Formula 1: Articles & News Reports.

[Fortitude]

How Helmut Marko beat one of his fiercest F1 rivals to signing Max Verstappen for Red Bull in 2014.
A full-time seat with Red Bull’s sister team, Toro Rosso, was tabled, and the rest is history.
11 December 2025
Ashley Hambly
HITC

Helmut Marko would later get one over on Niki Lauda by beating him to Max Verstappen’s signature. It’s no secret that both Mercedes and Red Bull were vying for the signature of a 16-year-old Verstappen after previously making waves in karting and holding his own in Formula 3.

According to Hughes, there was a ‘tug of war’ for Verstappen’s talents, and his father, Jos Verstappen, was entertaining both sides, waiting for the right offer. Mercedes were just entering their dominant period, and Lauda had offered the young Dutchman a seat in GP2 with a ‘planned pathway to F1’.

Marko knew this and also knew that he had to come up with an even more attractive offer in order to sway his mind. A full-time seat with Red Bull’s sister team, Toro Rosso, was tabled, and the rest is history.

‘An even more attractive offer’;

https://www.hitc.com/how-helmut-mark...-bull-in-2014/


Helmut Marko’s unseen reaction to Gianpiero Lambiase looking upset after the 2025 F1 finale
11 December 2025
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

After the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Helmut Marko was seen talking to an emotional Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s race engineer, after missing out on the world title.

“When GP was in tears on the pitwall, three days ago, who came and gave him an ‘It’s alright mate, it’s alright.’? It was Helmut,” Ted Kravitz told the Sky Sports F1 Podcast. “There’s something deep inside me that is sorry to see the old guy go.”

“Something very small, and I will take it up, put it in a small bag, and throw it in the bin when we’ve finished this podcast, because I think his time has finished.”

‘It’s alright mate, it’s alright.’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/hel...025-f1-finale/


Vettel voices disbelief at Marko stepping away from Red Bull
Vettel caught off guard by Marko's sudden departure from Red Bull
12 Dec 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Sebastian Vettel was surprised by Helmut Marko’s departure from Red Bull. Speaking to Sport1 and F1-Insider, the four-time world champion said: “I was just as surprised as everyone else. I wish Helmut all the best for his future and a well-deserved retirement.”

“Helmut can call himself the originator of Red Bull’s success in Formula 1,” Vettel added, also noting that Marko was “the architect of success not only in terms of driver selection — central decisions on the team’s lineup, personnel, and strategy were also made by him.” The first fruits of Marko’s empire came during the peak years of the former German driver, who was the first to deliver a championship to the Milton Keynes team in 2010 and continued to do so for four consecutive years until 2013.

In an exclusive interview with GPblog, Marko didn’t rule out the possibility of attending “one or two Grand Prix,” but made it clear he has no interest in returning full-time. The Graz-born executive also dismissed any role as an F1 analyst, jokingly saying, “You’ll never see me running around with a microphone making interviews.”

‘Vettel voices disbelief’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/vette...-from-red-bull


Guenther Steiner explains why Red Bull won’t be ‘worse off’ after Helmut Marko’s F1 exit
11 December 2025
Shay Rogers
HITC

Guenther Steiner expects ‘well-established’ Red Bull to be fine without Helmut Marko. Ex-Haas boss Guenther Steiner thinks that the team and drivers will be just fine without Marko’s influence. His departure isn’t so significant, in his eyes.

“I don’t think they will be worse off,” he told the Red Flags Podcast. “I don’t know if they are better off, but I don’t think they will be worse off, because the team is well-established, it seems like, under the leadership of Laurent [Mekies].”

“It seems like they know what they want and what they do. The races are the same, they did a good job and I think if there is something happening, Helmut Marko can always come back.”

“The team is well-established”;

https://www.hitc.com/guenther-steine...arkos-f1-exit/


What Red Bull owners have ‘explicitly’ told Max Verstappen about the team’s future after Helmut Marko exit
10 December 2025
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer

In an update from Motorsport Nederland, F1 journalist Ronald Vording revealed the latest news regarding Verstappen’s future at the team following the exit of one of his closest confidantes, Marko. He said, “Max has often publicly defended Marko. The best example is Saudi Arabia last year. In the midst of that whole power struggle with Christian Horner. When Marko’s position came under pressure, he was actually in danger of being sacked. And Max said, if [Marko] has to leave, then he’s leaving too. So Max had Marko’s full support there.

