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The more things change, the more things stay the same. Seldom has the aphorism coined by Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr (or, for that matter, Jon Bon Jovi, if you’re feeling lowbrow) been more true in the Formula 1 world. Let’s start with the cover price of this issue of GP Racing, £7.99.
We hope the product’s additional girth – an
extra 24 pages of season-preview wholesomeness – offsets any fury you may have experienced
when you clocked the price label. Imagine how much Ferrari will have to whack on the sticker of an F8 to claw back the additional financial load
of Lewis Hamilton’s annual stipend… Don’t worry, we’ll be back to the regular price and page count next month. Phew!

I write this in the immediate aftermath of the team launches, a period fraught with sensations of mild disappointment these days since the majority of ‘reveals’ consist of the previous year’s car with a new paint job. Much of the intrigue has surrounded the new game of how little actual paint a team can get away with, so challenging is it to engineer a car under the weight limit. The need to maintain some secrecy is understandable but, as we explore on page 46, convergence is biting rather quickly in this budget-capped era since pragmatism naturally trumps adventure. There
are fewer big surprises on the tech front.

Little movement in terms of the cast list, too, at least for this season. Every driver remains where they were at the end of 2023; what’s remarkable is that this is the first time these circumstances have arisen since the world championship began in 1950. We delve into the reasons for this on p34.

Slip into Toto Wolff’s tasselled loafers for a moment. The contractual business of preparing
for a new season was a diminishing speck in the rear-view mirror as he looked forward to a breakfast meeting with his multiple world champion. Did Lewis break the news that he was off to Ferrari for 2025 before or after comestibles were served? Doubtless Toto was left to prong several moody forkfuls as he ruminated over who might be available. As he would later confirm in an online press conference, the conversation with Lewis happened about six weeks too late, since the most immediately obvious candidates (he mentioned no names, but he meant Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris) had been pre-emptively taken
off the table on a long-term basis.

It was ever thus in the world of the Piranha
Club, as Ron Dennis memorably described F1’s political sphere. See also the way the teams have closed ranks around the honey pot rather than admit a new team which might dilute the share (see page 8). Yes indeed, the more things change the more they stay the same…

Inside the issue

This month's features include

Lando Norris
He was one of Red Bull’s closest challengers at the end of 2023, but now it’s time for the next step

No change
Why was there no driver merry-go-round over the winter?

Lewis vs George Part 2
Both Mercedes drivers have big points to prove this season

The clone war?
Is imitating the imperious RB19 the simple route to success?

But can he drive?
But can he drive? Alpine drivers have fun with footy legend Zinedine Zidane

Mohammed ben Sulayem
On rally driving success and his vision for the future of Formula 1

Sky Sports F1
We go behind the scenes with the broadcaster during a GP weekend

F1 uncovered
Inside the Sky commentary booth

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