F1 Pickings

The Max Verstappen Grandstand for the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix has sold out before the season has begun. With tickets still available for the Belgian and Austrian grands prix, fans of the four-time champion still have the opportunity to come together in one of his grandstands at those events. The Max Verstappen Grandstand sits on the right of the last turn, offering views of the starting ... Keep reading

Red Bull Supercars drivers Broc Feeney and Will Brown have taken on a challenge in a Formula 1 car alongside former drivers Scott Speed and Brendon Hartley as hosts. The two Australian drivers took the wheel of the Red Bull RB7 at The Bend Motorsport Park in their home country, and ended up smashing the lap record on the 3.4km West Circuit. After losing out on a rock-paper-scissors match ... Keep reading

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has reflected on the night Romain Grosjean pulled himself out of his car engulfed in flames during the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix. Still today, the Japanese team chief can't believe his driver survived.  Promoted to team principal ahead of the 2024 Formula 1 season, Komatsu has been successful in taking the reins of the American team. For years before this ... Keep reading

After the shakedown in Barcelona, the first question to ask is whether it really had to be so secretive. Of course, it matters that ‘official’ winter testing is organised in Bahrain and that, for commercial reasons, only that event is allowed to carry that name, but fears of a repeat of 2014 have proven unfounded. Williams was absent, Audi ran into some teething troubles as a newcomer, and ... Keep reading

After the shakedown in Barcelona, the first question to ask is whether it really had to be so secretive. Of course, it matters that ‘official’ winter testing is organised in Bahrain and that, for commercial reasons, only that event is allowed to carry that name, but fears of a repeat of 2014 have proven unfounded. Williams was absent, Audi ran into some teething troubles as a newcomer, and ... Keep reading

Guenther Steiner has branded his exit from Red Bull Racing as "lucky" because it opened the door for him to move and work in the United States. Before his time as Haas Formula 1 team principal, Steiner worked alongside Christian Horner at the Milton Keynes outfit as technical operations director in 2005. But after Red Bull hired Adrian Newey, Steiner moved to North Carolina to serve as ... Keep reading

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has championed the direction of the new set of regulations in 2026 to  attract brands such as Cadillac and Ford to the series. The 2026 season welcomes a new wave of regulations and features a power unit with a 50:50 split between internal combustion engine power using sustainable fuel and electric power, which is relevant to the wider automotive ... Keep reading

The Mercedes Formula 1 team unveiled the livery of the W17 on Thursday 22 January on social media, but it will also hold a launch event on Monday 2 February. When is the Mercedes 2026 F1 launch event? Monday 2 February Local time: 11:30 GMTCET: 12:30PST: 03:30EST: 06:30JST: 20:30CST (China): 19:30 How to watch the Mercedes 2026 F1 launch event The Mercedes 2026 F1 launch event will ... Keep reading

Shakedown stats suggest that Mercedes has reacted best to rules overhaul.

The complexity of F1's 2026 rules overhaul is such that teams requested an extra shakedown on top of two three-day tests in Bahrain to prepare for the start of the season in Melbourne in March. The new power units, with a much bigger reliance on a more powerful electric MGU-K system, caused such nerves that they requested the Barcelona shakedown behind closed doors, with Bahrain also understood ... Keep reading

The complexity of F1's 2026 rules overhaul is such that teams requested an extra shakedown on top of two three-day tests in Bahrain to prepare for the start of the season in Melbourne in March. The new power units, with a much bigger reliance on a more powerful electric MGU-K system, caused such nerves that they requested the Barcelona shakedown behind closed doors, with Bahrain also understood ... Keep reading

Carlos Alcaraz celebrated his Australian semi-final win by recreating one of Fernando Alonso's famous poses. The 22-year-old Spaniard arrived in Melbourne as the ATP world number one as well as the tournament's top seed, carrying an impressive 12,050 ranking points at the top of the standings. His celebration after the win mimicked that of Alonso's 2006 win at Suzuka, when the then-Renault ... Keep reading

It didn’t take long for the AMR26 to capture the curiosity of fans and insiders alike when it finally took to the track at Formula 1’s Barcelona shakedown yesterday. The three laps it completed late in the day were enough for it to be immortalised in its first photos, which were immediately scrutinised by the most attentive observers. However, the story of how it finally made it to the test ... Keep reading

Martin Brundle has warned that Formula 1's 2026 cars will demand constant energy management from its drivers, adding that this change pushes the championship away from the "raw" wheel-to-wheel racing fans are looking for.  Speaking during the Barcelona testing coverage from Sky Sports F1 this week, the former driver-turned-pundit analysed the first meaningful mileage that came from the 11 ... Keep reading

F1 fans have latched onto the distinct design of Aston Martin's 2026 challenger - the first car entirely managed by Adrian Newey as he takes over the Silverstone outfit this year.  Newey's jump from Red Bull to Aston Martin was always going to be viewed under intense scrutiny, but early reports from Barcelona hint at a successful week for the team. Of course, with 12 constructors' ... Keep reading

