F1 Pickings

Former F1 TV presenter Will Buxton claimed Aston Martin "lost testing" after the Silverstone outfit struggled in Bahrain.  Aston Martin has already had a tricky start to the season after arriving in Bahrain for pre-season testing off the pace. Lance Stroll claimed that the AMR26, which is the first Aston Martin F1 car to be designed under the leadership of Adrian Newey and with the Honda ... Keep reading

As IndyCar racer and team owner Bryan Herta’s son, Colton Herta was always likely to develop an interest in motorsport. But when his single-seater career started, Herta quickly set his sights on Europe. At age 15, he took part in the MSA Formula championship (now known as British F4), taking third place as a certain Lando Norris clinched his first of many junior titles. Herta graduated to ... Keep reading

Footage of Charles Leclerc and Alexandra Saint Mleux has surfaced, showing what looks to be confirmation that the couple have secretly tied the knot. The videos, which are quickly taking over social media, show the Monegasque driver in a vintage 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa alongside Saint Mleux. Leclerc is sporting a pale suit while Saint Mleux is wearing what looks to be a white ... Keep reading

Haas Formula 1 driver Oliver Bearman revealed that he did three or four days of filming with the Netflix Drive to Survive crew, only to find that none of it had been included, joking that the footage went "straight in the bin". The Briton made an appearance on the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Greg James ahead of the 2026 F1 season and was joined by the film crew. "Yes, but don't get your ... Keep reading

F1's powers that be are "closely monitoring" ongoing events in the Middle East ahead of the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

In the build-up to the new Formula 1 season, alongside energy management, much of the discussion has centred on two words: compression ratio. Put simply, it is the ratio between the volume of the cylinder when the piston is at the bottom of its stroke and the volume when the piston is at the top. To make the 2026 engine formula more accessible to newcomers and easier to work with fully sustainable ... Keep reading

The FIA has quietly done away with the rule that saw two mandatory pit stops at the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix.

The modern Ferrari era is defined by one Formula 1 driver, Charles Leclerc, who remains central to Ferrari’s long-term championship ambitions. Since joining the Scuderia as a race driver in 2019, Leclerc has evolved from a highly rated junior prospect into a multiple grand prix winner and consistent title challenger. The question as F1’s new era begins is whether Ferrari can give him the ... Keep reading

Charles Leclerc has been Ferrari’s golden boy in Formula 1 for seven seasons now, but his eighth could prove to be his best shot at F1’s ultimate prize yet. That’s if the Scuderia can come out the gate with a strong challenger in line with the sweeping overhaul that is set to shake up the series in 2026. And after a secret Barcelona ‘shakedown’ and six days of testing in Bahrain, the ... Keep reading

It is a big year for Formula 1 given it is debuting a completely new set of regulations in 2026, but there are some drivers who need to master the rule change more than others. Whether it’s because they had a poor 2025, a poor last few years, or even simply as they’re joining a new team, there are five drivers who all have a point to prove as they chase a big season in 2026. Here are ... Keep reading

Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has compared Ferrari's impressive rear wing mechanism seen in this year's pre-season testing to McLaren's infamous third brake pedal. The Scuderia arrived at the second Bahrain test accompanied by plenty of curiosity as the paddock turned its attention to its unusual hardware at the rear of the car tied to the new Straight Line Mode that has replaced DRS ... Keep reading

Mercedes' rivals succeed in securing a rule change following a pre-season technical row over engine performance.

Formula 1 has abandoned plans to repeat its one-off Monaco Grand Prix pitstop rule in the wake of last year's controversy. With overtaking pretty much impossible in the streets of Monte Carlo, the FIA implemented the mandatory use of three tyre sets last year to force teams onto a two-stop strategy and hopefully unlock more strategic options and jeopardy. But the idea didn't have the ... Keep reading

The FIA has confirmed that all five engine manufacturers have agreed to a change to the engine regulations relating to compression ratios effective from 1 June.

Formula 1 has abandoned plans to repeat its one-off Monaco Grand Prix pitstop rule in the wake of last year's controversy. With overtaking pretty much impossible in the streets of Monte Carlo, the FIA implemented the mandatory use of three tyre sets last year to force teams onto a two-stop strategy and hopefully unlock more strategic options and jeopardy. But the idea didn't have the ... Keep reading

Formula 1's governing body the FIA says the series' power unit manufacturers have unanimously approved changes to how engine compression ratios are measured, with revisions coming as early as 1 June. The compression ratio of the V6 combustion engines, which measures how much the air-fuel mixture inside a cylinder can be compressed, has been reduced to 16:1 for this generation of power units - ... Keep reading

Formula 1's governing body the FIA says the series' power unit manufacturers have unanimously approved changes to how engine compression ratios are measured, with revisions coming as early as 1 June. The compression ratio of the V6 combustion engines, which measures how much the air-fuel mixture inside a cylinder can be compressed, has been reduced to 16:1 for this generation of power units - ... Keep reading

Our Ask Me Anything team explain the different types of tyres used in Formula 1.

