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Day: 16 March 2025

F1: Missed opportunities cost Leclerc and Ferrari at Australian Grand Prix

by: Elsa Carpenter
16/03/2025
Australian Grand Prix

The 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship got underway in dramatic fashion on Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit on 16th March, with the unusually wet conditions proving challenging for both the grid’s rookies and the more seasoned drivers.

Monaco’s Charles Leclerc, driving for Scuderia Ferrari alongside his new teammate, the British seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, had looked promising in the practice sessions, but that didn’t translate during the three rounds of qualifying.

Leclerc ultimately started on the fourth row in seventh, with Hamilton in eighth. A statement from Ferrari noted that their placement ahead of the race “didn’t live up to expectations”, while Leclerc lamented, “We just didn’t have the pace [during qualifying].”

A frenzied start

The drama began even before the lights went out at the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday 16th March. As the drivers set off on a damp formation lap, led by McLaren’s Lando Norris in pole position, followed by his Australian teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Racing Bulls’ rookie Isack Hadjar lost control of his car at Turn 2, forcing an aborted start.

The race resumed 15 minutes later, and Leclerc made a strong getaway, advancing two places, while Hamilton maintained eighth. Further back, chaos ensued as Alpine’s Jack Doohan, another newcomer to the grid, crashed into the barriers at Turn 5. Leclerc’s former teammate Carlos Sainz, who moved to Williams for this season, also spun out, ending his run prematurely.

The safety car neutralised the race for seven laps before activity could fully resume. The race continued until Lap 33 with the order largely unchanged, until Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso crashed out, triggering yet another safety car.

Hamilton was the first to switch to hard slick tyres ahead of the rest of the field, who followed suit on Lap 34, but Ferrari’s reactivity stalled. The rain started coming down again on Lap 45 and almost all of the remaining drivers dived into the pits. Leclerc, who had spun out but stayed in competition during that fateful lap, and Hamilton stayed out until Lap 48, hoping that the rain would ease off—it didn’t—and thus failed to capitalise on what could have been a real opportunity to gain key positions.

When they returned, both had fallen back and rejoined in ninth and 10th. At the green flag on Lap 52, Leclerc rushed past Hamilton. Both overtook Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, advancing to eighth and ninth as the end came into sight.

Then P9, which had looked to be in the bag for Hamilton, was snatched away by Piastri, who had suffered his own issues during his home race, leaving the two Ferraris in P8 and 10th.

Hamilton shared his frustrations post-race, saying, “I’m grateful to finish, at least I got one point. Overall, not what I was hoping for, but there was so much to get accustomed to, to get used to, with all the switch settings and changes that they [the team] were throwing at you [over the radio]. Then just the balance of the car… It was really very, very tricky—really, really tricky today. I think we can improve that in the next race, hopefully, and get the car in a sweeter spot. I think there’s a lot more potential in the car than what we were able to extract today.”

Leclerc admitted it had been a “tough race”, adding, “We weren’t the fastest out there, but in such weather conditions, there was a chance of scoring some big points, which we didn’t capitalise on today. I lost a few positions after the spin at Turn 11. In the end, it wasn’t that bad with the safety car that came out later on, but then we stopped a lap too late to switch to inters, losing positions again. There are two things we have to look into. The first is easy—it was my mistake. The second is something we will sort out as a team, looking into our decisions and making sure we make the right call if the situation comes up again. It’s a continuous process of improvement. We are disappointed, but it’s good to know we’ll be back in the car in just a few days in China to give it another go.”

Read related:

F1: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton make public debut as Ferrari teammates at SF-25 unveiling

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Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

Monaco to have front-row seat to Apophis asteroid’s historic Earth flyby

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
16/03/2025

In a once-in-a-millennium event, Asteroid Apophis is set to pass closer to Earth than some satellites on 13th April 2029, and Monaco will have a front-row seat to the cosmic spectacle. The 370-metre-wide asteroid will be visible to the naked eye as it streaks across the sky, marking the closest recorded flyby of an asteroid of its size. Monaco Life spoke to Patrick Michel, the director of research at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in France, to learn more about this exciting phenomenon.