The 2026 Formula 1 private shakedown in Barcelona couldn’t have gone any better for Mercedes, says its engineering director Andrew Shovlin.  This week featured the first set of on-track running for the 2026 season, which’ll introduce a new set of regulations with changes to both the chassis and power unit. Because everything is new, this year’s pecking order is not yet known but ... Keep reading

Mercedes has officially confirmed that it will provide the safety and medical cars for every Formula 1 race weekend in 2026. While the news was anticipated after Aston Martin confirmed that its contract alongside the Brackley outfit had come to an end in 2025, Mercedes has now confirmed that it will be the sole provider of safety and medical cars for the upcoming F1 season, including pre-season ... Keep reading

Like Indiana Jones snatching his misplaced fedora from under a rapidly descending stone doorway, Aston Martin’s timing was dramatically close to the edge this week. The team arrived for the Barcelona ‘shakedown week’ late on the third of the five days and only achieved a handful of laps when its AMR26 emerged from the garage on the afternoon of the fourth. Aston Martin had admitted – ... Keep reading

Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle has discussed the first Adrian Newey-designed Aston Martin as it took to the track during private testing in Barcelona. Newey joined the Silverstone outfit as managing technical partner in 2025 and will now serve as team principal in 2026, meaning the AMR26 is the first Newey-designed Aston Martin under his complete ... Keep reading

Like Indiana Jones snatching his misplaced fedora from under a rapidly descending stone doorway, Aston Martin’s timing was dramatically close to the edge this week. The team arrived for the Barcelona shakedown week late on the third of the five days and only achieved a handful of laps when its AMR26 emerged from the garage on the afternoon of the fourth. Aston Martin had admitted – albeit ... Keep reading

The Cadillac Formula 1 team has launched a multi-day activation in Times Square, New York, to build up to the American outfit's 2026 livery unveiling on 8 February. Cadillac's 2026 livery will be revealed in a TV advert during the Super Bowl, and leading up to the event, a replica Cadillac F1 car will be placed in a chrome-clad structure in the iconic Times Square from 6 to 9 February. The ... Keep reading

Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc says he is feeling more and more at ease in what he called a "super interesting" 2026 car. After a first half-day in the Ferrari SF-26 in largely wet conditions on Tuesday, Leclerc got his first outing on a dry Barcelona track on Thursday afternoon and completed 89 laps. In the morning session, team-mate Lewis Hamilton had already completed 85 laps on ... Keep reading

Alpine needs to turn a page in its history. Team boss Flavio Briatore insisted on swapping from Renault to Mercedes power, removing one long-standing excuse for its underperformance. The Enstone-based team finished last year at the bottom of the constructors’ championship and its engineers have responded by exploiting the new regulations with curiosity and creativity.  The A526, overseen by ... Keep reading

While Lewis Hamilton may have sold his entire car collection, the same cannot be said for his growing card collection. The seven-time champion revealed his growing love for collectible trading cards ahead of Dior's men's show in Paris. Speaking to Vogue France, the Ferrari driver discussed a number of topics, from his workout routine to fashion. As the driver now assists Ferrari in private ... Keep reading

Alpine needs to turn a page in its history. Team boss Flavio Briatore insisted on swapping from Renault to Mercedes power, removing one long-standing excuse for its underperformance. The Enstone-based team finished last year at the bottom of the constructors’ championship and its engineers have responded by exploiting the new regulations with curiosity and creativity.  The A526, overseen by ... Keep reading

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali carried the Winter Olympics torch to Lake Carezza ahead of the games taking place in his home country, Italy, from 6-22 February 2026. Domenicali was joined by cross-country skiing Olympian Franco Nones, curling gold medallist Amos Mosaner and former athletes Daniela Ceccarelli, Isolde Kostner and Karen Putzer to serve as torchbearers on 28 ... Keep reading

Lewis Hamilton has been instrumental in turning the stroll into the Formula 1 paddock into a catwalk, and by extension, an opportunity to work with fashion brands and raise awareness during these highly photographed moments. The seven-time champion has explained why he is so "intentional" with his fashion choices for those moments, revealing that he feels it is important to promote emerging ... Keep reading

Mercedes has delivered a strong start to the 2026 Formula 1 pre-season as Andrea Kimi Antonelli completed a full race simulation on day two. The Mercedes W17 ran reliably on both Monday and Wednesday, with George Russell having completed 92 laps by lunchtime yesterday before handing over the car to Antonelli. The youngster then reeled off 91 laps after the break, including what he said was a ... Keep reading

