Formula 1: Articles & News Reports.

[Fortitude]

Russell stunned after crushing rivals by colossal margin at Australia GP.
Russell stormed to pole with a lap time nearly eight-tenths faster than the fastest non-Mercedes competitor, a margin that even he found unexpected at Albert Park.
7 Mar 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

George Russell admitted he was surprised by the gap he created over the first non-Mercedes car during qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix. Speaking at the post-qualifying press conference, he highlighted how the weather conditions played a role in the impressive lap times. “Definitely, I think the conditions also came into our favour. We know we're better in these cooler conditions, and as the track temperature dropped, we always seemed to find more lap time,” Russell began.

The 28-year-old went on to praise both the engine and the overall car developed by the Mercedes team. “I think we've got a really great engine beneath us. However, I also think we've got a really amazing car beneath us, which probably hasn't been highlighted enough in the press these past few weeks. From me and Kimi’s [Antonelli] perspective, the car felt great to drive. We're enjoying the smaller, lighter cars, and they’re a perfect way to start Melbourne,” Russell concluded.

‘Crushing rivals by colossal margin’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/russell-stunned-after-crushing-rivals-by-colossal-margin-at-australia-gp


Australian Grand Prix - Qualifying results
07/03/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

2026 Australian Grand Prix - Qualifying results
Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3
1 George Russell Mercedes 1:19.507s 1:18.934s 1:18.518s
2 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:20.120s 1:19.435s 1:18.811s
3 Isack Hadjar Red Bull 1:20.023s 1:19.653s 1:19.303s
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:20.226s 1:19.357s 1:19.327s
5 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:19.664s 1:19.525s 1:19.380s
6 Lando Norris McLaren 1:20.010s 1:19.882s 1:19.475s
7 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:19.811s 1:19.921s 1:19.478s
8 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls 1:20.491s 1:20.144s 1:19.994s
9 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls 1:20.409s 1:19.971s 1:21.247s
10 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi 1:20.495s 1:20.221s

‘Qualifying results’;

https://f1i.com/news/560344-australian-grand-prix-qualifying-results.html


Mercedes-AMG tops F1 Australian Grand Prix qualifying, Piastri beats Norris
7 Mar 2026
Alex Misoyannis
Drive

George Russell will park on pole position in tomorrow's Formula One Australian Grand Prix, leading team-mate Kimi Antonelli in second for a dominant one-two start for the Mercedes-AMG team. Melbourne-born Oscar Piastri qualified fifth in his McLaren – ahead of team-mate and reigning World Drivers' Champion, Lando Norris, in sixth – in an eventful qualifying session that saw multiple red flags for crashes and mechanical incidents.

Isack Hadjar is due to start third in his first race for Red Bull, the highest qualifying result for a debutant with the team since Daniel Ricciardo qualified second at the 2014 Australian GP. In contrast, a crash for his four-time champion team-mate Max Verstappen at the start of his first flying lap will see him start near the back of the grid. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari qualified fourth, to complete the Top Five.

‘Predictions placing Mercedes-AMG as the favourites on the 2026 F1 grid have been realised’;

https://www.drive.com.au/news/mercedes-amg-tops-f1-australian-grand-prix-qualifying-piastri-beats-norris/


Russell storms to pole position for season-opening Australian GP as Verstappen crashes out
7 Mar 2026
Formula One - Official Site

Q3 – Russell outpaces Antonelli to secure Mercedes 1-2: Q3 got underway with a bang as Lindblad suffered a near-miss at the pit entry, locking up and nearly colliding with those near him. That was followed by a technical issue for Bortoleto, who was ultimately unable to set a time in Q3 and caused a short delay to the session start as he was wheeled back to his garage.

Key quote: "It was a great day," said Russell. "We knew there was a lot of potential in the car, but until you get to this first Saturday of the season you never know. It really came alive this afternoon, especially when the track temp cooled – we know we sort of tend to favour those conditions.”

"I’m also really happy to have Kimi here next to me as well because it’s been such a hard job from all the team to deliver this car and they did an amazing job in the garage as well today, so all in all a really good day."

‘George Russell was the man to beat’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/russell-storms-to-pole-position-for-the-season-opening-australian-gp-as.59kj0cIRcQVqXUSKPp5KzG


Russell leads all-Mercedes front row as Verstappen crashes out in Q1
7 Mar 2026
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Russell regained his position at the top of the times when the session resumed, though his 1’19.084 was slightly slower than his best from Q2. But Antonelli abandoned his first lap after locking up at turn three and running wide. Despite his damage, Norris got closest to matching the Mercedes, though he was over half a second shy. He pipped Hadjar by just two hundredths of a second.

Piastri fell to fifth place behind Leclerc after the first runs. Neither Ferrari driver was able to get within a second of Russell initially, Hamilton taking sixth place. Antonelli tidied up his final effort and beat his team mate’s time with a 1’18.811. Russell was not far behind however and reclaimed the top spot with a 1’18.518.

Piastri temporarily took third place but was shuffled down the order by Leclerc and then Hadjar. Norris was unable to beat his team mate’s time, meaning the McLarens will occupy the third row of the grid. Hamilton stayed seventh while Lawson pipped Lindblad to eighth place with his final lap.

‘All-Mercedes front row’;

https://www.racefans.net/2026/03/07/russell-leads-all-mercedes-front-row-as-verstappen-crashes-out-in-q1/


Verstappen taken to medical centre after serious crash in Australia
7 Mar 2026
Kada Sárközi
Nicole Mulder
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen has been taken to the medical center after his crash in Q1 at the Australian Grand Prix. The four-time world champion lost control of the rear of his Red Bull on his first run and shot through the gravel into the wall. The impact was heavy, prompting race control to immediately wave the red flag to stop the session. Footage showed Verstappen shaking his hand briefly after the crash, possibly because he took a hit there on impact.

Possibly due to pain in his hand, the Dutchman was taken to the medical center for precautionary checks. However, nothing has been officially confirmed regarding the reason. Verstappen has since returned to the paddock. There does not appear to be any serious damage to his hand. According to Verstappen, something went wrong at the rear of his car. When race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase asked over the radio if everything was okay, he responded cynically. "Yeah, the car just ******* locked on the rear axles, fantastic.”

‘Verstappen taken to medical centre’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappen-taken-to-medical-center-after-serious-crash-in-australian


‘I’ve never experienced something like that before’ – Verstappen explains cause of his Q1 crash in Australia
7 Mar 2026
Formula One - Official Site

Quizzed on how the incident unfolded after the session, Max Verstappen said: “I just hit the brakes and suddenly the rear axle just completely locked out of the blue. I don’t know why that happened or how that happened. “I’ve never experienced something like that before in my career. The rear axle just completely locked on, then of course you can’t save that anymore at that speed.”

“The barrier hit was not that bad – the wheel just snapped out of my hands and that’s why I had to go to the medical centre, but all good. I think it already went wrong before the downshift because I hit the pedal,” he added in an interview with Sky Sports F1. “As soon as you hit the pedal, you quite quickly downshift, but it already immediately locked on the peak of the brake pressure. Something very weird, that’s for sure. There are so many unknowns of course at the moment that we still need to get on top of. We’ll see tomorrow what we can do.”

“I just hit the brakes and suddenly the rear axle just completely locked out of the blue”;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/ive-never-experienced-something-like-that-before-verstappen-explains-cause.7FbveMhkOMzOukBufgeOPo


Max Verstappen ‘caught out’ by Red Bull engine tech in Australian GP crash, claims Marc Priestley
7 Mar 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Marc Priestley thinks Max Verstappen crashed as he was ‘caught out’ by Red Bull’s energy harvesting. The Dutchman may have had a gearbox issue that caused him to spin, but Marc Priestley thinks it was a mistake.

Priestley feels Verstappen crashed in qualifying for the Australian GP as he got “caught out” by the energy harvesting that is now needed with F1’s 2026 regulations, for which Red Bull have even built their first-ever in-house engine after Honda left them to join Aston Martin. “Max Verstappen locked the rear wheels under braking going into Turn 1,” Priestley said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I think what happens is he gets caught out by the massive energy harvesting, the braking that is being done on the rear axle alone by the electric motors. A lot of people have been caught out by this in the new cars.”

“Caught out by the massive energy harvesting”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/max-verstappen-caught-out-by-red-bull-engine-tech-in-australian-gp-crash-claims-marc-priestley/

[Fortitude]

Toto Wolff makes 'donkey' claim after Kimi Antonelli 'Lego' crash.
The team was not going to conclude repairs in time until Max Verstappen crashed at Turn 1 in Q1, giving the team precious extra minutes and managed to get Antonelli on track.
7 Mar 2026
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Toto Wolff has reiterated his claim that you 'can't make a donkey fast' after Kimi Antonelli's huge Australian GP practice accident nearly ruined his qualifying. In the closing stages of FP3, Antonelli crashed heavily at Turn 2, destroying the Mercedes, which Wolff described as looking like a "Lego F1 car", leaving the team in a race against time to repair the W17 for qualifying.

The team was not going to conclude repairs in time until Max Verstappen crashed at Turn 1 in Q1, giving the team precious extra minutes and managed to get Antonelli on track. The Italian ultimately claimed second place on the grid behind his team leader George Russell as Mercedes bulldozed the opposition at Albert Park, with Russell ending just under eight-tenths faster than third-placed Isack Hadjar for Red Bull.

"I am so happy that these ground effect cars are gone, and finally, we can do what we're best at," Wolff told Sky Sports F1. "I'm feeling relieved for the hard work that was put in by everyone, and the car looked like a Lego Formula 1 car that was thrown on the floor literally two hours before. I said five minutes before the start of the session that we wouldn't make it, and then Max went off, and that gained us the minutes to put the car out.”

‘Until Max Verstappen crashed at Turn 1 in Q1’;

https://racingnews365.com/toto-wolff-makes-donkey-claim-after-kimi-antonelli-lego-crash


Max Verstappen Australian GP qualifying crash cause revealed
Max Verstappen crashed on his first run during qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix. Paolo Filisetti, RacingNews365 technical expert, explains what happened.
7 Mar 2026
Paolo Filisetti & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Team principal Laurent Mekies described what he witnessed as "very brutal", with the team to investigate what unfolded. What was initially evident was that Verstappen was downshifting when the car violently spun out of his control. At first, your initial suspicion would turn to a mechanical problem, such as a gearbox failure, that had caused the locking. In reality, the problem was related to energy recovery.

The software began to glitch when reading the engine speed and the motion transmitted to the rear axle during downshifting. Essentially, in combating an abnormal number of revolutions, the system went into safe mode. This caused the engine brake to intervene, in turn immediately causing the rear axle to lock. As is well known, braking on the rear axle is controlled by the brake-by-wire system. In this instance, however, that system was not responsible for the crash.

It was due to modes in the ERS system that immediately locked the system, leaving Verstappen with no way to regain control of the car. This is a clear example of how current Formula 1 power unit energy recovery technology is still in its early stages of development, where teething problems can even lead to a driver being eliminated prematurely in qualifying, as was the case with Verstappen.

‘In reality, the problem was related to energy recovery’;

https://racingnews365.com/max-verstappen-australian-gp-qualifying-crash-cause-revealed


Max Verstappen's x-rated team radio message emerges after huge crash during Australian GP…
Joshua Waite
7 Mar 2026
Give Me Sport

The four-time world champion has rarely gone into a qualifying session not being the one favoured to set the pace. But his session came to a sudden and deeply strange end, when his rear axle locked up without warning at Turn 1, sending him spinning through the gravel and into the barriers, dooming him to the back of the grid tomorrow.

“Yeah, the car just f****** locked on the rear axles, fantastic,” was his message on the team radio, a short and clear assessment of an incident he appeared to have no control over. Verstappen himself seemed just as confused as anyone in the grandstands. Speaking afterwards, he admitted he had not yet had the chance to sit down with his engineers or go through the data, but made clear that nothing in his considerable experience had prepared him for what he felt in the cockpit.

"I think it already went wrong before the downshift because, as soon as I hit the pedal, because you quite quickly downshift right, it already immediately locked on the bit of the brake pressure. Something very weird, that's for sure."

‘X-rated team radio message’;

https://www.givemesport.com/max-verstappen-team-radio-message-red-bull-australian-gp-qualifying-crash/


Mercedes' Australian GP speed so good Charles Leclerc thought it was a mistake
Charles Leclerc admits Mercedes' speed at the Australian Grand Prix so far has been impressive
7 Mar 2026
Adam Cooper
Crash.Net

Charles Leclerc says Mercedes' pace at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix has been so impressive that he thought data from FP3 he saw was a mistake. Mercedes stunned its rivals on Saturday during qualifying in Melbourne, as George Russell led a team 1-2 by almost eight tenths to third-placed Isack Hadjar in the Red Bull.

Charles Leclerc, who was fourth for Ferrari, said he was given data on Russell’s lap that topped FP3 that surprised him so much he thought he’d uploaded it incorrectly. And he now admits that the advantage of the Brackley team in qualifying was even bigger than he anticipated. “I think yesterday when we spoke I said half second,” he said when asked by Crash.net about the gap.”

“Now it's eight [tenths]. So it's bigger than what I expected, for sure, but it was a very significant gap yesterday already. So I was very, very impressed this morning with the FP3 power that they've shown. It was just crazy, in the last lap of George especially, I looked at the data for the first time, and I had to re-upload it because I thought there was a problem on the things I was seeing. But apparently not. So it's very, very impressive.”

‘Thought data from FP3 he saw was a mistake’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1090939/1/mercedes-australian-gp-speed-so-good-charles-leclerc-thought-it-was-mistake


FIA gives Aston Martin permission for Stroll to race
7 Mar 2026
VALENTIN KHOROUNZHIY
The Race

Aston Martin Formula 1 driver Lance Stroll has received the permission to take the start in the Australian Grand Prix - but it required a "compelling" case from the team. Stroll fell short of the required 107% laptime threshold in every session in the troubled Aston Martin AMR26. His tally of laps for the weekend stands at 16, none of them on Saturday, and his best lap was seven seconds slower than George Russell's eventual pole time.

In the F1 of recent years, getting dispensation to start the race after a qualifying problem of some kind has forced a 107% rule breach has usually been no problem at all. Indeed, this was the case with Carlos Sainz and Williams and Max Verstappen and Red Bull - who set no time in Q1 like Stroll but had been fast enough in practice to be granted a start.

But the stewards' verdict on Stroll indicates getting him on the grid took some convincing. According to the stewards, Aston Martin presented a three-part argument for Stroll to be granted the right to start. The first was team-mate Fernando Alonso qualifying within the 107% threshold in the more functional of the two AMR26s.

‘Getting dispensation to start the race’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/how-aston-martin-convinced-fia-to-let-stroll-into-australian-gp/


Lance Stroll allowed to start Australian GP, but Aston ‘can’t risk big damage’
The FIA has confirmed Lance Stroll will be allowed to start the Australian Grand Prix
7 Mar 2026
Lewis Duncan , Adam Cooper
Crash.Net

Lance Stroll admits “there’s concerns” still about being able to start the race due to the AMR26’s problems over the weekend. Fernando Alonso, who was 17th in qualifying and in play for a Q2 spot, also noted that the lack of spare Honda engine parts means Aston cannot risk serious damage to its power unit in the race with the Chinese Grand Prix taking place next week.

“I mean, we will be flexible,” Alonso said. “Every lap we will monitor the situation. I think, as Adrian said yesterday, we are short on parts. So, there is no secret on that. China is next week, so hopefully we can do as many laps as possible, hopefully we can do nearly the whole race. The mechanics have been flatout in the garage, changing parts on the car and changing power units day and night the last six weeks.”

“Even on the other side of the garage, with Lance being so unlucky in FP3 and qualy with zero laps, when you go on track and you are in the mix with a few cars, it’s a bit better than when you are dead last, as we were yesterday. So, maybe it is enough to ignite a little bit of motivation in everyone in the garage. And that’s probably part of our job now as drivers, to keep the morale of the team high in difficult moments.”

‘Can’t risk big damage’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1090935/1/lance-stroll-allowed-start-australian-gp-aston-cant-risk-big-damage

[Fortitude]

George Russell resists Charles Leclerc fight to score F1 Australian GP triumph.
The Brit and teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli fell back at the start, as Leclerc stormed through to lead, and provided a stern test for the Silver Arrows along with Lewis Hamilton, but a strategic error amid a Virtual Safety Car saw the Ferrari challenge fall away.
8 Mar 2026
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

George Russell resisted an early challenge from Charles Leclerc to open the 2026 Formula 1 season with victory in the Australian Grand Prix, heading a Mercedes 1-2. Arvid Lindblad, becoming the fourth-youngest debutant in F1 history, completed a stupendous weekend’s work with eighth place.

Before the cars lined up on the grid, Russell complained of his battery not being sufficiently topped-up, putting him at risk of being overtaken on the opening lap. It was far worse at Audi, however, as Nico Hulkenberg suffered problems on the grid, and despite trying to start from the pit lane, the German’s race was, like Piastri’s, over before it began.

At the start, Russell squirrled away, and with Antonelli experiencing low battery, Hadjar got between both of them, looking favourite to get into the lead. But, as was the case in Bahrain testing, Ferrari rocketed forth, and Leclerc stormed into Turn 1 in the lead. Hamilton got past Norris, but the biggest winner of Lap 1 was Lindblad, who swept past Hadjar for third at Turn 11. Hamilton swiftly dispatched him, but nevertheless, a sensational start for the rookie.

‘Mercedes 1-2’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/03/08/george-russell-resists-charles-leclerc-fight-to-score-f1-australian-gp-triumph/


Australian GP 2026 Race Results: Full Classification and Winner
8 Mar 2026
John Smith
Total Motorsport

2026 Australian Grand Prix Race Classification
Here is the full race classification from the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, including gaps, laps completed and status.
Pos Driver Team Gap Pit Stops
1 George Russell Mercedes Leader 1
2 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +2.974 1
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +15.519 1
4 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +16.144 1
5 Lando Norris McLaren +51.741 2
6 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +54.617 2
7 Oliver Bearman Haas F1 Team + 1 Lap 1
8 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls + 1 Lap 1
9 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi + 1 Lap 2
10 Pierre Gasly Alpine + 1 Lap 1

‘Full Classification’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/australian-gp-2026-race-results/


George Russell and Mercedes dominate Australian Grand Prix
8 Mar 2026
The Straits Times

MELBOURNE, March 8 – Mercedes driver George Russell struck the first blow in the Formula One championship as he claimed an emphatic victory in the
season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Having dominated qualifying, pole-sitter Russell's first win at Albert Park underlined Mercedes’ promising pre-season form while giving the team their first Melbourne victory since Valtteri Bottas claimed the 2019 race. “Great job everybody, it’s been a long time since we've been here,” Russell said over the team radio.

Russell engaged in a thrilling early duel with Leclerc as the racers swopped the lead seven times in the opening nine laps. “It was a hell of a fight at the beginning,” said Russell. “I made a bad start, and some really tight battles with Charles at the start – just really glad to cross the finish line.” The Briton finished nearly three seconds ahead of Italian Antonelli, with Leclerc more than 15 seconds behind on a cloudy afternoon at the lakeside circuit.

It was a tough day for McLaren, with home hero Oscar Piastri’s race over before it begun with a crash during a reconnaissance lap some 40 minutes before the start. His teammate and defending champion Lando Norris finished fifth, one place behind seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari. Four-time champion Max Verstappen was sixth for Red Bull after starting 20th on the grid following a crash in qualifying on Saturday.

“Great job everybody, it’s been a long time since we've been here”;

https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/russell-and-mercedes-dominate-australian-grand-prix


Oscar Piastri reveals ‘not insignificant’ factor behind heartbreaking Australian GP crash
8 Mar 2026
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri told PlanetF1.com and other media outlets in Melbourne: “We had a couple of things going on. “I think the first part I want to stress is that there is certainly a big element of that was me. Cold tyres. I have used that exit kerb every lap of the weekend, but I didn’t have to.”

“At the same time, I had about 100 kilowatts extra power that I didn’t expect, which is not insignificant. I think the difficult part to take is everything was working normally. It’s just the function of how the engines have to work with the rules.”

“It’s that part that’s difficult to accept. It would almost be easier in some ways if we just said there’s cold tyres and I was optimistic, but when you add in another factor like that it always is more difficult to take.”

‘Not insignificant’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/oscar-piastri-australian-grand-prix-2026-crash-reaction


Was that real racing or just Overtake Mode? Lack of data leaves us in the dark
8th Mar 2026
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

On the face of it, Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix provided the tonic Formula 1 needed after a doubtful start to its new era of technical regulations. The Ferraris scorched off the line to make trouble for the Mercedes. George Russell and Charles Leclerc swapped the lead, sometimes more than once in the same lap. The drivers were still clearly lifting and coasting significantly from corner to corner as they were in qualifying. But the increased power and flexibility of their electrical systems gave them new scope to attack.

But just as was the case after qualifying yesterday, it’s important not to draw conclusions too hastily. The picture we’ve seen at one particular circuit may not be repeated elsewhere. Aside from that, there is also one significant question mark over the authenticity of the racing F1 provided on Sunday. This was the first race since F1 replaced its Drag Reduction System with the new Overtake Mode. The two systems work on similar principles: when a chasing car gets within a second of another they can deploy a speed boost. DRS delivered that by allowing drivers to lower their rear wings.

However now drivers have adjustable aerodynamics at the front and rear of the car, the new Overtake Mode instead delivers a burst of extra power. How much of a difference did that make? On the face of Sunday’s race, it’s impossible to tell. When a driver made a pass with DRS, fans could see the rear wing dropping. But aside from an early message from race control stating ‘Overtake Mode active’, viewers received no information about the system. The crucial information about when drivers were using Overtake Mode was entirely absent.

‘Australian Grand Prix provided the tonic Formula 1 needed’;

https://www.racefans.net/2026/03/08/was-that-real-racing-or-just-overtake-mode-lack-of-data-leaves-us-in-the-dark/


Max Verstappen warns of sudden F1 exit amid frustration after Australian GP
8 Mar 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen has not ruled out the possibility of walking away from Formula 1 amid his dissatisfaction with the current regulations. “I think what they should worry about is the rules. Just focus on that. They ask questions, and I give my opinion on what I would like to see and what I think is better for the sport because I do care about it. I do love racing, and I want it to be better than this, right? So let's see what we can do,” Verstappen said.

“I hope that even during this year, maybe we can come up with some different solutions, so it becomes more enjoyable for everyone,” he added. Pressed further on whether he could suddenly walk away from racing, the four-time champion, basing his response on the decisions of the FIA added: “No, like I said, I love racing, but you can only take so much, right? I think they're willing to listen, FIA and F1, but I just hope that there is some action.”

“It’s not that I'm the only one saying it; I think a lot of people are saying the same. Whether it’s drivers or fans, we just want the best for the sport. It’s not that we are critical just to be critical. We are critical for a reason. We wanted it to be Formula 1, proper Formula 1, not on steroids. Today, of course, again, that was not the case," he concluded.

‘Frustration after Australian GP’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/max-verstappen-warns-of-sudden-f1-exit-amid-frustration-after-australian-gp

[Fortitude]

F1MATHS: Telemetry shows where Mercedes' enormous advantage comes from under the new engine rules.
Mercedes appear to have arrived with a power unit and energy deployment package that is visibly superior to the rest of the field, (in) The first qualifying session of the 2026 Formula 1 season (which) had already delivered a striking storyline…
9 Mar 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

F1Technical's senior writer Balazs Szabo looks back at some key learnings from Saturday's qualifying session. Across the speed comparison, Mercedes consistently reached the highest top speed, topping the charts at 327 km/h, a figure that none of the other manufacturers could match. Even in sections where drivers typically lift slightly to manage tyre temperatures or balance, the Mercedes car maintains momentum, suggesting a chassis that complements the engine’s strengths.

This early telemetry snapshot suggests that Mercedes have not only built a strong internal combustion engine but have also achieved a highly effective integration of the hybrid systems—an area that becomes even more critical under the 2026 regulations. Their battery pack appears to deliver energy more efficiently, their MGU K deployment lasts longer, and their overall power curve is smoother and more robust than those of their competitors.

‘Power unit and energy deployment package that is visibly superior’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28300


Data show how Verstappen was still able to match Mercedes pace in Melbourne
8 Mar 2026
Shanna Lutgert
GPblog.com

Mercedes impressed on Friday in Australia with their very consistent long runs. After the first race weekend, many—everyone except Max Verstappen—were surprised by the German team's advantage. However, by the end of the race, the Dutchman actually wasn’t that far behind at all. Friday’s long runs already predicted that George Russell and Kimi Antonelli would head into race day with the best hand. They were by far the fastest team and clearly had their act together. In the second free practice long runs, it’s still difficult to get a clear picture of race pace, as engine modes and fuel loads are unknown.

Mercedes’ Friday pace is reflected in the race pace the team showed on Sunday in Melbourne. Over at Red Bull, the mood was gloomy due to the deficit to Mercedes. In the first half of the Grand Prix, the gap was indeed still quite large. The most consistent stints of all drivers began roughly around laps 20–23. For the race pace analysis, we took the two most consistent stints from the drivers of the four top teams. First, we will look at Verstappen vs. Russell and Antonelli. The stints are marked in the table as S1 and S2.

Red Bull decided to go for a two-stopper with Verstappen, while Mercedes ran a one-stop strategy for both drivers. In the first half of the race, Verstappen recorded a stint average of 1:23.527, while Antonelli and Russell were significantly lower: the Italian averaged 1:23.090, the Brit was slightly slower at 1:23.190. The four-time world champion was therefore about four to five tenths short on race pace in the first stint, but towards the end of the race he managed to close the gap. He was even a bit quicker—with an average of 1:22.984. Russell averaged 1:23.080, Antonelli 1:22.932.

‘Verstappen was still able to match Mercedes pace’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/analysis/data-show-how-verstappen-was-still-able-to-match-the-mercedes


‘No regrets’: Ferrari stands firm on Australia strategy call
Ferrari insists it has no regrets over the strategy that cost it a shot at victory in the Formula 1 season opener in Australia.
9 Mar 2026
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

Despite the scrutiny that followed the call, team principal Fred Vasseur insisted the strategy itself was not the defining factor in the result. “We have to be realistic with this, they were eight tenths faster than us yesterday,” Vasseur said. “We fight like hell at the beginning. Now I think at this stage of the race, nobody was expecting to be one [pit] stop. We targeted the optimum for us, and the optimum was to extend.”

“We were also surprised by the life of the tyres. I think we could have done 300 laps today! But it is like it is, I think they still had, during the race, a delta of performance with us. “The issue is not the strategy or the core, it’s just the pure pace.” Vasseur also rejected suggestions that mirroring Mercedes’ early stop would have put Ferrari in position to win the race.

“I think the pace of Mercedes was better than us,” he admitted. “Even when they pitted they were there or four tenths faster than us and they kept this pace all the stint. Ok, probably we were able to fight a little bit more at the beginning but perhaps pushing a bit more on the tyres and I have no regrets on the strategy, no regrets on the pace of today. We did a decent step compared to yesterday and let’s be focused on China.”

‘No regrets’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2026-australian-grand-prix-ferrari-strategy-decision-melbourne-update-reaction-charles-leclerc-lewis-hamilton/


Deployment becomes the defining skill, claims Hamilton
9 Mar 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Hamilton explained that the biggest challenge of the new regulations is managing the energy deployment system, which now dictates lap time far more than in previous eras. The seven-time world champion said, “The deployment is the biggest part. The rest of it is all kind of similar and familiar, but the deployment is so challenging and it’s different from track to track.”

The Briton warned that drivers will only fully understand the complexity once racing begins. “We probably also won’t know until we’re thrown in the deep end in the race to understand, when we overtake someone, how it’s going to affect us coming out of that corner,” he said, adding that managing deployment in wheel to wheel situations “is going to be difficult.”

Piastri: “A lot of the things we have to learn are not intuitive” Oscar Piastri echoed Hamilton’s assessment, emphasising that the 2026 cars require a fundamentally different approach to driving and setup. He explained that “all the driving, car set up, everything is kind of optimised around getting the most out of the power unit.” While this has always been part of Formula 1, he said it is now “by far the biggest element.”

‘Deployment becomes the defining skill’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28287


F1 highlight surge in Australian GP overtakes despite fierce driver backlash
9 Mar 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Formula 1 was quick to highlight the sharp rise in overtakes during the 2026 Australian Grand Prix compared to last year. Between a qualifying session heavily influenced by super clipping and a race largely dictated by energy management, one statistic nevertheless stands out: the number of overtakes.

The Albert Park race produced as many as 120 overtakes compared to just 45 last year - nearly three times as many and a clear boost to the on-track spectacle, even if many have dismissed it as artificial racing rather than genuine wheel-to-wheel battles.

‘120 overtakes compared to just 45 last year’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/f1-highlight-surge-in-australian-gp-overtakes-despite-fierce-driver-backlash


Australian GP: A closer look at the Ferrari's ROCKETING start off the line!
9 March 2026
Sky Sports

Ride on board with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as they both get a rocketing start off the line in Australia

‘Rocketing start’;

https://www.skysports.com/f1/video/30998/13517083/australian-gp-a-closer-look-at-the-ferraris-rocketing-start-off-the-line


Australian GP talking points: Mercedes are back, Hamilton hope, Verstappen vents
9 Mar 2026
Mina Rzouki
The National

Mercedes back in business: On the radio after securing pole, Russell was unambiguous: “Very nice, very nice. I like this car. I like this engine!”
Mixed emotions at Ferrari: Ferrari arrived with the second-quickest machine, a rocket off the line, and genuine ambitions. What they lacked was the strategic nerve to capitalise.

McLaren's crown slips: In his home race, Oscar Piastri did not even make it to the start line.
Lindblad living the dream: Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad produced arguably the performance of the weekend…

Long road ahead for Aston Martin: Two cars, two retirements, twice over. Newey's team have a very long road ahead.
Verstappen calls for action: Max Verstappen provided the race's most compelling subplot, surging from last on the grid after a Q1 software failure, all the way to sixth place at the finish.

‘Talking points’;

https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/f1/2026/03/09/australian-gp-talking-points-mercedes-are-back-hamilton-hope-verstappen-vents/


How the 1 per cent do the Australian Grand Prix: The money-can't-buy experiences A-listers got in Melbourne - and the insider access worth $7000 per person
9 Mar 2026
LAURA HOUSE
MailOnline

After almost 15 years in the lifestyle media space, I've visited my fair share of VIP marquees and supposedly 'exclusive' hotspots – and it's certainly not lost on me how lucky I am to be able to say that. But after what I experienced this past weekend at my very first Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne, I can confidently say nobody does high-end quite like the F1. And with this as my debut, I fear nothing will ever quite compare.

‘$7000 per person’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-15627105/How-1-Australian-Grand-Prix-money-buy-experiences-listers-luxury-minded-F1-fanatics-got-Melbourne-insider-lounge-access-worth-7000-person.html

[Fortitude]

Ted Kravitz ‘puzzled’ by how Zak Brown reacted to Oscar Piastri’s Australian Grand Prix crash.
Ted Kravitz has questioned McLaren CEO Zak Brown’s reaction to Oscar Piastri’s heartbreaking crash that ended his Australian Grand Prix before he had even reached the grid.
8 Mar 2026
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Speaking on Ted’s Notebook from inside the Melbourne paddock, Ted Kravitz shared his reaction to the incident and how Zak Brown explained away Piastri’s error. He said: “I can only just feel so sorry for everybody, all the Oscar fans out there and for him and his family. It just really hit me hard that did, the Oscar thing. It really did. I was just gutted about it. I’ll tell you what was happening, actually. And what did you think of Zak Brown’s reaction?”

“He was like, ‘OK, you know, yeah, I’m unhappy about it, but we’ve got to dust ourselves off.’ I was a bit puzzled about it before. I thought that it was obviously a sort of coping mechanism. He was kind of OK, but I think it was a coping mechanism when Oscar went out. That he was like, ‘Well, you know, we got to pick ourselves up and carry on with the other car that we’ve got.’”

‘Puzzled’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ted-kravitz-puzzled-by-how-zak-brown-reacted-to-oscar-piastris-australian-grand-prix-crash/


The first Ted's Notebook of the season! | Ted's Qualifying Notebook | Australia
Mar 7, 2026
Sky Sports F1
Ted Kravitz shares his thoughts on the 2026 Australian Grand Prix Qualifying session.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3dhNAqk-_g


Ted rounds up a hectic season opener ���� | Ted's Notebook | Australian Grand Prix
Mar 8, 2026
Sky Sports F1
Ted Kravitz gives his thoughts and insights on the 2026 Australian Grand Prix.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybF6pd0sxOc


Andrea Stella: Oscar Piastri Australia crash shows extent of ‘aggressive’ new F1 power units
9 Mar 2026
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

McLaren’s Andrea Stella says Oscar Piastri’s “unfortunate” crash in Australia is indicative of the aggression of the new F1 power units. Piastri’s wasn’t the first crash of the weekend in which a driver was caught out by unexpected behaviour. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli smashed his W17 in a crash during FP3, leaving his team up against it to get the car repaired in time for qualifying. During qualifying itself, Max Verstappen lost control of his Red Bull RB22 on approach to Turn 1 and flew off into the barriers, leaving him facing a back-of-the-grid starting position.

Such incidents, Stella said, show that the F1 teams all have work to do to fully get to grips with the power units and ensuring predictable behaviour of the cars. “Here, I may be speculating a bit because the information I have is only related to Oscar, and I can’t necessarily infer that the incidents – uncharacteristic incidents, I would say, especially for Verstappen – I’m not sure if it has to do with the power unit or not,” he said. “Certainly, when it comes to Kimi Antonelli, he also lost the car in a place in which there’s a lot of torque coming while the car is still subject to lateral load.”

“I think it requires a little bit of attention in terms of associating it with the regulations, necessarily. Certainly, these power units can be quite aggressive when they release all the power. We talk about 1000 horsepower coming all together, and when the tyres may be a little bit on the cold side, or if this power comes in an unpredictable way, as it happened to Oscar, then it can become very tricky. So I don’t want to be here saying I have an easy solution. But I’m here saying we should look into the regulations. These accidents were not a near miss. They are very material indication that there’s work to do. So we should do this work as the F1 community.”

“These power units can be quite aggressive”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/oscar-piastri-crash-andrea-stella-aggressive-f1-power-units


McLaren reveal cause of shock Oscar Piastri crash
It was a shocking start to the new season for Oscar Piastri. Here's why.
8 Mar 2026
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has revealed the "three factors" that led to Oscar Piastri's shock Australian Grand Prix crash even before a wheel had turned in anger. As to what unfolded with Piastri's crash, Stella added: "When it comes to the circumstances, what we observe is fundamentally three factors: [first], the cold tyres, and when the wheel spin starts, it starts in a very sudden way.”

"[And] These compounds, with them being on a kerb - a kerb that he has used pretty much every single lap - they don't make this easier, though, when the tyres are cold. And this further compounds, with an element that doesn't make it easier again, which is the fact that with these oscillations and following the shift, there's extra torque, let's say, that when we look at the behaviour of the power unit.”

"It is not something that you would do unless, and which I understand is the case, there are some requirements that you need to meet in terms of how you deploy your torque. In testing, we might have seen some similar circumstances, but we didn't have the combination of cold tyres and the kerb, which aggravated the fact that you may have these inconsistencies from torque deployment in grip-limited phases."

"Three factors";

https://racingnews365.com/mclaren-reveal-cause-of-shock-oscar-piastri-crash


52s adrift: Where McLaren is lacking the most
9 Mar 2026
JON NOBLE
The Race

McLaren's admission to being "a little puzzled" about why it was so much slower on the straights in Australia than the works Mercedes team has fuelled talk of a new reality for customer teams. We have just come off a rules era in which McLaren showed you could still win Formula 1 titles by buying an engine off somebody else. As downforce levels, ride control and tyre temperature management defined the pecking order, McLaren's mastery in these areas helped it win the constructors' crown in 2024 and the championship double last year. Things have changed now though. In the wake of F1 2026's rules revolution, McLaren is on the hunt for answers as to why in Australia it was 0.8 seconds off Mercedes in qualifying and finished the race more than 50 seconds behind.

Mercedes and customers in Australian GP
1 George Russell (Mercedes)
2 Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +2.974s
--
5 Lando Norris (McLaren) +51.741s
10 Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +1 lap
12 Alex Albon (Williams) +1 lap
14 Franco Colapinto (Alpine) +2 laps
15 Carlos Sainz (Williams) +2 laps

Part of the explanation comes from the car, as the McLaren was not the best through the corners - and the front graining that was a problem at times in the past appears to be back. But it has not gone amiss that GPS data showed a big chunk of the time it lost was coming on the straights - where the works Mercedes squad appeared to be able to deploy more power. And, with identical engines, there is no obvious explanation for that discrepancy.

‘52s adrift’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/mclaren-rough-start-exposes-new-f1-2026-factor/

[Fortitude]

Mercedes shocks engine customers with F1 Australian GP performance.
Mercedes-powered teams such as Williams, McLaren and Alpine had a relatively major gap in performance to the works car.
9 Mar 2026
Tiana Soans
Motorsport Week

Under the regulations, customers must receive identical equipment and engine modes. However, it is up to each team to decide how their power unit is utilised, namely with their energy management systems. Whilst Mercedes has mastered its own systems, their rivals have found themselves falling behind.

Mercedes stunned its Formula 1 rivals at the Australian Grand Prix, by appearing to extract significantly more performance from the new power unit than its customers. The opening race of F1’s new era could not have provided a better result for the British-based team. George Russell led Kimi Antonelli to the team’s first 1-2 finish since the 2024 Las Vegas GP.

‘Mercedes shocks engine customers’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/03/10/mercedes-shocks-engine-customers-with-f1-australian-gp-performance/


Mercedes’ engine dominance has teams confessing frustration after Australia GP
8 MAR 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Both Williams and McLaren team principals, James Vowles and Andrea Stella, have echoed their sentiment about the Mercedes power unit after observing its performance at the Australian Grand Prix. Both teams, who are customers of the Mercedes engine, have hinted at being largely reactive to the engine’s behaviour rather than operating from a position of control.

While Mercedes celebrated a one-two finish at the Australian Grand Prix, McLaren managed only a fifth place for Lando Norris after teammate Oscar Piastri suffered a crash. Williams, meanwhile, saw Alex Albon finish 12th and Carlos Sainz 15th.

‘Teams confessing frustration’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/mercedes-engine-supremacy-leaves-customer-teams-puzzled-after-australia-gp


Mercedes HPP director says they have an F1 engine ‘advantage’ over McLaren in 2026
28 Feb 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

When McLaren resumed their Mercedes partnership in 2021, they were still a midfield team. It wasn’t until the second half of the 2023 season that they started scoring regular podiums. But since the start of 2024, a resurgent McLaren have outscored Mercedes by over 500 points (1499-937). They have also scored nearly four times as many wins (20-6). There are apparently some insiders who want Mercedes to ‘get rid’ of McLaren as an engine customer, which would weaken a direct rival.

Martin Brundle suspects Toto Wolff is ‘desperate’ to beat Zak Brown this year and reassert his team’s superiority. Hywel Thomas says there’s a clear ‘benefit’ to Mercedes’ works status. Speaking to The Times, Mercedes HPP managing director Hywel Thomas explained that they have a ‘natural’ advantage over McLaren, Williams and Alpine this year.

There was talk that Williams could become a dark horse this season with the highly-rated Mercedes PU, but they appear to have dropped into the lower midfield. McLaren remain the only genuine threat to Wolff’s squad. If Mercedes and McLaren have different views on the relationship between the chassis and the engine, then it will always be the former who take precedence. Counterparts at Woking will be forced to compromise.

‘Mercedes: F1 engine ‘advantage’ over McLaren’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mercedes-hpp-director-says-they-have-an-f1-engine-advantage-over-mclaren-in-2026/


McLaren call out Mercedes for 'hiding' engine data as statement issued
The world champions are not happy.
9 Mar 2026
Tom Jenkins

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has hit out at Mercedes over a lack of engine information following the Australian Grand Prix. Despite Mercedes' engine giving them an advantage over Ferrari, there was a monumental gap between supplier and customer when it came to the Mercedes power-unit. After back-to-back constructor titles McLaren's pace is nothing short of disastrous, and Stella has been left unhappy after recent dialogue with Mercedes.

"The discussion with HPP (Mercedes High Performance Powertrains) about having more information has been going on for weeks because, even in testing, we were pretty much going on track, run the car, look at the data, 'oh, that's what we have. Good, now we react to what we have'", Stella said via Sky Sports. "That's not how you work in Formula 1. In Formula 1, what happens on track, you simulate, you know what is happening, you know what you are programming, you know how the car is going to behave.”

"So, you also have your plans as to how you evolve it that you have figured out before because you know what you are expecting from the car. I have to say, since we are a customer team [of Mercedes], this is the first time that we feel we are on the back foot even when it comes to the ability to predict how the car will behave and the ability to anticipate how we can improve the car." Stella suggested the performance of Mercedes in Melbourne show his team have significant work to do in order to extract maximum performance, but admitted he isn't sure where to start.

‘The world champions are not happy’;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/mclaren-call-out-mercedes-engine-data-715745-20260309


Williams surprised by what Mercedes can extract from 2026 engine
8 Mar 2026
JON NOBLE
The Race

Williams has admitted to being "caught off guard" by how much Mercedes could unlock from its own engine at Formula 1's Australian Grand Prix, as customer teams faced some learning difficulties. As the Mercedes works squad secured a comfortable 1-2 on the grid and followed that up with George Russell leading home Kimi Antonelli in the race, Mercedes' other outfits had a more challenging time. Defending champion Lando Norris at McLaren came home fifth, more than 50 seconds adrift of Russell at the chequered flag, with Alpine's Pierre Gasly scoring a single point in 10th. Williams's best finisher was Alex Albon in 12th place.

Speaking ahead of the Australian GP, Vowles said: "What Mercedes are doing on the power unit is something that caught us off guard. "It took a qualifying for us to really see just how off the pace we are. In that regard, that's probably three tenths [of deficit on the engine side] - something in that ballpark." Vowles has no doubt that Mercedes is supplying it with equal equipment and opportunity. However, he suggested that there is not a free flow of information being made available to customers like his squad when it comes to extracting as much out of the Mercedes engine as the works team is.

"It is not an open door, as you would imagine, because that's where the performance is found," he said. "So it is down to us to try and work around it. We have to acknowledge that we, as Williams, do not have the sophistication that they have in other technologies, and definitely that's on us. I would say the converse is that there's some inherent knowledge they have which we don't. And that's down to us to figure out." Asked by The Race if he had expected knowledge of a performance advantage to flow a bit more freely, Vowles said: "I had expected it to a certain extent, yes. That's why I said I was caught out yesterday."

‘Williams, do not have the sophistication that they have in other technologies, and definitely that's on us’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/williams-surprised-by-what-mercedes-extracting-2026-f1-engine/


McLaren team boss Andrea Stella reveals discontent at lack of information being provided by engine supplier Mercedes
McLaren were well off the pace as Mercedes secured a one-two at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix; the Silver Arrows appear to have a crucial advantage over their engine customers
9 March 2026
Sky Sports

Mercedes were expected to have an advantage as a works team manufacturing their own engine, but Stella admitted McLaren are surprised by the extent of the advantage their supplier appears to have in terms of energy deployment with F1's all new cars for 2026 following a major regulation change.

Stella said: "The discussion with HPP (Mercedes High Performance Powertrains) about having more information has been going on for weeks because, even in testing, we were pretty much going on track, run the car, look at the data, 'oh, that's what we have. Good, now we react to what we have'.”

"That's not how you work in Formula 1. In Formula 1, what happens on track, you simulate. You know what is happening, you know what you are programming, you know how the car is going to behave. "And definitely, the result of this analysis seemed to direct to the fact that we have work to do as a team in collaboration with our HPP engineers. We have work to do to exploit the potential of the power unit, which, once I see the potential that HPP is extracting, looks like there's more that is available.”

‘McLaren were well off the pace as Mercedes secured a one-two’;

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13516648/mclaren-team-boss-andrea-stella-reveals-discontent-at-lack-of-information-being-provided-by-engine-supplier-mercedes

[Fortitude]

‘Mercedes are back’ – Wolff ecstatic with Australia 1-2 but admits ‘we have a fight on our hands’ with Ferrari.
“When it comes to Ferrari, before the race people were saying, you're going to disappear in the distance, looking at your long runs.” Team Principal Toto Wolff.
9 Mar 2026
Formula One - Official Site

Team Principal Toto Wolff was eager not to downplay Ferrari’s potential as Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who was instrumental in the team’s previous run of success, crossed the line in P3 and P4 in Melbourne. They executed much better starts on the opening lap and looked strong on the first stint, but elected to go for an alternative tyre strategy which limited their chances to continue challenging Mercedes for the win. Asked whether he believes their rivals would have been a step closer had their strategy been different, Wolff replied:

“When it comes to Ferrari, before the race people were saying, you're going to disappear in the distance, looking at your long runs. We knew that they were strong on the starts and that's what happened. It was an out and out battle between Charles and George at the beginning. Kimi was a bit unlucky that the battery wasn't on the level that it should have been, on either car actually to a certain degree. It was a three-way fight at a certain stage between the two Ferraris and George and eventually Kimi caught up.”

“For me, the prevailing feeling is now we have a fight on our hands with Ferrari. The worry that we had was that it wasn't exciting in terms of the fighting, and the boost and the overtake modes made it actually quite interesting to watch on a track that is particularly difficult for energy. We'll see how that goes in Shanghai, but most of all is being to a certain degree of contentment that Mercedes are back.”

‘Mercedes 'have a fight on our hands’ with Ferrari – Wolff’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/mercedes-are-back-wolff-ecstatic-with-australia-1-2-but-admits-we-have-a.6Mp9OyOAJM5CZWxuTbUT3W


Juan Pablo Montoya thinks there’s ‘nothing’ Mercedes can do to replicate Ferrari’s F1 starts in 2026
9 Mar 2026
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer

Juan Pablo Montoya ‘highly’ doubts Mercedes will be able to replicate Ferrari’s quick F1 starts. During an appearance on F1’s Australian Grand Prix post-race show, former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya doubted whether Mercedes would be able to introduce a similar sort of element into their own engine to replicate the rocket-like starts from Ferrari.

Montoya predicted Mercedes’ dominance at the season-opener, previously theorising on the extent of the German constructor’s sandbagging during pre-season testing. On the topic of the smaller turbo element, the Colombian was asked if Toto Wolff will be worried about their slower starts, to which he replied, “Yes, because they’re not as easy to get right. It is incredible because they have made studies about it. They have done a lot of preparation, and this is what they got. So now they need to start looking at how we can get more power.”

“But when you start putting more power, you start spinning the tyres. Why can the Ferrari get the extra traction? Back in the day, in my time, was the Renault. Fernando Alonso used to do those blinding starts, and there was nothing you could do. And sometimes it’s just the nature of the car. There’s a chance they’re going to suffer with this for the whole year. They’re going to get better, but are they going to get as good as Ferrari? I highly doubt it.”

‘Rocket-like starts from Ferrari’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/juan-pablo-montoya-thinks-theres-nothing-mercedes-can-do-to-replicate-ferraris-f1-starts-in-2026/


PALMER: Why the season opener in Melbourne convinced me Ferrari will win soon
It might have been a Mercedes 1-2 in Melbourne, as George Russell underlined his championship credentials with a straightforward drive, but I thought the Grand Prix was a real cause for optimism for Ferrari’s chances this season too.
10 Mar 2026
Jolyon Palmer
Formula One - Official Site

It might have been a Mercedes 1-2 in Melbourne, as George Russell underlined his championship credentials with a straightforward drive, but I thought the Grand Prix was a real cause for optimism for Ferrari’s chances this season too.

Lewis Hamilton was very upbeat after the race – despite the fact he saw another potential maiden Ferrari podium slip through his fingers – because there were plenty more positives than negatives for the Scuderia after the season opener.

‘Ferrari will win soon’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/palmer-why-the-season-opener-in-melbourne-convinced-me-ferrari-will-win-soon.4Qo9osRrnyAuRJ7idAyNo5


Jolyon Palmer tips Lewis Hamilton to replicate Chinese GP heroics after ‘rocket start’ in Melbourne
9 Mar 2026
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer

Jolyon Palmer thinks Lewis Hamilton could replicate his 2025 Chinese GP heroics. Despite their inability to take the chequered flag in first, Jolyon Palmer praised Ferrari’s encouraging start when looking forward to the upcoming races on a recent episode of the F1 Nation podcast.

He said, “It wouldn’t surprise me if they win the sprint because what they’ve got is a rocket start in their locker. And if they can qualify third and fourth, by all accounts, they’ll be first and second at the end of the first lap. This circuit (Albert Park) is an outlier in the calendar. It’s really difficult to recharge your battery, overtaking can be difficult because have you got any more battery to spare?”

“But if you’ve got pace, you can be tactical with it. Play that game of chess. There’ll be some circuits where overtaking is actually really difficult. Reliability will get better, so we’ll see less safety cars. If Ferrari can then get to the front, and you’re having less variability with safety cars, and harder tracks to overtake on, you don’t even need the fastest car to win races at that point. I think they’re in a really great spot.”

‘Rocket start’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jolyon-palmer-tips-lewis-hamilton-to-replicate-chinese-gp-heroics-after-rocket-start-in-melbourne/


Ferrari fast-tracks striking 'Macarena' rear wing concept for Chinese GP
10 Mar 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Ferrari is set to bring the 'Macarena' rotating rear wing that caused a stir during pre-season testing in Bahrain at the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend, GPblog can confirm. Italian outlet Autoracer recently reported that Ferrari has fast-tracked its plans, deciding to ship the new rear wing - updated from the experimental version - in time for this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.

After investigating the matter, GPblog understands that three different specifications of the concept seen in Bahrain will be shipped to Shanghai, even though the element was already part of the team’s available pool. However, the timing of its introduction is not the most convenient, given the limited track time available during the first Sprint weekend of the season. With just 60 minutes of practice scheduled, teams will have only a single free practice session before heading straight into sprint qualifying.

For now, it remains unclear what Ferrari’s plan is. The Scuderia could choose to run the wing during FP1 and then decide whether to carry it through the rest of the weekend, or alternatively shelve it for the time being in order to gather more data before introducing it properly at upcoming rounds.

'Macarena rear wing concept’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/ferrari-fast-tracks-striking-rotating-rear-wing-concept-for-chinese-gp


Adrian Newey inspects Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari SF-26 at Australian Grand Prix
10 Mar 2026
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Aston Martin boss Adrian Newey was spotted inspecting Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari SF-26 on the grid ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, it has emerged. As reported on Monday, Newey – who is renowned for studying the designs of rival teams on the starting grid – was spotted by PlanetF1.com taking a close look at Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi R26 ahead of the race in Australia. And it has emerged that Hamilton’s Ferrari also caught the 67-year-old’s eye as the start approached

‘Adrian Newey inspects’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/adrian-newey-aston-martin-lewis-hamilton-ferrari-sf-26-australia


Adrian Newey spent 15 minutes ‘stuck’ to Ferrari’s car on the Australian Grand Prix grid
10 Mar 2026
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey was seen studying Ferrari’s SF-26 for an extended period of time before the Australian Grand Prix. Journalist Julianne Cerasoli notes that the 66-year-old was studying the Ferrari for ’15 minutes’ before the Australian GP.

She said via her YouTube channel after the race: “And then something very surprising happened. Ferrari has a good car. Even Lando Norris was saying this weekend that they see McLaren in the telemetry data, that Ferrari is clearly the team that has the best car at the moment.”

“Adrian Newey [on the] grid from the Australian Grand Prix, he spent a good 15 minutes stuck to the Ferrari car, noting everything about the Ferrari car. So he also thinks that there are many lessons to be learned from this car.”

‘Studying the Ferrari for 15 minutes’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/adrian-newey-spent-15-minutes-stuck-to-ferraris-car-on-the-australian-grand-prix-grid/

[Fortitude]

Verstappen reveals Red Bull's focus for the Chinese Grand Prix.
"We will continue to collect data and work on improving the car; we are still learning and we want to go into this week and be more in the fight." - Max Verstappen.
11 Mar 2026
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen reviewed the areas Red Bull Racing needs to focus on ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. Reviewing their last race, Verstappen said: "It was good to be back racing again and it was promising to see us have a good comeback in the race. The Team did a great job to get to where we are but there is still a lot to do and a lot of learnings that we can take on from that race."

He concluded by discussing the challenges of a Sprint weekend: "We will have less time to work on the set up of the car, so we need to make sure we hit the ground running. The circuit is pretty unique, with quite a challenging track layout with a variety of different corners but with plenty of opportunities for overtaking."

“Be more in the fight";

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappen-reveals-red-bulls-focus-for-the-chinese-grand-prix


Untelevised Max Verstappen team radio emerges after ‘super frustrating’ Australian GP
10 Mar 2026
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Speaking to PlanetF1.com and other media outlets, Verstappen branded his race “terrible” and reiterated his criticism of the new F1 2026 rules. He said: “I do love racing and I want it to be better than this. Let’s see what we can do. I hope that, even during this year, maybe we can come up with some different solutions so it becomes more enjoyable.” Untelevised team radio footage has revealed the extend of Verstappen’s frustrations over the course of the Australian Grand Prix, with the four-time world champion conceding at the end of the race that the cars are “super frustrating to drive” at this stage of 2026.

The full exchange with Lambiase went as follows:
Verstappen: “Mate, my battery is almost empty. It just doesn’t charge.”
Lambiase: “Yeah, copy.”
Verstappen: “Ah. The battery, mate. F**k’s sake.”
Lambiase: “Yeah. Copy, Max. Keep your head down. Today it’s not gonna matter.”

During the virtual safety car period following the retirement of his Red Bull teammate, Isack Hadjar, Verstappen had to be given a rundown of the restart procedure with the new machinery for 2026 on Lap 12.
Verstappen: “When VSC ends, I have to use the boost button?”
Lambiase: “Sorry, Max. Repeat.”
Verstappen: “When VSC ends, do I have to use the boost button?”
Lambiase: “Ah, yes please. Yeah.”

‘Frustrations’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-red-bull-f1-australian-grand-prix-2026-team-radio


Red Bull must help Max Verstappen succeed in Chinese Grand Prix if they want him to stay beyond 2026
12 Mar 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Max Verstappen’s struggles in Australia were there for all to see, and the four-time world champion knows Red Bull need to bridge the gap. Verstappen and Red Bull struggled for pace compared to Mercedes and Ferrari. And it looks like that could be the case for the rest of the season. Given what Max Verstappen said at media day ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, Red Bull may have no choice but to provide at least a temporary fix. Verstappen admitted that he sees strong potential in the car, but even with that, Red Bull aren’t at the level of Mercedes and Ferrari, which he wants to try and chip away at in China.

“There is a lot of potential, it’s just going to depend on if we can extract that throughout the year. The gap was quite big, and also in the race, I think if I would’ve started a little bit up front, I think the best that I could have done was one spot higher because we didn’t have the pace of the top 4 cars… It is clear at the moment that we cannot fight with Mercedes and Ferrari. Hopefully, we can close the gap a bit, and the gap here in China is certainly no greater than last week. But we’ll see what happens in the coming races.”

‘Red Bull must help Max Verstappen succeed’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/red-bull-must-help-max-verstappen-succeed-in-chinese-grand-prix-if-they-want-him-to-stay-beyond-2026/


Max in Shanghai: 'A lot of potential in RB22'
12 Mar 2026
Stefan Meens
Verstappen.nl

“There is a lot of potential”, refers Max Verstappen to the new RB22. “It’ll depend on how much we can extract. Of course, the gap last week was pretty big, also in the race. If I had been able to start higher up the grid, fifth would’ve been the best result possible. Mercedes are in a good position for the whole season. In qualifying, Ferrari was where they wanted to be, but in the race it became clear we didn’t stand a chance against them.”

“We didn’t have to pace to match the top four and we suffered a lot of wear and graining on the tyres. But we’ll see over the next few races if we can close the gap a bit.” With the new regulations only a race old, it is difficult to gauge how the season develops and how track characteristics, like Albert Park’s, influence the pecking order. “It’s impossible to tell. It’s like a jungle out there. I hope we are closer than in Melbourne but it’s clear we can’t take the fight to the cars in front.”

'Potential in RB22';

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/6100/


Max Verstappen deal 'on the table' in move that would rock F1
Max Verstappen's future has been the talk of the town.
12 Mar 2026
Marcus Chan
SPORTbible

There could be another twist in Max Verstappen's Formula 1 future with an offer potentially 'on the table'. Heading into the 2026 season, one of the major talking points has been the future of four-time world champion Verstappen. Due to Red Bull's sudden drop in form in the back end of the 2024 season and last year, Verstappen has been linked with a move away. The likes of Mercedes, Aston Martin and even Williams have all been linked with the 28-year-old.

However, the Dutchman committed his future to Red Bull and produced a brilliant recovery drive from P20 to finish P6 at last weekend's Australian Grand Prix. Looking ahead, Verstappen's future has become a topic of conversation again. Recently, F1 commentator Mark Gallagher claimed that there could be an offer on the table for Verstappen to join Mercedes. He also stated that George Russell's deal would not have an impact in Toto Wolff's desire to sign the Dutchman.

He said to The Express, via Betway: "I think the speculation is driven by several factors. First of all, the media love to speculate. Secondly, when you see someone like George Russell on a shorter-term arrangement at Mercedes, you can only assume there may be something on the table for Max if the Red Bull proves uncompetitive this year. For me, Max is the most complete driver in Formula One. The fact that he lost the championship by just two points to Lando is incredible, especially considering he didn’t always have the fastest car."

‘Deal on the table';

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/max-verstappen-deal-red-bull-f1-news-371361-20260312


Verstappen’s ‘conflicting’ F1 feelings and why he needs distractions
12 Mar 2026
SCOTT MITCHELL-MALM
The Race

Max Verstappen says entering races like the Nurburgring 24 Hours is a positive distraction from not enjoying driving the 2026 generation of Formula 1 cars - which he admits is a “conflicting” feeling. The four-time world champion has been a vocal critic of the limitations of this year’s ruleset and the impact that the excessive energy management demands of the new engines have had. Verstappen dislikes the requirement to charge the battery with techniques that slow the car down at the end of straights, even in qualifying, and means it has to be driven in counterintuitive ways. He will dovetail his 2026 season with Red Bull with a first entry into the 24-hour race on the Nordschleife, driving for his own GT3 team, which creates a clear juxtaposition between what Verstappen wants and what he feels he gets from F1 at the moment.

Verstappen’s chances of winning a fifth world championship in 2026 already look slim as his Red Bull team is running its own engine for the first time and the package is not as competitive as Mercedes or even Ferrari. “It's a bit conflicting, because I don't really enjoy to drive the car, but I do enjoy working with all the people in the team and from the engine department as well,” said Verstappen. “It's almost like a bit of a mind...I can't swear! But anyway, you know what I mean. So, no, I don't want to leave. But I also hope of course that it gets better. “And I've had discussions with F1 and FIA, and I think we are working towards something hopefully and hopefully that will improve everything.” Verstappen would not elaborate on what that could be, but it is known that F1’s stakeholders will meet after this weekend’s China race to discuss potential changes to the rules to improve the energy management demands.

Big swings in battery usage made for a chaotic Australian GP at time with lots of place-swapping several drivers called artificial as they could just drive by others very easily if they were using more electric power in different places on different laps. Verstappen alluded to that when, answering a question about the benefit of simulator usage with these rules, he joked: “I found a cheaper solution. I swapped the simulator for my Nintendo Switch. And practice a bit of Mario Kart, actually. Finding the mushrooms is going quite well. The blue shell is a bit more difficult, but I'm working on it. The rocket? Still not there, the rocket. It's coming!”

‘Entering races like the Nurburgring 24 Hours is a positive distraction’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/max-verstappen-conflicting-f1-feelings-and-why-he-needs-distractions/

[Fortitude]

Ralf Schumacher has seen a worrying change in McLaren boss Zak Brown since the end of last season.
Yes, they know full well that it’s not working, that they’ve unfortunately taken a wrong turn and are obviously too far behind over the winter.” Ralf Schumacher.
12 Mar 2026
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Ralf Schumacher thinks McLaren have been a ‘negative surprise’ at the start of the 2026 season. Schumacher was speaking about McLaren and Piastri’s crash in Melbourne on the Backstage Boxengasse Podcast and said: “Well, you could see that he drove over the kerb, and then I think he just didn’t expect that battery performance or the overall performance, and then, just like that, like a little schoolboy, it happened to him.

“Honestly, it can happen to experienced drivers, but it shouldn’t, no question about it. I feel a bit sorry for him. Maybe he could have shown that the McLaren is capable of better, because Lando Norris didn’t have an easy weekend, it has to be said, he was behind in his performance, he was never satisfied with the McLaren. I also think that this relaxed attitude, which you saw last year with Stella, OK, he was always a bit determined, but still had a smile on his lips, Zak Brown in particular, I think you can see the difference.”

Hardenacke replied: “He was very tense, wasn’t he?” Schumacher continued: “Yes, they know full well that it’s not working, that they’ve unfortunately taken a wrong turn and are obviously too far behind over the winter. “Then, I have to say, it’s a negative surprise when you see that Mercedes, Ferrari and, I would say, Red Bull are the strongest, with Ferrari and Red Bull behind Mercedes, and then there’s a big gap.”

“They know full well that it’s not working”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ralf-schumacher-has-seen-a-worrying-change-in-mclaren-boss-zak-brown-since-the-end-of-last-season/


McLaren need to 'step it up as much as possible' in China, says Norris
After finishing more than 50 seconds behind race winner George Russell in Australia, Lando Norris has called for McLaren to do more.
12 Mar 2026
Formula One - Official Site

Despite there only being a week between the first two rounds of the season, Norris claims McLaren have been working hard to reduce the gap. "It’s been a busy week for the whole team, both the team that are here travelling but also the team back in MTC [McLaren Technology Centre], trying to step it up as much as possible," said Norris during Thursday's media day in Shanghai.”

"[It has been] full of learnings – some good things, some not so good things, but all things that we need to [and] we want to improve on... Learn what we could from others, learn what we could from ourselves, and do a much better job all-round here in Shanghai. It’s understanding of the power unit – we haven’t done as good of a job as we should have done, so our own understanding is not to the level we want it to be at and the team have worked very hard to improve that," said Norris.

"But I also said, the chassis is not to the level that we want it to be at. It’s certainly not bad and we’re certainly not miles away – I think we’re not as far as it almost looked in Melbourne. We need to improve it more, but we know that – we know where we’re stronger, we know where we’re weaker.”

‘Lando Norris has called for McLaren to do more’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/mclaren-need-to-step-it-up-as-much-as-possible-in-china-says-norris.pucxGhm475KTSElMZ9X86


Reigning Formula 1 Champ Lando Norris Makes Hypocritical Claim About New Regulations
12 MAR 2026
CLAY SAUERTIEG
BroBible

Reigning Formula 1 world drivers’ champion Lando Norris has done a complete 180 on his view of the sport’s new regulations, and it comes just weeks after he criticized rival Max Verstappen over the same complaints. Verstappen, a four-time world champion in his own right, said that the sport’s current engine regulations, which divide power supply evenly between the car’s internal combustion engine and battery power, are “Not a lot of fun, to be honest…I would say the right word is management. As a driver, the feeling is not very Formula 1-like. It feels a bit more like Formula E on steroids. But the rules are the same for everyone, so you have to deal with that. And that’s also not my problem, because I’m all for that. Equal chances, I don’t mind that.”

Now, the McLaren driver says he’s not a fan of the new regulations prior to this weekend’s race in Shanghai. “You’re driving the power unit, you’re not driving the car to the same limit,” Norris said on Thursday. “It’s not like, ‘go and drive the car the quickest way possible.’ That’s not how it works. It’s a very different style of driving that’s needed. It’s basically forget everything you’ve ever done and reset.”

Norris noted that the current rules and regulations are nothing like what he dreamed of racing as a kid. “It’s just that’s not what any of us have ever grown up doing. Probably not something any of us grew up wanting to do either, but that’s the way it is now,” he said. Norris clearly isn’t enamored with the current state of Formula 1. But something tells us he won’t be stepping away from the sport anytime soon as he urged Verstappen to do.

‘Lando Norris Makes Hypocritical Claim’;

https://brobible.com/sports/article/formula-1-lando-norris-hypocritical-claim-new-regulations/


Guenther Steiner suggests George Russell wasn’t even using Mercedes’ full potential in Melbourne
12 Mar 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

George Russell’s dominance at Albert Park was impressive, but we might not have seen his Mercedes’ true power just yet. Guenther Steiner believes George Russell was ‘monitoring’ during Australian GP, didn’t take any risks Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, Guenther Steiner was asked whether he felt George Russell was ‘managing’ his Mercedes en route to a win at Albert Park.

Without hesitating, the former Haas team principal explained why Russell did not break a sweat during the race, as his car and the system had everything under control to fend off any potential threats. “Yeah, for sure, he was monitoring. He didn’t need to do anything to take any risk as long as the distance stays the same. Why would you overuse anything? Why would you overuse your systems?”

“He gets the proper information. This is my data to him. It stays stable. The guy cannot catch me. He lapped everybody except six cars.” Outside of an entertaining battle in the first few laps, George Russell was never really threatened by either Ferrari or Kimi Antonelli after he took the lead in Australia. Even with a strong win at the Australian Grand Prix, George Russell has not managed to turn all his detractors into believers just yet.

‘Monitoring’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/guenther-steiner-suggests-george-russell-wasnt-even-using-mercedes-full-potential-in-melbourne/


Ecclestone predicts crash as fears over new regs grow
MARCH 11, 2026
GrandPrix.com

Bernie Ecclestone has warned that Formula 1's new regulations will eventually cause a serious accident, joining a growing chorus of voices - from drivers to team principals to former champions - expressing alarm about the safety and sporting character of the 2026 cars.

The 95-year-old former F1 supremo told Swiss newspaper Blick he was already convinced after just one race. "There's going to be a real crash soon. The speed differences during battery charging - braking on the straights - will eventually surprise the driver behind, and then we'll have a big accident, said Ecclestone. "I just hope I'm wrong this time.”

"There's going to be a real crash soon”;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/ecclestone-predicts-crash-as-fears-over-new-regs-grow.html


Adrian Newey accused of exaggerating Aston Martin issues to get ‘preferential treatment’ from FIA
12 Mar 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Adrian Newey may be overstating the extent of Honda’s problems to prompt a reaction from the FIA, according to a report. Newey has made some remarkable statements about Aston Martin’s engine supplier in the past week or so. The latest rumour is that Newey is seeking early access to the ‘Additional Development Upgrade Opportunities’ (ADUO) afforded by the FIA. The scheme, introduced for the start of the new regulations, doesn’t kick in until after the first six races. Newey may hope that the FIA will offer ‘preferential treatment’ to Honda if the situation demands it, which gives him an incentive to ‘deliberately exaggerate’ the crisis they are facing.

Mercedes may already be manipulating the ADUO system. F1 engine suppliers have access to varying degrees of ADUO depending on their gap to the leader. There are two separate thresholds – 2-4% and over 4%. Honda are almost certain to fall into the latter category, but with the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs likely to be cancelled, round six won’t arrive until the Monaco GP in early June. Until then, they will face the same restrictions as Mercedes.

One could argue that this is unfair and it would be in the interests of the championship to help Honda, raising the overall standard. But Mercedes are already gaming the ADUO system, according to a recent report, by keeping Ferrari and Red Bull within the 2% barrier. In such a competitive environment, it’s difficult to see the other four manufacturers making Honda’s life any easier.

‘ ‘Additional Development Upgrade Opportunities’ (ADUO) afforded by the FIA’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/adrian-newey-accused-of-exaggerating-aston-martin-issues-to-get-preferential-treatment-from-fia/

[Fortitude]

Chinese Grand Prix: George Russell continues fine start to season by going fastest in China practice.
The British driver was at it again at the Shanghai International Circuit to finish 0.120 seconds clear of team-mate Kimi Antonelli.
13 Mar 2026
PA
ESPN.co.uk

George Russell picked up where he left off by posting the fastest time in practice as Mercedes set a blistering early pace in China. Russell dominated in Melbourne a week ago to win the season-opening round and take an early lead in the world championship. Lando Norris was next up for McLaren, 0.555 seconds adrift of Russell, and one place clear of team-mate Oscar Piastri.

Charles Leclerc, the only other driver to finish within a second of Russell, finished fifth after he ran through the gravel at the final corner. Leclerc's team-mate Lewis Hamilton suffered a spin at Turn 6 in the early exchanges and ended the one-hour running 1.3 sec off the pace. He also failed to set a representative time after a scruffy final lap. Earlier, Hamilton and Norris came within inches of contact at the last corner. The stewards noted the incident but did not take any further action.

Ollie Bearman impressed to take seventh in his Haas, but four-time world champion Max Verstappen, already disillusioned by Formula One's new regulations, was a distant eighth, an eye-watering 1.8 sec off the pace. Mercedes have hit the ground running this season and, on the evidence of the sole practice session ahead of qualifying for Saturday's sprint race, their advantage looks as great, if not greater, here.

‘George Russell continues fine start’;

https://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/48173242/chinese-grand-prix-practice-george-russell-continues-fine-start-season-going-fastest-mercedes


Chinese GP FP1 Results Today: 2026 Practice 1 Times
Russell leads Mercedes 1-2 as Sprint weekend begins at Shanghai
13 March 2026
John Smith
Total Motorsport

2026 Chinese Grand Prix FP1 Results
Here are the complete Practice 1 results from the Shanghai International Circuit.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 George Russell Mercedes 1:32.741
2 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.120
3 Lando Norris McLaren +0.555
4 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.731
5 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.858
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +1.388
7 Oliver Bearman Haas +1.685
8 Max Verstappen Red Bull +1.800
9 Nico Hulkenberg Audi +1.898
10 Pierre Gasly Alpine +1.935

‘FP1 Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/chinese-gp-2026-fp1-results/


Chinese GP: Russell leads Mercedes 1-2 in single practice session
13/03/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli comfortably led the way for Mercedes in the only practice session ahead of this afternoon’s Sprint qualifying in Shanghai. The pit were over half a second clear of the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri while Charles Leclerc and Lewis were well adrift in P5 and P6 for Ferrari.

With the weekend hosting the first Srint format event of the 2026 Formula 1 season, there was as usual added emphasis placed on the 60-minute work-out and limited preparation time. The session began with the entire field running the medium compound tyre, with Russell initially setting the benchmark at 1m34.169s for Mercedes.

The Briton’s effort placed him ahead of Leclerc and Piastri, while Antonelli slotted into fourth on 1m34.794s with Haas’ Oliver Bearman in fifth position with a 1m34.950s lap. No other driver broke the 1m35 barrier during this phase. The final 15 minutes were dedicated to qualifying simulations, and it was here that Mercedes’ advantage became clear. Russell lowered the benchmark to 1m32.741s, with Antonelli just 0.12s behind on 1m32.861s. The pair were around seven tenths clear of the field.

‘Mercedes 1-2’;

https://f1i.com/news/560878-chinese-gp-russell-leads-mercedes-1-2-in-single-practice-session.html


Ferrari reveal curious innovation on Charles Leclerc’s car alongside Macarena wing at the Chinese GP
12 Mar 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Ferrari have revealed a small wing on the Halo on Charles Leclerc’s car at the 2026 F1 Chinese Grand Prix, along with the Macarena rear wing they unveiled during testing. The Scuderia stole the show on the Thursday morning at the second official pre-season test in Bahrain when Lewis Hamilton broke cover with their inventive Macarena rear wing. But it only stayed on the SF-26 for five laps before the pride of Italy returned to their normal wing.

Physical upgrades are not the only modifications that Ferrari have made to the SF-26 ahead of the Chinese GP, either. Ferrari are introducing a software update in China that they hope can help Hamilton and Leclerc further improve their energy management levels in Shanghai. The software upgrade is aimed at improving the charging and deployment of the MGU-K in medium and high-speed corners. Mercedes enjoyed an energy management advantage at the Australian GP, as George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli were less prone to clipping.

