F1
The list of entrants for 2025 updated, Bortoleto's number known
© Xavi Bonilla / DPPI
Unlike endurance and rally, the publication of a list of those involved in Formula 1 is a non-event, since it doesn't really change from one Grand Prix to the next, unless there's a huge surprise. However, before the start of a season, there can be some interesting information, and that's the case here again. This Friday, the FIA published an updated version of the entry list for the 2025 season of the Formula 1 World Championship.
In this list, we can notably observe the name of each team, and a first important piece of information to highlight: the Racing Bulls team is now officially called… Racing Bulls. Indeed, until now, the Italian team was officially called “Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team”, without the RB meaning Racing Bulls… but for simplicity – or for ease – the world of Formula 1 (including us) quickly took the name Racing Bulls for granted. The Faenza team has complied with this popular usage and adapted its name to fit common usage. Officially, this is the fourth time that this team has changed its name since the acquisition of Minardi in 2005, with Toro Rosso (2006-2019), AlphaTauri (2020-2023) and RB (2024).
Number 5 for Bortoleto
Another piece of information that we discover with this list of entrants: the number of the rookie drivers. If we already knew the choices of Jack Doohan (#7),Andrea Kimi Antonelli (n°12) and Oliver Bearman (n°87), that of Gabriel Bortoleto was still a mystery. The Brazilian will make his debut in Formula 1 with the number 5, a fairly symbolic number in Formula 1. In fact, besides the n°1, it is with the n°5 that there have been the most world champions (10 champions with the n°5).
The number 5 was notably worn by Nelson Piquet in 1981 and 1983, by Nigel Mansell in 1992, by Michael Schumacher in 1994 or even by Fernando Alonso in 2005, the year of his first title. Incidentally, let us recall that Gabriel Bortoleto is part of the A14 Management agency founded by… Fernando Alonso. Oh well! Since the introduction of permanent numbers, it is Sebastian Vettel who was the only one to use the No. 5, a number he also wore in 2010 during the season of his first title. The German left Formula 1 at the end of 2022, which means that the No. 5 is now available for the 2025 season.
On the other hand, don't expect to find an answer regarding the situation of the pilots Red Bull / Racing Bulls: For now, it's status quo in the entry list. Sergio Perez is still registered as a Red Bull driver, while the identity of the second Racing Bulls driver remains unknown.
ALSO READ > After F3, Bortoleto takes on F2 as a rookie: "I have achieved everything I set out to do"
Dorian Grangier
A young journalist nostalgic for the motorsport of yesteryear. Raised on the exploits of Sébastien Loeb and Fernando Alonso.
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vincent moyet
14/12/2024 at 10:32 a.m.
In any case, this list gives the game away: Tsunoda is well and truly committed to RB. So if Perez has to be replaced, it will be by Lawson. Which is not very smart because he lacks the experience to join such a demanding top team. Another driver "sacrificed" by Red Bull?
Yves-Henri RANDIER
13/12/2024 at 06:45 a.m.
The Red Bull galaxy is still procrastinating over its 2025 drivers... Complicated to break the TexMex contract and negotiate with its lawyers, certainly American?