Rory Mitchell
@rorymitchellf1.bsky.social
F1 Journalist. f1debrief.substack.com.
Bylines with Sector.World, F1Oversteer, RacingNews365, Autosport, Motorsport News, ZAG Daily. Formerly PR @ Patterrn. University of Sheffield graduate.
Bylines with Sector.World, F1Oversteer, RacingNews365, Autosport, Motorsport News, ZAG Daily. Formerly PR @ Patterrn. University of Sheffield graduate.
Russell is quickest in the final practice session of 2025, but Norris leads the title contenders. His lap on the soft was 0.120s faster than Verstappen, while Piastri is 0.2s off Norris' lap heading into qualifying. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
December 6, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Russell is quickest in the final practice session of 2025, but Norris leads the title contenders. His lap on the soft was 0.120s faster than Verstappen, while Piastri is 0.2s off Norris' lap heading into qualifying. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
A collision in the pit lane between Antonelli and Tsunoda. Front wing damage for the Mercedes. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
December 6, 2025 at 11:22 AM
A collision in the pit lane between Antonelli and Tsunoda. Front wing damage for the Mercedes. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Red flag. Hamilton has crashed at Turn 9. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
December 6, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Red flag. Hamilton has crashed at Turn 9. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
A near miss between Norris and Tsunoda at T12, with the McLaren driver getting close to a collision after the Red Bull was dawdling unsighted on the racing line.
Norris team radio: "There are actually blind people in this sport. It's incredible." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Norris team radio: "There are actually blind people in this sport. It's incredible." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
December 6, 2025 at 10:55 AM
A near miss between Norris and Tsunoda at T12, with the McLaren driver getting close to a collision after the Red Bull was dawdling unsighted on the racing line.
Norris team radio: "There are actually blind people in this sport. It's incredible." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Norris team radio: "There are actually blind people in this sport. It's incredible." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Expensive weekend for Aston Martin. Each of their drivers has been fined €25,000 (of which €15,000 is suspended) for failure to engage in media activity on Friday. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
December 6, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Expensive weekend for Aston Martin. Each of their drivers has been fined €25,000 (of which €15,000 is suspended) for failure to engage in media activity on Friday. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri are quite even on the medium tyre long runs in the low 1:29s. I'd say Norris is slightly quicker per lap, with Piastri in the mid- and high-1:29s.
Leclerc is also quicker than Russell, but Ferrari's one-lap pace is nowhere. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Leclerc is also quicker than Russell, but Ferrari's one-lap pace is nowhere. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
December 5, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri are quite even on the medium tyre long runs in the low 1:29s. I'd say Norris is slightly quicker per lap, with Piastri in the mid- and high-1:29s.
Leclerc is also quicker than Russell, but Ferrari's one-lap pace is nowhere. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Leclerc is also quicker than Russell, but Ferrari's one-lap pace is nowhere. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
First runs on the soft tyre in FP2, and Norris leads the way on a 1:23.083s. Verstappen is 0.363s off, and Piastri a further 0.680s adrift. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
December 5, 2025 at 1:33 PM
First runs on the soft tyre in FP2, and Norris leads the way on a 1:23.083s. Verstappen is 0.363s off, and Piastri a further 0.680s adrift. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Zak Brown asked if his stance on using team orders on Sunday is a U-turn on what McLaren has done all season: "I don't think it's a U-turn. We're going to start the weekend like we have the other 23, which is going in, giving both drivers equal opportunity." (cont) #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
December 5, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Zak Brown asked if his stance on using team orders on Sunday is a U-turn on what McLaren has done all season: "I don't think it's a U-turn. We're going to start the weekend like we have the other 23, which is going in, giving both drivers equal opportunity." (cont) #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Rookie times in #AbuDhabiGP FP1:
1. (P11) Hirakawa - 1:24.934
2. (P13) Aron - 1:25.204
3. (P14) O'Ward - 1:25.246
4. (P15) Lindblad - 1:25.256
5. (P16) A. Leclerc - 1:25.360
6. (P17) Iwasa - 1:25.475
7. (P18) Browning - 1:25.490
8. (P19) Crawford - 1:25.889
9. (P20) Shields - 1:26.432 #F1
1. (P11) Hirakawa - 1:24.934
2. (P13) Aron - 1:25.204
3. (P14) O'Ward - 1:25.246
4. (P15) Lindblad - 1:25.256
5. (P16) A. Leclerc - 1:25.360
6. (P17) Iwasa - 1:25.475
7. (P18) Browning - 1:25.490
8. (P19) Crawford - 1:25.889
9. (P20) Shields - 1:26.432 #F1
December 5, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Rookie times in #AbuDhabiGP FP1:
1. (P11) Hirakawa - 1:24.934
2. (P13) Aron - 1:25.204
3. (P14) O'Ward - 1:25.246
4. (P15) Lindblad - 1:25.256
5. (P16) A. Leclerc - 1:25.360
6. (P17) Iwasa - 1:25.475
7. (P18) Browning - 1:25.490
8. (P19) Crawford - 1:25.889
9. (P20) Shields - 1:26.432 #F1
1. (P11) Hirakawa - 1:24.934
2. (P13) Aron - 1:25.204
3. (P14) O'Ward - 1:25.246
4. (P15) Lindblad - 1:25.256
5. (P16) A. Leclerc - 1:25.360
6. (P17) Iwasa - 1:25.475
7. (P18) Browning - 1:25.490
8. (P19) Crawford - 1:25.889
9. (P20) Shields - 1:26.432 #F1
This is a very Harry Potter coded team radio from Russell:
Engineer: "So Iwasa at three seconds (behind)"
Russell: "I think that is O'Ward not O(I)wasa"
Engineer: "Sorry O'Ward yeah."
