Formula 1’s Bahrain Grand Prix is supposed to be about the racing—but somehow, the off-track drama has delivered just as many storylines as Turn 1 ever could.
Here’s what we’ve got this week:
- A teen prodigy banned from driving his own AMG
- Verstappen loses his seat in Bahrain
- Sim racing’s stock rising
- Haas running into Trump tariff issues
- Broadcasters losing interest in U.S. F1 rights
It’s the whole paddock packed into one article.
Antonelli’s AMG: 630HP of “You Can’t Drive That”
Freshly minted 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli received his new Mercedes AMG GT 63 S this week. One problem: Italian driving law says “no.”
Due to restrictions for new license holders:
- Cars over 142 hp? ❌
- Max speed? 90–100 km/h
- 0.00% alcohol and double penalties for violations
So Kimi can drive an F2 car at 300 km/h—but can’t legally drive his AMG around Bologna. Meanwhile, Italy’s road culture continues to live in GTA mode. I remember driving nearly 210kph on the Autostrada – only to be passed by a little old lady. Maybe rules on paper, but not in practice?
Max Verstappen Sits Out FP1—Iwasa Steps In
In a surprise move, Ayumu Iwasa is driving Max Verstappen’s car in FP1. He’s taking the Magnus Carlsen strategy—arrives 2 minutes before quali, takes pole anyway.
Why Bahrain? Because it’s:
- A track every team has test data for
- A session that’s barely representative
- A chance to evaluate four drivers’ data at the same circuit
If there’s one place Max can skip FP1 without consequence, it’s here. Still, fans can’t help but wonder what could’ve been if Iwasa ran FP1 at Suzuka, his home race. Regardless, it’s a huge moment for Iwasa—and perhaps a sign that Red Bull is giving him a serious look for 2026.
Sim Racing Goes Pro: Verstappen’s Vision
Through Verstappen.com Racing, Max is investing in the next generation—through sim racing. He’s looking to help talented sim drivers take the next step and make the transition to the real circuit via the GT World Challenge Europe. If he can bring to life Gran Turismo’s original vision with the GT Academy and make sim racing become a true motorsport pipeline, that would be massive. After all, GT Academy graduates have done quite well for themselves, as has William Byron who got his start in NASCAR from iRacing.
With proper training, reaction time, and physical prep, the dream is real. And it’s cheaper:
- $4,000 sim rig
- Year-round practice
- No karting travel or mechanics
Motorsport’s gatekeeping could crack wide open if this works.
Haas + Tariffs = Toyota’s Golden Opportunity?
Haas Automation announced this week it’s slashing production and hiring freezes due to tariffs, stating “We’ve seen a dramatic drop in demand… studying the full impact on operations.”
Could this indicate a re-evaluation of future investments and ventures? If things don’t improve, Haas F1 might end up on the market.
That opens the door for a full Toyota return. Instead of paying $450M–600M to start a new team, they could buy Haas and jump right in. If the GR Supra can run a BMW engine, a Toyota GR F1 car can run Ferrari’s. With GM taking the Cadillac path, Toyota might just be next.
F1 in the U.S.: “Lukewarm” TV Interest & a Shaky Future
And finally, broadcasters in the U.S. are reportedly cooling on bidding for Formula 1’s next round of rights.
Why?
- Races air at brutal times (5–8 AM)
- Most fans already use F1TV
- Broadcasters can’t easily add ads
- ESPN has only gained ~500K viewers over NBC
They want $100M+… for 1M viewers. That’s $100 per fan. And no ads allowed. Netflix and Amazon are reportedly not bidding, and over-the-air networks can’t justify the cost without cramming in commercials. The likely future? Ads for casuals, F1TV for diehards, and Liberty Media recalibrating expectations.