F1 Pickings

BBC Sport's Ritchie Blackman analyses the reasoning behind Lewis Hamilton's shock move to Ferrari for the 2025 season.

As part of the new schedule for Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs, qualifying for the race will take place on Friday evening instead of Saturday.What time does qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix start?The qualifying for the Bahrain GP will begin at 7pm local time (+3 GMT) on Friday. Date: Friday, 1 March 2024 Start time: 19:00 local time / 16:00 GMT / 17:00 CET / 18:00 SAT / 19:00 EAT / 11:00 ... Keep reading

The height and weight of a driver in Formula 1 can dictate the adjustments the team makes to a car to try and fulfill the vehicle’s maximum potential.These details impact how much ballast will need to be added to a car and how that is positioned in the car to help with weight distribution.  How does height affect F1 drivers? The FIA, along with the taller drivers on the grid, have been ... Keep reading

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner denies allegations of inappropriate behaviour again after a series of alleged messages are leaked.

The height and weight of a driver in Formula 1 can dictate the adjustments the team makes to a car to try and fulfill the vehicle’s maximum potential.These details impact how much ballast will need to be added to a car and how that is positioned in the car to help with weight distribution.  How does height affect F1 drivers? The FIA, along with the taller drivers on the grid, have been ... Keep reading

Overall, a productive first day of practice. We had no major issues and we got through our test programme.

We didn't quite get everything from the soft tyres today but we can improve that tomorrow. There is work to do but we have a solid platform to build on.

It seems we are still quite close to our main competitors, and it'll likely come down to a handful of tenths in qualifying.

The long run data also looks close. Verstappen is still comfortably out front, as we saw last week, but behind him it's going to be a tight battle for the remaining podium spots.

The things we learned through testing have been reflected today and it shows that we're in a better place, but we must make another step, so we're really focused on that.

Piastri finished FP2 in fifth, four tenths behind the leading Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and narrowly ahead of Red Bull's Verstappen, who appeared to run with a dialled down engine as Red Hull focused on race performance.The Australian thought the times were "much closer" than expected, but was intrigued to see how much pace Red Bull has been keeping back, only to unleash it in qualifying and the ... Keep reading

The 2024 F1 season has fully arrived following pre-season testing in Bahrain last week, with Hamilton leading a Mercedes 1-2 at the end of FP2, while Red Bull appeared off the pace with Max Verstappen in sixth and Sergio Perez down in 10th.But with engine modes and fuel loads far from clear, all eyes will be on qualifying to see if Red Bull can surge back to the front as many expect, or can any of ... Keep reading

In Thursday evening's second free practice session, which is held in similar conditions to qualifying and the race, Lewis Hamilton led a Mercedes 1-2 ahead of Russell, with Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso in third.Overwhelming favourite Max Verstappen was sixth as Red Bull put more emphasis on long runs.And while Russell admitted Mercedes' progress compared to testing "exceeded expectations", he ... Keep reading

The Bahrain GP will run to a different schedule from most races, with the race taking place on Saturday night.Accordingly, the first of the two practice sessions will be held on Thursday, followed by FP3 and qualifying on Friday.2024 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix session timings in different timezones Session lOCAL ... Keep reading

RB’s Daniel Ricciardo was quickest in Free Practice 1, while Hamilton paced FP2 with a fastest time of the day of 1m30.374s.Bahrain GP FP1 results: Ricciardo fastest from NorrisWhat happened in Bahrain GP Free Practice 1?This full-daylight session was topped by Ricciardo, who lapped in 1m32.869s – 0.032s ahead of Lando Norris (McLaren).The top four, which included their team-mates Oscar ... Keep reading

RB’s Daniel Ricciardo was quickest in Free Practice 1, while Hamilton paced FP2 with a fastest time of the day of 1m30.374s.Bahrain GP FP1 results: Ricciardo fastest from NorrisWhat happened in Bahrain GP Free Practice 1?This full-daylight session was topped by Ricciardo, who lapped in 1m32.869s – 0.032s ahead of Lando Norris (McLaren).The top four, which included their team-mates Oscar ... Keep reading

Hamilton set the early benchmark in the session on soft tyres and subsequently cranked up the dial with a 1m30.374s to put distance between himself and the rest of the field.Russell slotted in behind to sit second, despite enduring a difficult opening to the session and could not match the first lap Hamilton had set as he lacked traction in the opening sector.On another run after taking another ... Keep reading

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff calls for "more transparency" from Red Bull after the company rejected a complaint against Christian Horner.