Russell: "Easy mistake." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Engineer: "So Iwasa at three seconds (behind)"
Russell: "I think that is O'Ward not O(I)wasa"
Engineer: "Sorry O'Ward yeah."
Russell: "Easy mistake." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
harry potter and hermione granger are sitting at a table in a classroom talking to each other .
ALT: harry potter and hermione granger are sitting at a table in a classroom talking to each other .
media.tenor.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:56 AM
This is a very Harry Potter coded team radio from Russell:
Engineer: "So Iwasa at three seconds (behind)"
Russell: "I think that is O'Ward not O(I)wasa"
Engineer: "Sorry O'Ward yeah."
Russell: "Easy mistake." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Engineer: "So Iwasa at three seconds (behind)"
Russell: "I think that is O'Ward not O(I)wasa"
Engineer: "Sorry O'Ward yeah."
Russell: "Easy mistake." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Zak Brown finally admits McLaren will back one of their drivers to win the title. Speaking to Sky Sports F1: "If we get into the race and it’s becoming pretty clear that one has a chance and the other doesn’t, we’re going to do what we can to win the Drivers’ Championship." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
December 5, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Zak Brown finally admits McLaren will back one of their drivers to win the title. Speaking to Sky Sports F1: "If we get into the race and it’s becoming pretty clear that one has a chance and the other doesn’t, we’re going to do what we can to win the Drivers’ Championship." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Rookies in #AbuDhabiGP FP1:
McLaren - Pato O'Ward
Ferrari - Arthur Leclerc
Red Bull - Arvid Lindblad
Williams - Luke Browning
Racing Bulls - Ayumu Iwasa
Haas - Ryo Hirakawa
Aston Martin - Jak Crawford and Cian Shields
Alpine - Paul Aron #F1
McLaren - Pato O'Ward
Ferrari - Arthur Leclerc
Red Bull - Arvid Lindblad
Williams - Luke Browning
Racing Bulls - Ayumu Iwasa
Haas - Ryo Hirakawa
Aston Martin - Jak Crawford and Cian Shields
Alpine - Paul Aron #F1
December 5, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Rookies in #AbuDhabiGP FP1:
McLaren - Pato O'Ward
Ferrari - Arthur Leclerc
Red Bull - Arvid Lindblad
Williams - Luke Browning
Racing Bulls - Ayumu Iwasa
Haas - Ryo Hirakawa
Aston Martin - Jak Crawford and Cian Shields
Alpine - Paul Aron #F1
McLaren - Pato O'Ward
Ferrari - Arthur Leclerc
Red Bull - Arvid Lindblad
Williams - Luke Browning
Racing Bulls - Ayumu Iwasa
Haas - Ryo Hirakawa
Aston Martin - Jak Crawford and Cian Shields
Alpine - Paul Aron #F1
"It wasn't easy getting all those kinds of comments after the race, especially for something I'd never do."
After 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli recieved over 1,000 abusive social media posts following the Qatar GP, I look at how #F1 teams are using AI to handle the issue.
sector.world/2025/12/how-...
After 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli recieved over 1,000 abusive social media posts following the Qatar GP, I look at how #F1 teams are using AI to handle the issue.
sector.world/2025/12/how-...
How AI is helping tackle online abuse in F1 | Sector
Artificial Intelligence company Arwen is helping Formula 1 teams combat online trolls and make social media a safer place for all
sector.world
December 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
"It wasn't easy getting all those kinds of comments after the race, especially for something I'd never do."
After 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli recieved over 1,000 abusive social media posts following the Qatar GP, I look at how #F1 teams are using AI to handle the issue.
sector.world/2025/12/how-...
After 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli recieved over 1,000 abusive social media posts following the Qatar GP, I look at how #F1 teams are using AI to handle the issue.
sector.world/2025/12/how-...
McLaren drivers asked if they have discussed the possible scenario of swapping positions to favour one in the title fight. Norris: "No, not been discussed. I would love it, but I don't think I would ask it. It's up to Oscar. I don't think it's necessarily down to me." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
December 4, 2025 at 11:33 AM
McLaren drivers asked if they have discussed the possible scenario of swapping positions to favour one in the title fight. Norris: "No, not been discussed. I would love it, but I don't think I would ask it. It's up to Oscar. I don't think it's necessarily down to me." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Hadjar asked which one of the title protagonists, with Verstappen being his teammate next year, will take the 2025 title on Sunday: "Lando."