“That might give the impression that this also has direct consequences for Max Verstappen, but insiders say that it’s a bit more nuanced than that. Firstly, of course, there is the much-discussed Marko clause. From Red Bull’s point of view, this has already been neutralised with a kind of side letter. But secondly, what Red Bull has now, the Austrian side and also the Thai side in terms of owners, have once again expressed their full commitment in light of all this, and they have made this clear to Max Verstappen.”

“They have also explicitly entered into that conversation. And Max himself said on Sunday that the atmosphere in the team is up to him, he can see that very clearly now. So, under the leadership of Laurent Mekies, Max Verstappen feels comfortable. He even added that he feels better here in Abu Dhabi now than he did a year ago. Of course, he was world champion then, and now he is not. But back then, he felt that everything was going wrong at Red Bull. And now there is a sense of calm.”

“Neutralised with a kind of side letter”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/wha...ut-marko-exit/

[Fortitude]

Where’s Oscar? McLaren ‘team’ photo says a thousand words.
“Our last team pic of the year,” McLaren posted triumphantly… …someone was missing from the photo… Piastri.
13 Dec 2025
Peter Maniaty
Sporting News

“Our last team pic of the year,” McLaren posted triumphantly from its headquarters in Woking, Surrey, with hundreds of staffers crowded excitedly around their new F1 World Champion Lando Norris.

Only trouble was, as many observers quickly noticed, someone was missing from the photo who had a rather significant role in the constructors’ and drivers’ world championship battles for McLaren in 2025: Piastri.

“Think you’re missing a pretty important part of the team in this pic,” commented one follower.
“Team pic? I didn’t know you only had one driver…” replied another.
“Let me guess Oscar took the picture,” said another.
With Piastri contracted to McLaren until the end of 2028, the next few seasons promise to be interesting to say the least—‘papaya rules’ or not.

‘McLaren ‘team’ photo’;

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/form...7f2288326f66a4


Australian TV keeps taking swipes at McLaren for alleged ‘Norris bias'
13 Dec 2025
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

The narrative that Oscar Piastri was not being treated equally by McLaren continues in Australian media, after another TV segment was introduced this way. Following a Piastri interview with Australian media ended after the season finale in Abu Dhabi, a TV presenter said: "Let’s hope Oscar can do it next year… if McLaren don’t work against him."

Now, on Australian TV channel 10 News+, in a segment on how much money Piastri earned this year, a different presenter began: "When Australia's Formula 1 weapon Oscar Piastri lost out in the Drivers' Championship in Abu Dhabi this week, the entire country felt robbed.”

"Throughout the season, his team McLaren had seemingly preferenced his teammate and eventual champ Lando Norris, but this might soften the blow a little, at least for Piastri, with word today he will receive a $41 million bonus."

‘Australian TV keeps taking swipes at McLaren’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/austr...ed-norris-bias


George Russell privately felt sorry for Oscar Piastri over 2025 controversy, ‘he didn’t deserve that’
13 December 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

George Russell felt Oscar Piastri’s British GP penalty was wrong. Piastri is regarded as an unflappable driver but there was one moment above all in 2025 where he appeared to be seething. The Australian was on course for victory at the British GP until he received a 10-second penalty for driving erratically just before a safety car restart. The subsequent delay at his pit stop handed the win to Lando Norris. Piastri, who felt the penalty was unfair, optimistically asked McLaren if they would consider swapping the cars back. This gambit failed, and the 14-point swing is even more painful in light of the final standings.

Speaking on the F1 Show, Sky Sports pundit Karun Chandhok revealed that GPDA chief and Mercedes star George Russell sided with Piastri over the incident. “I reckon he lost 31 points, including the disqualification in Vegas, and Lando lost 36 points between the non-finishes and the disqualifications,” Chandhok said. “Silverstone, I felt that was really harsh. The safety car turned the lights off really late. You watch the onboards, and I spoke to some other drivers, including George Russell, who was in that queue, who thought he didn’t deserve that. The point is that I think he’s been on the wrong end of the penalties on a couple of occasions.”

‘He didn’t deserve that’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/geo...-deserve-that/


Herbert sees Piastri eyeing exit from McLaren after Norris’ title triumph
11 Dec 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Johnny Herbert has suggested there is a possibility that Oscar Piastri could leave McLaren following Lando Norris’ championship triumph. “At this moment in time, I can see Oscar Piastri looking to move on from McLaren. As things stand, he may feel so frustrated that he wants to look elsewhere,” Herbert began.

