Antonelli copied Hamilton’s starting technique

To ensure taller Formula 1 drivers are not disadvantaged, the rules require all drivers to weigh at least 80 kilograms (including their race suit, helmet and seat). If they weigh less, they must carry additional ballast in the cockpit.

What does this ballast look like? A look inside Liam Lawson’s car reveals two ballast weights beneath the seat. The first weighs exactly four kilograms, the second 1.125 kilograms.

It is worth noting that this rule makes the sport fairer than it was in the past, but nothing is perfect. Using additional ballast does, after all, lower the car’s centre of gravity, bringing a certain advantage.

English comedian Jimmy Carr was asked during one of his shows what he thought of new world champion Kimi Antonelli. “I don’t like it, I don’t like it one bit. I don’t like it because he’s Italian and he won the F1 championship in a Mercedes. When the Italians and the Germans come together, bad things happen.”

According to Formula 1’s own analysis, Mercedes is fastest through all types of corners: slow, medium-speed and fast. That comes as no surprise given how comprehensively Kimi Antonelli outpaced his rivals in the second sector. Only Verstappen and Piastri lost less than two tenths there.

On the straights, however, Red Bull has the edge. Williams ranks second in this area, with Mercedes third.

Mercedes are once again having a laugh at Antonelli’s expense.

Someone in the team replaced the photo on his paddock pass with a little curly-haired goat wearing a Mercedes shirt and changed his name to “baby GOAT”.

Charles Leclerc was the centre of attention ahead of first practice. Everyone wanted to see his newborn daughter Bianca.

There are now five fathers in the paddock. Alongside Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, Nico Hülkenberg and Sergio Pérez also have children.

McLaren brought a new front wing to Brazil, featuring a slightly flattened nose that connects to the wing’s second element rather than the first.

The following photograph compares the new design (top) with the old one (bottom).