2025 is F1’s most polite title battle ever – Up/Down in Austria
Describing this year's championship race as a 'battle' might be slightly over-egging it, writes James Elson
The World Endurance Championship will have an unfamiliar look next year, as the dominant Porsche 919s disappear from the field and Aston Martin replaces its V8 Vantage war horse.
Both have enjoyed their fair share of success, and both are retired as Le Mans winners and world champions. The 919 secured the world title in each of the past three seasons and finishes unbeaten in its last three Le Mans, helping take Porsche’s tally to 19. Mission indeed complete.
Aston Martin’s Vantage, which bows out as the champion of GTE-Am, has been campaigned by Aston Martin since 2012. It finally took a GTE-Pro victory at Le Mans this year when Jonny Adam denied Corvette in stunning fashion, following up the GTE-Pro title won the year before by Nicki Thiim and Marco Sørensen. The car has won at La Sarthe in the Am class, scoring an emotional win in 2014 when the ‘Dane Train’ claimed victory 12 months after Allan Simonsen was killed.
The replacement for the Vantage is being unveiled on Tuesday, November 21.
Describing this year's championship race as a 'battle' might be slightly over-egging it, writes James Elson
Lando Norris's wrecked McLaren was some metaphor for his racing aptitude over the last 12 months
When will the FIA take serious action against dangerous F1 driving? asks James Elson
For all the huff-and-puff about strategy at the 2025 Monaco GP, the race showed pitstops aren't F1's main problem there