Lewis Hamilton leads a Mercedes one-two in Friday practice at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Briton set the early benchmark in the session on soft tyres and subsequently cranked up the dial with a 1m30.374s to put distance between himself and the rest of the field.Russell slotted in behind to sit second, despite enduring a difficult opening to the session and could not match the first lap Hamilton had set as he lacked traction in the opening sector.On a different run after taking ... Keep reading

RB’s Daniel Ricciardo was quickest in Free Practice 1, while Hamilton paced FP2 with a fastest time of the day of 1m30.374s.Bahrain GP FP1 results: Ricciardo fastest from NorrisWhat happened in Bahrain GP Free Practice 1?This full-daylight session was topped by Ricciardo, who lapped in 1m32.869s – 0.032s ahead of Lando Norris (McLaren).The top four, which included their team-mates Oscar ... Keep reading

Horner was subject to a detailed probe by Red Bull's energy drinks company over allegations made against him by a female employee.After a process that took eight weeks, and involved an independent barrister, the complaint against Horner was dismissed on Wednesday, and he was cleared of any wrongdoing.But with Red Bull having offered almost no explanation for its findings, and making clear it will ... Keep reading

Horner was subject to a detailed probe by Red Bull's energy drinks company over allegations made against him by a female employee.After a process that took eight weeks, and involved an independent barrister, the complaint against Horner was dismissed on Wednesday, and he was cleared of any wrongdoing.But with Red Bull having offered almost no explanation for its findings, and making clear it will ... Keep reading

Daniel Ricciardo sets the fastest time in Bahrain Grand Prix first practice as the new Formula 1 season held on to its secrets for a little longer.

Daniel Ricciardo edges out Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in an unrepresentative opening session which sees the big guns avoid using the softest tyres.

RB and McLaren were only joined by Sauber in running the softs in FP1, which ended with Yuki Tsunoda fourth ahead of Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen in fifth and sixth for Aston Martin and Red Bull respectively.Most of the pack headed out immediately at the start of the one-hour session where windy conditions prevailed in relatively cool temperatures, with all the early running conducted on the ... Keep reading

RB and McLaren were only joined by Sauber in running the softs in FP1, which ended with Yuki Tsunoda fourth ahead of Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen in fifth and sixth for Aston Martin and Red Bull respectively.Most of the pack headed out immediately at the start of the one-hour session where windy conditions prevailed in relatively cool temperatures for F1’s visit to the Sakhir track in the ... Keep reading

With F1 regularly pushing to improve technology for the international feed that is sent to broadcasters, a host of new developments are being introduced for the 2024 season.Here is a run through of what is changing.Better team radioTeam radio broadcasts will be improved for 2024, which should help deliver better messages and in a more timely manner.F1 has created a new system to speed up the ... Keep reading

Watch as BBC Sport's Ritchie Blackman explains everything you need to know about the upcoming 2024 Formula 1 season.

Fry, who joined Williams in November after leaving Alpine in the summer, says parts for the 2024 car came through the Grove factory system much later than was the case at his previous teams, which also include Ferrari and McLaren.It was also the first new car built under team principal James Vowles, who started at the team early last year.Fry indicated that efforts are under way to change the ... Keep reading

With F1 regularly pushing to improve technology for the international feed that is sent to broadcasters, a host of new developments are being introduced for the 2024 season.Here is a run through of what is changing.Better team radioTeam radio broadcasts will be improved for 2024, which should help deliver better messages and in a more timely manner.F1 has created a new system to speed up the ... Keep reading

Fry, who joined Williams in November after leaving Alpine in the summer, says parts for the 2024 car came through the Grove factory system much later than was the case at his previous teams, which also include Ferrari and McLaren.It was also the first new car built under team principal James Vowles, who started at the team early last year.Fry indicated that efforts are underway to change the ... Keep reading

Last year, Mercedes stuck to its troublesome 2022 concept, which it realised was a mistake as soon as it showed up to winter testing.The team rallied to finish second in the constructors' championship, but the recalcitrant handling and lack of predictability of the W14 left both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell struggling for consistency.Mercedes has appeared at this weekend's Bahrain ... Keep reading

Team principal Christian Horner says Red Bull have "never been stronger" after he was cleared of inappropriate and controlling behaviour towards a colleague.

