Haas’ 2025 Car Leaked, Ben Sulayem Wants 12th F1 Team – Chaos Ensues!

Formula 1 secrecy is a delicate art, and Haas just failed spectacularly at it. The American team attempted a clandestine shakedown of their 2025 challenger, the VF-25, at Silverstone. No journalists, no cameras, just silence. Sounds like a foolproof plan, right? Wrong.

Somewhere, somehow, an image of the new Haas car surfaced online, sending F1 Twitter into meltdown mode. Fans, analysts, and meme lords alike picked apart every pixel of the leaked image, trying to discern what magic—or disaster—Haas had cooked up for 2025.

Esteban Ocon was reportedly behind the wheel during the shakedown, giving the car its first spin. While Haas has yet to confirm the legitimacy of the leaked image, one thing is certain: the secrecy failed, and now, the world knows what their 2025 season might look like.

But the real question remains: does it even matter? Haas has spent years as F1’s lovable underdog, oscillating between “we might surprise you” and “we are just here to make up the numbers.” Will the VF-25 finally change that narrative, or is this just another overhyped disaster in the making?

Ben Sulayem Wants a 12th Team – But Who’s Buying It?

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has once again thrown a curveball into the F1 world, expressing his desire to expand the grid to 12 teams. “It’s been my dream for the last two years that the big countries should have a presence in Formula 1,” he stated.

This comes after General Motors and Cadillac finally broke down the barriers to join F1 as the 11th team in 2026, a move that faced stiff opposition from certain paddock elites. But Ben Sulayem isn’t satisfied yet—he wants another team. And this time, speculation is running wild about which “big country” he’s targeting.

China in the Mix? F1’s Next Frontier

One of the most likely candidates is China. With a booming motorsport market, a massive fan base, and Guanyu Zhou flying the flag in F1, it would make sense. The automaker Geely, which already owns stakes in Aston Martin and Lotus, could be the perfect contender.

But here’s the problem: existing teams aren’t exactly rolling out the red carpet. F1’s current grid operates on a tight revenue-sharing model, and another team would mean smaller slices of the financial pie. Remember how much resistance Andretti and Cadillac faced? Expect double the drama if China enters the fray.

Guenther Steiner Has Some Thoughts (Of Course He Does)

The legendary former Haas boss Guenther Steiner has never been shy about voicing his opinions. In an exclusive interview with GPblog, he gave his thoughts on Alpine’s sudden resurgence, thanks in part to Flavio Briatore’s return to the sport.

“Flavio goes through with a very practical approach, not listening to bull****,” Steiner said, a statement that perfectly sums up his own philosophy during his Haas days.

Briatore, a figure as controversial as he is successful, played a pivotal role in Alpine’s rise back to relevance. The team shocked everyone with a double podium at the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix, marking one of their best performances in years.

Steiner seemed to suggest that Alpine’s newfound aggression in management—something Haas sorely lacks—was key to their turnaround. But does this mean Haas should embrace the “Briatore method?” Let’s just say, with the VF-25 already leaked, they might want to consider shaking things up.

What’s Next? The Countdown to the Australian Grand Prix

With just weeks to go before the Australian Grand Prix kicks off the 2025 season, the anticipation (and drama) is reaching fever pitch. The F1 75 livery event at London’s O2 Arena is just two days away, and we can expect more surprises leading up to the race.

As for Haas, the damage is already done—their 2025 car is out in the wild, whether they like it or not. Will it be a contender or just another backmarker? And as for Ben Sulayem’s 12th team dream, will F1 be open to expansion, or will the existing teams block yet another new entry?

Buckle up, folks. The F1 circus never disappoints!