Ferrari will hope their software and physical upgrades at the Chinese GP pay off, as it will be important to have the right battery levels at the start of the 1.2km (0.7m) back straight. It is expected that most drivers will save most, if not all, of their energy to use it on the straight.

‘Ferrari reveal curious innovation’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ferrari-reveal-curious-innovation-on-charles-leclercs-car-alongside-macarena-wing-at-the-chinese-gp/


Red Bull confirm new power unit already at Chinese GP
13 Mar 2026
Henry Eccles
GPblog.com

Red Bull have already introduced a new engine in 2026, thanks to changes made to Isack Hadjar's RB22 in China. In FIA documents, it has been revealed that a new Internal Combustion Engine has been brought for Hadjar, one of four new ICEs allowed for 2026 in only the second round of the championship.

Elsewhere, Aston Martin have also introduced changes to Fernando Alonso's AMR26, including a new energy store unit, and a new control electronics unit. Wholesale changes made to Hadjar's PU. As well as the ICE, Hadjar's power unit has been fitted with a new turbocharger, exhaust set, and MGU-K.

‘Red Bull confirm new power unit’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/red-bull-confirm-new-power-unit-already-at-chinese-gp


Lewis Hamilton’s body language at the Chinese Grand Prix is strikingly different to one year ago
12 Mar 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton arrived at the 2026 F1 Chinese Grand Prix in a far more optimistic mood than he showed even after winning the Sprint in Shanghai last term. Hamilton recorded his only podium finish of any kind as a Ferrari driver so far when he won the F1 Sprint in Shanghai in March last year. But the 2025 Chinese GP ultimately served as a wake-up call for Ferrari, as the Scuderia endured a double disqualification in the main race.

Lewis Hamilton is decidedly more optimistic at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix. Hamilton has now returned to Shanghai for the 2026 Chinese GP this week in a better mood than even after he won the F1 Sprint there last season. That is according to Leo Turrini, who claims the F1 Sprint win a year ago did not convince Hamilton that a title fight would follow.

The seven-time champion’s body language at the Shanghai International Circuit on Thursday was ‘strikingly different’ compared to one year ago. Hamilton’s improved outlook follows his P4 in the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, just 0.625s off the podium, last week to start the term. In fact, Hamilton seems decidedly more optimistic for what lies ahead this season. He only qualified P7 at Albert Park last weekend, but the Briton made a rapid start to the race, and then arguably finished the Australian GP with superior pace to his teammate Leclerc in P3. Lewis Hamilton will hope to score his first Grand Prix podium as a Ferrari driver in China.

‘Lewis Hamilton’s body language’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lewis-hamiltons-body-language-at-the-chinese-grand-prix-is-strikingly-different-to-one-year-ago/

[Fortitude]

Russell takes Sprint pole in China ahead of Antonelli and Norris.
Russell’s first Q3 run earned him top spot on 1:31.520. That put him clear of Antonelli, Hamilton, Leclerc and Verstappen. The other five cars, including the McLarens and Hadjar, remained in the garage, targeting a single run with the track at its best.
13 MARCH 2026
Racecars

Mercedes’ George Russell will start the Sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix from the front of the grid after beating team-mate Kimi Antonelli by just under three tenths of a second. Lando Norris took third in Sprint Qualifying more than six tenths behind the lead Mercedes. There was a faller before the session had even got underway, with Cadillac’s Sergio Pérez ruled out due to a technical problem on his car.

When the track went green for the start of SQ1 it was Russell who led the way, with the Mercedes driver going quickest on 1:33.030. That put him a tenth clear of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton with the seven-time champion’s team-mate Charles Leclerc in P3 ahead of Antonelli, Norris and the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri. Further back, Red Bull Racing were struggling. Max Verstappen was complaining of “horrendous driveability” on his RB22, and the four-time champion progressed in a relatively lowly 11th place, some 1.8s off Russel’s P1 time. It was a similar story for Verstappen’s new team-mate Isack Hadjar woe went through in P14.

‘Russell’s first Q3 run earned him top spot on 1:31.520’;

https://www.racecar.com/news/103311/motorsport/russell-takes-sprint-pole-in-china-ahead-of-antonelli-and-norris


Full starting grid for 2026 F1 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint
Check out the full starting grid for the first Sprint race of 2026, at the Chinese Grand Prix!
13 Mar 2026
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Full starting grid for 2026 F1 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint
Position Driver Team
1st George Russell Mercedes
2nd Kimi Antonelli Mercedes
3rd Lando Norris McLaren
4th Lewis Hamilton Ferrari
5th Oscar Piastri McLaren
6th Charles Leclerc Ferrari
7th Pierre Gasly Alpine
8th Max Verstappen Red Bull
9th Oliver Bearman Haas
10th Isack Hadjar Red Bull

‘Chinese Grand Prix Sprint’;

https://racingnews365.com/full-starting-grid-for-2026-f1-chinese-grand-prix-sprint


'It's an opportunity' – Norris targets China Sprint start to beat Russell and Mercedes
Having qualified third for the Sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix, reigning F1 World Champion Lando Norris is targeting a way of beating the Mercedes duo.
13 Mar 2026
Formula One - Official Site

Lando Norris believes the start of Saturday's Sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix is 'an opportunity for sure' to try and beat the Mercedes of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

"I'm just happy with the result, I've not seen what I lost and gained or whatever," he said. "P3 is as good as we can do for the time being. Actually pretty happy to beat both the Ferraris today because they seemed pretty good the whole day. Satisfied, good position for tomorrow.

"Certainly things have been better this weekend, just because the track is a lot more simple from a power unit side of things, so everyone kind of falls in line a bit more. We certainly seemed to get a good amount of it at the end and it was close. A good lap put me in a good position."

'It's an opportunity';

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/its-an-opportunity-norris-targets-china-sprint-start-to-beat-russell-and.6WjCz789H6MezXPbj84lXu


George Russell accuses Ferrari of creating ‘unnecessary complications’ ahead of 2026 Chinese GP
George Russell accuses Ferrari of blocking changes to Formula 1 start rules as teams struggle with the new 2026 power unit launches
13 Mar 2026
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

George Russell accuses Ferrari of creating “unnecessary complications” ahead of 2026 Chinese GP, by resisting any changes to Formula 1 start procedure as teams struggle to get off the line whilst the FIA chases solutions. “The FIA was looking to potentially adjust that (the start procedure),” Russell told media, including Total-Motorsport.com.

“But as you can imagine some teams who were making good starts didn’t want it, which I think is just a little bit silly. I’m not overly concerned, but it’s definitely a challenge. They [FIA] could do [change the rules]. I think they want to, but they need a super majority from the teams, which they don’t have. So, you can probably guess which team is against that. I don’t think their gain is coming from this issue. Now all the teams know the problem, we’ll just drive around it.”

“But it’s just creating a bit of unnecessary complications to something that doesn’t really need to be there. Half the grid messed up in Melbourne. We’ll adjust. We know what we need to be wary of now. The FIA did just want to make our life easier and just remove this harvest limit, but, as often [happens], people have selfish views and they want to do what’s best for themselves. And that’s part of Formula 1 and part of the challenge of Formula 1. We’ll deal with it and I think the starts here will be much better.”

‘Unnecessary complications’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/george-russell-ferrari-f1-start-controversy-chinese-gp/


Anthony Davidson concerned by what he heard in Max Verstappen’s Chinese Grand Prix onboard
13 Mar 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Sky Sports pundit Davidson heard the evidence during a replay of an oversteer moment for Verstappen in SQ1. Oscar Piastri experienced a similarly violent ‘torque spike’ before crashing on the warm-up lap in Melbourne. Davidson says that Verstappen is having to drive ‘on the defensive’ because he hasn’t established trust in this year’s car. “Let’s have a listen to this,” he said. “Oh yeah, you could really hear it, couldn’t you, as he picked up the throttle. That’s the drivability he’s talking about. That’s the exit. That is a lot of power and deployment that he wasn’t expecting. We would refer to that usually as a torque spike.”

Last weekend, Davidson said Verstappen was trying to drive like the ‘good old days’. There were times in practice where he was seemingly caught out by the reduced downforce. Verstappen has made it abundantly clear that he isn’t enjoying the driving experience this year. While he says this isn’t linked to results, Red Bull’s lack of pace will only sour his mood further

Helmut Marko says Verstappen won’t win the title in 2026, and while this is only round two out of 24, it’s hard to disagree in light of the enormous gap to Mercedes. Red Bull’s rate of development should theoretically be higher than their rivals, though, because they are racing with their own power unit for the first time.

‘Trying to drive like the good old days’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/anthony-davidson-concerned-by-what-he-heard-in-max-verstappens-chinese-grand-prix-onboard/


‘I don’t know what we can do’ – Verstappen rues ‘disaster’ Friday in China after P8 in Sprint Qualifying
It was a tough start to the Chinese Grand Prix weekend for Red Bull, with Max Verstappen explaining the issues he experienced after ending Sprint Qualifying in P8.
13 Mar 2026
Formula One - Official Site

Max Verstappen labelled Friday at the Chinese Grand Prix as a “disaster pace-wise”, with the Red Bull driver suggesting that he does not yet know what the team will do to address the issues for the rest of the weekend after ending Sprint Qualifying in P8.

“The whole day has been a disaster pace-wise,” said Verstappen. “[I had] no grip – honestly I think that’s the biggest problem – no balance, just losing massive amounts of time in the corners, to be honest. And then of course because of that, you start to trigger other little problems. The big problem for us is just the cornering – it’s completely out.”

‘I don’t know what we can do’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/i-dont-know-what-we-can-do-verstappen-rues-disaster-friday-in-china-after-p8.2lnEjMKIFvXYzFMS0seJns


Charles Leclerc agrees with Lewis Hamilton about Ferrari’s gap to Mercedes at the Chinese Grand Prix
13 Mar 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have agreed that Ferrari urgently need to improve their power unit after Mercedes maintained their significant advantage in Sprint qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc says Ferrari can’t live with Mercedes in qualifying.

Speaking in the media pen after Sprint qualifying, Leclerc said that Mercedes are making a leap in qualifying trim that Ferrari simply can’t live with. Leclerc was eight-tenths off Russell’s benchmark in Melbourne qualifying before challenging the Briton for the win after a rapid start to the race.

Ferrari were seen as the closest challengers to Mercedes when they arrived in Shanghai, but Lando Norris was ‘best of the rest’ in third, and Oscar Piastri managed to split the two scarlet red cars. That suggests reigning champions McLaren have also made a step in the last week. Mercedes boast a 0.621s lead over McLaren atop the SQ3 timesheets after Sprint Qualifying in China.

‘Ferrari urgently need to improve their power unit’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/charles-leclerc-agrees-with-lewis-hamilton-about-ferraris-gap-to-mercedes-at-the-chinese-grand-prix/

[Fortitude]

Hamilton returns to podium, as Russell storms to win in chaotic Chinese GP sprint.
Georgia Russell continued his early-season dominance with a commanding Sprint race win at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
14 Mar 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

The Sprint race in Shanghai kicked off in a similar manner to the Australian Grand Prix, with the Scuderia Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc recording another strong start at lights out. Hamilton, starting from fourth place, stormed to second, while teammate Charles Leclerc moved into fourth place.

The pair soon cleared out Lando Norris, who was in the mix for the early podium, and Hamilton soon passed Russell for first place. As many as five lead changes occurred within the first four laps, with both British drivers battling fiercely in the early stages of the race.

Russell, however, soon cemented his place at the top after reclaiming the lead from Hamilton. The race was then shaken up following a safety car incident caused by Nico Hulkenberg, who suffered a technical failure in his car. The yellow flag prompted several pit stops, including for Antonelli, who served a penalty following a collision with Isack Hadjar.

‘Russell storms to win’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/breaking-news/hamilton-returns-to-podium-as-russell-storms-to-win-in-chaotic-chinese-gp-sprint


F1 2026 Chinese Grand Prix – Sprint Race Results
14 Mar 2026
Motorsport Week

View the full results below!
Position Driver Team Laps Gap
1 George Russell Mercedes 19
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 19 0.674
3 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 19 2.554
4 Lando Norris McLaren 19 4.433
5 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 19 5.688
6 Oscar Piastri McLaren 19 6.809
7 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls 19 10.900
8 Oliver Bearman Haas 19 11.271
9 Max Verstappen Red Bull 19 11.619
10 Esteban Ocon Haas 19 13.887

‘Sprint Race Results’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/03/14/f1-2026-chinese-grand-prix-sprint-race-results/


F1 leader Russell wins Shanghai sprint for Mercedes
14 Mar 2026
The Straits Times

SHANGHAI, March 14 - George Russell held off the fast-starting Ferraris to win the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race for Mercedes on Saturday and stretch his Formula One championship lead to 11 points. The Briton started on pole position at the Shanghai International Circuit and finished ahead of Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton after a late safety car period in the 19-lap race.

Russell won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix last weekend in a Mercedes one-two. Leclerc finished 0.674 seconds behind Russell after an earlier battle with Hamilton, as Ferrari had two cars in the top three of a Formula One race of any sort for the first time since the end of 2024. Hamilton and Russell battled for the lead early on with four changes of lead in the opening five laps before the Mercedes driver made a move that stuck and secured the eight points available for a sprint win.

‘George Russell held off the fast-starting Ferraris to win’;

https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/f1-leader-russell-wins-shanghai-sprint-for-mercedes


Russell clings on to win dramatic Chinese GP sprint race
Russell takes first F1 sprint win at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix.
14 Mar 2026
Sam Hall
Crash.Net

George Russell took the first F1 sprint race victory of his career after delivering a battling performance at the Chinese Grand Prix. Russell maintained his 100% start to the season, but the Mercedes driver was forced to work for his Saturday success in China, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton providing a threat throughout.

Kimi Antonelli suffered a dreadful launch and was swamped into the first corner, dropping to seventh place in the opening exchanges. But things got even worse for the Italian, who then made contact with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar at Turn 7, with Antonelli handed a 10-second penalty for his troubles.

Conversely, it was a great start for Hamilton in the Ferrari, who surged from fourth to the lead. Losing out to pole-sitter Russell on the drag to the Turn 14 hairpin, he then fought back at the start of the second lap, with the ding-dong battle keeping Leclerc within touching distance of the lead.

‘Russell takes first F1 sprint win’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1091295/1/george-russell-clings-win-dramatic-chinese-gp-sprint-race


Sprint Race Report: What Happened at the Chinese GP 2026
George Russell beats Ferrari pair after intense battle in Chinese GP Sprint
14 Mar 2026
John Smith
Total Motorsport

At lights out, George Russell made a clean getaway from pole position, but the opening lap quickly turned chaotic as Kimi Antonelli struggled to launch from the front row and dropped several positions. Behind the leading Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton wasted little time attacking. The seven time world champion forced his way past the McLaren of Lando Norris and then overtook George Russell into Turn 9 to seize the lead for Ferrari.

The move sparked a thrilling duel between the former Mercedes team mates. On multiple occasions George Russell used the powerful straight line speed of his Mercedes to slipstream past on the main straight, only for Lewis Hamilton to reclaim the position under braking into the long Turn 1 complex. The battle allowed Charles Leclerc to close in behind the pair, with the Ferrari driver watching closely as the two leaders exchanged positions during the opening laps.

Ultimately, the decisive moment came on lap six. George Russell timed his energy deployment perfectly and managed to break the slipstream before the braking zone, finally securing the lead and beginning to edge away. Once in clean air, the Mercedes driver immediately opened a gap while tyre wear began to take its toll on the chasing Ferrari cars.

‘George Russell beats Ferrari pair’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/chinese-gp-2026-sprint-race-report/


Russell soaks up Ferrari pressure to win as Antonelli penalty costs Mercedes one-two | 2026…
14th March 2026
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

George Russell overcame another strong start by the Ferraris to win the sprint race in Shanghai. However Mercedes’ hopes of a one-two finish were dashed as Andrea Kimi Antonelli collected a penalty for colliding with Isack Hadjar. The stewards penalised Antonelli 10 seconds for the contact which occured at turn six on the first lap.

As was the case in the opening laps in Melbourne, Russell came under strong pressure from the Ferrari drivers, led this time by Lewis Hamilton who got away quickly for fourth on the grid. Charles Leclerc rose from sixth to join the fight. Hamilton initially passed Russell at turn eight on the first lap, only to lose the position again at turn 14. The pair continued to exchange the lead as they managed their energy levels over the opening laps: Hamilton regained the lead as lap two began, lost it again on lap three, then they exchanged places again over the next two laps.

By this point Hamilton’s tyres were looking increasingly tired and Leclerc was filling his mirrors. Leclerc took his team mate’s place on the seventh lap following some firm defensive moves from the number 44 Ferrari. “Does he know how wide these cars are, or not?” remarked Leclerc. After seeing Hamilton off for good through the opening complex Leclerc added: “He can complain about turn three, that’s okay.”

‘Russell soaks up Ferrari pressure’;

https://www.racefans.net/2026/03/14/russell-soaks-up-ferrari-pressure-to-win-as-antonelli-penalty-costs-mercedes-one-two/

[Fortitude]

Kimi Antonelli takes historic pole for Chinese GP.
There was an inescapable sense of joy and satisfaction for Kimi Antonelli as he became the youngest pole sitter in Formula One history.
Mar 14 2026
Giles Richards
The Irish Times

Tellingly, there was an air of vindication from his Mercedes principal, Toto Wolff, as the teenage protege came good when it mattered by claiming the top spot for the Chinese Grand Prix. The Italian took pole by beating his older and more experienced team-mate George Russell into second, albeit after the Briton endured a technical problem in Q3 and had time to set only one quick lap.

Antonelli was ecstatic, of course, but Wolff was no less punchy. He had faced criticism after drafting Antonelli straight into Mercedes last season but on Saturday Antonelli delivered on all that promise and has every chance now to convert it into a debut win on Sunday. “Many said the kid was too young to be in a Mercedes, we should have prepared him otherwise,” Wolff said. “The kid did good today.”

A fair assessment. Antonelli is the youngest driver to take pole at 19 years, six months and 17 days old, beating Sebastian Vettel’s record, which had stood for 18 years since 2008. The youngster, tousled-haired and growing out of his still boyish looks, had to hold his nerve to deliver, especially as Russell’s travails made him the team’s lead shot at the top.

‘Antonelli was ecstatic’;

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/2026/03/14/kimi-antonelli-takes-historic-pole-for-chinese-gp/


Chinese Grand Prix - Qualifying results
14/03/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Qualifying results
Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3
1 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:33.305s 1:32.443s 1:32.064s
2 George Russell Mercedes 1:33.262s 1:32.523s 1:32.286s
3 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:33.522s 1:32.567s 1:32.415s
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:33.175s 1:32.486s 1:32.428s
5 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:33.590s 1:33.130s 1:32.550s
6 Lando Norris McLaren 1:33.535s 1:32.910s 1:32.608s
7 Pierre Gasly Alpine 1:33.788s 1:33.003s 1:32.873s
8 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:33.417s 1:33.098s 1:33.002s
9 Isack Hadjar Red Bull 1:33.632s 1:33.352s 1:33.121s
10 Oliver Bearman Haas 1:33.687s 1:33.197s 1:33.292s

‘Qualifying results’;

https://f1i.com/news/561073-chinese-grand-prix-qualifying-results-2.html


F1 Qualifying Press Conference - China GP 2026 | Antonelli, Russell, Hamilton
Mar 14, 2026
Formula 1 Info

Kimi Antonelli, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton F1 Press Conference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3FQcJaeH8o


Russell survives ‘chaos’ to steal front-row start in China
14 Mar 2026
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

George Russell salvaged a front-row start for Sunday’s Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix after a chaotic qualifying session threatened to derail his challenge. The Mercedes driver headed into qualifying favourite for pole, having taken top spot in the Sprint earlier in the day, but was unable to best teammate Kimi Antonelli.

“It was as good as I could have achieved,” Russell said of his effort, which left him second on the grid, two-tenths down on his teammate. I had no battery at the start of the lap, and my tyres were cold. But, I’m very grateful to be sat here right now. It was more a case of getting the time on the board.”

“I knew Kimi has been really strong, and things were far from optimised on my side, so it was more a case of get the car across the line and make sure I’m starting in a sensible position. P2 was much better than I expected when I started a lap with no battery and no tyre temperature, I was expecting to be further down the order.”

‘Chaos’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/george-russell-chaotic-mercedes-chinese-gp


Max Verstappen blasts Red Bull car after nightmare Chinese GP qualifying
The Red Bull driver says every lap feels like survival after qualifying struggles in Shanghai
14 March 2026
John Smith
Total Motorsport

Max Verstappen delivered a brutally honest verdict on Red Bull’s difficult start to the Chinese Grand Prix weekend after qualifying only eighth on the grid, describing the RB22 as “undriveable” and admitting that driving it feels like “survival”.

“We changed a lot on the car, and it makes zero difference,” Verstappen explained after qualifying. “The whole weekend we have been off. The car is completely undriveable. I cannot even put a bit of a reference in. Every lap is like survival. The balance is really disconnected. I cannot push at all because the car does not let me,” Verstappen said.

“That is why I do not feel in control of the car. It is just really not how it should be. From lap one of this new regulation I have not enjoyed this car,” Verstappen admitted. “The battery was fine,” Max Verstappen said. “But I did not get enough power from the engine. I basically had the same problem as what Liam Lawson had more or less in Australia. I think I will finish where I am at,” Verstappen said.

‘Brutally honest verdict’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/max-verstappen-red-bull-undriveable-chinese-gp/


Ted recaps quali as Antonelli makes history ⭐️ | Ted's Chinese Grand Prix Qualifying Notebook
Mar 14, 2026
Sky Sports F1

Ted Kravitz gives his thoughts and insights on the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix Qualifying, as Kimi Antonelli made history as the youngest F1 pole-sitter at 19.

‘Ted’;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdCd-GGMsOA

[Fortitude]

Kimi Antonelli wins the Chinese Grand Prix with George Russell securing second one-two for Mercedes.
A maiden Grand Prix win for Kimi Antonelli, as well as a first podium appearance for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari!
15 Mar 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

As the race began, Kimi Antonelli, who was sitting on pole, once again struggled to get the best start to the race, losing the race lead to Lewis Hamilton. Antonelli would take the lead back from Hamilton quickly, passing him on the second lap and holding him off. George Russell would do the same just two laps later.

Both Ferrari and Mercedes were expectedly ahead to start the race, but over at Red Bull, Isack Hadjar had another disastrous start, spinning out and being forced to pit early to address the issue. His teammate, Max Verstappen, similarly struggled, losing two positions from his P8 start and finding himself 10th within the first 10 laps of the race. An errant stop from Lance Stroll near Turn 1 on Lap 10 led to the first safety car of the race.

Unlike in Australia, the Ferrari drivers followed Kimi Antonelli and George Russell into the pit lane for a change of tyres. The safety car’s presence led to an unexpected sight, as Franco Colapinto and Esteban Ocon found themselves in second and third, respectively. Hamilton managed to take advantage of George Russell’s Mercedes locking up at the end of the safety car, following it up by passing Ocon and Colapinto to take second place.

‘One-two for Mercedes’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/kimi-antonelli-wins-the-chinese-grand-prix-with-george-russell-securing-second-one-two-for-mercedes/


F1 2026 Chinese Grand Prix – Race Results
15 Mar 2026
Motorsport Week

View the full results below!

Position Driver Team Laps Gap
1 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 53
2 George Russell Mercedes + 5.5
3 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari + 25.3
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari + 28.9
5 Oliver Bearman Haas + 57.3
6 Pierre Gasly Alpine + 59.6
7 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls + 80.6
8 Isack Hadjar Red Bull + 87.2
9 Carlos Sainz Williams + 1 Lap
10 Franco Colapinto Alpine + 1 Lap

‘Full results’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/03/15/f1-2026-chinese-grand-prix-race-results/


Chinese GP: Antonelli gets it done, for Mercedes and Italy
15/03/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix delivered a historic changing of the guard as 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli secured his maiden Formula 1 victory. In just his 26th start, the Mercedes prodigy became the second-youngest winner in the sport's history and the first Italian victor since 2006, leading home a Silver Arrows 1-2 in a masterclass of composure and raw pace.

Starting from his first career pole, Antonelli initially lost the lead to the man he replaced in 2025 at Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton. However, the Italian’s tenure in second place was brief. By lap three, he executed a clinical dive past the Briton’s Ferrari at the Turn 14 hairpin to reclaim the lead.

While George Russell scuffled with the Ferraris and dropped to fourth early on, Antonelli focused on building a gap. A lap 10 Safety Car for Lance Stroll’s stranded Aston Martin briefly threatened his rhythm, placing the non-pitting duo of Franco Colapinto and Esteban Ocon as a buffer between the leaders.

‘Antonelli gets it done, for Mercedes and Italy’;

https://f1i.com/news/561178-chinese-gp-antonelli-gets-it-done-for-mercedes-and-italy.html


Fernando Alonso issues health update after vibrations scare
Fernando Alonso endured a painful Chinese GP, retiring at the point he could take no more.
15 Mar 2026
Nick Golding & Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Fernando Alonso has issued a health update after being forced to retire from the Chinese Grand Prix due to vibrations causing significant discomfort. "Yeah, I probably could not have finished the race anyway," Alonso told select media, including RacingNews365. "The vibration level was very high today at one point.”

"From lap 20 to 35 I was struggling a little bit to feel my hands and my feet, and we were one lap behind. We were last, and there was probably no point in carrying on." Asked if the vibrations were worse in the race, Alonso replied: "Yeah, it was worse today than in any other session across the weekend, to be honest. For whatever reason, I don't know.”

"And then, yeah, some of the steps we took were achieved artificially. I mean, just lowering the RPM of the engine and things like that, so everything vibrates less. But in the race, obviously you still need to go high in the RPM when you make an overtaking move, or when you have to recharge or something like that. So yeah, obviously over time it becomes more difficult, more demanding."

‘Retiring at the point he could take no more’;

https://racingnews365.com/fernando-alonso-issues-health-update-after-vibrations-scare


McLaren release damning statement after both Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri fail to start Chinese …
15 Mar 2026
Give Me Sport

McLaren seemed to take a step forward in their car development and power unit understanding this weekend in China prior to the Grand Prix, as they managed to claim eight solid points from the Sprint, while Norris also finished ahead of potential title contender Kimi Antonelli.

They then locked out the third row of the grid in qualifying with the hopes of potentially challenging for a podium place in the race after both drivers posted lap times approximately two tenths away from the Ferrari's of Charles Leclerc (fourth) and Lewis Hamilton (third).

Following the disappointment prior to lights out in Shanghai, McLaren released a statement that read: "Unfortunately, we identified separate issues on both cars which prevented them from starting the Chinese GP, with Oscar's being removed from the grid shortly before the formation lap. We will now work to identify the issue."

‘McLaren release damning statement’;

https://www.givemesport.com/mclaren-statement-lando-norris-oscar-piastri-fail-start-chinese-gp-f1/


'The whole dashboard turned off' - Max retires from the Chinese GP
15 Mar 2026
Sky Sports

Verstappen Radio: “OK Max, let’s retire the car please.”

Max Verstappen retires from the Chinese GP after electrical failure in his Red Bull.

The whole dashboard turned off';

https://www.skysports.com/f1/video/36395/13519992/max-retires-mxf


Max Verstappen’s unheard radio frustrations at the Chinese GP highlight Red Bull’s 2026 issues
15 Mar 2026
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

The 28-year-old started on the fourth row of the grid on Sunday, but with both McLaren drivers failing to start in China, it essentially meant he was starting in P6. Unfortunately, he once again got bogged down off the start and he said on the radio: “I let the engine RPM drop too low.” The Dutchman was then incredibly unlucky with his first stop, pitting one lap before the safety car came out for Lance Stroll’s retirement and Lambiase said: “Target would be to try and go to the end [on these hard tyres].”

Verstappen simply said: “Yeah, I will try,” realising the size of the task he faced. Later in the race, as he was trying to recover through the pack following his slow start, he said: “Mate my f—— boost button!” suggesting that Red Bull are still having issues with their battery deployment. A few laps before retiring, Verstappen asked his race engineer: “Well, how about you check my onboard?”

Lambiase replied: “I am supposed to be on your side, Max, trying to give some help and information, nothing further, mate.” Red Bull have chassis issues that need addressing, as Verstappen’s qualifying attempts have shown. Verstappen’s car is still 10 kilograms overweight, and while getting down to the weight limit will help performance, it might not aid his reliability issues.

‘Radio frustrations’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/max-verstappens-unheard-radio-frustrations-at-the-chinese-gp-highlight-red-bulls-2026-issues/


Drivers' Standings | Antonelli cuts the gap to Russell at the Chinese Grand Prix
15 Mar 2026
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

World Drivers' Championship standings: Chinese Grand Prix
Position Drivers Points
1. George Russell (Mercedes) 51
2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 47
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 34
4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 33
5. Oliver Bearman (Haas) 17
6. Lando Norris (McLaren) 15
7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 9
8. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 8
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) 8
10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) 4

‘Drivers' Standings’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/drivers-standings-antonelli-cuts-the-gap-to-russell-at-the-chinese-grand-prix

[Fortitude]

'From Italy, Kimi Raikkonen!' - Antonelli victim of funny slip-up on the podium.
The Shanghai circuit announcer made a small slip-up while trying to correctly announce the name of race winner Kimi Antonelli.
15 Mar 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

The Italian driver has just secured the first victory of his Formula 1 career, a result that came after the superb pole position he claimed in qualifying, which allowed him to start from the front of the grid for the first time. Antonelli then managed the race flawlessly, setting a strong pace from start to finish and preventing his teammate from ever getting back into contention for the win.

The celebrations that followed were understandably emotional, with Antonelli visibly moved during the post-race interviews and celebrating enthusiastically on the podium. However, just moments before the national anthems began, the Italian was accidentally announced as Kimi Räikkönen by the circuit’s speaker, who quickly corrected himself once he realised the slip-up.

'From Italy, Kimi Raikkonen!';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/general/from-italy-kimi-raikkonen-antonelli-victim-of-funny-slip-up-on-the-podium


Kimi Raikkonen wins 2026 Chinese GP in hilarious incident
Kimi Antonelli won the Chinese GP, or did he?
15 Mar 2026
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Chinese GP winner Kimi Antonelli was mistakenly introduced as "Kimi Raikkonen" as he took to the podium in Shanghai. Taking to the podium, veteran announcer Bob Constanduros suffered a momentary lapse, as 2007 world champion Raikkonen made an unexpected appearance!

‘Hilarious incident’;

https://racingnews365.com/kimi-raikkonen-wins-2026-chinese-gp-in-hilarious-incident


Kimi Antonelli’s first F1 win gets podium twist as MC calls him Kimi Raikkonen
15 Mar 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

The MC got his Kimi’s mixed up in a hilarious blooper during the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix podium ceremony. Kimi Antonelli, who won his very first Grand Prix in China, was introduced onto the podium as ‘Kimi Raikkonen’. Old habits die hard. Mercedes certainly saw the funny side.

‘The MC got his Kimi’s mixed up’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/kimi-antonelli-chinese-gp-win-introduced-as-kimi-raikkonen


F1 podium blunder leaves Kimi Antonelli momentarily mistaken for Raikkonen
Awkward announcement overshadows emotional first Formula 1 victory for Kimi Antonelli in Shanghai
15 Mar 2026
John Smith
Total Motorsport

The celebrations for Kimi Antonelli after his first Formula 1 victory at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix briefly took an unexpected turn when the official podium announcer mistakenly introduced the young Italian as former world champion Kimi Raikkonen.

The mix up occurred moments after the race winner stepped onto the podium at the Shanghai International Circuit. As the crowd prepared to celebrate the sport’s newest Grand Prix winner, the announcement mistakenly referenced Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion, instead of Antonelli.

Erm… that doesn’t sound right? �� pic.twitter.com/9NsvSRTyse
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) March 15, 2026

‘An unexpected turn’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/kimi-antonelli-raikkonen-podium-mistake-chinese-gp/


Toto Wolff handed firm instruction to Kimi Antonelli after crash fear
Toto Wolff had flashbacks to Kimi Antonelli's Monza FP1 crash after the late scare in China.
15 Mar 2026
Jake Nichol & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Reflecting on the closing laps, Wolff explained how Bonnington had initially pushed back at telling Antonelli to slow down, before doing so after the late off. "Not really, to be honest," Wolff explained when asked by media, including RacingNews365, if he was nervous in the final laps.

"When there is a groove, and the systems look well, at the end, it was okay. Kimi can't help himself, another fastest lap, another fastest lap, and we know the pattern from Monza with his FP1 crash [in 2024 on his F1 debut], so I said to Bono [Peter Bonnington] to 'calm him down.'”

"He said, 'No, I think he is in a groove, and we don't want him to lose this race.' [Antonelli] missed the breaking point, and I said: 'Well, okay, now will you calm him down?'”

‘Toto Wolff handed firm instruction’;

https://racingnews365.com/toto-wolff-issued-firm-instruction-to-kimi-antonelli-after-crash-fear


Toto Wolff told Kimi Antonelli to ‘stop with this nonsense’ during annoyed Chinese GP radio message
15 Mar 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Despite driving a near-perfect race, a late error from Kimi Antonelli led to Toto Wolff warning the young driver not to get ahead of himself. Even with the near-universal praise, an ill-timed lock-up late in the race led to Toto Wolff reminding Kimi Antonelli not to get carried away.

Toto Wolff spoke to F1 TV right after the Chinese Grand Prix, hiding his adulation behind his ever-composed demeanour. When discussing Antonelli’s late-race lock-up, Wolff revealed that he told Peter Bonnington to get Kimi Antonelli to calm down and not do anything that could risk their inevitable race win.

“That’s typical Kimi, and I said to Bono, ‘Tell him to stop with this nonsense. We just need to drive it home, we don’t need any fastest laps anymore.’ But that’s him.” Wolff clearly didn’t show any anger or frustration with his comments. Rather, he treated the instance as yet another example of his youth and inexperience.

‘Stop with this nonsense’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/toto-wolff-told-kimi-antonelli-to-stop-with-this-nonsense-during-annoyed-chinese-gp-radio-message/


Antonelli’s “heart attack” moment in emotional F1 Chinese GP victory
Antonelli fought back the tears after winning the F1 Chinese Grand Prix.
15 Mar 2026
Sam Hall
Crash.Net

Kimi Antonelli joked that a late-race incident gave him a “heart attack” before he navigated the final tours to secure a maiden Formula 1 victory at the Chinese Grand Prix. The Italian put on a composed and largely error-free performance to back up his career-first pole position, with victory and the fastest lap in Shanghai. Had it not been for a single lap led by Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, he would have become the youngest driver to complete a grand slam victory.

Locking up and running off at the Turn 14 hairpin with a near-10-second margin back to team-mate George Russell, Antonelli feared the worst. Battling back the tears, he said: “I’m speechless. I’m about to cry, to be honest. But yeah, thank you so much to my team because they helped me to achieve this dream. I’m super happy. I said yesterday that I really wanted to bring Italy back on top, and we did today. Even though I gave myself a little bit of a heart attack towards the end with a flat spot, it was a good race.”

“There’s so much that I’ve learned, but first of all it’s never to relax too much because today it went well, but it could have been worse,” Antonelli explained. “So just always try to stay on point and keep the focus because today at the end I opened the room for mistakes and the mistake happened.”

‘Antonelli’s “heart attack” moment’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1091535/1/kimi-antonellis-heart-attack-moment-emotional-f1-chinese-gp-victory


Antonelli breaks down after achieving ‘one of my life goals’
15 Mar 2026
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Kimi Antonelli broke down in tears as David Coulthard interviewed him after clinching his maiden Formula 1 victory at the Chinese Grand Prix. While George Russell squabbled with the Ferraris, and the Ferrari drivers with one another, Antonelli pulled clear to lead by nine seconds into the closing laps. However, a hairy lock-up at the hairpin with three laps to go prompted his race engineer Peter Bonnington to come over the radio: ‘Let’s get this thing home’.

That’s exactly what Antonelli did, winning by five seconds ahead of Russell. “Yes, we did it,” he told Mercedes on the radio, adding: “Thank you guys, you’ve helped me achieve one of my dreams.” Antonelli spoke with Coulthard in the immediate post-race interview where he was overcome by the emotions of the moment.
“I’m about to cry. Thank you to my team who helped me achieve this dream,” he said, before the tears broke free and he took a moment to wipe his eyes. I’m super happy. I said I really wanted to bring Italy back on top and we did it today. Even though I gave myself a little bit of a heart attack towards the end with the flat spot.”

‘Let’s get this thing home’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/kimi-antonelli-tears-maiden-formula-1-victory-chinese-grand-prix

[Fortitude]

Villeneuve says Hamilton and Leclerc ‘cost Ferrari dearly’ during Chinese GP.
“destroying their tyres, and in those two laps they lost five seconds to Antonelli.” Jacques Villeneuve.
15 Mar 2026
John Smith
Total Motorsport

A dramatic intra team duel between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc provided one of the standout moments of the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, but former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve believes the spectacle ultimately came at Ferrari’s expense. The pair traded overtakes and defended hard into several braking zones, refusing to yield despite the risk of tyre degradation and time loss. While the duel thrilled viewers, Villeneuve believes the internal battle allowed Mercedes to escape.

“Well, it was fair because he finished third, so and he managed to beat his team mates, so yes, it turned out OK, but it was a little bit extreme, and it destroyed Ferrari’s race,” Villeneuve said on Sky Sports F1. “They were running second and third.” As he reviewed the sequence again, the 1997 champion pointed to the damage done over just a couple of laps.

“He did it on the braking, quite late, and then they were fighting so hard,” Villeneuve continued, “destroying their tyres, and in those two laps they lost five seconds to Antonelli.” The lost time ultimately left Ferrari unable to mount any meaningful challenge to Mercedes, which secured a commanding one two finish with Antonelli leading Russell across the line.

“In those two laps they lost five seconds to Antonelli”;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/villeneuve-hamilton-leclerc-chinese-gp-battle/


Jacques Villeneuve accuses Lewis Hamilton of ‘destroying’ Ferrari’s race despite podium finish
15 Mar 2026
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer

Lewis Hamilton finally stood on the podium in Ferrari colours at the Chinese Grand Prix today, but former F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve has accused the seven-time world champion of ‘destroying’ Ferrari’s race through his battle with teammate Charles Leclerc. During his duties as a pundit for Sky Sports F1 at the Chinese Grand Prix, Villeneuve was asked for his thoughts on Hamilton’s post-race comments in which he deemed his battle with Leclerc to be fair.

The Canadian picked out an issue with the seven-time world champion’s words, saying, “Well, it was fair because he finished third, and he managed to beat his teammate. So, yes, it turned out okay, but it was a little bit extreme, and it destroyed Ferrari’s race. They were running second and third. Then they were fighting so hard, destroying their tyres. And in those two laps, they lost five seconds to Antonelli.”

Villeneuve is under the impression that Ferrari have a genuine chance of usurping Mercedes as the best team on the grid this year, but has issued a stern warning that a ‘let them race’ attitude will eventually have consequences in the F1 standings. He added, “At some point, if they keep taking lap time away from each other like this, it will allow Mercedes to get away. And they’re not that far from Mercedes, with a car that can race. So, Mercedes should worry a little bit about Ferrari coming back, because they’re not that far behind them in points.”

‘acques Villeneuve has accused the seven-time world champion of ‘destroying’ Ferrari’s race’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jacques-villeneuve-accuses-lewis-hamilton-of-destroying-ferraris-race-despite-podium-finish/


Jacques Villeneuve claims Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc ‘destroyed Ferrari’s race’ in Chinese GP battle
15 Mar 2026
Lydia Mee
Motorsport.com

Jacques Villeneuve said Ferrari’s battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc during the Chinese Grand Prix was too intense and cost the team a stronger result.

‘Destroyed Ferrari’s race’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/jacques-villeneuve-claims-lewis-hamilton-and-charles-leclerc-destroyed-ferraris-race-in-chinese-gp-/10805551/


Vasseur: Ferrari happy to let Hamilton, Leclerc race each other
March 16, 2026
Laurence Edmondson
TSN

Although Hamilton suspected the pair may have made very light contact at one point, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said the racing was in line with what Ferrari expects of its drivers. “I have a huge respect for both of them, they are professional and I think it makes sense in this situation to let them race,” Fred Vasseur said.

“But I know perfectly that it can also look completely stupid half an hour later, but at the end of the day I think it’s also the best way to build up a team and we need to have this kind of emulation into the team to improve. As long as it’s done like it was done today, even a couple of times in the radio they told us that they had good fun, but I don’t want to freeze the position.”

‘“I think it makes sense in this situation to let them race” Fred Vasseur’;

https://www.tsn.ca/motorsports/formula-1/article/vasseur-ferrari-happy-to-let-hamilton-leclerc-race-each-other-n1-48221894/


Lewis Hamilton Has Been Accused of 'Destroying' Ferrari's Race With His Actions During Chinese GP
16 Mar 2026
Jack Whittaker
Give Me Sport

Lewis Hamilton's fortunes with Ferrari have finally taken a turn, it would seem, as he took his place on a Formula 1 podium for the first time in Scuderia red. Despite achieving his maiden podium for Ferrari, former F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve believed the seven-time world champion sacrificed the team's performance in his tussle with Leclerc.

For ex-F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve, though, the ease of Mercedes' victory was a result of Hamilton's battle with Leclerc, and he has accused the former of 'destroying' Ferrari's race. Hamilton referred to the battle on track as "very fair and just what we want", but the Canadian viewed it as foolish.

While on duty as a pundit for Sky Sports F1 at the Chinese Grand Prix, Villeneuve said post-race: “Well, it was fair because he finished third, and he managed to beat his teammate. So, yes, it turned out okay, but it was a little bit extreme, and it destroyed Ferrari’s race. They were running second and third. Then they were fighting so hard, destroying their tyres. And in those two laps, they lost five seconds to Antonelli.”

‘Accused of 'Destroying' Ferrari's Race’;

https://www.givemesport.com/lewis-hamilton-accused-destroying-ferrari-race-chinese-gp-f1/


Hamilton eyes next milestone after long-awaited first Ferrari podium
16 Mar 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Lewis Hamilton feels his first Ferrari victory is now closer after securing his maiden podium with the team at the Chinese Grand Prix. Asked whether, after this result, a victory could now be within reach in the near future, Hamilton responded with a confident tone: "I definitely feel that I could say that it’s more in sight than ever before.”

“Last year it couldn’t have been further from view, but I think as you’ve seen, these guys (Mercedes) in qualifying - somehow we were a little bit closer in qualifying yesterday - but in the race trim I think they’ve got four or five tenths on us at the moment."

"That’s a huge step to pick up, both in downforce and efficiency and also power. That’s a huge upgrade that we need to push for. But I really do believe in everyone back in Maranello and that it’s not an impossible feat to overcome. So forza Ferrari, we’ve just got to keep pushing."

‘Hamilton eyes next milestone’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/hamilton-eyes-next-milestone-after-long-awaited-first-ferrari-podium


Ferrari explain masterplan to end Mercedes’ early dominance
16 Mar 2026
Ed Spencer
Total Motorsport

The early stages of the 2026 Formula 1 season have belonged to Mercedes, but Frederic Vasseur believes Ferrari now have a clearer understanding of how to challenge their rivals as the championship unfolds. While Ferrari’s early race performance has been encouraging, Vasseur acknowledged that Mercedes still hold the upper hand once the race settles into rhythm. “Step by step, we are understanding a bit more the situation and closing the gap, but they are still far away,” Vasseur told the media, including Total-Motorsport.com.

“It’s not just about engines that we have to work everywhere. We have to improve on the chassis, on the tyres, like always. Racing didn’t change the fact that all the components of performance are still on the table, and we don’t have to focus only on one parameter, but it’s a challenge. It’s never easy to separate, and I think it’s even more difficult this year. Probably, that more than in the past, it’s one package including mixing chassis and engine, more than two separate elements, and it’s very difficult to split that for sure.”

“We have the Sprint qualifying of Charles Leclerc when he got a huge rating, and he lost five tenths in the straight line, but this is more management. Ok, I don’t want to do the split. I want to push everywhere, but we know that we have to improve on the ICE, but this will be for the AUDO [Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities]. After the energy and chassis that we are pushing like hell on every single area to close the gap.”

‘Ferrari explain masterplan’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/ferrari-plan-close-gap-mercedes-2026-f1/

[Fortitude]

Piastri quips ‘been a while since I’ve watch two grands prix on TV’.
Despite qualifying P5 in Australia and again in China, Piastri has yet to score a single grand prix point this season as he’s yet to compete in one.
15 Mar 2026
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

“Fine on the way to the grid,” Oscar Piastri explained to the media. “I think an electrical issue with power unit, which I think was the same Lando, but it wasn’t the same electrical issue. It’s been a while since I’ve watch two grands prix on TV,” Piastri quipped.

He continued: “Last week was pretty rough. These kind of things happen in racing at times, and especially in the beginning of a new regulation. It’s probably not a huge surprise. Just a shame that happens to both cars.”

‘Oscar Piastri yet to compete in one’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/oscar-piastri-chinese-gp-dns-mclaren


Jolyon Palmer questions McLaren’s ‘bizarre’ radio communication with Oscar Piastri at Chinese GP
17 Mar 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

On lap 18, engineer Tom Stallard said: “Oscar, give a position back to Antonelli. Give a position to Antonelli.” “Why?” Piastri replied. “Overtaking before the start/finish line,” Stallard answered. Speaking in commentary for F1TV, Palmer questioned why it took McLaren ‘nearly two laps’ to issue this instruction when the matter was black and white.

Palmer said: “A bizarre one for Piastri to be told, nearly two laps after he took it, to give back the place for something fundamentally against the rules.” Had he received the order earlier, Piastri would have had more time to mount a fresh assault on Antonelli. While the Mercedes is clearly quicker than the McLaren, there have been countless ‘yo-yo’ battles where drivers have fought back with the aid of their battery.

“Bizarre”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jolyon-palmer-questions-mclarens-bizarre-radio-communication-with-oscar-piastri-at-chinese-gp/


Piastri’s disastrous 2026 F1 opening salvo serves as a warning to Antonelli
16 Mar 2026
Kieran Jackson
The Independent

On two consequetive Sundays, the P5 white box on the starting grid has been left eerily vacant and abandoned. The first was bad enough, with thousands of fans adorned in green t-shirts perched in the grandstand, named after the hometown hero, left crestfallen. But the second was more excruciating, wheeled away from the starting blocks with just five minutes to go, joining a stricken companion in the garage.

‘Excruciating’;

https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/oscar-piastri-mclaren-f1-kimi-antonelli-norris-chinese-gp-b2939291.html


Why were both McLaren cars unable to start the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix?
16 Mar 2026
Jack Renn
F1 Chronicle

Both McLaren cars, driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, were unable to start the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix due to separate electrical failures within their Mercedes power units.

Specifically, the technical cause of these failures was identified as issues with the MGU-K/ES Interface. Although both cars used the same power unit family, McLaren confirmed that the electrical faults on each car were separate and unrelated. The impact of these technical issues on the team and drivers included:

• A Historic “Double DNS”: This was the first time since the infamous 2005 United States Grand Prix that both McLaren cars failed to start a race.
• Lando Norris’s First DNS: The reigning World Champion described this as his first-ever career “Did Not Start”.
• Oscar Piastri’s Continuing Drought: For Piastri, this marked a second consecutive Grand Prix without completing a single race lap in the 2026 season, following his reconnaissance lap crash at his home race in Australia.

‘Unable to start’;

https://f1chronicle.com/why-were-both-mclaren-cars-unable-to-start-the-2026-chinese-grand-prix/?nowprocket=1


McLaren’s Stella calls for answers after double DNS
17 Mar 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

“During the routine preparations for the race, a problem was identified with the electrical system of Lando's car's control unit," Stella started. "Despite intensive investigations and hard work in collaboration with our colleagues at HPP (Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains) to resolve the issue, it was not possible to fix the fault before the start of the race, with the result that Lando missed the start of a Grand Prix for the first time in his eight year career.”

“In another scenario, after Oscar had lined up on the grid, another problem was discovered on the electrical engine system of car number 81. Despite the significant work and commitment on the part of the entire team, together with HPP, to find a solution, unfortunately we had no choice but to bring the car back to the pits before the start of the race.” The sight of both papaya cars being wheeled away before lights out was a stark reminder of the fragility of the new 2026 power unit era.

Team principal Andrea Stella struck a measured but firm tone, acknowledging the gravity of the situation while emphasizing collaboration with Mercedes to prevent a repeat. “As a team, the focus is now on a joint investigation with HPP to understand what lessons can be learned so that this does not happen again, as well as on preparations for the third round of the 2026 season in Suzuka, where the McLaren Mastercard will try to come back stronger than ever.”

‘Calls for answers’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28342


McLaren reveal Mercedes 'trust' stance after shock F1 engine failures
McLaren suffered its first double DNS in 21 years after both cars failed to start the Chinese Grand Prix.
17 Mar 2026
Jake Nichol & Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

McLaren boss Andrea Stella says the team has complete "trust" in power unit supplier Mercedes HPP following its shock double DNS in China. Reflecting on the result, Stella has described how McLaren has 'complete trust' in the initial report supplied to it by Mercedes HPP and that the double DNS was a pure "coincidence".

"It appears to be a problem with the same power unit component on the electrical side, but of a different nature, so it is quite exceptional and uncharacteristic that you have two terminal problems at the same time on the same component."

Referring to the interaction with HPP specifically, Stella added: "We will review together with HPP the reason for the faults, and make sure that it doesn't happen again. It is an area of the car which is not under McLaren's control, so we rely entirely on what is reported by HPP, and we trust their report completely.

'Complete trust’;

https://racingnews365.com/mclaren-reveal-mercedes-trust-stance-after-shock-f1-engine-failures


Norris reveals harsh reality about McLaren’s current competitiveness
Lando Norris offers his honest verdict on where McLaren currently stands.
16 Mar 2026
Lewis Larkam , Adam Cooper
Crash.Net

“It’s still been a weekend where we’ve learned a lot. Already, since last weekend, we learned some things,” Lando Norris said in response to a question by Crash.net. “It’s also a weekend where we clarified that we need to do a better job with understanding the power unit still, and make some changes. And we also understand the car is not to the level that it needs to be to fight for the podium or a win at the time being.”

“We know we have a lot of work ahead, disregarding the issues that we had. The team knows where we stand and they are very realistic about everything, so they’re all working hard. They’ve been working hard all season, but especially now, they know what direction we need to work in, in order to get back to what we think we can achieve.”

‘Harsh reality’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1091558/1/lando-norris-brutally-honest-admission-about-mclarens-current-f1-2026


Why McLaren's F1 title defence is collapsing already
18 Mar 2026
JOSH SUTTILL
The Race

McLaren's Formula 1 title defence has started miserably, but it's facing bigger problems than simply the embarrassment of having to withdraw both its cars before the start of the Chinese Grand Prix. It appears that galling double did-not-start was down to two different failures on the same component of its customer Mercedes power unit. "This is an area of the car which is not under McLaren's control, so we rely entirely on what is reported by HPP [Mercedes High Performance Powertrains] and we trust completely their report," McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said.

The root cause is yet to be identified but, whatever was ultimately behind it, McLaren is already 80 points adrift of the championship leader Mercedes with just 18 points from two grands prix and a sprint race. Points-wise, that's the worst start to a title defence in over a decade, only comparable to Red Bull's in 2014, which is skewed by Daniel Ricciardo's disqualification from second place in Melbourne for fuel-flow irregularities.

And McLaren has benefited from having a sprint race that didn't exist in 2014 and which accounts for a third of its 2026 points. Take away the six points McLaren gained there, and it's easily the worst start for a defending champion since Ferrari's nightmare point-less start to 2009 that lasted three rounds. It's not just points McLaren is lacking, but real performance to Mercedes despite having the same engine, and right now it's not even making the best of the car it does have. On-track data is more valuable than ever in 2026 with the complex power units, and McLaren is currently way behind Mercedes and even has fewer racing laps completed than the vibrating Aston Martin-Hondas!

‘Collapsing’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/why-mclarens-f1-title-defence-is-collapsing-already/

[Fortitude]

Alonso jokes Aston Martin losing out in F1’s ‘battery world championship’.
Fernando Alonso quipped that the team is not so competitive when the “battery world championship” racing gets going.
16 Mar 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Fernando Alonso’s comments follow scathing criticism from Max Verstappen towards the F1 2026 rules, which the Dutchman called – with far less sarcasm – a “joke”. Aston Martin may be pretty handy at F1 2026 race starts, but, Fernando Alonso quipped that the team is not so competitive when the “battery world championship” racing gets going.

“Yeah, the starts are fun. The same as in Australia, the car seems to start really well,” Alonso confirmed to the media. “On lap one, it’s true that we all have the same level of battery, which is full. Then, we enter in this battery world championship, and in that, we are not as good as the others.”

Aston Martin’s Chinese GP ultimately ended in a double DNF. Lance Stroll retired on Lap 10 with a suspected battery issue. For Alonso, he managed 33 laps, a new milestone for Aston Martin in F1 2026, before retiring due to discomfort from engine vibrations.

'Alonso jokes';

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernando-alonso-battery-world-championship-f1-2026-rules


TV channel turns Verstappen's criticism into reality with Mario Kart trailer
18 Mar 2026
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

Reflecting on the Formula 1 drivers referring to the current racing as Mario Kart, French broadcaster Canal+ made a stunning intro for the Japanese Grand Prix. Over the course of the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez all referred to certain aspects of the racing with current F1 cars by comparing it to the famous video game, Mario Kart.

The Dutchman said in his criticism of the new regulations: "It's not fun at all, no. It's playing Mario Kart. This is not racing. (...) Look at the racing, you are boosting past and then you run out of battery the next straight, they boost past you again. For me it's just a joke." Canal+ was inspired by the drivers' verdict, and made Mario Kart their theme for the Japanese Grand Prix. What makes this extra special is that, of course, Mario Kart was released by Japanese brand Nintendo.

‘Mario Kart trailer’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/tv-channel-turns-verstappens-criticism-intro-reality-with-mario-kart-trailer


Fernando Alonso reveals Aston Martin attribute with joke at F1’s ‘battery World Championship’
16 Mar 2026
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Fernando Alonso underlined the continuing issues for Honda’s Formula 1 power unit and the increased electrification of the sport’s regulations with a joke: “On Lap 1, it’s true that we all have the same level of battery, which is full. Then we enter in this battery World Championship, and in that we are not as good as the others.” Although there is a collective, and therefore educated confidence that Aston Martin’s woes will come to an end, it will surely be, if the problems persist, Alonso’s most miserable campaign yet.

“Battery World Championship”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/03/16/fernando-alonso-makes-f1-honda-joke/


'My first non-start in F1' - Norris left heartbroken after painful Chinese GP DNS
15 Mar 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Lando Norris told GPblog and other media: "I don't know how long it's been going on for, honestly. Sometimes it's better to leave them to crack on with things, but I found out probably 20 minutes before I was meant to go out of the garage. I think they've been working on things for a little while already. Some electrical issue with the power unit, and therefore we can't even start it. A shame, my first non-start in F1, which is sad, and even worse that it's a double do-not-start with us as well. Not the best day for us."

Norris added: "I'm just disappointed, that's all. I'm disappointed I didn't get to go and do my job today. I'm frustrated for the whole team, it's not just me. All of the mechanics, everyone puts a lot of work into things, and it's just a complicated bit of it. There's a lot of new things and, of course, new issues that we're still finding out at times. So for everyone in the garage they're disappointed we couldn't get the car out on track today, and they'll work hard to try and fix it."

'Heartbroken';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/norris-left-heartbroken-after-painful-chinese-gp-dns-my-first-non-start-in-f1


David Coulthard senses Lando Norris’ unhappiness with F1 is ‘simmering’ at McLaren right now
17 Mar 2026
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Max Verstappen has spoken out against F1’s new regulations, suggesting those who have enjoyed the action from the first two weekends aren’t true racing fans. Coulthard went on to say: “...it was Max who was probably the most vocal on it.”

“But, I don’t know if you picked up as well that simmering below was Lando. Lando’s not really enjoying [this season]. You would expect Oscar to be speaking out because he hasn’t done even a lap of Grand Prix racing yet. But, I wonder if it’s just a case of they need the results to start feeling this new set of regulations.”

‘Lando Norris simmering’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/david-coulthard-senses-lando-norris-unhappiness-with-f1-is-simmering-at-mclaren-right-now/


Montoya targets Verstappen and Norris: ‘There’s the door!’
18/03/2026
Michael Delaney
Motorsport Week

Speaking to AS Colombia, Juan Pablo Montoya didn't just suggest a slap on the wrist; he proposed a full-blown North American sports-style crackdown. “At some point, Formula 1 needs to do what the sports world in the United States does: for people who don’t respect the sport, there’s the door,” Montoya declared, seemingly forgetting that F1's history is practically built on drivers complaining about their cars.

He didn't stop there, offering a "pay up or get out" solution for those who dare to criticize the 2026 direction: “They can leave or get a fine, so they truly learn to respect what they’re doing. That’s what I would do.” It’s an interesting take, considering that Verstappen and Norris are hardly the only ones raising eyebrows at the new regulations, with Fernando Alonso and Carlos also taking a flamethrower to the new rules.

"Pay up or get out";

https://f1i.com/news/561429-montoya-targets-verstappen-and-norris-theres-the-door.html


F1 "trying to sell something we know isn’t right", claims Carlos Sainz
16 Mar 2026
Lewis Duncan, Adam Cooper
Crash.Net

Carlos Sainz believes Formula 1 is “trying its best to sell something we all know is not right”, highlighting apparent graphic tampering on the world feed in China. “I think in Melbourne, Monza, Spa, it definitely needs a rethink. I think development will also do its part. But I’m also 100% sure this is not F1 the way I want to see it. And I’m also quite sure that the people at the top also see that and know that.”

“For sure, it’s not a great look for F1,” he added. “But I think not having two McLarens, a Williams, and Audi, shows how difficult we make our life to come up with super complicated engines with incredibly complicated software and batteries. It’s still down to the teams to come up with a reliable engine, but when the rules are so demanding and so constrained, it is difficult to come up with something reliable because it is extremely complex for everyone.”

“I don’t know. I have in mind what the ideal Formula 1 should be, and this is very far from it. At the same time, I hope that development and fine-tuning the regulations should make things better in the future.”

“Rethink”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1091543/1/f1-trying-sell-something-we-know-isnt-right-claims-carlos-sainz


Steiner blasts Verstappen over regulation complaints
Guenther Steiner has accused Max Verstappen of “throwing the toys out of the pram”...
19 Mar 2026
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

“The racing was pretty good,” Guenther Steiner said. “Obviously, people like Max maybe don’t like change, and he’s not used to not being in one of the best cars, so that doesn’t help his mood to like the new regulations.”

“I think they are actually pretty good. They will develop over time. All the teams are just learning at the moment what is going on, because it’s an advanced technology.
“But the racing was good, and that’s the most important thing.”

‘Steiner blast’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2026-max-verstappen-regulation-opinion-criticism-guenther-steiner-blasts-thoughts-haas-boss/


Understanding Verstappen's gripes with F1's 'battery world championship'
16 Mar 2026
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine

Max Verstappen retired from the race with an ERS cooling issue and was characteristically blunt afterwards. “It’s not fun at all,” he said. “It’s playing Mario Kart. This is not racing.” He called the ruleset “fundamentally flawed” and warned that if Formula 1 prioritises entertainment over sporting integrity, “it will eventually ruin the sport. It will come and bite them back in the ass.”

Formula 1’s DNA — that is, the world’s best drivers in the world’s fastest cars — and the mechanism that is actually deciding the results risk drifting apart in a meaningful way under the new rules. That gap is what Verstappen and others are pointing at. It’s not about politics, technical complexity, or casual fan confusion. It’s about whether F1’s DNA and its competitive reality are still pointing in the same direction.

‘Formula 1’s DNA’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/understanding-verstappens-gripes-with-f1s-battery-world-championship/?nowprocket=1

[Fortitude]

Toto Wolff’s praise for Red Bull during F1 testing was absolute ‘nonsense’ after all.
Toto Wolff: “For us, Red Bull is the fastest car and their engine is the most complete.”
19 Mar 2026
Luke Newman
F1 Oversteer

When discussing the Chinese Grand Prix on Motorsport-Magazin, Christian Danner spoke about Red Bull’s struggles in the opening stages of the 2026 season. The German driver reacted to Wolff’s original comments from the Bahrain Test, and said that it was clearly ‘nonsense’ because Red Bull have been struggling. Danner said, “Red Bull made a much better impression in testing than what they’re showing now. It’s not like Toto Wolff says, ‘They’re going to nail us to the wall with the performance of that car. We don’t stand a chance.’”

“No, dear Toto, that was nonsense, of course, what you said. But the performance of Hadjar and Verstappen is simply below average by Red Bull standards. It’s incredibly difficult to assess whether it’s the energy management. Is it the aerodynamics, the car having a bit less downforce compared to the competition? Is it the way the tyres are being managed? The old things we know – tyre management, aero – remain important even in this new era of energy management. And I think after these two races, a proper review will have to be done in Milton Keynes to determine where the problems actually lie. Because analysis is crucial, and that’s something we can already do quite well.”

“We can see where the competition is faster. It’s the power unit, and I’m losing everything on the ditch, during turn-in, or during energy recuperation, etc. This can now be analysed quite effectively using the data, and that’s where we need to focus our efforts. One more area than in the past. Back then, it was just aero and tyre management. The rest was basically the same; the motors were all relatively similar. And now, it’s not just the motors themselves, with their power output, but also the energy recuperation, which is essentially equivalent to power. So there’s a lot to be done, but I assume they’re capable of responding.”

‘Absolute ‘nonsense’ after all’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/toto-wolffs-praise-for-red-bull-during-f1-testing-was-absolute-nonsense-after-all/


Wolff: Verstappen Is in a Red Bull ‘Horror Show’
16 Mar 2026
Jarrod Partridge
F1 Chronicle

Wolff: Red Bull’s Struggles Are Shaping Verstappen’s Criticism. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has pushed back on Max Verstappen’s escalating criticism of F1’s 2026 regulations, arguing that the Red Bull driver’s frustration is linked to his car’s performance deficit rather than a flaw in the new rules.

“Max is really, I think, in a horror show,” Wolff said. “When you look at the onboard that he has in qualifying yesterday, this is just horrendous to drive. You can see that.”

‘Red Bull’s Struggles’;

https://f1chronicle.com/wolff-verstappen-is-in-a-red-bull-horror-show/?nowprocket=1


How Liberty Media press officer reacted as Max Verstappen ‘badmouthed’ F1 rules in China
18 Mar 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Max Verstappen leaves F1 press officer tearing his hair out in China. During Sprint qualifying on Friday, the F1 broadcast was accused of deceiving fans by disguising the battery-related speed loss at the end of the back straight. After the season opener in Australia, they appeared to hide X replies criticising the new regulations.

It’s clear that the sport is going to great lengths to promote the new rules, but Verstappen is rather spoiling the PR campaign. According to journalist Julianne Cerasoli, a Liberty Media official watched Verstappen closely in the media pen on Sunday and bemoaned his attitude. Verstappen was called to a meeting during winter testing when he ‘let loose’ for the first time, calling the cars ‘Formula E on steroids’.”

“Max Verstappen, he was talking, really badmouthing the regulations,” Cerasoli told UOL Esporte. “He was there in the paddock, and then I saw a guy who is the press officer for Formula 1 itself, for Liberty. He was watching, I looked at him and said, ‘You guys are in trouble. He’s really letting loose here. And he was like, ‘Oh my god, Max.”

‘Formula E on steroids’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/how-liberty-media-press-officer-reacted-as-max-verstappen-badmouthed-f1-rules-in-china/


Max Verstappen backed by Coulthard amid 2026 F1 rules backlash
19 Mar 2026
Henry Eccles
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen has found an ally in former F1 driver David Coulthard following backlash to the four-time world champion's heavy criticism to the 2026 F1 rules. When we spoke to him in pre-season, he was very clear that there were some different challenges that weren't necessarily what he considered about getting the maximum out of the driving potential,” Coulthard said.

"So he has been pretty scathing. And should we question a four-time world champion? Should we question someone like that? And even the world champion Lando Norris? They're not making noise because they're not winning races. They're making noise because this is how they feel."

While Coulthard also said that some elements of F1 in 2026 will need some tweaks, he did concede that the new rules have given fans more on-track action. "I do think it will change, and I think there will be some changes made, especially for qualifying, but I think we'd agree that this new formula has definitely given us a lot more on-track action."

“They're making noise because this is how they feel.";

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/max-verstappen-backed-by-coulthard-amid-2026-f1-rules-backlash


‘We will improve’: Red Bull backs RB22 fix ahead of Japan
19/03/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

“Being on the back foot at the start of a Sprint weekend is the worst possible scenario as there is really little time to catch up and get on top of any difficulties,” team boss Laurent Mekies said, quoted by RACER. “We knew that just getting onto the grid in Melbourne with our own PU was a major achievement in itself and it would have been naïve not to expect we would encounter reliability issues.”

“We had to retire Max because of a coolant fault. However, this was not our only issue as overall, performance-wise, our package showed some significant shortcomings. However, we have learned so much over the past few weeks and I expect that we can be more competitive from the next round in Japan in a fortnight’s time.”

‘RB22 fix ahead of Japan’;

https://f1i.com/news/561473-we-will-improve-red-bull-backs-rb22-fix-ahead-of-japan.html


Why Max Verstappen and Red Bull should never be written off
Red Bull has a lot to solve with its RB22 to please Max Verstappen, but the outfit has history in rapid turnarounds.
19 Mar 2026
Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

The current difficulties may be linked to the prolonged campaign of the previous season, but leadership remains in capable hands. Team principal Laurent Mekies is characterised by an engineering mindset, an analytical approach, humility, and hard work — qualities that are especially vital now.

The Frenchman, who took charge of the team less than a year ago, is facing his toughest challenge yet, but he appears to enjoy the full confidence of both senior management and the drivers. The pressure is immense, but Mekies has already proven himself over the past year, giving no reason to doubt the direction being taken.

After the turnaround achieved during last year’s summer break, it would not be surprising if Red Bull’s situation looks very different following the enforced April pause.

‘History in rapid turnarounds’;

https://racingnews365.com/why-max-verstappen-and-red-bull-should-never-be-written-off


Red Bull Ford impresses: Will McLaren, Williams, or Aston Martin come knocking soon?
18 Mar 2026
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com

Red Bull Racing and Ford have built an excellent power unit as debutants. That kind of thing stands out in the paddock. Will a team soon be knocking to become a customer of the Austrians? Credit where it’s due: team boss Christian Horner once managed to poach the right people, especially from Honda and Mercedes; together they have succeeded in making an ambitious Red Bull project work. Once the Austrians also have the chassis side of the car in order, there’s excellent potential for Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar.

That gets noticed in the paddock. Lawrence Stroll surely has the big Ford boss’s phone number in his mobile, in case the collaboration with Honda ultimately fizzles out. And what about Williams and McLaren; two teams with a Mercedes engine. Toto Wolff has previously stated he wants to shed at least one customer team in the future. Alpine seems likely to stay, especially if Mercedes wants to take a minority stake in the French outfit. That would leave Williams or McLaren to look elsewhere. A Red Bull Ford that proves itself as an excellent engine could be a possible alternative.

'Red Bull Ford impresses';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/analysis/red-bull-ford-impresses-will-mclaren-williams-or-aston-martin-come-knocking-soon

[Fortitude]

Red Bull behind, Haas ahead: Komatsu hails team’s masterclass.
Haas is no longer just punching above its weight in F1 – the US outfit is starting to look like it genuinely belongs near the front of the field.
18 Mar 2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

After another eye-catching weekend in Shanghai, team boss Ayao Komatsu could barely contain his satisfaction, hailing both the squad’s execution and a standout performance from rising star Oliver Bearman. From a solid season opener in Australia to an even sharper showing in China, Haas has emerged as one of the early stories of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign.

For Komatsu, the performance confirmed what winter testing had hinted at – but perhaps exceeded even his own expectations. “When I looked at FP1, Red Bull didn't look amazing. But based on the sprint, I wasn't sure if we had the pace to really fight Red Bull or not,” he explained. “But the sprint is a sprint, right? It's quite short. But whatever it was, we had a decent pace [on Sunday] and our drivers managed it so well.”

Two races in, Haas sits fourth in the Constructors’ standings – ahead of Red Bull Racing – a statistic few would have predicted before the season began. More importantly, the team looks cohesive, confident, and quietly ambitious. It’s a competitor seizing its moment – and, as Komatsu’s smile suggests, enjoying every second of it.

‘Ahead of Red Bull Racing’;

https://f1i.com/news/561416-red-bull-behind-haas-ahead-komatsu-hails-teams-masterclass.html


Keep it simple: How Haas has emerged as F1's midfield leader
19 Mar 2026
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine

Back-to-back midfield-leading results in Melbourne and Shanghai have given Haas a flying start to the new F1 era. For many laps during Formula 1’s Chinese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen sat roughly 2.5 seconds behind Oliver Bearman’s Haas, unable to get closer, let alone find a way past as they fought for fifth place.

The four-time world champion, in a Red Bull, found himself queuing behind a car from the American squad that finished the 2025 season down in eighth place in the standings. That image was a good reflection of what Haas has become in the opening two grands prix of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Two races in, Haas has been best-of-the-rest both times.

Melbourne and Shanghai are about as different as Formula 1 circuits get — one tight and front-limited, the other demanding high-speed stability and energy management across long straights. Bearman handled both in style, finishing seventh in Australia and fifth in China to help Haas move to fourth place in the standings behind Mercedes and Ferrari, and just one point behind McLaren. Bearman’s showing on such different circuits suggests Haas’ results so far are not a fluke but something more significant.

‘Back-to-back midfield-leading results’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/keep-it-simple-how-haas-has-emerged-as-f1s-midfield-leader/?nowprocket=1


Haas boss reveals harsh reality of Ferrari engine: 'Overtaking was difficult'
12 Mar 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Haas F1 team principal Ayao Komatsu has addressed a misconception regarding the Ferrari power unit, which his team currently uses. The 50-year-old team boss, speaking about where he believes Haas sits among the midfield runners, was quick to praise the speed of the Audi power unit, before stressing how he believes performance could prove to be largely circuit-specific.

“We are mixed with Red Bull, Audi, us [Haas], and Alpine. But then, if we raced well, I knew we could be at the front end of it. I think Audi is very quick, and Red Bull is quick as well. So I think we are all together, basically, depending on the circuit we go to,” the Haas team boss told GPblog. When quizzed further about his team’s speed being better than the Audi outfit, the Japanese F1 team boss was quick to refute such a claim, stating how the GPS traces tell a different story.

“I don’t know how you can say ours are clearly better than Audi. I don’t know what you’re looking at to say that. Have you looked at GPS traces? No, I don’t think you can say that at all. Again, when I say power, I’m purely looking at results and speed on the tracks,” Komatsu explained. “You know, whether it’s coming from the ICE or from energy deployment. But if we look at what they can do on the straight, Audi is very good. I’m shocked when you said we are clearly better than Audi.”

'Overtaking was difficult';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/haas-boss-reveals-harsh-reality-of-ferrari-engine-overtaking-was-difficult


F1 2026 uncovered: Haas responds to Ferrari SF-26 exhaust flap with rapid China upgrade
16 Mar 2026
Matthew Somerfield
PlanetF1.com

The only team that could quickly assimilate the Ferrari (FMT) exhaust blown flap on the rear of the SF-26 is Haas and guess what, that’s exactly what they did for China. However, it’s not a direct copy of the solution, as Haas are clearly looking to make it work with their pre-existing rear end arrangement.

The solution presented by Haas in China is therefore a quick response item but will likely see some follow up adjustments arrive in the coming races, not only to their FMT solution but also to the surrounding components, such as the diffuser.