F1 TV presenter James Hinchcliffe has weighed in on Isack Hadjar's future at Red Bull, questioning whether the French-Algerian driver could break the team's streak of struggling with its second driver. Hadjar secured the coveted seat alongside four-time champion Max Verstappen after impressing during his rookie season with Racing Bulls. But the move has come under scrutiny from fans and those ... Keep reading

Mercedes has delivered a strong start to the 2026 Formula 1 pre-season as Andrea Kimi Antonelli completed a full race simulation on day two. The Mercedes W17 ran reliably on both Monday and Wednesday, with George Russell having completed 92 laps by lunchtime yesterday before handing over the car to Antonelli. The youngster then reeled off 91 laps after the break, including what he said was a ... Keep reading

Almost every driver who has run so far during the Formula 1 shakedown in Barcelona came up with the same line after climbing out of the car: “It’s very different from what we’re used to.” That starts with the fact that the 2026 cars have considerably less downforce, and less downforce usually means more complaints from the person behind the wheel. The FIA, however, hopes that this ... Keep reading

Almost every driver who has run so far during the Formula 1 shakedown in Barcelona came up with the same line after climbing out of the car: “It’s very different from what we’re used to.” That starts with the fact that the 2026 cars have considerably less downforce, and less downforce usually means more complaints from the person behind the wheel. The FIA, however, hopes that this ... Keep reading

Although only two teams took to the track on the second day of Formula 1's five-day 'shakedown' behind closed doors at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, there was plenty of material for analysis. During the morning, as Ferrari focused on data collection and logging mileage on its first proper day of running the SF-26, Charles Leclerc was able to complete his first laps on a soaking track ... Keep reading

Karun Chandhok has backed George Russell to become the 2026 Formula 1 drivers' champion. 2026 brings in a new set of regulations to the championship, effectively levelling the playing field. While Red Bull, and then later McLaren, dominated the ground effect era from 2022 to the end of 2025, there is no way of knowing how each team will compare in the upcoming season. When choosing a driver ... Keep reading

Although only two teams took to the track on the second day of Formula 1's five-day 'shakedown' behind closed doors at the Circuit de Catalunya, there was plenty of material for analysis. During the morning, as Ferrari focused on data collection and logging mileage on its first proper day of running the SF-26, Charles Leclerc was able to complete his first laps on a soaking track surface as ... Keep reading

Seven years ago, Red Bull signed sophomore Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly as Max Verstappen’s new team-mate following the Frenchman’s convincing rookie season, forgoing a more experienced option in Carlos Sainz – but Gasly crashed twice at Barcelona in pre-season testing and was demoted to Toro Rosso after a nightmare first half of the season. Seven years later, Red Bull signed sophomore ... Keep reading

The F1 movie has been nominated for three BAFTAs in the Best Editing, Best Special Visual Effects and Best Sound categories. The Formula 1 blockbuster, directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, has received multiple nominations during awards season, with the latest from the BAFTAs. In the Best Editing category, F1 faces competition from A House Of Dynamite, Marty ... Keep reading

Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok has raised concerns about Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari race engineer changes. The seven-time champion is currently working with an interim race engineer during private testing for the 2026 F1 season after Ferrari confirmed earlier in January that his 2025 race engineer, Riccardo Adami, would move to another role. Hamilton joined ... Keep reading

Cadillac Formula 1 team principal Graeme Lowdon says the needle between his team and Red Bull partner Ford "adds another layer of interest" to the series. Cadillac is making its long-awaited F1 debut this year as an 11th expansion team, initially joining as a Ferrari customer outfit while working on its in-house power units in the US. Meanwhile, Ford is returning to the series as a power unit ... Keep reading

Aston Martin has confirmed that it has retained Stoffel Vandoorne as its simulator, test and reserve driver for 2026. The Belgian driver has been part of the Silverstone outfit since 2023, initially joining as the reserve and simulator driver alongside 2022 Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich.  After making his Formula 1 debut in 2016 with McLaren, where he also served as a reserve driver ... Keep reading

Red Bull boss unable to assess the impact Isack Hadjar's crash will have on the team.

Ferrari’s first day of 2026 Formula 1 pre-season testing was made “very challenging” by the rain but featured “no major issues”, Lewis Hamilton recapped. F1 has reconvened for an opening five-day test behind closed doors at Barcelona, with teams allowed to run on three of those days. After shaking down its new SF-26 at Fiorano on Friday with a 15km Demonstration Event, Ferrari ... Keep reading

The initial filming day for Racing Bulls at Imola and the collective shakedown in Barcelona mark the first steps for Red Bull-Ford Powertrains on track. The partnership came about after Red Bull’s negotiations with Porsche – which wanted to be a partner “on equal footing” – broke down and Ford Performance director Mark Rushbrook saw his opportunity. By his own admission, he simply ... Keep reading

