February 2025

Page 7

The Editor: Why we should start to like Max Verstappen

Some champions are hard to like. Novak Djokovic is an astonishing athlete, but an acquired taste. Chris Froome in his…

Page 8

December 8, 2024 Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi

Roar into the night: McLaren’s clan congregates for a celebration photo outside its pit garage in Abu Dhabi to mark…

Page 10

Revealed: Why 2024 Mercedes sapped Lewis Hamilton's pace

Lewis Hamilton’s last race for Mercedes after 84 grand prix victories and six world titles was a neat summation of…

Page 12

Karun Chandhok: The top moments of a vintage 2024 F1 season

We’ve made it to the end of the longest ever Formula 1 season with an unprecedented 24 grands prix and…

Page 15

Abbi Pulling crowned twice in one season after bizarre F1 academy U-turn

Are single-sex racing series really a good idea? Yes, if they genuinely increase the chances of a woman racing driver…

Page 16

Top 5 Belgian WRC drivers

1. Thierry Neuville Yes, Kalle Rovanperä won more rallies in 2024 despite the 24-year-old officially being on a ‘gap year’.…

Page 18

The ultimate Jaguar XJS: V12 TWR Supercat revealed in full

Car of the month – TWR Supercat It says TWR, but that’s no Group C car? Correct! This TWR isn’t…

Page 21

Montjuich Park: a track for the brave

As street circuits go, Montjuich Park had everything: the climbs and hairpins of Monaco (and then some), with fast-flowing sections…

Page 23

Historic rally heaven on New Zealand’s Silver Fern special stages

Rally Yorkshire, September Here, I was in my own Hillman Avenger. We were 58th overall and third in the 1600cc…

Page 25

When will F1 adopt an elimination round to decide the world champion?

Hard to believe 20 years have passed since NASCAR stopped determining its Cup Series champion by the traditional means of…

Page 26

Netflix Senna review

Does the story of Ayrton Senna need to be mythologised any more? Apparently, according to a newly released Netflix biopic…

Page 27

When motor sport memorabilia gets too old

Let’s talk about ageing. Not back pain and increasing levels of grumpiness, but rather: when does a collectible go so…

Page 29

Doug Nye: Is Jaguar’s re-brand an elaborate ploy?

There are many things about the motoring world that I will never, ever, understand. My distaste for most such matters…

Page 30

With Porsche’s factory drivers on a high-speed Autobahn blast

Letter from Europe June 1968 While I was returning from the Targa Florio I was cruising quietly up the Autostrada…

Page 32

Omega Speedmaster: first watch on the moon

The Omega Speedmaster chronograph is well known as the ‘moon watch’ on account of its multiple outings beyond the Earth’s…

Page 35

Mat Oxley: MotoGP’s most spectacular rider is new champ Jorge Martin

Jorge Martin’s 2024 MotoGP title success was historic – the young Spaniard is only the sixth rider in 76 years…

Page 36

Andrew Frankel: After Jaguar’s relaunch comes the real, enormous challenge

You’ll have been deluged with the images, goggled at the inexplicable video and been bombarded with all shades of opinion,…

Page 37

2025 BMW M5 review: Big shoes to fill

Recently, and in anticipation of the arrival of this very car, I found myself on a hillside with six generations…

Page 40

Sensational start to Formula E season after thrilling victory from back of the grid

There was a feeling in the air ahead of the new Formula E season that it was going to be…

Page 44

Ecclestone Collection belongs in a museum — Letters

Motor racing has much for which to thank Bernie Ecclestone, although I wonder if even he sometimes regrets the hysteria…