‘Rapid China upgrade’;

https://www.planetf1.com/features/ferrari-exhaust-flap-haas-solution-china

[Fortitude]

Wheatley leaves Audi: This appears to be a key reason behind stepping down.
The relationship between team boss Jonathan Wheatley and Mattia Binotto (COO and CTO of the Audi F1 project) was strained, GPblog understands. That seems to be a key reason for the former to quit a seemingly attractive job at Audi and ultimately choose Aston Martin.
20 Mar 2026
Kada Sárközi
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com

GPblog understands that the relationship between Binotto and Wheatley was difficult. Although Binotto, as COO and CTO, was the most important figure within the organization, he had no influence over Wheatley’s appointment. Both appointments were made by Audi’s top management; the Italian had no say in that. But apparently, Wheatley was not the team boss Binotto would have preferred.

By leaving Audi, Wheatley can also leave Switzerland, where he lived there for only a year. He can return to his family and friends in the United Kingdom, especially if he indeed goes to work for Aston Martin. That team’s factory is in Silverstone, not far from Milton Keynes where Wheatley previously worked with Red Bull.

He may also be in line for a pay raise, as co-owner Lawrence Stroll is determined to bring the best people to Aston Martin. It’s no coincidence that several key figures from other teams have succumbed to the British outfit in recent years.

‘Strained relationship’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/features/wheatley-out-at-audi-this-appears-to-be-a-key-reason-to-step-down


‘With immediate effect’, Wheatley’s Audi departure confirmed
21 Mar 2026
Jawad Yaqub
F1 Chronicle

Audi have announced that its Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley has left the team “with immediate effect”, amid speculation surrounding his ex-Red Bull colleague Adrian Newey’s position at Aston Martin. The Hinwil based outfit confirmed Wheatley’s departure in a press release, citing “personal reasons” for the 58-year old leaving the team which he joined only twelve months ago. Being a desire to return home to the UK.

“We are grateful to Jonathan Wheatley for his contribution to the project during the crucial entry phase and wish him all the best for the future,” said Audi AG’s CEO and chairman of the board of management of Audi Motorsport AG, Gernot Döllner. “Mattia Binotto and the team will continue to pursue the path we have chosen with determination.”

“Our focus remains unchanged: we are concentrating all our efforts on building a team competing at the highest level that will challenge for world championships in Formula 1 by 2030. We will continuously develop our organisational structures to achieve our shared goal in a sustainable manner.”

‘With immediate effect’;

https://f1chronicle.com/with-immediate-effect-wheatleys-audi-departure-confirmed/?nowprocket=1


Ex-F1 boss dismisses Audi’s explanation for shock Jonathan Wheatley departure
22 Mar 2026
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

Bernie Ecclestone has given his two cents on Jonathan Wheatley’s shock Formula 1 departure from Audi as rumors of Aston Martin appointment intensify. Ecclestone calls reason for Jonathan Wheatley Audi departure “impossible”. Former F1 boss Ecclestone may have some light to shed on these personal reasons, dismissing Audi’s explanation for Wheatley’s sudden departure.

“That’s actually impossible,” he told Blick. “It would only make sense if he doesn’t like it in Switzerland and wants to go back to England.” Stroll’s comments might turn out to be a window to the future, with the British marque employing Wheatley’s services whilst allowing Newey to re-focus his expertise into the technical aspects of Aston Martin’s F1 project.

“That’s actually impossible”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/03/21/ex-f1-boss-dismisses-audis-explanation-for-shock-jonathan-wheatley-departure/


Aston Martin statement reinforces Adrian Newey role amid Jonathan Wheatley speculation
20 Mar 2026
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

Aston Martin has issued a statement, shortly after Jonathan Wheatley’s confirmed departure from the Audi F1 team. “With the current speculation surrounding Adrian Newey’s role in our team, I want to take this opportunity to set the record straight,” Stroll said, with his team having been embroiled in rumours for days.

“As Executive Chairman and Controlling Shareholder, I would like to reaffirm that Adrian Newey is my partner and an important shareholder. He is AMR’s Managing Technical Partner, and he and I have a true partnership built on a shared vision of success for the company. We do things differently here, and while we don’t currently adopt the traditional Team Principal role that you see elsewhere – it is by design.”


“As the most successful engineer in the history of the sport, Adrian’s primary focus is on the strategic and technical leadership, where he excels. He is supported by a highly skilled Senior Leadership Team to deliver on all aspects of the business, both at the Campus and trackside. We are regularly approached by senior executives of other teams who wish to join Aston Martin Aramco, but in keeping with our policy, we do not comment on rumour and speculation.”

‘Aston Martin statement’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/jonathan-wheatley-aston-martin-lawrence-stroll-adrian-newey-role


Jonathan Wheatley exits Audi and sparks Aston Martin shake-up as Newey steps back
Aston Martin moves quickly after a troubled start to 2026, with Jonathan Wheatley set to replace Adrian Newey in a major leadership reset
20 Mar 2026
John Smith
Total Motorsport

Aston Martin turns to experience amid early crisis. For Aston Martin, the arrival of Wheatley represents a shift in approach at a critical moment. A veteran of Benetton, Renault and Red Bull, where he played a central role in the team’s operational success, Wheatley brings a reputation for structure, discipline and race-day execution.

Those qualities are now urgently needed as the team looks to steady itself. While Newey’s technical expertise remains invaluable, the decision to remove him from the day-to-day pressures of team management suggests a recognition that the current structure was not working. The challenge ahead remains significant.

Beyond leadership adjustments, Aston Martin must urgently resolve its power unit issues and extract performance from a package that has yet to deliver on its promise. But with Wheatley expected to take control of the team’s overall direction and Newey focusing on development, there is at least a clearer structure emerging. Whether that will be enough to turn around their 2026 campaign remains uncertain but one thing is clear: the pressure on Aston Martin has never been greater.

‘Major leadership reset’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/jonathan-wheatley-audi-aston-martin-newey-exit/


Juan Pablo Montoya raises ‘political’ concern for why Jonathan Wheatley has left Audi
21 Mar 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Juan Pablo Montoya thinks living in Switzerland might not have been the only reason why Jonathan Wheatley has left Audi, as team politics could also have been an issue. Montoya thinks Wheatley’s resignation shows Audi are now facing the same challenges that Sauber encountered with trying to get Formula 1 personnel to move from mainly England to Switzerland. But it also suggests Wheatley did not like how political the team is under Audi.

There have been rumours of rifts in Wheatley’s relationship with Mattia Binotto, the overall project leader of Audi’s F1 team. Blick reports that Binotto and Wheatley had been clashing over the boundaries of their responsibilities, but Audi have downplayed any power struggle. “It would have to be, first of all, a chance to go back and live in the UK,” Montoya told RacingNews365.

“I think that has always been one of the harder things when they were Sauber, getting the right people to work there. Yes, Switzerland is amazing and everything, but when you’ve been in racing and you’ve always been involved in the UK, going to live in a different place is a bit of a shock. And I think the way Audi and Sauber worked together, now everything is Audi, maybe it’s too political. If he gets the opportunity to go and do something else, it’s fine.”

‘Team politics could also have been an issue’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/juan-pablo-montoya-raises-political-concern-for-why-jonathan-wheatley-has-left-audi/

[Fortitude]

Williams branded ‘biggest flop’ as FW48 drags dead weight.
“…a car that’s apparently almost 30kg too heavy, is a real flop” …30 kilograms isn’t just a disadvantage – it’s an anchor.
20/03/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

“It sounds harsh, but I’d say Williams is the biggest flop.” The phrase lingers like smoke in the paddock air. And Ralf Schumacher doubled down, pointing to the heart of the issue – a car that may be fundamentally compromised. “When you consider what sort of engine is in the back and what’s being made of it at the moment, I have to say that Williams, with a car that’s apparently almost 30kg too heavy, is a real flop,” he added. In an era where grams matter, 30 kilograms isn’t just a disadvantage – it’s an anchor.

If Schumacher exposed the problem, Juan Pablo Montoya demanded consequences. The former Williams racer, who also once carried the team’s legacy on his shoulders, delivered a stark warning about what failure at this level should mean. “Personally someone should be held responsible for that,” he said. “The people on that team and someone who held a position that obviously involved supervising that and making a mistake like that, should be responsible for it and should set a bit of an example for people.”

‘30kg: It’s an anchor’;

https://f1i.com/news/561495-williams-branded-biggest-flop-as-fw48-drags-dead-weight.html


Williams engineer privately revealed they are losing a second a lap due to FW48’s weight issues
17 Mar 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Tom Clarkson and Jolyon Palmer discussed on the F1 Nation podcast the problems Williams are facing...

Clarkson: “One of the engineers told me that in weight alone, it’s about a second a lap, compared to people who are on the weight limit.”
Palmer: “I heard in Bahrain that the car was heavier this year than it was last year. Bear in mind the weight limit has come down by 32 kilos, TC. That’s outrageous. That’s what they’re dealing with.”

“The weight is a natural penalty. It makes about a second a lap. Probably there’s a few sensors on the car in testing that they can take off and trim it down a little bit. So the weight’s a second. Good. There’s a chance you can take off the weight and find it, but you need to still be able to take off the weight. They’ve got hopes for Miami. With a bit more time now, they’ll be able to trim weight off the car. But we’re not talking about one magic fix. We’re talking about every single component, trying to shave off grams here or there, and add downforce, so it’s a double-edged sword.”

‘Losing a second a lap’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/williams-engineer-privately-revealed-they-are-losing-a-second-a-lap-due-to-fw48s-weight-issues/


Yet another Williams car problem might be its most troubling
22 Mar 2026
SCOTT MITCHELL-MALM
The Race

Alex Albon: "The biggest issue at the minute is the car three-wheeling, so we just need to fix it." Three-wheeling is when the car lifts one tyre off the ground in a corner, usually the inside rear. It is not always fully detached from the ground but can give that sensation if the suspension brings the wheel up such that it is significantly unloaded. The effect is the car running with a reduced contact patch across the four wheels that reduces mechanical grip but also disrupts its aerodynamic platform. This means the car can lack grip and be unpredictable.

As Albon said in China, "we can’t hide behind the weight". There are other issues hurting Williams - "some weird stuff going on in the car", Albon said, after a weekend in which multiple set-up changes did not help and reliability problems after a gearbox change meant he did not even start Sunday's grand prix. "Nothing seems to fix the car," he said. "There's a lot of balance issues in the car," said Albon. "We aren't seeing some downforce as well, so it's an accumulation of things. The weight's one thing. There's also plans kind of in conjunction with the weight loss to get the car a bit in balance and also at downforce quicker."

"We know we are too slow and we are too slow compared to where we wanted to be, compared to where we expected to be," Carlos Sainz said. "Part of that is weight that we know we need to get out of the car but another part, a very big part of it, is downforce that we need to improve. We haven't been the most reliable car also. Honestly we need to level up because we're having too many issues in too many areas and as a team, we need to dig deep. I hope these two points serve as motivation, as a bit of a bonus motivation for everyone to go back home and dig deep because it's not where we wanted to be and where we said we would be this season."

'Biggest issue: Three-wheeling car';

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/yet-another-williams-car-problem-might-be-its-most-troubling/


Williams ignoring potential strategy errors will affect them far more than current weight issues
19 Mar 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

James Vowles claims Williams pit strategy would not have earned them more points in Shanghai. James Vowles answered fan questions in the latest episode of Vowles Verdict. When asked whether a better-timed pit stop to align with the safety car would have helped Carlos Sainz earn a better finish, Vowles refuted the notion. “Had we waited just one lap, that’s how short it was, we would have pitted ahead of Lawson. However, from everything we can see at the moment, based on where we are performance-wise, that wouldn’t have resulted in a different finish position.”

“Perhaps a slightly easier race, but the same finish position, which was P9. In terms of the decision itself, the team were always conscious that these regulations and the amount of reliability we’ve seen now, there was a high probability at any given lap of a car breakdown and a safety car. But it’s hard to do. It’s a random event, and in the meantime, their focus was on the amount of graining we had on the medium tyre and effectively gaining off that tyre because we were starting to lose a lot of performance.”

‘Williams ignoring potential strategy errors will affect them far more…’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/williams-ignoring-potential-strategy-errors-will-affect-them-far-more-than-current-weight-issues/


James Vowles says Williams now have an ‘aggressive’ plan to improve the pace of their 2026 F1 car
17 Mar 2026
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer

From inside the Chinese Grand Prix paddock, James Vowles said, “We’ve got Suzuka coming up and then that long break as a result of Bahrain and Saudi unfortunately being cancelled. On a note on that, thank you to the FIA, who I know have taken a difficult decision, but have considered all elements. But also, my heart goes out to all those affected by it at the same time.”

“In terms of Japan, we’ll come back stronger, and I’m confident as we then go through that break into Miami, there’s a lot more to come. We know we’re not where we wanted to be today, there’s no doubt about that. But we have an aggressive plan to get us back to where the car really should be. That’s round two over, and our first points on the board for Carlos,” Vowles added. “Absolutely incredible drive by him. Whether he’s fighting for a podium or two points, you can tell he puts his heart and soul into it and earned the result today.”

“I’m desperately sorry for Alex, we weren’t able to start the race. We changed the gearbox overnight and suffered a hydraulics issue this morning, which you can only find by effectively driving on laps to the grid. The team, as hard as they worked, weren’t able to repair it before the start of the race. And it’s deeply disappointing because I truly believe he had the potential to also score a point.”

“In terms of Japan, we’ll come back stronger”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/james-vowles-says-williams-now-have-an-aggressive-plan-to-improve-the-pace-of-their-2026-f1-car/


Williams delivered crushing ‘flop of the season’ verdict as longstanding F1 rumor resurfaces
20 Mar 2026
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

Former Formula 1 [WILLIAMS] drivers Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya have laid into Williams as a rumored overweight FW48 gets called the “biggest flop” of the 2026 season. Looking at the state of affairs at Williams, former driver Schumacher called them the “biggest flop” of the season so far. “Aston Martin, (are struggling) too, and obviously Honda with the issues they’re facing. So these teams naturally have a huge opportunity. It sounds harsh, but I think it’s almost that simple to call Honda that. I’d say Williams is the biggest flop.”

If these rumors are true, then, Williams have taken a big step backwards in terms of developing its package for F1’s latest era. Montoya, who drove for the team between 2001 and 2004, has gone as far as suggesting that the engineers responsible should be relieved from their duties immediately. “Personally someone should be held responsible for that,” he told AS Colombia. “The people on that team and someone who held a position that obviously involved supervising that and making a mistake like that, should be responsible for it and should set a bit of an example for people.”

“Not by threatening people, but people have to take responsibility for their work, if you know what I mean? If you’re the captain of, I don’t know, a cruise ship and you sink the ship, you’ll be sacked, if you know what I mean? If you’ve got a job to do and you mess it up, you’re out. And so I think that’s important.”

‘Laid into Williams: Flop of the season – “Williams is the biggest flop’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/03/20/williams-delivered-crushing-flop-of-the-season-verdict-as-longstanding-f1-rumor-resurfaces/

[Fortitude]

Concerned Sainz fears that 'big crash' could occur due to 2026 regulations.
Carlos Sainz has issued a stark warning regarding the 2026 regulations, stating that a "big crash" could occur regarding the new 'Straight Mode'.
24 Mar 2026
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

The regulation overhaul saw the Drag Reduction System replaced by active aerodynamics, meaning front and rear wings would open up through the 'Straight Mode' zones on track.
Unlike DRS, the SM zones can be used without being within a second of the car in front, and they appear across several parts of the track, including some kinks and corners. As a result, drivers have raised concerns about the lack of downforce through high-speed corners due to SM and active aerodynamics, and Sainz was the latest to do so after the Chinese Grand Prix.

"I think SM is a plaster on top of a plaster," the Spaniard said to GPblog and others in Shanghai. Carlos Sainz finished P9 at the Chinese Grand Prix "Racing with your wings open on the straights at 340 KPH, sooner rather than later, there's going to be a big crash at very high speeds in tracks like Australia with little kinks.”

"Places like Jeddah, with open wings, I don't like it, I don't like having to race flat out at 340 KPH with no downforce in the car and the wings open. In China, it's a straight line; it's fine, but in the other kind of tracks, it's not good. I think it's the plaster, the SM is the plaster to a very energy-demanding circuit and car like we have right now."

‘Stark warning; "Big Crash"’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/concerned-sainz-fears-that-big-crash-could-occur-due-to-2026-regulations


F1 star 'really lucky' after miraculously avoiding 'dangerous' crash not shown on TV
Franco Colapinto’s incredible reactions somehow avoided a huge smash in the opening lap of the Australian Grand Prix as he was forced to avoid a slow car off the start line
8 Mar 2026
Cameron Winstanley
Daily Star

Franco Colapinto’s incredible reactions are to thank for avoiding a huge crash just seconds into the Australian Grand Prix. The opening race of the 2026 season started in dramatic fashion as Oscar Piastri crashed out on the reconnaissance lap half an hour before the start. The McLaren star wrecked his car after spinning and slamming into the wall after clipping the kerb but thankfully exited the car unharmed.

There was almost another terrifying crash off the start line in Melbourne as Colapinto was forced to take last-minute evasive action to avoid driving straight into the back of Liam Lawson who was bogged down off the line

On-board footage from Colapinto’s Alpine, which started in P16, showed the Argentine getting a great launch off the line but he almost ended up in the back of Lawson’s Racing Bulls and then the wall, but miraculously steered clear of both. Lawson, who started in P8, failed to get off the line and was left a sitting duck as he crawled away from his grid spot.

'Really lucky';

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1/franco-colapinto-f1-crash-miss-36833739


Carlos Sainz issues fierce F1 warning over 'big crash'
A close call occurred between two F1 drivers at the Australian Grand Prix last weekend.
12 Mar 2026
Fergal Walsh & Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Carlos Sainz has warned F1 it will see a large crash if it stands still over safety concerns with the new regulations. The season-opening Australian Grand Prix last week saw Franco Colapinto forced to take avoiding action as he came across a slow-moving Liam Lawson as they launched off the start line.

Lando Norris has already voiced his fear of seeing a major crash due to the car's behaviour. It's a viewpoint Sainz shares as he called on the FIA to take action in order to prevent injury. “There are two main points about safety this year,” Sainz told media including RacingNews365. “One is the starts and the situation that you saw already from testing, you saw them again in Melbourne.”

“In Melbourne, we were extremely lucky that nothing happened with Liam and Franco. My feeling is that there is going to be one of those big crashes if nothing changes for the start at some point this year. Fingers crossed that we take action in time to improve them and it never happens. But if we stay without doing anything, my feeling is that at one point or another, we will see one of those situations.”

'Big crash';

https://racingnews365.com/carlos-sainz-issues-fierce-f1-warning-over-big-crash


F1 dealt 'not a good look' criticism after China start mayhem
Formula 1 has already seen six cars fail to start races in 2026, with it yet begin a grand prix with a full grid.
22 Mar 2026
Nick Golding & Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Carlos Sainz has stressed that it is "not a good look" for so many cars to have failed to start the Chinese Grand Prix, in the latest criticism of Formula 1's new regulations. Both McLarens, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Alex Albon all failed to start at the Shanghai International Circuit due to various issues, resulting in only 18 cars taking to the grid.

Discussing four cars not starting in China, Sainz told select media including RacingNews365: "For sure, it's not a great look for everyone. "I think not having the two McLarens, a Williams, and an Audi on the grid shows how difficult we make our lives by coming up with super-complicated engines with extremely complex software and battery usage.”

‘F1 dealt 'not a good look' criticism’;

https://racingnews365.com/f1-dealt-not-a-good-look-criticism-after-china-start-mayhem


Why Sainz is racing in fear of ‘a very big crash’ in F1
24/03/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

On paper, it’s innovation. On track, Sainz sees something far more sinister. “SM is a plaster on top of a plaster,” he warned bluntly, dismissing the system as a temporary fix masking deeper flaws. But it’s what comes next that sends a chill through the Spaniard’s spine.

“Racing with your wings open on the straights at 340 km/h, sooner rather than later, there’s going to be a big crash at very high speeds in tracks with little kinks,” he said, pinpointing Melbourne, where F1 has already raced this season, and Jeddah which the sport will bypass.

‘Chill through the Spaniard’s spine’;

https://f1i.com/news/561646-why-sainz-is-racing-in-fear-of-a-very-big-crash-in-f1.html


Lando Norris accused of 'harsh criticism' over F1 crash fear
It was an eye-opening remark that drew plenty of attention.
19 Mar 2026
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

One of McLaren driver Lando Norris' major concerns was over the speed differential in wheel-to-wheel combat between a car lacking power from the battery compared to one fully charged. “It's chaos, you're going to have a big accident,” said Norris. "Which is a shame that you're just driving, and we're the ones just waiting for something to happen and something to go quite horribly wrong.”

"That's not a nice position to be in. There's nothing we can really do about that now. It's a shame, it's very artificial, depending on what the power unit decides to do and randomly does at times. You just get overtaken by five cars, and you can just do nothing about it."

'Harsh criticism';

https://racingnews365.com/lando-norris-accused-of-harsh-criticism-over-f1-crash-fear

[Fortitude]

Wolff cautious ‘political knives’ could derail Mercedes dominance.
Mercedes have won the first two grand prix of the season, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli the top two in the standings.
24 Mar 2026
Kieran Jackson
The Independent

Toto Wolff is cautious about Mercede’s strong start to the new F1 season and is wary of the political knives” which could play a part in the early phase of the year.

‘Political knives’;

https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/toto-wolff-mercedes-f1-2026-japanese-gp-b2944398.html


Ralf Schumacher says Mercedes still have ‘something up their sleeve’ in Ferrari battle
24 Mar 2026
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer

There’s no doubting Mercedes’ superiority in F1’s new technical ruleset, but Ralf Schumacher thinks the W17 is yet to reach its peak as he theorises on the Silver Arrows still having ‘something up their sleeve’ in the battle against Ferrari. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have both led one-twos for Mercedes in the first two rounds of the 2026 F1 season, culminating in a 31-point lead for the German constructor over their closest rivals, Ferrari.

In a recent episode of the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, six-time Grand Prix winner Ralf Schumacher touched upon the rumours that Mercedes are still withholding some performance in their W17 despite the levels of dominance it has already shown. The German pundit said, “I do believe that they still have something up their sleeve. However, in race pace, the Ferrari is also there, in terms of performance. Lewis Hamilton has confirmed it.”

“So there is a possibility that Mercedes can step up again, in a legal way, obviously, while Ferrari seems to be able to demand more performance from the engine during the race with the same durability. So from that perspective, it is closer than I thought. There is still potential in the car. You can also see that after the safety car phases, both drivers always have major problems, unlike Ferrari, to get up to speed, and to bring the temperature into the car directly. Accordingly, I do believe that Ferrari is closer than one would have expected to Mercedes.”

‘Something up their sleeve’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ralf-schumacher-says-mercedes-still-have-something-up-their-sleeve-in-ferrari-battle/


F1TECH: Mercedes front wing under scrutiny after reports of two phase closure system
25 Mar 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Rumblings in the Formula 1 paddock have intensified after reports surfaced suggesting that Mercedes may be operating a two phase front wing closure mechanism that could fall outside the intended scope of FIA active aerodynamics regulations. The system, observed during recent sessions and highlighted by technical analysts, appears to manipulate the timing of the wing’s transition between active and closed states — potentially allowing the W17 to gain an aerodynamic advantage without triggering regulatory alarms.

Concerns were amplified when Ferrari reportedly requested clarification from the FIA, believing Mercedes may have discovered a way to bypass the mandatory closure time sensors by splitting the wing’s movement into two distinct stages. Footage and technical breakdowns indicate that Mercedes’ front wing does not simply snap shut in a single motion. Instead, it appears to operate in a two phase sequence. During the first phase, a rapid movement lasts roughly 400 milliseconds, which the FIA’s control system interprets as a full closure.

Afterwards, a slower, mechanical continuation follows which brings the wing to its final aerodynamic position — but outside the time window monitored by the FIA. This behaviour was visible in live broadcast screenshots last time out at the Chinese Grand Prix, where the front wing could be seen shifting first to an intermediate angle before completing its movement moments later. Ferrari believes this staggered process may allow Mercedes to comply with the letter of the regulations while sidestepping their intended effect.

‘Concerns were amplified when Ferrari reportedly requested clarification from the FIA’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28366


Mercedes to unleash ‘the beast’ as Japanese Grand Prix livery revealed
24 Mar 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Mercedes will be “unleashing the beast” at Suzuka, having unveiled a unique Japanese Grand Prix livery. Joining the collection of teams to adapt its look for Suzuka, Mercedes has gone with a wolf face atop its front wing, in a unique one-off livery for the championship leaders.

Mercedes will also be shaking up its livery this weekend, at least when it comes to the front wing, anyway. Complete with an ‘unleashing the Beast this weekend in Suzuka’ caption on social media, Mercedes revealed a Wolf-inspired character which will adorn the top of the front wing on the W17s, driven by George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

‘The Beast’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mercedes-suzuka-livery-2026-wolf-design


Antonelli’s title downplayed after Chinese GP win: 'Only if something special happens'
24 MAR 2026
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner believes the future is bright for Kimi Antonelli, but a world title in 2026 may be just out of his reach. Despite the impressive drive, Steiner believes it might be a season too soon before Antonelli becomes champion of the world in F1. "No, only if something special happens, like it happened in China, in qualifying," the Italian said while on the Red Flags podcast.

"The good thing is he took it there, but maybe not under normal circumstances. I think it is also understandable why not; the kid is 19 years old in his second year in Formula One. George is a good race car driver, so I don't think he can do it this year. But there are other opportunities for him. If he doesn't win it this year, he can wait another time because he's so young. For me, he doesn't have to put too much pressure on himself to win it this year. He has a good future in front of him."

'Only if something special happens';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/steiner-makes-clear-antonelli-title-stance-after-chinese-gp-breakthrough

[Fortitude]

Gary Anderson: F1's sudden Japanese GP rule change doesn't go far enough.
“…but more could have been done to ensure qualifying is the spectacle and driving challenge it should be.” Gary Anderson.
26 Mar 2026
GARY ANDERSON
The Race

For reference of torque output versus time for a battery storage capacity of 4MJ gives you.
350kW for roughly 11.5seconds.
300kW for roughly 13.3 seconds.
250kW for roughly 16.0 seconds.
200kW for roughly 20.0 seconds.

In my opinion, the only way to achieve this is lots of lift and coast, through Turn 1 into Turn 2 is an ideal candidate. Also, through the esses just to control the speed and also Degner 1. It will be sad to see, but I’m sure we will also see plenty of it through 130R as well. Once, it was a demanding flat-out corner, but I suppose those days are long gone, however with nothing much to gain on the way to the chicane, it’s an ideal place to maximise harvesting for the short run to the finish line.

Basically, the driver has to dictate whether he wants the car to go slower or faster. He has two pedals to achieve that, and I believe his demands should be what the system reacts to and provides. All this ‘hidden’ circuit mapping that Charles Leclerc was commenting on, confusing the system doesn’t need to be there; give the driver back control. After all, that’s what the steering wheel does - the driver tells the car to turn left or right. Can you imagine the chaos if that system was allowed to be fly-by-wire? It wouldn’t take long for a driver to lose confidence after a couple of programming errors, and basically it’s now the same with the torque delivery.

“More could have been done”;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-sudden-japanese-gp-rule-change-doesnt-go-far-enough/


FIA heeds F1 qualifying concerns with crucial Japanese GP rule change
26 Mar 2026
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

In a statement, the FIA said: “Following discussions between the FIA, F1 teams and Power Unit Manufacturers, a minor adjustment to the energy management parameters for Qualifying at the Japanese GP has been agreed with the unanimous support of all Power Unit Manufacturers.”

“To ensure that the intended balance between energy deployment and driver performance is maintained, the maximum permitted energy recharge for Qualifying this weekend has been reduced from 9.0 MJ to 8.0 MJ. This adjustment reflects feedback from drivers and teams, who have emphasised the importance of maintaining Qualifying as a performance challenge.”

“The FIA notes that the first events under the 2026 Regulations have been operationally successful, and this targeted refinement is part of the normal process of optimisation as the new regulatory framework is further validated in real-world conditions. The FIA, together with F1 teams and Power Unit Manufacturers, continues to embrace evolutions to energy management, with further discussions scheduled in the coming weeks.”

‘Crucial Japanese GP rule change’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/03/26/fia-makes-crucial-rule-change-for-f1-japanese-gp/


FIA makes late change to qualifying before Japanese GP amid driver concerns
26 Mar 2026
Laurence Edmondson
TSN

Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, has made a tweak to the rules around this weekend's qualifying session at the Japanese Grand Prix amid concerns drivers would have to focus on energy harvesting on high-speed sections of track. during simulations ahead of this weekend's race, teams noted that having such a high limit encouraged large amounts of lifting and coasting -- the process by which a driver lifts off the throttle before braking for a corner -- and super clipping -- when the V6 engine is partly used as a generator to charge the battery.

In order to minimise such practices -- which often appear unnatural to viewers watching onboard footage from the cars -- the FIA informed the teams on Wednesday that the limit would be reduced to eight megajoules. The change equates to four seconds less of super clipping around a lap, and the FIA expects the cars to be roughly 0.5 seconds per lap slower as a result of having less energy to deploy around the lap.

While most drivers either welcomed the change or said it wouldn't make an impact, Haas' Oliver Bearman argued against it. "I mean it's just making us even slower," he argued. "On one hand we don't have to do any lift and coast any more, which is probably a bit better for us, but it just means we have to do a lot of... I think there's better ways of achieving the same thing. If we could harvest at negative 350 kilowatts while on full throttle, I think it would make everyone's lives a bit easier. But this is also a solution, I guess."

‘Tweak to the rules’;

https://www.tsn.ca/motorsports/article/fia-makes-late-change-to-qualifying-before-japanese-gp-amid-driver-concerns-n1-48310901/


Verstappen sounds off on FIA tweak aimed at ‘fixing’ qualifying
26 Mar 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen has aired his take on the changes made by the FIA to qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. Asked for his reaction, Verstappen offered a measured response, admitting he had yet to test the changes but expressing hope they would make qualifying more flat-out. “I mean, I've not practised this on the simulator, so I cannot give you a clear answer. It was a little bit before, not flat-out basically. So I hope that this can be closer to being flat-out,” Verstappen said at the Suzuka International Circuit.

When pressed on whether the change compromises the purity of racing at Suzuka, the four-time world champion remained pragmatic, acknowledging the limitations of the current regulations while looking ahead to potential improvements. “Of course, it feels very different to last year, but this is the reality that we're in now and you just have to accept that at the moment. I mean, there's not much that you can do anyway for this year,” Verstappen explained.

“I hope that bigger changes will be there for next year. How does it feel? It feels... how does it feel? It's different. I mean, you all know how I, of course, think of the situation, and I think that was something that I felt when I was on the simulator as well. Around here, going to eight megajoules probably helps a tiny bit, but the basics are the same, you know, so you still need to be careful with your throttle inputs. That is, of course, very different to the past,” the Red Bull Racing driver concluded.

‘Max Verstappen has aired his take on the changes’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappen-sounds-off-on-fia-tweak-aimed-at-fixing-qualifying


Russell: Suzuka "good test" of F1's new rules after "super boring" 2025 race
George Russell described the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix as "super boring", and expects Sunday's race to stress test the excitement of the new F1 era.
26 Mar 2026
Sam Hall, Adam Cooper
Crash.Net

Overtake Mode and Straightline Mode have kept battling drivers closer together for longer, and early championship leader Russell believes this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix will provide a stern test for the improved action.

“I think this is the argument. The previous generation of cars, we would say are perfectly suited to a track like Suzuka, because the cars in the past had a lot of high-speed downforce, and I think the lap times we saw last year were probably the fastest lap times we’ve ever seen in Suzuka, yet the race was super boring,” said Russell.

“So yes, we will be slower through the Esses this year, and I think it will probably be an easy one-stop, the same as last year. But it was an easy one-stop in China, and it was a very exciting race. I guess this will be a good test for the regulations, if this track now becomes an exciting race and it was once a boring race, that will be quite interesting.”

‘Expects Sunday's race to stress test the excitement of the new F1 era’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1091943/1/george-russell-suzuka-will-test-f1s-increased-excitement


How Ferrari can ‘annoy’ F1 rival Mercedes at Japanese GP
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc hopes to "annoy" Mercedes at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.
26 Mar 2026
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

While Leclerc has downplayed Ferrari’s chances of winning this weekend, the Monegasque at least hopes to give Mercedes a headache early on. "I don’t think it’s as close as maybe people think,” Leclerc said during Thursday’s FIA press conference at Suzuka.

“Obviously the first few races we see lots of fighting between the cars, which is actually quite nice, but as soon as you are a little bit suboptimal with these cars you lose a lot of lap time. So, our only chance to stay with them is to annoy them in the first few laps, but as soon as they get free air then they’ve shown their real pace in the last race, and I think there’s still these four or five tenths that we’ve seen throughout these first two races.”

"It’s still a significant advantage. But yes, that doesn’t discourage me and again we have some things in the pipeline. We’ve got to focus on ourselves, not trying to overdo it because it’s never good in these situations, and then we’ll see where that brings us.” Leclerc reiterated the importance of the development battle throughout the 2026 campaign.

‘Give Mercedes a headache early on’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1091950/1/charles-leclerc-how-ferrari-can-annoy-f1-rival-mercedes-japanese-gp

[Fortitude]

Japanese GP: Russell leads Mercedes 1-2 in Suzuka first practice.
George Russell continued his commanding start to the 2026 season by topping first practice for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, narrowly edging Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli in a closely fought session.
27/03/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

The championship leader’s benchmark lap of 1m31.666s was enough to deny Antonelli by just 0.026s, underlining that Mercedes’ early-season dominance remains firmly intact. Under clear skies at the iconic Suzuka Circuit, Russell wasted little time asserting control. Running on hard tyres in the opening stages, he posted a 1m32.429s to lead the field ahead of Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc.

Once the switch to soft tyres came, the Silver Arrows tightened their grip. Russell improved to a 1m31.755s, only for Antonelli – fresh from his breakthrough win in Shanghai—to respond with a 1m31.692s and briefly take over at the top. But Russell wasn’t done. After a wide moment at Spoon Curve, the Briton regrouped and delivered the session’s decisive blow, reclaiming P1 with a 1m31.666s that would stand unbeaten.

For now, though, the spotlight remains firmly on Mercedes. With Russell and Antonelli once again locking out the top two positions, the message from Suzuka’s opening session was clear: the Silver Arrows are still the team to beat.

‘Russell leads Mercedes 1-2’;

https://f1i.com/news/561804-japanese-gp-russell-leads-mercedes-1-2-in-suzuka-first-practice.html


Japanese GP FP1 Results Today: 2026 Practice 1 Times
George Russell continues his impressive start to the 2026 Formula 1 season for Mercedes.
27 Mar 2026
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

Here are the complete Practice 1 results from the Suzuka Circuit in Japan.
Position Driver Team Time / Gap to Fastest
1 George Russell Mercedes 1:31.666
2 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.026
3 Lando Norris McLaren +0.132
4 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.199
5 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.289
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.374
7 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.791
8 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +0.863
9 Esteban Ocon Haas +0.935
10 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls +0.999

‘FP1 Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/japanese-gp-2026-fp1-results/


Mercedes continue F1 domination as Red Bull alarm rings in Japan practice
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli picked up where they left off in China during the first free practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix.
27 Mar 2026
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

George Russell led a strong Mercedes one-two in the opening practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix, as a major Red Bull alarm sounded. Russell initially shaved half-a-second off his best time to post a 1:31.755, with Antonelli suffering a lock-up at the hairpin and losing two-tenths to his team-mate. Verstappen, meanwhile, having run the soft tyres at a similar time in track conditions, was 0.765s slower than Russell.

Antonelli improved to a 1:31.692, before Russell then lowered his time again to a 1:31.666s which stood as the session best, 0.026s ahead of the Italian in the sister car. Norris finished third, 0.132s down on Russell after a late start to his session, with Oscar Piastri fourth ahead of both Ferraris of Leclerc and Hamilton in fifth and sixth, but both within 0.4s. Verstappen was seventh.

Four drivers were placed under investigation by the stewards for incidents, with Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson involved in a bizarre driving slowly incident at the exit of the hairpin, whilst Alex Albon crashed into Sergio Perez at the final chicane in the closing moments of the session.

‘Red Bull alarm rings’;

https://racingnews365.com/mercedes-continue-f1-domination-as-red-bull-alarm-rings-in-japan-practice


Japanese Grand Prix: George Russell pips Kimi Antonelli to finish fastest in first practice
Mar 27, 2026
PA
ESPN.co.uk

George Russell set the fastest time in first practice for the Japanese Grand Prix. Championship leader Russell saw off team-mate Kimi Antonelli by just 0.026 seconds as Mercedes secured a one-two finish.

World champion Lando Norris was third for McLaren, just 0.132 sec back, and a place clear of team-mate Oscar Piastri. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fifth and sixth respectively for Ferrari with Red Bull's Max Verstappen seventh.

Russell and Antonelli have one win apiece so far, and the Mercedes men again look to be the pair to beat here in Suzuka. Russell leads Antonelli by just four points in the standings following the Italian teenager's first win last time out in China.

‘George Russell pips Kimi Antonelli’;

https://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/48302076/george-russell-pips-kimi-antonelli-finish-fastest-first-practice


Japanese GP: Full Practice 1 results as officials investigate Alex Albon
27 Mar 2026
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

Mercedes established itself as the early favourite with a strong performance in the opening hour of practice for the Japanese Grand Prix. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli headed the pack with Lando Norris recovering from a slow start to be third best.

It was an issue-free hour for Mercedes as a while, while setup days cost Lando Norris time in the early moments. There was a moment for Sergio Perez and Alex Albon in the final moments as the Williams driver tried to move up the inside of the Cadillac at the Casio Triange.

That resulted in conflict and will be investigated by officials. It was the second moment for Albon who bounced through the gravel at Degner 2 and even made contact with the tyre barrier earlier in the session.

‘Officials investigate Alex Albon’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-results-2026-jpanese-grand-prix-suzuka-fp1


FIA determine cause of clumsy Alex Albon and Sergio Perez crash
Alex Albon collided with Sergio Perez late on during Free Practice 1 at the Japanese Grand Prix.
27 Mar 2026
Jake Nichol & Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Alex Albon has escaped repercussions for crashing into Sergio Perez during Free Practice 1 at the Japanese Grand Prix. "The Driver of Car 23 said that he believed from the wide line taken by Car 11 at the entry to turn 16 that Car 11 was letting him through.”

"Both Drivers were surprised by the closing speeds. The collision was therefore the result of a misunderstanding contributed to by a lack of communication by the team to the Driver of Car 11. Both Drivers accepted that neither of them was wholly or predominantly to blame for it. The Stewards therefore determined to take no further action."

“No further action";

https://racingnews365.com/fia-determine-cause-of-clumsy-alex-albon-and-sergio-perez-crash

[Fortitude]

Piastri breaks Mercedes' P1 hegemony at the Japan Grand Prix.
Oscar Piastri was the quickest in FP1, finishing marginally ahead of the two Mercedes drivers, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
27 Mar 2026
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

Many teams and drivers were eager to get on track during the second session of the day, with the group led by Hamilton. Norris was not on that list, with the McLaren mechanics working on his MCL40. Arvid Lindblad's day has also come to an early end after he reported issues on his opening lap over the team radio. Around 10 minutes into the session, Alex Albon nearly caused the first red flag of the day by stopping on track, but the Thai-British driver was able to get going again.

15 minutes into the session, Leclerc led with a 1:31.0, marginally ahead of Piastri. By the halfway point, drivers completed their first laps on the soft tyres. Piastri then led the session ahead of the two Mercedes drivers, in the order of Antonelli and Russell. Entering the final 15 minutes, Piastri continued to lead FP2, as the drivers switched for stints on the medium tyres.

Lando Norris finished fourth ahead of the two Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The Briton reported during the session that he was not comfortable with his car. Four-time world champion and the winner of the last four Japanese GPs, Max Verstappen, finished tenth in this session.

‘Piastri breaks Mercedes' P1 hegemony’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/breaking-news/piastri-breaks-mercedes-p1-hegemony-at-the-japan-grand-prix


Japanese Grand Prix Free Practice 2 - Results
27/03/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

2026 Japanese Grand Prix - Free Practice 2 results
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:30.133s 29
2 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.092s 28
3 George Russell Mercedes +0.205s 29
4 Lando Norris McLaren +0.516s 17
5 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.713s 28
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.847s 27
7 Nico Hülkenberg Audi +1.308s 27
8 Alexander Albon Williams +1.363s 30
9 Oliver Bearman Haas +1.365s 28
10 Max Verstappen Red Bull +1.376s 29

‘Free Practice 2 results’;

https://f1i.com/news/561802-japanese-grand-prix-free-practice-2-results-2.html


F1 Japanese GP: Oscar Piastri heads Mercedes pair as issues hit Lando Norris in second practice
Oscar Piastri puts McLaren ahead of Mercedes at the end of Friday at the Japanese Grand Prix.
27 Mar 2026
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri outpaced the Mercedes pair of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell in second practice at Formula 1’s Japanese Grand Prix. Lap times tumbled in the second hour of practice running at Suzuka, with Piastri putting McLaren top of the timesheet for the first time after pipping Antonelli, who claimed his maiden F1 victory last time out in China, by 0.092 seconds.

Early world championship leader Russell, who led a Mercedes one-two in opening practice, was third-fastest, 0.205s down on Piastri’s benchmark in FP2. World champion Lando Norris was fourth after a hydraulics leak caused him to miss almost half of the session. The McLaren driver ended up 0.516s behind team-mate Piastri on the soft tyres.

Norris has lost one of his three batteries for the 2026 season in a setback to his hopes of defending his world title. Issues for Norris aside, it has been an encouraging start to the weekend for McLaren after its double DNS disaster in Shanghai.

‘Oscar Piastri heads Mercedes pair’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1092035/1/f1-japanese-gp-oscar-piastri-heads-mercedes-pair-issues-hit-lando-norris-second


Japanese GP: Full Practice 2 results sees Piastri topple Mercedes
27 Mar 2026
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

Oscar Piastri topped the second practice hour for this weekend’s Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix ahead of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. The McLaren driver’s soft tyre run left him just 0.092s clear of the Chinese GP race winner, with Lando Norris in the second McLaren fourth best.

Norris endured a complicated session after a hydraulics issue kept him in the garage for the first 23 minutes. There were problems too for Arvid Lindblad, who reported issues on track shortly after leaving the pits as the session began. Gabriel Bortoleto was also reduced to spectator duties as Audi worked on the power unit in the back of his car.

Damage sustained in opening practice also saw Sergio Perez delayed as Cadillac worked to repair the floor on the Mexican’s car. Franco Colapinto will front the stewards after he weaved his way down the back straight, impeding Max Verstappen in the process.

‘Piastri topple(s) Mercedes’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-results-2026-japanese-grand-prix-suzuka-fp2


FP2 Report: What Happened in Second Practice at the 2026 Japanese GP
Oscar Piastri tops second practice at Suzuka ahead of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell as McLaren shows improved pace
27 Mar 2026
John Smith
Total Motorsport

The Japanese GP FP2 report saw Oscar Piastri deliver a standout performance at Suzuka, putting McLaren at the top of the timesheets ahead of the Mercedes duo of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell in a busy and incident-filled session. The Australian’s benchmark of 1m 30.133s proved enough to hold off Antonelli by just 0.092s, with Russell a further tenth behind. It was a tight margin, but one that carried weight given the context of McLaren’s disrupted start to the season.

If Piastri’s lap hinted at promise, the other side of the McLaren garage told a more complicated story. Lando Norris endured a delayed start to the session after the team investigated a suspected hydraulic issue, leaving the Brit watching from the garage while rivals banked valuable laps.

By the time he joined the track, much of the early running had already unfolded. Even so, Norris recovered impressively to finish fourth, though over half a second shy of his team-mate’s time. His session underlined both the potential of the MCL40 and the fragility that has defined McLaren’s early campaign.

‘McLaren shows improved pace’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/fp2-japanese-gp-2026-report/


Liam Lawson just proved Red Bull are not ‘a happy camp’ at Japanese Grand Prix, says Karun Chandhok
27 Mar 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Liam Lawson’s fastest FP2 lap in Japan being 0.081s slower than Max Verstappen’s shows Red Bull’s issues. Verstappen struggled with understeer throughout FP2 at the Japanese GP, with the 28-year-old often fighting to force his Red Bull RB22 to corner how he wanted without locking up or making a mistake. Yet Chandhok feels Lawson’s pace hammered home Red Bull’s problems.

Lawson’s qualifying simulation run in the Racing Bulls VCARB 03 resulting in a lap time only 0.081s slower than Verstappen’s best effort shows Chandhok just how much Red Bull need to improve the RB22, as the junior team should not be able to compete with the top team. Chandhok said on Sky Sports F1 (27/03, 06:35): “That’s what it looked like from trackside.”

“The Red Bull, it just looked like he was chasing the front end, just having to wait, and wait, and wait. And we know Max, of any driver on the grid, that’s a balance that he really dislikes. The fact [that] he’s still three-tenths ahead of Isack Hadjar suggests that the car is not there. Lawson in the Racing Bulls, with all due respect to them, should not be within eight-hundredths of Max Verstappen in the top Red Bull car. So, that is not a happy camp.”

“Suggests that the car is not there”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/liam-lawson-just-proved-red-bull-are-not-a-happy-camp-at-japanese-grand-prix-says-karun-chandhok/

[Fortitude]

Japanese GP: Mercedes back on top in FP3 with Antonelli fastest.
Mercedes turned up the heat in Saturday’s final practice ahead of Japanese Grand Prix qualifying at Suzuka, with Kimi Antonelli comfortably edging teammate George Russell in the session.
28/03/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Kimi Antonelli was the first to truly ignite the session, smashing through the 1m 31s barrier with ease before steadily lowering the benchmark. Charles Leclerc responded, chipping away at the gap, while George Russell lurked close behind in a tightly contested top three. But Suzuka’s narrow, high-speed layout added its own drama. Traffic became a major talking point, especially through the fearsome 130R corner, where both Nico Hulkenberg and Valtteri Bottas voiced their frustration after near-encounters compromised their laps.

At the halfway stage, Leclerc briefly seized control with a 1m 30.229s, exposing a relative weakness in the Mercedes cars through the final sector. But the Silver Arrows were far from done. As the clock ticked down, the gloves came off. Antonelli shattered the 1m 30 barrier for the first time all weekend, only for Russell to edge him moments later by the slimmest of margins – just 0.011s. The duel was on.

But Antonelli had the final word. Hooking up a near-perfect lap, he unleashed a 1m 29.362s that left the rest trailing, and ultimately stood unbeaten at the chequered flag. Behind the Mercedes pair, Leclerc held onto third, albeit a distant eight-tenths back. Oscar Piastri impressed in fourth, followed by Hamilton and the recovering Norris.

‘Kimi Antonelli had the final word’;

https://f1i.com/news/561942-japanese-gp-mercedes-back-on-top-in-fp3-with-antonelli-fastest.html


Japanese GP: Free Practice 3 Results
Full results from Free Practice 3 for the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.
28 Mar 2026
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

Results: Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, Free Practice 3
Pos.
No. Driver Team Time / Gap Laps
1 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:29.362 18
2 63 George Russell Mercedes +0.254s 18
3 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.867s 20
4 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren +1.002s 19
5 44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +1.021s 23
6 1 Lando Norris McLaren +1.238s 13
7 27 Nico Hulkenberg Audi +1.296s 21
8 3 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +1.548s 22
9 5 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi +1.638s 21
10 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine +1.720s 20

‘Results: Free Practice 3’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2026-japanese-grand-prix-suzuka-free-practice-3-fp3-results/


F1- Antonelli quickest in final practice for Japanese Grand Prix
28 Mar 2026
FIA (Press Release)

Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli posted the fastest lap of the final practice session for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, beating team-mate George Russell by a little over a quarter of a second. Charles Leclerc was third, though the Ferrari driver was more than eight tenths of a second off the pace set by Antonelli. It was Ferrari that led the way in the opening phases of the session, but Antonelli took command when he bolted on a set of Soft tyres and quickly delivered a lap of 1:30.418. He then improved to 1:29.929 to set the fastest time of the weekend so far.

With Ferrari and McLaren not threatening to get near that time, Antonelli’s only real competition during the qualifying runs was team-mate Russell and the Australian Grand Prix winner narrowly gapped his Italian team-mate by a hundredth of a second as he too took on Soft tyres. Antonelli rose to that challenge and 18 minutes from the end of the session the youngster logged a lap of 1:29.392 to take top spot, 0.254s clear of Russell who had no response.

Leclerc was the only driver to get within a second of the dominant Mercedes pair, though the Monegasque racer could only haul his Ferrari SF-26 to 0.867s off Antonelli. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was next on the list, just over a second off the pace, while Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five in the second Ferrari. The seven-time champion ended the session just two hundredths of a second behind Piastri and 0.154s off team-mate Leclerc.

‘Antonelli quickest’;

https://www.fia.com/news/f1-antonelli-quickest-final-practice-japanese-grand-prix


Everything that happened in final Japanese GP practice
28 Mar 2026
MATT BEER
The Race

Mercedes moved back ahead as Friday pacesetter McLaren had a muted start to qualifying day at Formula 1's Japanese Grand Prix. Kimi Antonelli beat George Russell by 0.254 seconds in final practice in a Mercedes 1-2 at the front, with everyone else close to a second back. McLaren had been fastest with Oscar Piastri on Friday but he was 1.002s off the pace in fourth behind Charles Leclerc's Ferrari.

The second McLaren of world champion Lando Norris missed the first half of the session with an ERS problem that the team feared would rule him out of the whole hour at first. He worked his way up to sixth, with Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari just ahead. It was a very encouraging session for Audi, which was as high as fifth going into the final minutes and ended up seventh and ninth with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto sandwiching an unhappy Max Verstappen's Red Bull.

Alpine's Pierre Gasly pushed the other Red Bull of Isack Hadjar out of the top 10 late on. At the back, Aston Martin was a second off even Cadillac's pace on Honda's home ground. Ollie Bearman produced the session's only noteworthy incident, with a fast but beautifully caught spin out of Spoon.

‘Everything that happened’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/everything-that-happened-in-final-japanese-gp-practice/


Lando Norris now on the cusp of a grid penalty as McLaren face more battery issues at Japanese GP
28 Mar 2026
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer

Lando Norris will now face a grid penalty if McLaren introduce another battery pack into his 2026 pool. During Sky Sports F1’s coverage of FP3 at Suzuka, pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz explained how Norris now has all three of his allocated battery packs for the entire season present in his pool, which means he will face a grid penalty if the issue crops up again.

He said, “On fire up, they found there was a problem with the battery pack, and bear in mind that it was already the second of the three that he’s allowed for the season. So, this is number three going in now.”

“Of course, once they identify and they’re able to fix the pool of three batteries, then that might mean that you can do half a season or maybe more on three energy recovery system battery packs. Use more than three, and you’ll get a grid penalty. That’s probably the least of Lando Norris’ worries, something for the future.”

‘McLaren face more battery issues’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lando-norris-now-on-the-cusp-of-a-grid-penalty-as-mclaren-face-more-battery-issues-at-japanese-gp/


Final practice results as Norris suffers fresh battery blow
28 Mar 2026
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

Kimi Antonelli holds the advantage ahead of qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix after he topped the final practice session in Suzuka. Antonelli headed George Russell and Charles Leclerc at the end of the Saturday-morning session, the Ferrari driver almost nine-tenths off the outright pace. Kimi Antonelli heads Mercedes one-two as McLaren works miracle for Lando Norris.

Disaster struck Lando Norris before the session even began as McLaren detected a battery issue in his car. McLaren worked a minor miracle to complete a battery change for Norris to emerged with 22 minutes remaining, affording him the chance to bank valuable laps prior to qualifying as he ended up sixth.

Oscar Piastri was fifth best, while Lewis Hamilton appeared to ave a more settled car to be fifth-best. Further back, both Audi drivers found themselves in the top 10 to highlight themselves as strong Q3 contenders come qualifying.

‘Final practice results’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-results-2026-japanese-grand-prix-suzuka-fp3

[Fortitude]

Antonelli soaks up ‘incredible feeling’ after securing pole position in Japan.
Kimi Antonelli has raved about the “incredible feeling” he experienced upon claiming pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, building on his formidable start to the 2026 season.
28/03/2026
Formula One - Official Site

Kimi Antonelli came out on top in the battle for pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix. “It was a good session, I’m happy with it,” he said after Qualifying. “I think I was able to improve lap by lap. That first Q3 lap was good. Second lap was looking strong but then at Turn 11 I locked up and lost quite a bit of time so it was a shame.”

“I was a bit annoyed with that but [I got] pole position. I felt good in the car, felt good with the track, and now focusing on tomorrow.” Reflecting on the support he has enjoyed over the weekend, he explained in an earlier interview: “The fans here in Japan are pretty incredible. There's so much passion and racing at a historic track is an incredible feeling.”

“The track is unbelievable to drive with this kind of car plus the fans give us a little bit more of a boost when we go on track.” Antonelli will now be hoping to avoid small errors that have occasionally impacted his performance at times – such as his crash in FP3 at the season opener in Australia as well as a poor start and time penalty in the China Sprint – and target his second Grand Prix victory.

“I’m happy with it”;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/antonelli-soaks-up-incredible-feeling-after-securing-pole-position-in-japan.3GBYHHlD1c7l5tHNlpsCy3


Japanese Grand Prix - Qualifying Results
28/03/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

2026 Japanese Grand Prix - Qualifying results
Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3
1 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:30.035s 1:29.048s 1:28.778s
2 George Russell Mercedes 1:29.967s 1:29.686s 1:29.076s
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:30.200s 1:29.451s 1:29.132s
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:29.915s 1:29.303s 1:29.405s
5 Lando Norris McLaren 1:30.401s 1:29.795s 1:29.409s
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:30.309s 1:29.589s 1:29.567s
7 Pierre Gasly Alpine 1:30.584s 1:29.874s 1:29.691s
8 Isack Hadjar Red Bull 1:30.662s 1:30.104s 1:29.978s
9 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi 1:30.359s 1:29.990s 1:30.274s
10 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls 1:30.781s 1:30.109s 1:30.319s

‘Qualifying Results’;

https://f1i.com/news/561957-japanese-grand-prix-qualifying-results-2.html


Kimi Antonelli surprised by George Russell gap after tricky Suzuka qualifying
28 Mar 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

“I had a really clean session. Felt good. Had a strong run one, and from there on, I just built the momentum,” said Kimi Antonelli after qualifying. “Obviously it was a bit trickier than FP3, especially at the start of qualifying. I think the wind increased a little bit. It felt a little bit more difficult, the car overall.”
“But then we just try to adapt. We made some tweaks with aero balance and found a good compromise. Then the lap in Q3 was good. Bit of a shame for the last one, but I think it was, overall, a very strong session.” Antonelli was asked if he was surprised by the gap to Russell.

He held an advantage over his teammate and the championship leader throughout qualifying, and ended up three tenths clear. “Yeah, I am,” he confirmed. “But with this regulation, it is really easy to gain and lose time. It was the same for me in Melbourne. But, he’s super quick. He’s been super quick around here, and we’ll see tomorrow in the race, how we’re going to do.”

‘Kimi Antonelli surprised’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/kimi-antonelli-suzuka-pole-mercedes-w17-russell-gap


Arvid Lindblad reacts to dumping Max Verstappen out of 2026 Japanese GP Qualifying: ‘I’m very proud’
The 18-year-old stunned for Racing Bulls at the Suzuka International Racing Course on Saturday
28 Mar 2026
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

“I’m very proud of myself,” Lindblad told Sky Sports F1. “I think the job I did in Q2 was pretty impressive. I had a lot of fun on that lap. I knew after the first run that if I did a perfect job, I might be able to just squeeze through. So, I told myself, I’m just going to switch off the brain, hope for the best and send it.”

“It was such an exhilarating feeling as well, just on a track like this when you’re at one with the car, it’s so much fun. I come out of [Turn] 14 and I’m like half-a-second up on the dash on the board there,” Lindblad added. “So I’m like half a second up on the dash and I remember I was so happy in that moment.”

“I was like… You know the lap was amazing to that point, so I remember I even screamed a bit inside the helmet like, ‘Come on!’ So at this point I’m coming into here [Turn 16] and I’m like, ‘Right, just don’t mess it up you know? Just keep it together.’ So I’m coming in and I’m just trying to do a clean job. Brake nice and late because there’s so much lap time here in braking, the kerbs are really difficult, but I just got it nicely.”

‘The 18-year-old stunned for Racing Bulls’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/arvid-lindblad-reacts-max-verstappen-japanese-gp-qualifying/


Karun Chandhok says Max Verstappen had ‘no chance’ of Q3 after watching Japanese Grand Prix onboard
28 Mar 2026
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Karun Chandhok noticed Max Verstappen struggling in high-speed corners that gave him ‘no chance’ of Q3 at Suzuka. Karun Chandhok assessed Verstappen’s final run in Q2 on Sky Sports F1 (28/03, 6:44 am). Watching his onboard, he saw the RB22 losing time through the high-speed corners, which ultimately cost him a place in the top 10.

“He said it was jumping around in the high-speed [corners]. Watch his head there as he goes through turn one, loads of understeer, struggling then, then snaps into an oversteer,” he said. “Let’s go through the Esses and he’s just waiting on the front for a long time, and it eventually bites. There’s almost like a disconnect where he’s just not able to get the front and rear of the car talking to each other.”

“He goes in, carrying the speed that he believes, the rear of the car steps out of line, has to correct it. Then he’s just waiting because he’s gone in too fast and he’s now on this kerb, and all of that means he’s not in the right position he wants for the second part, has to have another correction there for the second apex.”

‘No chance of Q3’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/karun-chandhok-says-max-verstappen-had-no-chance-of-q3-after-watching-japanese-grand-prix-onboard/


Charles Leclerc blasts qualifying in F1 2026 with foul-mouthed radio outburst at Japanese Grand Prix
28 Mar 2026
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

When race engineer Bryan Bozzi confirmed he had finished the session in P4, Charles Leclerc lamented: “Honestly, I honestly cannot stand with the quali, it’s a f—— joke. I go faster in corners, throttle earlier, for f— sake, I’m losing everything in the straight.”

Speaking to Canal+ after qualifying, Leclerc explains the issues he was having down the straights at Suzuka. “Not at all, I think that was the best Q2 I’ve done and I don’t think I could replicate it. Honestly, even if from the onboard it looks like a mistake, in itself it was super beneficial for the Q2, there wasn’t much more in that lap. What’s more frustrating than anything else is the performance we lose from one run to the next in the straights with what we do with the driving.”

“In Q3, last run, I tried to push a little bit more, it worked everywhere, but unfortunately we lose a tenth and a half just compared to my lap, only in the straights in the last sector, and that’s very frustrating, even if we know it’s a bit part of the game with this regulation. I’m not getting used to it and in the car you want to push, but well, that’s how it is.”

‘Foul-mouthed radio outburst’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/charles-leclerc-blasts-qualifying-in-f1-2026-with-foul-mouthed-radio-outburst-at-japanese-grand-prix/


Ted recaps quali as Antonelli makes it back-to-back poles ���� | Ted's Japanese GP Qualifying Notebook
Mar 28, 2026
Sky Sports F1

Ted Kravitz recaps Japanese Grand Prix Qualifying where it was Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli who secured back-to-back pole positions followed by George Russell and Oscar Piastri. 0:00 - Ted explores 6:15 - Mercedes 11:20 - McLaren 14:04 - Red Bull 17:20 - Ferrari 19:04 - Williams 20:31 - Racing Bulls 21:31 - Jonathan Wheatley future 22:56 - Aston Martin 23:44 - Haas 24:08 - Audi 24:30 - Alpine 24:56 - Cadillac

‘Back-to-back poles’;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjRqUVABlU0

[Fortitude]

Antonelli revels in history-making Japanese GP win: ‘Pace was incredible’.
Kimi Antonelli has detailed his excitement after claiming a history-making victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.
29 Mar 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Sharing his reaction after the race, Antonelli admitted to feeling very good about his win, noting his terrible start and the strong recovery he made. The 19-year-old also highlighted the impact of the safety car, which he used masterfully to his advantage. "It feels pretty good! Of course, it's too early to think about the championship, but we are on the right track. I had a terrible start and need to check what happened. Then I was lucky with the Safety Car to be in the lead, but after that, the pace was incredible," Antonelli began. "It was really nice. In the second stint, I felt very good with the car. I'm very pleased with that," he added.

Speaking about his race start and how he could improve, Antonelli noted that he could practise a few clutch drops to achieve better race start sequences. "I can practice some clutch drops to get a better feel with it because, definitely, it's been a weak point so far this year. I need to improve that because you can easily win or lose races with it," he noted. "On the medium tyres, we were strong once we had free air, and on the hard, the pace was incredible. I don't know what the outcome would have been without the Safety Car, but it made my life a lot easier," he concluded.

‘Pace was incredible’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/antonelli-reflects-on-history-making-japanese-gp-win-pace-was-incredible


Japanese GP 2026 Race Results: Full Classification and Winner
29 Mar 2026
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

Antonelli‘s ability to capitalize on the safety car, combined with Mercedes’ tactical precision, hands the 19-year-old another memorable moment in his career.
Here are the results:
Pos. Driver Team Gap Points
1 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes Winner 25
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren +13.722 18
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +15.270 15
4 George Russell Mercedes +15.754 12
5 Lando Norris McLaren +23.479 10
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +25.037 8
7 Pierre Gasly Alpine +32.340 6
8 Max Verstappen Red Bull +32.677 4
9 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +50.180 2
10 Esteban Ocon Haas +51.216 1

‘Full Classification and Winner’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/japanese-gp-2026-race-results-full-classification/


Japanese GP: Lucky Antonelli wins again – takes championship lead
29/03/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Kimi Antonelli claimed a fortunate victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, as a perfectly timed safety car flipped the race on its head and handed the young Mercedes driver control he would never relinquish. Out front, Antonelli was untouchable. He crossed the line 14 seconds clear of Piastri, sealing his second consecutive victory and becoming the youngest multiple race winner in Formula 1 history – surpassing the mark set by Max Verstappen. The result also propelled Antonelli into the lead of the drivers’ championship, ahead of team-mate Russell.

Further back, Pierre Gasly delivered an impressive seventh-place finish for Alpine, holding off Verstappen, who complained of extremely heavy steering throughout the race. Strategy misfortune cost Esteban Ocon, Arvid Lindblad and Isack Hadjar, all of whom pitted before the safety car and dropped out of contention. Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto initially inherited points-paying positions, though Bortoleto fell back, allowing Ocon to recover 10th.

Aside from Bearman, the only retirement was Lance Stroll, who stopped with a suspected water pressure issue. It meant at least one Aston Martin reached the finish, with Fernando Alonso classified in 18th. In a race defined by fine margins and one pivotal moment, Antonelli proved ready to seize opportunity – and turn it into history.

‘Lucky Antonelli wins again’;

https://f1i.com/news/562098-japanese-gp-lucky-antonelli-wins-again-takes-championship-lead.html


Kimi Antonelli admits he was ‘very lucky’ to beat Oscar Piastri in Japanese Grand Prix
29 Mar 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Speaking immediately after the race in parc ferme, Antonelli admitted that the safety car was a stroke of luck. He had found it difficult to clear Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc after losing ground. But Antonelli, who was closing on Russell by the time his teammate pitted, says his pace was ‘incredible’ once he had free air.

His eventual winning margin over Piastri was almost 14 seconds, which underlines Mercedes’ lasting advantage over McLaren despite the progress made by the world champions. “I had a terrible start, just need to check what happened,” said Antonelli. “I was lucky with the safety car to be in the lead, but then the pace was just incredible. It was really nice. Second stint, I felt really good with the car. Very pleased with that.”

“We were very lucky with the safety car, but on the medium, we were really strong once I got some free air. On the hand, the pace was just incredible. I don’t know what would have happened, what the outcome would have been, without the safety car, but it definitely made my life a lot easier.”

‘Very lucky’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/kimi-antonelli-admits-he-was-very-lucky-to-beat-oscar-piastri-in-japanese-grand-prix/


Antonelli lucks in for second win and becomes youngest F1 championship leader
2026 Japanese Grand Prix report
29th Mar 2026
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

The Mercedes driver started the race from pole position but fell to sixth place on the first lap as he got off the line slowly. Oscar Piastri shot into the lead from third place. George Russell, who started on the front row but dropped to fourth at the start, easily picked off Lando Norris and Leclerc then closed on Piastri. Russell wasn’t able to make a pass stick on the race leader, However. He ‘yo-yoed’ ahead of Piastri at the end of lap eight but immediately lost the place as the next lap began.

Antonelli also gained ground in the other Mercedes. He shot past Lewis Hamilton on lap two, got Norris two laps later, then also indulged in a yo-yo position swap with Leclerc. McLaren discussed the possibility of an early pit stop with Piastri, then brought fifth-placed Norris in first on lap 17. Ferrari followed suit with Leclerc the next time by, then McLaren summoned the race leader in. Piastri quickly picked off Max Verstappen after he rejoined the track. Russell, who had warned Mercedes of the risks of running too long, entered the pit lane three laps after Piastri did, handing the lead to Antonelli.

Soon after Russell rejoined the track behind Piastri, the yellow flags appeared. Oliver Bearman had crashed heavily at Spoon curve trying to pass Franco Colapinto, prompting an appearance by the Safety Car. This was disastrous timing for those who had already pitted and a gift for those who hadn’t, led by Antonelli. He pitted, followed by second-placed Hamilton, and rejoined in the lead. “Unbelievable,” fumed Russell. The restart played out similarly to the one in Shanghai two weeks ago. While Antonelli made good his escape, Russell lost out to both the Ferrari drivers.

‘“Unbelievable,” fumed Russell’;

https://www.racefans.net/2026/03/29/antonelli-lucks-in-for-second-win-and-becomes-youngest-f1-championship-leader/


Kimi Antonelli seizes F1 title lead with dominant Japanese GP display
29 Mar 2026
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Andrea Kimi Antonelli overcame another poor Mercedes start to take a commanding win of the Japanese Grand Prix, giving him the lead of the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship. The Italian dropped to sixth at the start, with Oscar Piastri – finally taking his first race start of the year – taking the lead.

But a mid-race Safety Car, sparked by a huge accident for Oliver Bearman, enabled Antonelli to take a cheap pit stop, seeing him maintain a lead he would hold until the flag. Charles Leclerc finished third after an exciting late-race battle with George Russell, who becomes the first Mercedes driver to not score a podium finish this year.

For Antonelli, it was another new record, as his victory saw him become the first teenager to ever lead the World Championship, and taking the 125th victory for Mercedes in its modern era.

‘Kimi Antonelli seizes F1 title lead’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/03/29/kimi-antonelli-seizes-f1-title-lead-with-japanese-gp-win/

[Fortitude]

Oscar Piastri: ‘We did everything right and still got beaten by 15 seconds’.
Piastri described the weekend as one of his best in Formula 1, crediting strong preparation across practice and qualifying as the foundation for McLaren’s result.
29 Mar 2026
Media
F1 Chronicle

• Oscar Piastri finished second at the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, leading the race from the start before the Safety Car handed the advantage back to Kimi Antonelli.
• The Australian said he came away from Suzuka believing Mercedes are beatable, but was clear-eyed that a significant performance gap to the championship leader remains.
Second place at Suzuka was, by Oscar Piastri‘s own assessment, as close to a perfect weekend as McLaren could have produced.

The result still came up short, and he made no attempt to dress it up otherwise. From the front, Piastri was able to pull away from George Russell before the pit stops, a detail he returned to more than once as evidence of McLaren’s genuine competitiveness. When asked which aspect of the car’s performance pleased him most across the weekend, he was thorough.

“I’m not sure there was one that I was massively pleased with, but I think, clearly, we did a good job at the start today. I think this weekend we just did a really good job of optimising what we had, and I think from practice we were in a good window with the car in FP2 and we managed to get it back in that window for qualifying. We had a really good understanding of what we wanted from the power unit and how we had to kind of dial it in for the qualifying grip level.”

‘Close to a perfect weekend as McLaren could have produced’;

https://f1chronicle.com/oscar-piastri-we-did-everything-right-and-still-got-beaten-by-15-seconds/?nowprocket=1


Jacques Villeneuve blasts McLaren for making strategy error with ‘flying’ Oscar Piastri
29 Mar 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Jacques Villeneuve was not a fan of how McLaren squandered the brilliant start Oscar Piastri made to the Japanese Grand Prix. Jacques Villeneuve questions why McLaren didn’t learn from Lando Norris pitstop. Jacques Villeneuve spoke on the F1 post-race show about the success McLaren had during the Japanese Grand Prix, and where exactly they went wrong.

More than the ill-timed safety car, Villeneuve questioned why McLaren chose to pit Oscar Piastri when they saw Lando Norris struggling on the hard tyres early on. “Yes, and it looked like Piastri could have stayed ahead in front. They were managing their batteries in different areas on the track. It doesn’t look like the Mercedes way was the right way in the race. It was good to do lap times, because once he was alone, he was flying, but not in a battle, not in the field.”

“So, the McLaren could have stayed ahead. What I did not understand is why pitting Piastri after having pitted Norris, the team should have realised that the new tyres didn’t work for two or three laps. So why don’t you read what’s already happened and wait an extra two or three laps because the undercut did not work. There was no point pitting first.”

‘Jacques Villeneuve blasts McLaren’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jacques-villeneuve-blasts-mclaren-for-making-strategy-error-with-flying-oscar-piastri/


Heartbreak for Oscar Piastri as surprise Suzuka win slips away
29 Mar 2026
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Oscar Piastri believes McLaren’s disappointment at finishing second in Japan shows just how far the team has come, even if he did miss out on the victory. “It would have been really interesting to see what would have happened without that [the Safety Car],” he told 1996 world champion Damon Hill during the post-race parc ferme interviews.

“I thought I could keep George behind. And just before the stops we were actually pulling away a little bit again. So, yeah, a shame that we never got to see what would have happened. I think for us at this point to be disappointed about finishing second is a pretty good place to be,” Piastri continued.

“So yeah, massive thanks to the team. I think we did a really good job of executing with what we had. I think we clearly still need to find a bit of performance. But we took every opportunity we had.”

‘Heartbreak’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/oscar-piastri-japanese-gp-stolen-lost-win


Oscar Piastri gets 'robbed' of F1 win at Japanese Grand Prix - but still calls it one of the best races of his career
McLaren driver started a Grand Prix for the first time in 2026
30 Mar 2026
MICHAEL PONTICELLO FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA and IAN CHADBAND FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
MailOnline

Despite missing out on a first win of the 2026 season at the Japanese Grand Prix, Aussie F1 star Oscar Piastri is ecstatic with his second-place finish at Suzuka. The McLaren driver crossed the line 13.7 seconds behind Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli, with an ill-timed safety car ruining his chances of taking the chequered flag.

It's still a major step forward for the Melburnian, who crashed out of his home grand prix before it even began, then failed to start the main race in China due to mechanical problems. After completing a rocket start from third on the grid, Piastri overtook both George Russell and Antonelli to lead the race in Suzuka, until he came into the pits on lap 19.

Piastri was off the race track for about 23 seconds, with McLaren producing a quick 2.4-second pit stop. Unfortunately for the Aussie, when British driver Oliver Bearman crashed a few laps later, Antonelli was able to pit and lose around 10 seconds less than Piastri did thanks to the safety car being deployed.

'Robbed';

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-15689727/Oscar-Piastri-gets-robbed-F1-win-Japanese-Grand-Prix-calls-one-best-races-career.html


Piastri: Mercedes beatable – but we still have a ‘pretty big gap to fill’
29/03/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Speaking to reporters after the race, the McLaren charger speculated how his race would have unfolded with the Safety Car. “I would have loved to have seen how it would have panned out,” he said. “I think you know I need to look back and see how you know whether Kimi was quicker than George or similar pace. I think if he was the same pace as George then it would have been a pretty stressful afternoon.”