As the eighth series of Netflix's hugely popular Drive To Survive is released this weekend, has Formula 1 become one big celebrity playground?

Cadillac has branded its 2026 Formula 1 car the MAC-26, named after world champion and Indy 500 winner Mario Andretti. Andretti was one of the original driving forces behind the project to bring the team to F1, formerly helmed by his son Michael. The 85-year-old has since taken on more of a backseat role in the project, which is led by majority owner TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss and team ... Keep reading

Cadillac has branded its 2026 Formula 1 car the MAC-26, named after US world champion and Indy 500 winner Mario Andretti. Andretti was one of the original driving forces behind the project to bring the team to F1, formerly helmed by his son Michael. The 85-year-old has since taken on more of a backseat in the project, which is led by majority owner TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss and team ... Keep reading

The inaugural Cadillac chassis will carry the designation MAC-26, or Mario Andretti Cadillac 26, honouring 1978 World Champion Mario Andretti.

Martin Brundle has backed George Russell to be able to deal with the pressure of fighting for the 2026 Formula 1 drivers' championship, should he be in a position to do so. The Mercedes driver is a favourite heading into the season with the Brackley outfit expected to be strong in the new era of regulations, which focus on an almost 50:50 split between internal combustion and electric power ... Keep reading

McLaren has reached a final settlement with Chip Ganassi Racing after the London High Court ruled against Alex Palou and CGR during the long-running dispute. In January, the four-time IndyCar champion was ordered to give McLaren more than $12million in compensation, following a five-week trial that occurred last year. It came after McLaren sued Palou - initially for approximately $20m - for ... Keep reading

McLaren has reached a final settlement with Chip Ganassi Racing after the London High Court ruled against Alex Palou and CGR during the long-running dispute. In January, the four-time IndyCar champion was ordered to give McLaren more than $12million in compensation, following a five-week trial that occurred last year. It came after McLaren sued Palou - initially for approximately $20m - for ... Keep reading

McLaren Racing has announced a new multi-year partnership with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. The brands will work closely across both the Woking outfit's Formula 1 and World Endurance Championship efforts. As part of the new partnership, the Etihad branding will feature across the F1 race cars in prominent positions such as the rear wing and halo, the F1 ... Keep reading

Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle is confident that Lewis Hamilton will have a better year in 2026 than he did in 2025. The seven-time champion used the 2025 season, his first with Ferrari, to adjust to the Maranello outfit. As he struggled to get to grips with the new team, he finished the year without a grand prix podium finish, with the highlight being a sprint ... Keep reading

Red Bull Formula 1 team boss Laurent Mekies has detailed why he believes Max Verstappen's value to the team is just as great off the track as it is in the car. Mekies and Verstappen formed a strong partnership as soon as the Frenchman took over from Christian Horner as Red Bull's team principal last summer, with Mekies' engineering-led approach credited as playing a part in the team's ... Keep reading

As Formula 1 enters its 2026 regulation reset, Lando Norris sits atop the grid as the reigning 2025 world driver’s champion, racing for the world constructors’ championship-winning team, McLaren. He’s earned every result along the way: after rising through the junior ranks as a McLaren-backed prospect, Norris has grown from a consistent points finisher into a grand prix winner and regular ... Keep reading

Lando Norris didn’t make the charge to the 2025 Formula 1 crown easy for himself last year. The young Briton took the fight to the final race of the year as he fended off attacks from team-mate Oscar Piastri and a late resurgence from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. But 2026 offers a clean slate for the McLaren driver. Amid Formula 1’s rules shakeup, Norris could face stiff competition over ... Keep reading

The Honda power unit run by the Aston Martin team is suffering vibrations... and they're not good.

McLaren boss Andrea Stella reckons his team is slightly on the back foot heading into the 2026 Formula 1 campaign - claiming it will try to “exploit the counterattack”. The new season will start in Melbourne next weekend after tests in Barcelona and Bahrain, from which Mercedes emerged as favourites for the title having impressed in its race simulations. Ferrari is expected to be its ... Keep reading

$1.12bn (£831m) revenue in Q4 2024 increases to $1.37bn (£1.02bn) in 2025, while operating income for the year was up 28% to $632m (£469m).

The Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix has unveiled a striking winner's trophy for the race's move to Madrid in September, having selected a design by the Italian Pininfarina Studios. Promoters of the under construction Madring near Madrid's Barajas airport selected the Italian design from three competition finalists, with Pininfarina building the trophy around the Madring's most eye-catching design ... Keep reading

Honda is working around the clock to solve crippling vibration issues in time for Formula 1's 2026 season opener in Australia after a disastrous series of tests with Aston Martin. Aston Martin and Honda suffered a rough start to their partnership in pre-season testing, with minimal mileage at the Barcelona shakedown after the AMR26 was delivered late. A number of issues on both the car and ... Keep reading

Honda is working to solve crippling vibration issues in time for Formula 1's 2026 season opener in Australia after a disastrous series of tests with Aston Martin. Aston Martin and Honda suffered a rough start to their partnership in pre-season testing, with minimal mileage at the Barcelona shakedown after the AMR26 was delivered late. A number of issues on both the car and power unit side then ... Keep reading

On 8 March, the lights will go out at Albert Park for the first race of the new Formula 1 era, featuring a completely different car and an entirely new engine. However, Max Verstappen, who is about to start his 12th season in the pinnacle of motorsport, does not feel his Red Bull will be in contention for victory there. "Overall, I feel positive in the sense that we had very few problems," ... Keep reading

Cadillac and Audi enter F1 with the ultimate goal of becoming world champions. Both know they have some way to go before achieving that aim.

Sky Sports Formula 1 lead commentator David Croft claimed that Mercedes driver George Russell looks comfortable and at home from the outside, but will be under immense self-imposed pressure ahead of the 2026 season. 2026 could be one of the biggest opportunities Russell gets to achieve a drivers' championship title as Mercedes is understood to have a potent power unit for the new ... Keep reading

Former Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone believes Audi F1 driver Gabriel Bortoleto "will be a threat" to his experienced team-mate Nico Hulkenberg as the German brand begins its first season this year.  Audi's entry into the championship this year has been highly anticipated by fans since the takeover of the Sauber team. While the four rings of the brand have been seen in a number of promotional ... Keep reading

Come to Formula 1, they said. It's going to be fun, they said. "Honestly, the first car build in 2016... that was hell," Ayao Komatsu, who was one of the first Haas hires, joining from Lotus ahead of the team's first season, exclaims. "It just completely destroyed all of us. I remember driving from Dallara factory to the airport in a van with a bunch of mechanics. "It felt like we'd done ... Keep reading

Former F1 TV presenter Will Buxton has applauded Ferrari for its innovative rear wing that flips 180°, adding that the Maranello outfit "could qualify on the back row of the grid and be leading the grand prix by Turn 1." During pre-season testing in Bahrain, Ferrari turned up with a rear wing that caught the paddock's attention, as instead of simply opening and closing, it flips 180°. As ... Keep reading

Red Bull Racing and Oracle today announced a multi-year extension and expansion of their title partnership as the team prepares for the most significant regulation shift in modern F1 history.

Pirelli has announced Mario Isola is leaving his role as its head of motorsports, which includes managing its Formula 1 programme, with Dario Marrafuschi his replacement. Isola had been in his role as Pirelli's F1 programme manager since 2017, when he took over from Paul Hembery. In 2021 he became the overall motorsports director for the Italian manufacturer. But on the eve of the 2026 season ... Keep reading

Ralf Schumacher has questioned whether Honda has underestimated the scale of Formula 1's power unit regulations after a tricky bout of testing for the Aston Martin F1 team in Bahrain.  The Silverstone outfit has put a lot of trust in its works Honda partnership for 2026. Pairing it with Adrian Newey's first complete chassis for the team and substantial investment from its owner Lawrence ... Keep reading

Dario Marrafuschi replaces Mario Isola as the new Head of Motorsport at Pirelli.

Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad has opened up about the "special moment" he found out he would be a Formula 1 driver. The 18-year-old is the only rookie of the 2026 Formula 1 season and will race alongside Liam Lawson at Red Bull's sister outfit. After Isack Hadjar replaced Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull for the upcoming season, Lindblad secured the open spot alongside the New Zealander. "Since ... Keep reading

Former Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has warned that the championship could lose fans with the new regulations.  2026 brings in a new wave of regulations to F1. The major changes include an almost 50:50 split between internal combustion and electric power, smaller, lighter cars and the introduction of active aerodynamics, which replaces DRS. These changes mean there will be a bigger emphasis ... Keep reading

When Andrea Stella addressed the media on Friday evening in Bahrain, he shared something in addition to his first impression of the new pecking order: McLaren had tested so-called super clipping up to the full 350 kilowatts that day. Super clipping is, put simply, the state in which the 2026 cars can harvest energy while the driver is at full throttle. It sounds attractive for the ... Keep reading

Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports Germany reporter Ralf Schumacher has branded Aston Martin's start to the 2026 season a "massive disaster and a total surprise". The Silverstone outfit heads into the 2026 season with a new Honda power unit partnership and the first Aston Martin F1 car designed under Adrian Newey, who is now also the team principal. Needless to say, expectations were high ... Keep reading

Carlos Sainz has received high praise after he met the young fan behind his lucky Sparkles helmet sticker, Thea. To celebrate Thea's seventh birthday, she took a tour of the Williams headquarters in Grove and met team principal James Vowles and Sainz. This all started when Sainz and his team-mate Alex Albon answered fan questions in a social media video in September 2025. Thea asked Sainz if ... Keep reading

Have F1's new rules damaged its status as the ultimate challenge? Andrew Benson assesses what the drivers are having to do differently and whether skill still matters.

Safety concerns have led to changes in Formula 1's starting procedures for the 2026 season, and to a lower cap on the amount of energy which can be harvested on straights. But there are also worries emerging about how the new cars will perform in the wet, since very few teams have engaged in any meaningful running in low-grip conditions. Both three-day tests in Bahrain naturally took place ... Keep reading

Former F1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone agrees with Max Verstappen in that F1 is in danger of resembling Formula E.

Racing Bulls has announced the official inauguration of its state-of-the-art cogeneration Fuel Cell plant in Faenza.

It is no overstatement to say 2025 was Lewis Hamilton's annus horribilis, with the seven-time world champion's blockbuster move to Ferrari not exactly going the way he had imagined. Amid struggles with a difficult-to-drive SF-25, a pole-to-flag win in the Chinese Grand Prix sprint turned out to be a false dawn as he went on to record his first-ever campaign without a grand prix podium in his ... Keep reading

With Ferrari preparing for Formula 1’s 2026 technical reset, Lewis Hamilton continues a career that has already reshaped the sport’s record books. From a title-challenging rookie F1 season with McLaren in 2007 to a dominant hybrid-era partnership with Mercedes, Hamilton has repeatedly adapted to change and delivered under pressure. Given his past success, wins are what the Tifosi are hoping ... Keep reading

Star of the F1 movie Damson Idris has become a global brand ambassador for Formula 1. In his new role, the Briton will "act as a bridge between the world of Formula 1 and the wider cultural and entertainment landscape," according to the press release, and will appear at several grand prix weekends to take part in content, promotional activities and work to welcome a new demographic of fans to ... Keep reading

Williams Racing has announced another new partnership ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Grove outfit has signed a multi-year partnership with M&S, which will dress the team for travel to and from races. In addition to supplying the team with a "modern travel wardrobe", those in leadership roles, engineers and drivers will receive formal travel options. For fans, Williams and M&S will ... Keep reading

Former Formula 1 driver Jack Doohan has spoken out about serious death threats he received during his time at Alpine. The Australian driver signed with the French team for his rookie season in 2025. But with rumours that he could be replaced by Argentine driver Franco Colapinto surfacing early in the season, Doohan faced mounting pressure in his seat alongside Pierre Gasly.  Following the ... Keep reading

For several years now, the enforcement of track limits has been among the most persistently controversial matters arising in Formula 1 grands prix. Drivers naturally push to the limits of what's permissible to find lap time; they also have a penchant for reporting rivals who they believe have crossed the proverbial lines. And, of course, for vociferously denying when they have done so. Teams ... Keep reading

Former Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal Christian Horner has confirmed that it was not his choice to swap Liam Lawson for Yuki Tsunoda at the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season.  It was confirmed at the end of 2024 that Sergio Perez, who had been with the Milton Keynes outfit since 2021, would be replaced by New Zealander Lawson for the 2025 season. Taking the position next to four-time ... Keep reading

Against a background of much rancour over Formula 1 power units, and which manufacturer has identified what particular loophole in the phrasing of the rules, one thing all the teams agree on is that the cars on the grid in Abu Dhabi will look very different from those which are due to line up in Melbourne next week. What’s rather less certain is the pace of that change process, since shipping ... Keep reading

Formula 1 pundit Will Buxton has suggested that Cadillac's campaign is already facing challenges caused by not only its transatlantic work patterns, but also by the work ethic expected from its United States management.  “The team is exhausted. Like, they're done," he said on the Up to Speed podcast. After a successful stint of testing in Bahrain, the American team begins its 2026 season ... Keep reading

Arvid Lindblad tells BBC Sport about being shaped by his Indian and Swedish heritage and how he was fixated on reaching F1 from aged five.