Last year, Mercedes stuck to its troublesome 2022 concept, which it realised was a mistake as soon as it showed up to winter testing.The team rallied to finish second in the constructors' championship, but the recalcitrant handling and lack of predictability of the W14 left both Hamilton and Russell struggling for consistency.Mercedes has appeared at this weekend's Bahrain season-opener with a ... Keep reading

Lowe is the founder and CEO of the carbon-neutral synthetic fuel concern, whose early investors include 1996 world champion Damon Hill. Sauber uses Shell fuel and lubricants, but is free to sell sponsorship to other companies in the sector. As previously reported, it has concluded a deal with US brand Sunoco for the three American races.Zero will feature on the Swiss cars at all other events for ... Keep reading

Lowe is the founder and CEO of the carbon-neutral synthetic fuel concern, whose early investors include 1996 world champion Damon Hill. Sauber uses Shell fuel and lubricants but is free to sell sponsorship to other companies in the sector. As previously reported it has concluded a deal with US brand Sunoco for the three American races.Zero will feature on the Swiss cars at all other events for ... Keep reading

RB finished last season strongly after a steady stream of floor upgrades but ran out of races to overtake Williams for seventh in the championship.After analysing last week's winter test at Sakhir, Williams' Alex Albon was one of several drivers and observers wary of the steps the former AlphaTauri team has made, having finished last season as one of the strongest teams in low-speed ... Keep reading

The seven-time champion split with previous manager Penni Thow after three years on the books at her talent advisory firm Copper, and instead returned to working with long-time friend and ex-racer Marc Hynes.Hamilton explained that his split with Thow's company was an amicable one, having come to the conclusion to go his own way after "a lot of deep thought" over the winter.In reuniting with ... Keep reading

RB finished last season strongly after a steady stream of floor upgrades but ran out of races to overtake Williams for seventh in the championship.After analysing last week's winter test at Sakhir, Williams' Alex Albon was one of several drivers and observers wary of the steps the former AlphaTauri team has made, having finished last season as one of the strongest teams in low-speed ... Keep reading

"2023 marked another incredible season for Formula 1," says F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali as revenue surges by 25%.

Red Bull’s RB20 showed some impressive pace throughout the three days at Sakhir, but the team spent much of its time focusing on shorter stints rather than proper race simulations as many other teams did.So while Ferrari had some encouraging news about the performance of its own SF-24, especially during a strong race sim from Carlos Sainz on the second day, Leclerc remains cautious about reading ... Keep reading

Red Bull’s RB20 showed some impressive pace throughout the three days at Sakhir, but the team spent much of its time focusing on shorter stints rather than proper race simulations as many other teams did.While Ferrari had some encouraging news about the performance of its own SF-24, especially during a strong race sim from Carlos Sainz on the second day, Leclerc remains cautious about reading ... Keep reading

The seven-time champion split with previous manager Penni Thow after three years on the books at her talent advisory firm Copper, and instead returned to working with long-time friend and ex-racer Marc Hynes.Hamilton explained that his split with Thow's company was an amicable one, having come to the conclusion to go his own way after "a lot of deep thought" over the winter.In reuniting with ... Keep reading

There’s nowhere to hide for Formula 1’s teams as they gear up for this weekend’s track action, which starts a day earlier than usual. Red Bull Racing RB20 detail Photo by: Uncredited With the bodywork off, we’re able to see how Red Bull has laid out the components within the RB20’s sidepods, with the radiators and coolers being slanted and offset from one another in a ... Keep reading

There’s nowhere to hide for Formula 1’s teams as they gear up for this weekend’s track action, which starts a day earlier than usual. Red Bull Racing RB20 detail Photo by: Uncredited With the bodywork off, we’re able to see how Red Bull has laid out the components within the RB20’s sidepods, with the radiators and coolers being slanted and offset from one another in a ... Keep reading

Formula 1 is all set for 2024 which means the return of its popular fantasy game, where participants can manage their own racing team.It offers people the opportunity to virtually build a team of drivers and constructors to compete online by scoring points depending on how their squad performs in real life. People can now sign up for F1 Fantasy 2024 ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix on 29 ... Keep reading

Despite ongoing criticism of the decision, F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali insists that the correct process was followed when it came to rejecting Andretti's bid to enter the sport.

As Otmar Szafnauer and Zak Brown claim the calendar should be expanded to as many as 30 races, drivers say that 24 is already over the limit.

