Hinwil, 17 January 2025 – The 2025 F1 Sim Racing World Championship officially kicked off with the first Event of the season, delivering four intense rounds of action on the Melbourne, Shanghai, Bahrain and Jeddah circuits. KICK F1 Sim Racing Team, represented by Brendon Leigh and Thomas Ronhaar, showcased solid performances and determination amidst fierce competition. The team now sits seventh in the standings, with Thomas and Brendon P6 and P21 in the Drivers’ Championship respectively.
Round 1: Melbourne
The season opener at the Albert Park Circuit saw Thomas start from P7 and quickly climb to P4 after a strong start. However, a double-stack pit stop on Lap 9 disrupted the team’s momentum. Despite this, Thomas still pushed through to battle for a podium position late into the race, ultimately crossing the line in P6. Brendon gained ground from his P16 starting position, eventually finishing in P15 after a steady drive.
Round 2: Shanghai
Rainy conditions at the Shanghai International Circuit created a dramatic second round. Thomas capitalised on wet qualifying to start P2 and surged into the lead at the race’s start. Though a mix of pit strategies and tough battles shuffled the order, he secured a hard-fought P2 finish after a thrilling duel in the closing laps. Brendon’s race was marked by strong early pace but was then compromised by contact at the hairpin, leaving him P16 at the chequered flag.
Round 3: Bahrain
The third round at the Bahrain International Circuit showcased thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing. Thomas started from P3 and fought with a tightly packed lead group throughout the race. Though he delivered a spirited drive, he finished in P6 after a bold late-race move resulting in contact with a rival. Brendon began from P18 and worked his way up the order, ultimately finishing P13 after navigating a tough field.
Round 4: Saudi Arabia
A tense and action-packed race on the tight Jeddah street circuit brought mixed results for the team. Thomas battled his way up to P5, but was handed a five-second penalty after a multi-car collision on Lap 21, leaving him in P9 after the chequered flag. Meanwhile, Brendon’s race came to an early end with a retirement on Lap 9, in what has been an overall challenging outing for the team.
Brendon Leigh
KICK F1 Sim Racing Team (Car #72)
“It wasn’t the season start I was hoping for, but there are still some positives to take away. Each race presented its own challenges, and while the results haven’t been great, I’ve learned a lot that I can take into the next events. We’ve got some things to figure out as a team, but I am confident we can turn it around. I’m determined to come back stronger and show what we can really do.”
Thomas Ronhaar
KICK F1 Sim Racing Team (Car #39)
“This event had plenty of highs and some tough moments. I was happy with my pace in Shanghai and Melbourne, especially being able to fight near the front and secure a strong result in challenging conditions. However, I know we can aim even higher, and there’s a lot of potential for us to unlock as a team. I’m eager to put in the effort to come back stronger for the next event and push for even better results.”
About Sauber Group of Companies
The Sauber Group of Companies is composed of two operational entities: Sauber Motorsport AG, which operates and manages its Formula OneTM team; and Sauber Technologies AG, which focuses on third-party business in the areas of advanced engineering, prototype development and additive manufacturing, in addition to full and model-scale testing in the factory’s state-of-the-art wind tunnel and ground-breaking innovation in the field of aerodynamics. The companies collaborate closely and share know-how to apply the expertise of more than 550 dedicated individuals at the headquarter in Hinwil, Switzerland, to all internal and external projects.
The Sauber Group puts sustainability at the heart of its mission; its business, operating under the ISO 14001 environmental management standard, has been carbon neutral since 2011 and the company has achieved the Three-Star level in the FIA Environmental Accreditation Framework.
Since its founding in 1970, the innovative Swiss company has been setting standards in the design, development and construction of race cars for various championship series, such as Formula One, DTM, and WEC. Following its own Formula One debut in 1993, Sauber Motorsport AG has established one of the few traditional and privately held teams in the sport. A member of the exclusive club of teams which competed in more than 500 F1 races, it celebrated 30 years in the sport in 2022 and continues to go from strength to strength on and off the track.