The Unmissable Highlights From Last Night's F1 2025 Reveal Event

      CLIVE MASON

      Whenever Formula 1 embarks on something new, skepticism emerges. To mark its 75th anniversary, F1 revealed plans for a grand season-opening celebration at the O2 Arena in London, featuring major musical acts, celebrity appearances, and a generous portion of F1-themed stand-up comedy. However, not everyone was enthusiastic about the mass car reveal involving all 10 F1 teams. This significant shift affected both teams and fans, as traditionally, each team has unveiled its cars independently and in its own way.

      I had my doubts too, primarily regarding the coverage aspect. While it's one experience to see the new season's contenders released over a few weeks, it's quite another to have them all revealed in just a few hours. Even some of the participants found it amusingly absurd, with Max Verstappen joking about possibly calling in sick that day. Fortunately, he showed up and appeared fairly cheerful, dressed like a proud father.

      Despite initial criticisms, the event was immensely enjoyable to watch online, and the highlight reels showcased below illustrate why. From actor-comedian Jack Whitehall teasing the Verstappen/George Russell rivalry to Yuki Tsunoda performing a drift in a Honda S2000 on the red carpet, to the FIA and Christian Horner being booed by the audience, Tuesday night’s celebration was a fitting season opener for a prestigious, global sport like F1.

      FIA Receives a Chorus of Booing: BOO BOO BOO BOO BOO

      While it might have felt like a continuous boo rather than five separate ones, it was still quite embarrassing if you happen to be the FIA president. Deserved? Certainly. Mohammed Ben Sulayem is determined to lead the federation in his own style—much like his predecessors—and has managed to alienate nearly all of the drivers along with a significant portion of the sport’s fans.

      Yuki Leaves a Mark

      Yuki Tsunoda is among my favorite F1 drivers currently. I’ve had multiple conversations with him—both formal and informal—and he’s consistently funny and relatable. It was no shock that he caused some mischief on Tuesday's red carpet, executing a quick 180 in a Honda S2000. While it wasn’t an impressive donut or burnout, he scores significant points for doing so in front of an audience and cameras. Yuki: A People’s Champion.

      Jack Whitehall Teases Verstappen and Russell

      Whitehall is undeniably humorous. His performances in Travels With My Father and various films and stand-up specials are exceptional. He took advantage of his comedic talent to jest about the Verstappen-Russell drama, but perhaps the highlight was when he compared Russell to the popular train TikToker, Francis Bourgeois.

      Hamilton the Fortnite Character

      Whitehall didn’t just target Verstappen and Russell; he also had a bit of fun at Lewis Hamilton's expense, mocking the seven-time champion’s fashion choices during race weekends. The comedian acknowledged Hamilton's knack for being the center of attention while also humorously suggesting he “peacocks through the paddock dressed like a Fortnite character.” Pretty amusing, given Hamilton's enthusiasm for Fortnite.

      No One Puts Leclerc in the Backseat

      This specific clip didn’t make it to YouTube, but it was shared on Instagram by Sky F1 Italy. It features Hamilton and Charles Leclerc arriving at the red carpet in a chauffeured Ferrari Purosangue. What stood out to me was Hamilton in the front seat while Leclerc was relegated to the back. This struck me as peculiar, considering the Ferrari has two individual bucket seats in the back, allowing them to sit together... as equals. Instead, Hamilton took the front. Am I overthinking this?

      If you're interested in watching the complete event, you can do so here.

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