However, the former Sauber driver questioned such a decision, highlighting how the McLaren outfit has proven capable of delivering a championship-winning car. “But why would you want to move on from a team that can actually supply you with the car to win the World Drivers’ Championship?” he added. “If he moved to Ferrari, for example, there is no guarantee at all that he would get a chance of being World Champion. If he moved to Mercedes, there’s no guarantee either. The team that’s in the moment is McLaren, and arguably Red Bull,” he continued.

Herbert, however, suggested a move to the Red Bull Racing outfit could offer Piastri such a chance, though having Max Verstappen as a teammate could present its own challenges. “Those are the only places where you’re probably going to be able to win a World Championship. But one of them has Max in the seat. Would he want to go into that environment?” he concluded.

‘Herbert sees Piastri eyeing exit’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/herbe...-title-triumph


Lando Norris will be worried about what McLaren staff keep saying privately about Oscar Piastri
11 December 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

McLaren CEO Zak Brown was quick to praise Oscar Piastri on the team radio as he crossed the finish line at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, despite missing out on winning the drivers’ championship. Nico Rosberg wasn’t a big fan of Brown’s message to Piastri, but it highlighted something important about the way McLaren have conducted themselves this season.

Journalists Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson have now shared what staff within McLaren keep saying about the 24-year-old. McLaren staff think Oscar Piastri has a higher ceiling than Lando Norris. Saunders was speaking about Piastri on the Unlapped Podcast and explained: “I don’t buy this idea that there’s been a favourite in one way massively.

“I think he’s come off worse, maybe in the 50-50s. But I think he handled that pretty well, Piastri. You know, and he was very self-reflective.” Edmondson replied: “I think the one thing which we hear consistently about Oscar from the team is that he is incredibly intelligent and incredibly good at taking on lessons from the realities of Formula 1, from the issues that face him during a race.”

‘What staff within McLaren keep saying’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lan...oscar-piastri/

[Fortitude]

Ben Sulayem lets Norris off the hook after FIA Awards Ceremony 'F-bomb'.
"We had our fair share of mistakes and f*** ups. Can I say that here? I’m okay? Oh, sorry. I got fined. I can pay it off now." Lando Norris.
13 Dec 2025
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

Lando Norris made a mistake on stage at the FIA Gala by dropping an 'F-bomb', but he will not have to deal with the consequences according to the reaction of FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. On stage, before handing the trophy over to Norris, FIA President Ben Sulayem said: "First of all, when he said the ‘F’ [word], it was going to be a €5,000 fine."
However, Norris will avoid any fine. The Emirati added: "But now I think you need it for your hair after I messed it!"

Previously, Max Verstappen was required to complete mandatory community service for swearing during an FIA press conference at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, which he served in Kigali, Rwanda, during last year's FIA Awards Ceremony.

'F-bomb - Off the hook’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/ben-s...eremony-f-bomb


Norris escapes FIA swearing fine as McLaren confirms worst-kept secret – roundup
13 Dec 2025
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Saturday’s fast-paced F1 news includes Lando Norris avoiding a fine for swearing during his speech at the FIA prize-giving gala as Zak Brown confirms McLaren’s worst-kept secret ahead of F1 2026.

Zak Brown, the McLaren chief executive, has dropped the biggest hint yet that the team will retain its so-called ‘papaya rules’ between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for the F1 2026 season.

‘Worst-kept secret’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-lan...ishment-secret


F-Bomb, Hair Ruffle, World Title: Norris Steals The Night
December 13, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Lando Norris dropped an F-bomb in his world champion speech. The FIA president turned it into a punchline. At the federation’s end of season gala in Uzbekistan, Norris was officially handed the 2025 world championship trophy — the first McLaren driver to do so since Lewis Hamilton in 2008, and the 11th Briton to wear the crown. He’d clinched it six days earlier in Abu Dhabi with a measured P3 behind Oscar Piastri and race winner Max Verstappen.