While the cost cap affair in 2022 was a tough period for the squad, it did not bring with it the personal turmoil and invasion that has been commonplace over the last few weeks.The launching of an investigation into unspecified allegations made against him by a female employee thrust Horner into the centre of a media frenzy as he battled to save his career and his future in grand prix racing.While ... Keep reading

While the cost cap affair in 2022 was a tough period for the squad, it did not bring with it the personal turmoil and invasion that has been commonplace over the last few weeks.The launching of an investigation into unspecified allegations made against him by a female employee thrust Horner into the centre of a media frenzy as he battled to save his career and his future in grand prix racing.While ... Keep reading

Following the latest meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, it was announced that in the context of hydrogen combustion applications that "development and promotion of solutions based on hydrogen stored in liquid form" would be prioritised over gas storage.No reference was made to fuel cell applications, but this is not understood to indicate that the technology's potential is being discounted ... Keep reading

Every Formula 1 driver has their own race engineer who plays a key role in ensuring that their driver is aware of the race strategy and any decisions being made by the team. They are pivotal in creating an open line of communication to the driver whilst the car is on the track and relay messages which can help with improving performance or even helping to manage the vehicle. Some engineers even ... Keep reading

Christian Horner has been cleared of allegations made against him by a female employee. Horner has denied any wrongdoing over the matter and Red Bull said the “grievance has been dismissed”.  The team principal of Red Bull had previously dreamed of becoming a Formula 1 driver himself, but moved into team ownership and eventually led one of the most successful F1 teams in recent years. Since ... Keep reading

Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner is cleared of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague following an internal investigation.

Christian Horner has been cleared of allegations made against him by a female employee. Horner has denied any wrongdoing over the matter and Red Bull said the “grievance has been dismissed”.  The team principal of Red Bull had previously dreamed of becoming a Formula 1 driver himself, but moved into team ownership and eventually led one of the most successful F1 teams in recent years. Since ... Keep reading

Weeks after claiming that he could continue racing until he is 50, Fernando Alonso says he will probably make a decision on his future a "few races" into the coming season.

Christian Horner has been cleared of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague following an investigation by Red Bull's parent company.

Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner is cleared of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague following an internal investigation.

Mercedes has been consistent in saying its W15 is a step forward compared to the recalcitrant W13 and W14 cars with which it opened F1’s latest ground-effect era in 2022 and 2023, but mainly in the sense that its handling is more predictable.As he addressed the media in the Bahrain paddock ahead of this weekend’s season opener, Russell was asked if there was any specific hangover from the ... Keep reading

Following a lengthy probe into the allegations made against him by a female employee, Red Bull has found no evidence of inappropriate behaviour.As Horner travelled to Bahrain for the F1 season opener, Red Bull issued an official statement explaining that claims of wrongdoing against him had been dismissed.A statement issued by the Red Bull company in Austria said: “The independent investigation ... Keep reading

The 2022 and 2023 seasons both featured 22 rounds, with the total always playing a key role in the final numbers.However, it was a different mix of races, with the first F1-promoted street event in Las Vegas and the Qatar GP added to the calendar, with France disappearing and the Imola event – which should have been a 23rd race in 2023 – cancelled due to freak weather.Overall year-on-year ... Keep reading

With Sergio Perez's Red Bull contract expiring at the end of the year, the Mexican's highly coveted seat for 2025 remains up for grabs as part of an intriguing driver market.Unless Red Bull decides to poach a driver from a rival outfit, Ricciardo and Tsunoda are set to be Perez's main competitors for the seat, already being under contract in-house at sister team RB. Read Also: Formula ... Keep reading

The Mercedes driver was speaking in the pre-event press conference for the 2024 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, where Horner is understood to currently be travelling to with the outcome of Red Bull GmbH’s investigation still outstanding.Several F1 stakeholders – including the championship’s commercial rights holder and motorsport’s governing body – have urged Red Bull to quickly ... Keep reading

Lewis Hamilton says the inquiry into allegations of inappropriate behaviour against Christian Horner is "a really important moment" for Formula 1.

This has in turn contributed to much-improved consistency over a stint, which was the key weakness that hampered the team in races in 2023.Leclerc and team-mate Carlos Sainz struggled for much of the year to maintain consistent form, even with different sets of the same tyre compound.While the situation was improved with car development, Leclerc says that the SF-24 represents a further step ... Keep reading

With Sergio Perez's Red Bull contract expiring at the end of the year, the Mexican's highly-coveted seat for 2025 remains up for grabs as part of an intriguing driver market.Unless Red Bull decides to poach a driver from a rival outfit, Ricciardo and Tsunoda are set to be Perez's main competitors for the seat, already being under contract in-house at sister team RB. The pair are also further kept ... Keep reading

The Mercedes driver was speaking in the pre-event press conference for the 2024 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, where Horner is understood to currently be travelling to with the outcome of Red Bull GmbH’s investigation still outstanding.Several F1 stakeholders – including the championship’s commercial rights holder and motorsport’s governing body – have urged Red Bull to quickly ... Keep reading