The initial filming day for Racing Bulls at Imola and the collective shakedown in Barcelona mark the first steps for Red Bull-Ford Powertrains on track. The partnership came about after Red Bull’s negotiations with Porsche – which wanted to be a partner “on equal footing” – broke down and Ford Performance director Mark Rushbrook saw his opportunity. By his own admission, he simply ... Keep reading

When new rules come into force in Formula 1, it's natural to see many different interpretations across the grid, especially on those components that define the car’s overall concept. From tail to tip, from the sidepods to the suspension, all the way to the front wing, changes have swept the 2026 cars in line with the new philosophy this season. The FIA has sought to limit the outwash effect ... Keep reading

Charles Leclerc says “everything went properly” during Ferrari’s first morning of 2026 Formula 1 testing at Barcelona. As F1 moves into a new technical era with new chassis and engine regulations, the world championship is having a five-day test behind closed doors at the Catalan track this week, though teams can run on only three days each. Ferrari unveiled its new SF-26 on Friday in ... Keep reading

When new rules come into force in Formula 1, it's natural to see many different interpretations across the grid, especially on those components that define the car’s overall concept. From tail to tip, from the sidepods to the suspension, all the way to the front wing, changes have swept the 2026 cars in line with the new philosophy this season. The FIA has sought to limit the outwash effect ... Keep reading

The Williams Formula 1 team has partnered with Sparco ahead of the 2026 season on a multi-year deal. Sparco joins the Grove outfit as its official racewear and technical apparel supplier, providing race suits for drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, as well as the team's F1 Academy driver, and members of the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy, Williams Heritage, sim racing drivers and the ... Keep reading

Formula 1 and F1 Academy have announced today, 27 January 2026, a partnership with Standard Chartered. The bank has joined F1 as its official wealth management and corporate and investment banking partner in a multi-year deal from 2026, and will extend its partnership to the all-female racing series. The new partnership will result in new fan experiences across the F1 calendar, with ... Keep reading

Isack Hadjar is feeling positive following strong opening day with Red Bull.

George Russell admits to being impressed by both Audi and Haas as the pre-season shakedown got underway.

Gabriel Bortoleto is preparing for his second season in Formula 1. While his rookie year is now behind him, the Brazilian driver has confirmed he has not changed his approach in his preparations for the upcoming season. Bortoleto finished 19th in the 2025 drivers' championship and is eager to start another season with the Audi F1 team, which has taken over Sauber. "To be honest, the same way ... Keep reading

The first serious test for Red Bull Ford Powertrains – following an earlier filming day for Racing Bulls at Imola – has gone largely according to plan. Liam Lawson caused a red flag at the start of the lunch break, but still completed 88 laps in his Racing Bulls. Max Verstappen was not behind the wheel on Monday, but saw his team-mate Isack Hadjar lap the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 107 ... Keep reading

The first serious test for Red Bull Ford Powertrains – following an earlier filming day for Racing Bulls at Imola – has gone largely according to plan. Liam Lawson caused a red flag at the start of the lunch break, but still completed 88 laps in his Racing Bulls. Max Verstappen was not behind the wheel on Monday, but saw his team-mate Isack Hadjar lap the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 107 ... Keep reading

George Russell says he has been impressed by the amount of running completed by several rival teams, including Red Bull and Haas, during the opening day of Formula 1’s 2026 Barcelona shakedown. The first day of running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya proved productive for a number of teams, despite the major changes introduced for the new regulation cycle covering both chassis and power ... Keep reading

George Russell says he has been impressed by the amount of running completed by several rival teams, including Red Bull and Haas, during the opening day of Formula 1’s 2026 Barcelona shakedown. The first day of running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya proved productive for a number of teams, despite the major changes introduced for the new regulation cycle covering both chassis and power ... Keep reading

Charles Leclerc has reached a milestone away from Formula 1 after his personal YouTube channel surpassed 1 million subscribers. The Ferrari F1 driver has now reached a total of 1.47 million subscribers on his channel, where he shares behind-the-scenes looks at race weekends, his piano music, what he gets up to during the winter and summer breaks, and insights into his personal brands, such as ... Keep reading

The Charity Commission, the regulator of charities in England and Wales, has opened an inquiry into the FIA Foundation.

The Charity Commission launches an official inquiry into the FIA Foundation road safety charity.

Aston Martin is set to skip the opening two days of the first 2026 Formula 1 pre-season test in Barcelona, Autosport understands.  F1 is currently hosting a five-day shakedown at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (26-30 January), ahead of further tests in Bahrain (11-13 and 18-20 February) before the forthcoming campaign.  This season will introduce widespread regulation changes and as a ... Keep reading

Aston Martin is set to skip the opening two days of the first 2026 Formula 1 pre-season test in Barcelona, Motorsport.com understands.  F1 is currently hosting a five-day shakedown at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (26-30 January), ahead of further tests in Bahrain (11-13 and 18-20 February) before the forthcoming campaign.  This season will introduce widespread regulation changes and as a ... Keep reading

As testing gets underway behind closed doors in Barcelona, McLaren has released the first images of its 2026 contender, albeit in a special 'stealth' livery.