“I probably would have had both of them right on my gearbox but yeah I mean I think once Kimi had clean air clearly he was a lot faster than me so I’m not sure we would have won the race but I certainly would have loved to have found out.” “Yes,” he said when asked if Mercedes were beatable this year. “I think we know from last year that even when you have the best car you still need to operate it at an incredibly high level.”

“I think today on our side we did a really good job of that but I think it’s yeah it’s interesting to see you know when someone else has the fastest car that it’s not that straightforward. The fact that I could keep George behind for so long was really encouraging but you know we’re under no illusion we did everything right this weekend and we still got beaten by 15 seconds. So, we’ve got a pretty big gap to fill, I’m confident that we can get there but yeah we’ve still got some work to do.”

‘Piastri: Mercedes beatable’;

https://f1i.com/news/562125-piastri-mercedes-beatable-but-we-still-have-a-pretty-big-gap-to-fill.html


Toto Wolff says McLaren have finally ‘understood’ how to fight Mercedes after Oscar Piastri podium
29 Mar 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Toto Wolff says Mercedes are losing the advantage of their works status in their F1 battle with McLaren. Oscar Piastri challenged for the win at the Japanese Grand Prix before finishing second. Toto Wolff says McLaren have worked out how to optimise Mercedes power unit. No Mercedes one-two in Japan! Oscar Piastri takes second, with Charles Leclerc third.

Toto Wolff says McLaren are starting to understand how they can nullify that advantage. “Andrea said at the beginning of the season that as a works team, you have a little bit of an advantage,” Wolff told Sky Sports F1. “The other teams are catching up, how to harvest, how to deploy the energy. You could see today, we couldn’t get past the McLarens because they understood, and also the Ferraris had the right strategy in energy deployment. I think it’s good to watch.”

‘Toto Wolff says McLaren have finally understood’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/toto-wolff-says-mclaren-have-finally-understood-how-to-fight-mercedes-after-oscar-piastri-podium/


Oscar Piastri delivers ‘beatable’ Mercedes verdict after F1 Japanese GP
29 Mar 2026
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

Mercedes are ‘beatable’ says Oscar Piastri after F1 Japanese GP. The W17 has arguably been the benchmark for the field so far. That said, the Japanese GP did end a particular streak for the Silver Arrows. Russell and Antonelli had scored consecutive one-twos in Australia and China until Piastri ended that run on Sunday.

The McLaren driver is “confident” his team can out-develop its rivals throughout 2026 and catch up to the German marque on track. “Yes,” Piastri replied when asked if he feels Mercedes were beatable this year.

‘Beatable’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/03/29/oscar-piastri-delivers-beatable-mercedes-verdict-after-f1-japanese-gp/

[Fortitude]

‘Finally see what you mean’: How Piastri one-liner and sickening smash exposed F1 flaw.
The speed delta was suddenly a monstrous 50 kilometres per hour — enormous for two drivers at full throttle.
30 Mar 2026
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports
Fox Sports (Australia)

A sickening crash at the Japanese Grand Prix for Oliver Bearman, who limped away from his smashed-up Haas having sustained a 50 g impact, has added further heat to F1’s new regulations over safety concerns. Bearman left the road at 308 kilometres per hour attempting to avoid what would have been an aeroplane accident with Franco Colapinto.

The Briton was chasing the Argentine for 17th place out of the hairpin. As he rounded turn 12, Colapinto’s rear lights flashed red twice, signifying he was out of battery. Bearman, meanwhile, was holding down his boost button. The speed delta was suddenly a monstrous 50 kilometres per hour — enormous for two drivers at full throttle. Bearman swung left in equal parts to try to make a move and to avoid a crash, but he ended up on the grass, where he lost control of the car and triggered the smash.

In Australia, Charles Leclerc infamously declared that the large speed differentials were akin to deploying the “mushroom” in iconic video game Mario Kart. Watching the Bearman crash in the Japan cooldown room, Oscar Piastri was reminded of his words. “I finally see what you mean now about the mushroom,” Piastri said to Leclerc. “It’s pretty accurate.”

‘Finally see what you mean’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/f1-2026-japanese-grand-prix-oscar-piastri-cooldown-room-comment-and-ollie-bearman-suzuka-crash-expose-rules-flaw-video/news-story/89eb0b1b97373ce85c1cbc4cbdc2e209


Piastri sees no easy fix for high closing speeds between F1 cars
30th Mar 2026
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Oscar Piastri foresees difficulty for the FIA in finding a way to prevent the potentially dangerous closing speeds between Formula 1 cars which led to Oliver Bearman’s crash yesterday. “We’ve spoken about that being a possibility since these cars were conceptualised,” said Piastri. F1’s current engine regulations were approved in 2022 and are due to remain in force until at least 2030.

“It’s what we’re stuck with, with the power units,” Oscar Piastri said. “There’s no easy way of getting around it.” He pointed out footage of the crash suggested Colapinto’s car was not ‘super-clipping’ at the time. From what I saw there was no flashing light from Colapinto [on the back of his car], so I don’t even think he was super-clipping either, which is obviously a bit of a concern,” said Piastri.

“I had a pretty close call in free practice with Nico [Hulkenberg] because he caught me about three times as quickly as I expected on the straight, and we were both at full throttle. I think there’s clearly an element of learning for us as drivers, and where the accident happened it’s not a place where you expect someone to come from so far behind and have such a big speed difference. And whilst we’re learning that, unfortunately things like this are probably going to happen, which is a shame.”

‘Dangerous closing speeds’;

https://www.racefans.net/2026/03/30/piastri-sees-no-easy-fix-for-high-closing-speeds-between-f1-cars/


F1 must find answers to safety crisis after Oliver Bearman’s escape but there are no easy fixes
Teams have five weeks before the next race in Miami and they will need every minute to fix a hugely complicated problem
30 Mar 2026
Giles Richards
The Irish Times

Oliver Bearman’s Haas car was travelling at 307km/h (191mp/h) when he was forced to veer off track as he came up behind the relatively slow-moving Alpine of Franco Colapinto. The closing speed between the two cars was 50km/h, a frightening pace. The scenario was one many had been warning about before the season had even begun. With the deployment of electrical energy, and its subsequent recovery now an integral part of F1, Bearman was using his boost mode while Colapinto was recovering energy, hence the big difference in speed.

There was no underhand behaviour. Colapinto was on a defensive line as they came round the right-hand curve toward Spoon corner, but he did not cut across. Bearman simply came up on him so fast he had to swerve off the track to avoid hitting him. He did so and then piled into the barriers with a 50G impact from which he remarkably emerged with only some bruising, although his car was in pieces.

Equally, as the Williams driver Carlos Sainz said, it was lucky it happened at Suzuka where there was wide space and run-off for Bearman to take to before he hit the barriers. What, Sainz wondered, would have been the result on high-speed circuits such as Baku, Singapore or Las Vegas, where walls that are feet away, rather than grass and gravel, delineate the track.

‘Andrea Stella: “I don’t think a simple solution exists”’;

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/2026/03/30/f1-must-find-answers-to-safety-crisis-after-oliver-bearmans-escape-but-there-are-no-easy-fixes/


Carlos Sainz Leads F1 Drivers' Call For Safety Changes After Oliver Bearman's Japanese GP Crash
29 Mar 2026
Agence-France Presse
NDTV.com

Formula 1 drivers called for changes to protect their safety after Haas's Ollie Bearman slammed into a barrier at high speed at Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix. Williams driver Carlos Sainz called on racing authorities to make sure there was no repeat of the incident.

"As drivers, we have been extremely vocal that the problem is not only qualifying, it's also racing, and we were warning this type of accident was always going to happen," said the Spaniard. "Here we were lucky there was an escape road -- now imagine going to Baku, Singapore, Las Vegas and having this type of closing speeds, crashes next to the walls."

‘Make sure there was no repeat of the incident’;

https://sports.ndtv.com/formula-1/carlos-sainz-leads-f1-drivers-call-for-safety-changes-after-oliver-bearmans-japanese-gp-crash-11282241


F1 must listen to drivers not just teams over safety concerns - Sainz
29 Mar 2026
JOSH SUTTILL, SCOTT MITCHELL-MALM, JON NOBLE
The Race

Grand Prix Drivers’ Association director Carlos Sainz says he’s surprised fixing qualifying is F1’s main priority rather than addressing drivers’ concerns about the racing too. “That’s why I was so surprised when they said ‘no, we will sort out qualifying and leave the racing alone because it's exciting',” Sainz added. “As drivers, we've been extremely vocal that the problem is not only qualifying, it's also racing.”

“Here we were lucky there was an escape road. Now imagine going to Baku or going to Singapore or going to Vegas and having these kind of closing speeds and crashes next to the walls. I, or we as GPDA, we've warned the FIA these actions are going to happen a lot with this set of regulations and we need to change something soon if we don't want them to happen.

“It was 50G I heard, higher than my crash in Russia in 2015, I was 46G. Just in my mind what kind of crash would you have in Vegas, Baku, etc? I hope it serves as an example…to the teams and people that said the racing was OK, because the racing is not OK.”

‘Mushroom mode causing problems’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-must-listen-to-drivers-not-just-teams-over-safety-concerns-sainz/


Liam Lawson reveals major safety issue with 2026 F1 regulations
23 Mar 2026
Tiana Soans
Motorsport Week

The difference in speed on track can sometimes leave drivers with a limited opportunity to react, resulting in a collision. Whilst this is yet to happen this season, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson warns that avoiding contact is incredibly difficult and extremely dangerous. Despite this, Liam Lawson believes teams will continue to do their own thing until the FIA steps in.

“I mean, at the moment, it’s sort of very inconsistent,” Liam Lawson highlighted “We’re doing lot. We obviously make our own decisions on when we charge and deploy, and it’s quite different between teams and engines. So, yeah, it obviously depends on what the FIA decide to do. But right now, there are a lot of differences that we have to be quite careful of. Because you can be having quite a good run on a car, and all of a sudden they start charging, and you’re right behind them with SLM open.”

It’s not a lot you can do to avoid them.” Lawson’s gripe with the new cars is yet another driver adding their name to the growing list on the grid that are unhappy with the new technical regulations. The drivers will be waiting for the data gathered by the FIA and the next steps as F1’s most political issue continues to divide the grid.


‘Major safety issue’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/03/23/liam-lawson-reveals-major-safety-issue-with-2026-f1-regulations/


Ecclestone Predicts Crash As Fears Over New Regs Grow
12 Mar 2026
GrandPrix.com

Bernie Ecclestone has warned that Formula 1's new regulations will eventually cause a serious accident, joining a growing chorus of voices - from drivers to team principals to former champions - expressing alarm about the safety and sporting character of the 2026 cars. The 95-year-old former F1 supremo told Swiss newspaper Blick he was already convinced after just one race.

"There's going to be a real crash soon. The speed differences during battery charging - braking on the straights - will eventually surprise the driver behind, and then we'll have a big accident”, said Ecclestone. “I just hope I'm wrong this time.”

‘Convinced after just one race’;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/ecclestone-predicts-crash-as-fears-over-new-regs-grow.html

[Fortitude]

Leclerc told “you’ve got balls of steel” after stunning overtake on Russell in Japan.
Charles Leclerc received praise in a rather unusual fashion from his race engineer Bryan Bozzi following his superb overtake on George Russell.
29 Mar 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Charles Leclerc found himself on the wrong side of the timing when the VSC was deployed following Oliver Bearman’s heavy crash, rejoining the track after his stop behind both his team-mate and George Russell.

However, a bold double move around the outside at Turn 1 - first on Lewis Hamilton and then on George Russell, after initially being passed by the latter - earned him high praise from Bozzi.

“You’ve got balls of steel,” was the Italian engineer’s blunt reaction, underlining the brilliance of the move pulled off by the number 16, reminiscent of a similar overtake seen in 2023.

“Balls of steel”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/leclerc-told-youve-got-balls-of-steel-after-stunning-overtake-on-russell-in-japan


Timo Glock urges Ferrari to ‘intervene’ into Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton’s battles
30 Mar 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Timo Glock believes Ferrari need to take action to ensure Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton don’t cost each other in future races. After Charles Leclerc managed to secure P3 at the Japanese Grand Prix, an irate Lewis Hamilton demanded an explanation as to why he experienced power issues that Leclerc didn’t. Lewis Hamilton wasn’t the only one unhappy with Ferrari, as Leclerc wanted to see massive improvement in the SF-26 over the five-week hiatus this season.

“The limit must be clearly there if the team finds itself at a disadvantage. If the two are fighting at the front, getting in each other’s way, and losing places as a result, then the team has to intervene somewhere. Charles Leclerc is still a bit more consistent, but Lewis Hamilton is definitely back where we all want to see him – with confidence and fun racing.” While Ferrari didn’t admonish either driver for their battle after the race, Hamilton possibly getting a new race engineer ahead of the Miami Grand Prix is a sign that they’re addressing the matter internally.

‘Ferrari need to take action’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/timo-glock-urges-ferrari-to-intervene-into-charles-leclerc-and-lewis-hamiltons-battles/


Leclerc outsmarted ‘cheeky’ Mercedes tactics to secure Suzuka podium
29/03/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Reflecting on the early laps, the Ferrari driver noted the difficulty of keeping pace with the leader. “I mean, I was happy then, I was obviously focusing on Oscar,” Leclerc explained in the post-race press conference. Yet, the gap began to stretch almost immediately. But Oscar was very strong, actually, especially in the first lap. In the first lap, I was very surprised by how much he pulled away,” he added.

As the race settled into a rhythmic grind, Leclerc opted for a patient approach, hoping the aerodynamic benefits of clear track would eventually swing the pendulum back toward the Scuderia. “After that, I was just trying to be as close as possible to him, but he had a bit more pace,” he said. “I thought also the free air was making a bit of a difference, so I was just trying to wait for later on in the race, but it didn’t happen.”

‘Leclerc outsmarted ‘cheeky’ Mercedes tactics’;

https://f1i.com/news/562130-leclerc-outsmarts-cheeky-mercedes-tactics-to-secure-suzuka-podium.html


Charles Leclerc says George Russell’s Mercedes engineer was ‘being quite cheeky’ during Japanese GP
29 Mar 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Charles Leclerc revealed that Russell and his engineer intentionally misrepresented their strategy to confuse Ferrari, and while he didn’t fall for it, his lapse near the end almost cost him the race. “They (George and his engineer) were also being quite cheeky. His engineer was telling him things on the radio, my engineer was telling me what his engineer was telling him, but he was doing then the opposite.”

“That put me into quite a bit of pressure at one point. I think they told me, ‘Oh, he’s being told to use everything in the back straight,’ or maybe in the main straight, and he was doing the opposite of that. So, I understood pretty quickly and could defend, but at one point I got surprised in the last corner.”

‘Intentionally misrepresented their strategy’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/charles-leclerc-says-george-russells-mercedes-engineer-was-being-quite-cheeky-during-japanese-gp/


Leclerc: ‘Cannot stand’ new F1 qualifying rules after mistake costs him on straight
28 Mar 2026
Laurence Edmondson
TSN

Charles Leclerc vented his frustration at Formula 1's new rules after a mistake in qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix upset his power unit's energy deployment and cost him dear. "I honestly cannot stand these rules in qualifying," Leclerc said over team radio as he returned to the pits after his lap. "It's a f------ joke. I go faster in corners, I go on throttle earlier, for f---- sake, I lose everything in the straight."

"It's a f------ joke”;

https://www.tsn.ca/motorsports/article/leclerc-cannot-stand-new-f1-qualifying-rules-after-mistake-costs-him-on-straight-n1-48328483/


Charles Leclerc’s latest foul-mouthed rant over Ferrari radio in F1 Japanese GP qualifying
Charles Leclerc vents over team radio as F1 qualifying annoyance continues in Japan.
28 Mar 2026
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Charles Leclerc has once again raged about his Formula 1 qualifying frustrations in a foul-mouthed rant over team radio at the Japanese Grand Prix. stayed pretty calm I would say it [heart rate] was a little bit higher when on the straights you start losing time because you are flat out and that’s where my heart rate goes particularly high,” he explained. “In the corner itself, these are kind of things that happen in Q3, especially with my driving style.”

“I know it happens very often in the past but it pays off more than it hurts, apart from with these cars, where it seems to bite you more than it pays off. I lost a big amount of speed in the straight. Not a huge amount, nothing close to what I had in Shanghai, but still I lost some time compared to my Q2 lap, which is very frustrating and something we will look at and try to understand.”

‘Vents over team radio’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1092340/1/charles-leclercs-latest-foul-mouthed-rant-over-ferrari-radio-japan-f1-qualifying


Charles Leclerc praised for unseen Japanese GP gesture no other driver performed
Leclerc's gesture on the podium in Japan has been applauded.
30 Mar 2026
Jack Kenmare
SPORTbible

Charles Leclerc has received widespread praise following Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix after fan footage emerged of his gesture towards Princess Akiko of Japan. Away from the track, Leclerc showed his class on the Suzuka podium, when he took off his cap and respectfully bowed his head to greet Princess Akiko of Japan.

Akiko, who is the oldest daughter of Prince and Princess Tomohito of Mikasa and the niece of former Prime Minister Taro Aso, was in attendance for the race, just days after making a rare public appearance at the Monaco Rose Ball. Leclerc's gesture towards the princess has been praised by many.

One fan on social media wrote: "He's from Monaco. He knows how to interact with royalty," while another commented: "Such a class person. I hope he can fight for a championship this season.' A third said: "I mean he’s the only one on the podium who has a monarchy in his birth country, makes sense that he knows the etiquette." A fourth wrote: "A true gentlemen. Leclerc is a good dude," and a fifth added: "He's such a prince. What a gentleman."

‘Gesture towards Princess Akiko of Japan’;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/charles-leclerc-f1-japanese-grand-prix-ferrari-798665-20260330

[Fortitude]

George Russell laments 'one thing after another' following Suzuka disaster.
George Russell was not pleased with the series of unfortunate events he endured during the Japanese Grand Prix.
30 Mar 2026
Samuel Coop & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Reflecting on his misfortune, the six-time grand prix winner told media, including RacingNews365: "Obviously, our starts: normal, poor, Safety car, one lap different, and we'd have won the race. So that's still part of racing, but thereafter, everything was just issues after one another."

"I couldn't recharge my battery at the safety car restart, so Lewis just flew by me, and then obviously had the issue later in the race with Charles and the battery, where I just had no speed, and obviously passed me," he said. "So yeah, just one thing after another."

'One thing after another';

https://racingnews365.com/george-russell-laments-one-thing-after-another-following-suzuka-disaster


George Russell details how Safety Car and battery issues derailed Suzuka win chance.
30 Mar 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

George Russell rued a Japanese Grand Prix where he felt that everything which could go wrong, did go wrong for him. “I mean, everything that could go wrong, did go wrong,” said Russell of his race. “Obviously, we both made bad starts. Mine was slightly less bad. Safety Car timing.”

“Restart, I got a harvest limit, which meant I couldn’t recharge my battery, similar to what’s happened to some drivers at their race starts. I had no battery to restart. Lewis passed me, and then faced another battery problem when Charles passed me. So as I said, one lap different, and we’d be having probably a very different conversation.”

‘Derailed’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/george-russell-japanese-gp-safety-car-battery-issues-mercedes


Mercedes reveals software bug behind Russell’s Suzuka setback.
29 Mar 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Mercedes left Suzuka with another victory in hand but also with a clear list of technical lessons to absorb, as Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin dissected a Japanese Grand Prix that delivered both triumph and frustration for the team. George Russell pitted just before the Safety Car was deployed, rejoining behind both Antonelli and Oscar Piastri. The restart then triggered a cascade of issues. “As it happened, he dropped to P3 and lost a further place to Lewis when he hit the harvesting limit too early in the lap and had insufficient battery for the restart.”

What followed was even more unusual — and far more costly. Shovlin revealed that Russell’s sudden loss of power, which allowed Charles Leclerc to sweep past, was caused by a rare software glitch. “He then had another frustrating issue where a bug in the software code, triggered by a button press and a gear shift at the same time, caused the power unit to go into superclip and charge the battery which allowed Charles to pass.” Russell fought back to fourth, but the team acknowledged the sting of a lost podium — and potentially a lost victory — after a weekend where the Briton had shown strong pace.

Looking ahead, Shovlin made clear that Mercedes has work to do. “Clearly there is a lot that we need to work on and understand in the next few weeks. We've made a great start to the season, but our competitors are closing in.” The upcoming break before Miami offers a valuable window. “Happily, we have several areas of improvement and we will make the maximum use of the gap in the calendar to develop in the places where we are not strong enough.”

‘Software bug’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28398


George Russell delivers 'no momentum' verdict after recent painful ordeals.
George Russell has lost control of the F1 drivers' championship battle — but he is not worried.
31 Mar 2026
Samuel Coop & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

George Russell insists there is "no momentum to be carried" into the Miami Grand Prix, as there is now a five-week break beforehand. Despite the loss of points, Russell is not concerned with the situation, given how much racing is left over the remainder of the campaign.

"It's three races down in 22, and, as I said, one lap different, and the victory would have been on my side, and I'm confident of that," the British driver told media, including RacingNews365. "And in China, without the qualifying issue, maybe... You know, I was three-tenths ahead in sprint qualifying, so maybe I could have been on pole there and won that race."

He also highlighted how the lack of Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix also means there is a circuit break in momentum, too, with a "reset" ahead of the trip to Florida. "So it's just how it turns out; that's racing," the 28-year-old said. "There's now a four-week break, so there's no momentum to be carried, reset and go again for the next race."

'No momentum';

https://racingnews365.com/george-russell-delivers-no-momentum-verdict-after-recent-painful-ordeals


British media tear into Russell’s 'miserable afternoon' at Suzuka.
30 Mar 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

The British media have weighed in on George Russell’s poor Suzuka weekend, where he also lost the championship lead to his team-mate.

The Guardian: The Guardian, the very outlet at the centre of the Suzuka weekend controversy after Max Verstappen abruptly brushed off one of its journalists during Thursday’s media session, underlined how Russell now needs to be wary of his team-mate, with Antonelli riding a wave of momentum and confidence.

The Sun: The Sun highlighted the frustration of the British driver, who came into the season as the clear title favourite, and how misfortune has dealt him a cruel blow over the past two races.
Daily Mail: The Daily Mail pointed out how Russell endured a “miserable afternoon” in Suzuka, having hoped to halt his team-mate’s momentum, which instead only continued to build

‘British media’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/british-media-stress-russells-miserable-afternoon-at-suzuka-as-title-lead-slips


Mercedes are being slammed for the video they posted of George Russell & Toto Wolff after Japan …
30 Mar 2026
Adam Conroy
Give Me Sport

Mercedes have been slammed by fans after they released a post-race 'debrief' on their social media, with George Russell and boss Toto Wolff discussing the issues experienced during the race. Having started from second place on the grid, Russell would finish the race at Suzuka in fourth and aired some of his grievances in the debrief video, which fans have labelled as "embarrassing" and a "PR disaster."

The video begins with Russell commenting, "So that was a terrible day," with Wolff in agreement, believing that the problems started in qualifying. This has led fans to call out the Mercedes principal for not fixing the problems prior to the race, with one claiming: "Only conversation required should be on the set-up before qualifying. Cost him [Russell] in qualifying and then in the race."

‘Slammed’;

https://www.givemesport.com/mercedes-slammed-video-posted-george-russell-toto-wolff-japan-gp-f1/

[Fortitude]

Norris reveals how McLaren managed to up its game in Suzuka following a tough start to the season.
McLaren arrived at Suzuka simply relieved to have both cars on the grid after a turbulent build up — and left with a haul of points, a near miss at victory, and a clear sense that their 2026 package is beginning to bite.
29 Mar 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Lando Norris highlighted his launch as a key moment. “I got a great start, and we managed to show a bit more of our competitive pace, especially in clean air.” That pace became more evident as the race unfolded, particularly once he settled into tyre management and began closing on the Ferraris. “I'm pleased with how we managed the tyres and that we managed to pass Lewis in the final laps.”

One of the most encouraging signs for McLaren was the progress in power unit deployment — an area that had previously held them back. Norris made a point of acknowledging it: “We've clearly made significant progress with our power unit deployment, and this track suited our car well.”

With Piastri finishing second and Norris fifth, the team banked a strong result that reflects both performance and resilience. “Second and fifth is a good result, and a sign of the hard work the team is putting in, so thanks to them,” Norris said. “It’s a sign we're heading in the right direction.”

‘2026 package is beginning to bite’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28399


Lando Norris reveals why he struggled more than Oscar Piastri in Japan
Lando Norris on what hampered him at the Japanese Grand Prix.
1 Apr 2026
Lewis Larkam , Adam Cooper
Crash.Net

Lando Norris says getting caught up in dirty air cost him a better finish during Formula 1’s Japanese Grand Prix. “It was a good race from my side,” Norris told media including Crash.net. “Of course, it looks like it maybe could have been better with Oscar finishing second.”

“That's a very good thing for the team. He drove a very good race, and probably deserved to win the race, honestly, if it wasn't for the safety car. So unfortunate from that side, that would have been good to see.”

“I think I was just more in the mess. With Oscar in clean air, the clean air around here was crazy strong. Even when I overtook Lewis at the end, I expected to not really go much quicker and I went like fifth or six tenths quicker quite easily, so it’s crazy how much that helps.”

‘What hampered him’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1092825/1/lando-norris-reveals-why-he-struggled-more-oscar-piastri-japan


Lando Norris questions driver influence as F1 2026 regulation talks loom
30 Mar 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

With crunch talks looming over the F1 2026 regulations, Lando Norris claimed that it “doesn’t matter” what the drivers say. As the sport heads into its April break, Norris was asked by Viaplay what he wants to see change in the regulations, by the time that the Miami Grand Prix comes around.

“There’s no point in saying it, honestly,” he replied. “It doesn’t matter what we say.” Norris was asked why he believes that to be the case. “Because as long as the fans enjoy it, that’s all that matters.” Told by the interviewer that ‘the drivers need to enjoy it was well’, Norris replied: “Clearly not,” laughing as he walked away.

“It doesn’t matter what we say”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-norris-f1-2026-rules-doesnt-matter-what-we-say


Norris slams ‘yo-yo’ racing as drivers lose control
31/03/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Reigning F1 world champion Lando Norris has sounded the alarm over the sport’s new-era power units, painting a picture of a sport slipping out of the drivers’ hands and into the control of unpredictable energy systems. The sophisticated battery deployment of the new-generation power units has become a ghost in the machine, acting with a mind of its own.

“I mean, you have two sides of it,” Norris explained when pressed on necessary rule changes. “From a race point of view, we have more of the safety side, which might have been the cause of today. There’s the racing point of view, and honestly, some of the racing… I didn’t even want to overtake Lewis, it’s just the battery deploys when I don’t want it to deploy, and I can’t control it. So, I overtake him, and then I have no battery, so he just flies past. This is not racing. This yo-yoing, even if he says it’s not.”

‘‘yo-yo’ racing’;

https://f1i.com/news/562300-norris-slams-yo-yo-f1-racing-as-drivers-lose-control.html


McLaren addresses major flaw flagged by Verstappen and Norris under regulation
1 Apr 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has addressed the overtaking flaw highlighted by both Lando Norris and Max Verstappen during the Japanese Grand Prix. What happens on a track like this, where you have three straights one after the other, is that you won’t have enough energy for all three. So you kind of have to pick when you want to attack or defend,” Stella said.

“We saw today that, for instance, when following Ferrari, the right place to attack was between Spoon and the chicane. There, if you press the boost button, you’re going to have an extension of the MGU-K deployment. This will use a lot of your energy and make the speed approaching 130R very high. We’re talking about 340 km/h,” he further explained.

“At 340, 130R is no longer a flat-out corner. So you don’t only lift because you want to recharge; you lift because otherwise you would have a problem from a stability point of view. So lifting in 130R is not only related to energy management, it’s a grip-limited condition. Once you lift, and, for instance, you have not been able to overtake, then if you go back on power, you will have to comply with some regulations that force you to deploy the electrical engine,” he continued.

‘McLaren addresses major flaw’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/mclaren-addresses-major-flaw-flagged-by-verstappen-norris-under-regulation

[Fortitude]

Jacques Villeneuve claims Lewis Hamilton ‘paid the price’ for Ferrari issue he saw in Japanese GP.
Jacques Villeneuve claims Ferrari didn’t exploit ‘race craft’ advantage over Mercedes.
31 Mar 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Jacques Villeneuve spoke on the F1 post-race show after the Japanese Grand Prix, where he questioned why Ferrari weren’t able to deliver against Mercedes. He noted that Ferrari’s cars being racier gives the drivers an advantage which they weren’t able to exploit, primarily due to the lightness of the rear, pointing out how it cost Lewis Hamilton and almost Charles Leclerc as well.

“That car is very racy. The drivers can play with it, they can fight, and it reacts very quickly even to acceleration. So, it gives them a better sense of race craft than the two Mercedes drivers. Because every time the Mercedes got in a fight, the two of them, they would either lose out, or lose an extra position with a car that’s a lot faster, and that’s the odd thing.”

“But we see the Ferrari has got a much lighter rear end. And sometimes they get caught out with that. You could see Leclerc sliding out of the corners more. Lewis, as well, a little bit too much, and he had to pay the price at the end of the race. And that’s a trend we have from the beginning of the season with the Ferrari, and that will carry on. Now, we’re getting on tracks that are very different, less high-speed corners, and it should help them.”

‘Lewis Hamilton paid the price’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jacques-villeneuve-claims-lewis-hamilton-paid-the-price-for-ferrari-issue-he-saw-in-japanese-gp/


Hamilton’s Japanese GP struggle diagnosed by Ferrari in key assessment
30 Mar 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Frederic Vasseur has identified the reason behind Lewis Hamilton’s loss of competitiveness during the final stretch of the Japanese Grand Prix. “What is clear this season is that as soon as you are no longer in overtake mode, you lose a bit of pace, and you end up in a train on track,” Vasseur explained.

“When he lost the one-second gap on the car ahead, it became a bit more difficult. We know that we have a deficit of performance in the straight line and that we have to work on it. But it is what it is,” he concluded.

‘Struggle diagnosed’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/hamiltons-japanese-gp-struggle-diagnosed-by-ferrari-in-key-assessment


Ferrari’s Miami Grand Prix engine update could fix Lewis Hamilton’s ‘severe’ superclipping issue
2 April 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Ferrari set to introduce engine software upgrade at Miami Grand Prix. Paolo Filisetti of Gazetta is reporting that Ferrari are looking to make a software upgrade for the engine ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. This update, which will improve the team’s battery management, charging strategies, and energy deployment, could help address Ferrari’s superclipping concerns.

“In time for Miami, Ferrari will bring a profoundly revised and corrected software in terms of electric charge management, charging strategies and the use of stored energy. Essentially, new algorithms that can give Leclerc and Hamilton the tools to avoid seeing the SF-26’s potential performance severely sacrificed due to superclipping…” Paolo Filisetti of Gazetta added that Ferrari are facing a time crunch ahead of the Miami Grand Prix to get the update ready.

Paolo Filisetti added that work at Maranello is ongoing, as Ferrari staffers are working tirelessly to get it done. “As mentioned, the implementation of new algorithms will therefore be, at the PU level, the only cause for concern is whether the Scuderia will be able to carry out the change in time for Miami. For this reason, Ferrari’s engine department and electronics department are working vigorously to also arrive at an on-track verification of the validity of the new algorithms before the race in Florida.”

‘Lewis Hamilton’s ‘severe’ superclipping issue’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ferraris-miami-grand-prix-engine-update-could-fix-lewis-hamiltons-severe-superclipping-issue/


Christijan Albers thinks Ferrari gave Lewis Hamilton ‘a slap on the wrist’ for ‘funeral’ interview
31 Mar 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

After Lewis Hamilton went on a rant about Ferrari not addressing his battery issues during the Japanese Grand Prix, Christijan Albers expects some repercussions. Hamilton demanded an explanation for his battery issues, especially after seeing Charles Leclerc seemingly not suffer the same fate. This frustration with the possibly preferential treatment could lead to Ferrari intervening between Leclerc and Hamilton.

Speaking on the De Telegraaf F1 podcast, Albers noted that Ferrari are likely to punish Hamilton for his comments, as they would likely face the same issue with the FIA. “I don’t think that’s very strong of him. He’s happy in China, for example, and then we come to Japan, he has an interview, and it feels like conducting a funeral. The coffin is coming…”

“That is clear (Ferrari need to be positive) because at some point you also have to get out of that negative environment. We can keep whining about that battery and all those things. On the other hand, at some point, we can hardly analyse a race anymore. They are getting a slap on the wrist from above. Ferrari naturally have to be careful. They also want to maintain that positivity.”

‘Funeral interview’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/christijan-albers-thinks-ferrari-gave-lewis-hamilton-a-slap-on-the-wrist-for-funeral-interview/


Hamilton questions Ferrari after mysterious power loss costs him Suzuka podium
29 Mar 2026
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Lewis Hamilton has revealed a mysterious power loss cost him a shot at the podium in the closing laps of the Japanese Grand Prix. The Briton wants answers from Ferrari as he doesn’t understand why his SF-26 was lacking power compared to Leclerc’s car.

“I just struggled with power in the race. Some reason I was just down,” he said. “I was in a defense. I was defending the whole time. The guys all around me, just seemed to have more power today.”

“So I need to try and understand why that is the case, whether my engine was down or what. I need to understand that. Somehow, Charles had more power than me today, in the same car. So I need to understand why that is. He did a good job to get to third place. But, yeah, lacking power.”

“Somehow, Charles had more power than me today, in the same car”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-hamilton-power-loss-japan-gp-ferrari-podium


Jolyon Palmer says Kimi Antonelli made Lewis Hamilton look like a ‘backmarker’ in Japan
2 Apr 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Speaking in commentary for F1TV, Palmer said he was reminded of the 2014 season, the start of the turbo/hybrid era. Mercedes won 16 out of 19 races with an average gap of more than 20 seconds to the rest of the field. Jolyon Palmer alarmed by ease of Mercedes’ overtakes in Japan. Antonelli re-passed Hamilton almost immediately at the start of the race, cruising by on the pit straight on lap two with the aid of his battery. “It’s like 2014 again, isn’t it?” Palmer said. “The Mercedes look like they’ve got a second on anyone, the way they are cruising past a car a lap. These are their nearest rivals!”

“They can’t muck around, Russell and Antonelli, because they’re racing each other. It’s like they’re clearing backmarkers at this stage, but it’s just frontrunning positions. They have to do it efficiently, because everytime Russell doesn’t make the move, there’s the risk that Antonelli will make the move and get onto his gearbox.” There is a school of thought that Mercedes are holding back some engine performance to deny their rivals development aids. The ADUO system is available to teams who are more than two percent behind in the engine department.

While this is unlikely to work, the idea that Mercedes have speed in reserve, despite taking every pole position, every win and five out of six possible podiums, is ominous. One alternative motive might be reliability. Rumours in China suggested Mercedes were only at 70% capacity because they aren’t yet sure the power unit can cope with maximum attack. During the first stint of the Japanese GP, it felt as if Mercedes were laying down their authority. But while Antonelli built a commanding 13.7-second lead after the safety car, Russell was unable to pass Leclerc for the final podium place, which offers some hope to the chasing pack.

“It’s like 2014 again, isn’t it?”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jolyon-palmer-says-kimi-antonelli-made-lewis-hamilton-look-like-a-backmarker-in-japan/

[Fortitude]

Gasly held off Verstappen at Suzuka with ‘best car of my career’.
“I think, for now, this is the best car I’ve had in my career, perhaps alongside the 2021 AlphaTauri,” he pondered.
31/03/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

The sparks were flying at Suzuka – and right in the thick of it, Pierre Gasly delivered one of the most defiant drives of the season, fending off none other than Max Verstappen in a frantic duel that left the paddock buzzing. It was a long race, I must say, with a lot of pressure,” Gasly told Canal+. “Early in the race, I was quite comfortable with the mediums. But there have been many safety cars this year, so I knew it was bound to happen at some point.”

“The second part of the race was a bit different. He put huge pressure on me throughout the race, so I really had to focus to try and be as fast as possible – there was no management with those tyres – and make no mistake, because he was very, very close. He managed to stay quite close, so they did a bit better than us on hard tyres. But in the end, we managed to keep him behind and get that seventh place.”

“I think we’ve got a good baseline,” Gasly continued. “I’m quite happy to see that the car has seemed to work well over the first few weekends, we’ve managed to have performance all around. We know our limitations and what we need to work on. But we have one month ahead of us, we’re working on stuff for Miami, so overall it bodes well.”

‘Best car of my career’;

https://f1i.com/news/562331-gasly-held-off-verstappen-at-suzuka-with-best-car-of-my-career.html


Alpine’s 2026 reset delivers as Pierre Gasly leads stunning rise past Red Bull
2 Apr 2026
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

After spending F1 2025 propping up the back of the pack, Alpine has even bested Red Bull at the start of 2026 as Team Enstone eyes a potential fourth-place turnaround. Noises heading into the winter were positive: both Nielsen and racing director Dave Greenwood expressed some confidence that things would look better in ’26, as the A526 project was hitting its performance and weight targets.

Of course, given Alpine finished well adrift of the rest in 2025, 48 points behind the ninth-placed team, almost anything would represent a step forward, but the start to 2026 has vindicated much of the decision-making last year, as Team Enstone has vaulted up the rankings to place fifth overall after the first three rounds. There hasn’t been any luck involved in this either. In fact, Alpine could very well have been fourth if it hadn’t been for Franco Colapinto being knocked down a few spots by Haas’ Esteban Ocon during the Chinese Grand Prix, having put in a storming weekend in Shanghai after a quiet first round in Australia netted Pierre Gasly 10th place.

Given that the aim for this year was merely to close the gap and re-establish itself in the midfield, Briatore’s latest stated aims as of the Chinese Grand Prix suggest Alpine is even outperforming its own expectations. “To finish in front of [Audi], if it is possible [and] close to [Red Bull], if it’s possible!” Briatore said of the team’s mindset for the year. “This is what we’re looking for. We’re looking to be P7, P8, P6, this range, this range of the competition we have. We have the top four teams, they are very, very strong, and after that is all the rest. So fighting to be in front of all the rest.”

‘Alpine’s 2026 reset’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/pierre-gasly-alpine-2026-rise-outpaces-red-bull


Questionable Pierre Gasly decision suddenly starting to make sense
Despite the massive struggles from Alpine in recent Formula 1 seasons, Pierre Gasly was quick to extend his contract into 2028.
22 Mar 2026
Siddharth Bharani-Dharan|
Beyond the Flag (Weblog)

Since joining Alpine for the 2023 Formula 1 season, Pierre Gasly has consistently outperformed his teammates, shining even though Alpine have had one of the slowest cars on the grid. Through the struggles, the French driver still chose to extend his contract by two years this past September.

The French driver’s contract was set to expire at the end of the 2026 season. However, Gasly appeared quite keen to extend his contract through 2028, a decision that many questioned at the time. But perhaps reviewing data on A526 and the Mercedes engine were convincing factors in committing to two more seasons with a struggling team.

Nevertheless, the A526 is quite an improvement over its predecessors. With the Enstone-based team having gotten this regulation set right, the hope is that they can maintain this level and even push themselves forward over the next few seasons of Gasly’s tenure.

‘Questionable Pierre Gasly decision’;

https://beyondtheflag.com/questionable-pierre-gasly-decision-suddenly-starting-make-sense-01km1gjpatmz


Pierre Gasly’s bold aims highlight Alpine’s stunning F1 rebound
Pierre Gasly has set his sights high after a strong start to the 2026 Formula 1 season for Alpine.
4 Apr 2026
Sam Hall , Adam Cooper
Crash.Net

Pierre Gasly has set the ambitious target of mixing it with McLaren and Ferrari at the front of the Formula 1 field with a raft of mid-season updates at Alpine. “I think to me, it’s not going to happen over the course of a month, but I would like to see ourselves after the summer break being a bit more of a player in that group with McLaren and Ferrari,” said Gasly.

“In Japan, the gap was still too big for me to really take part in that fight, but seven seconds over 28 laps, you’re looking at three-fourth tenths, and I think that’s where we need to look at. The car was a bit tricky in the race, I wasn’t as comfortable as in quali. I was struggling a bit in high speed, which we know is a bit of a limitation for us at the moment.”

“So we know what we’ve got to improve, which is good. We know we don’t need to care about the power unit, we get the best of what is out there, and we just need to focus on our chassis and what we do. I think we’ve got a good package, we’ve just got to make it better. I’m just happy because the car seems to work on all types of tracks really, so I think there’s definitely a good boost of confidence,” added Gasly.

‘Ambitious target of mixing it with McLaren and Ferrari’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1092866/1/pierre-gaslys-bold-aims-highlight-alpines-stunning-f1-rebound


Gasly consistency sparking Alpine betting boost
Three races down and Gasly has picked up points in every one this season.
3 April 2026
Formula One - Official Site

Pierre Gasly is currently priced at 25/1 (26.0, +2500) to win a Grand Prix this season, which shows plenty of respect for a man who seems to make the best of chaotic situations, including his victory in the 2020 Italian Grand Prix.

However, Gasly should continue to be of interest in the top six finish market for individual Grand Prix races, while a podium isn’t out of the question at some point and could be worth a speculative bet in races where rain is forecast.

The Sao Paulo Grand Prix is not until November 8, but that could be a date to circle on the calendar with regards to backing Gasly. The Frenchman has picked up points in five of his last six visits, including two podium finishes.

‘Alpine betting boost’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/pierre-gaslys-consistency-sparking-alpine-betting-market-boost.7nr4MhxXd6wpVB9GZUN9gB


Sunday league football team in Stratford-upon-Avon stunned after Formula One star SPONSORS them for the season - as surprise link is revealed
28 March 2026
LEWIS BROWNING, SPORTS REPORTER
MailOnline

A Sunday league football team with a little over 400 followers on social media has been sponsored by Formula One driver Pierre Gasly in a bizarre move. It appears, though, that he has interests away from racing. As of this season, the Frenchman has been sponsoring Stratford-upon-Avon-based weekend league team Shottery United, who play in the Evesham & District Sunday Football League Division Two.

Announcing the news to their 431 followers on Instagram, the club wrote: 'Shottery United FC are proud to announce its new kit, sponsored by Formula 1 Driver Pierre Gasly! 'Thank you Pierre and his team for making this happen and for the continued support.' Fans in the comments were left stunned, with one writing: 'Crazy,' accompanied by two laughing face emojis. 'Play up shottery blues!'

Sam Weaver, who co-runs the club, said: 'Alpine are our local Formula One team and a few of our lads work there in various roles. 'Pierre loves his football and he decided to sponsor us, so we managed to place his name on our new kit.' Gasly also reportedly sends the team video messages and voice notes to offer his support, while he intends to attend a match when he can.

‘Formula 1 Driver Pierre Gasly sponsoring Shottery United’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-15688137/Sunday-league-football-team-Stratford-Avon-stunned-Formula-One-star-SPONSORS-season-surprise-link-revealed.html

[Fortitude]

Verstappen’s ignored 2023 warning as Piastri responds to ‘close call’ – roundup.
Max Verstappen’s 2023 warning about the F1 2026 rules resurfacing as Oscar Piastri responds after a “pretty close call” saw the McLaren driver hit with an official warning from the FIA.
4 Apr 2026
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Saturday’s fast-paced F1 news includes Max Verstappen’s 2023 warning about the F1 2026 rules resurfacing as Oscar Piastri responds after a “pretty close call” saw the McLaren driver hit with an official warning from the FIA.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has been a vocal critic of the F1 2026 rules, warning that his unhappiness with the regulations could drive him away from Formula 1. Sour grapes? Not when he’s been complaining about the regulations for nearly three years. Revisit what Verstappen said about the rules back in the summer of 2023.

‘Close call’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-oscar-piastri-punishment


‘Mushroom mode’ – Max Verstappen weighs in on ‘very dangerous’ Bearman crash
3 Apr 2026
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen says Oliver Bearman’s crash at the Japanese Grand Prix is simply “what you get” when the F1 2026 cars enter “mushroom mode.” Bearman was taken to the medical centre at Suzuka last weekend after a terrifying accident at Spoon Curve.

Verstappen said of Bearman’s accident: “It’s what you get with these things. One guy is completely stuck with no power, basically, and then the other one uses the mushroom mode. It can be 50-60 kilometres difference. Really big.” Asked if he experienced similar incidents with deployment at Suzuka, he added: “I don’t think so. I had a few moments when I boosted past very heavily, but luckily I was already committed to one side.”

Put to him that drivers must reconsider how they approach racing situations given the extreme closing speeds in 2026, Verstappen replied: “Yeah, I know. It can be very dangerous. It looks like moving in the braking zone or moving in general, but it also happens when you have that quick acceleration. You can have a big crash.”

‘Mushroom mode’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-oliver-bearman-crash-reaction


Max Verstappen handed important backing as FIA and F1 face fresh criticism
Max Verstappen's open criticism of the new F1 rules has ruffled feathers inside the paddock, but a crucial ally is standing by his side.
4 Apr 2026
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Not everyone in F1 has welcomed Max Verstappen’s outspoken criticism of the new regulations, but Alex Wurz says he fully understands the four-time world champion's position. "Max is actually one of the best members of the GPDA," Wurz (former F1 driver and current chairperson of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA))said on the Lift and Roast podcast. "He's also clear that he wants to stay, because he truly cares about this sport. He loves it.”

"Within the GPDA, all 22 drivers are members, so in that sense, there's not much disagreement. But our platform is now being used purely to let them speak with one voice, and the rule-makers need to listen to that. The drivers do it because they are athletes, because they are ambitious and want to win. And winning means working hard and giving everything. Whether one says it's enjoyable and another says it's hard work doesn't matter much.”

“They're there because they have talent and want to win — it's the pinnacle of motorsport. These are still the fastest cars." Even so, Wurz made it clear he sides with Verstappen's overall stance. "But I understand Max as well, 100%," the Austrian added. "I've said it before, but we all need to listen to him. I'm on his side. We're only at the beginning, so there's still a lot of discussion. We all need to get used to it, the teams as well. But it will improve."

‘Important backing’;

https://racingnews365.com/max-verstappen-handed-important-backing-as-fia-face-fresh-criticism


F1 journalist apologised to Max Verstappen after his head ‘dropped’ in Japanese GP media pen
30 Mar 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Max Verstappen ‘dropped’ his head when asked about motivation during difficult season. According to The Race, after the Japanese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen had an uncomfortable exchange with yet another reporter. While not as hostile as his previous exchanges, Verstappen visibly showed his disappointment when a local reporter asked him how he keeps his motivation during this difficult portion of his career.

“After being asked for probably the umpteenth time about his motivation post-race, Verstappen’s head briefly dropped. And when the Japanese journalist who asked the question apologised, Verstappen replied: ‘No, it’s a valid question. Every day I wake up, I convince myself again. And I try.'”

‘Verstappen visibly showed his disappointment’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/f1-journalist-apologised-to-max-verstappen-after-his-head-dropped-in-japanese-gp-media-pen/


Max Verstappen sends clear message: 'You don't need to feel sorry for me'
Max Verstappen is not enjoying the new F1 regulations, and his Red Bull is far from competitive. However, he does not want sympathy.
1 Apr 2026
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Max Verstappen insists people need not "feel sorry" for him amid his tortured start to the F1 season, with the four-time drivers' champion yet to finish inside the top five. Three rounds into the campaign, the Dutchman finds himself languishing in ninth in the standings, unfamiliar territory for him.

Not only has the RB22 proven difficult to tame, but Verstappen has also been consistently outspoken over his vehement dislike of the new F1 regulations. His criticisms have been nothing short of abject since pre-season testing, contending that he has not enjoyed a single lap in the new cars.

However, he is adamant that he will "be fine" regardless of what decision he makes in the coming months, with retirement at the end of 2026 seemingly suddenly an option on the table. "But it's a bit sad to be honest that we're even talking about this. It is what it is. You don't need to feel sorry for me. I'll be fine."

‘Not enjoyed a single lap in the new cars’;

https://racingnews365.com/max-verstappen-sends-clear-message-you-dont-need-to-feel-sorry-for-me


Red Bull do not have the budget to fix Max Verstappen’s 2026 car without sacrificing 2027.
Red Bull have not allocated a large enough slice of their cost cap budget to resolve all of the issues with the RB22, without it affecting the development of their 2027 F1 car.
3 Apr 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Max Verstappen called his Red Bull RB22 “undriveable” after qualifying in Japan, as he only came P11 due to his car’s horrendous balance problems. A round earlier, Verstappen called Sprint Qualifying in China a “disaster”, as well, because of Red Bull’s lack of balance in the corners. But Mekies is now facing having to weigh up Red Bull investing in developing a B-spec RB22 or writing off the 2026 campaign already and making 2027 their focus. That is according to SoyMotor, which claims Red Bull view their chassis and aero package as the priorities to fix.

F1 increased the cost cap for the 2026 season, given this season marked the start of a new regulations era with new engine, chassis, aero and tyre rules. The 11 teams can spend up to $215m (£163m) in 2026 on funding their efforts, excluding a few aspects like driver salaries. Driver wages and the wages of the three highest-paid staff members are two of the aspects omitted from the F1 cost cap, along with marketing and hospitality costs. And on top of the cost cap, Red Bull also need to weigh up how much of their wind tunnel time they will use.

Only McLaren (224) and Mercedes (240) are allowed fewer wind tunnel runs in the first half of 2026 than Red Bull (256), as the allocations are based on their final positions in the 2025 constructors’ standings. Alpine, who finished last in the 2025 standings, can enjoy 368 runs.

‘Red Bull RB22 “undriveable”’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/red-bull-do-not-have-the-budget-to-fix-max-verstappens-2026-car-without-sacrificing-2027/

[Fortitude]

Martin Brundle claims driver safety is the FIA’s ‘fourth’ priority after Oliver Bearman crash.
Brundle claimed that the FIA have prioritised the fans, the marshals, and the pitstop crew far more than the drivers.
2 April 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Martin Brundle suggests FIA has not prioritised driver safety with new regulations. Speaking on Sky Sports’ F1 show, Martin Brundle spoke about Oliver Bearman’s crash and how the FIA is going to respond to these concerns. Brundle claimed that the FIA have prioritised the fans, the marshals, and the pitstop crew far more than the drivers.

“It’s a big issue for the FIA. Driver safety is sacrosanct, of course. But I think they’re fourth in line in terms of priorities. The top priority is the fans because they’re paying to be there. They haven’t bought into any element of risk. And they have to be protected. Next up is the marshals, the corner workers, because they’re not being paid to be there, but they assume an element of risk because they’re trackside. Next are the pitstop crew. And finally, the drivers.”

“The cars are pretty safe. Everybody’s health and safety is sacrosanct, but the FIA will now have to make a change for Miami because the drivers have voiced this. It’s very much out there. I would be pretty certain that they’ve put that in writing through the Grand Prix drivers’ association as well. If a car flies into the crowd now and they haven’t done something, shown some due diligence on this, then the FIA will be in for the high jump. They will not have to do something, listen to the drivers and take away some of it…”

‘Driver safety is the FIA’s ‘fourth’ priority’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/martin-brundle-claims-driver-safety-is-the-fias-fourth-priority-after-oliver-bearman-crash/


Brundle EXPOSES The FIA! - His SHOCKING Discovery On The 2026 Cars PROVES It!
Apr 4, 2026
Slipstream Stories and Grid Scope

Martin Brundle just invoked one of the oldest rules in Formula One and aimed it directly at the 2026 cars. Nine words that have ended careers, banned technology, and thrown teams out of Grands Prix are now being applied to a power unit that overrides the driver's own throttle input. The Suzuka incident with Norris and Hamilton was the spark. What Brundle built from it might be the most serious legal challenge the sport has faced in thirty years. Thirty Years of Article 27.1

You Tube Comments [Without Prejudice]
@kdfox2007: This is the first explanation that makes sense to me. If I were an F1 driver right now, I’d refuse to drive. Someone is going to be killed
@ermarch: Bearman owes his life to the fact that it happened on a dry track.
@AG_Nex: Not even is F1 a mario kart joke now, but flat dangerous... it is just a matter of time until someone dies.
@tonyc4950: Everyone makes mistakes but for the FIA to not listen is just arrogance
@LimitPro1: Liberty Media too

@badwolf7777: The FIA have been a disgrace for years, fixing races, fixing championships, obfuscating and letting some car owners bully them.
@BrokenBoomBap: After watching Bearmans crash, I think there will be fatal incident this year.
@UnimatrixOne: Disaster is waiting...
@PetervanGinneken: All very true, but this bit of kit was not developed by any one team. It was done by the FIA.

‘SHOCKING Discovery’;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuRezW7YeWY


Brundle warns FIA must act after Norris ‘uncontrolled’ overtake claim on Hamilton
2 Apr 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, issued a statement at Suzuka, spelling out its plans to evaluate the regulations over April, after Haas’ Oliver Bearman crashed out heavily at Spoon during the race. Bearman had closed in rapidly on a slower-moving Franco Colapinto in the Alpine.

But rather than this incident, it was something else that “really worried” Brundle, the former F1 driver turned Sky F1 pundit, was Norris commenting that he had unwillingly overtaken Hamilton’s Ferrari. “I didn’t even want to overtake Lewis, it’s just about the battery deploys, and I don’t want it to deploy, but I can’t control it. So I overtake him, and then I have no battery, so he just flies past.”

With a section of the drivers having put concerns over F1 2026 into the public domain, Brundle says that the FIA must ensure change for the season resumption in Miami. Speaking on Sky F1’s ‘The F1 Show’ podcast, Brundle said: “One thing that really worried me was Lando Norris sang, ‘I didn’t want to overtake Lewis Hamilton, but my battery decided it did, and then I had nothing to defend with’. “Now, there’s a regulation in Formula 1. It’s been around forever. It’s very simple and far reaching. The driver must drive the car alone and unaided.” Article 27.1.

‘Article 27.1’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-2026-rules-martin-brundle-fia-fix-lando-norris-lewis-hamilton


Martin Brundle is ‘really worried’ about 2026 F1 rules after Lando Norris showed ‘fundamental’ issue
1 April 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

“Some of the overtakes, obviously, were too battery-driven,” he told the F1 Show. “Others, I really enjoyed the action. I enjoyed, once again, seeing the Ferraris pouring into turn one side-by-side, almost touching, really good, clean, hard racing. It’s in there, it’s available if we can just get it right, get the battery, the deployment and all the words we hate actually using sorted out.”

“I’m really pleased I got up early in the morning to watch the race… but overall: good, can do better. The big standout, and the thing that has been done well, is the cars do follow each other much more closely, and the tyres are hanging on, so that’s one big upside if we can sort the batteries out. One thing that really worried me is Lando Norris saying, ‘I didn’t want to overtake Lewis Hamilton, but then my battery decided it did, and then I had nothing to defend with.’

“There’s a regulation in Formula 1 that’s been around forever. It’s very simple and far-reaching. The driver must drive the car alone and unaided. The driver shouldn’t have any surprises from a self-learning car. They’ve got to get rid of that. I’m sure it’s not the work of a moment, but the power delivery must be proportional to what the driver’s doing with the throttle. That’s fundamental.”

‘Martin Brundle is really worried’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/martin-brundle-is-really-worried-about-2026-f1-rules-after-lando-norris-showed-fundamental-issue/


Jos Verstappen hits out at new F1 era: 'Creating chaos but nothing to do with racing'
Jos Verstappen has criticised F1’s regulations, arguing that the new cars prioritise chaotic overtaking over pure racing
28 Mar 2026
Lydia Mee
Motorsport.com

“I was there at the end of January during private test days in Barcelona” Jos Verstappen Sr told De Telegraaf.

“On the one hand, you have huge respect for Red Bull and what they’ve achieved with their own engine. But then Max goes out on track, and you quickly notice that he doesn’t enjoy driving these cars at all. And I completely understand his frustration.”

‘Chaotic overtaking over pure racing’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/jos-verstappen-fires-warning-over-new-f1-era-creating-chaos-but-nothing-to-do-with-racing/10809202/


Verstappen takes fresh swipe at F1 2026 rules during livestream
02 APR 2026
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen's dislike for the 2026 machines and regulations has continued away from the track, with the Dutchman expressing his views during a recent livestream.

As a result, Verstappen has been highly critical of the new 50/50 split between engine and electrical power, continually likening F1 racing to a game of Mario Kart.
Now, the 28-year-old has continued to comment on battery power and ‘Mario Kart’-style elements in 2026 racing during a livestream.

Throughout his online broadcast, Verstappen took many digs at F1, including lines like: "Full push, no lift. You can't do that in F1, though!", and "He used the mushroom button," joking about the overtake and boost buttons used by drivers.formu

‘Mario Kart-style elements’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappen-continues-f1-car-criticism-away-from-the-track


F1's plan for six 2026 rules fixes revealed
2 Apr 2026
JON NOBLE
The Race

Formula 1 stakeholders are gathering for a crunch meeting next week to try to solve the biggest problems with the 2026 rules formula, and The Race understands there are six key solutions in play. The first three races have laid bare the good, the bad, and the ugly of F1's new rules era, and a big push is under way to fix some obvious problems.

Those problems don't include the new yo-yo style of racing, which has prompted love and loathing in equal measure from drivers and fans, as F1 doesn't see it needing any urgent action. But there is paddock consensus that a number of other areas do need urgent attention via rule changes.

So, team technical chiefs, as well as representatives of the engine manufacturers, are to gather with heads of the FIA and F1 on April 9 to discuss tweaks. They hope to agree on a raft of rule changes to come into play before the next race, the Miami Grand Prix on May 3. We’ve learned the three priority areas for the meeting and the potential rule changes that could be brought in.

‘Crunch meeting ‘;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-plan-six-2026-rules-fixes-explained/

[Fortitude]

Liam Lawson airs concern over 'unfortunate' F1 rule change.
Liam Lawson believes F1's new style of qualifying can be "extremely" mentally tough for drivers as they can no longer push flat-out.
3 Apr 2026
Jake Nichol & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Liam Lawson believes F1's new qualifying style is "unfortunate" and "strange." With the new batteries not having enough energy to complete a full lap at usual qualifying speed, drivers are having to adapt their styles over a flying lap, much to their dismay. "It is not like it used to be, it is quite different, quite frustrating in some cases when you're trying to extract everything out of the corners," Lawson told media, including RacingNews365.

"You're finding time through the corners, but you're using more energy, and then you end up being slow trying to find the balance and drive under the limit. It is a strange way of driving. It is unfortunately processing more rules to follow when qualifying, where previously you were flat-out trying to extract everything from the car.”

"Sometimes you will find the time, and feel like you are on the limit, and then you've actually spent more energy by doing that in the corners. It is extremely [tough mentally] because in qualifying, you're trying to go as fast as you can, so it is just about trusting the methods we have and following them."

'Unfortunate F1 rule change’;

https://racingnews365.com/liam-lawson-airs-concern-over-unfortunate-f1-rule-change


Liam Lawson puts ball in FIA court over F1 2026 safety fears
24 Mar 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Liam Lawson said it is over to the FIA to act or hold station, as he raised safety concerns over the new F1 2026 regulations. Reflecting on his near-miss with Franco Colapinto at the start in Melbourne, and experiences that weekend of being around other cars of varying energy status, Lawson said that drivers will continue to raise concerns, and the FIA will respond how it sees fit.

Lawson had a particularly close shave in Melbourne, as Franco Colapinto showed some razor sharp evasive action to miss Lawson’s slow starting Racing Bulls car. “It’s just very complicated,” Lawson said of F1 2026 race starts, as he spoke ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. “You see us sitting there for sort of 10 seconds, trying to start our pre-start procedure, and the starts are very inconsistent.”

“And it’s a new car, but still, it’s very tricky at the moment. We’ll talk about it more anyway. There’s a lot of things that we’re probably talking about now anyway, that haven’t been amazing about the cars. But that’s something that will obviously keep improving.”

‘Ball in FIA court’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-2026-safety-liam-lawson-fia-melbourne-near-miss


Liam Lawson hands FIA rule adjustment blow after Suzuka change
The FIA is aiming to address qualifying issues in meetings this month, with its rule adjustment for the Japanese Grand Prix having failed to deliver the hoped-for results.
5 Apr 2026
Nick Golding & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Asked if the FIA rule changes affected qualifying, Lawson told select media, including RacingNews365: "It's hard to know, because every track is very, very different at the moment. So I haven't driven with the previous settings you’re referring to, so it's very hard for me to tell. But it didn't feel like it."

Across the Japanese Grand Prix, many comparisons were made by fans to Super Formula, an elite Japanese single-seater series. While its machinery has less horsepower than F1, it is renowned for its exceptional cornering speeds—something Lawson described as "very, very high".

Discussing Super Formula at Suzuka, Lawson said: "Yeah, the car here is something special. It's a very fun car to drive—low, comparatively, in horsepower to Formula 1, but the corner speeds are very, very high. My last experience of Super Formula was at this track, and it’s very, very enjoyable. It's still a great track."

‘FIA rule adjustment’;

https://racingnews365.com/liam-lawson-hands-fia-rule-adjustment-blow-after-suzuka-change


Liam Lawson admits he was left “mentally drained” by F1’s new 2026 cars after Japanese GP
31 Mar 2026
Lydia Mee
Motorsport.com

Liam Lawson was left mentally exhausted after the Japanese GP as he explained the intense challenge of adapting to the new regulations. Liam Lawson revealed he was left “mentally drained” following the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix.

“Godd, a little bit mentally drained,” he told F1TV after the race. “It’s very intense this year. You have a lot more that you’re thinking about when you’re driving. So, it was actually quite a tough race.”

‘Left “mentally drained” by F1’s new 2026 cars’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/liam-lawson-admits-he-was-left-mentally-drained-by-f1s-new-2026-cars-after-japanese-gp/10809853/


Liam Lawson reveals 'confusing' moment ahead of 'hardest' race
Two points at least for Liam Lawson that did not seem on the cards early on.
29 Mar 2026
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

From 13th on the grid at the Suzuka, Lawson was helped by the safety car surrounding Oliver Bearman's 50g crash on lap 22 of the 53-lap race that helped him finish ninth and collect a valuable two points for Racing Bulls. Whilst Lance Stroll's lap 10 stoppage in the Chinese GP worked against him a fortnight ago, even though he worked his way back to claim seventh, on this occasion, early race struggles were predominantly ended by the five-lap SC intervention.

Lawson's relatively lowly grid slot, though, and initial midfield struggles were due to changes made to the car coming into the race weekend. "The safety car wasn't ideal in China, and then here [Suzuka], it definitely helped us," said Lawson, speaking to the media, including RacingNews365. "To come away with points is very, very positive.”

"But we definitely struggled at the start. We have to look over how we ended qualifying, with the wing we put on the car. It was not where we expected it to be. It was definitely quite confusing there. And starting the race as well, it was also quite difficult to drive, so we'll look over everything and learn from it going forward."

‘Did not seem on the cards early on’;

https://racingnews365.com/liam-lawson-reveals-confusing-moment-ahead-of-hardest-race


Liam Lawson 'bore brunt' of Helmut Marko treatment before brutal axing
Liam Lawson was discarded by Red Bull after just two races of the 2025 season.
25 Mar 2026
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Throughout his time in F1, Liam Lawson has garnered a reputation as a hard-racer, with Palmer believing that the New Zealander was actually harmed by Marko's no-nonsense approach, something lifted by the Austrian stepping back from his duties ahead of the 2026 season. "I think he was a big presence that could be really hard on young drivers coming through, to the benefit of those who could thrive and become world champion," Palmer told the F1 Nation podcast.

"Liam obviously saw the brunt of that last year, but it did remind me as well about the resilience he's got, and you have to say that he is a tough guy. We've seen it in his wheel-to-wheel battles; he is not afraid to flip the bird to whoever does him wrong in a grand prix, and it also took him a while to get up to speed in the Racing Bulls last year.”

"It wasn't instantaneous, but he got there, had some good drives, and it was the same thing in Melbourne. It could have been really easy for him to say: 'Oh, Lindblad is here and getting all the credit from Australia, but he drove really well in China, getting points in the Sprint and grand prix, and that will settle him down for the year."

‘Helmut Marko treatment’;

https://racingnews365.com/liam-lawson-bore-brunt-of-helmut-marko-treatment-before-brutal-axing

[Fortitude]

F1 urged to make immediate changes following frightening crash.
F1 and the FIA have been urged to make immediate changes to the new regulations for this season following Oliver Bearman's frightening crash during the recent Japanese Grand Prix.
7 Apr 2026
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Oliver Bearman was fortunate to escape with nothing worse than a contusion to his right knee following a 50g impact with a barrier at Sukuka after avoiding running into the back of Franco Colapinto in his Alpine. The incident threw an uncomfortable spotlight on an area of racing that the FIA, in particular, opted to ignore heading into the race in Japan despite repeated warnings from the drivers.

Bearman was caught out by the significant closing-speed difference between himself and Colapinto as they used different energy deployment settings at that moment in the race. The Haas driver was travelling 50 km/h faster than his rival and felt he was not given adequate room on the inside before skating across the grass and into the barrier at high speed.

Post-race, the F1 drivers highlighted the seriousness of the incident and the dangers posed by the new power units in wheel-to-wheel action. F1 fans have also had their say in a RacingNews365 poll, and the overwhelming majority have made it clear that the FIA needs to react swiftly before the next race in Miami in early May to avoid a repeat situation.

‘F1 and the FIA have been urged to make immediate changes’;

https://racingnews365.com/f1-urged-to-make-immediate-changes-following-frightening-crash


Damon Hill says 2026 F1 cars are ‘highly dangerous’ after Oliver Bearman’s Japanese GP crash
30 Mar 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Damon Hill claims ‘safety issue’ with new F1 regulations has been exposed. In response to the FIA’s post on X, where they defended the new regulations and vowed to look into the safety concerns, Damon Hill responded that there is a safety issue at play.

“I think we have a safety issue. Cars suddenly slowing at high speed is highly dangerous.” When informed of Carlos Sainz’s criticism of the new regulations, Hill agreed and noted that these concerns from him and other drivers are completely valid. “I think he’s right to be concerned. Cars unexpectedly slowing on the fastest parts of any circuit is tantamount to being ‘brake tested’. Lights are slightly too late to give enough warning.”

‘Highly dangerous’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/damon-hill-says-2026-f1-cars-are-highly-dangerous-after-oliver-bearmans-japanese-gp-crash/


Martin Brundle questions legality of 2026 F1 cars
8 Apr 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle outlined his displeasure and alarm with the discovery, calling into question the car’s legality, believing the cars are becoming “self-learning” “Now, there’s a regulation in Formula 1, it’s been around for forever, it’s very simple and far-reaching,” he said on The F1 Show. “The driver must drive the car alone and unaided,” Brundle insists.

And article 27.1 of the sporting regulations does indeed mandate that a driver must pilot their vehicle independently, yet the current power units are overriding their input. “I think the problem the drivers have got; one thing that really worried me was Lando Norris saying ‘I didn’t want to overtake Lewis Hamilton, but my battery decided it did, and then I had nothing to defend with’.”

“The drivers shouldn’t have any surprises by a self-learning car. They’ve got to get rid of that. I’m sure it’s not the work of a moment, but the power delivery must be proportional to what the drivers are doing with the throttle. That’s the fundamental. It has to be linear. It’s a big issue for the FIA.”

‘Legality of 2026 F1 cars’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/08/martin-brundle-questions-legality-of-2026-f1-cars/


Marko urges FIA action: ‘The driving aspect needs to come back’
5 Apr 2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Former Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has delivered a blunt warning to Formula 1’s leadership and to the FIA, insisting urgent action is needed to rein in the sport’s increasingly complex regulations in a bid to bring the drivers back to the forefront of the competition.

At the heart of the issue lies the heavy reliance on hybrid systems, with battery deployment and software strategy often overshadowing driver input. For Marko, that balance has tipped too far. "On the chassis side, the deficit is quite large," the Austrian told Kleine Zeitung. "But Red Bull has a tradition of turning things like that around. It’s just all too complicated, and the software plays an overly dominant role."

Marko’s call to action is as direct as it is urgent. "Whether you can correct that within a single season, I don’t know," Marko continued. "Something has to be done, and the driving aspect needs to come back to the forefront. The mood among the drivers is negative. Adjustments need to be made now, and hopefully, the FIA will do everything it can to reduce the role of the battery and place more emphasis on the combustion engine."

‘Blunt warning’;

https://f1i.com/news/562492-marko-urges-fia-action-the-driving-aspect-needs-to-come-back.html


Can F1 navigate its crossroads crisis?
7 Apr 2026
James Phillips and Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Crisis talks are scheduled this week between the FIA and the teams to address the 2026 F1 regulations. These meetings will prove crucial on the long road to securing the sport’s future and moving it away from the constant mocking, meming, and savage takedowns it has endured in the open races of the season.

Why change regulations when all that money is coming in, benefiting a select few, [most importantly you] and politically, you hold all the cards in the sport? And so, what if no one likes the new rules? Shareholders are delighted, and the $5k suits can be worn in the paddock, with the surplus income made can continue to be flaunted while fans pay big bucks to watch a substandard, dreadful and soul-destroying product.

Except, as with all gouging and asset extraction, there comes a point at which this becomes noticeable to the average consumer, and they lose interest. At this point, they stop paying with their wallets, while mocking the increasingly poor attempts by those involved to justify their decisions as the world begins to criticise and distance itself, interest rapidly declining. The wider world knows it’s a terrible choice, and even those responsible know, but they are forced to carry on regardless.

‘Crisis talks’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/07/can-f1-navigate-its-crossroads-crisis/


Lewis Hamilton: F1 drivers “have no voting rights” as FIA “only listening to teams”
F1 drivers are calling for rule changes to the 2026 cars, but FIA only listening to teams so far
29 Mar 2026
Lewis Duncan , Adam Cooper
Crash.Net

Complaints over F1’s new power unit regulations and the energy management required have continued to draw criticism from drivers at the Japanese Grand Prix. These have only been intensified following Ollie Bearman’s crash in Sunday’s race, when he was caught out by a 50km/h speed differential with Franco Colapinto’s Alpine.

While the drivers have been voicing their suggestions and feedback to the FIA, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton shot down suggestions on Sunday that they will hold any real influence. “The drivers don’t have a say,” he told the media, including Crash.net. “We have no power. We’re not on the committee; we have no voting rights.”


Stefano Domenicali has changed his mind about 2026 F1 rules after seeing Oliver Bearman crash
8 April 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Stefano Domenicali and FIA reportedly refused to make changes to 2026 regulations till Hungarian GP. Speaking on the Nailing the Apex podcast, F1 journalist Julianne Cerasoli revealed that she had spoken to Stefano Domenicali and other members of the FIA prior to the Japanese Grand Prix.

Domenicali was reportedly bullish about the new regulations, refusing to make a change as he didn’t see any issues with the racing, and admitting that any changes would come only after the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I was talking to people from teams, and I spoke to Stefano (Domenicali), and spoke to the FIA. And they’re all saying, ‘No, the racing is fine. There are no issues with the racing.”

“We are only going to address qualifying because qualifying is absolutely ridiculous. For racing, we just need people to be more adjusted to the regulations, and all the stuff that you’re seeing that maybe isn’t right. It’s because of that nobody is optimising anything. So let’s wait until Hungary.’ That’s what I was hearing. Now, after what happened with Bearman, I think they will do something for Miami.”

‘Changed his mind’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/stefano-domenicali-has-changed-his-mind-about-2026-f1-rules-after-seeing-oliver-bearman-crash/

[Fortitude]

Esteban Ocon admits F1 career ‘disappointing’ despite win and podiums.
While Esteban Ocon is proud to be a grand prix winner, he made the honest admission that, to his mind, he has not “achieved enough” in the sport.
4 Apr 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

After almost 10 years on the F1 grid, one grand prix victory and a further three podiums does not cut it for Ocon. But, the Frenchman assured that he will keep striving to find the F1 success which he craves. At the F1 2026 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Ocon was asked by PlanetF1.com and other accredited media, whether he thought he would have been World Champion 10 years into his F1 journey.

“Yeah,” he confirmed. “I think it’s fair to say that I’m happy with what I’ve achieved in terms of podiums and wins, and I’m proud of those, but I haven’t achieved enough in F1. I’ve won in every category that I’ve driven in the past, apart from DTM maybe, with my half a year, but from karting to single seater, I’ve won everywhere.”

