F1 2025 Australia GP LIVE: Practice start time, schedule and updates as Hamilton debuts for Ferrari – UK Times

More from Toto, who says: “I don’t flirt outside if I am in a good relationship. At the moment that (a move for Verstappen) is not on the radar.

“I don’t like to shift my concentration away from these guys (Russell and Antonelli). I’m someone who sticks to what he says and this is the combination that I want to go forward with Mercedes. I have no other reasons to doubt that.”

Following Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari, Russell will enter a campaign as Mercedes’ lead driver for the first time in his career.

And when quizzed about Russell’s next deal, Wolff continued: “We had a chat a few weeks ago about when the right timing would be to liaise.

“We’re going to find some time, I guess before the summer. We will do that in a timely manner, without disrupting the season.”

The popular F1 docu-series has previously been boycotted by Verstappen, who refused to appear in his first title-winning season, due to Netflix’s tendency to manipulate storylines and drama.

On season seven, a clip of Verstappen’s cool-down room reaction to Lando Norris’s win in Miami is mixed in with his reaction at his home race in Zandvoort in the same scenario, showing a more despondent Verstappen, some three months later.

Statistics for Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park:

Lap distance: 5.278km. Total distance: 306.124km (58 laps)

2024 pole position: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) one minute 15.915 seconds.

2024 winner: Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

Race lap record: Sergio Perez (Red Bull), 1:20.235 – 2023.

NOTE: The circuit was shortened by 28 metres, with two turns taken out and seven corners modified, in 2022.

Start time: 0400 GMT (1500 local)

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has claimed Max Verstappen is no longer on his radar and said he is ready to open talks with George Russell over a contract extension.

Wolff attempted to lure Verstappen to Mercedes as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton last year before the four-time world champion elected to stay at Red Bull.

Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli was instead promoted from the team’s junior ranks alongside Russell for the new season which starts in Australia on Sunday.

Russell, 27, is entering his fourth season with Mercedes but his current deal is due to expire at the end of the year, leaving room for Wolff to make a play for Verstappen.

However, speaking in Melbourne ahead of Sunday’s curtain-raiser, Wolff said: “We need to concentrate on our driver line-up.”

“The pressure I’ve put on myself has been ten times higher than any pressure put upon me.

“I haven’t been made to feel any pressure, I know what I can deliver and it’s just getting my head down.

“No expectations this weekend, getting used to this new car. Ferrari power is new, different vibrations, different feel.”

“We’ll see. No one knows what to expect, testing went pretty well and we’re pretty happy with how it went, Melbourne is different to Bahrain.

“Different every hour by the look of things, it’ll be an interesting weekend.

“We’re expecting to be at the front, whether it’s the pointy end we’ll see. “

“I’m super keen to get on the track, get to tomorrow, it’s been a long time since Abu Dhabi.

“To enjoy each time I’m on track, work hard with the team, deliver on track with whatever the car’s potential so far.”

“I remember the excitement, might not be the same for Kimi, being on track with Schumacher ahead of me, just followed him for as many laps until he came in. It’s very surreal and hard to believe it’s true, hard to believe what you’re seeing.

When I see the youngsters coming through, try to set a good example in what I do. I want to protect them from the bombardment they will experience, it can be a cruel world.

“They just need time, diamonds are created over time. I hope they have time and space to grow, be themselves, not have to conform and rush.

“Some drivers come in and are booted out straight away, I hope they’re given time. We all make mistakes in our life but we do it in front of the world. I hope you can take it easy on the youngsters, take it out on us!”