The French manufacturer is coming off the back of a challenging first test in Bahrain last week where the new A524 showed itself to be lacking in both handling and pace terms against the opposition.While the team has been open about bracing itself for a tough start, some analysis from the testing data pointed to Alpine actually being slowest of all with how its current car is.Asked ahead of the ... Keep reading

The French manufacturer is coming off the back of a challenging first test in Bahrain last week where the new A524 showed itself to be lacking in both handling and pace terms against the opposition.While the team has been open about bracing itself for a tough start, some analysis from the testing data pointed to Alpine actually being slowest of all with how its current car is.PLUS: Will Alpine ... Keep reading

This has in turn contributed to much-improved consistency over a stint, which was the key weakness that hampered the team in races in 2023.Leclerc and team-mate Carlos Sainz struggled for much of the year to maintain consistent form, even with different sets of the same tyre compound.While the situation was improved with car development, Leclerc says that the SF-24 represents a further step ... Keep reading

More often than not, drivers progress to F1 via the established path of F3 and Formula 2, but occasionally there are exceptions.The most notable example in recent years is three-time world champion Max Verstappen, who graduated to the top tier directly from European F3 in 2015 with Toro Rosso.Read Also: Autosport AwardsA rising star's first day in an F1 car Entering his ... Keep reading

As first reported by Motorsport.com, the plan to seal the drains was proposed by F1 stakeholders on the final day of the three-day test last week.Testing was heavily disrupted when a drain cover on the approach to Bahrain’s Turn 11 was forced loose.In a Bahrain race preview statement, the FIA has now revealed that “following incidents in last week’s pre-season test sessions, remedial works ... Keep reading

As first reported by Autosport, the plan to seal the drains was proposed by F1 stakeholders on the final day of the three-day test last week.Testing was heavily disrupted when a drain cover on the approach to Bahrain’s Turn 11 was forced loose.In a Bahrain race preview statement, the FIA has now revealed that “following incidents in last week’s pre-season test sessions, remedial works ... Keep reading

Last August, Hamilton signed a two-year contract with the team, which was widely assumed to be fixed for the full term and left open the possibility for Mercedes to take Antonelli in 2026.However, Hamilton was able to use escape clauses to miss the second year and take up an offer from Ferrari, leaving his seat free for 2025 and giving Mercedes the chance to take Antonelli as early as next ... Keep reading

Last August, Hamilton signed a two-year contract with the team, which was widely assumed to be fixed for the full term and left open the possibility for Mercedes to take Antonelli in 2026.However, Hamilton was able to use escape clauses to miss the second year and take up an offer from Ferrari, leaving his seat free for 2025 and giving Mercedes the chance to take Antonelli as early as next ... Keep reading

The height and weight of a driver in Formula 1 can dictate the adjustments the team makes to a car to try and fulfil the vehicle’s maximum potential. These details impact how much ballast will need to be added to a car and how that is positioned in the car to help with weight distribution.  How does height affect F1 drivers? The FIA, along with the taller drivers on the grid, have been ... Keep reading

Horner has been under investigation by Red Bull’s parent energy drinks company following allegations made against him by a female employee.Red Bull appointed an independent barrister to look into the matter, and interviews have taken place with Horner and other individuals involved to try to get a clear picture of the situation.Horner has strongly denied any wrongdoing over the matter.There has ... Keep reading

F1 teams have begun to announce their reserve and test drivers for the 2024 season. With teams preparing for the 24-race season, these are the drivers who will be supporting the team behind the scenes.What's the difference between an F1 reserve driver and a test driver?Additional drivers within Formula 1 teams don’t all have the same job title, with different roles being given to different ... Keep reading

Former Alpine and Aston Martin team boss, Otmar Szafnauer believes the sport could handle up to 30 races a season.

Horner has been under investigation by Red Bull’s parent energy drinks company following allegations made against him by a female employee.Red Bull appointed an independent barrister to look into the matter, and interviews have taken place with Horner and other individuals involved to try to get a clear picture of the situation.Horner has strongly denied any wrongdoing over the matter.There has ... Keep reading

After back-to-back championship doubles for Red Bull and Max Verstappen, a number of its rivals have made radical revamps of their cars for 2024 in a bid to close the gap.And while just making a Red Bull clone is no guarantee of success, as teams need to understand what makes the concept work, the indications are there that this is happening.PLUS: Why it's a Red Bull vs Ferrari battle in F1 2024 ... Keep reading

After back-to-back championship doubles for Red Bull and Max Verstappen, a number of its rivals have made radical revamp of their cars for 2024 in a bid to close the gap.And while just making a Red Bull clone is no guarantee of success, as teams need to understand what makes the concept work, the indications are there that this is happening.Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache thinks that some ... Keep reading

The season begins with the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir. You can listen to BBC radio commentary and follow live text updates.

