Faster than an Aston Martin, more expendable than an Alpine driver, with tricks that he’s hiding from the FIA, and with more hope of getting out of Q1 than certain drivers, it’s the F1 Donkey with his unique view on F1 and more. Before each race The F1 Donkey puts the ass in sass and unloads his alternative, slightly unhinged thoughts on F1 including this week’s Bold 2025 Austrian Grand Prix Predictions and opinion.
The F1 Donkey’s Pre Austrian Grand Prix Thoughts
George Russell’s win at the Canadian Grand Prix was a fine reward for an excellent season so far for the Brit, and thankfully it also included some more shenanigans with Max Verstappen under the Safety Car at the end just to give the race a little something extra because of the Safety Car finish.
Although, if you’ve seen the footage, some of the Canadian F1 fans went all Bali-plane-ticket and fought amongst themselves in the crowd. It seemed to be a Mercedes and Ferrari fan facing off, one can only imagine how that argument started…”Geez, how shit is Lewis doing at Ferrari, I can’t believe he’s worse than he was last year at Mercedes”, or “George Russell is ten times better than Lewis”, or “Monaco isn’t really a country”, or “you’re as ugly as Fred Vasseur”. Either way none of them are very nice, and could easily lead to punching, albeit at least one of those statements is true.
Back to the on track fighting for now, and what Russell’s win didn’t include was his team re-signing him beyond this season, as the rumours are they are waiting for Max Verstappen. Which of course worked out really well last time for an F1 team trying to keep their options open – refer Renault/Alpine losing both Alonso and Piastri. But hey, they’ve got a Colapinto now. Well, for a while. Maybe.
Maybe Red Bull should step in and give F1 fans what they need and want, a new ultimate rivalry where both drivers seem to genuinely dislike each other, by keeping Max Verstappen and hiring George Russell.
Hiring Russell will come at a price, but that easily be recouped by a second driver in the team not being completely useless like the last two and a half seasons and earning more prize money. If Red Bull aren’t careful with the way things are going William will overtake them soon, with a driveable car and two capable drivers.
Unless the Red Bull powers that be have plans to ruin another couple of F1 careers by putting drivers with not experience and/or talent in the second Max Verstappen. It would seem especially cruel to fast track Lindblad’s F1 license so they can destroy his reputation before he’s legally able to drink in the USA. Maybe that’s Red Bull’s ploy is to hire as many younger drivers as possible, ruin them in F1 so no other team can develop their talent. Doesn’t seem like a very good idea, but I guess then you have to think about how the Red Bull drink itself probably wasn’t a good idea in the first place either, and now look at it. Drunk by millions around the world and main sponsors of sport where competitors can seriously hurt themselves. Maybe the whole Red Bull dynasty is built on pain and suffering. Which again, doesn’t sound like a good idea. But does explain why Christian Horner is still in charge of Red Bull F1, because he is very painful.
Not as painful as listening to Danica Patrick’s “insights” on the F1 coverage. But that’s what delayed recording viewing and the fast forward buttons are for.
Also, hiring Russell will also be cheaper than developing a car that would suit a second driver, given that no one other than Max Verstappen can drive it. Hiring a good, experienced driver at the top of their game might make the second car worthwhile. Either that or hold a F1’s Got Talent style competition, where budding F1 drivers can apply to drive in the Red Bull race simulator and they can identify which driver on earth has the same driving style as Max Verstappen. Seems simple and entertaining.
F1 needs a rivalry, as with new regulations coming in 2026 one car is always going to do it better than everyone else, and that can be quite dull. Especially if it’s Mercedes. So we need a rivalry to keep ourselves warm. And it appears that no one dislikes or needles each other more than Russell and Verstappen. The recent spats, and Safety Car shenanigans is just a taste of what that could be like, every week, for our amusement. That kind of rivalry would ensure that Sky F1 can stop sucking up Lando Norris’ behind for fewer minutes every weekend.
Word to the F1 broadcasters, most people want to see F1 car and F1 drivers. Not their Dad’s. Not really partners either. If you have to put a caption up of someone you’re showing in the pits or paddock it’s a fair assumption that Grand Prix won’t care that they’re there.
Although, word on the street is that Mercedes are going to be the quickest next season, so maybe Mercedes should hire Russell and Verstappen themselves, and we can have a classic Prost-Senna rivalry for the ages.
That would leave the unlucky Antonelli out of a seat, but given how badly Lewis Hamilton is going at Ferrari, and how cheap Antonelli would be, that’s all sorted. Ticking some Italian boxes there. Not that Ferrari need to be more Italian, but it would be fun.
The beauty of Verstappen at Red Bull is without him no one would be able to drive a Red Bull, which would make them look bad, and that would lead to Christian Horner being fired. Which isn’t a bad end result. And could make Helmut Marko less relevant. Another good by product.
But all that’s in the future, or at least decided before the summer break. This weekend sees the oversized go kart track that is the Austrian Grand Prix, and like most go kart tracks it is usually quite entertaining. Not as entertaining as Mario Kart. But what is.
What isn’t, are this week’s Bold Predictions.
The NRL Donkey’s Bold 2025 Austrian Grand Prix Predictions
And here they are, in a convenient team by team format, so you can ignore them all at your convenience or peril. Depending on the outcome of our prediction.
McLAREN
A strangely off weekend for McLaren which sees them give Championship hopes to their rivals.
RED BULL
Max Verstappen pole. Max Verstappen win.
MERCEDES
Front row start for Kimi. Podium for George.
FERRARI
A dog’s breakfast race with only one car making Q3 and one car making the finish. Maybe it’s Fred’s last race before the next lamb is led in.
WILLIAMS
Alex Albon to shine up to qualifying, Carlos Sainz is never quite that lucky and misses out on Q3 by 0.003.
ALPINE
Colapinto is a first lap casualty for sure. Pierre Gasly gets a mechanical fault out of sympathy.
RB
Top four qualifying for Isack Hadjar. Top three scowl from Liam Lawson.
ASTON MARTIN
It’s so easy to pick Q1 exit for Lance Stroll, so I will. He’s due a petulant first lap tangle that is not his fault of course too.
HAAS
This has first / second / third exit written all over it for Oliver Bearman.
SAUBER
Q3 and points heroics from Nico Hulkenberg.
F1 2025 Season Stuff
We’ve worked hard getting ready for the 2025 F1 Season, and this is our best work below.
CANADIAN GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
SPANISH GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
MONACO GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
EMILIA-ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
MIAMI GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
SAUDI ARABIA GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
CHINESE GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX – REVIEW — RATINGS
2025 F1 SEASON PREVIEW – DRIVERS
2025 F1 SEASON PREVIEW – TEAMS
2025 F1 SEASON – THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR AND AVOID
AI DOES F1 – TURNING CARS INTO ANIMALS
F1 2024 Season Stats
Want to remember what happened last season? Here’s a bunch of our best work to sum up the 2024 F1 Season.
F1 2024 FULL RACE REVIEWS ALL 24 RACES