“And yes, I’ve won one race in F1, but it’s not enough. Out of 180 races, to my standard, it’s disappointing so far. So, I hope that this will change in the near future, but I will work hard for that to change.”

‘Disappointing’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/esteban-ocon-f1-career-disappointing-one-win-not-enough


Haas score again amid Bearman’s 50kph overspeed crash and Ocon’s first point of the season
30 Mar 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Haas endured a turbulent but ultimately rewarding Japanese Grand Prix, marked by Esteban Ocon’s first point of the season and Oliver Bearman’s frightening high speed crash — a violent incident caused by an enormous closing speed that highlighted the challenges of Formula 1’s 2026 regulations. Ocon: “Overall, it was a positive weekend… we got the maximum out of the car.” Ocon’s race was shaped by the Safety Car, which cost him positions he had earned through a strong opening stint. Reflecting on the chaotic afternoon, he began with what mattered most.

“First of all, I'm glad that Ollie is okay.” But the Frenchman also acknowledged the frustration of repeated bad timing. “Unfortunately, though, it has been three out of three races where the Safety Car timing has been bad for us.” He described the ebb and flow of his race: “We had a decent start and it was going okay, then we lost to Gabi and Liam. I managed to overtake Gabi on track, but with Liam it wasn't possible.”

Ocon had hoped to join the thrilling battle unfolding ahead. “There was a nice fight between Max and Pierre ahead, so I would've liked to have been part of that, however, I got stuck behind Liam, so we'll never know if I could've been a part of it or not.” Despite the setbacks, he was satisfied with the team’s execution. “Overall, it was a positive weekend on our side and we got the maximum out of the car in every situation. It could've been a few positions better, but we can't control everything.”

“First of all, I'm glad that Ollie is okay”;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28411


"Nightmare" F1 overtaking aid that 'sends you backwards' criticised
Esteban Ocon has been left frustrated by changes for the 2026 Formula 1 season, describing the boost as a "nightmare" that makes drivers "go backwards".
2 Apr 2026
Sam Hall
Crash.Net

Esteban Ocon has labelled Formula 1’s overtake “boost” system a “nightmare” after struggling to make progress at the Japanese Grand Prix. “Boost usage has been a nightmare, if you use it, you actually go backwards. So we just tried to stay on the baseline and keep pushing.”

F1 and the FIA has so far been focused improving the obvious problems in qualifying, with drivers being forced to lift and coast on what are supposed to be flat-out efforts to achieve the ultimate lap time. For Ocon, the focus of these talks needs to be the racing. He added: “I think it’s better to have bigger capacity in the tank, a bit more like last year.”

“To me, it’s energy hungry all of the time, and you can’t really plan anything, you can’t really try and get a move somewhere while overtaking, and it’s too much on the limit really. So, I think the fixes I understand for the lift and coast in quali, but it’s maybe 1% of the fix. There’s 99% that’s left on the table.”

"Nightmare";

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1092841/1/esteban-ocon-f1-boost-nightmare-and-qualifying-just-1-new-era-problems


Japanese Grand Prix: Race Recap
29 Mar 2026
Haas F1 Team - Official Site

TGR Haas F1 Team finished with Esteban Ocon 10th, while Ollie Bearman retired, at the Japanese Grand Prix, held Sunday at the Suzuka Circuit. Ocon started from 12th place on Pirelli P Zero Yellow medium tires and picked up a spot through the opening lap, before slotting into the top 10 at the expense of Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar. Ocon then passed Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad on lap six for ninth place, before pitting on lap 19 for White hard tires.

Ocon missed out on track position due to the timing of a subsequent safety car phase, allowing rivals to pit at reduced racing speed, and re-emerged P11. Ocon overhauled Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto to return to the top 10 and gave chase to Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, eventually taking the checkered flag in tenth. Ocon’s result ensured TGR Haas F1 Team has finished in the points at each race so far in 2026.

Esteban Ocon: "First of all, I'm glad that Ollie is okay. Unfortunately, though, it has been three out of three races where the safety car timing has been bad for us. We had a decent start and it was going okay, then we lost to Gabi and Liam. I managed to overtake Gabi on track, but with Liam it wasn't possible. There was a nice fight between Max and Pierre ahead, so I would've liked to have been part of that, however, I got stuck behind Liam, so we'll never know if I could've been a part of it or not. Overall, it was a positive weekend on our side and we got the maximum out of the car in every situation. It could've been a few positions better, but we can't control everything."

‘Race Recap’;

https://www.haasf1team.com/news/japanese-grand-prix-race-recap-6


F1 oddity surprise as new unwanted record claimed
There is a major statistical oddity in the F1 record books as a new unwanted record has been claimed.
17 Mar 2026
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Esteban Ocon has claimed ownership of an unwanted F1 record after the Chinese Grand Prix: the most races without a pole position. Ocon has taken the record from a fellow Frenchman of this generation of driver, with Romain Grosjean managing a best of second on the grid from his 181 attempts, this coming at the 2012 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Check out the top 10 below!
Most F1 races without a pole position
F1 oddity surprise as new unwanted record claimed
Driver Number of races Best grid result
Esteban Ocon 182 3rd
Romain Grosjean 181 2nd
Pierre Gasly 180 2nd
Martin Brundle 165 3rd
Johnny Herbert 165 4th
Derek Warwick 164 3rd
Olivier Panis 158 3rd
Eddie Irvine 148 2nd
Eddie Cheever 143 2nd
Alex Albon 132 4th

‘F1 oddity surprise’;

https://racingnews365.com/f1-oddity-surprise-as-new-unwanted-record-claimed

[Fortitude]

FIA reports 'constructive dialogue' in initial F1 rules meeting.
Formula One's governing body reported "constructive dialogue on difficult topics" in an initial meeting of technical experts on Thursday to discuss possible changes to the 2026 regulations.
10 Apr 2026
REUTERS
The Straits Times

The meeting in London was convened by the FIA and brought together representatives of the teams and power unit manufacturers to assess the situation after three races of the sport's new era. "It was generally agreed that although the events to date have provided exciting racing, there was a commitment to making tweaks to some aspects of the regulations in the area of energy management," the FIA said in a statement.

"There was constructive dialogue on difficult topics especially when considering the competitive nature of the stakeholders." Formula One has undergone the biggest change in decades with new chassis and engine rules. The new power units, split roughly 50-50 between electric and combustion power, have brought fresh challenges with drivers having to ease off the throttle early and coast into high-speed corners so the combustion engine can recharge the battery.

The FIA mapped out the schedule leading up to the next race in Miami in May, with a Sporting Regulations meeting on April 15 and another technical session on April 16. There will then be a "high-level meeting with representation from all stakeholders" on April 20 where preferred options proposed by the technical teams will be considered and a consensus sought.

'Constructive dialogue';

https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/fia-reports-constructive-dialogue-in-initial-f1-rules-meeting


FIA, manufacturers open ‘constructive dialogue’ on F1 engine rules
09/04/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

The FIA has laid out a rigorous timeline to ensure these changes are ratified swiftly. A Sporting Regulations meeting is set for April 15 to facilitate necessary technical shifts, followed by a second technical session on April 16 to finalize specific proposals. The process will culminate in a high-level summit on April 20, involving teams, F1 management, and OEM representatives.

The FIA detailed the collaborative spirit of the journey: "As part of the round of collaborative discussions, further meetings are planned over the coming fortnight... A high-level meeting with representation from all stakeholders is scheduled for April 20 where it is anticipated that preferred options jointly proposed by the technical teams will be considered and a consensus sought on the way forward." The governing body concluded by reaffirming the unity of the paddock.

"The 2026 regulations were developed and agreed in close partnership with teams, OEMs, Power Unit Manufacturers, the commercial rights holder and the FIA all at the table. It is in this spirit of collaboration that potential changes are being discussed,” it said. Once a consensus is reached, an e-vote will take place, with the final changes ratified by the World Motor Sport Council, likely in time for the summer stretch.

‘Constructive dialogue’;

https://f1i.com/news/562669-fia-manufacturers-open-constructive-dialogue-on-f1-engine-rules.html


F1's plan for immediate rule tweaks after key summit - what we know
9 Apr 2026
JON NOBLE
The Race

A statement issued by the FIA afterwards made clear that the focus of debate was not about changes to improve the racing, but more about the energy starvation problems that have triggered wider issues. While there is a sense that opinions may not necessarily be aligned in terms of what needs to change and how it should be changed, there does appear to be consensus that some form of action needs to be taken.

The FIA said: “It was generally agreed that although the events to date have provided exciting racing, there was a commitment to making tweaks to some aspects of the regulations in the area of energy management. “There was constructive dialogue on difficult topics especially when considering the competitive nature of the stakeholders.” The FIA has laid out the framework for the process that will now take place before the next race.

A sporting regulations meeting is scheduled for April 15 to discuss any elements that are linked to that section of the rule book that would need to be altered to accommodate revised technical modifications. Then a further session of technical experts has been lined up for the following day, April 16, to follow up discussions from today's initial meeting as well as air any fresh topics that come up as a consequence of further evaluation. After that, team bosses will meet with senior figures from F1 and the FIA on April 20 to evaluate any agreed proposals with a view to getting them voted through the F1 Commission.

‘What we know’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-commits-to-making-2026-rule-changes-after-difficult-talks/


FIA issues statement following urgent meeting on future of 2026 F1 regulations
10 Apr 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

The FIA has issued a statement following the inaugural meeting between the governing body and Formula 1 teams over potential changes to the F1 regulations. F1 has come under fire since the new 2026 regulations were introduced, with claims of artificial racing due to the extreme battery-management requirements of the power units.

Safety concerns about differences in closing speeds across the available power modes then became impossible to ignore following Oliver Bearman’s horror crash at Suzuka. The FIA announced that it would engage in dialogue with the teams as speculation mounted that urgent changes are being considered to improve the racing spectacle, with a particular focus on qualifying.

‘FIA issues statement’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/09/fia-issues-statement-following-urgent-meeting-on-future-of-2026-f1-regulations/


Revealed: What happened in first F1 rule change meeting
The FIA has revealed what went down in the first meeting about F1 rule tweaks for 2026.
09 Apr 2026
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Formula 1's governing body the FIA has revealed what happened in the first round of talks to tweak the much-maligned new 2026 regulations. The first of a series of meetings aimed at deciding potential changes to F1's rules took place on Thursday, with senior technical figures involved in the initial discussion of ideas that could be implemented to address some issues that arose across the opening three race weekends.

In Thursday's meeting the FIA said "constructive dialogue" took place and revealed "it was generally agreed that although the events to date have provided exciting racing, there was a commitment to making tweaks to some aspects of the regulations in the area of energy management."

‘What happened’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1092950/1/revealed-what-happened-first-f1-rule-change-meeting


F1 2026 regulations: FIA confirm 'commitment to making tweaks to some aspects of regulations' after meeting
FIA have revealed their commitment to making 'tweaks' to energy management regulations following a meeting on Thursday; This was the first of the pre-arranged meetings with two more confirmed for April ahead of Miami Grand Prix
10 April 2026
Sky Sports

Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz have been particularly vocal about their disapproval, with the four-time world champion claiming he is considering leaving the sport. Sainz, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, revealed that the drivers held a meeting with the FIA in Suzuka where single-seater director Nicolas Tombazis said changes would be made for the next round in Miami in early May. Carlos Sainz says he's hopeful the FIA will come up with 'better regulations' ahead of Miami after Ollie Bearman suffered a big crash during the Japanese Grand Prix.

"I was so surprised when they said 'we will sort out qualifying and leave the racing alone because it's exciting'. As drivers, we have been extremely vocal that the problem is not only qualifying, but also racing," Sainz said. "We have been warning this kind of accident will always happen. In Suzuka, we were lucky there was an escape road. Imagine going to Baku or Singapore, or Las Vegas and having these kind of closing speeds.”

"As the GPDA, we have warned the FIA these accidents will happen a lot with this set of regulations and we need to change something soon if we don't want it to happen. I hope it serves as an example and the teams listen to the drivers and not so much to the teams and some people that said 'the racing is OK', because the racing is not OK."

‘Nicolas Tombazis said changes would be made for the next round in Miami in early May’;

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13529789/f1-2026-regulations-fia-confirm-commitment-to-making-tweaks-to-some-aspects-of-regulations-after-meeting

[Fortitude]

Reason for Gianpiero Lambiase Red Bull exit revealed: ‘GP has been offered a fortune to go’.
“GP has been offered a fortune to go and that is understandable,” an anonymous insider told the Daily Mail. “Max supports GP fully, seeing his decision as sensible and fair, with no objection whatsoever from his side.”
10 April 2026
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

Red Bull confirmed Lambiase will depart to join McLaren when his current contract with the team ends. The reason for the exit of Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer and Red Bull’s Head of Racing, to join McLaren as Chief Racing Officer, has been revealed as he receives a lucrative financial offer that few in Formula 1 could refuse.

The move reflects Lambiase’s value in the paddock, having guided Verstappen since 2016 from Toro Rosso promotion to four world championships, 71 Grand Prix wins, 48 poles, and 127 podiums as a central part of the Dutchman’s success.

And since the 2022 F1 season, he has been moving increasingly into the executive management roles of his team by first becoming Head of Race Engineering and secondly Head of Racing in 2025, demonstrating Milton Keynes’ confidence in the British-Italian.

‘Fortune to go’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/reason-gianpiero-lambiase-red-bull-exit-revealed/


Max Verstappen's emotional partnership with GP Lambiase: 'Like my brother'
10 Apr 2026
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

With Gianpiero Lambiase joining McLaren no later than 2028, Max Verstappen's key ally is set to leave Red Bull Racing. The two went through a lot together, and became inseparable, they explained multiple times. In 2021, speaking to Viaplay, when he was asked about GP's importance, Verstappen said: "I told him that I only work with him. As soon as he quits, I'll quit too. Yeah."

'Like my brother';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/max-verstappens-emotional-partnership-with-gp-lambiase-like-my-brother


How Gianpiero Lambiase’s McLaren move could cause seismic F1 earthquake
9 Apr 2026
James Phillips and Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

The major talking point is the knock-on effect and implication for F1’s most talked-about figure: Max Verstappen. If Lambiase is indeed defecting to the team that Red Bull lost both titles to last year, Verstappen’s time in the sport could be nearing its end. The right time for Verstappen and Lambiase to divorce Red Bull?

This move is poetic, but in this case, far from elegant. Verstappen has made no secret of his hatred of the 2026 cars, publicly stating he no longer enjoys driving. He has been visibly wrestling with his emotions and conscience during media sessions, dropping his head at points when asked about his future. Given his ventures away from the sport, it does seem that the four-time World Champion is seriously considering a trial separation from F1, speculation rife that his priorities have shifted.

Lambiase’s stock has grown over the last few seasons through his work with Verstappen, and now it seems he is ready for a change of scenery and responsibility. This would not be happening unless Verstappen has indicated his time is up. Verstappen just wants to drive cars, without politics or drama. He lives on anything on four wheels. He has always been honest that F1 is not his sole interest, now evident by his racing team exploits in GT3.

‘Seismic F1 earthquake’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/09/how-lambiase-mclaren-move-could-trigger-verstappen-f1-exit/


Zak Brown shares feelings over shock Gianpiero Lambiase coup
Zak Brown has reacted to McLaren securing the services of Max Verstappen's F1 race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase.
10 April 2026
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has expressed his excitement after the team secured the appointment of Max Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, as chief racing officer for 2028. Writing on X, the American announced: "Happy to share that Gianpiero Lambiase will join the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team as Chief Racing Officer, reporting into Team Principal Andrea Stella, when his contract ends no later than 2028.

"He joins an incredible team under Andrea's leadership, and I'm excited about what we can achieve together." Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay also left for McLaren in senior roles, as chief designer and sporting director, respectively.

The chief racing officer role already exists within McLaren's structure, but has been managed by Stella alongside his team principal duties. Lambiase's appointment is designed to allow Stella to focus more broadly on his principal responsibilities whilst providing strategic leadership of the race team.

‘Expressed his excitement’;

https://racingnews365.com/zak-brown-shares-feelings-over-shock-gianpiero-lambiase-coup


Max Verstappen hit with another senior Red Bull departure after Gianpiero Lambiase’s McLaren move
10 Apr 2026
Marcus Chan
F1 Oversteer

Max Verstappen hit with senior Red Bull departure after Gianpiero Lambiase blow. Following the Lambiase news, it has been reported that another senior Red Bull figure could be on his way out. As reported by Planet F1, Max Verstappen’s number one mechanic, Jon Caller, has decided to leave Red Bull.

It has been claimed that Caller has ‘opted’ to join twin brother Matt in leaving the Milton Keynes-based outfit. He wrote on Instagram: “After an incredible journey that began in 2015, today marks my final day with @redbullracing. What a ride it has been.”

“Being part of this journey has been nothing short of amazing. Thank you to everyone at the team who made it so special. I’m proud to have been part of it. Now I’m excited to begin a new chapter, joining @audif1 team as Chief Mechanic. I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead and to being part of building something new. On to the next chapter.”

‘Max Verstappen’s number one mechanic’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/max-verstappen-hit-with-another-senior-red-bull-departure-after-gianpiero-lambiases-mclaren-move/


Jos Verstappen: ‘We knew about Lambiase move to McLaren'
10/04/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

While the announcement sent ripples through the Formula 1 world, Jos Verstappen made it clear that those closest to the situation had already seen it coming. "We knew for a while and we also knew when it was going to happen," Jos told RaceXpress.

"We have another year and a half to two years to work with him. It's a huge opportunity for him, so we understand. We also told him to do it and grab it with both hands. Beyond that, it's up to Red Bull to replace him. We will see."

The comments paint a picture of a transition handled with pragmatism rather than panic – an acknowledgment of both Lambiase’s value and his ambitions beyond Red Bull.

‘Already seen it coming’;

https://f1i.com/news/562681-jos-verstappen-we-knew-about-lambiase-move-to-mclaren.html


Jos Verstappen provides update on Max’s F1 future after Gianpiero Lambiase exit
Max Verstappen has openly flirted with retiring from F1 due to his feelings over the new regulations. Now that his Red Bull race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is confirmed to be joining McLaren, Jos Verstappen has shared an update on his son's future.
10 Apr 2026
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

"It looks like Formula 1 and the FIA are going to change the regulations after all," Jos Verstappen said to RaceXpress. "What they can do this year will help. But I think everyone, the fans, but also the drivers, are complaining a lot." Max Verstappen has been the most vocal critic of the new F1 rules, decrying his lack of enjoyment and branding the era "anti-racing" amongst other things.

It is not just the 28-year-old who is struggling with the new rules set, with his father also unenthused by what he sees. "As a driver, I don't enjoy it as much either," the two-time podium finisher stated. "Occasionally, I have gone to watch, and then I just turn off the television because it interests me less. It's not the Formula 1 that Formula 1 stands for, where a lot is demanded of the driver.”

"Now it's more of an engineering competition where the driver has to lift a lot, and they can't make the difference as a driver anymore. I think that's a shame for Formula 1. You have to brake late, but then again you can't brake too late. Especially in fast corners, that's where you have to be able to make the difference, like in the first sector in Japan, for example."

‘Update on Max’s F1 future’;

https://racingnews365.com/jos-verstappen-provides-update-on-maxs-f1-future-after-gianpiero-lambiase-exit

[Fortitude]

Todt rewrites Schumacher’s history with shock admission.
Jean Todt, the man who stood as the iron-willed guardian of Ferrari’s secrets for over a decade, has finally broken his silence on two dark chapters of Michael Schumacher’s legacy.
11/04/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Time in Formula 1 has a way of softening edges. Rivalries fade, controversies blur, and legends grow larger than the missteps that once threatened to define them. Nearly two decades after fiercely defending Schumacher, the former Ferrari boss has offered a dramatically revised account – one that cuts against the narrative he once championed from the pit wall.

In 2006, the streets of Monte Carlo produced one of Formula 1’s most infamous qualifying controversies. Schumacher, holding provisional pole, famously “parked” his Ferrari at the tight Rascasse corner… At the time, Todt insisted his driver had simply committed an “honest mistake”. Today, the story has changed. Speaking on Jake Humphrey’s High Performance podcast, Todt openly labeled the move as a deliberate tactical foul that backfired spectacularly. The admission marks a striking reversal from Ferrari’s original stance, which had framed the incident as a simple driver error under pressure.

If Monaco was controversial, the 1997 title decider at Jerez remains seismic. Locked in a championship battle with Jacques Villeneuve, Schumacher made a split-second decision that would echo through motorsport history – turning into his rival as the Canadian attempted an overtake. At the time, Ferrari’s defense was robust. Now, Todt’s tone is markedly different. “He crashed [into] him purposely, but he did it badly,” admitted the former FIA president. “In fact you know, Michael was an amazing guy, every time he lost control, he paid [for] it very expensively.”

‘Two dark chapters of Michael Schumacher’s legacy’;

https://f1i.com/news/562713-todt-rewrites-schumachers-history-with-shock-admission.html


Ex-Ferrari CEO: How I Built Schumacher's ICONIC Era | Jean Todt
Apr 9, 2026
High Performance

Chapters ��
00:00 Intro
00:38 Senna vs Schumacher
08:45 Schumacher’s personality
17:45 THAT ’97 crash
23:24 His greatest race?
24:33 Building a winning team
30:44 Schumacher vs Barrichello
41:29 Bianchi & Senna’s passing
45:31 Road safety
50:02 Quickfire questions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6502af7O3wo


Michael Schumacher cost himself two F1 titles after 'losing control'
Michael Schumacher could have been a nine-time champion if he had not "lost control."
11 Apr 2026
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Former Ferrari boss Jean Todt believes Michael Schumacher lost two F1 world titles after he "lost control" in key moments. The seven-time world champion was not far from controversial moments in his career, with two of the most high-profile being the 1997 title-deciding European Grand Prix and qualifying for the 2006 Monaco GP.

"Slowly we rebuilt the team in 1996, we won three grands prix, and in 1997, we lost the drivers' championship at the last race with the controversial overtaking move on Villeneuve, where Michael made a mistake," Todt told the High Performance Podcast. "I mean, he crashed into him purposely, but he did it badly, and Michael was an amazing guy.”

"But every time he lost control, he paid for it very expensively, as it cost him the championship. Like in 2006 in Monaco qualifying with Alonso, he had to start at the back of the grid, and it cost him the championship. So the two mistakes he made cost him the championship."

“Every time he lost control”;

https://racingnews365.com/michael-schumacher-cost-himself-two-f1-titles-after-losing-control


Jean Todt says people have ‘completely wrong’ perception of ‘shy’ Michael Schumacher
11 April 2026
Marcus Chan
F1 Oversteer

Former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt has claimed that people have the ‘completely wrong’ perception of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher. Schumacher, 57, is one of the best drivers in F1 history, having set countless records and won seven world titles.

Jean Todt says people have the wrong perception of Michael Schumacher. Appearing on the High Performance podcast, Schumacher’s former team boss, Todt, claimed that people have the wrong perception of the F1 legend. The Frenchman, who worked at Ferrari from 1994 to 2009, stated that Schumacher is ‘shy’ and ‘generous’.

When asked if Schumacher is an arrogant person, Todt said: “They’re completely wrong. He’s shy and generous. He hides his shyness by appearing arrogant. You don’t do that to get help; it’s just his personality. We were protecting each other. That’s how a professional relationship turned into a friendship. Michael Schumacher didn’t know how to cheat.”

‘Shy Michael Schumacher’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jean-todt-says-people-have-completely-wrong-perception-of-shy-michael-schumacher/


Michael Schumacher ‘did not know how to cheat’, but did it ‘badly’ – Jean Todt
12 Apr 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

“’97, we lost the Drivers’ Championship at the last race with his controversial overtaking to Villeneuve, where Michael unfortunately did a mistake,” recalled Jean Todt, the Ferrari team boss at the time, as he spoke on the High Performance podcast.

“But probably, the mistake demonstrated a very strong solidarity, because you see the strength of a group of people when things don’t go well. When all goes well, everybody’s friends.” Asked if he was branding that a mistake, Todt clarified: “I mean, he crashed into him purposely. But he did it badly.”

‘Michael Schumacher ‘did not know how to cheat’, but did it ‘badly’ – Jean Todt’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/michael-schumacher-cheating-claims-jean-todt


Ex-Ferrari boss makes stunning Michael Schumacher F1 ‘mistakes’ claim
11 Apr 2026
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Former Ferrari Formula 1 boss and FIA president Jean Todt has made the claim that Michael Schumacher lost two World Championships due to two errors which he has admitted were deliberate. … But Schumacher was also known for a number of high-profile controversies, which many believed were several blots on his copybook. And Todt has now claimed that two of them, that he originally defended, were indeed deliberate acts to sabotage another competitor.

Michael Schumacher Jerez and Monaco incidents put down to ‘just an emotion’. Todt still defended Schumacher however, making the point that it is hard for anyone who is not a racer to understand a driver’s mentality in the midst of battle.

“It was just an emotion,” he said. “That’s why you must be, when you judge somebody in action, you must be very indulgent. It’s easy around the table, to say ‘you should do that’, ‘you should that’. But when you are in the action, you must understand that your brain is reacting differently.”

‘Blots on his copybook’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/11/todt-makes-stunning-schumacher-f1-claim/


Todt admits Schumacher crashed on purpose – but did it really cost him two titles?
11th April 2026
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

In Todt’s revised assessment of both incidents, Schumacher committed two deliberate fouls. Moreover, Todt believes the incidents cost Schumacher a pair of titles on top of the seven he won during his career. Schumacher was pilloried over his Rascassegate stunt. For some, that incident made it harder to view previous Schumacher controversies such as Jerez 1997 and Adelaide 1994 as misjudgements rather than intentional acts.

It is remarkable to see Todt, one of few who defended him at the time, now expressing a totally contrary view. All the more so given the revelation six years ago by Schumacher’s 2006 team mate, Felipe Massa, that the possibility of interfering with the new qualifying format was jokingly discussed within Ferrari prior to the session.

That said, I would hesitate to chalk up either incident as examples of Schumacher costing himself a title. Both were undoubtedly egregious moves, but that alone doesn’t make the numbers add up. Unlike, for example, last year’s obviously comparable situation.

‘Todt’s revised assessment of both incidents’;

https://www.racefans.net/2026/04/11/now-todt-admits-schumacher-crashed-on-purpose-but-did-it-really-cost-him-two-titles/

[Fortitude]

Nico Hulkenberg: My mother’s shock text message revealed Jonathan Wheatley Audi exit.
“I was in the sim that day, and my mom sent me an article while I was looking at my phone. I’m like, ‘Oh, sh*t!'” Nico Hulkenberg.
26 Mar 2026
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

The sudden loss of the team boss hasn’t been a major disruption for Audi, given the continuance of Mattia Binotto as leader of the F1 project – several sources have indicated to PlanetF1.com that friction between Binotto and Wheatley, as well as personal life considerations, fuelled the Englishman into seeking an exit.

“It’s not a setback,” Hulkenberg said of Wheatley’s departure. “An F1 team is made of many people. We need strong people but, with Mattia obviously still a leader, it’s not like we’re without leadership, without structure, and without a plan.”

“So, whilst it has changed unexpectedly, everything else is on target. Everything else on target is as we planned and intended before. So, on the operational side, on a race weekend, I don’t think it’s gonna change too much. Formula 1 teams, and generally Formula 1, are bigger than one person.”

“I’m like, ‘Oh, sh*t!'”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/nico-hulkenberg-wheatley-audi-exit-mother-message-reaction


Nico Hulkenberg appears to confirm Audi rift rumours with ‘fundamental problem’ admission
26 Mar 2026
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

There was also a philosophical acceptance of the issue from the 38-year-old, who seemed to take the view that such problems would be a restriction for the team. “I mean, it’s part of the business. If you look up and down, every team has that,” Hulkenberg said. “And there are sometimes these phases.”

“But if there is a problem, a fundamental problem, with one of the central leaders of the team, then you have to take action. Obviously, here there was a problem. I don’t know the exact details. I haven’t really spoken to him in depth yet.”

“But if there’s an issue, you also need to act and react. Otherwise, that’s no good either. Having said all that, focus goes back to racing, to driving tomorrow. And once this race weekend goes on the way, it’s back to business as usual.”

‘Hulkenberg reveals internal Audi struggles’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/03/26/nico-hulkenberg-confirms-audi-f1-rift-rumours/


‘WE DEFINITELY HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD’ – HULKENBERG RUES ‘FRUSTRATING’ STARTS THAT COST AUDI POINTS
Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto missed out on the opportunity to score points in the Japanese Grand Prix.
2 April 2026
Formula One - Official Site

After qualifying in 13th place, Hulkenberg tumbled down the order on the opening lap and found himself as far back as 19th, leaving him with a considerable battle to take P11 at the chequered flag. “It’s difficult to make progress now still with these cars, with the whole Overtake Mode and energy.”

“It’s been interesting and fun but also frustrating at times when you make a great move but then the next straight, you’re a sitting duck and you get repassed. I think the start was not great but we knew it was something we needed to work on in the team,” he explained.

“For me and Nico, we have been struggling a lot since race one. We are working on it – the team is working hard on that. We just need time to put things in place. We still need to investigate some other things but I think the start was nothing compared to the other problems we had through the race. Let’s keep our heads down and go to the next one.”

‘Hulkenberg rues ‘frustrating’ starts that cost Audi points’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/we-definitely-have-a-lot-of-work-ahead-hulkenberg-rues-frustrating-starts.5QLLnLkOi5Q96JmadcI26L


Why Nico Hulkenberg stands conflicted over 2026 F1 cars
7 Apr 2026
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

Nico Hulkenberg has said he finds Formula 1‘s latest energy management gimmick both “fun” and “frustrating” at the same time. “With the energy stuff, in a way, it’s interesting and fun, but at the same time, it’s also weird and frustrating,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “You do the move, but you’re just; you really have to pick your fights, and it’s so easy to overspend and get a big de-rate and be a sitting duck.”

“Sometimes, the closing speeds are really immense. So I don’t know. The race was probably entertaining on TV, there was probably lots going on, but it’s different. I think with a regular start, there were obviously points on the table, which is disappointing and frustrating,” he explained.

“So, we need to get on top of that. It’s a work in progress and more work on that side, for sure. I know I had a poor start, but I don’t know the particulars, the ins and outs. I need to have a look and speak with the engineers, but it’s obviously a thing.”

‘Stands conflicted’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/07/nico-hulkenberg-reveals-frustration-over-2026-f1-cars/


Hülkenberg on why F1’s hidden struggle is both ‘fun and frustrating’
07/04/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg doesn’t entirely disagree with either driver’s characterization – but the F1 veteran’s take cuts deeper. “With the energy stuff, in a way, it’s interesting and fun, but at the same time, it’s also weird and frustrating,” he said in Suzuka, last time out. “You do the move, but you’re just.”

“You really have to pick your fights, and it’s so easy to overspend and get a big de-rate and be a sitting duck. Sometimes, the closing speeds are really immense. So I don’t know. The race was probably entertaining on TV, there was probably lots going on, but it’s different.” In terms of his personal efforts so far this season with Audi, Hülkenberg has been circling the points but never quite seizing them.

Three races in, his tally remains stubbornly at zero – a frustrating statistic that doesn’t tell the full story. Twice, he’s finished just outside the top 10. Once, he didn’t even start. And at the Japanese Grand Prix, opportunity slipped through his fingers almost immediately after a disastrous getaway.

‘F1’s hidden struggle’;

https://f1i.com/news/562563-hulkenberg-on-why-f1s-hidden-struggle-is-both-fun-and-frustrating.html


The unfortunate Audi failure that cost Nico Hulkenberg €200,000
Nico Hulkenberg saw a healthy bonus cheque disappear during a 16-second Chinese GP pit stop.
9 April 2026
Nick Golding
RacingNews365

An unfortunate Audi equipment failure cost Nico Hulkenberg a €200,000 bonus, based on reports surrounding the terms of his contract with the German manufacturer. According to OE24, the German earns €5 million per season at Audi, the equivalent of £4.3 million. However, he also has a bonus clause in his contract for each point scored.

Hulkenberg is reported to earn an extra €50,000 (roughly £43,000) per point he scores in 2026, with an equipment failure at the Shanghai International Circuit having cost him a possible €200,000 (£174,000) bonus. During the Chinese Grand Prix, the 38-year-old was running comfortably in eighth when he pitted at the end of lap 35, before encountering a 16-second pit stop.

The long stop was caused by a right-rear wheel gun failure, dropping him outside the points. Ultimately, Hulkenberg had to settle for 11th, when finishing in eighth had been a real possibility. It was a hugely unfortunate outcome for Hulkenberg in what was the first grand prix he had been able to start in 2026.

‘16-second pit stop, cost him a possible €200,000 (£174,000) bonus’;

https://racingnews365.com/the-unfortunate-audi-failure-that-cost-nico-hulkenberg-eur200-000

[Fortitude]

Hadjar admits mood at Red Bull is ‘not good’ after tricky start to 2026.
"It’s not good," said Hadjar about the mood. "But everyone’s got their heads down to understand what’s going on. Hopefully the next version of the car really makes an effect. That’s it."
March 31, 2026
Formula One - Official Site

Red Bull find themselves in a midfield battle after another difficult weekend in Japan. The Frenchman endured a frustrating 53-lap race at the Suzuka Circuit that ultimately resulted in a point-less P12 finish, as Red Bull continued their difficult start to the 2026 campaign.

Isack Hadjar started P8 having out-qualified team mate Max Verstappen for the second time this season after the Dutchman failed to reach the final segment of Qualifying.
But he lost several positions over the opening laps having depleted his battery and spent the first stage of the race becoming frustrated behind Arvid Lindblad's Racing Bulls machine.

After finding himself down in P13 after the sole Safety Car period, Hadjar only improved one further position by the chequered flag after a difficult race.
"It was just a really long race. I had a good start and was fighting Pierre [Gasly] just like I wanted to on Lap 1," he said post-race.

‘Next version of the car’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/hadjar-admits-mood-at-red-bull-is-not-good-after-tricky-start-to-2026.6oLyChQXkseqjlTLjN7dyE


Isack Hadjar warns no fix in sight for ‘terrible’ Red Bull RB22
31 Mar 2026
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com

Isack Hadjar said Red Bull’s power unit is not to blame for their underwhelming performance but instead a “terrible” chassis, warning the team has “no lead” on how to fix it. “The only positive right now is that we can drive the car fast, but we have no lead on how we can make a fast one,” he said. “We have a good power unit. Engine’s good. It is just the chassis side is terrible, just slow in the corners.”

‘Terrible chassis’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/red-bull-rb22-chassis-issues-hadjar


What was the main lesson for Red Bull after tough Suzuka race?
Mekies: “We learned a lot more about where our car’s limitations are.”
30 Mar 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Team Principal Laurent Mekies offered a candid assessment of Red Bull’s situation. “Today we learned a lot more about where our car’s current limitations are.” Completing the race distance with both cars was a priority. “It was important for us to get involved in those battles and for both Max and Isack to complete the race distance, so we could continue to gather more data.”

But the work ahead is substantial. “Of course, we have a lot of work to do and we now have a few weeks to try and find some fixes for those limitations.” The deficit to the front is not rooted in a single flaw. “At the moment, what is important is to work on the performance gap to the guys ahead of us. There is not just one area we can pinpoint as being the cause of our difficulties and we need to work on all areas.” Despite the tough weekend, Mekies remains confident. “It feels bad now, but I have full confidence in the Team.”

The break will be used aggressively. “During the break, we are going to take a deep dive into our data, and take it to our simulator. We won’t have solved everything by the next race, but the Team will do the heavy lifting and get to the bottom of our difficulties.” And he closed with a message of belief. “I have full confidence that, with everyone giving a massive push in Milton Keynes, we will make the most of the coming weeks to move forward and bring improvements to Miami.”

“I have full confidence in the Team”;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28404


Red Bull drivers handed crucial promise after 'fundamental issues' revealed
Red Bull finds itself several tenths adrift of its normal F1 rivals, frustrating Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar.
27 Mar 2026
Nick Golding
RacingNews365

Team principal Laurent Mekies conceded that the car is not performing at an adequate level, with problems still needing to be solved, before stressing that the team will get on top of the situation. "We are far off and missing quite a bit of performance," Mekies told Sky DE. "I think you can hear that in the reactions of our drivers as well.”

"So far, we haven’t managed to give them a car they can push with. So we have a number of fundamental issues to resolve on our end. That’s part of the start of the season. Of course, you don’t want to go through a problem-solving phase like this, but it’s part of the process. We need to understand the core of our limitations as soon as possible and take the necessary steps.”

“Today is a bit of a frustrating day because our drivers can’t push, and you can see that on the track as well. But we are confident. It is not the first time we have gone through difficulties to understand our limitations. We have done that in the past as well. We will resolve this quickly and bring performance back."

‘Crucial promise’;

https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-drivers-handed-crucial-promise-after-fundamental-issues-revealed


For the first time in years, Verstappen trails teammate in a head-to-head battle
28 Mar 2026
Kada Sárközi
Tim Kraaij
GPblog.com

For the first time in years, Max Verstappen trails his teammate in their qualifying head-to-head. The Dutchman was beaten by Isack Hadjar and now lags the Frenchman in terms of average gap. In the qualifying duel between Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, it’s still 1-1. Although some count the Australia qualifying as a win for the Frenchman, GPblog never counts technical issues for a driver as a loss in the qualifying or race duel. As a result, Hadjar and Verstappen are still level.

Of the two qualifying sessions where the drivers could be directly compared, Hadjar opened up the bigger gap. In Japan, Hadjar was 0.158s faster than Verstappen. Max was 0.119s quicker than Hadjar in China, which means the Frenchman now leads by an average of 0.020s in their head-to-head qualifying gap, an area where Verstappen hasn’t lost to a teammate since 2018.

‘Head-to-head battle’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/analysis/for-the-first-time-in-years-verstappen-trails-teammate-in-a-head-to-head-battle


Red Bull see five reasons Isack Hadjar is doing better than Liam Lawson as Max Verstappen’s teammate
8 April 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Red Bull believe Isack Hadjar has so far succeeded where Liam Lawson and more have failed as Max Verstappen’s teammate, with his pace and mentality proving to be vital. The Milton Keynes natives promoted Hadjar from their junior team Racing Bulls for the 2026 F1 season in their quest to finally find a driver who can handle the task of sharing the garage with Verstappen. Hadjar is the sixth driver to join Red Bull since Daniel Ricciardo left in 2018.

Red Bull think Isack Hadjar’s speed, mentality and adaptability have made him a successful teammate for Max Verstappen. Hadjar, however, has so far survived the task of sharing the Red Bull garage with Verstappen at the start of F1’s 2026 regulations era. The 21-year-old has already recorded four points to the 28-year-old’s 12 to secure 12th and ninth in the F1 drivers’ standings after three rounds.

James Hinchcliffe believes Hadjar has solved Red Bull’s “second car blues” with his form so far this year, which RacingNews365 also reports has really impressed the Red Bull hierarchy. Red Bull, including team boss Laurent Mekies, really admire how Hadjar has kicked off 2026. Hadjar has impressed Red Bull with his ‘pure speed’, which was already evident with Racing Bulls last year when he reached Q3 16 times over 24 rounds. The Frenchman has also had a ‘very direct’ approach in the garage, and has shown himself to be very ‘motivated’ this year.

‘Five reasons’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/red-bull-see-five-reasons-isack-hadjar-is-doing-better-than-liam-lawson-as-max-verstappens-teammate/


Max Verstappen warned of inner Red Bull threat
Max Verstappen's negative attacks on the F1 technical regulations could have a negative effect for him.
8 Apr 2026
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Max Verstappen has been warned that his oozing of "negativity" about F1's new technical regulations could allow Isack Hadjar to establish a stronghold at Red Bull. Former F1 driver and GP2 champion Jolyon Palmer believes that Verstappen's constant attacks on the regulations could actually hand new team-mate Hadjar a golden opportunity to establish himself within the team after a strong start, including qualifying third in Australia on his team debut.

"He's just not enjoying anything about it; he's not enjoying racing the car, not enjoying driving the cars and the patience, the different tactics and management you need behind the wheel is not what he inherently wants to do," Palmer told the F1 Nation podcast. "The pace of the Red Bull is also not good, so if he does well, he can qualify seventh or eighth, and he just wants to get in the car and drive it the old school way.”

"With these regulations, you need to adapt a lot and do things which drivers won't be used to from behind the wheel, and small techniques make a big difference, and he's not in the right headspace for it. He's still doing a solid job, but if you think about Red Bull, it is a good time for Hadjar. I'm impressed with how he's started, and then you're looking across at the main guy not enjoying things.”

‘Isack Hadjar to establish a stronghold at Red Bull’;

https://racingnews365.com/max-verstappen-warned-of-inner-red-bull-threat

[Fortitude]

Feature: Gabriel Bortoleto and Brazil's long road back to Formula 1.
The drought lasted seven years, save for a couple of stand-in drives… Then Gabriel Bortoleto arrived.
16 Mar 2026
XINHUA
The Star, Kenya

For a country that once treated Formula 1 like a second religion, Brazil's absence from the grid had begun to feel strangely normal. Between the days of Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet, Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa, Brazil regularly churned out F1 champions and race winners. Grand Prix Sundays were national events, as Interlagos became a cathedral of noise and emotion. The idea that the country might one day have no driver on the grid seemed absurd. Yet by 2018, for the first time since 1969, Brazil had disappeared from F1 entirely.

The drought lasted seven years, save for a couple of stand-in drives for Pietro Fittipaldi in 2020. Then Gabriel Bortoleto arrived. “My idol was always Senna," Gabriel Bortoleto said. "Obviously I wasn't lucky enough to watch him race because I was born ten years after he died, but there are so many videos and interviews you can learn from." Like many Brazilian drivers of his generation, his early inspirations came through a mixture of history and proximity. While Senna has long been written into legend, Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa were the drivers he could actually watch, and the examples that made the dream feel real.

"It's a big responsibility," he tells Xinhua. "Brazil has had great drivers in F1. For me it's about starting my career now and hopefully fighting for wins and championships in the future, and making my country proud in a sport where they have been so successful in the past. They were always references," Bortoleto said. "Any Formula One driver is a reference when you're in karting. You look at them and think, they're in the best series available and you want to be like them. Felipe and I have been in touch for a few years. He was very helpful at many moments of my career with advice."

"It's a big responsibility";

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/world/2026-03-16-feature-gabriel-bortoleto-and-brazils-long-road-back-to-formula-1


Why Bortoleto was 'not surprised' by timing of Wheatley's Audi exit
Gabriel Bortoleto has praised the impact of Jonathan Wheatley during his short stay with the Audi Formula 1 team.
26 Mar 2026
Sam Hall, Adam Cooper
Crash.Net

Having worked previously with multiple world champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, the Briton had a keen eye for what makes a successful F1 driver, and had been forthright in his praise of Bortoleto. “Well, he spoke really good things about me, so I’m grateful for that, and I spent good time with him as well when we were on track, and I learned good things,” said the Brazilian.

“It’s still in the very early stages as well. It’s the first race we are going to do that he’s out, but I hope the best for him in his future.” He added: “He was a good team principal within the team. People liked him, he did a very good job in structuring things here, so he was good while it lasted.”

Pressed by Crash.net on any conversations he has shared with Wheatley following the announcement, Bortoleto added: “I haven’t talked much with him, just a little chat after the announcement. As he made public as well, he couldn’t commit to the project because of personal issues, personal things, that obviously, I didn’t go into detail with him exactly what it is. It’s his problem, whatever it is, and I keep it like this.”

‘Praised the impact of Jonathan Wheatley’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1091940/1/why-gabriel-bortoleto-was-not-surprised-timing-jonathan-wheatleys-audi-f1-exit


Bortoleto "not surprised" by Wheatley's departure from Audi F1
26 Mar 2026
Owen Bradley
GPblog.com

Gabriel Bortoleto has commented on Jonathan Wheatley departing Audi F1 as Team Principal, amidst rumours that Wheatley will join Audi rivals, Aston Martin. Bortoleto and Wheatley only shared one full racing season together, but the former Team Principal was full of praise for the Brazilian, which was particularly poignant, given that he has worked with star drivers such as Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel.

Speaking about their professional relationship over 2025-2026, Bortoleto said: "Well, he spoke really good things about me, so I’m grateful for that, and I spent good time with him as well when we were on track, and I learned good things. It’s still in the very early stages as well. It’s the first race we are going to do that he’s out, but I hope the best for him in his future."

"Not surprised";

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/bortoleto-not-surprised-by-wheatleys-departure-from-audi-f1


Gabriel Bortoleto just shared exactly why Aston Martin want his former Audi boss Jonathan Wheatley
26 Mar 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Aston Martin are interested in appointing Jonathan Wheatley as their team principal, and the praise that Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto has just shared in Japan shows why. Bortoleto saw first-hand what Wheatley provided in the role of team principal at Audi, after working together since April 2025. The Briton took charge in Hinwil, Switzerland last year to help reshape Sauber ahead of Audi taking the outfit over to make their debut in F1 in 2026.

Reports began to surface last Thursday suggesting Wheatley has already agreed to become Aston Martin’s new team principal, just 10 months after he joined Audi and just three after Newey added the role to his duties as the Silverstone natives’ managing technical partner. Bortoleto said ahead of the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, via the official F1 website: “He did a very good job last year, and this year as well, I think. Everything was going quite smooth. He put everyone in a good place, [and] we were improving in a lot of areas.”

“I think he brought some positivity to the team. And I think one of the things we always aim inside this team, not only with one person but with everyone, is that we are a team and we do things as a team, so we don’t depend on one person. Whatever he has done last year, whatever he has done this year, it doesn’t depend on one person. It’s going to keep going in this direction, I would say.”

“He put everyone in a good place, [and] we were improving in a lot of areas”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/gabriel-bortoleto-just-shared-exactly-why-aston-martin-want-his-former-audi-boss-jonathan-wheatley/


Bortoleto praises Wheatley, but not ‘surprised’ by Audi exit
26/03/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Gabriel Bortoleto has praised the work done by former Audi team boss Jonathan Wheatley during his brief tenure with the team, but insists he wasn’t surprised by the Briton’s departure. If Bortoleto offered calm acceptance, teammate Nico Hulkenberg delivered something even cooler: indifference.

“It’s not a setback. A Formula 1 team is made of many people. We need strong people but we have, with Mattia, still a leader,” commented the German. "It’s not like we’re without leadership and without structure and without a plan. So whilst it has changed unexpectedly, everything else is on target as we planned and intended before.”

“So on the operations side on a race weekend, I don’t think it is going to change too much. Formula 1 teams are bigger than one person.”

‘Indifference’;

https://f1i.com/news/561722-bortoleto-praises-wheatley-but-not-surprised-by-audi-exit.html


Audi name 'top priority' after 'terrible' driver feedback.
"Starts are certainly not one of our strengths at the moment, and the reason it has not been addressed so far is because it is not an obvious thing to be fixed," Binotto told media, including RacingNews365.
7 Apr 2026
Jake Nichol & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Audi is carrying a big weakness in its package and has not been able to implement changes yet. Implementing a fix during the April break in time for F1's return at the Miami GP, what Binotto called a "top priority" for a team only "reactive" and not proactive. "Starts are certainly not one of our strengths at the moment…”

"But on the other side, it is a top priority for us because we had a good qualifying [in Japan], and you are losing all the positions on the start, so it is not worthwhile. It is good for us that a couple of races have been cancelled because, as a team, we will have more time to reflect on the start of the season.”

"It has been very reactive at the moment because, since winter testing as a brand-new team, there has been so much to learn, fixing reliability problems, and we've had no time to start thinking about developments. So that will be one of the focuses over the next few weeks to be better prepared for Miami."

"Starts are certainly not one of our strengths at the moment”;

https://racingnews365.com/audi-name-top-priority-after-terrible-driver-feedback

[Fortitude]

Arvid Lindblad Red Bull influence reduced: 'He’s him’.
Arvid Lindblad has made an instant impact in Formula 1, despite still being just a teenager.
24 Mar 2026
Nick Golding
RacingNews365

Oliver Rowland, reigning Formula E champion and manager of Arvid Lindblad, has insisted the F1 rookie is "beyond his years" when it comes to maturity. "I mean, it was a dream start in Australia — on the first lap, I had the hairs standing up on the back of my head," Rowland told RacingNews365. "He did a great job. Every time I see him, the guy is maturing beyond his years, and I'm really proud of him, to be honest.”

"Obviously, he just needs to keep his feet on the ground and make sure he doesn't fly off anywhere." Asked who has made Lindblad so mature at such a young age, Rowland explained: "Me or Red Bull, I don't think we have any [influence]. He's him, you know. The day I met him, when he was seven, he was already beyond his years.”

"He's just maintained that delta, to be honest, so I think that's down to him. And yes, the grounding from myself and Red Bull probably helps, because we're focused on trying to mature him, and Red Bull has done an absolutely incredible job with him. But it's mainly down to him, to be honest."

‘Instant impact’;

https://racingnews365.com/arvid-lindblad-beyond-his-years-as-red-bull-star-makes-immediate-f1-impact


Arvid Lindblad compared to Lewis Hamilton by former coach
Arvid Lindblad has begun his Formula 1 career strongly, and has now been compared to Lewis Hamilton by his former coach.
5 Apr 2026
Sam Hall
Crash.Net

Arvid Lindblad has been compared favourably to seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton by a man who coached both drivers, Dino Chiesa. “He learns quickly and is a technical driver, adapting his braking or style to suit different tyres or chassis," Chiesa told The Sun. "He is also very quick in the rain.”

“I would say he is more like Lewis. Nico was very polite and more willing to accept a second-place finish than Lewis or Arvid. Arvid is really aggressive in races; he doesn’t wait or calculate everything. When he reaches another driver, he overtakes immediately. However, because he is clever, he doesn’t get involved in many incidents or big crashes.”

“He will be good for Red Bull, but sometimes he needs to learn to count to ten before he says something because he can be really passionate and maybe say the wrong thing. You have to be polite when you arrive in F1. When you become a Verstappen or Hamilton, you can say what you want, but until then, you have to be more political, and Arvid is no politician.”

“Learns quickly and is a technical driver”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1092873/1/arvid-lindblad-compared-lewis-hamilton-former-coach


Arvid Lindblad stuns Verstappen in Japan Grand Prix
Racing Bulls driver, the only rookie on the 2026 grid, beats Red Bull's Verstappen to the final Q3 spot at Suzuka
28 Mar 2026
Pramod Thomas
EasternEye

For BRITAIN's Arvid Lindblad, it was the latest chapter in a rise through the sport that has been swift by any standard. Born on August 8, 2007, in Virginia Water, Surrey, to a Swedish father and a British Indian mother, he began competitive karting aged five and was signed by the Red Bull junior programme at 13. He spent just one year in each junior category, Italian F4, Formula 3 and Formula 2, before stepping up to Formula One, becoming the fourth-youngest driver in the sport's history.

He is only the third driver of Indian heritage to compete in Formula One, following Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok. At the opening race in Australia, he qualified in the top 10 and finished eighth, briefly moving up to third at the start after battling the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris and Verstappen himself.

Racing Bulls chief executive Peter Bayer said afterwards he was "very impressed" with Lindblad's composure, adding: "The engineers love him. He's very focused. He's a hard worker. He's sitting down learning the whole engine stuff, the switches, the modes. Very, very impressive."

‘A rise through the sport that has been swift by any standard’;

https://www.easterneye.biz/arvid-lindblad-stuns-verstappen-japanese-grand-prix/


Arvid Lindblad earns major fan praise after "standout" Japanese GP qualifying
28 Mar 2026
Lydia Mee Ronald Young
Motorsport.com

Formula 1 fans have applauded Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad after an impressive qualifying session for the Japanese Grand Prix.

‘Major fan praise’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/arvid-lindblad-earns-major-fan-praise-after-standout-japanese-gp-qualifying/10809002/


Arvid Lindblad advised to ‘stay humble’ with F1 career off to ‘amazing’ start
28 Mar 2026
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Arvid Lindblad’s rise has been sensational. After winning races in Formula 3 in 2024, progression to Formula 2 followed, with more wins and FP1 appearances for Red Bull coming next. Perhaps many might question the rapidity of his promotion to the Faenza-based squad’s F1 ranks but is so far meeting the task with speed and maturity.

Ahead of the previous Formula E weekend in Jeddah, amid F1’s pre-season testing programme in Bahrain, Rowland exclusively told Motorsport Week that his obvious talent is why he is devoting plenty of his free time to Lindblad’s progression.

“I wouldn’t spend so much of my time with him if I didn’t think the same,” he said when asked about fellow FE champion Antonio Felix da Costa’s assessment that Lindblad is “the real deal”. “Yeah, he needs to keep his feet on the ground, however. Stay humble, but I agree,” he said.

‘Stay humble’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/03/28/arvid-lindblad-advised-to-stay-humble-with-f1-career-off-to-amazing-start/


F1's only rookie Arvid Lindblad settles in: "Why should there be pressure? I'm living the dream"
10 Apr 2026
Filip Cleeren
Motorsport.com

Hot off the heels of a large 2025 rookie class that featured Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar and Oliver Bearman, who have all managed to establish themselves, Lindblad is the only newcomer this year. But you wouldn’t have figured looking at both his on-track performances and off-track demeanour.

“I'm living the dream";

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1s-only-rookie-arvid-lindblad-settles-in-why-should-there-be-pressure-im-living-the-dream/10811920/

[Fortitude]

Carlos Sainz reveals he could ‘smell’ Williams issues in ‘shocking’ admission.
“I think it’s no secret that it’s been tough, and I could already smell it coming in December, January.” Carlos Sainz.
10 Apr 2026
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Carlos Sainz has revealed that he could “smell” the problems Williams is now facing as early as the end of 2025, admitting the process has been “a shock” for him and the whole team. “I started bracing for the bump, because we already started having these conversations of delays; not arriving at that first test, starting here in the overweight numbers.”

Carlos Sainz ready to face the bump ‘bigger’ than Williams expected. Sainz continued that he was always prepared to face issues, but also admitted that the “bump” the team must overcome is a larger one than it initially realised.

“I said it doesn’t look very promising to start, but, for me, like I said from the beginning of the bump, I knew at some point Williams was going to hit a bump,” he said. “Not all the roads to success are linear. There was always going to be a bump. This bump is big, probably even bigger than what I expected.”

‘Could ‘smell’ Williams issues’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/10/carlos-sainz-admits-to-smelling-williams-problems-early/


Carlos Sainz: Williams investigating after long-term problem ‘flared up again’
7 Apr 2026
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Both Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon have elaborated on a long-running car characteristic at Williams, which Sainz admitted came as a surprise when he joined the team. … car had been experiencing a ‘three-wheeling’ sensation… “Yes, it is actually a comment I gave to the team all the way back in 2025 as soon as I jumped in a Williams,” Carlos Sainz explained.

“It seemed like the Williams had this vehicle dynamic characteristic that, let’s say, surprised me from the first lap I did in Abu Dhabi, and I had to get my head around it at the beginning of the season, drive around it, set the car up around it, and we managed to obviously get it better and develop it over the last year.”

“But as soon as we changed regs and the downforce of the car came down overall with these new regulations, the problem flared up again, and it’s something we are trying to address, investigate. I think, as drivers, we’ve given very clear directions of when it’s happening, how it’s happening, and what we feel when it’s happening. The team is doing everything they can now to try and understand it, to see what’s embedded into the car that might be creating this phenomenon.”

‘Long-term problem, ‘three-wheeling’ sensation, ‘flared up again’!’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/carlos-sainz-williams-car-issue-alex-albon-inside-front-grip


Sainz flags return of old Williams demon in FW48
08/04/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Amid the challenges faced by Williams from the outset this season, Carlos Sainz has noted the return of a long-standing technical flaw that has impacted the Grove-based outfit’s cars in the past. The issue centers on a bizarre vehicle dynamic that creates a terrifying sensation for the drivers. It is a deficiency in inside-front tyre load that effectively makes the car feel as though it is navigating high-speed bends on only three wheels.

The unexpected April hiatus, following the cancellation of rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, has provided a desperate window for analysis. While other teams are focusing on pure performance, Williams is stuck in a race to fix its very foundation. Alex Albon has echoed these worries, noting that while the tyre isn't literally lifting off the tarmac, the lack of a proper contact patch makes the FW48 treacherous to drive, particularly in corners that have historically exposed the team's weaknesses.

‘Bizarre vehicle dynamic’;

https://f1i.com/news/562619-sainz-flags-return-of-old-williams-demon-in-fw48.html


Williams drivers raise concerns over reoccurring historic car flaw
7 Apr 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Carlos Sainz has raised concerns that a historic car flaw is plaguing Williams again in Formula 1 2026, impacting competitiveness on track. Asked if the FW48 is exhibiting the same symptoms at Suzuka, Albon hinted the issue has been “exacerbated”.

“I think lack of inside front grip has been an issue on our car since I’ve been in the car, so that’s nothing new. It’s just that I think some of the issues that we had were exacerbating that problem,” he said to media, including Motorsport Week.

Sainz reveals Williams issues “flaring up again”. Sainz also confirmed the reapparence of the three w… “Yes, it is actually a comment I gave to the team all the way back in 2025 as soon as I jumped in a Williams,” he explained.

‘Historic car flaw is plaguing Williams’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/07/williams-drivers-raise-concerns-over-reoccurring-historic-car-flaw/


Williams plan ‘major’ FW48 upgrade that could save Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz 0.5 seconds every lap
1 Apr 2026, Updated 2 Apr 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Williams intend to make full use of the April break by developing a lighter chassis for the FW48 that Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz can race at the 2026 F1 Miami Grand Prix. Delays with Williams’ FW48 project put the Grove outfit on the back foot in January, as they had to sit out the Barcelona shakedown. While reliability has largely not been an issue since then, the Williams FW48 remained an uncompetitive package in Australia, China and Japan.

Ralf Schumacher has called Williams his “biggest flop” so far in 2026, too, as the team have the so far dominant Mercedes engine but only sit above debutants Audi and Aston Martin in the constructors’ standings. Sainz’s P9 in the Chinese Grand Prix is also Williams’ top result. The Williams FW48 chassis being massively overweight is considered the ‘only reason’ why Albon and Sainz have struggled to have a strong start to the 2026 season. That is according to Blick, which suggests that Williams’ first 2026 rules car is around 15 to 20kg overweight.

Vowles told the Williams website after the Japanese GP: “Right now, what I can really forecast forward is we have a huge amount of work going all the way through and beyond the August break to effectively add performance to the car. Now, other teams will, as well. It’s a relative gain. Some of that performance, I think on the stronger end, will be coming post-August break.”

‘FW48 upgrade’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/williams-plan-major-fw48-upgrade-that-could-save-alex-albon-and-carlos-sainz-0-5-seconds-every-lap/


Carlos Sainz facing major F1 career problem: 'He's up against it'
Carlos Sainz was given several promises upon joining Williams, yet he now finds himself in an extremely difficult car and situation.
5 Apr 2026
Nick Golding
RacingNews365

Asked if Carlos Sainz could leave Williams, former Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle replied on the Sky F1 podcast: "Where would Carlos go? He's been at McLaren. He's been at Red Bull with Toro Rosso, as it was back then. He's been at Ferrari and Williams. "There's no room at Mercedes. He's obviously done a stint at Renault as well—that's now Alpine.”

“It's difficult to know where he'd go to get something better without revisiting places where, for whatever reason, he wasn't invited to stay. So it's really hard for him. I feel for him, because while I don't think he's got the absolute talent of a Verstappen and co., he is a fighter. He's like his dad—relentless—and that plays out quite frequently.”

"Some of the races he's won have been absolutely outstanding, so it would be a shame. He's up against it, because he's driven for nearly half the teams on the grid already in his career. And so, unless a gap opens up unexpectedly—unless Red Bull suddenly needs somebody because Max has decided to go GT racing and sim racing, or whatever, for a year or two—I don't know what else he would do."

'He's up against it';

https://racingnews365.com/carlos-sainz-facing-major-f1-career-problem-hes-up-against-it


Red Bull more likely to sign Carlos Sainz than Charles Leclerc if Max Verstappen retires
9 Apr 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Speaking on the Chequered Flag podcast, Andrew Benson said Red Bull wouldn’t consider one of their junior drivers from the lower categories to replace a superstar like Verstappen… Ideally, Red Bull would recruit an A-lister like Leclerc or George Russell, but Benson says they will struggle to attract that calibre of driver given their current struggles.

A driver like Carlos Sainz, who used to race for Racing Bulls forerunners Toro Rosso, is a more realistic signing. He offers Red Bull race-winning pedigree but might also be unhappy at Williams, who themselves have regressed this year.

‘Red Bull more likely to sign Carlos Sainz’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/red-bull-more-likely-to-sign-carlos-sainz-than-charles-leclerc-if-max-verstappen-retires/

[Fortitude]

Franco Colapinto tested Alpine’s aero upgrades in Silverstone filming day after ‘promising’ CFD data.
Alpine chiefs think there is more to gain with the A525’s aerodynamic platform, according to Autosport Web, which reports that Colapinto tested Alpine’s latest aero updates during a filming day at Silverstone this Wednesday.
17 Apr 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Alpine’s wind tunnel, CFD and simulator tests had all yielded ‘promising results’, which they wanted to check in real-world conditions before unleashing them in a race weekend. Alpine also utilised the filming day to conduct further tests on utilising their Mercedes power unit. After the Renault Group closed the French brand’s factory F1 engine programme, Alpine set foot into new territory this year by becoming a Mercedes PU customer. Alpine are still trying to fully understand Mercedes’ engine, owing to changes brought by the 2026 F1 regulations.

It has also been said that Alpine viewed their filming day at Silverstone as a training exercise for Colapinto, given that Gasly has earned 15 of their 16 points to sit eighth in the F1 drivers’ standings. The Argentine ranks in just 16th place after three rounds with his one point so far. Colapinto is the lowest-ranked driver to have earned a point over the opening three rounds, with Haas’ Esteban Ocon boasting a superior second-best finish to sit in 15th place with one point.

Ocon took P11 in Australia and P14 in China before taking his point with P10 in Japan. Alpine will now want to see Colapinto make full use of their new aero updates at the Miami Grand Prix to help Gasly fend off Haas for the best midfield team status. Colapinto only took P14 in Australia and P16 in Japan, 33.433s behind Gasly, on either side of his P10 in China.

‘Promising results’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/franco-colapinto-tested-alpines-aero-upgrades-in-silverstone-filming-day-after-promising-cfd-data/


Flavio Briatore schedules extra ‘training’ for Franco Colapinto as Alpine struggles continue
16 Apr 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Flavio Briatore lines up Alpine test for Franco Colapinto. Alpine used their second permitted filming day at Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix, on Wednesday. Their programme was capped at 200km by the regulations, but they were able to test their upgrade package for the Miami GP.

According to Motorsport IT, Briatore chose Colapinto over Gasly for the test because he knows that he ‘needs the most training’. Gasly is in ‘excellent form’ but the Argentine is lagging behind. Even at the season opener in Australia, one Alpine insider said Colapinto is not ‘on the same level’ as Gasly. With the team battling for a top-five spot in the constructors’, they need production from both drivers.

Briatore is notoriously impatient with drivers but he has given Colapinto the best part of a year since he replaced Jack Doohan. The Argentine survived a scoreless 2025, partly due to Alpine having the slowest car on the grid, but expectations have increased, in line with the team’s improvements. Colapinto has not met that standard so far.

‘Not ‘on the same level’ as Gasly’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/flavio-briatore-schedules-extra-training-for-franco-colapinto-as-alpine-struggles-continue/


Colapinto to drive F1 car on the streets of Buenos Aires
31 Mar 2026
Toshifumi KITAMURA / AFP
Buenos Aires Times

Argentine driver Franco Colapinto confirmed Tuesday that he will perform a special driving "road show" demonstration in a Formula 1 car on the streets of Buenos Aires on April 26, ahead of competing in the Miami Grand Prix in May. “See you at home, everyone come along!” wrote the 22-year-old driver on Instagram on Tuesday as he announced the event. The event will turn Avenida del Libertador and Avenida Sarmiento, in the tourist district of Palermo, into a two-kilometre street circuit. He will drive 2012 E20, powered by a Renault V8 engine, fully branded with the Alpine team’s livery. It will be the first time a Formula 1 car has been driven in Buenos Aires in 14 years.

“Driving a Formula 1 car at home will be one of the most special moments of my life. It’s my way of giving back, even if only a little, all the support and affection I’ve received since I was very young, which drives me every day to keep dreaming of achieving all my career goals. Every message, every flag and every word of encouragement has always been there for me. This is for all of you, so we can enjoy this special moment together,” said Colapinto in a statement.

‘F1 car on the streets of Buenos Aires’;

https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/sports/colapinto-to-drive-f1-car-on-the-streets-of-buenos-aires.phtml


Alpine publish 11-page letter over Colapinto ‘sabotage’ accusations
2 Apr 2026
Kieran Jackson
The Independent

Alpine’s F1 team have published a unique 11-page letter on Thursday after accusations of “sabotage” towards their driver Franco Colapinto on social media.

‘Unique 11-page letter’;

https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/alpine-f1-franco-colapinto-letter-pierre-gasly-b2950747.html


Alpine highlight “equal opportunity for both drivers to be competitive,” in open letter addressing online abuse
6 April 2026
Jawad Yaqub
F1 Chronicle

Alpine have issued an open letter highlighting their commitment to providing “equal opportunity for both drivers to be competitive,” following online abuse accusing the team of sabotaging Franco Colapinto’s car. The sabotage claims emerged during the Shanghai weekend, where it was alleged that Pierre Gasly’s car was deliberately superior in performance to Colapinto’s.

This claim was ultimately rebuked by Alpine, who addressed the issue of low-performance-impacting parts used in China. “The team endeavours to put the two fastest cars on track and provide equal opportunity for both drivers to be competitive and score important points for the team in the championship,” said the open letter.

“This has remained the case this year and both Pierre and Franco have been running with the same equipment, barring some small low-performance impacting parts in China due to switching gearbox components. Any questions about sabotage or not giving Franco the same car are completely unfounded, which is why the team felt the need to speak out.”

‘Sabotage claims’;

https://f1chronicle.com/alpine-highlight-equal-opportunity-for-both-drivers-to-be-competitive-in-open-letter-addressing-online-abuse/?nowprocket=1


Alpine rejects ‘sabotage’ accusations in strong Colapinto defence
3 Apr 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Alpine moved to shut down any speculation over a disparity in equipment between its two drivers. "Any questions about sabotage or not giving Franco the same car are completely unfounded, which is why the team felt the need to speak out. There might be times this year when pushing in the development race that upgrades come to one car first, which the team will communicate and be completely transparent about. That being said, the aim will always remain to bring upgrades to both cars where possible."

The note finally reads: "It’s absolutely not in the team’s interests to not score points and any suggestion of self sabotage isn’t conducive to that ultimate end goal. From the opening races, the team finds itself in a strong position and the team is not counting on its laurels and is staying grounded. At the last two races, the team has been the fourth fastest car and we know we have to work incredibly hard to stay there and have two cars regularly in with a chance of scoring points."

‘Alpine rejects ‘sabotage’ accusations’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/alpine-rejects-sabotage-accusations-in-strong-colapinto-defence


Alpine have a new off-track ‘problem’ with Franco Colapinto and his F1 future is in doubt
13 Apr 2026
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Franco Colapinto is facing pressure from Alpine to keep his seat in Formula 1 in 2026, and the Enstone outfit are finding more issues with the Argentine. Since replacing Jack Doohan six races into 2025, Colapinto has struggled to match the pace of teammate Pierre Gasly.

In 2026, the Frenchman has finished in the points in every race so far, while the 21-year-old only scored his first points for Alpine in Shanghai. The pace deficit between the two drivers, notably in qualifying, has been a real issue. Alpine insiders say Colapinto is not on Gasly’s level, and now the team could have a problem with the Argentine off the track.

‘Franco Colapinto is facing pressure’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/alpine-have-a-new-off-track-problem-with-franco-colapinto-and-his-f1-future-is-in-doubt/


Franco Colapinto sends defiant message amid rapid Alpine improvement
5 Apr 2026
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Franco Colapinto has explained how Alpine's resurgence in F1 this season has made him "happier" and feeling "more confident" compared to the torrid campaign the team endured last year. "I'm happier, of course," he told media, including RacingNews365. "When you can fight a bit further up, it makes you feel more confident, makes you give that extra little bit in different situations.”

"I think when you are so close to Q3, when you're in the fight, it is different. Last year, unfortunately, we didn't have that. This year, it's looking much better, and of course, the car did steps, and it's looking much closer to the other teams."

‘Defiant message’;

https://racingnews365.com/franco-colapinto-sends-defiant-message-amid-rapid-alpine-improvement

[Fortitude]

Sergio Perez rebukes Mario Andretti over 'rusty' Cadillac F1 concern.
"To be honest, I think we've been performing on a very high level," Perez told the media, including RacingNews365, ahead of the Japanese GP when presented with Andretti's comments.
9 Apr 2026
Jake Nichol & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Cadillac director Mario Andretti recently claimed that both the team's drivers were "rusty", with Sergio Perez refuting that. Sergio Perez has dismissed concerns from Cadillac F1 director Mario Andretti that he and team-mate Valtteri Bottas are "rusty".

"I was especially happy with my weekend in Melbourne, my first qualifying and was quite happy with the race. We had very different scenarios; we had a lot of damage, so it really hasn't been straightforward.”

"I had a lot of damage and deployment issues in Shanghai, so I haven't had a complete weekend, let's say. But I think in terms of my performance, I'm fairly happy with it, coming back and straight away, I was on the pace in a couple of days, and I believe I am in a good place in regards to driving."

‘Sergio Perez rebukes Mario Andretti’;

https://racingnews365.com/sergio-perez-rebukes-mario-andretti-over-rusty-cadillac-f1-concern


‘Rusty, me?’: Perez fires back at Andretti’s Cadillac claim
05/04/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

At last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, Perez stood his ground, attributing his lack of points not to "rust," but to the brutal reality of racing a debutant car plagued in the openings round by technical gremlins and heavy in-race damage.

“To be honest I think we've been performing on a very high level,” the six-time grand prix winner insisted. “I was very happy with my weekend in Melbourne, my first qualifying, I was quite happy with it. In the race we had very different scenarios, we had a lot of damage.”

For Perez, the "pace" is already there; the "luck" simply hasn't followed. “I haven't had a complete weekend let's say, but I think in terms of my performance I'm fairly happy with it. Coming back and straight away I was on the pace within a couple of days. I believe I'm in a good place in regards to driving.”

‘Perez fires back’;

https://f1i.com/news/562518-rusty-me-perez-fires-back-at-andrettis-cadillac-claim.html


Sergio Perez issues Cadillac demand ahead of 'biggest test'
Cadillac has spent the opening F1 weekends of the season getting up to speed - but now it is targeting steps forward.
7 Apr 2026
Fergal Walsh & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Sergio Perez has expressed hope that Cadillac will bring a significant car upgrade to the upcoming Miami round. However, Perez outlined that Cadillac needs to find substantial lap time to keep up with the competition, and hopes it can deliver in Miami, which hosts round four of the season at the start of May.

“It’s clear that we need a second now,” he said. “And I really hope that we are bringing a big upgrade for Miami, and that will be the biggest test for the team. We’ve been progressing every grand prix. This is the first grand prix that more or less everything has been straightforward - apart from the deployment issues I had [on Saturday].”

“I really hope that we can make that step in the mix with the midfield. There are a lot of areas, but at the moment, the main one is low [speed] is where we are lacking. The balance itself is not too bad.”

'Biggest test';

https://racingnews365.com/sergio-perez-issues-cadillac-demand-ahead-of-biggest-test


Cadillac weigh up major Miami upgrades after April break: 'We need a second'
8 Apr 2026
Henry Eccles
GPblog.com

Cadillac drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are hopeful the American giant can bring a "big upgrade" to the Miami Grand Prix, the team's first ever home race. Speaking to media post-GP, Perez reflected on his race in Suzuka: "When I was racing the Williams, the Alpine, I could see that they're not too far away, they're just able to consistently keep finding pace and pace.”