Charles Leclerc shared his thoughts on the Ferrari SF-26 following the shakedown on Friday 23 January. The Monegasque driver was encouraged by the fact that there were no major issues, but added that it was too early to say definitively, especially as the conditions were not ideal at the Fiorano circuit. Following the unveiling of the SF-26, both Leclerc and his team-mate Lewis Hamilton took ... Keep reading

Karting and junior formula sensation, Freddie Slater, is the first official member of the Audi Driver Development Programme.

McLaren and Red Bull release images of their 2026 Formula 1 cars as pre-season testing starts in Spain.

Audi has signed reigning Formula Regional European champion Freddie Slater as its Driver Development Programme’s first member. Audi has taken over the Sauber Formula 1 outfit after completing its acquisition in 2024 and announced on Friday it was launching its own academy, managed by former F1 driver and three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Allan McNish – who triumphed with Audi on two ... Keep reading

Audi has signed reigning Formula Regional European champion Freddie Slater as its Driver Development Programme’s first member. Audi just took over the Sauber Formula 1 outfit after completing its acquisition in 2024 and announced on Friday it was launching its own academy, managed by former F1 driver and three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Allan McNish – who triumphed with Audi on two ... Keep reading

McLaren and Red Bull release images of their 2026 Formula 1 cars as pre-season testing starts in Spain.

It’s all change in Formula 1 this year, as the series rolls out radical new rules that will upend the chassis and engine regulations. Ahead of the season-opener in Australia, teams have begun unveiling their 2026 challengers. Red Bull was the first to reveal the cars that will compete for its titular outfit and sister team Racing Bulls, before five further teams showcased their 2026 Formula 1 ... Keep reading

As the Barcelona test gets underway, Red Bull issues first images of its 2026 contender.

Red Bull avoids the hardest compound and goes all out for softs as Barcelona test gets underway.

Red Bull has lifted the covers off its RB22 Formula 1 car for the 2026 season. The Milton Keynes-based outfit previously revealed its livery on 15 January at an event in Detroit, Michigan, where its new engine partner Ford is based, but its actual machinery remained to be seen. The first pre-season test gets under way on Monday at Barcelona, with all teams entitled to three days of running ... Keep reading

McLaren has unveiled the car tasked with mounting a successful Formula 1 title defence in 2026, as it unleashed renders of its new MCL40 in a testing livery ahead of the behind-closed-doors Barcelona test. The Woking squad claimed both world championship titles last year and had sewn up the constructors' championship as early as Singapore, well before Lando Norris clinched the drivers' title in ... Keep reading

Red Bull has lifted the covers off its RB22 Formula 1 car for the 2026 season. The Milton Keynes-based outfit previously revealed its livery on 15 January at an event in Detroit, Michigan, where its new engine partner Ford is based, but its actual machinery remained to be seen. The first pre-season test gets under way on Monday at Barcelona, with all teams entitled to three days of running ... Keep reading

McLaren has unveiled the car tasked with mounting a successful Formula 1 title defence in 2026, as it unleashed renders of its new MCL40 in a testing livery ahead of the behind-closed-doors Barcelona test. The Woking squad claimed both world championship titles last year and had sewn up the constructors' championship as early as Singapore, well before Lando Norris clinched the drivers' title in ... Keep reading

BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson looks ahead to the first F1 test of 2026, which is happening in private in Barcelona.

Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner is among a group of investors interested in purchasing a stake in Alpine, the French team confirms.

It’s all change in Formula 1 this year, as the series rolls out radical new rules that will upend the chassis and engine regulations. Ahead of the season-opener in Australia, teams have begun unveiling their 2026 challengers. Red Bull was the first to reveal the cars that will compete for its titular outfit and sister team Racing Bulls, before five further teams showcased their 2026 Formula 1 ... Keep reading

Caution is always required when analysing Formula 1 launches – especially with the introduction of new regulations. A few years ago, Red Bull played games with its sidepod inlets by showing different designs at the launch in Milton Keynes and on renders. During the subsequent test days in Bahrain, the design was different again, which illustrates the steps teams take to stop rivals gaining more ... Keep reading

Caution is always required when analysing Formula 1 launches – especially with the introduction of new regulations. A few years ago, Red Bull played games with its sidepod inlets by showing different designs at the launch in Milton Keynes and on renders. During the subsequent test days in Bahrain, the design was different again, which illustrates the steps teams take to stop rivals gaining more ... Keep reading

With just over a month to go before the eighth season of the popular Drive to Survive is released, we are taking a look at everything we know so far about the Formula 1 docuseries. The launch of the series has been instrumental in a boom in the popularity of the championship in the United States, and also among a younger audience. While it has drawn some criticism over the years for dramatising ... Keep reading