The testing he did with an old Alpine gave him a head start, but that programme ended in the summer of 2022 after his move to McLaren was announced.He didn’t sit in a racing car in the second half of the year, and his Bahrain debut was his first race since the 2022 F2 finale some 15 months earlier.He not only had to go through the usual rookie learning process but also had to do it with a car ... Keep reading

The testing he did with an old Alpine gave him a head start, but that programme ended in the summer of 2022 after his move to McLaren was announced.He didn’t sit in a racing car in the second half of the year, and his Bahrain debut was his first race since the 2022 F2 finale some 15 months earlier.He not only had to go through the usual rookie learning process but also had to do it with a car ... Keep reading

The lights are yet to go out at the Bahrain International Circuit to signal the start of the new season and EA Sports has locked in a worldwide launch date for F1 24 of 31 May.Without revealing all the information about the latest offering, the developer has teased "a fully overhauled career mode, new EA Sports Dynamic Handling System, and so much more".But players need not wait until the end of ... Keep reading

The lights are yet to go out at the Bahrain International Circuit to signal the start of the new season and EA Sports has locked in a worldwide launch date for F1 24 of 31 May.Without revealing all the information about the latest offering, the developer has teased "a fully overhauled career mode, new EA Sports Dynamic Handling System, and so much more".But players need not wait until the end of ... Keep reading

The car appears to be competitive, Charles and Carlos are in great shape and the mood in the team is super focused and we are determined to get a good result.

The subject came to the fore over the Bahrain test, with McLaren CEO Zak Brown leading the questioning of how closely the two teams work together and the personnel movement between them.Asked if he thought such comments were an attempt to destabilise Red Bull – already in the spotlight in the wake of the ongoing Christian Horner investigation – Verstappen suggested that it was a familiar ... Keep reading

It's natural for a new car to be an improvement on the previous one, but what counts is where we stand compared to everyone else.

We knew it was not going to be an easy start to the season. Accepting these challenges is all part of racing in F1 and it is important that we all push very hard to develop the A524 in the coming weeks and months.

Schumacher has joined Alpine to race its A424 Hypercar this year, in a bid to get back to top-line competition after a season on the sidelines as Mercedes F1 reserve.While he is continuing those reserve duties when available in 2024, the partnership with Alpine has prompted suggestions that the German could get some running in one of the French manufacturer’s grand prix cars.However, Alpine team ... Keep reading

Schumacher has joined Alpine to race its A424 Hypercar this year, in a bid to get back to top-line competition after a season on the sidelines as Mercedes F1 reserve.While he is continuing those reserve duties when available in 2024, the partnership with Alpine has prompted suggestions that the German could get some running in one of the French manufacturer’s grand prix cars.However, Alpine team ... Keep reading

The Hinwil-based squad has moved away from its previous push-rod arrangement at the front to follow a trend that had been started by Red Bull and McLaren.Sauber technical director James Key had anticipated that, with those two teams having put the pull-rod front to such good use, it was an obvious design avenue to go down.However, RB proved to be the only other squad which went that way – with ... Keep reading

F1 is officially underway for 2024 which means the return of its popular fantasy game, where participants can manage their own racing team.It offers people the opportunity to virtually build a team of drivers and constructors to compete online by scoring points depending on how their squad performs in real life. People can now sign up for F1 Fantasy 2024 ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix on 29 ... Keep reading

As F1 heads to a new rules era from 2026, one idea that some outfits want is to clamp down on the kind of partnerships that exist between Red Bull/RB and Ferrari/Haas.McLaren CEO Zak Brown in particular has been extremely vocal on the point, as he suggests F1’s regulations are “no longer fit for purpose” in allowing teams to work together, especially with common ownership.Read ... Keep reading

The Hinwil-based squad has moved away from its previous push-rod arrangement at the front to follow a trend that had been started by Red Bull and McLaren.Sauber technical director James Key had anticipated that, with those two teams having put the pull-rod front to such good use, it was an obvious design avenue to go down.However, RB proved to be the only other squad which went that way – with ... Keep reading