"It's clear that we need a second now and I really hope that we are bringing a big upgrade for Miami. That will be the biggest test for the team. I think there's a lot of areas, but I think at the moment the main one is load, it's where we are lacking the most. Balance itself is not too bad, it's just that we are lacking the load."

'We need a second';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/cadillac-weigh-up-major-miami-upgrades-after-april-break-we-need-a-second


Sergio Perez signals Cadillac's "biggest challenge": out-developing other teams
11 Apr 2926
Filip Cleeren
Motorsport.com

Sergio Perez: “It has been very promising, but on the other hand, we also look at the lap times and we can see that we need to develop,” said Sergio Perez. “Develop means out-developing our rivals, which is quite a hard thing to do in Formula 1. That’s the biggest challengs that Cadillac as a team faces, because these teams have been here for a while. We really need our A-game and now is the time where we all have to prove that we can do it as a team.”

‘A-game’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/perez-signals-cadillac-biggest-challenge-out-developing-other-teams/10812094/


Cadillac's start ‘promising’ but Perez notes ‘big challenge’ ahead
12/04/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

If the opening chapter of the Cadillac F1 team’s debut season was about survival, the early verdict is cautiously encouraging. Three races in, and both Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas have brought the new outfit home twice in succession in China and Japan – a small milestone, but a meaningful one for a brand-new entry still finding its feet. Despite the steep incline, the Mexican veteran sees a solid foundation beneath the tyre smoke.

"I believe that we have a good structure, the team is in a good place, and hopefully when we start to develop, we can make significant steps,” he added. “I think we are on target at the moment. It's still early days, so I'm happy with where we currently are. But at the same time, we did progress a lot from the first to the second race and I want to see the same. We all want to see massive progress, and we want to start closing up the gap right now."

That sense of momentum is real – but so is the urgency. Behind the scenes, Cadillac has already started to flex its upgrade programme under the gaze of Nick Chester. A revised diffuser aimed at generating extra rear downforce was introduced in Japan as part of an early push to stabilise balance and build platform performance. More updates are planned for Miami, but the catch is obvious: everyone else is upgrading too.

“I think we are on target at the moment”;

https://f1i.com/news/562761-cadillacs-start-promising-but-perez-notes-big-challenge-ahead.html

[Fortitude]

Lando Norris is visibly ‘tired’ after accepting ‘absolutely every invite’ to celebrate his title.
Norris made every possible public appearance after winning the title. Lando Norris ‘revelled in being world champion’ – but at what cost?
19 Apr 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Speaking on F1TV’s review of the season so far, commentator Alex Jacques pointed out that Norris made every possible public appearance after winning the title. He wonders if that period of celebration has taken its toll, particularly given the short nature of the off-season. There were only seven weeks between the Abu Dhabi GP, the race where Norris was crowned, and the start of pre-season testing in Barcelona.

“He attended absolutely every invite he was given as the world champion,” said Jacques. “He revelled in being world champion. If you do that, and you go into a shakedown in January, you don’t really get an off-season. At points in the paddock, he’s struck me as a driver who’s a little bit tired, who’s got a lot to learn with this regulation set. I think there are different levels of motivation in the paddock for different drivers.”

Jacques’ colleague Jolyon Palmer has previously said that Norris has been ‘hobbled’ by McLaren’s unreliability at the start of the year. “Oscar was brilliant in Japan and generally has been slightly stronger than Lando the first three races,” said Palmer. “But I also think Lando’s had a lot of issues, and I don’t think we’ve seen anywhere near the best of him. I would expect him to be winning races again this year, and become more of a force.”

‘Visibly tired’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lando-norris-is-visibly-tired-after-accepting-absolutely-every-invite-to-celebrate-his-title/


Why Lando Norris isn’t ‘giving up’ on F1 title defence just yet
19 Apr 2026
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

Despite this not-so-ideal start to his title defence, and being a whopping 47 points behind the leader already, Norris isn’t writing 2026 off just yet. “I think we can have a good season, even if we’re not where we want to be right now,” he said. “And although we haven’t started the season where we want to be, we still want to push hard for the championship, this isn’t a case of giving up and focusing on next year – I’m not sure if that approach ever really works.”

“There’s plenty of examples where we’ve not quite been where we want to be at the start of the year, but have ended up in a much stronger position by the end – 2023, 2024 and so on, and we’re a stronger team now than we were then. We’ve been there, done it, learned from it and I trust that this team knows how to do it again. Plenty of hard work ahead, but we’re ready for it.”

“We still want to push hard for the championship”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/19/why-lando-norris-isnt-giving-up-on-f1-title-defence-just-yet/


'This isn't a case of giving up' - Norris reveals McLaren's title game plan
17 Apr 2026
Sky Sports

Lando Norris believes McLaren can still "push hard" to defend their world titles when the F1 season resumes from the Miami Grand Prix, despite Mercedes and Ferrari's superior starts to the sport's new era.

Reigning champion Norris did not record a podium finish in the first three races of his title defence, although team-mate Oscar Piastri finished second at the last race in Japan, and could have potentially won had it not been for the appearance of the Safety Car during an improved showing from McLaren ahead of F1's enforced April break.

But with McLaren, like all teams, now having had what will be almost five weeks to work on their cars back at their factories ahead of the season's resumption in a fortnight's time, the world champion believes there is still plenty of opportunity to turn the situation around.

'This isn't a case of giving up';

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13532465/lando-norris-mclaren-driver-says-champions-wont-give-up-on-f1-2026-title-push-despite-early-mercedes-points-gap


Norris still critical of F1's new regs – but hope is on the horizon
16/04/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

“I’ll re-emphasise my point about these cars – they’re fun to drive, and some of these challenges can be solved with software changes,” Reigning world champion Lando Norris told Sky F1 during a Pirelli tyre test this week at the Nürburgring. “Once we get that balance right, I think we have a very exciting regulation set. Starts, energy management, harvesting, lift and coast, are all topics of discussion and areas where I’m hoping we can bring improvements for the good of the sport.”

“You really need a different approach when it comes to driving style,” Norris explained. “You can push these cars, find the edge and still recover, whereas last year, it was very hard to recover the car when you pass the edge of grip. This is one of the real positives of these regulations. In this sense, the skill of the driver, the ability to hold on through a corner and get the best sell right on the edge, is what becomes the difference in performance.”

“Different approach when it comes to driving style”;

https://f1i.com/news/562894-norris-still-critical-of-f1s-new-regs-but-hope-is-on-the-horizon.html


Zak Brown in agreement with Lando Norris over McLaren MCL40 potential
11 Apr 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

On the talk of a title challenge recovery, Lando Norris had said: “What we are thinking of is getting on the podium first of all, and then just returning to winning races. The points then take care of themselves and we’ll see what we can claw back.”

“But we’re confident in that. I want to say I think we’re confident as a team and we believe in ourselves that we’ve won the last two championships and we won the drivers’ last year because we could build the best car on the grid, and I’m confident we can get back to doing that this year. It just takes time. You have to be patient. But yes, I have a good belief in the team and I think we can have the best car this year.”

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown “absolutely” agrees with the reigning world champion on that target. Brown stated that he is “very confident” as McLaren looks to re-enter the F1 winners’ circle, having impressed last time out at Suzuka.

‘McLaren MCL40 potential’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-norris-mclaren-f1-2026-best-car-zak-brown-confidence


Lando Norris fearful of being ‘at mercy’ to dangerous F1 rule
Reigning F1 champion Lando Norris has expressed his fear over one aspect of the new technical regulations.
11 Apr 2026
Jake Nichol & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Lando Norris fears being at the "mercy" of F1 rivals over the dangerous closing speeds currently being experienced. During the recent Japanese Grand Prix, qualifying was widely derided owing to cars not going at full speed into 130R owing to the need to capture energy. This can lead to huge closing speeds as reigning champion Norris explained how he was being forced to drive counterintuitively and feared being "at the mercy" of rivals who might be deploying full power.

"Of course, there are some better and some worse tracks, and they've made some improvements, but it can still be further improved," Norris told media, including RacingNews365, about qualifying. We just want to go flat out, I don't want to be lifting and losing 60kph into 130R [at Suzuka] into the final corner. Most other categories will have a higher top speed than us, so some things can be improved, the FIA know that and I hope they do it.”

“The big problem [at Suzuka] was it deploys into 130R, and I have to lift, and I'm not allowed to go back on the throttle. If I go back on the throttle, my battery deploys, and I don't want it to deploy because it should have cut, and because you lifted, it redeploys, so you can't go back on it. There is nothing I can do about it, so there is just not enough control for a driver; that's why you are at the mercy of what is behind you."

‘At mercy’;

https://racingnews365.com/lando-norris-fearful-of-being-at-mercy-to-dangerous-f1-rule


Lando Norris rekindles romance with jaw-dropping girlfriend after public appearance
Lando Norris has rekindled his romance with jaw-dropping Portuguese model Magui Corceiro for a third time after they were spotted together earlier this week despite splitting earlier this year
10 Apr 2026
Cameron Winstanley
Daily Star

A source close to Corceiro told The Sun: "Lando has been reconnecting with Magui recently and visiting Lisbon after they decided to take a break earlier this year. After a period of silence, they felt the need to talk again to address ‘unfinished business’.”

“They have spent a lot of time discussing the issues that impacted their relationship, with both admitting to mistakes and apologising for not bringing their best energy to the partnership before the split.” The source added: “They have been spending quality time together lately, enjoying simple things in Lisbon like attending a Sporting Lisbon game and sharing Portuguese meals.”

“This reconnection feels like a breath of fresh air for both of them. They want to give the relationship another shot, putting past disagreements behind them to see if it can work in the long run. Both are ready to compromise and give their best to this fresh start. Magui has missed him and wants to show Lando she can be his best partner, providing emotional stability amidst the pressure of his professional career.”

‘Rekindled his romance’;

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1/lando-norris-girlfriend-magui-corceiro-36995312

[Fortitude]

Fernando Alonso defends Honda’s nightmare start to 2026.
Fernando Alonso describes a different culture at Honda. Alonso also described the rationale behind wanting to work with Honda through its malaise, as it targets a return to form.
20 Apr 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

“I think I can see things now in a different perspective and a different maturity, but I don’t think that ten years ago things were that dramatic,” Alonso said to media, including Motorsport Week.. “This is Formula 1, a very media-centric sport. When you win a few championships just racing against your team-mate, you are God, and then when you are fighting and having some difficult period, everything is magnified as well.”

“In a way, ten years later, some of the things that people thought about me ten years ago, when we had this situation, now they maybe changed opinion and maybe they think that I was right ten years ago, because for me the biggest surprise was all these last few years thinking that ten years ago McLaren, Stoffel [Vandoorne] Jenson and myself — because always people seem to remember only Fernando, but I think Jenson, Stoffel and McLaren, we were saying the same — that project, the power unit, was not mature enough when we started, which everyone seems now to understand.

‘Wanting to work with Honda’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/20/fernando-alonso-defends-hondas-nightmare-start-to-2026/


[B]Fernando Alonso mounts passionate Honda defence after feeling 'singled out'
Fernando Alonso is working with Honda once again in F1, over a decade on from the start of the ill-fated McLaren project.
20 Apr 2026
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

"I think I can see things now in a different perspective and a different maturity, but I don’t think that ten years ago things were that dramatic," Alonso told media, including RacingNews365. "This is Formula 1, a very media-centric sport. When you win a few championships just racing against your team-mate, you are God, and then when you are fighting and having some difficult period, everything is magnified as well.”

"Obviously, we are now in a different world in Formula 1 with all the data available, all the GPS, the analysis that we can have from the other teams, and we can allocate some of those resources to make Honda… or they can focus on one thing, and we can help them in some other areas on the power unit. So, we are one team. As I said, it’s a bumpy start, but I hope it will not last for too long. But it will not be an immediate solution either, so yeah, let’s see."

‘Passionate Honda defence’;

https://racingnews365.com/fernando-alonso-mounts-passionate-honda-defence-after-feeling-singled-out


Fernando Alonso came into 2026 thinking it would be his ‘last season’ in Formula 1
14 Apr 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Fernando Alonso was hoping he could walk away from Formula 1 on a high note, but Aston Martin’s dire start to the season may have put paid to those plans. Alonso’s situation with Aston Martin is somehow worse than what he endured during McLaren and Honda’s snake-bitten partnership.

Given how much Aston Martin have struggled this season, Alonso seemingly delayed his retirement plans, hoping to walk away from the sport after a strong season. It appears Fernando Alonso was hoping this season would have given him the perfect ending he had hoped for, as he planned to retire at the end of 2026. Benson noted that Alonso had told him as far back as 2024 that he was going to enter the 2026 season with the mindset that it would be his final year in Formula 1.

“The other big name to think about is Fernando Alonso. His Aston Martin contract definitely runs out at the end of this season. Alonso said in a BBC Sport interview at the end of 2024 that he would go into 2026 thinking it was his last season, but see how he felt in the course of it. I know that was still his mindset through last year. Amid all the noise about Aston Martin and Honda’s struggles at the start of this season, Alonso has not yet been asked how he feels about his future.”

‘Dire start to the season may have put paid to those plans’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fernando-alonso-came-into-2026-thinking-it-would-be-his-last-season-in-formula-1/


Fernando Alonso concedes Aston Martin "a few months" from F1 recovery
Aston Martin has made a woeful start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Fernando Alonso far from scoring a point.
5 Apr 2026
Sam Hall, Adam Cooper
Crash.Net

Suggested by Crash.net that one positive from Japan was that reliability had improved, Alonso said: “Yeah. Obviously, on the positive side, yes, that is true. We had running without too many issues the last two weekends, but in terms of performance, we are at the back, so it’s not really - you don’t find any satisfaction when you are not competitive. But we try to stay together, to stay strong, and give time to both factories to fix the situation.”

“They are working flat out. There are a couple of improvements, a couple of ideas. But on Formula 1, it doesn’t happen from night to day, and you need to spend a few months with the current car. We will not change too many things on this car if we know it will change completely in a few months time. So that is the situation we have.”

“We still need to fix the vibrations. We still need to fix the power deficit. There are fundamental things that are still on the back foot, but it is not that they are watching TV right now. They are working flat out. We just need time, and we need patience to be here on track, because while the factory is bringing the upgrades, we need to keep working and racing every weekend with a package that is maybe not the best in competitiveness.”

‘Aston Martin "a few months" from F1 recovery’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1092874/1/fernando-alonso-concedes-aston-martin-few-months-f1-recovery


Why Aston Martin removed vibration fix and how it confused Alonso
1 Apr 2026
SCOTT MITCHELL-MALM
The Race

Chief trackside officer Mike Krack confirmed post-race that "we had some countermeasures here" and "we tested something in the sessions that was a small improvement, but we could not race it". "Bringing new parts always brings a risk, so you need to consider that when you make reliability decisions," Krack said. "They were new parts, so we decided not to go into the race with them, but I think it shows some promise."

Regardless of any uncertainty the drivers had, Alonso describing the vibrations in Friday practice as "80% better" is a good sign for Aston Martin as it tries to clear its many early-season hurdles. The plan is to introduce this fix properly at the next race in Miami in over a month's time, after the unplanned April gap F1 now has following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs. Krack said: "I am quite confident that for Miami we can do a step that [means] we are not speaking about it anymore."

‘The plan is to introduce this fix properly at the next race in Miami’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/aston-martin-f1-2026-vibration-fix-removed-fernando-alonso-confused/


Honda declare 'good step' after breakthrough Aston Martin milestone
It has been a highly challenging start to the season for Aston Martin and Honda.
3 Apr 2026
Fergal Walsh & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

“We completed a full distance of the race,” Honda's F1 chief engineer Shintaro Orihara told media including RacingNews365. “That is a good step in terms of reliability. We are working hard to improve battery deliverability.” However, Orihara admitted that there will be no quick fixes to the Honda power unit as Aston Martin target a move up the pecking order.

“But on the other hand, also in the Sakura factory, we are working hard to improve engine performance,” Orihara added. “Also we are working hard to evaluate and optimise energy management. [We must] also develop engine performance mechanically, it's not a short-term job.”

“So we will keep working hard, implementing performance in the background. But we gathered a lot of [in Japan] through the race distance that gives us more data to improve our drivability, and also energy management. That gives us good data for the coming four weeks going to Miami.”

‘Honda declare 'good step' after breakthrough’;

https://racingnews365.com/honda-declare-good-step-after-breakthrough-aston-martin-milestone


Alonso's 'ludicrous' F1 driving style explained
12 Apr 2026
THE RACE TEAM
The Race

Whether he's got the best car (as he last had almost two decades ago) or the worst car (as he does now) in Formula 1, Fernando Alonso's driving always catches our eye. At 44 years old, and with well over 400 F1 grand prix starts under his belt, Alonso is one of a kind in F1 folklore.

Never has there been an F1 driver who hasn't won for 13 years yet can still consistently stand out among the top performers on any given weekend. But exactly what makes Alonso so special - and has kept him at the top of his game for so long - remains something of an enigma. Two people well-placed to dissect Alonso's unique driving style are Mark Hughes and Edd Straw, who, between them, have followed Alonso's F1 career from his very first race with Minardi 25 years ago.

They were both present for his most recent victory, at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, and have witnessed his dogged mastery in the litany of midfield or even backmarker cars he's had to drive since, save for his 2023 season aboard a podium-worthy Aston Martin.

‘Alonso's 'ludicrous' F1 driving style explained’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/alonsos-ludicrous-f1-driving-style-explained/

[Fortitude]

Valtteri Bottas announces priority shift over F1 driver complaints.
Valtteri Bottas has outlined he is enjoying the challenge of the new F1 cars despite the various complaints from his peers.
10 Apr 2026
Fergal Walsh & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Valtteri Bottas made a return to F1 this year with Cadillac after a season on the sidelines. The Finn asserted his primary emotion is being happy to be back in an F1 cockpit after a year on the sidelines in 2025. Bottas returned to the sport this year with newcomer Cadillac, having spent last year's campaign as a reserve driver for Mercedes.

“It's different,” Bottas told media including RacingNews365. “Always when there's a change, initially for the first quarter, always, somebody complains. But I think we're now starting to get used to it, and we're still trying to optimise everything with the PU. But it's certainly different. There's more thinking to do as a driver. There are more things that can go wrong with the deployment, whether it's about qualifying or the race.”

“But that's the same for everybody. For me overwhelming thing is or the overriding thing is, I'm just really happy to be back, happy to be racing in F1,” he said. “I don't see any reason to complain. It is different, but I'm enjoying the car. The cars are fun to drive, the racing has been good. You might need to manage a bit more here and there, but it's just different.”

‘Enjoying the challenge’;

https://racingnews365.com/valtteri-bottas-announces-priority-shift-over-f1-driver-complaints


Cadillac upgrades working as expected at F1 Japanese GP
27 Mar 2026
Ed Hardy
Motorsport.com

The Cadillac Formula 1 team brought upgrades to the Japanese Grand Prix and although Valtteri Bottas doesn’t think they’re a game changer, he is still positive about the progress.

‘Cadillac upgrades’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/cadillac-upgrades-working-as-expected-at-f1-japanese-gp/10808593/


Valtteri Bottas makes 'challenging' admission: 'It's not an easy role'
Valtteri Bottas has reflected on his season on the F1 sidelines, having been Mercedes reserve driver to George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
14 Apr 2026
Samuel Coop & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

Valtteri Bottas has shared how "challenging" he found life as an F1 reserve driver during his season away from a full-time race seat. His former team-mate, Zhou Guanyu, who is the reserve driver at the fledgling American team this campaign, has previously spoken about how mentally tough he found backing up Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari last year.

When those remarks were put to Bottas, the 10-time grand prix winner agreed. He told media, including RacingNews365: "It's not an easy role, absolutely. Especially if you have been racing in Formula 1, and then you're in a reserve role, and especially if you still have the hunger to be a driver; watching everyone is not easy.”

"But in this sport is always good to stay within the sport, and I had a great opportunity last year to stay with a decent team, with a decent programme for the whole year. So it was, in the end, the right thing to do for me. But yeah, it is hard if you've been racing, and then once you step out, it's not the same, and it's challenging."

'It's not an easy role';

https://racingnews365.com/valtteri-bottas-makes-challenging-admission-its-not-an-easy-role


Bottas makes striking Verstappen claim as Hamilton dominates F1 grid answers
3 Apr 2026
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

Valtteri Bottas answered quick-fire questions about the Formula 1 grid. The Finn shared his thoughts on Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen as well. The current Cadillac F1 driver answered Hamilton’s name to multiple questions, including who has the best fashion sense, who is always in the gym, and who is best to sit next to on a flight.

He added: "[That's] because he sleeps normally all the flight." Guanyu Zhou also received multiple nominations, including for best fashion sense and worst cook on the grid. On the other hand, he called Nico Hulkenberg the driver with the worst fashion sense.

According to the Finn, Verstappen is the most naturally gifted driver on the grid. While Verstappen is very much involved in managing his own team, Bottas sees Fernando Alonso as the best team principal.
Yuki Tsunoda is called the funniest by the Cadillac driver, while Daniel Ricciardo 'tops' the category of best dancer.

‘Quick-fire questions’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/bottas-makes-striking-verstappen-claim-as-hamilton-dominates-f1-grid-answers


THE STATE OF PLAY AT CADILLAC AFTER THREE RACES OF THE 2026 SEASON
Cadillac are the new kids on the block, but how has their debut season in F1 started – and what do they need to do to try and bag some points this year?
Apr 20, 2026
Becky Hart
Special Contributor
Formula One - Official Site

Cadillac became the 11th team on the grid in 2026, and the first completely new entrant in Formula 1 for a decade. With the experienced Graeme Lowdon at the helm, the team have already exceeded expectations in many ways as they facilitated a return to the grid for Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. Here's the state of play at the American squad after three rounds of the season…

Bringing a brand-new team to the grid is not for the faint-hearted, with Cadillac having so much less data to draw on than their rivals. They knew they would be towards the back of the field, but were aiming for reliability and a solid base from which to build. Testing went as expected – the American team had some issues, but did manage a very decent haul of laps across the six days in Bahrain.

Running the Ferrari engines has helped, as at least that gives them more data to work with – the Scuderia supplying Haas as well as their factory team. And those Ferrari engines have proved reasonably reliable too, with Perez able to finish every race so far.

‘THE STATE OF PLAY’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/the-state-of-play-at-cadillac-after-three-races-of-the-2026-season.1exa0SK5ZiGPYuFHDxL86d


Cadillac CEO issues positive update on in-house F1 power unit
13 Apr 2026
Tiana Soans
Motorsport Week

Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss has issued a positive update on its in-house Formula 1 power unit, which he says is scheduled to make its debut in 2029. And with the Silverstone-based squad now three races down, Towriss has offered a positive update on the progression of the PU. Jotting down a 2029 season debut date.

“So the project is ahead of schedule, actually,” he said. “As of right now, we’re slated to bring the Cadillac PU online to compete in 2029.” Despite being a customer of Ferrari and creating its own PU, Towriss stated that GM’s work will be uniquely its own.

“In terms of IP [intellectual property], yeah, everybody’s got to bring their own IP, right,” he said. “So Ferrari has theirs, and with the GM Performance Power Units group, that’s part of the Formula 1 team, we’re developing our own IP. We’re developing our own engines and bringing our own work product to the grid in Formula 1.”

‘Positive update’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/13/cadillac-ceo-issues-positive-update-on-in-house-f1-power-unit/


Why Cadillac has already exceeded expectations in F1, according to Alex Jacques
20 Apr 2026
Lydia Mee
Motorsport.com

“It sounds mad that we’re going to go to a team that’s nearly as far as Aston Martin, and then going to praise them because I thought they would be miles off the back, Alex Jacques said during an F1 season start debrief video.

‘Cadillac has already exceeded expectations in F1’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/alex-jacques-cadillac/10813812/


Cadillac weigh up major Miami upgrades after April break: 'We need a second'
8 Apr 2026
Henry Eccles
GPblog.com

Cadillac drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are hopeful the American giant can bring a "big upgrade" to the Miami Grand Prix, the team's first ever home race. Hardly a surprise for a debut F1 team, Cadillac have spent most of 2026 at the back of the grid so far, but will have been encouraged by their pace relative to the experienced, yet struggling Aston Martin.

Perez and Bottas, who finished P17 and P19 respectively in Japan, have also identified a key area of improvement for Cadillac to work on during F1's enforced April break, which they hope can help them deliver a major upgrade and shave up to a second in lap time. Valtteri Bottas,
"I feel we've gained a bit of load, a bit of stability. It worked as expected. We gained a bit of load, especially on the rear end, and hopefully a bigger step in Miami.”

“We're still lacking a lot compared to the top teams, but at least the direction is right. “Even though we're lacking load, some of the driveability, the balance of the car is in a decent window from the get-go. So, all the fundamentals are there to make good steps. There's a lot in the pipeline, which is good. The break in April is probably going to help us a little more just to prioritise certain things and hopefully bring some of the upgrades forward.”

'We need a second';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/cadillac-weigh-up-major-miami-upgrades-after-april-break-we-need-a-second

[Fortitude]

Oliver Bearman issues new health update following F1 Japanese GP horror crash.
“Yeah, I’m all good, thank you for asking, I appreciate it,” Bearman told Sportbible. “It was tough [travelling home] just because obviously after [the crash], I wasn’t moving very much.”
16 Apr 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Oliver Bearman considers himself “lucky” after the crash, revealing that he was back at work for Haas the same week, performing vital work ahead of Miami. “I had a bit of swelling on the knee, but everything’s okay now, luckily, it was the right knee, so I was okay. Actually, I was back driving on the simulator by Wednesday or Thursday, because my brother and I were practicing for an endurance race on the weekend.”

“It could have been a lot worse. So very, very thankful and looking forward to getting back out in Miami.” Bearman’s update reveal both just how lucky the Briton was to emerge unscathed from his crash, while also highlighting the impact on his health in the immediate aftermath.

While not the sole cause, his crash will heavily influence the talks between the teams and the FIA to look at regulation changes ahead of Miami. Anyone wanting to keep the regulations as they are need look no further than the accident as a reason for urgent change.

‘New health update’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/16/oliver-bearman-issues-new-health-update-following-f1-japanese-gp-horror-crash/


Oliver Bearman opens up on painful Japan crash recovery after 50G impact
16 Apr 2026
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Oliver Bearman has revealed “everything’s okay now” almost three weeks after his horror crash at the Japanese Grand Prix. “It could have been a lot worse. So very, very thankful and looking forward to getting back out in Miami.”

Bearman’s crashed sparked renewed discussion surrounding he F1 2026 regulations, with a series of meetings held through April ahead of the sport’s return in Miami poised to potential bring in a number of changes for the forthcoming event.

‘50G impact’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/oliver-bearman-japanese-gp-crash-recovery-50g-impact


Haas shines early in 2026 as Bearman leads surprise midfield charge
16 Apr 2026
Francesco Bianchi
GPblog.com

Haas has been the surprise of the start of the season, scoring points in all the first three races. The beginning of the 2026 F1 season has been a dream start for Haas, the only midfield team to score points in the first three races, together with Ferrari and Mercedes. Bearman managed to finish 7th in Melbourne and 5th in Shanghai, conquering a huge amount of points and allowing Haas to sit in 4th place in the Constructors’ Championship on the eve of the Miami Grand Prix, even in front of a top team like Red Bull Racing.

After positively shocking everyone in the paddock during the last few races of the 2025 season, Haas’ Oliver Bearman’s start to the 2026 season has been even more impressive, with a total of 17 points scored in the first three races of the season. The young British driver has demonstrated that he has made a further step forward in terms of tyre management over the race distance, but it’s the car that really stands out among other midfield cars:

The VF-26, in fact, has shown an incredible chassis and aerodynamic platform, which makes it very competitive in both slow- and high-speed corners. The floor and the bodywork generate a lot of downforce, which makes the car balanced and helps with tyre management at high fuel loads. Bearman, in fact, particularly stood out in the race more than in qualifying, proof that his car has a better behaviour and balance over long distances, which allows him to take the edge over his direct rivals.

‘The car that really stands out among other midfield cars’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/tech/haas-shines-early-in-2026-as-bearman-leads-surprise-midfield-charge


Komatsu highlights 'important quality' Bearman brings to Haas
Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu has explained some of the attributes that make Ollie Bearman such a good team player at Haas.
Apr 20, 2026
Formula One - Official Site

Ayao Komatsu has highlighted Ollie Bearman's ability to motivate people around him as an "important quality" he has brought to Haas, with the young Briton one of the standout performers of 2026 so far. Bearman finished at the top of the midfield in both Australia and China, as well as scoring in the Sprint in Shanghai, and despite not finishing in Japan the 20-year-old remains seventh in the standings with 17 points.

But, while his on-track confidence is growing week after week, Haas Team Principal Komatsu has found more to praise than just Bearman's results.
“He takes steps every single time," said Komatsu during the Team Representatives press conference in Suzuka. "You saw how much he improved throughout last year, right?

“As we said, his speed’s never been in doubt. Then you saw the consistency improvement towards the end of last year. Mexico, P4, was amazing under huge pressure. Then pre-season testing throughout, working with the engineers, mechanics, feedback, all the quality has improved. If you look at the first two races, he hardly made any mistakes.

'Important quality';

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/komatsu-highlights-important-quality-bearman-brings-to-haas.2uTvUXM4fMyiks2TmGeCok


Oliver Bearman reveals ‘really cool’ way he had to ‘convince’ Ferrari’s driver academy to sign him
17 Apr 2026
Marcus Chan
F1 Oversteer
The 20-year-old admitted that he was nervous but eventually managed to earn the trust of Ferrari by showing them what he could do out on the track. When asked if driving for Ferrari is his main goal, Bearman said: “That is, of course, my target, especially after the trust that they gave me. First of all, to take me into their academy and invest so much in me from F3 all the way to Formula 1.”

“Putting me in this seat with Haas, also to trust me with their car when Carlos (Sainz) was sick. They had other reserve drivers with more experience, but they took the shot on the 18-year-old, and luckily it worked out. So, they’ve obviously given me a huge amount of trust and believed in me from the very beginning. Actually, I went to that camp and really had to convince them to sign me. Because they were actually trying to sign karting drivers, not Formula 4 drivers.”

When asked what he did to convince Ferrari, Bearman replied: “I would like to say that I was in there with a load of confidence and everything, but I was very nervous when doing the meetings with the guys. But, we went on track and showed them what we are really capable of first-hand, and that was a really cool thing that they do. They put the drivers to the test in front of them, it’s like football scouting, they see exactly what they are capable of. I hope to one day put on the Ferrari suit and race for them.”

“Showed them what we are really capable of first-hand”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/oliver-bearman-reveals-really-cool-way-he-had-to-convince-ferraris-driver-academy-to-sign-him/


Oliver Bearman calls for urgent F1 fix after frightening crash
Oliver Bearman wants to see changes to the F1 rules after Franco Colapinto's "not good" move at the Japanese Grand Prix.
17 Apr 2026
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Haas driver Oliver Bearman has urged F1 to address dangerous speed differentials created by the sport's new power unit regulations, following his high-speed crash while avoiding Franco Colapinto at Suzuka. The Briton described the Alpine driver's defensive manoeuvre as "unacceptable" under the current rules, which feature a 50-50 power split between internal combustion engine and electrical battery that can create closing speeds of up to 50kph between cars.

Bearman acknowledged potential solutions are being explored ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, saying: "I think there are a few tweaks that we can do with the FIA, and we've been working very well together to try and avoid these big differences in speed. Because, like I said, 50kph, normally, that's like a car on a cooldown lap, versus a car pushing, and then when they move to defend their position, it's dangerous."

‘Urged F1 to address dangerous speed differentials created by the sport's new power unit regulations’;

https://racingnews365.com/oliver-bearman-calls-for-urgent-f1-fix-after-frightening-crash

[Fortitude]

Lance Stroll makes surprising claim about “Aston Martin championship” battle at F1 Japanese GP.
Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso resorted to battling it out in the “Aston Martin championship” at Formula 1’s Japanese Grand Prix.
31 Mar 2026
Lewis Larkam, Adam Cooper
Crash.Net

Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso reflect on their scrap over last place in Japan. “I was enjoying the race, it’s a great track to drive, so I was enjoying the laps around this special track and enjoying the little Aston Martin battle with Fernando in last and second to last,” Lance Stroll said in response to a question from Crash.net. “I passed him and then we were in our little Aston Martin-Honda championship just battling there for 30 laps or something, which was fun.”

On the duel, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso said: “We talked before the race that maybe our race will be a little bit more lonely and if both cars run together that was maybe some good information as well, in terms of energy and different maps on the engine, so there was some fun there. Unfortunately he had to retire the car and we missed the second part of the fun.”

Despite Stroll’s retirement, Alonso was keen to take the positives from Aston Martin’s milestone at Honda’s home race. “We have many boxes to tick and this was one of them, finishing a race distance. We didn’t manage in Australia, China or the first test, so it’s the very first time and hopefully the team has enough data to understand a little more the car and get in a better place for the next one,” the Spaniard said.

“Aston Martin championship”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1092802/1/lance-stroll-makes-surprising-claim-about-aston-martin-championship-battle-f1


Aston Martin to place ‘respect and trust’ in drivers with Honda vibration judgement
24 Apr 2026
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Aston Martin Chief Trackside Officer Mike Krack has said that “respect and trust” will placed onto both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll when it comes to their judgement on how far they can push their AMR26 through the vibrations of its Honda power unit. But a corner has been turned, with Alonso finishing the Japanese Grand Prix, showing that progress has been made. Honda has stressed it has been working on “countermeasures” to rid the car of these vibrations, but are yet to be fully removed yet.

After the race at Suzuka, Krack said that technological gatherings are one thing, but the men in the cockpit will also provide the most invaluable feedback on matters like this. “It’s a complicated subject, because on the engineering side you want to have the right amount of information, the right data to judge,” he said. “But you do not do these kind of measurements in the race. So you have to rely on what the drivers are saying.”

“And in this case, it was a situation where he felt discomfort. And then you have to trust your driver.”
Krack continued: “You cannot just say, you know, we don’t believe you, keep going. So I think it’s a matter of respect and trust. If your driver says ‘I cannot continue’, you to act accordingly. And we had this situation where it was in the situation of discomfort.

“Respect and trust”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/24/aston-martin-places-respect-and-trust-on-alonso-and-stroll/


Lance Stroll quizzed on Adrian Newey after Aston Martin statement
26 Mar 2026
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Lance Stroll has insisted that Aston Martin’s main focus is on improving its F1 2026 car amid growing expectations that Adrian Newey is set to vacate the role of team principal. Stroll added: “We are regularly approached by senior executives of other teams who wish to join Aston Martin Aramco, but in keeping with our policy, we do not comment on rumour and speculation.”

‘Main focus is on improving its F1 2026 car’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/adrian-newey-aston-martin-statement-lance-stroll


Aston Martin fighting for their ‘future’ in F1 after writing off 2026 season in ‘world record’ time
31 Mar 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Aston Martin’s start to the 2026 F1 season has been so dire that their ‘future’ in the sport is now in doubt, according to one reporter. Lawrence Stroll’s team are bottom of the constructors’ standings without a point to their name. Perhaps the biggest embarrassment for Aston is they are below Cadillac, a brand-new team, in the table. They have suffered five retirements in the opening three rounds, with Fernando Alonso finally reaching the chequered flag at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Aston Martin were long seen as dark horses for the post-2025 era given Stroll’s enormous investment. They hoped to win races this year and compete for the title in 2027, but they are further than ever from those objectives. According to sport.de’s Felix Gorner, Aston Martin are ‘fighting for their future’ in F1 as a team. The situation is described as ‘truly dramatic’.

While the team’s prize money will likely take a significant hit this year – they finished seventh in the 2025 standings and are likely to fall at least three places – there’s no sign of genuine financial concern. Gorner adds that team principal Adrian Newey has ‘written off Aston Martin’s season’ already, just three races into a 22-race schedule. He believes they have set a ‘world record’ for giving up on an entire F1 campaign.

‘2026 F1 season has been so dire’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/aston-martin-fighting-for-their-future-in-f1-after-writing-off-2026-season-in-world-record-time/


Adrian Newey and Honda disagree with Lawrence Stroll about Aston Martin writing off 2026 F1 season
8 Apr 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Adrian Newey and Honda now disagree with Lawrence Stroll about the idea of Aston Martin writing off the 2026 F1 season after three rounds due to their wretched start. Newey’s aggressive aerodynamic concept has not produced the downforce he wanted, and Aston Martin’s chassis is even overweight. Yet Motorsport.com reports that while Stroll has already deemed 2026 a transitional year at Aston Martin, Newey and Honda will not give in.

Newey will also do ‘everything he can’ to ensure that Aston Martin develop the AMR26 and have a car they can be proud of by the end of 2026. He has too much ‘pride’ to just throw in the towel after three rounds, unlike Stroll who cannot overlook the AMR26’s shortcomings. So, Newey will not give up and intends to work on how the AMR26 behaves in medium and high-speed corners. Aston Martin’s dreary start to the 2026 F1 season has already damaged the team’s reputation, but Newey and Honda aim to overcome the mess they have created.

‘too much ‘pride’ to just throw in the towel’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/adrian-newey-and-honda-disagree-with-lawrence-stroll-about-aston-martin-writing-off-2026-f1-season/


Honda 'working against the clock' on urgent updates for Miami GP
Honda has largely been blamed for Aston Martin's troubled start to the 2026 Formula 1 season.
22 Apr 2026
Sam Hall
Crash.Net

Honda has stated it is working “around the clock” to find fixes for its wretched start to the Formula 1 season with Aston Martin ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. In a social media clip, Honda’s trackside general manager and chief engineer, Shintaro Orihara, said: “As you know, the Bahrain Grand Prix and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix were postponed, but that doesn’t mean that the work has stopped.

“After the Japanese Grand Prix, Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 Team members and Honda Racing Corporation have been working together at HRC Research and Development Centre in Sakura, about three hours from Tokyo. We have been working against the clock to enhance our countermeasures and the work will keep continuing as we approach the next F1 race in Miami. We know that things will take time, but we will keep working hard together.”

‘Working “around the clock” to find fixes’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1093275/1/honda-working-against-clock-urgent-updates-miami-gp

[Fortitude]

FIA extends Miami GP FP1 for first taste of revised regulations.
Free Practice 1 at the Miami Grand Prix will be extended to 90 minutes, rather than the traditional 60.
23 Apr 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

The sport’s governing body, the FIA, made the announcement as Formula 1 moves closer to the 2026 season resumption. At the Miami GP, we will get out first taste of F1 2026 with the revised regulations. With three rounds’ worth of data to assess, various tweaks have been made to the regulations following meetings during April.

Those include changes to the maximum recharge allowed over a lap and super clipping peak in qualifying, in order to better showcase performance. The maximum boost power during a race has been reduced, while car behaviour in the event of a poor start has also been addressed as part of the updates.

With various changes coming for Miami – this being a Sprint weekend – the FIA has confirmed that the sole practice session will be extended from 60 to 90 minutes, a move agreed upon following consultation with all stakeholders.

‘Various tweaks’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/miami-grand-prix-fp1-extended-fia-90-minute-session-f1-2026-rules


F1 first practice extended on return for three reasons
23 Apr 2026
JOSH SUTTILL
The Race

Formula 1's sole practice session at the Miami Grand Prix has been extended from 60 to 90 minutes, with the FIA giving three reasons for doing so. Firstly, the surprise calendar gap since the last race at Suzuka in late March, created by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix.

It's also been extended so drivers and teams can get their heads around the suite of rule tweaks that have been agreed for implementation in Miami this week.

‘F1 first practice extended’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-first-practice-extended-miami-gp/


Repeat of Bearman's high-speed crash to be 'avoided' under changes to F1 regulations, FIA says
22 Apr 2026
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MailOnline

A repeat of the high-speed crash which left Oliver Bearman limping and alarmed the Formula 1 paddock "should basically be avoided" with regulation changes starting from next week's race in Miami, F1's governing body says. Bearman was traveling at around 190 mph (306 kph) when he veered off track and slammed into the barrier while trying to avoid Franco Colapinto's slower-moving car at last month's Japanese Grand Prix. The difference in speed between the two was around 30 mph (50 kph) because of key features of the 2026 cars. Bearman was using his "boost" mode for extra electrical power while Colapinto was low on electrical charge.

"We´ve got sometimes cases when one car is deploying too little power because it´s charging up its batteries and another one is trying to overtake and approaching at quite a fast speed. That has been obviously a safety topic and we´ve been discussing how to resolve it," Nikolas Tombazis, who's overseen the development and changes to the 2026 rules as single-seater director at the FIA, said in a video statement Wednesday.

Restricting the impact of the boost mode and cutting the maximum allowed electrical power on "specific parts of the circuits maybe where we have corners or where they´re a bit more twisty" could prevent a repeat, Tombazis argued. Bearman had been using the boost on a curved section as he approached Colapinto. "So, in that respect, it means that the sort of problem we saw with Ollie Bearman´s crash in Suzuka should basically be avoided from the next race onwards."

‘High-speed crash to be 'avoided' under changes’;

https://www.dailymail.com/wires/ap/article-15756085/Repeat-Bearmans-high-speed-crash-avoided-changes-F1-regulations-FIA-says.html


FIA ability to “fix” F1 questioned after “doing nothing” to prevent problems
Can the FIA fix the underlying issues of the new Formula 1 generation?
15 Apr 2026
Sam Hall
Crash.Net

Formula 1 teams and the FIA must pull together to “fix” the championship, says commentator Will Buxton, after losing faith that the governing body can sort the early-season problems alone. However, Buxton has limited expectations of what will change. Taking aim at the FIA, he said on the Up to Speed podcast, “I question whether the right direction will be taken, whether the FIA has known that this was going to happen for years and did nothing about it.”

“The whole regulations were changed to try to appeal to new manufacturers to come in, new OEMs to come in, which they managed to do with Audi. Porsche ultimately said no, Ford came back, Honda came back, brilliant. But then they said ‘We want to save money’ and just scrapped the MGU-H, but didn’t bother changing the 50-50 split between electric and the normal engine.”

“That’s the biggest crux of the issue right now, is that you are deploying faster than you can harvest. Why did nobody see this? These are supposed to be the smartest brains that are coming up with this, and they’ve got a month now to fix this, so it’s got to be a collaborative effort, because working as they have done for the last couple of years is what has led us down the path to this.” Buxton added: “That’s your big issue right now, is the people who are going to be determining these changes, didn’t do anything to stop this from happening.”

“Doing nothing”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1093005/1/fia-ability-fix-f1-questioned-after-doing-nothing-prevent-problems


FIA responds to F1 2026 criticism as Max Verstappen brands rules ‘fundamentally wrong’
23 Apr 2026
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Verstappen has been a vocal critic of the new regulations for the F1 2026 season, memorably likening the new-look Formula 1 to “Formula E on steroids” during pre-season testing in February. The Suzuka weekend coincided with a terrifying accident for Haas driver Oliver Bearman, with the FIA acknowledging that the significantly increased closing speeds of the F1 2026 cars had been a contributing factor in the crash.

Appearing at an event organised by Viaplay, Verstappen said: “The fact that we’re talking is already a step forward. The problem is simply that you can tweak these regulations a bit, but fundamentally something is wrong. Not everyone will admit that publicly, but it’s true.” He added: “I’m just trying to adapt to it. Even though I’ll be retiring in a few years’ time, I do want it to remain a decent sport. Something has to change. In that case, I would choose to have the V10 or V8 engines brought back.”

Speaking after Bearman’s crash, Williams driver Carlos Sainz, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, warned that potential changes to the F1 2026 rules must go beyond qualifying. Verstappen, meanwhile, said that accidents such as Bearman’s are inevitable given the so-called ‘mushroom mode’ – a reference to the video game Mario Kart – that comes into effect when drivers deploy energy. He said of Bearman’s crash: “It’s what you get with these things. One guy is completely stuck with no power, basically, and then the other one uses the mushroom mode. It can be 50-60 kilometres difference. Really big.”

‘Fundamentally wrong’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-fia-f1-retirement-meeting

[Fortitude]

FIA director defends new F1 rules amid mid-season ‘refinements’.
Nikolas Tombazis has called for understanding given the regulation overhaul is so large, and reiterated that changes were always possible, having previously said so after the opening round.
25 Apr 2026
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

FIA single seater director Nikolas Tombazis has defended Formula 1′s controversial new ruleset, claiming the opening races of the season have “gone quite well in many ways,” amid the sport’s “refinements” of them. “These 2026 regulations, as we’ve said a few times, are one of the biggest changes we’ve had probably in the history of Formula 1,” he said.

“They were quite important to maintain the relevance, the technological developments, with the increased electrification and so on. We knew always that they presented certain challenges, and we always said we were going to review them after the first few races.”

“The first few races have gone quite well in many ways. It has been exciting with lots of close racing and overtaking, but there certainly have been areas where we needed to intervene. So the approach we took here was one of evolution and refinement, not revolution. We don’t think there was any need for revolution.”

‘Regulation overhaul is so large’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/25/fia-director-defends-new-f1-rules-amid-mid-season-refinements/


Surprise safety admission from driver who gained from banned F1 engine trick
A driver who gained from a now-banned F1 engine trick makes safety admission.
20 Apr 2026
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Surprise early championship leader Kimi Antonelli conceded having some relief that the trick has been outlawed after it caused some a “stressful moment” during qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix.

“Obviously, it wasn't the nicest of feelings,” the Mercedes driver told media including Crash.net. “Of course, we try to squeeze every bit of performance on one side. But it can come with facing some issues or some unexpected situations. I was aware that that could have happened, but obviously I didn't really experience it up until obviously Melbourne and Suzuka.”

"Obviously, first of all, it's not so safe - especially in Suzuka. I was a sitting duck in the Esses, and knowing that the track is also not very wide, there's not a lot of space. It was quite stressful, for sure, not being able to do anything, because obviously the car was not responding to any input. And I just was rolling very slowly on track. It was a stressful moment.”

“Quite stressful”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1093232/1/surprise-safety-admission-driver-who-gained-banned-f1-engine-trick


Explained: How new F1 engine tweaks aim to improve racing and safety
21 Apr 2026
FP Sports Desk
Firstpost

Max Verstappen’s pressure has finally delivered as Formula One teams and stakeholders agreed unanimously on Monday to engine rule tweaks aimed at improving the racing and driver safety from the next race in Miami on May 3. F1 this season started a new era, with the hybrid power units now split roughly 50-50 between electric and combustion power.

Some drivers have complained over the first three races about having to ’lift and coast’ into high-speed corners so the combustion engine can recharge the battery, and have aired safety concerns regarding the start and speed differentials during the race. They have also had to contend with ‘super-clipping’ where the power unit automatically diverts energy from the engine to the battery, slowing down the car even if the driver is flat on the throttle.

Red Bull’s four-times world champion Verstappen has questioned his future in the sport. The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that an online meeting with the 11 team bosses, power unit CEOs and Formula One had agreed a number of in-season “refinements”…

‘Max Verstappen’s pressure has finally delivered’;

https://www.firstpost.com/sports/f1-engine-rule-tweaks-miami-gp-explained-14002691.html


The shadow of motorsport’s worst tragedy hangs over F1’s latest safety debate
9 Apr 2026
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

After noting “the contribution of high closing speeds in the accident” involving Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto in the Japanese Grand Prix, the FIA stated it would consider potential changes to its new rules during April. As F1 drivers pointed out before and after the crash, the potential consequences of a collision between cars with a significant difference in speeds is huge. Had Bearman not successfully swerved to avoid Colapinto, his car could have been launched into the air making his crash much more dangerous.

Past examples of such a crash include the worst tragedy in motor racing history: the disaster at the 1955 Le Mans 24 Hours. It claimed the life of over 80 people, including driver Pierre Bouillin, who raced under the name Levegh. Levegh’s Mercedes was launched into a densely packed crowd of spectators opposite the pits at the Circuit de la Sarthe. The crash occured as he pursued rival Hawthorn, who was heading for the pits. Hawthorn overtook the Austin-Healey of Lance Macklin, then braked sharply to slow for the pit lane. Macklin swerved to avoid Hawthorn, but his car was struck by Levegh’s.

The death toll was so appallingly high due to the many ways in which motor racing was far less safe 70 years ago than today. In particular, there was little to protect the spectators from a flying car. However this type of crash has long been among those drivers which fear the most, for obvious reasons. A car launched into the air will decelerate little until it hits something and the danger to driver and crowd is obvious, even with today’s stronger cars and barriers.

‘It claimed the life of over 80 people’;

https://www.racefans.net/2026/04/09/the-shadow-of-motorsports-worst-tragedy-hangs-over-f1s-latest-safety-debate/


Don’t expect surprises: FIA’s Tombazis cools hype over F1 changes
23/04/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

“Fans have by and large been enjoying the new regulations because they’ve brought closer racing and I think first and foremost we expect that to continue,” FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis stated in a video published by the FIA. “We think that will be continuing and clearly as the regulations become more mature we expect some teams who are currently lagging behind to gradually catch up and have closer and closer racing as time goes by and as the months and years go by. So that we expect to stay. Regarding what we see at the track, these changes are not revolutionary,” he reiterated.

“They’re not going to fundamentally change the picture that you see. Qualifying will be more flat-out for the drivers. Maybe you will perceive that as you see in the camera shots from within the cockpit and you hear the tone of the power unit, for example, that’s maybe one thing you’re going to see. The position of the drivers was quite uniform,” he explained. “They were all pushing for some changes in qualifying in order to, let’s say, enjoy more the driving, push more, but also they were pushing for us to address certain safety concerns they had, so they were quite united and their input in this was very important.”

“Safety is something we can’t compromise,” he added. “Safety is something that, through the governance, the FIA has the right or even the responsibility to act even unilaterally. So any safety measures we of course discuss with everybody in order to hear the good views of very experienced people but ultimately we, FIA, can decide to take safety measures if we feel that’s important.”

‘Cools hype’;

https://f1i.com/news/563187-dont-expect-surprises-fias-tombazis-cools-hype-over-f1-changes.html


Ben Sulayem pays tribute to all parties for Formula One changes
22 April 2026
Jaydip Sengupta
Gulf News

On Wednesday, FIA’s Emirati president Mohammed Ben Sulayem paid tribute to all parties across the FIA Formula One World Championship for coming together to agree to the changes.

"I would like to praise everyone across the Formula One ecosystem – the FIA staff, teams, drivers and the Power Unit Manufacturers – for the constructive and collaborative work carried out in a very short space of time," said Ben Sulayem. "While we have faced an unexpected gap in the calendar due to circumstances beyond the sport, all parties have remained fully committed to acting in the best interests of Formula One.”

"More than ever, the drivers have been at the heart of these discussions, and I would like to thank them for their valuable input throughout this process," he added.

‘Tribute to all parties’;

https://gulfnews.com/sport/motorsport/ben-sulayem-pays-tribute-to-all-parties-for-formula-one-changes-1.500515642


McLaren make safety demand over crunch FIA & F1 talks
Talks between the FIA, F1, and the teams are now underway, but McLaren has a clear objective from the meetings.
10 Apr 2026
Jake Nichol & Sàndor Mészáros
RacingNews365

McLaren boss Andrea Stella is keen for a potential increase in the super-clipping charging limit for F1 cars, to combat a perceived bigger safety threat. "I think we have to look at the data and the teams should share information in terms of what was going on with [Franco] Colapinto and Oliver Bearman," Stella told the media, including RacingNews365.

"The reason for adding a 350kw super clip is that we would like to avoid drivers having to lift and coast, because if there is a lift and coast, there's an even bigger speed differential with the car that is following."

‘Super-clipping charging limit increase’;

https://racingnews365.com/mclaren-make-safety-demand-over-crunch-fia-f1-talks

[Fortitude]

Podcast: Why we need to speak out about 'farcical' F1.
Challenge Wolff’s assertion that criticism could do real damage to Formula 1, saying that we shouldn’t stand by when the sport we love gets things wrong.
23 April 2026
Motor Sport
Motor Sport Magazine

Could too much criticism damage F1? Mark and special guest Matt Bishop explore the latest in the new rules saga? Toto Wolff wants us to be more positive about F1: Mark Hughes and special guest Matt Bishop explain why true fans of the sport should keep up the criticism of what Matt describes as the “farcical” racing we’ve seen so far this year.

In this week’s episode of the Motor Sport F1 Show, Mark and Matt examine the rule changes being made for the Miami Grand Prix and how they will affect the racing. They also challenge Wolff’s assertion that criticism could do real damage to Formula 1, saying that we shouldn’t stand by when the sport we love gets things wrong.

‘Farcical racing’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/podcast/f1-show/podcast-why-we-need-to-speak-out-about-farcical-f1/?nowprocket=1


“Overtaking is overtaking”: Domenicali denies F1’s yo-yo racing is “artificial”
16th April 2026
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has dismissed claims that overtaking has become more “artificial” under the series’ new regulations. World champions Max Verstappen and Lando Norris have been among the most vocal critics. “This is not racing, this is yo-yoing,” said Norris after the last race. “I didn’t even want to overtake Lewis [Hamilton], it’s just my battery deploys, and I don’t want it to deploy but I can’t control it.”

However Domenicali rejected claims the repeated changes of position which have become common in this year’s races are “artificial.” “Overtaking, some people are saying is artificial,” he said. “What is artificial? Overtaking is overtaking.” Speaking to Autosport, Domenicali claimed – without offering any evidence – that the number of people who approve of the new regulations outnumber those who have criticised them: “The dimension is definitely in the biggest side of the polarisation, being positive rather [than] the other one.”

He argued the varying power levels delivered by today’s engines is no different to when drivers had direct control over their turbo boost levels in the eighties. “People have a short memory,” said Domenicali, “because at the turbo age – in the eighties, I was already following quite well Formula 1 – the lift-and-coast are using different turbo in different speed and you have to save in racing because otherwise the fuel tank was too small, you couldn’t have the time.”

‘F1’s yo-yo racing’;

https://www.racefans.net/2026/04/16/overtaking-is-overtaking-domenicali-denies-f1s-yo-yo-racing-is-artificial/


Toto Wolff implores Oliver Bearman crash rethink with ‘baseball bat’ changes to F1 regulations
20 Apr 2026
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

Toto Wolff has urged Formula 1 to take Oliver Bearman’s freak 50G crash at the Japanese Grand Prix “for what it was” rather than a catalyst for extortionate rule changes. Prior to the announcement, Wolff spoke of his fears of a political result; a potential blowing out of proportion in other words that could essentially destroy the very ethos of the current regulations.


Hence, the Mercedes boss has urged the sport to err on the side of caution, employ reason, and take Bearman’s incident for simply “what it was”. “We need to see the Bearman accident for what it was, and it was a misjudgment of a situation,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “It’s like pushing the boost button; it’s like not braking on a kink where you supposedly should brake.”

‘Blowing out of proportion’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/20/toto-wolff-gives-baseball-bat-warning-to-f1/


Anthony Davidson fears F1’s reaction to Oliver Bearman’s Suzuka crash may actually limit overtaking
24 Apr 2026
Marcus Chan
F1 Oversteer

Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Show, ex-Minardi driver Anthony Davidson questioned whether the reduction in boost power would limit overtaking. In addition, the 47-year-old stated that Colapinto was not necessarily to blame for the Bearman accident. Davidson explained: “The boost, in the race situation, as we saw with Suzuka with the Bearman and Colapinto incident, going into the Spoon Curve.”

“That wasn’t to do with necessarily the Colapinto Alpine slowing down unexpectedly; it was actually because Bearman pressed the Boost button in an area where, to be fair, you wouldn’t expect someone to be pressing the Boost button. When you are pressing the Boost button, during the first three races, they were getting the full 350kW deployment, so around 470 horsepower, if the battery had enough state of charge to deliver that, which it did for Bearman.”

‘Limit overtaking’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/anthony-davidson-fears-f1s-reaction-to-oliver-bearmans-suzuka-crash-may-actually-limit-overtaking/


Why F1's fixation on overtaking is flawed
22 April 2026
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine

Formula 1 itself celebrated having 120 overtakes in the season-opening race in Melbourne. By passing volume alone, Australia should have been one of the great grands prix. In Japan, it celebrated a 279% increase in overtakes compared to last year – 106 from 28. The previous race in China, by contrast, saw the smallest increase of the three 2026 races, with 146 from last year’s 72. In theory, that should mean Australia and Japan were better races than China.

In practice, much of what filled the overtaking tally was cars with charged batteries catching cars that had depleted theirs, surging past on the straight and then being re-passed when the energy dynamic reversed a lap later. Position changes have accumulated, but racing, in any meaningful sense, has been intermittent. The problem with using overtaking as a quality measure of racing is that not all passes are created equal.

The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix offers a useful point of contrast. By the standards of metric-chasing, it was a dull race: low overtake count, long periods of stasis, no safety car drama. By the standards of actual competition, it was compelling: Max Verstappen driving perfect flat-out laps to keep the two faster McLarens at bay. The McLaren drivers were unable to pass but never far enough away for Verstappen to relax. Nothing was decided until the final minutes, and the overtake count told you almost nothing about that. For the most part, the race is remembered as dull, but in the context of the artificial racing of 2026, some now view it under a different light.

‘Not all passes are created equal’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/why-f1s-fixation-on-overtaking-is-flawed/?nowprocket=1


Round-up: Verstappen and Norris right to criticise F1 says Mansell, and more
15th April 2026
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Mansell says he has 'total sympathy' with Verstappen on current F1 (Reuters): 'It's very disappointing to ⁠have the stallion of all racing cars, Formula 1, appearing in the first races that they're not actually racing at times. That's very alien to the fans, certainly alien to a race car driver who's trying to input their special skills into it. And I have total sympathy with Max. Would I have voiced it as strong as he has? Perhaps not...but you know, what Lando says is perfect. What all the others have said is true. And I think the powers that be, they're listening.'

Sadly, this sentiment is appearing often in the comments this year:
Over time, I have gotten less and less invested in F1. Started with the Toto-Horner fight in 2021 just being too much, and having skipped a few races then I never really got back to feeling the need to watch every single one. It’s also just so much these days, like 24 races.
Then there is that sprint format, which still sucks almost as much as it did when it started.
Technological development, at least the visible part, of the cars is extremely limited by super tight regulations, which as a physicist was one of my main interests. No more intricate changes to bodywork for me to figure out what their purpose is. Guess I’m a minority here, but I really liked that.
And now they have dropped a highly complex, but also incredibly efficient engine formula (50% conversion to momentum!). A marvel of engineering honestly and pretty much every manufacturer had it figured out by 2025. Replaced it with a formula that has rules so complicated even I with a MSc don’t get it (and frankly, I don’t want to invest any time in it, by now). For what? So that Audi could join on Audi’s terms? What benefit did that bring to the racing given the consequences we are seeing now?
Like everything in F1, probably driven by financial motives, like all sports. But I have literally lost any interest I had left in it. There’s little interesting technology to study, I can’t tell if overtakes are actually consequential or if it’s just part of the obscure battery deployment schedule. I have no idea if I’m seeing one driver’s skill, or if I’m seeing the other driver being constrained by his own car.
So long F1, it’s been a good run I guess.
BamBoomBots

‘Verstappen and Norris right to criticise F1 says Mansell’;

https://www.racefans.net/2026/04/15/round-up-15th-april-2026/

[Fortitude]

Ferrari will finally unleash their ‘complete’ 2026 car at Miami Grand Prix after successful test.
Ferrari’s vision for their 2026 Formula 1 car will finally be realised at the Miami Grand Prix next weekend, according to a report. The landscape at the front of the grid could change as Mercedes’ rivals ready major upgrades.
26 Apr 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Ferrari expect to show their ‘true potential’ at the Miami Grand Prix. While Ferrari’s Monza test was nominally a ‘filming day’ – each team is allowed two such promotional outings every year – they used it to test a raft of car developments, most notably an updated ‘Macarena’ wing.

The rotating wing left fans, and even some rival teams, stunned, but it hasn’t yet been used in a competitive session. That could yet change during the Miami Sprint weekend. According to Motorsport IT, Ferrari will ‘finally’ unleash a ‘complete’ version of their 2026 car in Florida. Loic Serra and his design team are optimistic that they can display the ‘true potential’ of their concept.

The Scuderia are about 25 horsepower down on Mercedes, which puts extra pressure on the aerodynamic department to close the gap. Ferrari don’t anticipate a significant engine upgrade until July, even though they will likely have access to Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) under the new rules. It’s estimated that Ferrari have changed almost half of their car since Japan, though it remains to be seen whether McLaren and Red Bull will bring similarly transformative upgrades.

‘The landscape at the front of the grid could change’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ferrari-will-finally-unleash-their-complete-2026-car-at-miami-grand-prix-after-successful-test/


F1TECH: How has Ferrari updated its Macarena rear wing?
27 Apr 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

During the Monza filming day, Ferrari tested what sources describe as a “significantly” updated version of the wing. According to the reports the Scuderia has reworked the endplates, modified the actuator integration, and adjusted the geometry of the upper elements to improve airflow management and mechanical robustness.

Key visual differences between Macarena V1 and V2
More squared off endplates
The V2 endplates adopt a sharper, more angular profile, replacing the rounded contours of the original design.
Repositioned pylons for structural rigidity
The support pylons have been shifted to improve load distribution and reduce flexing at high speed—an area Ferrari had been refining since the wing’s first appearance.

Smaller, steeper internal accents
The accents inside the endplates are now smaller and angled more steeply downward at their initial section, helping condition the airflow feeding the rotating flap.
New vertical flap on the third element
A distinctive vertical flap has been added to the centre of the third element, improving stability in the inverted profile configuration that defines the Macarena concept.

‘Key visual differences’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28451


Tifosi forced to wait for new Ferrari engine amid Mercedes fight
Ferrari may not be ready to unleash a new power unit before summer, but Hamilton’s extra Fiorano mileage still offers value
25 Apr 2026
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

Ferrari fans, affectionately dubbed Tifosi, may be forced to wait until July to see the Scuderia debut a new engine as part of the FIA Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) initiative amid their fight against Mercedes. This means that the earliest chance for the new ICE to be fitted to the Scuderia‘s SF-26 challengers would come at Round 9 of the season, at the British Grand Prix from July 3-5 but it could also be as late as the Hungarian GP too.

This is because the FIA regulations restrict teams to four power units per season or they suffer the risk of incurring grid penalties, so in a bid to stretch the engines across the remaining 22 races, the team are expected to only debut their second-round ahead of the Barcelona GP (June 14). In line with their current path, that would place the third power unit, the one expected to carry the ICE upgrade, around the time of July – with a fresh PU needed ahead of power circuits such as British GP, Belgian GP, Italian GP and Azerbaijan GP.

‘Tifosi, may be forced to wait until July’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/ferrari-fans-wait-until-july-new-engine-mercedes-fight/


Ferrari spark Tifosi intrigue with mysterious social media teaser
25 APR 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Ferrari have sparked curiosity among fans by hinting at an announcement set for April 30 through a post shared across their social media channels. As they prepare to pack their bags for Miami, the Maranello outfit has teased its fans with a cryptic 13-second video shared across its social channels, featuring Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc and ending with a date: April 30.

Ferrari tease fans with cryptic video ahead of Miami GP: The short clip has sparked plenty of speculation among fans, with some suggesting the timing could point to Miami-themed merchandise, or even a special livery, while others believe it could be something entirely unrelated. The mystery will be revealed in just a few days.

‘Tifosi intrigue’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/ferrari-ignite-fans-speculation-with-mysterious-social-media-post


Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc lap times leaked as Ferrari test 'major upgrade' at Monza
Ferrari are going all out in Miami, and we've got our first signs of what to expect.
23 Apr 2026
Ben McCrum
SPORTbible

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have been testing out Ferrari's new upgrades in Monza, and the lap times have emerged online. Ahead of bringing he upgrades to an actual race weekend, Ferrari has been testing them during a day on their home track, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. As reported by Autoracer, the Ferrari completed the 200 km at Monza with both Hamilton and Leclerc completing laps on the Monza track.

In total, Leclerc completed 19 laps with a fastest time of 1:27.138 meanwhile Hamilton put in a faster time of 1:26.585 after completing 15 laps testing the new upgrades. Comparatively, Max Verstappen's pole lap time at Monza last year was 1:18.792, nearly eight seconds faster than Hamilton's lap during the test.

Meanwhile Leclerc qualified in fourth with a 1:19.007 time with Hamilton just one place behind him with a 1:19.124 lap. Of course, race times from last year will have been achieved with different tyre setups and lower fuel than Ferrari's test laps.

‘Lap times leaked’;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/lewis-hamilton-charles-leclerc-lap-times-leaked-ferrari-upgrades-miami-720421-20260423


Juan Pablo Montoya believes new F1 regulation changes will ‘take away’ key Ferrari advantage
26 Apr 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Ferrari could lose key advantage over Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull due to key regulation change. Juan Pablo Montoya spoke on his show with AS Colombia about the recent changes made to start procedures under the new F1 regulations. He believes that the adjustment to the energy deployment levels at the start of races is bound to hurt Ferrari and help Mercedes, Red Bull, and McLaren going forward.

“Personally, I think the changes at the starts, and how they are going to adjust the energy at the starts, is going to help Mercedes. It removes a disadvantage they had. And not just Mercedes as a team, but all cars with a Mercedes engine. So not the team itself, but the power unit. If you look at the starts of most Mercedes cars, they weren’t strong. And Red Bull’s starts were often not good either, or not bad, but inconsistent. And this takes away a bit of an advantage from Ferrari in the opening phase.”

‘Bound to hurt Ferrari’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/juan-pablo-montoya-believes-new-f1-regulation-changes-will-take-away-key-ferrari-advantage/


Lewis Hamilton takes aim at 'certain individuals' after 2025 horror
Seems like Lewis Hamilton was far from happy with those who dared to suggest last season he was finished in F1.
24 Apr 2026
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Lewis Hamilton has conceded to taking great delight in silencing "certain individuals" who believed his F1 career to be finished as he endured a torrid debut season with Ferrari last year. Although not naming names, taking aim at those who dared to suggest he was on his way out, speaking to F1, Hamilton said: "When you have difficult years, there are a lot of questions all over the place.

"Ultimately, I saw certain individuals who haven't had anywhere near the success that I've had, just talking negatively, as they continue to do. And it felt great to be able to come back, to come into this season, and start strong, to be able to show that I still have what it takes to compete at the front. I'll continue to try and show up and deliver in that way."

‘Taking great delight in silencing certain individuals’;

https://racingnews365.com/lewis-hamilton-takes-aim-at-certain-individuals-after-2025-horror

[Fortitude]

Red Bull tipped to be the ‘big surprise’ in Miami after what Max Verstappen did during April break.
Red Bull have been tipped as the ‘big surprise’ of the Miami Grand Prix thanks to what Max Verstappen did during Formula 1’s April break.
28 Apr 2026
Marcus Chan
F1 Oversteer

Speaking on the recent episode of the RacingNews365 podcast, Dutch racing driver Tom Coronel claimed that Red Bull could be the ‘big surprise’ of the Miami Grand Prix. The Dutchman stated that Verstappen was able to race during the break due to his GT3 commitments, but other F1 drivers have ‘taken on a bit of rust’. Coronel explained: “Red Bull, one hundred per cent. Max was able to continue driving well, so he is still sharp. The rest has taken on some rust.”

“And we know that many changes have been made to the RB22, including weight reduction. So Red Bull are just the big surprise.” Dutch F1 journalist Ruud Dimmers also agreed with Coronel as he stated that the Red Bull RB22 ‘can’t get any worse’. He said: “At Red Bull it just can’t get any worse. If that car is a little better again and Max feels more comfortable in it, he will also perform better again.”

“The rest has taken on some rust”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/red-bull-tipped-to-be-the-big-surprise-in-miami-after-what-max-verstappen-did-during-april-break/


Red Bull ready ‘central’ Miami Grand Prix upgrades to address ‘fundamental’ RB22 weight disadvantage
28 Apr 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Weight reduction is ‘central’ to Red Bull’s Miami Grand Prix upgrade plan. Verstappen called his Red Bull “undriveable” in Japan owing to its chronic balance problems, while Hadjar branded the RB22’s chassis “terrible”. They encountered understeer on turn-in, oversteer under acceleration, and Red Bull’s 2026 F1 regulations chassis is also overweight.

So, according to RacingNews365, Red Bull have made reducing the weight of the RB22 with their upgrades at the Miami GP the ‘central’ part of their plan. It is a ‘fundamental’ issue as Verstappen and Hadjar are at a disadvantage in several ways that Red Bull hope to address. Red Bull have used the break since the Japanese Grand Prix to design new components that look ‘identical’ but weigh a lot less than before. The team hope that the updates make their chassis lighter and also improve their energy efficiency, before any major changes are ready.

It has been said since the 2026 season started in Australia in March that the Red Bull RB22 is around 10kg overweight, which equates to a loss of almost three-tenths of a second per lap. Hadjar qualified P3 in Australia, but was 0.785s off the pole position time George Russell set. Qualifying proved to be a much bigger problem for Red Bull in China and Japan, with Alpine ace Pierre Gasly able to out-qualify Verstappen and Hadjar at both rounds. Verstappen in P8 was 0.938s off pole in China as the lead Red Bull and Hadjar was 1.2s off pole in P8 in Japan. Verstappen even failed to reach a Q3 session at Suzuka for the first time since 2015 with his P11 during qualifying for the 2026 Japanese GP.

‘Weight reduction is central’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/red-bull-ready-central-miami-grand-prix-upgrades-to-address-fundamental-rb22-weight-disadvantage/


Hamilton tipped to unleash Ferrari surge amid predicted Miami breakthrough
28 Apr 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Martin Brundle has backed Lewis Hamilton to deliver stronger results and potentially mount a race-winning challenge, predicting that Scuderia Ferrari will be more competitive at the Miami Grand Prix.

“Lewis clearly enjoys these cars much more. Ferrari is more competitive, and I think again will make a big step for Miami. Lewis obviously prefers this type of car to the seasons we had with the ground-effect cars that were smashing against the ground and were quite brutal things; it didn’t seem to suit his style. But just his mood and the way he’s going about it, he just seems a lot happier because Ferrari is more competitive,” Brundle said to Sky Sports News.

Hamilton must first overcome teammate Charles Leclerc if he is to mount a serious challenge, while still refusing to rule out race wins for the Briton. “He’s got to beat Charles Leclerc if he’s going to win the world championship in the other Ferrari, and others. Let’s see if he can sustain that. If there’s a sniff of a victory, I think Lewis is still very much capable of taking that,” he concluded.
‘Hamilton tipped to unleash Ferrari surge’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/hamilton-tipped-to-unleash-ferrari-surge-amid-predicted-miami-breakthrough


Martin Brundle expects F1’s rule changes for Miami Grand Prix to be ‘story of the season’
28 Apr 2026
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer

F1 icon Martin Brundle was initially asked if he thinks the amendments have the potential to change the competitive order of the grid, to which he replied, “Yes, I think it can. It’s more like a relaunch of the season, frankly, to get it right. I think it’s going to be the story of the season, actually, with such a massive change that we’ve had for 2026. So, I’m really looking forward to it.” Brundle was also asked whether he thinks it will satisfy the grid’s occupants, given the vocal outcry from some of F1’s biggest stars regarding the 2026 ruleset.

“It’s quite clear that the drivers who have got fast cars and are winning are somewhat more satisfied than those drivers who are not,” Brundle answered. “So, uh, I guess that’ll carry on. There’s always a huge amount of unintended consequences in anything you change in Formula 1; it’s a pretty complex business. So what we are in the process of is smoothing out the power delivery of these complex hybrid cars, and I think it will be a step forward, as the drivers are concerned about closing speeds.”

“We always did have that sort of thing; if somebody missed a gear in front of you, for example, back in the day when you shifted your own gears or suddenly blew up. But back then, you could smell a little bit of oil or hear the engine or whatever. Obviously, you can’t see that now, with a lot of it being it battery driven. So yes, in summary, it will improve the racing. It will improve the cars, but I’m sure there’s more to be done yet.”