Mercedes has announced another new partnership ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with internationally acclaimed restaurant group Azumi Ltd. Azumi has partnered with the Brackley outfit on a multi-year contract through its Zuma brand.  As part of its new role as Mercedes' official lifestyle and dining curator, Zuma will be part of the team's activations, as well as some of the other brands ... Keep reading

The FIA will not comply with the demands of Formula 1 teams to increase the minimum car weight for 2026 - stressing that the championship needs a “diet”. F1 will introduce a new set of regulations for the forthcoming campaign and one area of change is the car chassis, with the minimum weight reducing from 800kg to 768kg.  It is a drastic change and thus expected to be an early ... Keep reading

The human brain is hard-wired to greet changes and unexpected circumstances with a stress response: the amygdalae, biochemical arbiters of the fight-or-flight instinct, flag the change as a threat. This is just one deep seated explanation for the orgy of negativity that has surrounded the 2026 Formula 1 regulations and their introduction, from drivers hating their first experiences of the '26 ... Keep reading

The human brain is hard-wired to greet changes and unexpected circumstances with a stress response: the amygdalae, biochemical arbiters of the fight-or-flight instinct, flag the change as a threat. This is just one deep seated explanation for the orgy of negativity that has surrounded the 2026 Formula 1 regulations and their introduction, from drivers hating their first experiences of the '26 ... Keep reading

Sergio Perez believes Cadillac will be able to "progress extremely quickly" as they prepare to become the 11th team on the F1 grid.

The 19-year-old Connor Zilisch is already a class winner in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, winning on debut in LMP2 two years ago. This weekend, he is making his GTP debut with the Whelen Cadillac squad and having a blast s they contend for a podium spot. But just a few weeks from now, he will embark on his first full-time season as NASCAR Cup driver, taking the wheel of the No. 88 Trackhouse ... Keep reading

Franco Colapinto is looking “much more mature” ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, according to Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore. The young Argentinian is set to contest his first full F1 campaign, having previously stepped into a race seat mid-season in 2024 with Williams and then again at Alpine in 2025, replacing Jack Doohan from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix ... Keep reading

As Flavio Briatore said at Alpine's 2026 launch in Barcelona, his team has no more excuses. But rather than dreading the added pressure, a character-building 2025 has meant the team has been counting the days until it could finally show what it can do. It was hard not to notice Alpine was in a buoyant mood as it kickstarted its new year on the MSC World Europa, with Pierre Gasly and Franco ... Keep reading

Ferrari has become the first team to publicly show the use of active aerodynamics that is part of the new Formula 1 rules era, after it was spotted during the SF26 shakedown at Fiorano. Having been seen on several videos to explain how it will work, this technology has been officially published on Formula 1's own channels, clearly showing the aerodynamic elements at work. But fans will have ... Keep reading

Haas has become the latest team to shake down its 2026 Formula 1 car, as the grid makes their final preparations for the first official test under the new regulations. F1 sophomore Oliver Bearman turned the first laps in the Haas VF-26 at Ferrari’sFiorano circuit on Saturday, running Pirelli’s special demonstration tyres as part of the team’s filming allocation. In a short social media ... Keep reading

Haas has become the latest team to shake down its 2026 Formula 1 car, as the grid makes their final preparations for the first official test under the new regulations. F1 sophomore Oliver Bearman turned the first laps in the Haas VF-26 at Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit on Saturday, running Pirelli’s special demonstration tyres as part of the team’s filming allocation. In a short social ... Keep reading

Alpine's Flavio Briatore says moving to Mercedes customer units was his only condition for joining the Renault-owned Formula 1 team, contradicting earlier comments that he had nothing to do with the swap. Alpine abandoned its in-house F1's power unit programme in Viry-Chatillon to become a Mercedes customer, saving the parent company a significant amount of money while also giving it better ... Keep reading

FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis believes there is “quite a lot of flexibility” to adjust energy deployment, in particular the new Overtake Mode, throughout the 2026 Formula 1 season. F1 has switched to new power units featuring a near-50:50 split between combustion and electric power, with energy deployment playing an even more crucial role than in the 2014-2025 formula. From ... Keep reading

London's High Court has ruled that four-time IndyCar champion, Alex Palou must pay McLaren $12m (£8.8m) in compensation for breach of contract.