DHL is one of several sponsors that were first signed up in the days of former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, and which have continued through the Liberty Media era.Ecclestone always had a soft spot for the company, even allowing it to enjoy the privilege of having a motorhome slot in the paddock alongside those of the teams and tyre companies.More recently DHL has played a part in helping F1 to ... Keep reading

The new Red Bull has caught the attention because its sidepods and what Wolff has called "The Great Wall" engine cover have much in common with the concept used by Mercedes on its 2022 and 2023 cars, but which has now been abandoned.However, Wolff says that while the RB20 looks outwardly like the W13/W14 series, its real secrets are hidden from view."Well, there are a few things that they have ... Keep reading

The new Red Bull has caught the attention because its sidepods and what Wolff has called "The Great Wall" engine cover have much in common with the concept used by Mercedes on its 2022 and 2023 cars, but which has now been abandoned.However, Wolff says that while the RB20 looks outwardly like the W13/W14 series, its real secrets are hidden from view."Well, there are a few things that they have ... Keep reading

The new Red Bull has caught the attention because its sidepods and what Wolff has called "The Great Wall" engine cover have much in common with the concept used by Mercedes on its 2022 and 2023 cars, but which has now been abandoned.However, Wolff says that while the RB20 looks outwardly like the W13/W14 series, its real secrets are hidden from view."Well, there are a few things that they have ... Keep reading

DHL is one of several sponsors that were first signed up in the days of former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, and which have continued through the Liberty Media era.Ecclestone always had a soft spot for the company, even allowing it to enjoy the privilege of having a motorhome slot in the paddock alongside those of the teams and tyre companies.More recently DHL has played a part in helping F1 to ... Keep reading

The subject came to the fore over the Bahrain test, with McLaren CEO Zak Brown leading the questioning of how closely the two teams work together and the personnel movement between them.Asked if he thought such comments were an attempt to destabilise Red Bull – already in the spotlight in the wake of the ongoing Christian Horner investigation – Verstappen suggested that it was a familiar ... Keep reading

As F1 heads to a new rules era from 2026, one idea that some outfits want is to clamp down on the kind of partnerships that exist between Red Bull/RB and Ferrari/Haas.McLaren CEO Zak Brown in particular has been extremely vocal on the point, as he suggests F1’s regulations are “no longer fit for purpose” in allowing teams to work together, especially with common ownership.While it is ... Keep reading

Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are set to define the 2024 F1 season, but there is plenty of interest elsewhere, writes Andrew Benson.

American F1 viewers can watch every race live on ESPN channels commercial-free from lights-out to checkered flag in 2024.The races are broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC channels, with all practice sessions and qualifying – also shown live – moving around its channels (including ESPNU or ESPNews).ESPN relies on its commentary and punditry from UK-based Sky Sports F1.Read Also: Formula ... Keep reading

We don't want to get ahead of ourselves and we still need to make sure we do everything right to have a strong first weekend.

Red Bull, as is to be expected, look to be at the head of the field. The chasing pack looks tight. We will soon get an idea of where we stack up in that. And the task that is ahead of us to close the gap to the front.

The way we worked during testing, focusing first on race performance, then working on qualifying, that's how we're going to continue.

We now have a solid foundation, and everything will depend on what we build upon it.

We're not in a position to make any predictions on our competitiveness as testing is difficult to read, but we're committed to delivering our best performance in every aspect of our operations.

Lewis Hamilton shocked the F1 world by announcing a switch from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season before the 2024 campaign had even begun.It means the seven-time world champion will add to the long list of F1 legends to have driven in the iconic Ferrari red as part of one of the biggest driver transfers in the history of the series.  Hamilton said he has fulfilled a childhood dream of ... Keep reading

Despite his success in sprints in recent seasons, Verstappen has made it clear he is not a fan of having an extra event tacked on to the weekend.This year's timetable has been changed, with the shootout on Friday followed by the sprint and main qualifying on Saturday.The key change is that while previously teams were locked into an unchanged car specification from FP1 onwards, there are now two ... Keep reading

News emerged on the morning of 1 February, a day after Hamilton informed Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff over breakfast, that the seven-time champion would join Ferrari for the start of 2025.Given the story leaked first, Mercedes and Ferrari did not formally confirm the shock switch until they coordinated their announcements later that evening.Hamilton says he did not tell his parents until that ... Keep reading

News emerged on the morning of 1 February, a day after Hamilton informed Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff over breakfast, that the seven-time champion would join Ferrari for the start of 2025.Given the story leaked first, Mercedes and Ferrari did not formally confirm the shock switch until they coordinated their announcements later that evening.Hamilton says he did not tell his parents until that ... Keep reading