Williams Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz has asked the FIA and Formula One Management (FOM) to remain open-minded about the new regulations, arguing that some adjustments may need to be made. Now that pre-season testing in Bahrain has come to an end, the teams are focused on the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, which will take place from 6-8 March. As everyone gets to grips with the new ... Keep reading

With McLaren returning to consistent frontrunning form and a new regulation cycle reshaping Formula 1 in 2026, Oscar Piastri enters the season as one of the sport’s most composed young race winners. Recognized early for his technical discipline and racecraft, the Australian rose rapidly through the junior ranks before navigating one of F1’s most public contract disputes, but he's now ... Keep reading

Christian Horner has laid responsibility for his sacking as Red Bull boss firmly at the doors of Helmet Marko and Red Bull GmbH MD, Oliver Mintzlaff.

Cadillac becoming Formula 1’s 11th team has been one of the most drawn-out and reported storylines in years, dating back long before its entry was formally approved in March 2025. The initial plan was for the American outfit to form an entry with Andretti Global, but that application was rejected as Formula One Management believed it wouldn’t add to the series. This gave rise to ... Keep reading

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has said that the championship will absorb a Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso retirement despite them both being 'very important assets'. The F1 chief was asked whether the series faces a potentially fateful season, with a regulation overhaul that several drivers have already questioned and the possible retirements of two of its biggest stars on the ... Keep reading

David Coulthard has raised concerns about Sergio Perez's return to Formula 1, arguing that his team-mate at Cadillac, Valtteri Bottas, is "better prepared" after spending a year as reserve driver for Mercedes. Both Bottas and Perez lost their full-time seats in the championship at the end of 2024. While Bottas returned to his old team at Mercedes as a reserve driver, Perez took a year out to ... Keep reading

Christian Horner has spoken out about his exit from Red Bull Racing during the eighth season of Netflix's Drive to Survive. The docuseries, which will be released on 27 February, will follow the on and off track stories of the 2025 Formula 1 season. The fourth episode, titled A Bull With No Horns, will cover Horner's exit from Red Bull. After being with the team since it joined the grid in ... Keep reading

Formula 1 has rolled out a number of new features coming to F1 Fantasy for 2026.  With the championship itself seeing a substantial overhaul of its regulations with new cars and power units, as well as the addition of an 11th team in the shape of Cadillac, it's no surprise that the free-to-play game is getting its own changes.  Players will gain access to a familiar $100million cost cap ... Keep reading

Season 8 won't change anyone's opinion Long credited for its instrumental role in F1's mainstream breakthrough in recent years, Box to Box Films has stuck to its usual recipe that made Drive to Survive its most enduring sports documentary series. Focusing on one key storyline per episode, it stitches together the events of the 2025 season with a great deal of unseen behind-the-scenes footage ... Keep reading

Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has shot down claims that the championship needs a lot of overtaking for it to be exciting. A new set of regulations has arrived in F1 this season, with one of the goals being to open up more opportunities to overtake. The cars are smaller and lighter than the previous ground effect era cars, and the active aerodynamics, which have replaced DRS, along ... Keep reading

Will Buxton says Cadillac's Formula 1 project has already become a $1billion undertaking as the American team looks forward to its first grand prix in Australia.  Cadillac was approved to become F1's 11th team in March 2025, bringing the brand of General Motors into the championship which has, over the last few years, been rapidly expanding into the United States market.  With its ... Keep reading

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has unsurprisingly backed the championship's partnership with Apple as the technology company takes on broadcasting rights in the United States from this year. The Italian added that the giant will be able to put F1 "in the houses of other people in different ways," as he looks forward to higher US viewership.  F1 announced in October 2025 that Apple would ... Keep reading

Carlos Sainz has called on F1 and the FIA to be open minded, should modification of the 2026 regulations prove necessary.

Our F1 correspondent Andrew Benson is doing a weekly Q&A this season, so get your questions in now.

The combination of Adrian Newey, Honda and Fernando Alonso was highly promising but Aston Martin are in trouble. Andrew Benson explains why.

Carlos Sainz met Thea, the young fan who designed his 'lucky' Sparkles sticker in 2025.  Sainz and his team-mate Alex Albon responded to fan questions in a social media video posted on 13 September 2025. One young fan, Thea, asked the Spaniard if she should name her toy unicorn Sparkles or Sprinkles and if he would put a unicorn sticker on his helmet for the rest of the year, something he ... Keep reading

Mercedes announces its 2026 Junior Programme featuring two new additions, Niccolò Perico and Devin Titz.