“There’s always a huge amount of unintended consequences”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/martin-brundle-expects-f1s-rule-changes-for-miami-grand-prix-to-be-story-of-the-season/


FIA confirms rejection of proposed radical F1 engine solution
28 Apr 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

The FIA has confirmed it has rejected a proposal to cut power to Formula 1‘s much-maligned 2026 power units ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix. Detailing the rationale, Tombazis confirmed the rejected proposal cut could have lessened reliance on energy deployment. “We knew that from day one of these regulations, and I think we’ve worked to mitigate a lot of these compromises.”

“One of the reasons it hasn’t been right there from the start, is that the cars are going a bit faster, have found a bit more downforce than we were expecting, and therefore their energy recovered during braking is a bit lower than it would normally be, so we have a bit more of a challenge than we would have liked to have.”

“We did propose the reduction of power about a year ago, and it was rejected. The point there was that we were going to wait for the first few races, which is what we did. Now, is that the final time we talk about it? I don’t think so. We will continue monitoring whether there will be extra additions that would have to be further discussed.”

“We will continue monitoring”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/28/fia-confirms-rejection-of-radical-f1-engine-solution/


Aston Martin hit with blunt Honda verdict ahead of Miami Grand Prix
28 Apr 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Honda chief Shintaro Orihara has delivered a measured outlook on what to expect from Aston Martin at the Florida event. “It has been a long but intense period between the races, with lots of work happening in collaboration with the Aston Martin team both in Japan and in the UK.”

“The Japanese Grand Prix showed that the work is going in the right direction and helped us to find the motivation to keep pushing forward. After that race, we took the opportunity to keep one of the AMR26 cars on site for further static testing in Sakura for the first time, focusing our efforts on reducing vibrations and thus increasing reliability.”

“We have made some progress, allowing us to implement further countermeasures in Miami and later in the season. Realistically, this progress will not have a visible impact on the power unit performance on track, so we shouldn’t be expecting big jumps forward here,” he said via a press statement.

‘Hit with blunt Honda verdict’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/aston-martin-hit-with-blunt-honda-verdict-ahead-of-miami-grand-prix

[Fortitude]

The Miami Grand Prix is at serious risk of being cancelled.
Florida is predicted to suffer heavy rainfall during the race weekend with thunderstorms threatening to disrupt proceedings.
30 Apr 2026
Rosie Cowell
Give Me Sport

There is a 70% chance of rain looming, coinciding with the start of the race. Rain after lights out always adds an intriguing jeopardy, testing the drivers' skills and nerve to remain on the circuit. However, there's a thin line between challenging and dangerous and the FIA will need to strike that balance carefully.

The intensity of the rainfall is causing concern, as if it is too extreme, the FIA helicopter will struggle as it must be able to take off in an emergency. There is good reason for this. Jules Bianchi's death at Suzuka in 2014 stemmed from his loss of control in the wet, which caused him to collide with a recovery vehicle. The visibility had been extremely limited, so Bianchi was taken to hospital by ambulance despite the confirmation that this would impact his prognosis.

The racing world was devastated by the loss of the 25-year-old, with the FIA implementing a measure to ensure a helicopter can always escort drivers to the nearest specialist centre in the case of surgery or specialist treatment being required. In the past, the FIA have seen fit to cancel practice and qualifying sessions if this regulation cannot be fulfilled. The weather looks to be more settled for Friday and Saturday, but lingering doubts are still cast over the race.

‘Serious risk of being cancelled’;

https://www.givemesport.com/miami-grand-prix-f1-cancelled-risk/


Miami Grand Prix ‘far from certain’ to take place as planned with ‘severe thunderstorms’ forecast
29 Apr 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

The Miami Grand Prix is under threat due to Sunday’s weather forecast, according to a report from the German press. According to sport.de, ‘alarm bells are ringing’ over the forecast for this weekend. Strong winds and ‘severe thunderstorms’ are due to hit the area on Sunday. Conditions are expected to ‘worsen’ in the afternoon and the race is currently scheduled for 4pm.

Last year, the F1 Sprint at Miami was delayed after complaints from the drivers on the formation lap. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed on his way out of the pits due to aquaplaning. The 2026 cars haven’t yet raced in wet weather. As part of the pre-Miami changes, maximum energy deployment will be reduced in the rain to improve car control. Teams can also set their tyre blankets to a higher temperature, which should mean that the initial grip level is higher.

‘Alarm bells are ringing’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/miami-grand-prix-far-from-certain-to-take-place-as-planned-with-severe-thunderstorms-forecast/


The potential cancellation threat looming over F1 Miami GP
29 Apr 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

The 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix is at risk of cancellation due to adverse weather conditions descending on the Sunshine State. The potential of adverse weather conditions is threatening to derail the weekend before a wheel has turned in anger. Heavy rain including thunderstorms is forecast to fall at the Miami International Autodrome, with a 70 per cent chance of rain at the start, which could spice up the action.

Should the rain intensity prove to be as bad as predicted, this will cause issues for the FIA helicopter, as it must always be ready to take off in an emergency. Practice and qualifying sessions in previous seasons have been cancelled in the past, as should a driver require surgery or specialist care, it is imperative that the helicopter can take a driver away to the nearest specialist centre.

‘Risk of cancellation’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/04/29/the-potential-cancellation-threat-looming-over-f1-miami-gp/


F1 Miami Grand Prix weather: Rain set to dampen return to action
The fulll weather forecast for the Miami Grand Prix
29 Apr 2026
Sam Hall
Crash.Net

Formula 1 returns to action this weekend with the Miami Grand Prix, with rain set to fall on race day. Miami has previously thrown up some spectacular action when the weather has been involved, and it looks likely that this will be the case once again.

Adding a further complication, the weekend will be run to a sprint format, giving teams just one practice session to get the car setups sorted, while also learning the effect that a number of tweaks to the regulations will have on their energy deployment, and cars in a wider sense. As a result of this elongated to-do list, practice has been extended by 30 minutes, to a 90-minute duration.

With the threat of thunderstorms that could affect the planned schedule on Sunday, an FIA spokesperson told Crash.net: "We are closely monitoring the weather forecast for this weekend. Having faced a similar situation last year in Miami with threats of thunderstorms, we have a contingency plan in place and will activate it if needed to minimise disruption to the on-track programme."

‘Threat of thunderstorms’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1093735/1/f1-miami-grand-prix-rain-set-dampen-return-action


Extreme conditions forecast for Miami GP as McLaren highlight 'significant step' - RacingNews365 Review
Catch up on the biggest news stories of the day with the RacingNews365 Review!
29 Apr 2026
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

The Miami Grand Prix is facing the increased possibility of disruption due to heavy thunderstorms ahead of Sunday's race and F1's return to action. At the time of writing, 0600 ET/ 1100 BST, on Wednesday, April 29th, the current forecasts are for heavy thunderstorms to blow through the city on Sunday morning ahead of a 16:00 local time start of round four of the 2026 season.

McLaren will make a "significant step" forward in unlocking performance from its Mercedes F1 power unit in Miami, after early teething troubles. In the first three races of the season, the team felt it was on the backfoot in understanding its Mercedes HPP unit, with both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri failing to start the Chinese GP owing to power unit electrical glitches pre-race.

'Significant step';

https://racingnews365.com/extreme-conditions-forecast-for-miami-gp-as-mclaren-highlight-significant-step-racingnews365-review


What is the weather forecast for the Miami Grand Prix?
The weather forecast is in ahead of the fourth race weekend of the season from Miami.
29 Apr 2026
Formula One - Official Site

SUNDAY, MAY 03 – RACE
Conditions: Race day is expected to experience warm conditions. Temperatures will range from 22°C in the early hours to a peak of 28°C, with a track temperature of 37°C. Winds will blow at an average of 10.4 km/h, gusting up to 36 km/h, and drivers should prepare for fluctuating conditions due to possible showers and changing wind speeds.
Maximum temperature expected: 28 Celsius
Minimum temperature expected: 22 Celsius
Chance of rain: 30%

‘The weather forecast’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/what-is-the-weather-forecast-for-the-2026-miami-grand-prix.DHl3ULhK3rExPLuiqrbTW


FIA confirms Boost Mode ban for wet races before Miami GP
30 April 2026
Jawad Yaqubon
Motorsport Week

The FIA has confirmed an immediate ban on boost mode usage in wet conditions ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, following driver concerns over the behaviour of the 2026 Formula 1 cars in low-grip environments. The revision removes a key overtaking tool whenever track conditions are classified as wet. A new technical directive states that boost mode “will be inhibited and is not allowed” in these scenarios, eliminating access to a system capable of delivering up to 350kW of additional power.

The decision is linked to the characteristics of the current hybrid power units, which produce immediate torque through their electrical systems. Drivers have reported that this delivery can trigger instability, particularly on corner exit, with the risk amplified on damp or wet surfaces. With boost removed, energy deployment in wet conditions will instead be controlled through standardised engine maps rather than driver-activated systems. This change is intended to produce a more predictable power curve and reduce sudden spikes in acceleration.

‘Immediate ban on boost mode usage in wet conditions’;

https://f1chronicle.com/fia-ban-boost-mode-for-wet-races/?nowprocket=1

[Fortitude]

Kimi Antonelli expects Mercedes' rivals to close gap at Miami GP.
Kimi Antonelli holds the top spot in the Formula 1 Drivers' Championship standings, but the youngster appears to hold no illusions that he and Mercedes will run away from the pack.
30 April 2026
Field Level Media
Miami Herald

Kimi Antonelli spoke to reporters Thursday ahead of the Miami Grand Prix and predicted a close battle when the rubber hits the road this Sunday. "It's going to be a very interesting weekend for us," the 19-year-old Italian said. "Let's see how we do. For sure, (our rivals are) going to get closer, and we might have to fight quite a bit more this weekend, but we'll do our best and we're going to keep our heads down.”

"On my side, I'm going to try to maximize the performance in the car, I'm going to do my best and we'll see what the result will be." Antonelli said Mercedes has been clear with both drivers about how they're expected to handle themselves as they jostle for a championship. "They said we can race each other, but obviously with respect, not doing any stupid things between each other," Antonelli said.

"At the end of the day... We race for each other, we want to win, we want to be the best, but at the same time we want the best for the team as well. Me and George are very well aware that we can race each other, but with respect, and without trying to do any stupid things. The team has given us the green light, because they want to give both of us the same opportunity. They said we can race each other, but just be clean."

"It's going to be a very interesting weekend for us";

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nascar-auto-racing/article315594972.html#storylink=mainstage_card


Why lift and coast in qualifying 'should no longer be a thing' at the Miami GP
30 Apr 2026
Henry Eccles
GPblog.com

McLaren's technical director for performance, Mark Temple, has explained why drivers' frustrations with having to lift and coast during qualifying should be eased thanks to the latest tweaks introduced for this weekend's Miami Grand Prix. After a series of April meetings, F1 stakeholders agreed on a set of revised rules to be introduced in Miami, addressing concerns around qualifying, racing, and safety. Among the changes are a reduced recharge in qualifying, increased super-clipping power, a boost cap of +150 kW, as well as aids to slow race starts.

The former two - a reduced harvesting limit from eight megajoules (MJ) to seven, and an increase in super-clipping power from 250kW to 350 - are changes focused on by McLaren's Temple, who believes the need to lift and coast in qualifying should now be a thing of the past. "The biggest impact is from a driving point of view. The idea is to get rid of some of these things that the drivers don't like doing in qualifying. The idea of the car coasting for a long period of time into the high-speed chicane rather than a more natural feeling of staying on full throttle and then braking harder.”

"There are two parts to it. One of them is what we call lift and coast, which should no longer be a thing in qualifying, which is where the driver actually lifted off the throttle and then coasted into the braking zone and then hit the brakes. We've now got a situation where it's more efficient and that's controlled by the power unit, so the driver can stay at full throttle and the power unit will recover the energy, straight mode will stay active, so the car slows down less."

“Get rid of some of these things that the drivers don't like doing in qualifying”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/why-lift-and-coast-in-qualifying-should-no-longer-be-a-thing-at-the-miami-gp


Alonso fires reality check as FIA rolls out regulation changes in Miami
30 Apr 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Fernando Alonso has struck a pessimistic tone about the impact of the changes made to F1’s regulations ahead of the Miami Grand Prix weekend. Speaking to GPblog and other media at the Miami Grand Prix media day, the Aston Martin driver said: “Let’s wait and see. I think on the regulation change, let’s wait and see. I don’t think that it will completely change what we saw in the first three races, to be honest. This power unit and these regulations will always reward going slower in the corners, because you have more energy.”

“So the small tweaks can improve a little bit the clipping, which, again, I’m not sure. If we go back to Suzuka, where I spoke with the team and we race with the current rules, we will have more clipping than what we had in Suzuka, so it’s a little bit contradictory what I read in the last few weeks and what I heard today.” The two-time world champion doubled down on his cautious stance, stressing that a clearer assessment will only come once he gets behind the wheel. “That’s why I need to see on track how it feels for us in particular.”

‘Alonso fires reality check’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/alonso-fires-reality-check-as-fia-rolls-out-regulation-changes-in-miami


Steiner’s bold Verstappen prediction ahead of the Miami GP
30 Apr 2026
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen will join Kimi Antonelli and George Russell on the Miami Grand Prix podium, but he’ll be behind the Mercedes team-mates. That’s former Haas team boss Guenther Steiner’s bold prediction for this weekend’s wet race in the Sunshine State.

Four races into the Formula 1 season, and it seems everyone but Steiner is predicting a big reset in the championship. Steiner, though, reckons Mercedes will still come out on top with Red Bull and Verstappen making big gains to join the team-mates on the podium.

‘Steiner’s bold Verstappen prediction’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/miami-grand-prix-2026-steiner-mercedes-1-2-verstappen-podium


Red Bull label Miami GP a 'season reboot' after early 2026 struggles
30 Apr 2026
Henry Eccles
GPblog.com

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has said the upcoming Miami GP represents a "reboot for the season"… In a Red Bull press release, Mekies said: "Everyone at Oracle Red Bull Racing is excited to be going racing again after the enforced break. There is no denying that these past few weeks have proved useful for teams, the FIA and Formula 1: for the teams to further develop these very new cars and for all three parties to work together to fine tune the regulations based on learnings from the first three Grands Prix."

The Red Bull boss focused on the 'season reboot' at Miami with a degree of optimism, highlighting both Verstappen and Hadjar's role during the five-week hiatus, but wary that rivals will also have had the time to develop more competitive 2026 challengers. Mekies continued: "Effectively, Miami will be a reboot for the season, after this unexpected and exceptionally long hiatus. As for ourselves, everyone has been working flat out in Milton Keynes on the Chassis side and PU side, with Max and Isack also involved.”

"We do not expect to have solved all our issues in one go, however we certainly aim to give Max and Isack a car they will feel more comfortable to push with. Ultimately only the Miami track will reveal the answer to how good a job we have done and how much we still need to find."
Mekies concluded with a special nod to the Miami GP as the first American race for the new Red Bull Ford power unit partnership. "The Miami GP is also the first of three races to be held in the USA this season and is therefore a significant moment for us, as Red Bull Ford Powertrains makes its North American debut."

'Season reboot';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/red-bull-label-miami-gp-a-season-reboot-after-early-2026-struggles


Leclerc cools hype around upgrade wave with brutal Miami pecking order claim
30 Apr 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Speaking to GPblog, among others, Charles Leclerc suggested that while gaps between teams may narrow, a significant change in the overall hierarchy is unlikely. “It’s going to be pretty unusual to see so many upgrades on so many different teams in a season’s regulations, also for the way the season has been with the five-week break. So I’m pretty sure most people will have kind of new cars here. Whether it will change significantly the pecking order that we have seen since the beginning of the year, I doubt it. We might see fewer or more gaps between some teams. But I don’t know,” Leclerc said.

“I mean, at least for us, there’s McLaren. That was very close in the last few weeks, and last weekend, so I think the package will make a difference on that, hopefully for us, for the better. But when it comes to going and getting Mercedes, I think they were too far ahead for us to actually catch them, only with what we are bringing here. But it’s going to be very interesting. I think it’s going to dictate a lot of what’s going on after that because there will be new directions of development and new things that we might want to explore after the weekend and after having analysed what the other teams will bring.”

‘Leclerc cools hype around upgrade wave’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/leclerc-cools-hype-around-upgrade-wave-with-brutal-miami-pecking-order-claim

[Fortitude]

Miami GP: Leclerc edges Verstappen in single practice session.
Miami Grand Prix practice delivered an early suggestion that that Formula 1’s competitive order may be far from settled, as Charles Leclerc edged out Max Verstappen in a frenetic, extended opening session –while early trouble struck championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
01/05/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

The real pace, however, only emerged in the closing stages. Verstappen was the first to show his hand on soft tyres, jumping to the top with a 1m29.776s. But his advantage was short-lived. Leclerc responded immediately, first reclaiming P1 and then sealing it with a 1m29.310s – aided by a well-timed tow from Lando Norris down the back straight.

Verstappen improved again late on to a 1m29.607s, but it left him 0.297s adrift, settling for second after a session that had earlier seen him complain over the radio about poor gear shifts. Behind the leading duo, Oscar Piastri ensured three different teams occupied the top three, underlining the competitive spread. His 1m29.759s kept McLaren firmly in the mix. Leclerc’s Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton followed in fourth, less than half a second off the pace, reinforcing the Scuderia’s encouraging start to the weekend.

For Mercedes, dominant winners of the season’s opening three races, the session proved far less straightforward. Antonelli — fastest overall in the championship standings — could only manage fifth with a 1m30.079s, set on hard tyres before a power unit issue curtailed his running and ruled him out of the crucial soft-tyre phase. Team-mate George Russell slotted into sixth, just behind Antonelli, as Mercedes lacked the final punch seen from Ferrari and Red Bull.

‘Formula 1’s competitive order may be far from settled’;

https://f1i.com/news/563465-miami-gp-leclerc-edges-verstappen-in-single-practice-session.html


Miami GP: Leclerc edges Verstappen in single practice session
01/05/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Full results from Free Practice 1 for the Miami Grand Prix at the Miami International Autodrome, round 4 of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship.

2026 Miami Grand Prix - Free Practice 1 results
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:29.310s 41
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.297s 41
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.448s 35
4 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.467s 35
5 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.769s 24
6 George Russell Mercedes +0.790s 34
7 Lando Norris McLaren +0.898s 35
8 Pierre Gasly Alpine +1.277s 34
9 Isack Hadjar Red Bull +1.563s 40
10 Carlos Sainz Williams +1.620s 37

‘Free Practice 1 results’;

https://f1i.com/news/563465-miami-gp-leclerc-edges-verstappen-in-single-practice-session.html


Everything that happened in extended, sole Miami GP F1 practice
01 May 2026
SAMARTH KANAL
The Race

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the fastest time of an extended 90-minute first practice session for the 2026 Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix, where 10 of the 11 teams have declared upgrades. Most of the session was spent conducting long runs on hard and medium compounds, and evaluating those upgrades, before the field re-emerged on softs for qualifying runs in the final quarter of an hour. Ferrari looked assured, Leclerc consolidating his advantage on hards to post the session's best time, a 1m 29.310s, on his second push lap on the softest compound.

On hard tyres, Leclerc had been fastest with a time of 1m29.855s, ahead of Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and the other Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton. Red Bull's Max Verstappen was second fastest, 0.297s off Leclerc, and the four-time F1 champion looked far more assured than Red Bull team-mate Isaac Hadjar who was ninth, 1.563s off the lead. McLaren declared numerous performance upgrades and it was an encouraging session for the team, with Oscar Piastri 0.448s off the lead in third and Lando Norris 0.898s off top spot in seventh - though he'd surely have been higher up had he not had to abort a lap to avoid Alex Albon's Williams at the hairpin.

Between them were the two Mercedes: Antonelli fifth overall and George Russell sixth - both just over three quarters of a second off the pace. Antonelli had to step out of the car before enjoying any soft-tyre running due to a power unit issue and Russell was anonymous. Alpine was again best of the rest with Pierre Gasly eighth fastest, three places ahead of team-mate Franco Colapinto. They were 1.277s and 1.705s off respectively. Carlos Sainz completed the top 10 for Williams with Albon 12th, the pair separated by under a tenth.

‘The Race Analysis’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/miami-gp-f1-2026-fp1-everything-that-happened/


Miami Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc lands first blow in upgraded Ferrari
1 May 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Charles Leclerc and Ferrari set the pace as F1 2026 resumed with Free Practice 1 at the Miami Grand Prix. Max Verstappen finished an encouraging second for Red Bull, the team debuting its take on Ferrari’s ‘macarena’ rear wing. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completed the top three, while Championship leader Kimi Antonelli missed out on a soft tyre run.

There were upgrades galore for Miami. Ferrari has introduced the most of any team with 11. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc wasted no time hitting the Miami track in the updated SF-26 machines. Audi’s new racing director Allan McNish was on the pit wall for the first time, as Audi enters post-Jonathan Wheatley life.

A 1:30.688 from Lando Norris in the McLaren served as an early benchmark. Hamilton’s Ferrari was getting snappy. Pierre Gasly’s Alpine was smelling strange. George Russell wanted some strange turbo noises investigating, as he did his best impression of a steam train on the radio to demonstrate. The hard compound tyre was proving popular in the early stages of FP1.

‘Charles Leclerc lands first blow’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/miami-grand-prix-2026-fp1-report


Every F1 team except Aston Martin brings car upgrades to Miami Grand Prix
1st May 2026
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

All bar one of the 11 Formula 1 teams have brought upgrades for the first event event in five weeks. e only team which has declared no upgrades to its chassis for this weekend’s race is Aston Martin, which has been frustrated by power unit vibration problems since the season began. Honda said it will implement new “countermeasures” to address those problems this weekend.

Championship leaders Mercedes have only brought a modest revision to their W17. Its changes are limited to a reshaped exhaust tailpipes and front brake drums to give minor gains in downforce. In contrast McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari have declared extensive revisions to their cars. Ferrari listed no fewer than 11 different changes to their SF-26. These include revisions to the floor, suspension, rear wing and other surface bodywork as part of a package to generate more downforce and make it more efficient in Straight Mode.

Red Bull have tested a version of Ferrari’s novel rotating rear wing which they have also brought to Miami. The have also reshaped the sidepods of their RB22 and made other changes to the front wing and floor in order to improve the airflow around it. Most of McLaren’s revisions are also aimed at improving their car’s aerodynamic performance. They have made extensive changes to the MCL40’s floor which is designed to work in conjunction with other, more minor changes to improve the car’s performance “across all conditions”.

‘McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari have declared extensive revisions to their cars’;

https://www.racefans.net/2026/05/01/every-f1-team-except-aston-martin-brings-car-upgrades-to-miami-grand-prix/


Oscar Piastri tempers expectations on McLaren's upgrades at Miami GP
1 May 2026
Henry Eccles
GPblog.com

Oscar Piastri has tempered expectations surrounding the extensive upgrade package brought by McLaren to this weekend's Miami GP. The Aussie has said while he hopes to be faster in the US, "it's not going to be enough to challenge Mercedes this weekend." Speaking to media, including GPblog, in Miami, the 25-year-old was asked on what he expects from his team's upgrades this weekend.

He said: "I think hopefully we’ll be faster. Obviously, that’s the plan. We’ll have to wait and see where exactly we come out. I think it’s, again, a step in the right direction for us. It’s not going to be enough to challenge Mercedes this weekend, I don’t think, but it’s definitely in the right direction. Obviously, we’re expecting a lot of other teams to bring upgrades as well, so hopefully ours are better than theirs.”

"That’s the plan. But I think the motivation and the confidence in the team at the moment is high. I think we’re on a good trajectory again. And I think Japan was nice to go into the break with a bit of confidence in showing our potential and hopefully we’ve just added to that now. So hopefully it’s a good step forward."

‘Oscar Piastri tempers expectations’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/oscar-piastri-tempers-expectations-on-mclarens-upgrades-at-miami-gp

[Fortitude]

Miami GP: Norris beats Antonelli to Sprint Qualifying pole.
Lando Norris signaled a potential shift in the 2026 running order by securing Sprint pole at the Miami International Autodrome.
01/05/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Driving a heavily revised McLaren, the reigning champion halted the early-season dominance of Mercedes to claim the top spot for Saturday’s sprint race. After a month-long hiatus, the grid arrived in Florida sporting various development paths. While Mercedes opted to delay its major updates, McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull arrived with significant aerodynamic overhauls. This shift in momentum was evident as early as SQ1, where Norris edged out Charles Leclerc by a mere 0.010s.

The session also served as the debut for the FIA’s mid-season rules refinement. Designed to reduce excessive energy management and allow drivers to push closer to the limit, the new regulations saw a more aggressive approach from the leaders, even if the tight, technical confines of the Hard Rock Stadium circuit offered a unique challenge for the new systems. In the mid-field, Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon narrowly escaped the first cut but found themselves eliminated in SQ2.

They were joined on the sidelines by the Audi pairing of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg, with the young Brazilian missing out on the top ten by just two-hundredths of a second. As the sun beat down on the Miami asphalt, SQ3 transformed into a high-stakes, single-lap gamble. With the field switching to soft tires, the drivers held their nerve until the final minutes. Norris, returning to the scene of his first career victory, delivered a clinical 1m27.869s to secure the front of the grid.

‘Potential shift in the 2026 running order’;

https://f1i.com/news/563487-miami-gp-norris-beats-antonelli-to-sprint-qualifying-pole.html


Miami Grand Prix results: Lando Norris defeats Mercedes to kickstart F1 2026 title defence
1 May 2026
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

Sprint Qualifying 3 Results
1. 1. Lando Norris McLaren 1:27.869
2. 2. Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.222
3. 3. Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.239
4. 4. Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.370
5. 5. Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.592
6. 6. George Russell Mercedes +0.624
7. 7. Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.749
8. 8. Franco Colapinto Alpine +1.451
9. 9. Isack Hadjar Red Bull +1.553
10. 10. Pierre Gasly Alpine +1.605

‘Sprint Qualifying 3 Results’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-results-2026-miami-grand-prix-sprint-qualifying


Lando Norris learns stewards' verdict after Miami GP sprint pole threat
Lando Norris was summoned to see the F1 stewards after sprint qualifying on Friday.
2 May 2026
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

Lando Norris has avoided a penalty for the Miami Grand Prix Sprint race after being summoned to the stewards on Friday evening. However, his achievement was soon clouded in doubt as the stewards flagged Norris for “driving unnecessarily slowly” at Turn 17, potentially blocking Nico Hulkenberg's Audi.

In the stewards verdict, they said: "Car 1 (Norris) failed to stay below the required time limit as stipulated by the Race Director’s Competition Notes. "Car 1 was within the approved delta time for almost the whole lap until just before Turn 17, where he was suddenly passed by Car 27.”

"That then forced Car 1 to react to create a necessary and appropriate gap to set up a push lap. The Stewards considered this an extenuating circumstance and determined that he did not drive unnecessarily slowly."

‘Lando Norris has avoided a penalty’;

https://racingnews365.com/lando-norris-learns-stewards-verdict-after-miami-gp-sprint-pole-threat


McLaren “did a very big step forward” with Miami GP upgrade, says Leclerc
1st May 2026
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Charles Leclerc was impressed by improvement McLaren have made after Lando Norris took pole position for the sprint race. “[Our] upgrades are fine, it’s just that everybody brought upgrades,” said Leclerc after qualifying fourth behind the two McLarens and Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes.

“We kind of expected that situation where Mercedes is probably still the car to beat. McLaren did a very big step forward, but I felt like they didn’t really optimise their first races of the season, so they were always there, but they didn’t put everything together. On our side, we have just been, today particularly, we’ve struggled with tyres, Medium were working very well. On the soft it wasn’t a nice feeling, so on that we’ve got to look at it.”

However Leclerc is confident Ferrari can perform better over the rest of the weekend. “We know that in the race pace we are stronger,” he said, “but in terms of qualifying there’s still some work to be done. I think in qualifying [for the grand prix] tomorrow we can try and fine-tune a little bit and find a bit of performance,” he added. “But I hope that in the race we can come back in the front. We’ve got the pace to do that, let’s just see if we are able to overtake.”

“McLaren did a very big step forward”;

https://www.racefans.net/2026/05/01/mclaren-did-a-very-big-step-forward-with-miami-gp-upgrade-says-leclerc/


McLaren strike back at Mercedes as Charles Leclerc deals Ferrari blow - RacingNews365 Review
2 May 2026
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Charles Leclerc has dealt Ferrari a blow by revealing that he does not feel its upgrades for the Miami Grand Prix will be enough to catch Mercedes, despite most teams having "close to a new car".

The vast majority of teams, including Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull, are set to introduce major upgrade packages at the Miami International Autodrome, having capitalised on the unexpected five-week break.

‘McLaren strike back’;

https://racingnews365.com/mclaren-strike-back-at-mercedes-as-charles-leclerc-deals-ferrari-blow-racingnews365-review


Lewis Hamilton “hoped it would be better” for Ferrari in F1 Miami Grand Prix sprint qualifying
Lewis Hamilton was frustrated by Ferrari's lack of pace in sprint qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix.
1 May 2026
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Lewis Hamilton has admitted he “hoped it would be better” for Ferrari in sprint qualifying at Formula 1’s Miami Grand Prix. Ferrari brought an upgrade package to Miami and made a promising start to the weekend as Charles Leclerc topped the only practice session before his impressive pace translated into the early parts of sprint qualifying.

However, Ferrari’s challenge faltered when it mattered most in SQ3, with Leclerc ending up nearly four-tenths adrift in fourth place. Hamilton could only take seventh in the other Ferrari, a further three tenths behind his team-mate. After sprint qualifying, the seven-time world champion bemoaned the pace of his SF-26.

“We didn’t really know what to expect, I’d hoped that it would be better but yeah, the car didn’t feel particularly great,” Hamilton said. When asked if the team had expected the upgrades to perform better, the 41-year-old Briton replied: “I have no idea. I thought we would be stronger than we were today. We’ll have to do some work overnight to try and figure out why we’re not that quick.”

“Hoped it would be better”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1093967/1/lewis-hamilton-hoped-it-would-be-better-ferrari-f1-miami-sprint-qualifying


Stewards' decision shakes up the Miami GP Sprint grid
2 May 2026
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

Alexander Albon will start the Miami GP Sprint from P19 on the grid. The Williams driver should not have progressed to SQ2 after exceeding track limits, but this was only discovered after the session had already begun. Albon was through to SQ2 in Sprint Qualifying, but did so with a lap that exceeded track limits at Turn 6. In that session, he finished 14th, but will now be relegated to P19. As a result, Carlos Sainz, Arvid Lindblad, Liam Lawson, Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez all gain a position.

The stewards wrote in their verdict: "During SQ1, Car 23 clearly exceeded track limits in turn 6. However this was not reported to the Stewards until SQ2 had commenced. Car 23’s time recorded on the lap that track limits were exceeded was sufficient to place it in SQ2. Hence at the time the Stewards were informed that Car 23 had left the track and that its lap should have been potentially deleted, it was already on track in SQ2.”

"As this was an unusual situation, the Stewards have decided to settle the matter by exercising their authority under Article 11.7.1.a of the International Sporting Code by deleting the lap time of the lap in question in SQ1. As Car 23 should not have proceeded into SQ2, all lap times from SQ2 will consequently be deleted."

‘Stewards' decision shake up’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/breaking-news/stewards-decision-shakes-up-the-miami-gp-sprint-grid

[Fortitude]

Miami Grand Prix: Lando Norris wins Sprint; Hamilton and Verstappen fireworks.
Lando Norris took a comfortable victory at the Miami Grand Prix Sprint, as Oscar Piastri completed a McLaren one-two.
2 May 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

The top 16 all opted for medium tyres, as Lando Norris launched from pole. McLaren and Ferrari impressed on Friday with their upgraded machines. Norris got the perfect launch. Piastri was up one to establish a McLaren one-two. Championship leader Antonelli was swamped, dropping to fourth behind Leclerc.

Russell, and a wheel-to-wheel Hamilton and Verstappen followed. Hamilton emerged ahead, as Pierre Gasly got a clip on the outside of that duo. All three escaped without damage. Antonelli quickly went on the offensive, leaving Leclerc complaining about the Italian moving under braking. Norris, meanwhile, had put a second and a half between himself and Piastri by Lap 4.

Russell went for it into Turn 17, passing down the inside. Antonelli looked to retaliate down the main straight into Turn 1, but Russell held the inside line, and fifth place, for now. As Antonelli struck back at T11, Verstappen and Hamilton were in the run-off, Verstappen returning to the circuit ahead. Hamilton complained of an off-track pass, as Verstappen returned the position. Verstappen re-passed Hamilton at Turn 17, the Ferrari unable to respond into T1. Job done for Verstappen.

‘McLaren one-two’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/miami-grand-prix-2026-sprint-report


2026 Miami Grand Prix Sprint – Official F1 results (Miami Gardens)
2 May 2026
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

F1 2026 Miami Grand Prix, Sprint Results
1. Lando Norris, McLaren, 19 Laps
2. Oscar Pisatri, McLaren, +3.766
3. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, +6.251
4. George Russell, Mercedes, +12.951
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull, +13.639
6. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, +13.777
7. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, +21.665
8. Pierre Gasly, Alpine, +30.525
9. Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls, +35.346
10. Franco Colapinto, Alpine, +36.97

‘Sprint Results’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-results-2026-miami-grand-prix-sprint


Kimi Antonelli handed costly penalty after Miami Sprint rules breach
Kimi Antonelli's fourth-place finish from the Miami Grand Prix Sprint race was scrubbed after the penalty.
2 May 2026
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Kimi Antonelli was stripped of his fourth-place finish in the Miami Grand Prix Sprint race after a post-race FIA penalty. Crossing the line in fourth on the road, having started in second following another bad launch off the line, the championship leader was placed under investigation for breaching track limits, having already received the black and white flag for three warnings.

His fourth breach earned him a five-second time penalty, which dropped him from fourth to sixth in the final classification, and promoted George Russell and Max Verstappen up one place each. Instead of extending his points lead over Russell to 10 points, Antonelli now leads by seven points, with 75 to his name versus 68 for Russell.

‘Costly penalty’;

https://racingnews365.com/kimi-antonelli-handed-costly-penalty-after-miami-sprint-rules-breach


McLaren secure Miami GP one-two, as Norris dominates ahead of Ferrari and Mercedes
2 May 2026
Henry Eccles
GPblog.com

McLaren have secured their first one-two race finish of the season at the Miami GP Sprint, after Lando Norris got away from the slow-starting Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, while Oscar Piastri fended off Charles Leclerc for P2. It was another slow start for Kimi Antonelli, who fell back to P4 behind Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc, respectively. Lando Norris kept his Pole lead at the start, and made a 1.5s gap on his McLaren teammate by Lap Five.

Max Verstappen dropped back a couple of places from P5 in the opening stages, coming close to contact with old rival Lewis Hamilton, who passed him for P6. Speaking of close contact, Cadillac's Sergio Perez made an impressive start at the manufacturer's home race - making moves on Liam Lawson, Alex Albon, and attacking the Williams duo.

On Lap Seven, the Mercedes pair clashed, with George Russell taking Antonelli at Turn 17. But it was only a lap later until Antonelli had P4 back at Turn 11, with Hamilton and Verstappen going off the just behind them. Verstappen got ahead of the Ferrari driver in the move, but quickly gave the spot back. On Lap 9, Verstappen got the move done cleanly enough this time at Turn 17, the Briton without the answers to fight back for P6. All of this battling behind was good news for the McLaren drivers and Leclerc, with the top three eking out a three second gap to P4's Antonelli.

‘Norris dominates’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/breaking-news/mclaren-secure-miami-gp-one-two-as-norris-dominates-ahead-of-ferrari-and-mercedes


Lando Norris wins F1 Miami sprint as points leader Kimi Antonelli penalised
Lando Norris triumphs to Miami Grand Prix sprint race win ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri.
2 May 2026
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Lando Norris won the Miami Grand Prix sprint race ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton reignited their old Formula 1 rivalry. Reigning world champion Norris, who became the first non-Mercedes driver to take a pole position in 2026 on Friday, led from start to finish and took a controlled victory in the 19-lap sprint race ahead of Piastri, who kept Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at bay to secure a McLaren one-two.

It was a bad day for championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who lost early ground with another dreadful start. The Italian teenager beat Mercedes team-mate George Russell on the road to take fourth, but was handed a five-second penalty after the chequered flag for repeated track limits infringements. That dropped Antonelli to sixth on the road, behind Russell and Verstappen. In what was a fairly uneventful sprint race, Verstappen and Hamilton engaged in arguably the most entertaining on-track battle.

The pair somehow didn’t crash as they ran side-by-side through the opening sequence of corners at the start, before Hamilton snuck past with an overtake that was missed by the TV cameras. Verstappen barged back ahead of Hamilton at Turn 17 but had to give the place back after going off track to complete his move on his great title rival. On the following lap, the four-time world champion was able to pull off a clean pass on Hamilton to seal the position and conclude a thrilling battle.

‘Lando Norris triumphs’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1094092/1/lando-norris-wins-f1-miami-sprint-max-verstappen-and-lewis-hamilton-duel


2026 F1 championship standings after Miami GP Sprint
Find out how the 2026 F1 Miami Grand Prix Sprint has affected the drivers' and constructors' championship standings!
2 May 2026
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Kimi Antonelli saw his championship lead eaten into after the Miami sprint race after being handed a post-race penalty. The Italian was found guilty of track limits, and lost two positions to George Russell and Max Verstappen.

The Mercedes duo crossed the line in fourth and fifth, respectively, before the penalty was applied, behind the front trio of Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc. In the team's standings, Mercedes still holds a strong lead out front, while Red Bull has moved itself up the order.

# Driver Team Points
1 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 75
2 George Russell Mercedes 68
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 55
4 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 43
5 Lando Norris McLaren 33
6 Oscar Piastri McLaren 28
7 Oliver Bearman Haas F1 Team 17
8 Pierre Gasly Alpine F1 Team 16
9 Max Verstappen Red Bull 16
10 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls 10

‘2026 F1 championship standings’;

https://racingnews365.com/2026-f1-championship-standings-after-miami-gp-sprint

[Fortitude]

Antonelli survives surprise Verstappen challenge for Miami GP pole.
Formula 1 world championship leader Kimi Antonelli resisted a surprise challenge from Max Verstappen to take Miami Grand Prix pole as McLaren slumped after its sprint breakthrough.
02 May 2026
MATT BEER
The Race

Antonelli held an advantage of over three tenths of a second going into the final moments of Q1, but that was slashed to 0.166s by Verstappen at the end - in what was comfortably Red Bull's strongest performance of 2026 so far. Verstappen had hinted at what was to come by topping Q2. McLaren had taken a commanding 1-2 in the sprint earlier in the day, yet never looked a pole threat in this session.

Oscar Piastri had a power issue in Q1 - when he was only 16th - and Lando Norris had a boost concern in Q2, leaving McLaren confident it would be in the pole fight once those were resolved for Q3. Instead Norris and Piastri were a muted fourth and seventh.

Charles Leclerc had been on course for a front row for Ferrari until Verstappen's improvement pushed him back to third, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton sixth behind Russell. Franco Colapinto starred in qualifying for a second day in a row as he led the next group in eighth ahead of the second Red Bull of Isack Hadjar and his Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly.

‘Verstappen had hinted at what was to come by topping Q2’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/antonelli-survives-surprise-verstappen-challenge-f1-miami-gp-pole/


2026 Miami Grand Prix – Qualifying F1 results (Miami Gardens)
2 May 2026
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

F1 2026 Miami Grand Prix, Qualifying Results
Qualifying 3
1. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, 1:27.798
2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 1:27.964
3. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 1:28.143
4. Lando Norris, McLaren, 1:28.183
5. George Russell, Mercedes, 1:28.197
6. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, 1:28.319
7. Oscar Pisatri, McLaren, 1:28.500
8. Franco Colapinto, Alpine, 1:28.762
9. Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls, 1:28.789
10. Pierre Gasly, Alpine, 1:28.810

‘F1 2026 Miami Grand Prix, Qualifying Results’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-results-2026-miami-grand-prix-qualifying


Antonelli delivers jaw-dropping lap in brilliant Miami GP pole position
2 May 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Kimi Antonelli put together the perfect lap to secure an impressive pole position in qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix: here’s how the session unfolded.

At the end of the first runs in Q3, Antonelli moved into provisional pole after setting an impressive 1:27.798, putting nearly four tenths between himself and Leclerc and Verstappen. Russell could only manage fifth, also four tenths off the pace, while Hamilton went sixth and Piastri seventh.

Russell failed to improve on his second attempt and remained fifth, while neither Piastri nor Norris managed to find more time either. Both Ferraris also stayed on their previous laps. Verstappen was the only frontrunner to improve, moving onto the front row ahead of Leclerc. Antonelli lifted off on his final attempt but still secured pole position thanks to the lap he had set earlier.

‘Jaw-dropping lap’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/breaking-news/antonelli-delivers-jaw-dropping-lap-in-brilliant-miami-gp-pole-position


Teen F1 leader Antonelli takes Miami pole as start time moved
03/05/2026
CHANDAN KHANNA
France 24

Mercedes' championship-leading teenager Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position Saturday for the Miami Grand Prix, as the race's start time was brought forward by three hours due to expected heavy rainstorms.

The Miami Grand Prix will start at 1.00pm local time (1700 GMT), rather than 4.00pm, due to a forecast of extreme weather including potential thunderstorms, officials announced on the eve of the race.

The sport's governing body FIA, along with commercial rights holders and local promoters, acted "due to the weather forecast that is expected to bring heavier rainstorms later in the afternoon close to the original planned race start time," they said in a statement.

‘Start time moved’;

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260502-teen-f1-leader-antonelli-takes-miami-grand-prix-pole


VERSTAPPEN SEEING ‘LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL’ AFTER P2 IN MIAMI QUALIFYING
Max Verstappen was left feeling encouraged by Red Bull's improvement after claiming P2 in Qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix.
2 May 2026
Formula1.com

When asked after the session about what Red Bull had done to the car to find something extra, Max Verstappen explained: “For me it’s been two things. For sure, the car has not been great in the previous races, but also from my side I’ve never felt comfortable with the layout of the car.”

“I think over those last few weeks the team has been pushing flat-out to try and bring upgrades to the car, and making me feel more comfortable with a lot of things in the car. It really pays off. I feel more in control of the car again, then I can push a bit more, then the upgrades are working. To be on the front row is way better than I expected heading into the weekend.”

Max Verstappen said: “Let’s start with a good start. I’ve not had a lot of them this year! We’ll try to have a look at that, for sure, and see what the weather will do tomorrow, but I’m already very happy with where we are. From here there’s like light at the end of the tunnel, and we can just push on and try to close the gap further.”

‘The team has been pushing flat-out’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/verstappen-seeing-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-after-p2-in-miami-qualifying.2M5kbR6fsm9opyIZbSsQIW


Verstappen points out something 'very strange' after Miami GP qualifying
3 May 2026
Estéban den Toom
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen had a bit of a tough time during qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix with the varying performance of the tyres on the RB22. After the session, the Dutchman said it felt a bit strange.

Verstappen found it rather odd that not all the tires performed equally well during qualifying. “It was very strange. I had one set that worked, then another set that didn’t. Q1 was good on the used set. Q2 on the first set was disastrous. Then you bolt on a new set and suddenly it works. And in Q3 the first run wasn’t optimal either, and then it was better on the second set.”

“I didn’t expect that! I thought I wouldn’t see that anymore this season, but unbelievable! I really didn’t expect this to be possible. If you look at yesterday, I should’ve been P7 if everyone put their laps together, but today we also pieced ours together well,” Verstappen told Viaplay after qualifying. Team principal Laurent Mekies was also thrilled with the RB22’s performance during qualifying for the Miami GP in the United States. The Frenchman from Red Bull Racing thanked everyone at the factory in Milton Keynes.

“I didn’t expect that!”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappen-points-out-something-very-strange-after-miami-qualifying-that-was-pretty-weird


Why is George Russell so far off Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli at the F1 Miami Grand Prix?
George Russell offers an explanation for his struggles relative to Kimi Antonelli at the Miami Grand Prix.
2 May 2026
Lewis Larkam, Adam Cooper
Crash.Net

George Russell has admitted Miami is one of his weakest Formula 1 circuits after a difficult qualifying. “I just made a mistake on my last corner, last lap. I was about three tenths up,” Russell said in response to a question from Crash.net. “A little bit annoyed, but it's just a track I've always struggled with. Kimi was on pole last year, I was P5. Today he’s pole and I’m P5.”

“It's just very low grip here, you’re sliding around a lot, the tarmac's hot. It's similar to Brazil. I think Kimi, again, was more competitive with me there. Whereas I most prefer the high grip conditions where the tyre and the car is more connected with the ground. I just want to get through this weekend really.”

“I just struggle on these low grip circuits, to be honest,” he explained. “Here, Zandvoort, Brazil. It’s something I do want to work on, but I would say there’s probably three tracks from the 24 that are outliers for me, and Miami is definitely top of that list.”

“I just made a mistake on my last corner, last lap”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1094207/1/why-george-russell-so-far-mercedes-team-mate-kimi-antonelli-f1-miami-grand-prix


Winners and losers from Miami Grand Prix qualifying 2026
3 May 2026
THE RACE TEAM
The Race

Miami Grand Prix qualifying produced a massive shift in the Formula 1 pecking order compared to the sprint race that had run just hours beforehand.
Here's our pick of stars and flops from all the fluctuations.
Loser: McLaren (4th & 7th)

Winner: Red Bull (2nd & 9th)
Loser: George Russell (5th)
Winner: Kimi Antonelli (1st)
Loser: Audi (11th & 22nd)

Winner: Franco Colapinto (8th)
Losers: Alpine's rivals
Loser: Cadillac (20th & 21st)
Arvid Lindblad (17th)

‘Winners and losers’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/winners-losers-miami-grand-prix-qualifying-f1-2026/

[Fortitude]

Antonelli completes hat-trick as late spin for Leclerc triggers dramatic end to race.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli scored his third consecutive grand prix victory in Miami to extend his championship lead over George Russell.
3rd May 2026
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

It got off to a dramatic start as Charles Leclerc made his usual rapid getaway, which put him in between pole-winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen. As Leclerc nailed his braking point and let the other two ran wide, Verstappen got greedy with the throttle and spun in front of the oncoming pack. Somehow Verstappen’s rivals all missed him, leaving Antonelli to take up the pursuit of Leclerc followed by the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. George Russell held fifth while Lewis Hamilton completed the first lap in sixth place after damaging his car in a clash with Franco Colapinto at turn 11.

While the sprint race saw few of the “yo-yo racing” which characterised the opening rounds, the grand prix soon proved different. Antonelli and Leclerc exchanged the lead twice, then Norris took second place off the Mercedes driver. But further exchanges of position were halted by a pair of crashes. Isack Hadjar, who started from the pit lane on the hard compound tyres, had just passed Arvid Lindblad when he found the barrier in the awkward turn 14-15 chicane. Around the same time, Pierre Gasly fell victim to Liam Lawson locking up on his inside at turn 17, and rolled over before coming to a stop perched on a barrier. Only Verstappen changed tyres during the resulting Safety Car period which dropped him to the tail of the field. Leclerc led the field at the restart while Russell failed to select the correct strat mode and lost a place to Piastri.

Meanwhile Leclerc had come under attack from Piastri, who completed a straightforward pass on the Ferrari driver. Leclerc then performed a copy of Verstappen’s spin from the start of the race, but clouted the barrier as he drove off. The Ferrari was wounded, and he was caught by Verstappen and Russell at the end of the final lap. Russell attacked at turn 17 and passed, the pair making contact as he did, and Verstappen pipped Leclerc to the line by two tenths of a second. Antonelli’s run to victory was less dramatic, while Norris was plainly disappointed at missing his chance to win both of the weekend’s races. Piastri joined his team mate on the podium.

‘Antonelli completes hat-trick’;

https://www.racefans.net/2026/05/03/antonelli-completes-hat-trick-as-late-spin-for-leclerc-triggers-dramatic-end-to-race/


2026 Miami Grand Prix – Official F1 results (Miami Gardens)
3 May 2026
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

F1 Results, Miami Grand Prix
1. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, 57 Laps
2. Lando Norris, McLaren, + 3.264
3. Oscar Pisatri, McLaren, + 27.092
4. George Russell, Mercedes, + 43.051
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull, + 43.949
6. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, + 44.245
7. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, + 53.753
8. Franco Colapinto, Alpine, + 61.871
9. Carlos Sainz, Williams, + 82.072
10. Alex Albon, Williams, + 90.972

‘F1 Results, Miami Grand Prix’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-results-2026-miami-grand-prix


Race Report: What Happened at the Miami GP 2026
Kimi Antonelli claimed his third straight Formula 1 victory...
3 May 2026
John Smith
Total Motorsport

Kimi Antonelli arrived in Miami under pressure to prove he could win a different kind of race. His victories in China and Japan had been built on control, clean air and devastating pace. This time, the 19-year-old had to survive a poor start, a wheel-to-wheel fight, an aggressive strategy call and sustained pressure from reigning world champion Lando Norris. He passed every test.

Antonelli won the Miami Grand Prix to make it three consecutive Formula 1 victories, extending his championship lead after a race that started chaotically, threatened to be shaped by rain, and ended with late drama behind him. Norris finished second for McLaren, with Oscar Piastri completing the podium after Charles Leclerc spun on the final lap.

Antonelli still had his own problems to manage. He reported an issue with his gearbox paddle and later a throttle concern, while Norris stayed close enough to keep the pressure alive. But the Italian gradually edged clear, opening the gap beyond two seconds in the closing laps. “The start was not as bad as yesterday, a little bit better,” Antonelli said. “I locked up, I was a bit lucky with what happened in Turn 2, but I did a bit of a mistake with the energy management trying to overtake Charles, and lost out to Lando. But the pace was good.”

‘Race Report’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/miami-gp-2026-race-report-antonelli-mercedes/


To be young, gifted & fast — Antonelli, 19, wins the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix
3 May 2026
David J. Neal
Miami Herald

History from 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes driver became the first driver in Formula 1 history to win his first three grands prix from pole position, outrunning by 3.2 seconds 2024 Miami Grand Prix and 2025 and this year’s F1 Sprint winner Lando Norris. “The team did a great strategy, did a massive undercut and we were able to bring it home,” Antonelli said. Antonelli’s win, the first for a Miami Grand Prix polesitter, ended the four-race winning streak in Miami by McLaren Racing. McLaren had to settle for Norris and 2025 Miami Grand Prix winner Oscar Piastri joining Antonelli on the podium.

Kimi Antonelli failed to hold the first corner. He just went off the course, but Verstappen spun as he went wheel-to-wheel inside Leclerc in the second corner. “Sorry, guys,” a chagrined Verstappen apologized into his team radio. That dropped Verstappen back to ninth and an early pit stop pushed him back farther. Meanwhile, up front, Antonelli found controlled pace to start trading spots with Leclerc, who ripped Antonelli — “too harshly” he admitted afterwards — as too reckless in wheel-to-wheel situations during Saturday’s Sprint race.

‘To be young, gifted & fast’;

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nascar-auto-racing/article315585367.html#storylink=mainstage_lead


Kimi Antonelli wins the Miami Grand Prix for his third straight F1 victory
3 May 2026
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MailOnline

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) - Kimi Antonelli won the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday for his third consecutive Formula 1 victory as the 19-year-old Mercedes drivers continued to show he's a legitimate championship contender. Antonelli started from the pole but had a slick start on a damp surface at the Miami International Autodrome. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari had a spectacular start from third and surged to the lead when Antonelli went wide off course trying to defend. A split-second later, Max Verstappen spun trying to hold off Leclerc when the two cars made contact.

The contact caused Verstappen, who started a season-best second, to plummet to ninth after the spin. Verstappen worked his way through the field and briefly took the lead as others pitted, but Antonelli beat Norris off pit lane and reclaimed the lead for good once everything cycled out. Norris finished second, 3.2 seconds behind Antonelli, as the Italian and teammate George Russell have won the first four races of this season for Mercedes. Leclerc was going to finish third until Oscar Piastri of McLaren passed him on the final lap. Leclerc spun and settled for sixth. Russell was fourth and Verstappen finished a season-best fifth for Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari was seventh.

‘Third straight F1 victory’;

https://www.dailymail.com/wires/ap/article-15787009/Kimi-Antonelli-wins-Miami-Grand-Prix-straight-F1-victory.html


Antonelli wins again as Verstappen delivers impressive Miami GP recovery
3 May 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli claimed his third consecutive victory by winning the Miami Grand Prix despite another poor start off the line: here’s how the race unfolded. The championship leader suffered another poor getaway off the line, immediately losing the advantage of pole position and forcing himself into a recovery drive.

Verstappen then went side-by-side with the Monegasque in the fight for the lead at Turn 1, but spun after losing control, although he avoided contact with the cars behind and was able to continue. The Dutchman dropped back to eighth place, while Hamilton picked up damage to both the sidepod and floor of his SF-26 but stayed out in sixth.

On Lap 13, the reigning world champion made his move on the Ferrari driver before the stadium section, with Antonelli looming large behind them and soon making his own move into second place shortly afterwards. Meanwhile, Verstappen took advantage of the safety car to make his pit stop, rejoining in 12th before rapidly climbing back up to eighth by around one-third distance.

‘Impressive Miami GP recovery’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/breaking-news/antonelli-wins-again-as-verstappen-delivers-impressive-miami-gp-recovery


F1 drivers’ standings update | Antonelli strengthens title lead over Russell after Miami GP
3 May 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli extends advantage over team-mate George Russell after third straight win: here’s how the 2026 F1 drivers’ standings look after the Miami Grand Prix.

F1 Drivers' standings after 2026 Miami GP
Pos. Driver Points
1 Kimi Antonelli 100
2 George Russell 80
3 Charles Leclerc 63
4 Lando Norris 51
5 Lewis Hamilton 49
6 Oscar Piastri 43
7 Max Verstappen 26
8 Oliver Bearman 17
9 Pierre Gasly 16
10 Liam Lawson 10

‘F1 Drivers' standings’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/f1-drivers-standings-update-antonelli-strengthens-title-lead-over-russell-after-miami-gp

[Fortitude]

‘F***’s sake’: Norris left fuming over costly Miami call as ‘gutted’ star throws team under bus.
“F***’s sake, how did we not win this? We should have won.” Lando Norris muttered on the team radio.
4 May 2026
Nic Savage
Fox Sports (Australia)

On Lap 26, Norris was undercut by Antonelli after the Mercedes driver, who at the time was trailing by two seconds, produced an impeccable outlap and faster pit stop. The duo were practically neck-and-neck when Norris emerged from the pits the following lap, with Antonelli ultimately taking the lead. After the race, Norris muttered on the team radio: “F***’s sake, how did we not win this? We should have won.” He continued during the post-match presentation: “We just got undercut - no excuses other than that.”

“We got undercut, we should have boxed first. Kimi did a good job. Hat’s off to Merc and Kimi, they drove a good race. I’m gutted to miss out on a win here in Miami - I think it was possible today. But not the pace to get past him in the end, so we take it on the chin. But it’s still a positive weekend altogether.” Later in the cooldown room, Norris asked Antonelli: “Where were you when I came out of the pits, I couldn’t see you?” Antonelli indicated that we right next to Norris, adding: “I almost crashed into you”.

Norris continued venting his frustration while speaking to Sky Sports: “We should have boxed first, simple as that. We just have to be honest and say we should have boxed before, we shouldn’t have been waiting. We have to go revive things ... we could have done more to defend for the win.”

‘Throws team under bus’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/f1-2026-miami-grand-prix-lando-norris-fumes-over-kimi-antonelli-win-over-team-radio-cooldown-room-video/news-story/a15b68dfd0286da122ab7af9d1935b39


Our verdict on dramatic Miami Grand Prix's big flashpoints
3 May 2026
THE RACE TEAM
The Race

The Miami Grand Prix had a little bit of everything: multiple incidents, two of Formula 1's best drivers winning, a three-car scrap at the final corner on the final lap (that resulted in contact) and more.
Scott Mitchell-Malm: I really like that we have some old-fashioned stuff to care about after that race! It's just a shame, purely for the sake of variety, it didn't result in a different winner.
Jack Benyon: I'd be really cautious to write off George Russell. You can't take away from what Antonelli has done: no one has converted their first three poles in a row before in F1!

Eden Hanigan: Miami promised us so much in the opening laps, and even at the end with Leclerc almost binning it. But scattered incidents couldn't save this race from its fate of becoming another happy hunting ground for Mercedes in 2026. If anything, this race has taught us that we are fortunate that Mercedes struggles so much at race starts because it actually allows us to get some racing for the big positions early on.

Gary Anderson: I enjoyed the race. There's still a bit too much of that yo-yo effect that actually in my book doesn't constitute real overtaking, but the changes made to the deployment and harvesting have levelled things out just that little bit. I will add the proviso here that compared to Suzuka, the Miami circuit is energy-rich because of the increased braking time, so for other circuits there will still be some fiddling to do. It looks like we now have four teams in the battle at the front. Mercedes has been caught by Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull,

‘Miami Grand Prix's big flashpoints’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/dramatic-f1-2026-miami-grand-prix-our-verdict/


Miami GP conclusions: Antonelli insecurity, Verstappen impatience, F1’s TV fail
4 May 2026
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

The brilliance of teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli was the shining beacon of the Miami Grand Prix, helping smooth over the muddied execution of the weekend. It was the great relaunch of F1 2026, a race after a long break and the promise of (another) bright new future. And it very nearly didn’t happen. A joint announcement between the FIA and FOM that confirmed it would be a 1pm start, a time that arguably works better for much of the world (sorry Australia) and perhaps should be considered as a better option than the original 4pm start time going forward.

The earlier start was good for television audiences globally, but it also gave stewards more time to deliberate post-race. It remains one of motorsport’s great weaknesses that, for all the investment and technology and global interest, it remains commonplace that we don’t know the outcome of a race for several hours after crossing the line.

‘Miami GP conclusions’;

https://www.planetf1.com/features/miami-grand-prix-2026-conclusions


F1 Miami Grand Prix Winners and Losers: Antonelli's Rally, Leclerc's Stumble
3 May 2026
Zach Koons
Miami Herald

Winners
Kimi Antonelli: Once again, Antonelli showed that the hot start to his second season in F1 is no fluke. The Mercedes driver very well could have ended up in the other category of this list based on what happened on Saturday in the sprint race. Despite qualifying on pole, the starting issues that have plagued him all season reared themselves once again. He fell all the way to sixth and admitted he got "very frustrated" inside the car after the poor getaway.

Franco Colapinto: What a weekend for the Argentinian Alpine driver. Whether posing for photos with national hero Lionel Messi or notching a career-best finish was the real highlight, we may never know, but it was all positives for Colapinto on Sunday.

Lando Norris (& McLaren): Speaking of the reigning champ, there was an air of disappointment from the McLaren driver following Sunday's result. And that's perhaps a testament to just how far the team has come in his time since he first raced in F1 in 2019. There's expectations for a team and driver who won two titles last season and want to stay at the top.

‘Winners and Losers’;

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/article315622165.html#storylink=mainstage_card


Adjusted 2026 F1 Miami Grand Prix results after huge Ferrari penalty
Check out the adjusted results from the Miami Grand Prix after a huge penalty for Charles Leclerc.
3 May 2026
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

RESULT RACE - MIAMI
Adjusted 2026 F1 Miami Grand Prix results after huge Ferrari penalty
# DRIVER TEAM TIME
1 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes
2 Lando Norris McLaren +3.264
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren +27.092
4 George Russell Mercedes +43.051
5 Max Verstappen Red Bull +48.949
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +53.753
7 Franco Colapinto Alpine +61.871
8 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +64.245
9 Carlos Sainz Williams +82.072
10 Alexander Albon Williams +90.972

‘Adjusted 2026 F1 Miami Grand Prix results’;

https://racingnews365.com/adjusted-2026-f1-miami-grand-prix-results-after-huge-ferrari-penalty


In Antonelli, Russell may have met his match -- and F1 may have its new superstar
3 May 2026
Nate Saunders
ESPN.com

MIAMI -- Mercedes wonderkid Kimi Antonelli continued his charge towards Formula 1 megastardom with his third straight victory at the Miami Grand Prix, one which boosted his fairytale championship lead. The Italian teenage sensation, who only turned 19 last August, has seized control of the early stages of the championship race in only his second F1 season.

To most observers, it was an unlikely situation -- many fans and pundits thought the early season would be dominated by his much more experienced Mercedes teammate, preseason favourite George Russell. Russell even strengthened that feeling by winning 2026's opening race, Melbourne's Australian Grand Prix, but Antonelli has now won three straight and leaves Miami with a 20-point advantage over the Englishman.

It's early days in a championship which stretches to 22 races and ends in early December, but Antonelli's Sunday performance in Miami was a mighty statement, holding off reigning world champion Lando Norris to claim victory. It was not flawless -- even by his own admission -- and he clearly still has a lot of work to do when it comes to his starts, but Antonelli has been mistake-free when it counts and has shown the blistering pace Mercedes predicted he would eventually carry over from his phenomenal karting and junior career into Formula 1.

‘Mercedes wonderkid Kimi Antonelli’;

https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/48670437/kimi-antonelli-george-russell-met-match-f1-new-superstar-miami-grand-prix-2026


F1 | MIAMI GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “ITALIAN MOTORSPORT AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD”
3 May 2026
Gian Carlo Minardi
Minardi F1 - The Official Site

Andrea Kimi Antonelli had the Italian national anthem played once again in Florida a few after Gabriele Mini’s win in F2. This was a day of special significance for those who love this sport. Once again Antonelli proved his worth with an exceptional weekend, starting with the commanding pole position. In the race he fought it out on the edge of thousandths of a second against the world champions McLaren and Lando Norris.

We are talking about a young man who is only 19 years, who still has wide room for improvement, and is making rapid progress, even though this does not come as a surprise for those who have followed him since the karts. Year after year he has deserved the place he is now occupying. I have every confidence in him because he has a maturity beyond his age. As is my habit, I followed the GP keeping an eye on the times lap by lap, and it was impressive.

‘Andrea Kimi Antonelli had the Italian national anthem played once again’;

https://www.minardi.it/en/f1-miami-gp-gian-carlo-minardi-italian-motorsport-at-the-top-of-the-world/

[Fortitude]

‘Next time, speak with me’: Star’s Miami meltdown laid bare as ugly Ferrari vision emerges.
“In the space of four corners, I put a very strong race in the bin -- so I am very frustrated about that.” Charles Leclerc.
4 May 2026
AFP
Fox Sports (Australia)

Charles Leclerc admitted he threw away a podium finish for Ferrari with a wild penultimate lap as he dropped from third to finish eighth in Monday’s Miami Grand Prix. “I was third and I pushed very hard in the second-to-last lap. I thought it was a good idea to kind of let Oscar (Piastri) go for me to get the overtake (of him),” said Leclerc. “I knew it was going to be very difficult to stay in front of him otherwise, and it was a very poor decision.”

“In the space of four corners, I put a very strong race in the bin -- so I am very frustrated about that. I did my best to try and make the corners first of all... But it was probably a lot more difficult for me than it looked to be from the outside,” Leclerc said before the ruling. Speaking of the damage to his car, he said: “The damage was significant. To tell you exactly what was the damage, I’m not so sure.”

“I’m pretty sure there was a puncture, there was probably some suspension damage as well, as I couldn’t really turn to the right anymore. So yeah, I’m very disappointed with myself. It’s all on me and it’s a mistake.” The Monegasque was also heard questioning his team over team radio earlier about the timing of his pit stop. “Why did we stop? When is the rain?” Leclerc said. “Next time you make a decision please speak with me. I am here as well.”

“I put a very strong race in the bin”;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/f1-2026-miami-grand-prix-charles-leclerc-reacts-to-ferrari-freefall-penalty-after-oscar-piastri-overtake-crash-video/news-story/c503d5da0c796f92c74c9281ae8d92fd


Charles Leclerc on Miami GP error: I put my race in the bin
3 May 2026
Nate Saunders
ESPN.com

MIAMI -- Charles Leclerc took full blame for the late Miami Grand Prix mistake that saw him "put a very strong race in the bin" and drop from third to eighth on the final lap. The Ferrari driver and McLaren's Oscar Piastri were fighting for a spot on the podium at the start of the final lap Sunday. Piastri had got past him on the penultimate lap, but Leclerc had one final attempt to get by with his battery boost. But Leclerc spun while fighting for the position and tapped the wall with his left front tyre.

The slow-moving Leclerc then lost fourth position to George Russell at the penultimate corner -- where the two also made contact -- before Max Verstappen caught him in a drag race for fifth position as they approached the start-finish line. Leclerc finished sixth on the road, and that became eighth after a post-race 20-second penalty for skipping a number of corners as he nursed his car to the finish line.

Leclerc refused to blame the strategy for how his race unfolded. "I think that without the mistake, I could have done a podium," he said. "More than strategy, it's easy to blame on the strategy afterward; even with the best strategy with that mistake on the last lap, I probably wouldn't have been on the podium. First, I'll look at myself, and then surely I'll speak with the team to try and improve whatever we haven't optimized today."

‘Final attempt to get by’;

https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/48668894/charles-leclerc-miami-grand-prix-2026-error-mistake-put-race-bin-ferrari


Charles Leclerc demoted behind Lewis Hamilton, Franco Colapinto in Miami GP results after chaotic finish that was 'all on me'
4 May 2026
Sky Sports

Charles Leclerc said it was "all on me" after he "put a very strong race in the bin" in a torrid, chaotic end to his Miami Grand Prix which later saw the Ferrari driver demoted to eighth place by a stewards' penalty.

Leclerc told stewards that the car would not take right-hand turns properly after contact with the wall but officials ruled after their investigation that "the fact that he had a mechanical issue of some sort did not amount to a justifiable reason" for cutting several corners.

"We determined that the fact that he had to cut the chicanes (i.e. to leave the track) meant that he gained a lasting advantage by leaving the track in that manner," stewards said. "We accordingly impose a Drive Through penalty on Car 16 [Leclerc], given the number of times the car left the track and gained an advantage."

‘Charles Leclerc demoted’;

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13539722/charles-leclerc-demoted-behind-lewis-hamilton-franco-colapinto-in-miami-gp-results-after-chaotic-finish-that-was-all-on-me


Leclerc and Hamilton left frustrated after tough Miami Grand Prix
4 May 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Ferrari leave Miami with mixed emotions as Leclerc’s late mistake and penalty overshadow Hamilton’s damage limiting drive Ferrari’s Miami Grand Prix delivered a split narrative for the Scuderia. Lewis Hamilton salvaged what he could from a compromised car, while Charles Leclerc’s podium contending afternoon unravelled through a combination of strategy frustration, late race errors and a post race penalty that dropped him to eighth.

Hamilton hampered from the start after contact with Colapinto. Hamilton’s race was effectively shaped within seconds of the lights going out. The Briton made contact with Williams rookie Franco Colapinto off the line, an incident the stewards later deemed a straightforward racing incident. But the consequences were immediate and lasting: Hamilton’s SF 26 suffered damage that robbed him of downforce and left him unable to compete with the leading group.

Leclerc’s strong start unravels through strategy, traffic and a last lap error. While Hamilton was battling damage, Leclerc was very much in the fight at the front. He was the only one of the top three to navigate Turn 1 cleanly on the opening lap, emerging in the lead after chaos behind him. But the race soon turned more complicated. He lost out to Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris in the early phases, and Ferrari opted to pit him earlier than both to cover off a potential George Russell undercut. That decision dropped Leclerc into traffic, compromising his pace and costing him track position — a strategic call that left the Monegasque frustrated.

‘Mixed emotions’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28503


Lewis Hamilton reveals staggering Ferrari damage impact
Lewis Hamilton's Miami Grand Prix was undone on the opening lap of the race after contact with Franco Colapinto.
4 May 2026
Fergal Walsh & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Lewis Hamilton has revealed he was losing half a second per lap due to extensive damage to his car during the Miami Grand Prix. Although he was able to hold on to seventh place at the chequered flag, Hamilton stated he was carrying significant damage. “I was really unlucky to get caught up in Max's spin and obviously lost positions from there,” he told media including RacingNews365.

“Then I got damage from Franco and that lost me a ton of downforce. I was just in no man's land after that. I lost half a second of downforce on the car, I was just driving around, trying to get as many points as I could with the damage.” Hamilton asserted confidence that he would have been in the mix if not for the damage he picked up.

“We progressed going into qualifying and the laps to the grid felt really strong,” he added. “I was feeling like ‘we're going to be strong in this race’ - and then obviously, with the damage, it's the worst when it happens on lap one. There’s just nothing you can do.”

“Losing half a second per lap”;

https://racingnews365.com/lewis-hamilton-reveals-staggering-ferrari-damage-impact


Hamilton hints Ferrari might "have the best car, but it’s hard to fight with Mercedes” due to PU limitations
4 May 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Speaking to Mara Sangiorgio of Sky Italia, Lewis Hamilton was explicit about where Ferrari is losing its fights: “Engine upgrade? Yes, this really is what we need so much. "Now it's very hard for us to fight against the power of the Red Bull and Mercedes power units, which both have a big advantage over ours," the Briton continued. Ferrari’s deficit — widely believed in the paddock to be in the region of several tenths per lap depending on circuit layout — has become the defining limitation of the SF 26.

Lewis Hamilton repeatedly emphasised that Ferrari’s foundations are strong — strong enough, in his view, to fight for victories once the engine deficit is addressed. “For the rest, we have a great car, perhaps even the best, so we have to solve this problem because, if we succeed, we could really be fighting for victories.” This is the clearest public endorsement yet of Ferrari’s 2026 chassis concept from the seven time world champion. Internally, the team has been encouraged by the SF 26’s cornering performance and tyre management, both of which have been competitive even on circuits where Ferrari traditionally struggled.

A damage limited Sunday: “I had nothing”. Hamilton’s race unravelled early when Max Verstappen’s spin forced him off line, leaving him boxed in and then his SF26 suffered major floor damage due to a contact with Alpine's Franco Colapinto on the first lap. “I felt like we would have been more competitive, so I really felt optimistic for today. I got held up at the beginning when Max spun and I was in the wrong position for that, and then obviously the damage that I got after that then I was just… I had nothing.” From that moment, Hamilton was stuck in what he called “no man’s land”...

'PU limitations';

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28511

[Fortitude]

How Red Bull got Verstappen back in the fight.
Max Verstappen is back in the fight, but how did Red Bull turn things around so quickly in 2026?
5 May 2026
RacingNews365

From fixing a crucial steering issue to introducing a completely revised aerodynamic package including a new front wing, updated floor, redesigned sidepods, and their own version of the ‘Macarena wing’. The RB22 suddenly looked like a different car. In this video, we break down exactly what changed and why it worked.

‘Back in the fight’;

https://racingnews365.com/how-red-bull-got-verstappen-back-in-the-fight


Red Bull apologises to Max Verstappen for not fixing F1 steering issue earlier
5 May 2026
Ronald Vording
Motorsport.com

Technical Director Pierre Wache explains that Red Bull tried multiple fixes for a steering issue on the RB22, but that identifying the root cause proved complex.

Max Verstappen revealed during his Dutch media session that there is another factor at play as well: Red Bull discovered an issue in the steering system and has finally been able to address it.

‘Identifying the root cause proved complex’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/red-bull-apologises-to-max-verstappen-for-not-fixing-f1-steering-issue-earlier/10818389/


Max Verstappen hailed for 'genius' recovery: 'I can't tell you how hard that is'
Max Verstappen was involved in a high-speed spin on the opening lap of the Miami Grand Prix last weekend.
5 May 2026
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

“On a bone-dry track, Charles Leclerc's fast-starting Ferrari, from third on the grid, would be side-by-side with Max Verstappen as they exited Turn 1, even though pole-sitter Antonelli had a reasonable start this time,” Brundle wrote in his column for Sky F1.

“Pinched to the Turn Two apex by Leclerc, Verstappen was too eager on the throttle and looped around, an unusual mistake for him for which he would hurriedly apologise to the team on the radio.” While Verstappen dropped to the midfield, Brundle was impressed by the Dutchman's car control to ensure he was not collected by a rival driver.