First discovered on 19th June 2004, Apophis was initially identified as a potential impact threat, with early calculations suggesting a 2.7% chance of collision with Earth in 2029. Named after the Egyptian God of Chaos, the asteroid sparked intense concern in the scientific community. Further observations refined its trajectory, eliminating the 2029 threat, but raising concerns for 2036 and 2068.

By 2021, improved radar tracking allowed NASA and other space agencies to rule out any impact risk for at least 100 years, putting to rest fears of a catastrophic collision. However, Apophis remains an object of fascination due to its proximity and the opportunity it provides for scientific research.

European Space Agency’s mission to Apophis

“This is a rare event that gives us an incredible opportunity to study how Earth’s tidal forces might alter the asteroid’s structure. That’s why we are sending a mission with the European Space Agency—to arrive before the encounter and measure any changes that occur during its passage,” Patrick Michel, the director of research at France’s National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), told Monaco Life.

Patrick Michel speaking to Monaco Life during a Zoom interview

In response to this extraordinary event, the European Space Agency (ESA) is launching RAMSES, a mission set for 2028 that will study Apophis before and during its close encounter with Earth. Scientists will use the flyby to observe how Earth’s gravity affects the asteroid’s structure and trajectory.

Beyond the scientific advancements, the mission will provide breathtaking live footage as Apophis makes its historic pass.

“The last time we saw something comparable was when the Apollo astronauts first landed on the moon—people watched the event on television while looking up at the moon in the sky. Now, we will have a similar experience. The public will be able to see the asteroid with their own eyes while also following live images and footage that will enhance this once-in-a-lifetime moment,” Michel explained.

A year of asteroid awareness

Recognising the significance of Apophis’ flyby, the United Nations has designated 2029 as the Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence. Scientific institutions along the French Riviera, including those in Monaco and Nice, are already planning public events to celebrate this astronomical milestone, though specific details have yet to be announced.

With its position along the Mediterranean coastline, Monaco will offer one of the best vantage points to observe Apophis as it soars past Earth, bringing astronomy to the forefront for both residents and visitors.

No threat, but science is ready

Although Apophis will pass remarkably close to Earth, there is no cause for concern, and Michel, who also serves as Scientific Director of the Hera Mission for the Côte d’Azur Observatory, reassured Monaco Life that asteroid deflection technologies are already being tested to prepare for any future threats.

“We recently tested deflection technology on an asteroid just 150 metres wide—one that posed no threat to Earth—but we proved that the method works. Now, it’s simply a matter of time and energy: we need to identify any future impact risks early enough to deploy the appropriate resources,” Michel explained.

Rather than worrying about disaster, Michel encourages people to marvel at the event.

“There’s no known threat at the moment, but we’re making sure we are prepared if one ever arises. So, there’s no reason to be worried. In fact, it’s something to be happy about—because there are people like us working to keep the planet safe before anything happens,” he said.

Photo credit: Chris Henry, Unsplash

A personal connection to the stars

As one of the world’s leading experts on asteroids, Michel has not only contributed significantly to the planetary defence sector, but has also had an asteroid named in his honour. In return, he has named two non-threatening asteroids after places close to his heart—one after his hometown of Saint-Tropez and another double-asteroid after the city of Nice.

For Monaco and the Riviera, Apophis’ journey presents an unparalleled opportunity to witness the wonders of the universe up close. Whether through scientific discovery or sheer cosmic spectacle, 13th April 2029 promises to be a night to remember.

With its position along the Mediterranean coastline, Monaco will offer one of the best vantage points to observe Apophis as it soars past Earth, bringing astronomy to the forefront for both residents and visitors.

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

 

Written by Kyriaki Topalidou, with editing by Cassandra Tanti