Ford Racing jumped to the challenge of supporting Red Bull and its powertrain during testing in Bahrain over the last couple of weeks. But then, towards the end of last week, it quite literally leapt into its partnership as the brand's Dakar-spec Raptor T1+ was launched over Red Bull's RB7 on the streets of San Francisco ahead of the city's first Red Bull Showrun.  The rally-raid prototype ... Keep reading

The F1 movie picked up another award over the weekend at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards.  Having been nominated alongside Frankenstein, One Battle After Another, Sinners and Warfare, the Brad Pitt-led film won the Best Sound category at the awards. F1 had also been nominated for the Special Visual Effects and Best Editing categories. Avatar: Fire and Ash won Best Special Visual Effects, and the ... Keep reading

The moment Max Verstappen voiced his concerns about the new Formula 1 regulations, he immediately added: “On this circuit in Bahrain it's not too bad, but when we go to Melbourne, that's when you will really see how much we run out of energy on the straights.” The Red Bull driver has received backing from others in the paddock since then. Among them, Oliver Bearman and Oscar Piastri have ... Keep reading

Damon Hill will return to Williams as its official ambassador for the 2026 Formula 1 campaign, just weeks after Jenson Button left that role for Aston Martin.  It comes on the 30th anniversary of Hill clinching the world title at the British outfit, where he spent half of his eight-year F1 career, taking 21 of his 22 grand prix victories.  The 65-year-old will be part of a three-person ... Keep reading

With new F1 regulations this year, the Mercedes team has emerged as a favourite after testing, with Kimi Antonelli as one of the two racers who will drive the Silver Arrows in the 2026 season. Recognized for his skills at an early age, Antonelli has risen through the ranks as a long-term Mercedes prospect from the age of 12. From multiple karting championships in Europe to open-wheel ... Keep reading

It's understood that the FIA is to make a further tweak to the starting procedure in time for the season opener in Melbourne.

19-year-old NASCAR Cup driver Connor Zilisch said he could always tell that Kimi Antonelli would get into Formula 1 after karting together. The two grew up karting together when the American driver would spend his summers in Europe to gain experience other forms of racing. During an appearance on the Gypsy Tales podcast, the Trackhouse Racing driver explained that Antonelli was "one of the best ... Keep reading

F1 movie star Damson Idris has returned to the world of Formula 1 with a new campaign ahead of the 2026 season. The All To Drive For campaign will feature the 34-year-old British actor alongside all 22 drivers from the 2026 grid. F1.com shared a teaser trailer for the new campaign on 22 February. The trailer began with a garage opening to reveal Idris. "You think you know Formula 1?" he asked ... Keep reading

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton shared a defiant message on social media after pre-season testing in Bahrain, squashing speculation that the Briton could retire after the 2026 season if he does not find his championship-winning form. After pre-season testing concluded on Friday 20 February, Hamilton shared: "That’s a wrap on testing. It’s inspiring to watch a team pull out all ... Keep reading

Oscar Piastri claims that energy harvest limiting will differ from track to track, and will favour the boffins not the racers.

If there was one team that really surprised the Formula 1 paddock with its imaginative designs during pre-season testing, it was Ferrari. In Bahrain, the Scuderia not only brought a new feature to the area behind the exhaust, designed to make the most of the volume allowed by the new-for-2026 regulations, but also a rear wing with an innovative opening mechanism as it flips 180 ... Keep reading

Yuki Tsunoda returned to the seat of a Formula 1 car over the weekend for a demonstration run, but it took a turn for the worse when the car burst into flames. The Japanese driver took part in a show run in San Francisco alongside former F1 and rallycross driver Scott Speed, Ford off-road racer Mitch Guthrie and freestyle motocross rider Aaron Colton. At the wheel of Red Bull's ... Keep reading

If there was one team that really surprised the Formula 1 paddock with its imaginative designs during pre-season testing, it was Ferrari. In Bahrain, the Scuderia not only brought a new feature to the area behind the exhaust, designed to make the most of the volume allowed by the new-for-2026 regulations, but also a rear wing with an innovative opening mechanism as it flips 180 ... Keep reading

Predicting Formula 1 standings after 2026's sweeping regulation changes initially appears easier on the surface, because on the bigger gaps between the teams. Most observers agree there were three tiers of teams in Bahrain, with a decent gap in between them. First up is the leading pack of Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull, followed by a midfield group of Alpine, Haas, Racing Bulls ... Keep reading

McLaren boss Andrea Stella previously outlined three major concerns with the 2026 Formula 1 power unit rules and he has since revealed a fourth issue entered the mix.  This year F1 is introducing a completely new set of regulations with one of the changes concerning the power unit, which is now more reliant on electrical energy. That should significantly change the style of racing in 2026, as ... Keep reading

Formula 1’s 2026 technical regulations are pushing teams to maximize aerodynamic efficiency, favoring innovative solutions. Read Also: Formula 1Explained: Audi's unique approach to its movable F1 rear wing flaps Audi has worked on this front and changed its philosophy from the Barcelona shakedown: its rear wing flap now goes down like Alpine’s. The ... Keep reading

F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali eyes a return to Turkey... amongst other things.

