained largely unchanged since the version introduced in Spain, while the team redirected its remaining development resources toward the rear suspension introduced in Belgium in July.

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That suspension change was expected to improve driver confidence and braking stability, but data shows it has brought no measurable gains.

Chassis technical director Loic Serra and team boss Fred Vasseur reportedly approved the decision to focus the team's remaining efforts solely on the rear suspension, shelving larger aerodynamic updates such as a new floor – initially planned for Baku – proposed by Diego Tondi's aerodynamics department.

McLaren has also deliberately chosen to halt development on the front wing and structural flexing, confident in its comfortable lead in the standings.

Inside Ferrari, disappointment is evident, as the suspension update has failed to produce performance gains and has even limited aerodynamic development.

The suspension has not made the car worse, but it hasn't made it better either.

Nonetheless, Ferrari will not revert to an old suspension layout, as Mercedes did earlier this year, but the reality is that the SF-25 has plateaued, and the package appears to have reached its performance ceiling.

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In short, while Red Bull and Mercedes have focused their remaining resources on aerodynamics and flexing, Ferrari has invested in an area with limited returns — a decision that risks compromising the end of its season.

Even third place in the constructors' championship is now far from guaranteed.

 

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[Roberto F1]

Points earned by the teams from the Belgian Grand Prix (when the new Ferrari rear suspension was introduced). Considering that Red Bull is essentially racing with just one driver and Antonelli has had a long dry spell, the Prancing Horse is an unjustified absentee.

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HAAS COTA livery.

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The "for Monaco" part is redundant.

 

Formula 1 blurs line between sport and entertainment
Ahead of lights out at Circuit of The Americas this weekend, country music artist Drake Milligan will perform on the grid as cars begin to leave their garages for their sighting laps.

The concept is designed to keep fans at the track entertained, although it will not feature at every event. A similar pre-race spectacle is planned for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

According to Formula One Management, the ‘F1 Grid Gigs’ concept will offer “A unique blend of music and motorsport, the new feature was inspired by the celebrated F1 75 Live season opener at the O2, watched by an incredible 7.5 million viewers across Formula 1’s social channels.”

The introduction of ‘Grid Gigs’, while new in name, is not a new concept.

 

My eyes!

 

another nail in the coffin.

Oscar needs to take baby lando out this race; now that would be entertainment

 

C=64 graphic?

 

Unfortunately, it will not happen. Mclaren will make sure that Oscar's car suffers issues in qualifying and a terminal issue in the race.

On another note, @jgonzalesm6 are you going to the race? I'm leaving tomorrow morning from the RGV. Immigration bond hearings early in the morning and then COTA.

 

No, sorry. I went to the 2012 inaugural race and loved those V8's ripping at 18k rpm. Nice and LOUD!! What an experience.

I hate these V6's turbo hybrid engines.

Enjoy the race!!

Fyi, I went the back way to get there. Up 35 until I hit San Marco's and took a right(I forgot what exit) then took a left and straight up to Austin(2 lane road at the time).

 

This is a Sprint weekend. Enjoy!

• 17 Oct Practice 1

• 17Oct Sprint Qualifying

• 18 Oct Sprint

• 18 Oct Qualifying

• 19 Oct Race

 

+1 Agree. I have been a F1 fan for more than half a century but stopped attending races with the arrival of the hybrid formula. I have to admit that I regret not seeing Kimi's last win.
The V8's sounded terrific Joe(lightyears better than the hybrids) but were nothing compared to the V10s and V12s . . .

 

What time is the race?

My TV Guide (yes, still using a paper magazine, go figure) has the race on Sunday evening at 7pm. AFAIK COTA is not setup for night time races, so I assume that's a replay.