Flavio Briatore has said Christian Horner is one of the interested parties in buying Otro Capital’s stake in the Alpine Formula 1 team. Since being sacked as Red Bull F1 team boss last July, Horner's future has been the subject of numerous rumours and he has been linked to several teams. Horner had been in talks with Aston Martin and Haas in recent months, but the most serious possibility ... Keep reading

Flavio Briatore has said Christian Horner is one of the interested parties in buying Otro Capital’s stake in the Alpine Formula 1 team. Since being sacked as Red Bull F1 team boss last July, Horner's future has been the subject of numerous rumours and he has been linked to several teams. Horner had been in talks with Aston Martin and Haas in recent months, but the most serious possibility ... Keep reading

Flavio Briatore has admitted that Christian Horner is in talks to buy into the Alpine F1 team.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has urged Formula 1 to openly communicate the nuts and bolts of the 2026 regulations due to how different the racing is set to look. The forthcoming campaign will introduce what’s arguably the biggest rule change in F1 history: a car chassis is becoming lighter and smaller, while there’ll be a near 50-50 split between the internal combustion engine and ... Keep reading

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has urged Formula 1 to openly communicate the nuts and bolts of the 2026 regulations due to how different the racing is set to look. The forthcoming campaign will introduce what’s arguably the biggest rule change in F1 history: a car chassis is becoming lighter and smaller, while there’ll be a near 50-50 split between the internal combustion engine and ... Keep reading

Alpine Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly has responded to the backlash he received after a recent Instagram post from his skiing holiday over the Christmas break. The French driver shared a photo of himself sporting a red Marlboro ski suit, an outfit similar to one worn by F1 icon Michael Schumacher, posted on the seven-time Formula 1 champion's birthday. Some fans branded the post as ... Keep reading

Alpine Formula 1 boss Flavio Briatore says he believes the team "will be competitive" in 2026.

Alpine officially began its 2026 campaign with the launch of its livery.

Alpine has revealed the livery for its 2026 car ahead of the upcoming Formula 1 season. The Enstone-based outfit hosted its season launch on a cruise ship off the Catalan coast near Barcelona, celebrating the team's partnership with MSC Cruises. The new design is not radically different from its predecessor, with Alpine's blue associated with title-sponsor BWT's pink. Alpine has been ... Keep reading

Alpine has revealed the livery for its 2026 car ahead of the upcoming Formula 1 season. The Enstone-based outfit hosted its season launch on a cruise ship off the Catalan coast near Barcelona, celebrating the team's partnership with MSC Cruises. The new design is not radically different from its predecessor, with Alpine's blue associated with title-sponsor BWT's pink. Alpine has been ... Keep reading

Ferrari has undertaken its new SF-26 car's shakedown at Fiorano ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Scuderia unveiled its new challenger in a short video at 11:30am CET, but got track running under way even before that. The event was registered as a Demonstration Event, meaning the mileage limit was 15km, which corresponds to five laps of Ferrari's home track. Lewis Hamilton was ... Keep reading

On Friday at 12:30pm CET, just an hour after Ferrari lifted the covers off its new SF-26 [LINK], Alpine is launching its 2026 Formula 1 season. What the Barcelona-based event will exactly consist in is unclear; we know it is taking place on a cruise ship off the Catalan coast, but Alpine did not specify whether it would reveal only its new livery on a showcar or its actual challenger for the ... Keep reading

Former Aston Martin technical director Dan Fallows joins Racing Bulls in the same role before the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Ferrari has launched the SF-26, the car with which it will contest the 2026 season, the 72nd Formula 1 car from the Scuderia.

Ferrari has become the latest Formula 1 team to unveil its 2026 car, the SF-26, ahead of a shakedown at its Fiorano test track. As detailed last month, the Italian team has stuck to its traditional launch plan of revealing its new car on the same day as its shakedown at Fiorano, with both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on hand to complete the first laps of Ferrari’s 2026 ... Keep reading

Here we are and here we go: the status quo will remain as the 2026 Formula 1 season gets under way. Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains will be able to race with power units which are understood to employ clever metallurgy to increase the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine beyond the permitted 16:1. The issue has been the matter of great intrigue since before news leaked out to ... Keep reading

Here we are and here we go: the status quo will remain as the 2026 F1 season gets under way. Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains will be able to race with power units which are understood to employ clever metallurgy to increase the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine beyond the permitted 16:1. The issue has been the matter of great intrigue since before news leaked out to the ... Keep reading

Ferrari has become the latest Formula 1 team to unveil its 2026 car, the SF-26, in a short video ahead of a shakedown at its Fiorano test track. As detailed last month, the Italian team has stuck to its traditional launch plan of revealing its new car on the same day as its shakedown at Fiorano, with both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on hand to complete the first laps of Ferrari’s 2026 ... Keep reading

Ferrari unveiled its 2026 F1 livery on Friday 23 January. "We will finish the assembly of the car the day before the launch, the launch will be January 23, which means we will finish the car on the 22nd, and this is to be aggressive," Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said. "But everybody will do the same, now we have a convergence in the approach of the season, and everybody will do the ... Keep reading

Former Red Bull and Aston Martin man, Dan Fallows joins Racing Bulls as technical director.