On stage, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem welcomed Norris with a hair-ruffle and a grin, then nearly made it expensive. When Norris thanked McLaren and reflected on “our fair share of mistakes and f— ups,” Ben Sulayem playfully shot back: “5,000.” A nod to the FIA’s tightened stance on swearing in official settings — and the going rate for a public profanity. “First of all, when he said the ‘eff’, it was going to be a €5,000 fine,” Ben Sulayem joked, before adding that he’d let the champion keep the cash to undo the Presidential hair muss. The room laughed. So did Norris.

It was a suitably loose end to a high wire season. Norris praised McLaren — the team he joined as a teenager — for delivering a car that could go toe to toe with Red Bull, lauding an internal rivalry with Piastri that sharpened both drivers. He also paid tribute to Verstappen, who missed the ceremony through illness, for the relentless pressure that forced McLaren to keep finding answers. “Congratulations and thank you to McLaren,” Norris said from the podium. “At times they gave us an incredible car that made life very easy and beautiful. Oscar’s been an incredible teammate, he’s helped me improve so much over the last few seasons. And to Max for challenging us the whole way — doing what Max does.”

‘F-Bomb - The FIA president turned it into a punchline’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/f-bomb-h...als-the-night/


Norris laughs off after F-bomb during FIA Gala: 'I got fined'
13 Dec 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

Lando Norris let his guard down a little more than usual at the FIA Gala, where he was officially crowned world champion for the 2025 season. The newly crowned world champion received the trophy he had dreamed of since childhood just yesterday in Uzbekistan, after beating Max Verstappen and his team-mate in a three-way title showdown in Abu Dhabi last week.

“This is a lot of people’s dream, a lot of racing drivers’ dream - the Brit said during the FIA gala - I got to finally live it — live that one dream I had when I was a little kid. I remember standing on the stage many, many years ago — 2014 I think it was — standing there with Jackie, even before that.”

“It’s been amazing to grow up here alongside so many of you, growing up with McLaren, getting to race all the world champions I’ve been up against — Lewis, Max, Seb, Fernando — all the incredible drivers I looked up to and watched when I was a little kid. To get that chance to race against them, try to beat them, to show what I can do against them all — and we’ve managed to do that this year.

“This is a lot of people’s dream - I got to finally live it”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/norri...la-i-got-fined


Lando Norris finally lifts F1 trophy, crowned champion at FIA gala
Lando Norris and McLaren collect their F1 trophies at FIA gala in Uzbekistan.
13 Dec 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Norris collected his trophy from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who has been re-elected for a second four-year term. The 26-year-old Briton clinched his maiden world championship by finishing third at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last Sunday.

Norris pipped Max Verstappen to the title by two points to end the Red Bull driver’s four-year reign at the top of F1, and become the first McLaren driver to win the championship since Lewis Hamilton in 2008. Norris’s McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished third in the world championship, 13 points shy of winning his maiden world title, was also in attendance. Verstappen missed the event due to illness.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown collected the Woking squad’s second consecutive constructors’ championship trophy. Norris was not able to get his hands on the trophy immediately after winning the championship in Abu Dhabi. A replica of the trophy, which was created in 1995, was on the grid ahead of the season finale, but the real thing was flown to Uzbekistan.

‘Lando Norris finally lifts F1 trophy’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108819...fia-prize-gala


Lando Norris opens up on psychologist help with crucial 2025 title margin
12 Dec 2025
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

With mind management being an area Norris has acknowledged could have tripped him up, he took on the services of a psychologist in the middle of 2025 to help him work on eliminating distractions and to keep his focus, as he detailed to Sky Sports News. “Very,” he told Craig Slater, when asked about the significance of a psychologist to his championship bid. When you look at the end of the season, two points were all I needed, you know?”

“There are plenty of places that I could have gotten more points. There’s also plenty of places I could have lost more points, and it’s hard to quantify, ‘Did this one meeting help you get this many points?’ You don’t really know this thing, because it’s just a collection of work, and you go through everything, ‘Is this going to help you potentially do a better job?’ “

“If it’s a yes, you’ve got to do as many of those different things as you can. Certainly, working with a psychologist and different people in many different areas all played a part. How much? Very difficult to know. But did it make me perform better? Did it allow me to get wins in the second half of the season and have that run, which I would say effectively got me the championship in the end? Yes. So every small piece can add up and make a big difference.”