“Before that we saw some of his genius in the recovery,” he said. “In front of the whole pack except Leclerc, he deftly used the throttle, brakes, and steering wheel to execute a full 360-degree turn, pointing nicely down the racetrack and somehow maintaining some forward speed. I can't tell you how hard that is in these plus-sized F1 cars full of fuel in the heat of battle. This dramatically minimised the chances of being run into and kept him in ninth place at the end of the lap.”

'Genius';

https://racingnews365.com/max-verstappen-hailed-for-genius-recovery-i-cant-tell-you-how-hard-that-is


Red Bull Boss reveals how Verstappen escaped Miami disqualification drama
5 May 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Red Bull Racing team principal Laurent Mekies has explained how Max Verstappen avoided disqualification during the Miami Grand Prix weekend, despite teammate Isack Hadjar suffering that very fate. Asked whether the two cars had been set up differently ahead of qualifying, Mekies clarified that both drivers ran identical specifications, with the issue on Hadjar’s car coming down to a costly human error.

“They were on the exact same spec. We made a mistake on Isack’s car. It’s very simple: the car was found to be two millimetres too wide. We should have spotted it earlier in our routine checks. We did not, and it’s painful, but it’s easy to fix,” Mekies told GPblog. Hadjar’s floor was found to be illegal as it protruded two millimetres beyond the dimensions defined in the F1 2026 technical regulations.

Max Verstappen passed the post-qualifying scrutineering and subsequently kept his front-row start. The race itself in Miami unfolded in a manner that left little to be desired for the Red Bull outfit, with Hadjar suffering a crash on the sixth lap and Verstappen spinning on the opening lap, which saw him slide down the running order.

‘Miami disqualification drama’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/red-bull-boss-reveals-how-verstappen-escaped-miami-disqualification-drama


Verstappen makes ‘rally’ joke as pundits debate ‘talent v luck’
5 May 2026
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen joked that if F1 doesn’t work out for him, he might need a future in rallying after a dramatic 360 spin at the Miami Grand Prix. It went wrong for the four-time world champion on the opening lap as he challenged Charles Leclerc only to spin at Turn 2. Verstappen managed to execute a perfect 360, impressing with his ability even in the face of a mistake.

The Dutch racer joked he could try his hand at rally after that manoeuvre. “I lost the rear in Turn 2 and then of course I tried to minimise the time loss by doing a 360,” Verstappen told PlanetF1.com and other media. “Yeah, I thought I was going to crash but then I floored it, so I managed to do a good 360. If F1 doesn’t work out I can always go rally.”

Asked if his minor contact with Leclerc as they battled for P1 had played a part in his spin, Verstappen denied that. “Just one of those things,” he said. “I don’t think so. I mean, we just pushed, of course, into the corner, but, yeah, just lost something. The rear just started to slide. And once it goes, you know, with heavy fuel it’s hard to catch.”

‘Could try his hand at rally after that manoeuvre’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-miami-360-spin-rally-joke-f1-analysis


Red Bull – more than just an F1 team in Miami
5 May 2026
Elizabeth Blackstock
Motorsport Week

Over the weekend of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, motorsport journalist, historian and award-winning podcaster, Elizabeth Blackstock, spent time with Red Bull’s American division. In a special feature for Motorsport Week, Elizabeth shows us that in Miami, Red Bull is more than just a race team.

Throughout the weekend, multiple members of the Red Bull staff shared their belief that the Miami Grand Prix is their most challenging — and rewarding — event of the year. Preparations for 2026 kicked off the moment the checkered flag flew on 2025’s edition of the race, drawing in almost every department of the company to work a little magic. Things only ramped up in the weeks ahead of the Grand Prix, and during the weekend itself, days were long.

One of the most fascinating elements of the Red Bull program is how it positions its athletes. Yes, Isack Hadjar and Max Verstappen were hard at work throughout the weekend, but countless other sports personalities were on hand all weekend. Whincup and Polvoorde were able to flaunt their skills at Homestead, but the centerpiece of the weekend was the trackside Red Bull Energy Station. Yet simply branding it a “hospitality experience” would be a major disservice; it’s more akin to joining the exceptional milieu of the Red Bull athlete program for the weekend.

‘More than just an F1 team’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/05/05/red-bull-more-than-just-an-f1-race-team-in-miami/

[Fortitude]

How did Williams achieve its first double-points finish with its 500 part Miami upgrade package?
Williams arrived in Miami with the largest upgrade package it has produced in years — around 500 new parts in total, including the first major round of weight saving measures.
6 May 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

In aerodynamic terms, this was effectively the car the team had intended to race in Australia, but delays over the winter meant the Grove outfit only now reached its planned baseline. The result was immediate and tangible. Williams was not suddenly a frontrunner, but it was back in the fight — competitive in the midfield, operationally sharp, and rewarded with its first double points finish of the season as Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon brought the FW48 home in ninth and tenth. It was a weekend that showed both how far Williams has come, and how far it still needs to go.

A car finally in the window: The scale of the upgrade — and the fact that it arrived later than intended — underlined how far behind Williams had fallen in the off season. But Miami marked the first time the team could combine aerodynamic development with weight reduction, even if it still cannot do both at the pace it would like. The FW48 behaved more consistently, allowed both drivers to race in the midfield, and gave Williams the platform to capitalise on a chaotic opening lap. Both Sainz and Albon kept clear of trouble, gained positions early, and executed clean, well timed pit stops that protected their track position.

Team Principal James Vowles highlighted both the achievement and the long road ahead: "Well done to the team. It's great to see the hard work of the last five weeks, and the aero package all adding up, putting us in stronger place than we started the season. It's still a long road, but the positive news is that there's more performance to come throughout the rest of the season," Vowles noted.

‘500 part Miami upgrade package’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28514


Williams achieve F1 2026 milestone with delayed "race one package"
Carlos Sainz hailed the delayed Williams Formula 1 upgrades that powered him to points at the Miami Grand Prix
5 May 2026
Sam Hall, Adam Cooper
Crash.Net

Carlos Sainz expressed his relief after Williams finally fitted its planned ‘race one’ package for the Miami Grand Prix, with both cars scoring points. Williams has endured a difficult start to the 2026 season – the only team to miss the Barcelona shakedown entirely, struggling with debilitating weight issues, and running so late with its development that the first three rounds were contested without the package planned for Australia.

Having struggled for points across those initial races, both Sainz and team-mate Alex Albon were able to finish inside the top 10 on pure pace in Miami, recording a first double-points outcome of the campaign. “We finally put on the upgrade of the car that was supposed to come to race one,” said Sainz. “Because of all the delays we had at the start of the season, now we have finally put the car [on track] that was supposed to be the race one package.”

“Now it’s on the car, it is performing at least at the level of the midfield cars. We know we still have a lot of weight to shed off the car, and when you look at that, it’s positive.” Williams had made no secret that it expected to gain ground in 2026, having languished for much of the last decade towards the foot of the constructors’ table, and after switching development away from its 2025 car at the earliest opportunity in order to focus on the new rules.

"Race one package";

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1094495/1/williams-achieve-f1-2026-milestone-delayed-race-one-package


Williams trims weight as Sainz plays down rule tweaks
Williams has taken a step forward in Miami after a difficult start to 2026, with a key part of its upgrade focused simply on reducing weight.
3 MAY 2026
GrandPrix.com

Driver Carlos Sainz said the car is at least more competitive than before the April break. “The good thing is that we were able to recover,” he said. “We were faster than the Haas cars, which we weren't five weeks ago, so it's positive.”

However, as a GPDA director, Sainz also played down the impact of the new regulation tweaks, designed in part to appease the increasingly-critical driver contingent. “Very little has changed. We knew very little would change”, he said. “We'll have to wait until later in the season, or even next year, for the FIA and the teams to dare to make bigger changes.”

Behind the scenes, much of Williams' progress has come from a major weight reduction program. Team boss James Vowles revealed the scale of the effort. “The engineering work they've completed at the factory has removed all the weight from the car plus 10 kilos”, he said. “That's the engineering work that's been completed - it hasn't been delivered to the car because, with the current cost cap, it's no longer efficient to do so.”

‘Williams trims weight’;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/williams-trims-weight-as-sainz-plays-down-rule-tweaks.html


Carlos Sainz hails Williams progress after F1 Miami GP
6 May 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Carlos Sainz outlines next step for Williams. With progress now made, Sainz outlined the next steps for Williams in the coming races. outlining one clear target. “Now it’s on the car, it is performing at least at the level of the midfield cars. We know we still have a lot of weight to shed off the car, and when you look at that, it’s positive.”

“Clearly, this weekend, I think we were about sixth fastest, but then Alpine is 20-seconds in front of us here. It would have been 25-30 without a safety car. So to Alpine, there is still a bit gap, and to the front-runners, I cannot even tell you. We need to put our heads down, make this our new baseline, and start improving.”

Williams’ step forward is only the start of its journey to master these new regulations. The knock-on effects of its delays will likely continue for the next few races as it is now behind in the development race.

‘Next step for Williams’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/05/06/carlos-sainz-hails-williams-progress-after-f1-miami-gp/


James Vowles admits Williams ‘gap is large’ despite 2026 progress push
3 May 2026
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com

James Vowles has admitted Williams are facing a steep climb in 2026, despite believing the team is finally heading in the right direction. “A really messy winter and the break gave us an opportunity to reset, take a breath, catch up, form a plan for not just Miami, of which we brought upgrades here, but really what we’re doing now across everywhere up until the end of the season to put ourselves back into a sensible position, fundamentally,” Vowles said.

“I am proud of the work that the team did. Every area was basically working at maximum capacity and that’s despite a difficult winter where people were putting in big, big hours. However, the gap is so large from where we are to the front that I’m sure we’ve made a small step into that, but it is a small step and we need to keep doing that across the number of races in the future in order to make a tangible difference. So positive first session but it is literally just one session and the gaps are still large.”

“For me, it’s as we get to where we finish developing the car, which will be after the August break, that the car is sensibly back to being the top of the midfield, with everything in a sensible position, building on next year’s car. What I enjoy about Williams is there is no resistance to change for greatness. What I mean by that is we will point ourselves in the right direction and follow along with that as long as there is clear ambition and drive to this being at a championship level and former Mercedes engineer Dan Milner brings that.”

‘Williams are facing a steep climb in 2026’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/james-vowles-williams-2026-struggles-messy-winter


Why it will 'take time' for Williams to cut weight off its heavy 2026 F1 car
2 May 2026
Ed Hardy
Motorsport.com

The FW48 is understood to be 28Kg above the regulated minimum weight of 768Kg, down from 800Kg last year as part of the drastic rule change for this year’s campaign.

But driver Carlos Sainz doesn’t believe Williams will see the benefits of that until later in the year, as Vowles revealed only “a couple of Kilos” has been taken out of the car this weekend.

That’s despite the factory having already engineered the FW48 to the ideal weight, it’s just that it “will take a bit of time” to apply the work to the car with gradual steps at each race.

‘28Kg above the regulated minimum weight’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/why-it-will-take-time-for-williams-to-reduce-the-weight-of-its-f1-2026-car/10817281/

SHOULD HAVE POSTED THURSDAY 8th May 2026, but Motorsport Forum was offline most of the day…

[Fortitude]

Hamilton reveals the reason for his setup woes with the SF26.
Lewis Hamilton left the Miami Grand Prix weekend with mixed emotions: encouraged by the progress Ferrari eventually unlocked, yet frustrated by how long it took to find it.
6 May 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Across three days that swung from confusion to clarity and finally to damage limitation, the seven time world champion offered a remarkably candid assessment of where things went wrong — and what must change. By the time the main qualifying session arrived, the SF 26 had been transformed. Hamilton described the shift as dramatic, and his relief was evident.

“It was an improvement. We made lots of changes to the car, we didn't have software issues. So I think we progressed, we stepped forward. I think Q2 was feeling really solid, and then when I got to Q3 I just wasn't able to extract the maximum.” The pace was there — but the execution was not fully polished. Hamilton believed a top three start was within reach.

“I don't feel comfortable in P6, that's not where I want to be. So quite unhappy with P6, naturally, but I'm happy that we made changes going to qualifying and we progressed. We did improve. I think top three was probably possible, so I just got to work on it.” The frustration was not about the final position alone, but about the lost opportunity. Had Ferrari found the correct setup direction earlier, Hamilton felt the entire weekend would have unfolded differently.

‘Mixed emotions’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28512


Hamilton ‘just a passenger’ in Miami GP after first lap damage
04/05/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Even beyond Sunday’s race, there was a sense that the foundations of the weekend had been shaky from the outset. “I think, as I said, we just started on the wrong foot this weekend,” Hamilton said. “So the car was very snappy on the way into corners, and massive understeer mid-corner. So that's not the balance that you want. It was better for qualifying than going into the race.”

For Hamilton, Miami wasn’t defined by a lack of pace or effort, but by circumstance – the kind that leaves a driver watching opportunities disappear in real time. One lap. One incident. One piece of damage. And from there, nothing but “no-man’s land.” The trouble began almost immediately. As Max Verstappen spun ahead at Turn 2, Hamilton was forced to take evasive action, running wide and losing crucial track position.

That avoidance dropped him into the path of the Alpine of Franco Colapinto – and into further trouble. As Hamilton tried to recover ground, contact at Turn 11 inflicted damage that would define the rest of his afternoon. “I was really unlucky to get caught up with Max's spin, and obviously lost positions from there,” he said. “And then got damage from Franco, and then that lost me a ton of downforce. And I was just in no-man's land after that.”

“Started on the wrong foot”;

https://f1i.com/news/563966-hamilton-just-a-passenger-after-miami-gp-first-lap-damage.html


Vasseur reveals limitations that hindered Hamilton and Leclerc at the Miami Grand Prix
4 May 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Team Principal Fred Vasseur summarised the situation bluntly: “With Lewis, the race was largely about managing the damage from lap one, which meant dealing with overheating and doing a lot of lift and coast just to bring the car to the finish.” Despite the limitations, Hamilton kept the car in contention for points and ultimately finished sixth, the maximum Ferrari believed was achievable given the compromised condition of the SF 26.
Despite the setbacks, Vasseur stressed that Ferrari leave Miami with clear areas for improvement and some encouraging signs: “Overall, it was a challenging Sunday on both sides of the garage.” “However, there are some positives to take from the weekend: the starts were good and the upgrades worked as expected. We know where we need to improve – consistency, managing traffic and extracting the full potential of the package.”

‘Vasseur reveals limitations’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28504


Lewis Hamilton ditches Ferrari simulator ahead of Canadian GP over correlation concerns
6 May 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

“I’m going to have a different approach in the next race,” Lewis Hamilton declared to PlanetF1.com and other accredited media following the Miami GP. Because the way we’re preparing at the moment, it’s not helping. So we’ll see how that goes for the next race. But also, we’re going to another track with long straights, and we’re losing three to four tenths just on straight line speed. So that’s there, and it’s going to be there until we fix it.”

For Hamilton, what he is experiencing in the Ferrari simulator versus the real-life SF-26, does not align. “Ultimately, it’s always correlation,” he added. “We go on it [the simulator], and then you get to the track, and the car feels different when you get to the track. I’m not going to go on the simulator between now and the next race. I’ll still go and hold meetings at the factory and stuff, but just going to back away from it for a little bit and see. When we went to China, I had the best weekend, and without sim.”

‘Correlation concerns’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-hamilton-ferrari-simulator-issue-canadian-gp-plan


Lewis Hamilton confirms radical Ferrari F1 decision for Canadian GP
6 May 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Lewis Hamilton has confirmed he will take a radical new approach to preparation for the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix. Hamilton and Ferrari endured a frustrating weekend in Miami, despite bringing 11 upgrades to the SF-26.

Effectively running a completely new car, the hope at Maranello was that the team could challenge the dominant Mercedes, with extensive simulator testing taking place in preparation. Hamilton’s decision to avoid simulator points to a lack of confidence in trusting the data it provides. If the seven-time world champion performs well in Canada, he will no doubt feel vindicated.

‘Radical new approach’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/05/06/lewis-hamilton-confirms-radical-approach-for-f1-canada/


Why Hamilton thinks Ferrari simulator is hurting him right now
'No simulator'? Hamilton's bold idea to fix 2026 mini-slump
5 May 2026
VALENTIN KHOROUNZHIY
The Race

Believing the Ferrari simulator has been "sending me in the wrong direction"… …Lewis Hamilton - who pointed out that his best weekend in China came without the chance to do sim prep in the run-up (as it was a back-to-back weekend after Australia) - acknowledged that it's widely known he "doesn't like simulators in general". But I'm at the simulator every week in the build-up to this race and working on correlation constantly.”

"You go on it, you prepare for the track, you drive it and you get the car set-up to a certain place - and then you come to the track and that set-up doesn't work," he lamented. "And in the sprint weekend for example, you've only got practice one, you don't really want to veer off from your set-up too far, like with a big suspension change, and so you stay with it. And then you make a change going into qualifying and you've only got six laps to get on top of it.”

"So in an ideal world I should have started where Charles was at the beginning of the weekend and I think we would have just had a stronger weekend from there on. So I'm not going to go on the simulator between now and the next race [in Canada]. I'll still go and hold meetings at the factory and stuff - but I'm just going to back away from it [the simulator] for a little bit and see."

'No simulator?’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/no-simulator-hamiltons-bold-idea-to-fix-2026-mini-slump/

[Fortitude]

Piastri: McLaren not yet back to best level, but ‘getting there’.
Momentum is beginning to build again at McLaren, but Oscar Piastri is keeping expectations grounded as the team looks ahead to the next phase of the season.
05/05/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

After a difficult start to the year, the papaya squad showed renewed promise across recent rounds, culminating in a strong Miami Grand Prix weekend where both cars joined Kimi Antonelli on the podium. Still, for Piastri, the bigger picture remains a work in progress.

“I think yes,” he said when asked if McLaren can consistently challenge Mercedes. “We’ll obviously have to wait and see what Mercedes bring, because they didn’t bring much this weekend and were still - in qualifying and the main race - probably the same, if not a tiny bit quicker, over one lap.”

“We’re certainly not quite back in the position we were last year, but we’re getting there. With more to come, it’s a good place to be. We kind of need to see where we stack up at a few different tracks,” Piastri explained. “I think especially in the Sprint side of this weekend, to have a one-two in the Sprint on pure pace, that was a pretty big surprise for us. So, things are working well.”

‘Getting there’;

https://f1i.com/news/564047-piastri-mclaren-not-yet-back-to-best-level-but-getting-there.html


Oscar Piastri makes bold McLaren claim for remainder of F1 2026
5 May 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Oscar Piastri praised the impact of the Miami upgrade package, which effectively turned the MCL40 into an almost brand new car, but urged caution on evaluating their impact. “We kind of need to see where we stack up at a few different tracks”, he said.

“I think especially in the Sprint side of this weekend, to have a one-two in the Sprint on pure pace, that was a pretty big surprise for us. So, things are working well. We expected the upgrades to be a good step forward and they have been, and hopefully they are again in Canada. But obviously Mercedes didn’t bring a lot this weekend and they also have an upgrade package for Canada, so we’ll have to wait and see how much that’s worth for them.”

McLaren’s performance in Miami underlines its strengths in developing a car, indicating that wind tunnel and simulation data all correlate correctly, a feat that is hard to achieve in modern-day F1.

‘Bold McLaren claim’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/05/05/oscar-piastri-makes-bold-mclaren-f1-competitiveness-claim/


Stella reveals McLaren has "lots in the pipeline" for the coming races
4 May 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella brought a major upgrade package to Miami, and Stella confirmed that the new components performed exactly as intended. “Our upgrades performed exactly as we had hoped, and I want to thank every single person back at McLaren for their talent and hard work that made this step forward possible.” However, he acknowledged that Mercedes still hold a small but meaningful advantage — and that McLaren must execute flawlessly to beat them.

“We know Mercedes still has a slight advantage; a couple of tenths, and we really need to rely on a perfect execution to be in condition to beat them at this stage. We lost some small margins in execution today, that we will review and improve back in Woking ahead of our next race in Canada. The development battle will be crucial this season with four teams in condition to fight for Pole position and victories.”

He confirmed that McLaren’s upgrade pipeline remains active, with new parts scheduled for the next several rounds: "Our development pathway has lots in the pipeline, with parts planned for Canada and a few more in Monaco, and Spain.” For Stella, Miami was not an isolated high point but a sign that McLaren are firmly in the championship fight: "We are in the fight, and we believe this sets the stage for a very interesting championship battle for the fans and Formula 1.”

"Lots in the pipeline";

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28506


‘Stir up the pot’: What’s behind the Piastri-Red Bull rumours… and why they don’t stack up
Antonelli does it AGAIN in Miami | 03:01
from
7 May 2026
Michael Lamonato
Fox Sports

The Formula 1 world loves a rumour — and you’d better believe, with just one grand prix in seven weekends, it prefers its speculation spicy. It’s why the words Juan Pablo Montoya have travelled so far and wide this week. Montoya, the seven-time grand prix winner, 1999 CART champion and now F1 pundit, told his preferred betting website that there is “a suggestion” in the paddock that Oscar Piastri could defect to Red Bull Racing, with Max Verstappen replacing him at McLaren.

“From what I’m hearing Mark Webber is not happy the way things are going for Oscar at McLaren,” he claimed. “A lot of times people that look after drivers will run a story like that just to stir up the pot and put pressure on the team. Piastri would find a seat anywhere. There’s a suggestion that Max and Piastri could do a straight swap. That makes some sense. Webber raced for Red Bull before. He knows Red Bull. So that would be a sensible thing.”

“That would be a logical thing to do. The question is, would McLaren be comfortable spending the money that Max would want?” Montoya’s speculation follows comments from Ralf Schumcaher, the six-time grand prix winner, suggesting much the same because Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, is headed to McLaren in 2028 at the latest.

‘Piastri-Red Bull rumours’;

https://duckduckgo.com/?ia=web&origin=funnel_home_website&t=h_&q=jim+turner+24+hour


Oscar Piastri reveals ‘the worst result’ in ‘double-edged sword’ title fight
8 May 2026
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Oscar Piastri, whose seven race wins last season were complemented with nine further podiums, admitted that because McLaren had the best package for most of the season, P2 was one of the worst places to be as, more often than not, it was Norris ahead of him at that time.

“So, when finishing second feels like a bad weekend, it’s tough and important to kind of look at it in a more holistic way and go, ‘okay, yeah, it wasn’t a good weekend’ or whatever in the grand scheme of things, but I still just finished second in an F1 race, thinking I probably didn’t do as good of a job as I should have or I could have. So, yeah, it’s a double-edged sword, and you’ve got to be careful to not get carried away either.”

“I don’t think there was ever really the thoughts of, ‘I’m going to win the world championship’, or if there was, if there were, I was very quick to go, ‘calm yourself down, because there’s a long way to go.’ After Melbourne, I knew within myself that it was within my power to win the world championship. I wasn’t certain it was going to happen, but I knew that if, and it’s a big ‘if’, if you did a good enough job, and if certain things go the right way, then it can happen.”

‘Double-edged sword’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/oscar-piastri-worst-result-double-edged-sword-f1-2025-title-fight

[Fortitude]

'Can we already crown Antonelli the F1 2026 champion?'
Antonelli again showed he had the measure of his teammate, George Russell, who was dubbed the bookmakers’ favourite for the title heading into the campaign. At the race in Miami, he finished 43 seconds ahead of the Brit.
5 May 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Despite the upgrades from the McLaren team, Antonelli was also able to hold off a charging Russell around the street circuit of Miami. While several individuals, including Toto Wolff inside the Mercedes camp, have continued to temper talk of Antonelli being the favourite for the title, the young Italian continues to eke out a lead in the standings and currently sits 20 points ahead of Russell in second place.

Earlier, Russell also responded to being beaten by Antonelli in the intra-team battle at Mercedes. The British driver noted that he hasn’t forgotten how to drive an F1 car. Russell currently trails Antonelli by 20 points in the drivers’ standings, despite kicking off the campaign with victories at the Australian Grand Prix and the Chinese GP sprint race. The 28-year-old, however, is currently without a podium over the last two races and will have his sights set on a recovery performance when the sport heads to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the Canadian Grand Prix.

‘43 seconds ahead of the Brit’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/videos/can-we-already-crown-antonelli-the-f1-2026-champion


Has the 2025 George Russell ‘gone missing’ at Mercedes?
10 May 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Kimi Antonelli who has opened up an early lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. Mercedes’ Italian teenage star has won three grands prix in a row to move 20 points clear of Russell. “He has found something in himself,” Hill, the 1996 world champion, said of Antonelli on the BBC Chequered Flag podcast.

“Obviously the talent was there. That’s why Toto [Wolff] and Mercedes have invested in him. But we did see a bit of a wild kid coming into Formula 1. When he went to Monza and he crashed and all these things, and he struggled a little bit last year.”

‘Gone missing’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/george-russell-warned-damon-hill-kimi-antonelli-mercedes


MPH: Antonelli is ravaging Russell's golden chance of F1 title — Canada is critical
6 May 2026
Mark Hughes
Motor Sport Magazine

Although there’s no need for George Russell to panic just yet, four races in and trailing his young team-mate Kimi Antonelli by 20 points at the head of the world championship presents him with a worrying situation. Given how narrow the window of opportunity can be for a world title, obviously 2026 is Russell’s golden chance. It has taken until his eighth season to get into a title-calibre car.

Early in his F1 career, he was frustrated to have been placed by Mercedes at Williams for three years, which he felt was two too many, feeling he could have been doing justice to the title-calibre cars Mercedes was running then.

By the time he got his Mercedes chance, the team had fallen into the abyss, lost in a blurred vision of ground effect porpoising as Red Bull and McLaren between them ruled the roost for four years. Finally, a formula reset and Mercedes comes out the ’26 blocks like it was 2014 all over again

‘Antonelli is ravaging Russell's golden chance’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/mph-antonelli-is-ravaging-russells-golden-chance-of-f1-title-canada-is-critical/?nowprocket=1


George Russell’s Miami GP struggles deemed irrelevant to F1 title outcome
7 May 2026
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

Kimi Antonelli now has exactly half the win tally of Russell (six) in only his second full-time season in F1. And while the 19-year-old’s rise to the top of the sport has been meteoric, Wolff has refused to count out a “killer” Russell from title contention.

“I’ve always said George wouldn’t be a Grand Prix winner if he wasn’t a killer,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “These things, he analyses them, looks at the data, comes to his conclusions, and the conclusion is that he’s never been quite that easy with the track.”

He believes Russell will come back stronger in Canada, next time out. “He never liked the smooth surface, and that’s it,” Wolff added. “Tick the box tomorrow. He’s looking forward to Montréal, and it’s 18 races to go, many points to score.”

‘Miami GP struggles deemed irrelevant’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/05/07/george-russells-miami-gp-struggles-deemed-irrelevant-to-f1-title-outcome/


Russell told what he must do to stop Antonelli’s dominant run
8 May 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Speaking on the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast, Juan Pablo Montoya suggested Russell’s priority should now be finding a way to consistently match Antonelli’s performances, believing that sustained pressure on the Italian could eventually force him into mistakes as he pushes even harder to stay ahead: “I think what George really needs to do is figure out how to match Kimi. Because if he starts matching Kimi, Kimi will try to step even further to keep beating him, and I think mistakes can come.”

“I think he’s quicker than Kimi. Kimi is very good at hustling the hell out of the car, but George can put that ultimate lap together and be very clean. But the problem is, I think he’s more concerned about all the noise with Kimi. And I don’t know, maybe by just getting a one-year deal, his mindset is in the wrong place. When they give you a one-year deal, they’re telling you: ‘We’re going to extend you, but we’re not sure about you.’”

‘Russell’s priority’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/russell-told-what-he-must-do-to-stop-antonellis-dominant-run


David Croft pinpoints when ‘alarm bells’ will start ringing for George Russell in F1 title battle
George Russell continues to lose ground to Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.
6 May 2026
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

“I would want Montreal to come next weekend, if I was George Russell,” Croft told the Sky Sports F1 podcast. “I wouldn’t want to be waiting a couple of weeks, dwelling on what happened in Miami and thinking about how big Canada is now becoming.”

“He won there last year, it’s a track he’s really strong at. And Kimi finished on the podium, so it was a very good weekend for Mercedes last year.”

“But if George doesn’t beat Kimi - with Mercedes’ upgrades that are coming- on a track that he regards as one of his best, and Toto Wolff says is one of his best, then the alarm bells really start to ring. There’s still a long way to go in the season, but this is a massive weekend for George Russell. He needs that commanding performance. But Kimi’s on a roll.”

‘Alarm bells’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1094515/1/david-croft-pinpoints-when-alarm-bells-will-start-ringing-george-russell-f1-title


George Russell issued ‘alarm bells’ warning after early F1 slump
7 May 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Sky Sports commentator David Croft also believes the fledgling partnership between Anotnelli and Peter Bonnington on the pit wall is proving unexpectedly effective. “George is not just racing against Kimi, he’s racing against what is a very good new partnership,” Croft added.

“Bono was coaching Kimi lap-by-lap. The reassurance that comes from the pit wall, the guidance that comes from the pit wall. He’s got an excellent comfort blanket, safety net, coach and guru, whatever you want to call it, in his corner.”

“Bono has been there with championship-winning seasons and how to take the pressure of it. He is the perfect man for Kimi Antonelli. It’s not just George against Kimi, it’s George against a partnership, and that’s going to take some cracking.”

‘Alarm bells’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/05/07/george-russell-warned-after-f1-slump/


Why Montreal could prove a mental turning point for Russell against Antonelli
5 MAY 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Juan Pablo Montoya believes a potential fourth win for Kimi Antonelli in Montreal would deal a critical psychological blow to George Russell. "Kimi knows that George is really strong there, and in his mind, he knows he needs to beat (him). If he can beat George there, he has him mentally covered and that's a big thing.”

“The other thing is everybody else that brought upgrades here, one of them struggled with the car. So that's going to be a big question mark. Once you put the upgrades in the car, yes the car goes faster, but it behaves differently. Who's going to like the car? That's another big question."

‘Mental turning point’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/why-montreal-could-prove-a-mental-turning-point-for-russell-against-antonelli

[Fortitude]

Pierre Gasly issues Alpine plea after 'surprisingly good' F1 return.
Pierre Gasly has implored Alpine to maintain the pace advantage it enjoyed over the F1 midfield after a "surprisingly good" Miami Grand Prix weekend.
10 May 2026
Samuel Coop & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Pierre Gasly has sent a clear message to Alpine after another strong weekend for Team Enstone in Florida. Obviously, I hope that it's going to be the same in Canada," Gasly told media, including RacingNews365. "I think [Miami] seemed to be surprisingly good on our side compared to the rest of the midfield, and hopefully it's not track-specific.”

"There'll be more work to do over the next two weeks, but that's why I think it was quite important to capitalise on this good form, and now we've just got to work and make sure we still have this pace advantage going to Canada. I think the field is just slightly more spread than we thought," the one-time grand prix winner said.

"So the gaps probably with the cars ahead were a bit bigger, but I think on my side, there are three or four tenths we need to find, like just understanding the struggles I've had with the traction. But the cars behind clearly seem to have taken a step back in terms of pace compared to us. Still, I'd rather be in this position going into Canada, but we just need to make sure we keep that advantage."

‘Pierre Gasly has sent a clear message’;

https://racingnews365.com/pierre-gasly-issues-alpine-plea-after-surprisingly-good-f1-return


Pierre Gasly details close call with Max Verstappen in Miami GP lap one chaos
4 May 2026
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com

Speaking after the race, which later saw him flipped into the barrier after contact with Liam Lawson, Gasly suggested the braking had cost him up to six spots on the grid. “Honestly, it was one of those situations where I took a really good start, and if I had a worse start, I would have actually got out of lap one in a better position,” he told media including PlanetF1.com.

“So it was quite unfortunate, quite unlucky timing. [To] exit turn one, [position] seven, or maybe close to six and then I see him coming back, and I had to hit the brake to avoid him, because obviously it was extremely slow. Then I just got swallowed by the whole bunch of cars behind me. So I think we lost five, six positions there.”

‘Close call’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-spin-miami-gp-pierre-gasly-lost-six-places


Pierre Gasly voices deep disappointment after 'very scary' Liam Lawson shunt
Pierre Gasly was flipped upside down in a scary crash during the Miami Grand Prix.
4 May 2026
Fergal Walsh & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Pierre Gasly has described his race-ending crash at the Miami Grand Prix as “very scary” after his Alpine was flipped upside down. “I [hit] the wall rear-end first. I didn't even know where I was going to land. So it wasn't pleasant. “I knew he was there, I knew we were side by side. Unfortunately, we'd probably just have to accept losing the position.”

“But I knew he would still try, so that's why I left the space, a car and a half on the inside. Just for him, at least, to have the choice to stay there if he really wanted. I haven't seen the footage but clearly it was too optimistic coming in.” Lawson avoided a penalty as it was later found that a gearbox failure resulted in his dramatic lock-up.

‘Deep disappointment’;

https://racingnews365.com/pierre-gasly-voices-deep-disappointment-after-very-scary-liam-lawson-shunt


No penalty for Lawson as gearbox fault caused collision with Gasly
3rd May 2026
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Liam Lawson was not penalised for his dramatic collision with Pierre Gasly as it was caused by a technical fault on his car. “It sucks for both of us, obviously,” said the Racing Bulls driver. “I just went into the last corner and when I braked, I lost the gearbox and I went into neutral. So I basically had no gears and I couldn’t stop.”

Lawson’s Racing Bulls team said fifth gear broke in his car which caused his loss of control. “It’s not something I’ve had before,” Lawson continued. “Obviously it’s quite a big issue for us and it’s what meant we had to retire the car. But it’s a shame because it’s obviously taken out Pierre as well.” Both drivers retired following the collision. The stewards accepted Lawson’s explanation for the incident and issued no penalty.

Gasly said Lawson apologised to him following the crash. “It was definitely a scary feeling being flipped over in a Formula 1 car so I am glad it wasn’t too serious and I was able to climb out and walk away,” he said. “My race was over with the incident with Liam, which, in my mind is totally avoidable and should not happen,” he added. “He has visited me to say sorry but I am just disappointed for the team as we had the pace and we deserved points.”

‘Gearbox fault’;

https://www.racefans.net/2026/05/03/no-penalty-for-lawson-as-gearbox-fault-caused-collision-with-gasly/


Mercedes bid for Alpine could be blocked by FIA multi-team rule change
4 May 2026
Frank Dalleres
City AM

Any move by the FIA to outlaw multi-team ownership could also force Red Bull to divest its junior team, Racing Bulls, which it has owned for 20 years. It could also open the door for Horner – nemesis of Mercedes principal Toto Wolff – to return to F1 at Alpine following his abrupt departure from Red Bull last year.

Ben Sulayem appeared to welcome the idea, saying: “Who can remove Christian Horner’s name from motorsport and Formula 1? You can’t. It was always success. But success also has enemies, as we know. If you ask me, we miss him in this sport, and I keep in touch with him, and he was good for the [Red Bull] team, good for the sport. We welcome him back, and someone like him would always find his way.”

‘FIA multi-team rule’;

https://www.cityam.com/mercedes-bid-for-alpine-could-be-blocked-by-fia-multi-team-rule-change/

[Fortitude]

Red Bull car set to reach ‘minimum weight’ for Austria.
Team boss Laurent Mekies made it clear the improvement was not imagined. "There is a definitive step forward".
12/05/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Team boss Laurent Mekies said, "We left Japan 1.2 seconds away from pole, China 1.0 seconds away from pole; [the] competition was not going to wait for us with their updates. So everybody has updated the car, but certainly we knew that on top of the development race, we had to solve some of our issues, and we knew there was lap time in it.”

"So to see us qualifying six tenths away from pole on Friday and less than two tenths away from pole on Saturday is a big indication of the size of the progress. Compared to where we were, it's something much better than anything we have been able to show this year."

Pierre Wache: “We have to wait a little bit longer, just a little step for Montreal”. Wache confirmed, “I think there will be another step. I don't know when, but we will have a weight reduction happening for maybe Austria. It’s not easy, but I'm for sure disappointed with the result. I think the result [in Miami] doesn't show our pace,” concluded Wache. “But it's good for the team to show that the car has some pace on it and that we are in the mix again.”

‘Minimum weight for Austria?’;

https://f1i.com/news/564270-red-bull-car-set-to-reach-minimum-weight-for-austria.html


Verstappen still heart of the project at Red Bull
11 MAY 2026
GrandPrix.com

Speaking to AFP during the Grand Prix De France Historique at Paul Ricard, Mekies dismissed the growing rumours linking Verstappen with Mercedes, Aston Martin or even a shock exit from Formula 1. Max is at the heart of the project”, the Frenchman insisted. “He is with us on all subjects. He is involved in all our strategic decisions for the future. He remains with us no matter what happens.”

Mekies acknowledged Verstappen's frustrations earlier this season, particularly after Red Bull's poor start to the new and highly controversial regulations. “Verstappen was just as frustrated as we were by the lack of performance of the car in the first three Grands Prix and by the initial complexity of the 2026 regulations. He made that quite clear”, said the Frenchman.

“We just celebrated Max's 10 years at Red Bull Racing. As long as we manage, as the team has done year after year, to give him a fast car, you will see Max smile. The rest is part of the usual noise in Formula 1 and it changes depending on whether it's a good or bad weekend.”

“Max is at the heart of the project”;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/verstappen-still-heart-of-the-project-at-red-bull.html


Gianpiero Lambiase: What's going on with Max Verstappen's race engineer after McLaren, Red Bull disagreement in Miami
11 May 2026
Sky Sports

Discussing Lambiase's departure at the Miami Grand Prix, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies told Sky Sports F1 that his current employee "is going to be a team principal" at McLaren. Reacting to a question about Lambiase becoming the latest key figure to leave Red Bull in recent times, Mekies said:

"We don't want to be defensive about it. We have lost quite a few key people in the last four, five years, it is very true. We take it very seriously and everything we do is to try to make sure that we have the best environment to attract, to develop and to retain our people. I'm confident it's an area we will succeed in.”

"Is it going to be a linear way to it with nobody leaving anymore? No. GP (Lambiase) had an extraordinary opportunity. You know, he is going to be a team principal there. It's not something that I can do anything else than wishing him well." Amid initial doubt over whether Mekies' comments could have been misconstrued, Red Bull confirmed to Sky Sports F1 that the Frenchman believes Lambiase will become McLaren team principal.

“What's going on”;

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13541036/gianpiero-lambiase-whats-going-on-with-max-verstappens-race-engineer-after-mclaren-red-bull-disagreement-in-miami


Sensational rumor: 'Max Verstappen and McLaren already in talks'
11 May 2026
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen has long been linked with a move to McLaren. On Monday, the experienced Joe Saward went a step further: the British journalist heard the rumor that Verstappen and McLaren had already begun talks. Saward writes in his newsletter that he has heard Verstappen is already in talks with the reigning constructors’ world champion.

Which driver would have to make way for Verstappen also seems clear. That would have to be Oscar Piastri; the Australian driver whose manager has been looking around the F1 paddock for some time for potentially interesting options elsewhere. GPblog was the first to report several weeks ago, that Piastri tops Red Bull Racing’s list if Verstappen leaves the Austrians. It could therefore become a straight swap between the two drivers.

If CEO Zak Brown does indeed want to secure Verstappen, he will need to dig deep into his pockets. The four-time world champion is reportedly the most expensive driver on the grid with an annual salary of $70 million. Lando Norris is also high on the list of top earners. Financially, that need not be a problem for McLaren, as the Bahraini owner—the state investment fund Mumtalakat—has the financial resources.

‘Sensational rumor’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/rumors/sensational-rumor-from-great-britain-verstappen-and-mclaren-already-in-talks


Oscar Piastri could be set for a SHOCK Red Bull swap with Max Verstappen
8 May 2026
ICHAEL PONTICELLO FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
MailOnline

Aussie Motorsport star Oscar Piastri could replace Max Verstappen at Red Bull, with the future of both drivers firmly up in the air. Piastri, 25, is currently contacted to McLaren until the end of 2028. He has so far claimed nine wins for the team, and has played a major role in McLaren winning back-to-back constructors titles.

But with Verstappen's next move being unknown, new reports have emerged claiming the teams could agree to a swap between the two drivers. Piastri has obtained the attention of Red Bull before. Former team principal Christian Horner was especially a fan, and was open in his regret in the team's missed opportunity to sign Piastri years ago.

Reports of Piastri not being too fond of the state of McLaren have surfaced recently, so a move would be understandable. 'Piastri would find a seat anywhere,' former Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya told a bookmaker. 'There's a suggestion that Max and Piastri could do a straight swap.'

‘SHOCK Red Bull swap’;

https://www.dailymail.com/sport/formulaone/article-15800339/Oscar-Piastri-set-SHOCK-Red-Bull-swap-Max-Verstappen.html

[Fortitude]

No backing down: McLaren ‘definitely wants to defend’ its world title.
Despite a rocky start to his team’s 2026 campaign in F1, Andrea Stella isn’t backing away from McLaren’s biggest ambition. Not even close.
13/05/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

While Stella remains cautious about reading too much into one circuit, the Italian made one thing unmistakably clear: McLaren still fully intend to defend their crown. “I think if we now start to consider championships at the end of the season, then I think we need to be a bit careful because we are just at the fourth race,” he explained in Miami.

“We have just delivered our first upgrade, we are in Miami and McLaren looks like they traditionally have done very well in Miami, so it could be that the way we develop our cars kind of suits this circuit, so we will have to see more. But at the same time, because it's only the fourth race and we have scored a good chunk of points even compared to Mercedes, we know that we can further develop our car.”

“We have said already before Miami that the championship is not a sign-off, so our logic is to look at the long term, try and defend the championship, but as soon as we say that, we come back in the present and we do the right thing today because there's really not much point in thinking so far forward, but definitely we want to defend the championship.”

‘No backing down’;

https://f1i.com/news/564308-no-backing-down-mclaren-definitely-wants-to-defend-its-world-title.html


McLaren targets title defence despite slow start
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says Miami’s breakthrough weekend has strengthened the team’s belief it can still defend its Formula 1 titles in 2026.
12 May 2026
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

The reigning drivers’ and constructors’ champions arrived in Florida under pressure after a difficult start to the year, including a double non-start for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in China and an early pace deficit to Mercedes. But McLaren showed clear signs of progress in Miami after introducing its first major upgrade package of the season, with Norris winning the sprint before the pair secured second and third in the grand prix.

McLaren currently sits third in the constructors’ standings behind Mercedes and Ferrari, but Stella said the team’s long-term focus has not changed, particularly given the strength of its driver line-up. “We have said already before Miami that the championship is not a sign-off, so our logic is to look at the long term, try and defend the championship, but as soon as we say that, we come back in the present and we do the right thing today because there’s really not much point in thinking so far forward, but definitely we want to defend the championship,” he said.

“At the same time, I think we have seen for McLaren that in Japan, with a car that wasn’t competitive yet, Oscar was in condition to fight for the win again and score a podium. Oscar, confirming a podium finish here [in Miami], and Lando, one win in the sprint and in the fight for the victory here. I think when we look in particular at the constructors’ championship, I think we are, from a driver’s point of view, probably the strongest pair. We want to capitalise on this strength that we have at McLaren, but we need to make the car a little bit faster.”

‘McLaren targets title defence’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2026-mclaren-title-defence-championship-battle-andrea-stella-zak-brown-upgrades-performance-mercedes-fight/


McLaren drops big hint on being latest F1 team to adopt radical upgrade
13 May 2026
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has indicated that the Woking-based squad may be the next Formula 1 team to adopt the radical ‘Macarena’ wing, the third team to do so. “We have [thought about it], he said. “As you can imagine, all the teams look at what each other do. It’s clever and we think it could be beneficial, so not surprised to see another team using it.”

McLaren have been genuinely considered as one of the teams with the most ingenuity in recent years, debuting its ‘flexi-wing’ in 2024, which led to an FIA clampdown on the design. This was also followed by unfounded suspicions from Red Bull that it was deploying a suspect procedure to keep its tyres cool in races, which was giving them an overall performance advantage.

‘Keep its tyres cool in races’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/05/13/mclaren-drops-f1-macarena-wing-hint/


Zak Brown hints McLaren could unleash its own ‘Macarena’ wing
12/05/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

McLaren may be preparing to join Formula 1’s latest aerodynamic arms race after Zak Brown dropped a strong hint that the Woking squad is seriously evaluating its own version of the now-infamous “Macarena” rotating rear wing. What began as a curious Ferrari experiment earlier this season is rapidly becoming one of the paddock’s hottest technical trends – and now McLaren appears to be circling the innovative concept.

After briefly trialing the idea in pre-season testing, the Scuderia gave the rotating element a more complete outing in Miami. Red Bull then arrived in Florida armed with its own interpretation as part of a major RB22 upgrade package. The result? A clear performance leap, although it’s unclear how much of that improvement was to the novel rear wing.

Max Verstappen returned to the sharp end with a front-row qualifying performance, while McLaren itself enjoyed its strongest weekend of the season as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured a double podium finish. The intrigue surrounding the rotating rear wing is only adding fuel to an increasingly intense development battle at the front of the grid.

‘Aerodynamic arms race’;

https://f1i.com/news/564276-zak-brown-hints-mclaren-could-unleash-its-own-macarena-wing.html


Lando Norris explains F1 drivers' fault in call for major change
The F1 drivers' lack of enjoyment with the new-for-2026 cars has sparked suggestions they should be more involved in the decision-making process.
13 May 2026
Fergal Walsh & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

“From first place to last place, we all want the same thing,” Lando Norris told media including RacingNews365. “We all just want to go flat out, race closely and at the same time, that's the show that the fans want. Having a seat at the table, it's something we've spoken about as the GPDA. We're all very aligned with that.”

“Sometimes I think we have to accept, as drivers, we're very blindsided to the externals from a business side of things, how teams work, how all of that is organised. We have to accept that we're maybe not always completely correct, but I think the majority of things that we think of as drivers and what we want for the sport is a win-win.”

“It's better for us and it's better for the fans, and that's our side of things. It's just how some of those things are done and not always able to be easily implemented, because of how the sport is as a whole, the money and the cost of things and all that, regulations, rules.”

‘F1 drivers' lack of enjoyment’;

https://racingnews365.com/lando-norris-explains-f1-drivers-fault-in-call-for-major-change


Wolff urged to halt Mercedes engine supply to title rival McLaren
12 May 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Guenther Steiner believes Mercedes should reconsider supplying engines to McLaren, especially given the Woking-based team’s resurgence and growing competitiveness over the past few seasons. This year, partly due to the arrival of the new regulations, the papaya team initially started the season on the back foot… However, McLaren managed to turn things around within a matter of weeks, stringing together an excellent second-place finish with Oscar Piastri at Suzuka, followed by a highly competitive weekend at the latest round in Miami.

Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, Steiner admitted that, if he were in Toto Wolff’s position, he would seriously consider stopping Mercedes engine supplies to McLaren in order to avoid strengthening a direct rival. The former Haas team principal pointed out that manufacturers are only required by the regulations to supply a maximum of two customer teams, suggesting that Mercedes could simply continue working with Alpine and Williams instead.

“If I were Toto, I would do that. It’s an easy solution to avoid getting beaten. All right, I just wouldn’t give you an engine anymore. You need to supply engines by regulation, but only to a maximum of two other teams. You’re not obliged to do more than that. Alpine and Williams, done. But again, Toto is a sportsman. He gives his best piece to his biggest opponent.”

‘Seriously consider stopping Mercedes engine supplies to McLaren’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/wolff-urged-to-halt-mercedes-engine-supply-to-title-rival-mclaren

[Fortitude]

Ecclestone offers brutal 2026 F1 title verdict – writes off Russell.
According to former F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone, the Briton is already out of the 2026 title conversation. And in classic Ecclestone fashion, the 95-year-old did not waste time dressing it up.
14/05/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

“Antonelli or Verstappen will be world champion,” Ecclestone bluntly told Blick’s Roger Benoit. While Mercedes continues to steamroll the field this season, it is not Russell leading the charge. Instead, the sport has been swept up by the astonishing rise of Antonelli, whose third consecutive victory in Miami turned whispers of a title challenge into full-blown expectation.

Just four races into the campaign, the 19-year-old Italian has already opened a 20-point advantage over his experienced team-mate and appears to have seized control of both the momentum and the Mercedes garage itself. For Ecclestone, that shift already looks irreversible. And while many in the paddock had expected Russell to emerge as Mercedes’ long-awaited championship leader, the former F1 supremo clearly believes Antonelli has skipped the apprenticeship phase entirely.

"Red Bull has apparently overcome the slump,” he said. “Max has caught fire again – and then he’s dangerous.” Formula 1 has seen this movie before. Last season, Verstappen looked down and out before Red Bull clawed its way back into contention during the second half of the year.

‘Antonelli has skipped the apprenticeship phase entirely’;

https://f1i.com/news/564347-ecclestone-offers-brutal-2026-f1-title-verdict-writes-off-russell.html


George Russell snubbed as Bernie Ecclestone names two F1 title contenders
14/05/2026
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Bernie Ecclestone has remarkably ruled George Russell out of the 2026 F1 title race. Bernie Ecclestone has written off George Russell’s chances of winning the 2026 Formula 1 world championship, and whittled down the title contenders to two drivers. Former F1 supremo Ecclestone does not view Russell as a championship challenger, instead believing the fight will ultimately boil down to Antonelli or Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Four-time world champion Verstappen sits seventh in the championship on 26 points after a difficult start to the campaign which has left the Dutchman 74 points adrift of Antonelli. Red Bull brought an upgraded car to Miami that revived Verstappen and significantly improved the team’s performance, but it would still take some turnaround for Verstappen to emerge as a title contender from here.

However, history suggests that Verstappen should never be written off. After all, last season Red Bull transformed its season in the second half of the year as Verstappen clawed his way back into the title race.

‘Two F1 title contenders’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1094942/1/george-russell-snubbed-bernie-ecclestone-names-two-f1-title-contenders


Kimi Antonelli earns praise from former F1 driver after Miami GP battle with Lando Norris
13 May 2026
Lydia Mee
Motorsport.com

“He got on the plane and he looked at me and he had that smell of champagne and sweat,” Karun Chandhook recalled on the Sky Sports F1 Show. ‘That smell of success, Simon. Straight off the podium and he looked at me and almost apologetically said, ‘Sorry, I didn’t have time for a shower.’

“And I said, ‘Mate, just soak it up You’ve got the smell of success. It doesn’t matter.’ But he was there, no entourage, carrying his little rucksack and wandering through the airport like a college student, wasn’t he? And he’s ever so friendly, chatting with other people in the cabin and there were so many people congratulating him and he couldn’t b friendlier to everybody there.”

‘Kimi Antonelli earns praise’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/kimi-antonelli-earns-praise-from-former-f1-driver-after-miami-gp-battle-with-lando-norris/10819509/


Antonelli won’t ‘nuke’ Mercedes team in title fight with Russell - Palmer
13/05/2026
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Palmer suggested Antonelli is not yet in the mindset of turning intra-team rivalry into outright warfare – even if the championship stakes continue to rise. “He [Antonelli] is young. He's out of contract at the end of the year currently, which seems amazing right now,” Palmer told the F1 Nation podcast.

“I don't think he's going to nuke the team by going all acrimonious on George for the gain of seven points or 10 points, or whatever the swing might be, at least at this stage. Maybe, if they're close in September, October, we'll start to see what the real Kimi is like at that point.” It is a telling phrase – “nuke the team” – but Palmer’s point is less about aggression and more about maturity. In his view, Antonelli is not yet prepared to sacrifice harmony for marginal gains, especially this early in what could become a long title campaign.

The other thing is, I don't see Toto favouring Kimi in the same way that Helmut Marko was absolutely in Sebastian Vettel's camp at Red Bull,” he said. “Toto will be completely fair, because he's had this experience as well with Rosberg and Hamilton. He'll have a better idea in his head how he's going to manage it.”

‘Antonelli won’t ‘nuke’ Mercedes team’;

https://f1i.com/news/564330-antonelli-wont-nuke-mercedes-team-in-title-fight-with-russell-palmer.html


Wolff on the importance of keeping the pressure off Antonelli
After an impressive run of three victories, Toto Wolff has explained why Mercedes need to keep Kimi Antonelli grounded.
14 May 2026
Formula One - Official Site

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has emphasised that Kimi Antonelli will have to play the “long game” by remaining calm… “I think all of us collectively that are close to him, we need to keep re-emphasising and repeating the message: this is a long game,” Wolff said after Antonelli’s victory at the Miami Grand Prix. “He has a killer of a team mate that is extremely fast.”

“The others are catching up in performance, and we want to play the long game. He can hopefully win many Championships over 10 years, 15 years. We don't want to stumble now with these huge expectations that will sit on him because the moment he has a bad race – which will happen, where he makes a mistake – people will say maybe Kimi is not the one superstar that we thought.”

“Let's keep that trajectory. It's a share price that's going up. He's 19 years old. I don't think I was able to take my own flight when I was 19 and slide my way to the terminal of the airport, so it's incredible what he's doing.”

‘Remaining calm…’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/this-is-a-long-game-wolff-on-the-importance-of-keeping-the-pressure-off-antonelli.p3Xlsv1Qc4MubArhnOSAd


George Russell handed boost in tense Kimi Antonelli fight
George Russell has been beaten by team-mate Kimi Antonelli at the last three grands prix events.
14 May 2026
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

“It’s tough when your younger team-mate is that fast and consistent as well,” Jenson Button told Sky F1. “When he was alongside Lewis, he could look up to Lewis and go, ‘if I beat him, that's great’. But now, for him, it must feel like he has to beat Kimi every race. He's the elder statesman. He’s the guy with experience. He's the one who's supposed to be ready to fight for the world championship.”

“It’s tough when your younger team-mate is that fast and consistent as well,” Button told Sky F1. “When he was alongside Lewis, he could look up to Lewis and go, ‘if I beat him, that's great’. But now, for him, it must feel like he has to beat Kimi every race. He's the elder statesman.

“He’s the guy with experience. He's the one who's supposed to be ready to fight for the world championship. He’s got this 19-year-old kid beating him. I wouldn't worry too much, I think he's going to take the fight to Kimi.”

“It’s tough when your younger team-mate is that fast and consistent as well”;

https://racingnews365.com/george-russell-handed-boost-in-tense-kimi-antonelli-fight

[Fortitude]

Mercedes admit being ‘scared’ of Kimi Antonelli’s stellar F1 season run.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has admitted Andrea Kimi Antonelli‘s stellar start to the 2026 Formula 1 season “scares me”.
11 May 2926
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

“Kimi is doing an exceptional job at the start of this season,” Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “It’s only his second year in F1, and he’s won three races in a row. He deserves all the recognition he’s receiving, but at the same time, we need to maintain a sense of proportion. F1 is based on consistency, not just on individual moments of success, and Kimi needs the space to grow and write his own story without too much pressure.”

Wolff admits he is scared for when Antonelli makes his first mistake, or rather, the scale of the fallout he predicts that will ensue. “That’s exactly what scares me,” Wolff explained. Kimi is young, he’s charismatic, a little big star… but after a great start, he could have some bad moments, and I don’t want the public to start saying, ‘Oh, what’s happening? We were wrong about him?’”

“It will all be part of the growth process we, as a team, are ready for, but the response from the public, especially in Italy, scares us a little. We all want Kimi to become one of the greats of F1, but it’s only the beginning, and we have to treat him like a rough diamond. The media, the fans, and even us at the team have to make this effort.”

“Response from the public, especially in Italy, scares us a little”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/05/11/mercedes-admit-being-scared-of-kimi-antonellis-stellar-f1-run/


Toto Wolff shares opinion on 'big surprise' from Red Bull
Toto Wolff expected McLaren to take a step forward at the Miami Grand Prix, but did not anticipate Red Bull's rapid improvement.
12 May 2026
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has admitted his surprise at the scale of Red Bull's performance leap at the Miami Grand Prix, describing the Milton Keynes squad's progress as the standout development of the weekend. Red Bull introduced seven updates to the RB22 in Florida, including their interpretation of Ferrari's "Macarena" rear wing, which propelled Max Verstappen from midfield obscurity to genuine front-running pace.

"We're only at the beginning of this new regulation cycle, and the development curve is very steep, so we expected McLaren, with a significant update package, to gain even half a second," Wolff told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I have to say that Red Bull was a big surprise because they made a huge step forward, going from more than a second behind the leader to being right there at the front, fighting with Verstappen."

‘Standout development of the weekend’;

https://racingnews365.com/toto-wolff-shares-opinion-on-big-surprise-from-red-bull


WOLFF EXPLAINS HOW BONNINGTON HAS BEEN A ‘GOOD MENTOR AND STRONG BOSS’ FOR ANTONELLI
Pete ‘Bono’ Bonnington, Kimi Antonelli’s race engineer at Mercedes, has received praise from team boss Toto Wolff for how he has handled working with the youngster.
8 May 2026
Formula One - Official Site

Speaking to the media after Antonelli’s latest win in Miami, Toto Wolff was quizzed on how important Bonnington has been in terms of looking after the teenager on the radio, having been heard to warn Antonelli about track limits during the race.

“Bono has learned from the greats, from Schumacher to Hamilton for many years and then now to Kimi,” Wolff responded. “He's been a good mentor to him, but also a strong boss.

“There were a few times today when he had two strikes with the track limits – I said to Bono, ‘One more and I'm gonna go on the radio’, and he said, ‘No, no, you leave that to me’. That shows he just knows how to handle it. That's good, he's been part of the success.”

‘Bono’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/wolff-explains-how-bonnington-has-been-a-good-mentor-and-strong-boss-for-antonelli.7iWdgmTVdOxhjvRGV0UclL


Toto Wolff backed to share the love as Mercedes fight intensifies
Martin Brundle does not feel Toto Wolff will struggle to manage George Russell and Kimi Antonelli fairly through an intra-Mercedes F1 drivers' championship battle.
11 May 2026
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Martin Brundle believes Toto Wolff will have no problem supporting George Russell and Kimi Antonelli simultaneously if the current F1 season develops into a two-horse race between the pair. "They're both protégés of Mercedes-Benz," Brundle said on Sky Sports F1. "They've been brought through the system together.”

"But is Toto one of those team bosses... We know a few of them who can only love one driver at a time. I think he's shown that he can handle two fast drivers in the team, even if they run into each other every so often. You can't underestimate Kimi Antonelli," the former F1 driver added.

"When you saw Antonelli's pace to win the Japanese Grand Prix, that was something quite special, but then of course, he got quite lucky with the safety car, and George [got] unlucky with the safety car. So I'm still of the opinion that George's experience will play out a few times this year, which will give him the upper hand. But as with any sport at the highest level, you can't underestimate anybody."

‘Toto Wolff backed to share the love’;

https://racingnews365.com/toto-wolff-backed-to-share-the-love-as-mercedes-fight-intensifies


Wolff sends clear message on Russell form amid Antonelli dominance
11 MAY 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Toto Wolff has offered his assessment of George Russell’s recent dip in form, contrasting it with the rise of teammate Kimi Antonelli. While Antonelli continues to flourish, Russell’s season has taken a tougher turn, with the 28-year-old now on a two-race run without a podium finish. Reflecting on the contrasting fortunes of his drivers, Wolff admitted that Antonelli has been the more consistent performer on race weekends, while also backing Russell to rediscover his best form.

"What we love about this sport is that the clock never lies at the end of the race, and the clock says Kimi deservedly won the last three GPs. Russell hasn't done as well, in some cases due to team problems, or bad luck, and in Miami due to his own mistakes. That said, we know George's value, and we know he'll return, starting from Canada, very competitive and ready to make life difficult for his opponents,” Wolff said via Gazzetta dello Sport.

“The clock never lies at the end of the race”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/wolff-delivers-frank-assessment-on-russell-amid-antonellis-surge-in-form


Toto Wolff drops honest Antonelli admission amid title charge
10 MAY 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

The Mercedes team boss, who has watched his prodigy surge to the top of the drivers’ standings in only his second season in the sport, reflected on the expectations now being placed on Antonelli and the reaction he could face from the public when setbacks inevitably arrive after such a flawless run of form.

The 54-year-old stressed that Mercedes’ primary objective is to carefully nurture Antonelli’s development, describing the teenager as a “rough diamond”. "That's exactly what scares me. Kimi is young, he's charismatic, a little big star... but after a great start, he could have some bad moments, and I don't want the public to start saying, 'Oh, what's happening? We were wrong about him?'”

“It will all be part of the growth process we, as a team, are ready for, but the response from the public, especially in Italy, scares us a little. We all want Kimi to become one of the greats of F1, but it's only the beginning and we have to treat him like a rough diamond. The media, the fans, and even us at the team have to make this effort, Wolff said to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

‘Watched his prodigy surge to the top’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/toto-wolff-drops-honest-antonelli-admission-amid-title-charge

[Fortitude]

Why F1 star Max Verstappen is racing in Nuerburgring 24 Hours midway through the season?
Nuerburgring 24 Hours is an iconic endurance race which has gained an even greater significance this year due to the participation of Max Verstappen.
16 May 2026
FP Sports Desk
Firstpost

Why Verstappen is racing in Germany: Verstappen has been among the biggest critics of the new F1 regulations and has even hinted at being willing to retire from the sport. He has previously also stated that he wanted to compete in other racing categories.

When his Red Bull-backed entry to the Nuerburgring 24 Hours was confirmed, he revealed that the race was on his bucket list for a long time. He also said that he wants to try out other things as he is currently in the perfect age to do that. “The 24h Nuerburgring is a race that’s been on my bucket list for a long time, so I’m really thrilled we can make it happen now,” Verstappen had said in March.

“All the big endurance races I want to do, it’s something that when I was a kid, my dad was doing them,” Verstappen said. “I don’t need to be only an F1 driver, I can also do other things. I’ve done this already for a while, achieved everything I want to achieve so that’s why I want to explore other things and I don’t want to do them when I’m 40 years old. Now is the perfect age to do it.”

“The 24h Nuerburgring is a race that’s been on my bucket list for a long time”;

https://www.firstpost.com/sports/max-verstappen-nuerburgring-24-hours-f1-bucket-list-14011797.html


What Max Verstappen's rival's post-qualifying comments reveal about his Nurburgring 24 approach
Max Verstappen's Nurburgring 24 Hours entry will start from fourth on the grid on Saturday afternoon
15 May 2026
Sam Hall
Crash.Net

Rival drivers have praised the impact of Max Verstappen’s efforts at the Nurburgring 24 Hours, after the F1 champion qualified in the top four for this weekend’s race. “I felt comfortable in the car because we were targeting to get to the top qualifying three, which of course is not easy with the competition out there," said Verstappen.

“It's super tough, a lot of fast cars around, but we just managed to sneak in. So the final lap was just good enough and it was nice. Luckily, it was dry, the car felt all right and we managed to sneak in. So that was the target and yeah, yesterday, a lot of changing conditions and for me the first time in the night.”

‘Rival drivers have praised the impact of Max Verstappen’s efforts’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1095137/1/max-verstappen-rivals-praise-preparation-expectation-management-nurburgring-24


Max Verstappen reacts to Nurburgring 24 Hours start with grid in awe of F1 star
15 May 2026
Ed Hardy
Motorsport.com

‘Max Verstappen reacts’;

https://www.motorsport.com/endurance/news/max-verstappen-reacts-to-nurburgring-24-hours-start-with-grid-in-awe-of-f1-star/10821016/


MAX QUALIFIES FOR THE BATTLE FOR POLE AT THE RING: 'GOAL ACHIEVED'
15 May 2026
Stefan Meens
Verstappen.nl

“I felt good in the car. Of course, our goal was to get into the Top Qualifying 3. That isn’t an easy task with this level of competition. There are a lot of fast cars, but we managed to do it. The last lap was just fast enough. Luckily it was dry and the car felt good.”

Max also reflected on his first Nordschleife laps in the night. “Yesterday, there were a lot of changing conditions and for me it was the first time in probably the worst circumstances with the rain and fog. But at least it gave me a good idea of what could be coming our way in the race.”

'GOAL ACHIEVED';

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/6152/


Mercedes "never seen anything like" Max Verstappen's Nurburgring 24 adaptation
Max Verstappen has earned praise from Mercedes over his adaptation to GT racing at the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
16 May 2026
Sam Hall
Crash.Net

Mercedes has hailed the efforts of Max Verstappen at the Nurburgring 24 Hours, as the Red Bull Formula 1 driver contests the iconic race for the first time. "Thanks to Max, many fans who normally only follow Formula 1 are now also watching," Mercedes’ head of customer racing, Stefan Wendl, told De Telegraaf.

"They see that this is another completely different aspect of motorsport, including exciting wheel-to-wheel fights. They may not be used to that anymore. It's great to see what Max is bringing about. And that even more people now feel how great this event is, with that special atmosphere along the track.”

“And then there are the amateur racers who are chasing their dreams by driving here and then also being in the same race as Verstappen. I met Max in December last year during our first test day in Portugal,” he said. “I learned more about his approach and how he prepares. And I knew immediately: 'okay, this is a case apart', in a positive sense, that is.”

"Never seen anything like";

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1095309/1/mercedes-never-seen-anything-max-verstappens-nurburgring-24-adaptation


Verstappen leaves Nürburgring 24H in the lead after remarkable run
16 May 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen completed an excellent double stint in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, handing the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 over to teammate Jules Gounon in the race lead. After Daniel Juncadella got the action underway in the endurance race, which will only come to an end tomorrow at 3 PM, the four-time world champion can be pleased with what he delivered during his double stint, climbing through the order with a string of overtakes before taking the race lead.

The Dutchman carved his way through the field from 10th to first, extending his lead to as much as 23 seconds over the car behind by the time he came in for his pit stop. The #3 car is currently running second on track at the time of writing, but is effectively leading once the rest of the field completes their stops. Speaking to the media after his opening stint, Verstappen said he was pleased with how things had gone, especially after having to work his way through traffic early on before the worsening weather conditions helped make the difference.

The Dutchman explained that once he managed to clear a few cars, the slippery conditions allowed him to build a stronger pace advantage, while also praising the car’s balance throughout the stint. He admitted it was not easy to find the right compromise between pushing on the limit and staying out of trouble, but felt everything ultimately worked out well. Verstappen also reflected on the scary moment he experienced during the stint, revealing he had turned in slightly too early before losing the rear of the car. However, the four-time world champion managed to keep the car out of the barriers and continue without major consequences, stressing the importance of staying calm and immediately refocusing.

‘Remarkable run’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappen-leaves-nurburgring-24h-in-the-lead-after-remarkable-run

[Fortitude]

Max Verstappen grabs Nurburgring 24 Hours lead during stunning night stint.
The 24 Hours of Nürburgring has entered its final 8 hours. Verstappen Racing still leads after a strong night stint by Max Verstappen.
17 May 2026
Pepijn van der Hulst & Nick Golding
RacingNews365

Max Verstappen has put the #3 Mercedes into the lead of the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours, following an exceptional night stint. The Dutchman took over from Dani Juncadella at around 01:30 local time early Sunday morning, with Verstappen immediately in a battle with the #80 Mercedes.

Verstappen overtook Maro Engel for the lead, although it was far from a smooth overtake. Contact was made between the duo which saw Engel end up on the grass. Luckily, Verstappen escaped enscathed and with the lead, before handing the car over to Jules Gounon following a strong double stint.

‘Verstappen Racing still leads’;

https://racingnews365.com/max-verstappen-grabs-nurburgring-24-hours-lead-during-stunning-night-stint


NURBURGRING 24 HOURS, 06:00-09:00: MAX VERSTAPPEN LEADS WITH 6 HOURS TO GO
17 May 2026
Stefan Meens
Verstappen.nl

With six hours to go in the 54th running of the Nurburgring 24 Hours, Verstappen Racing’s #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 van Verstappen Racing still leads ahead of the #80 Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol and the #84 Lamborghini.

After the last pit stop of both leading Mercs, Verstappen Racing’s Jules Gounon has managed to extend the team’s lead to 28s. The Andorran-French driver then hands over to Lucas Auer. The Austrian settles in for a double stint in which he duels with Fabian Schiller and Luca Stolz of the #80 outfit.

‘MAX VERSTAPPEN LEADS WITH 6 HOURS TO GO’;

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/6160/


Verstappen shrugs off scary airborne Nurburgring near miss
Max Verstappen labelled his close encounter with a barrier merely “a little moment” despite threatening to derail his Nurburgring 24.
17 May 2026
Simon Chapman
Speedcafe

During his first stint, Verstappen was trailing the Christian Engelhart-driven #7 Konrad Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan when his car suddenly took flight at Pflanzgarten. The #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG went onto the grass and appeared to give the outside barrier a light graze. The close call came just over an hour into the race having taken the reins of the car from co-driver Dani Juncadella.

“Yeah, we had a little moment,” said Verstappen after his first stint. “I think I turned in a bit too early, and then, yeah, we had a little moment there. But it was fine. You just have to keep yourself together, stay calm, and just focus again.”

“A little moment”;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2026-max-verstappen-nurburgring-24-hours-airborne-moment-video-comments-reaction-first-stint/


Verstappen and Engel clash in wild overnight Nordschleife battle
17 May 2026
Savannah Lenz
GPblog.com

Engel vs Verstappen: Engel stepped into the car one stint before Verstappen and battled with Daniel Juncadella for his first stint. The #80 Mercedes built up a 10-second gap while Engel fought Juncadella and traffic behind the wheel. However, after pitting, Verstappen stepped into the sister Winward Mercedes around 1:30 CET. After that, it was a non-stop battle between the two. Verstappen and Engel both had their elbows out as they battled.

Both Mercedes sliced through traffic and the rest of the field to stay on each other's tails. It was toward the end of Engel's second stint and Verstappen's first that the fight heated up. As the two approached traffic, both were dedicated to being first. Verstappen and Engel both went to the left of the track. It was then that the two touched. Luckily, Engel was able to regain control of the #80 and quickly get back on track. After his stint and battle with Verstappen, Engel said, "Yeah, good double stint, the car's running well. [I] had a lot of fun out there with Max."

"Obviously, the Nordschleife is always special at night. It's a cool place, and I just enjoyed pushing our AMG GT3 through the night with Max. I hope we entertained the fans a little bit, those of them who stayed awake." Both Engel and Verstappen battled during the middle of the night. For Verstappen, this was a career first. Engel added, "I will go for some sleep, and my teammates take over, and then we'll see how the race progresses." As it stands, Verstappen Racing leads the race, with Verstappen set to step back in during the 18th hour.

‘Engel vs Verstappen’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verstappen-and-engel-clash-in-wild-overnight-nordschleife-battle


Max Verstappen has lucky escape after contact with team-mate
17 May 2026
RacingNews365

Max Verstappen and his #3 car took over the lead in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, but overnight, he had considerable contact with Maro Engel, who is driving the number #80, which is the sister Winward Racing machine!

‘Lucky escape’;

https://racingnews365.com/see-verstappen-gets-away-well-at-touche-with-engel


Max Verstappen hailed as 'amazing ambassador' over motorsport passion
Max Verstappen is bringing major attention to motorsport outside F1, something which has not been done to this extent in recent years.
17 May 2026
Nick Golding
RacingNews365

Max Verstappen has been hailed as an "amazing ambassador" for motorsport because of the awareness he has brought to championships outside Formula 1, according to António Félix da Costa. This weekend, Verstappen is competing in the Nürburgring 24 Hours for the first time, having spent significant time preparing for the event when not racing for Oracle Red Bull Racing in Formula 1.

Discussing the significance of what Verstappen is doing, da Costa told RacingNews365 during an interview: "I think what Max Verstappen is doing this year, and what Fernando Alonso did a few years ago by competing in the WEC and taking two sabbatical years away from Formula 1, is fantastic.”
"I think these two guys understand that there's a lot of talent outside the Formula 1 paddock, and that just brings the whole motorsport world closer together. It shows the fans that there is more racing out there than just Formula 1, right? So we can only thank them. They're amazing ambassadors for the sport, and they're helping us grow."

‘Max Verstappen hailed’;

https://racingnews365.com/max-verstappen-hailed-as-amazing-ambassador-over-motorsport-passion