As Stefano Domenicali urges "don't panic" following a less than favourable reaction to the new formula, FIA single-seater director, Nikolas Tombazis admits that changes may be needed.

As F1 seeks to at least double the number of Sprints each season, drivers feel it is the wrong way to go.

Mercedes star George Russell is adamant that Red Bull holds the best energy deployment on the Formula 1 grid, with pre-season testing for the 2026 campaign now finished. This year will introduce widespread regulation changes, and one of the alterations concerns the power unit, which holds more electrical energy, meaning battery harvesting will play a key role in grands prix. It may include ... Keep reading

Mercedes star George Russell is adamant that Red Bull holds the best energy deployment on the Formula 1 grid, with pre-season testing for the 2026 campaign now finished. This year will introduce widespread regulation changes, and one of the alterations concerns the power unit, which holds more electrical energy, meaning battery harvesting will play a key role in grands prix. It may include ... Keep reading

Mercedes still the favourite, Ferrari the second force for now Prior to winter testing, George Russell was already the bookmakers’ top favourite for the 2026 Formula 1 world title, and that picture has not changed after three weeks of running. Yes, Ferrari ultimately topped the timesheets, but that says little. Traditionally, the Scuderia tends to show a bit more than some of its rivals ... Keep reading

New look, new sound Formula 1 has gone through a dramatic transformation ahead of the 2026 season. Gone are the ground-effect cars and the old turbo-hybrid motors, replaced by revolutionary new chassis and power unit rules that aim to mix up the racing. Let’s start on the outside with the new chassis and aerodynamic rules, which have changed the way the new generation of cars look and ... Keep reading

Finishing in the top 10 of Formula 2’s driver championship would be an acceptable performance from Colton Herta in 2026, according to Cadillac Formula 1 team CEO Dan Towriss. Herta has joined F1’s newest team as a test driver, with a potential race seat within reach in the future. In the meantime, Cadillac has sent the IndyCar frontrunner to F2 with Hitech GP for 2026. The goal is for ... Keep reading

Ever since rivals discovered that Mercedes could comply with the 16:1 limit during static tests, but can achieve a higher ratio while running on track, the compression ratio has become the biggest political topic of Formula 1’s pre-season. During the first week in Bahrain, Wolff made it clear that Mercedes had closely involved the FIA throughout the entire engine development process and kept ... Keep reading

Oscar Piastri edges out Charles Leclerc and George Russell in terms of laps completed in pre-season testing.

George Russell claimed his two practice starts in testing for the 2026 Formula 1 campaign “were worse” than his worst ever, with Ferrari looking the strongest in that regard.   Changes to the race start procedure has been one of the main talking points during pre-season, as drivers must now rev their engines for at least 10 seconds to spool up the turbo. This is as a result of the new ... Keep reading

George Russell claimed his two practice starts in testing for the 2026 Formula 1 campaign “were worse” than his worst ever, with Ferrari looking the strongest in that regard.   Changes to the race start procedure has been one of the main talking points during pre-season, as drivers must now rev their engines for at least 10 seconds to spool up the turbo. This is as a result of the new ... Keep reading

Aston Martin curtailed its Formula 1 pre-season testing programme in Bahrain as an after-effect of earlier technical issues. Having switched to a Honda engine supply for F1’s new era, Aston Martin is the only team to use the Japanese power units and has struggled so far. Regardless of its mediocre pace, the AMR26’s unreliability has been the biggest issue at Sakhir. The Adrian ... Keep reading

Oscar Piastri has addressed his personal management change ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Heading into the new season, the Australian driver confirmed that he had made changes to his management team. While Mark Webber is still Piastri's manager, he will take a step back from his trackside support role and put his focus instead on commercial matters. Joining the 24-year-old at the track ... Keep reading

Aston Martin curtailed its Formula 1 pre-season testing programme in Bahrain as an after-effect of earlier technical issues. Having switched to a Honda engine supply for F1’s new era, Aston Martin is the only team to use the Japanese power units and has struggled so far. Regardless of its mediocre pace, the AMR26’s unreliability has been the biggest issue at Sakhir. The Adrian ... Keep reading

Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard believes that Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen won't like the new 2026 regulations because they "almost have to be mechanical" inside the car rather than driving on instinct. The 2026 regulations include an almost 50-50 split between internal combustion and electric power, smaller, lighter cars and other changes, such as active ... Keep reading

Having previously derided Max Verstappen's reaction to the cars of 2026, Lando Norris now admits he agrees with the four-time world champion.