‘Mind management’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-...2025-title-win


Norris personally addreses McLaren F1 after 'unforgettable' achievement.
11 Dec 2025
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

Lando Norris has returned to the McLaren Technology Centre for the first time since becoming World Champion, celebrating that feat with the whole team. “It’s unbelievable to be here as a Drivers’ World Champion," Norris started by saying at the factory. "It’s been my dream since all those years ago, watching on TV and wondering what it’s like to be there one day, with no idea about what it takes, and what it could mean to everyone, not just to me.”

“One of the things that’s most important to me has been the people who helped get us to this point. Whether it’s my family, friends, management, trainer, but also the people who design, create and build the car, my mechanics, and my engineers. What puts a smile on my face is seeing the team’s reaction - that’s my biggest motivation. It means nothing without the people who helped you achieve it."

“Racing alongside Oscar the last three seasons has pushed me a lot more. He’s played a massive part in this. He’s been my teammate, and we’ve helped each other. He’s made the journey better, with an incredible fight right to the very end. I would like to say a big thank you from the bottom of my heart to every single person in the team. Everyone plays a part in our story. I will remember it for the rest of my life. Here’s to many more.”

'Unforgettable achievement’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/norri...le-achievement

[Fortitude]

Why Max Verstappen’s F1 2025 comeback is ‘one for the history books’.
“It’s you guys [the media] that are here to judge how historical a season is compared to the others.” Laurent Mekies, Red Bull, Team Boss.
14 Dec 2025
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

According to team boss Laurent Mekies, who took over from Christian Horner in the role during the summer, he witnessed something special from Verstappen, but said it’s in the eye of the observer as to whether F1 2025 was, in fact, the Red Bull driver’s best season performance. “It’s you guys [the media] that are here to judge how historical a season is compared to the others,” he said.

“I think it’s probably fair to say that the world discovered an even more extraordinary Max this season after his fourth world title. A bit because of the magnitude of the comeback. A bit because he has been so relaxed, so well seated in the team. Embracing so much that challenge with the right spirit.”

“A bit also because we have seen him racing elsewhere. I think it has all taken a bit of a part of our heart when we have seen him spending his free weekends being a new dad, racing with GT cars around the world. But for sure, in terms of whatever happens next, the scale of the comeback is something that hopefully will go in a few history books.”

‘Magnitude of the comeback’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lauren...-history-books


Bernie Ecclestone Hails Max Verstappen as the Greatest Driver He’s Ever Seen
December 14, 2025
James Rees
F1 Chronicle

In a letter shared by F1 Insider, the former Formula 1 supremo described Verstappen as “the best Formula 1 driver I can ever remember,” a remarkable endorsement from the man who oversaw the championship for decades. “This year marks 75 years since the start of Formula One,” Ecclestone wrote. “I’ve seen many world changes, plus a few in Formula One, from bye-bye Christian [Horner] to catching up with Max, the best Formula 1 driver I can ever remember.”

Ecclestone also touched on the shifting competitive landscape, highlighting McLaren’s return to form under Zak Brown, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff “waking up,” and Lewis Hamilton’s struggles amid a less competitive package. Looking ahead, the 95-year-old warned that the next era of the sport may be anything but calm.

“2026 will not be a peaceful year for Formula 1, and the world is also looking for peace,” he wrote. “So take a few quids at the end of 2025. At 95 and with a five-year-old inquisitive son, I can’t follow my own advice. Do your best at whatever you are doing.”

“Max, the best Formula 1 driver I can ever remember”;

https://f1chronicle.com/bernie-eccle.../?nowprocket=1


Ex-Ferrari boss hails Verstappen as Schumacher’s true heir: 'A phenomenon'
14 Dec 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Maurizio Arrivabene has lauded Max Verstappen, likening him to seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher in his recent assessment of the Red Bull Racing driver. "Don't joke! Max is a phenomenon. You see, there are fifty thousand components in a single-seater. Well, the Dutchman manages to squeeze the best out of every detail," Arrivabene said via Quotidiano Sportivo.

Further pressed about which driver from the previous era he would compare Verstappen to, Arrivabene continued: "Verstappen is Michael Schumacher's heir. He has the same strength, the same sense of leadership. He knows how to inspire those who work with him." Like Schumacher, Verstappen has continued to etch his name firmly into Formula 1’s history books. The 28-year-old has so far claimed four Drivers’ titles and also follows Schumacher on the list of all-time race wins with 71.