The French manufacturer has been bracing itself for some early struggles, with the performance of its new A524 in Bahrain testing last week suggesting it will be battling at the back of the field – and could even be last.But while it has not been shying away from its competitive reality, Alpine team principal Bruno Famin says that it is not early results that will define its campaign ... Keep reading

Audi’s acquisition of Sauber was officially announced in August 2022, and since then the Swiss team has been ramping up its infrastructure and headcount under CEO Andreas Seidl.Meanwhile Audi has been developing its power unit at a dedicated new F1 facility at its Neuberg base.However, last year key F1 advocate CEO Markus Duesmann left the company. His successor Gernot Dollner is believed to be ... Keep reading

The Red Bull-owned squad is undergoing a revamp of its F1 programme, which has included a change of identity away from AlphaTauri and the arrival of new team management in Laurent Mekies and Peter Bayer.But amid some scrutiny from rival teams over closer ties to sister squad Red Bull, there have been suggestions that it could choose to abandon its Faenza factory and move everything to the UK.This ... Keep reading

Where once the F1 field was full of vibrant liveries that really stood out, F1’s latest ground effect era has witnessed teams strip back to as much bare carbon fibre as possible in a bid to save critical weight from their heavy cars.It is a trend that shows no sign of abating – as Alpine’s excessively black new A524 has shown – and it has even prompted some discussions about whether or not ... Keep reading

Where once the F1 field was full of vibrant liveries that really stood out, F1’s latest ground effect era has witnessed teams strip back to as much bare carbon fibre as possible in a bid to save critical weight from their heavy cars.It is a trend that shows no sign of abating – as Alpine’s excessively black new A524 has shown – and it has even prompted some discussions about whether or not ... Keep reading

The French manufacturer has been bracing itself for some early struggles, with the performance of its new A524 in Bahrain testing last week suggesting it will be battling at the back of the field – and could even be last.But while it has not been shying away from its competitive reality, Alpine team principal Bruno Famin says that it is not early results that will define its campaign ... Keep reading

Audi’s acquisition of Sauber was officially announced in August 2022, and since then the Swiss team has been ramping up its infrastructure and headcount under CEO Andreas Seidl.Meanwhile Audi has been developing its power unit at a dedicated new F1 facility at its Neuberg base.However, last year key F1 advocate CEO Markus Duesmann left the company. His successor Gernot Dollner is believed to be ... Keep reading

The Red Bull-owned squad is undergoing a revamp of its F1 programme, which has included a change of identity away from AlphaTauri and the arrival of new team management in Laurent Mekies and Peter Bayer.But amid some scrutiny from rival teams over closer ties to sister squad Red Bull, there have been suggestions that it could choose to abandon its Faenza factory and move everything to the UK.This ... Keep reading

It revolves around the phrase "the greatest spectacle in racing," which was originally trademarked by former track owner Hulman and Company in 1986, and which has been used extensively in promotion ever since.Early last year, the Liberty Media-run Las Vegas GP used the phrase "the greatest racing spectacle on the planet" on social media, and subsequently, Boles expressed his displeasure to F1.At ... Keep reading

Despite his success in sprints in recent seasons, Verstappen has made it clear that he is not a fan of having an extra shorter event tacked on to the weekend.This year's timetable has been changed, with the shootout on Friday followed by the sprint and main qualifying on Saturday.The key change is that while previously teams were locked into an unchanged car specification from FP1 onwards, there ... Keep reading

BBC Sport's chief F1 writer Andrew Benson answers your questions before the 2024 season opener in Bahrain this weekend.

It revolves around the phrase "the greatest spectacle in racing," which was originally trademarked by former track owner Hulman and Company in 1986, and which has been used extensively in promotion ever since.Early last year, the Liberty Media-run Las Vegas GP used the phrase "the greatest racing spectacle on the planet" on social media, and subsequently, Boles expressed his displeasure to F1.At ... Keep reading

Christian Horner has reacted to increasing unease within the paddock at the fact that Red Bull owns two teams.

No other F1 driver shifts as much merchandise as Lewis Hamilton, and the seven-time world champion's commercial impact stretches far beyond caps and T-Shirts.

Indeed, it is a move that has been viewed by some as the ultimate way to wind up its rival - in showing that it believes it can make work designs that its competitor could not.And based on the form showed by the RB20 in last week’s test in Bahrain, all the indications are there that the world champion squad has already unleashed plenty of performance from it.But rather than it going the Mercedes ... Keep reading