Charles Leclerc significantly impressed by topping the final morning of pre-season testing for the 2026 Formula 1 campaign, while further problems struck Aston Martin in Bahrain. The Ferrari driver set a 1m33.689s lap on the C3 tyre inside the opening hour, and that is the third session Leclerc has topped across the last two weeks. Alongside going fastest, the Monegasque completed the ... Keep reading

Charles Leclerc significantly impressed by topping the final morning of pre-season testing for the 2026 Formula 1 campaign, while further problems struck Aston Martin in Bahrain. The Ferrari driver set a 1m33.689s lap on the C3 tyre inside the opening hour, and that is the third session Leclerc has topped across the last two weeks. Alongside going fastest, the Monegasque completed the ... Keep reading

This morning's times from the Bahrain International Circuit, the final day of the second pre-season test.

Four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel has backed George Russell for the 2026 drivers' championship title. The 2026 F1 season brings in a new set of regulations that will effectively reset the order of the grid, meaning as pre-season testing nears its end in Bahrain, the usual testing caveats remain and the final pecking order still eludes us. While weighing up which drivers could ... Keep reading

As Stefano Domenicali urges "don't panic", Haas boss, Ayao Komatsu is concerned that the second race of the season is a Sprint.

Aston Martin’s 2026 Formula 1 car has been staying in the garage on Friday in Bahrain pre-season testing as an after-effect of earlier technical issues. Having switched to a Honda engine supply for F1’s new era, Aston Martin is the only team to use the Japanese power units and has struggled so far. Regardless of its mediocre pace, the AMR26’s unreliability has been the biggest issue at ... Keep reading

After Formula 1’s first on-track action of 2026, the reactions from drivers on 2026-spec machinery have been mixed. Lando Norris and George Russell have spoken positively, while Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton have been more critical. The Red Bull racer even said that the drivers who are positive could fit into a small “easy-up tent” and that those with objections form ... Keep reading

Former F1 TV presenter Will Buxton has recounted one of his favourite memories with four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, something that showed the true character of the Red Bull driver away from the race track. Verstappen's strong character has often shone through in the championship. His matter-of-fact interviews, reluctance to play up to the media and sometimes aggressive driving ... Keep reading

Formula 1 is actively looking into doubling the number of sprint races from six to 12 per year from 2027, and is investigating other format changes to regular weekends. F1's commercial rightsholder Liberty Media has been keen to expand the number of sprint races for a while as it has found they lead to more interest from fans, broadcasters and race promoters, even if they place a bigger burden ... Keep reading

Formula 1 is actively looking into doubling the number of sprint races from six to 12 per year from 2027, and is investigating other format changes to regular weekends. F1's commercial rightsholder Liberty Media has been keen to expand the number of sprint races for a while as it has found they lead to more interest from fans, broadcasters and race promoters, even if they place a bigger burden ... Keep reading

F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali insists that by the end of the season, everyone will have forgotten the various issues that currently face the sport following the rules overhaul.

F1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali has urged fans to "stay calm" over the series' new 2026 regulations, which have already come under fire before the season has started. F1's wholesale regulation changes for 2026 revolve around a much more powerful electric motor and sustainable fuels, measures which have attracted involvement from Audi, GM and Ford and enticed Honda to make a U-turn on ... Keep reading

F1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali has urged fans to "stay calm" over the series' new 2026 regulations, which have already come under fire before the season has started. F1's wholesale regulation changes for 2026 revolve around a much more powerful electric motor and sustainable fuels, measures which have attracted involvement from Audi, GM and Ford and enticed Honda to make a U-turn on ... Keep reading

Formula 1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali doesn't believe Max Verstappen will consider walking away from the series just because he doesn't enjoy driving the new 2026 cars from the start. After the first few days of driving the Red Bull RB22 in winter testing, Verstappen labelled F1's 2026 machinery, which has a much bigger hybrid component than its predecessor, as "anti-racing" and ... Keep reading

Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali calls for calm in the face of criticism from drivers of the sport's new rules - but said changes would be made if necessary.

Ferrari has debuted a novel approach to its rear wing active aerodynamics package in the second week of Bahrain's pre-season Formula 1 testing, sporting an upper wing flap that rotates over 180 degrees to run upside down. With Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel for Thursday's running, Ferrari put its new rear wing development into practice. With a turning axis positioned at the leading edge of the ... Keep reading