Racing Bulls has hired former Red Bull and Aston Martin engineer Dan Fallows as Formula 1 technical director. Fallows will report to chief technical officer Tim Goss and “take responsibility for the overall technical direction of the team, working across design, aerodynamics and performance”, the Faenza-based squad stated in a press release. Read Also: Formula 1Lindblad goes ... Keep reading

On Friday at 11:30am CET, Ferrari will lift the covers off its SF-26 Formula 1 car for the 2026 season. Like its predecessor, the SF-26 will be driven by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, following a mildly underwhelming 2025 campaign where they took fifth and sixth in the drivers' standings, with Ferrari down in fourth in the constructors' championship. Read Also: Formula 1The ... Keep reading

Racing Bulls has hired former Red Bull and Aston Martin engineer Dan Fallows as Formula 1 technical director. Fallows will report to chief technical officer Tim Goss and “take responsibility for the overall technical direction of the team, working across design, aerodynamics and performance”, the Faenza-based squad stated in a press release. Read Also: Formula 1Arvid Lindblad ... Keep reading

After finishing dead last in the 2025 constructors’ championship, Alpine will attempt to bounce back in the upcoming Formula 1 season. What can the French outfit do with a largely unchanged team alongside a new engine partner? Ahead of its season launch in Barcelona on Friday, let’s delve into its prospects. What's new at Alpine? The main change for 2026 at Alpine is the team’s ... Keep reading

The car launch season for the 2026 Formula 1 season is firmly under way with Red Bull, Racing Bulls, Haas, Audi and Mercedes all having revealed their liveries for this year.  Up next is Ferrari on Friday after what was a highly disappointing 2025 campaign, as the Italian outfit slipped to fourth in the championship and failed to win a grand prix for the first time since 2021.  But 2026 ... Keep reading

After finishing dead last in the 2025 constructors’ championship, Alpine will attempt to bounce back in the upcoming Formula 1 season. What can the French outfit do with a largely unchanged team alongside a new engine partner? Ahead of its season launch in Barcelona on Friday, let’s delve into its prospects. What's new at Alpine? The main change for 2026 at Alpine is the team’s ... Keep reading

The car launch season for the 2026 Formula 1 season is firmly under way with Red Bull, Racing Bulls, Haas, Audi and Mercedes all having revealed their liveries for this year.  Up next is Ferrari on Friday after what was a highly disappointing 2025 campaign, as the Italian outfit slipped to fourth in the championship and failed to win a grand prix for the first time since 2021.  But 2026 ... Keep reading

McLaren Racing has announced a new multi-year partnership with PUMA and has released a new merchandise line to accompany it.  PUMA will create team kits across the whole McLaren Racing portfolio as part of the partnership. In addition to the team kit, the PUMA x McLaren Racing Lifestyle Collection launched on 20 January, and the Replica Collection will be available from 2 February.  The ... Keep reading

Mercedes’ 2026 Formula 1 car has hit the track for the first time as the Brackley-based squad ramps up preparations for the series’ new technical era.  Just hours after the official unveiling of the car on Thursday, George Russell put the W17 through its paces at Silverstone, running Pirelli’s grooved ‘demo’ tyres. Read Also: Formula 1Mercedes reveals new-look F1 design ... Keep reading

Mercedes’ 2026 Formula 1 car has hit the track for the first time as the Brackley-based squad ramps up preparations for the series’ new technical era.  Just hours after the official unveiling of the car on Thursday, George Russell put the W17 through its paces at Silverstone, running Pirelli’s grooved ‘demo’ tyres. Read Also: Formula 1Mercedes reveals new-look F1 car ... Keep reading

The F1 movie has landed nominations in four categories for the 2026 Oscars. The blockbuster, directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, has been nominated for Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. In the Best Picture category, F1 is up against Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent ... Keep reading

Lando Norris has said his goal is to secure a back-to-back Formula 1 world drivers' championships in 2026, after winning his first in 2025. The McLaren driver accepted the Autosport Champion award at the 2026 Autosport Awards and confirmed to the cheering crowd that his eyes are on the title once again in the upcoming season.  "It's absolutely the goal. Yes, it's absolutely, absolutely the ... Keep reading

"We found a few opportunities in which we can streamline the way in which we operate collectively," admits Andrea Stella.

The FIA has said it is keen to settle Formula 1's first major technical controversy before the 2026 era gets under way in Australia. Several manufacturers believe Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains have come up with a trick to cleverly exploit the F1 2026's power unit regulations, which prescribe a compression ratio of 16:1 down from 18:1 last year. That compression ratio is measured when the ... Keep reading

Formula 1's governing body the FIA says it is keen to settle the series' first major technical controversy before the 2026 era gets under way in Australia. Several manufacturers believe Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains have come up with a trick to cleverly exploit the F1 2026's power unit regulations, which prescribe a compression ratio of 16:1 down from 18:1 last year. Read ... Keep reading

McLaren is to skip the opening day of next week's 'private' test at Barcelona, while fans will effectively miss the first week of the Bahrain test.