Both Russell and Leclerc also said the same in the drivers' presser. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Both Russell and Leclerc also said the same in the drivers' presser. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
December 4, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Hadjar asked which one of the title protagonists, with Verstappen being his teammate next year, will take the 2025 title on Sunday: "Lando."
Both Russell and Leclerc also said the same in the drivers' presser. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Both Russell and Leclerc also said the same in the drivers' presser. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
Haas will replace Moneygram with Toyota Gazoo Racing as their title sponsor. From 2026, they will be known as the 'TGR Haas F1 Team' with a livery set to launched online on 23rd January. #F1
December 4, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Haas will replace Moneygram with Toyota Gazoo Racing as their title sponsor. From 2026, they will be known as the 'TGR Haas F1 Team' with a livery set to launched online on 23rd January. #F1
The FIA presidental election is set to go ahead next week (12th December) after an injunction to stop them was not granted. This follows a legal challenge from prospective candidate Laura Villars launched in October.
This means Mohammed Ben Sulyem will be re-elected as FIA President unopposed. #F1
This means Mohammed Ben Sulyem will be re-elected as FIA President unopposed. #F1
December 3, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The FIA presidental election is set to go ahead next week (12th December) after an injunction to stop them was not granted. This follows a legal challenge from prospective candidate Laura Villars launched in October.
This means Mohammed Ben Sulyem will be re-elected as FIA President unopposed. #F1
This means Mohammed Ben Sulyem will be re-elected as FIA President unopposed. #F1
Cadillac has spent big on a Super Bowl ad slot to reveal its 2026 F1 livery on 8th February. A single 30-second ad slot in front of 120 million TV viewers is worth $8m+, according to The Guardian. #F1
December 3, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Cadillac has spent big on a Super Bowl ad slot to reveal its 2026 F1 livery on 8th February. A single 30-second ad slot in front of 120 million TV viewers is worth $8m+, according to The Guardian. #F1
Wrote about whether Hadjar is ready for the second seat at Red Bull in September.
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane said he needed to improve his consistency in qualifying. Since then? He's reached Q3 six times in seven races. #F1
f1debrief.substack.com/p/is-isack-h...
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane said he needed to improve his consistency in qualifying. Since then? He's reached Q3 six times in seven races. #F1
f1debrief.substack.com/p/is-isack-h...
Is Isack Hadjar ready for the second Red Bull seat?
Now that Max Verstappen has committed his future at Red Bull, talk has turned to who will get the second seat.
f1debrief.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Wrote about whether Hadjar is ready for the second seat at Red Bull in September.
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane said he needed to improve his consistency in qualifying. Since then? He's reached Q3 six times in seven races. #F1
f1debrief.substack.com/p/is-isack-h...
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane said he needed to improve his consistency in qualifying. Since then? He's reached Q3 six times in seven races. #F1
f1debrief.substack.com/p/is-isack-h...
Alpine are the next team to confirm its 2026 car launch plans. They are going three days before the private test in Barcelona on 23rd January.
So far we have:
15/01 - Red Bull/Racing Bulls
23/01 - Alpine
09/02 - Aston Martin #F1
So far we have:
15/01 - Red Bull/Racing Bulls
23/01 - Alpine
09/02 - Aston Martin #F1
December 2, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Alpine are the next team to confirm its 2026 car launch plans. They are going three days before the private test in Barcelona on 23rd January.
So far we have:
15/01 - Red Bull/Racing Bulls
23/01 - Alpine
09/02 - Aston Martin #F1
So far we have:
15/01 - Red Bull/Racing Bulls
23/01 - Alpine
09/02 - Aston Martin #F1
McLaren has signed Leonardo Fornaroli to it's driver development programme, following his back-to-back title success in F3 and F2 in the last two years. Title rival Richard Verschoor also joins the lineup, along with European karting champion Christian Costoya. #F1
December 2, 2025 at 8:10 AM
McLaren has signed Leonardo Fornaroli to it's driver development programme, following his back-to-back title success in F3 and F2 in the last two years. Title rival Richard Verschoor also joins the lineup, along with European karting champion Christian Costoya. #F1
Gary Neville had one of the best takes on Antonelli: "The most fascinating thing for me was going into the debrief after the Sprint and seeing the two drivers. George is 27 but Kimi is 18. Seeing an 18-year-old stand up, work through a checklist, articulate and analyse his own performance. (1/2) #F1
December 1, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Gary Neville had one of the best takes on Antonelli: "The most fascinating thing for me was going into the debrief after the Sprint and seeing the two drivers. George is 27 but Kimi is 18. Seeing an 18-year-old stand up, work through a checklist, articulate and analyse his own performance. (1/2) #F1