'A phenomenon';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/ex-fe...r-a-phenomenon


Hill too chooses Verstappen over Norris: 'Sometimes the best doesn't win'
15 Dec 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Whereas in the past Damon Hill seemed to be one of Max Verstappen's most ardent critic, he now has nothing but praises for the Dutch driver. Speaking to Sky Sports, Hill said: “Max has that Schumacher quality. The focus, the relentlessness, the ability to extract everything from the car every single lap.”

“He does not switch off. Even when the pressure is enormous, he stays completely in control. That is something you only see in the very best. There are no wasted movements. Everything he does is calculated and effective.” Hill then recalled Verstappen's title charge in the second half of the season, in which he cut down a 104-point deficit down to only two with his Abu Dhabi Grand Prix win. “Coming back from such a big points gap and pushing it to the very end takes a special mentality," Hill added.

“He just kept delivering. Week after week, he was there," stating that: "Anyone can shine when things are easy. Max shines when things are difficult. Championships are important, but they do not tell the whole story. Sometimes the best driver does not win the title.” His praising of Verstappen then reached a new high, when he said the not only drivers, but teams were also forced into action by the Dutchman. “Teams had to react to him. Drivers had to think about him. That tells you everything. When you race against someone like Max, you have to raise your game or you fall behind.”

“He just kept delivering. Week after week, he was there";

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/f1-ch...-win-the-title


‘I see him as my friend’ – Verstappen pays tribute to race engineer Lambiase after ‘emotional year’
Following an eventful season for Red Bull, Max Verstappen has praised race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.
11 Dec 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Following the race, Lambiase sounded emotional as he told his driver: “Max, you have given everything – you can be proud of that, mate. Hold your head up high.” Verstappen was heard to say in response: “We showed them one final time who’s boss! Congrats guys, what a comeback in our second half of the season. We can be really, really proud of that so don’t be too disappointed. I’m definitely not disappointed. I’m really proud of everyone to never give up.”

‘Emotional year’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...YlbPEP08tgwmfR


Verstappen reveals why he ended the current season with "a better feeling" than last year
11 Dec 2025
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Asked when he could take as much pride from this season compared to the pride he took from the last four years when he won the championship, Verstappen revealed that the reason why he had "a better feeling" at the end of the current season than last year.

"I mean, at the end of the day, of course, it’s always nicer to win it. But, honestly, I’m sitting here now with probably a better feeling than what I had last year at this time because the second half of last year was pretty tricky at times as well. So, we have been struggling for, I would say, a year — the second half of last year and the first half of this year. But I actually feel a lot better now.”

The Dutchman continued: "Of course, shame to miss out on the title, but at the same time, for a long period of time I was not even thinking about the title. I never felt like I was in it until a few rounds ago. That’s pretty crazy. But, yeah, you take your pride in different ways. I’m happy with myself and going into next year I’m not in a state of having to worry about my skills or whatever. So, yeah, I feel good.”

“You take your pride in different ways”;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28096


What really cost Verstappen title beyond his biggest error
Dec 11, 2025
Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race

Max Verstappen mentioned with the "early Christmas presents" he was given in the second half of the season, there were many mistakes made by the McLaren drivers and their team in the second half of the year. You can construct all manner of combinations of lost points on that side to explain why Piastri wasn't champion and why Norris nearly got beaten - far, far more than what Verstappen gave up.

"The first half had some nice moments, but mainly tough moments," Verstappen said. "Some really tough races and feelings." It is astounding he ever came anywhere near winning the title after that. This speaks to the quality of the final third of his season and the progress Red Bull was able to make in getting its car to work at or near its best more often. It allowed Verstappen to amass a bigger win tally than either McLaren driver for the season - something that would have been unthinkable going into the summer break with 14 of the 24 rounds complete.

After the break, Red Bull actually had a quicker car than McLaren more often. Further car upgrades and a more aggressive set-up approach brought big wins - at the cost of a couple of weekends with big setbacks, although Verstappen mitigated those brilliantly. He views this season as his best in F1 and maybe that is why, even if you can pick out one or two moments that could have been better, Verstappen insists he has "no regrets" about it.

"Early Christmas presents";

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...stappen-title/

[Fortitude]

Max Verstappen 'thanked' for keeping McLaren title fight alive.
"We have to thank Max Verstappen for once again putting in such an incredible overtaking [performance]," added Timo Glock. "Trailing by 104 points, we all thought: that's it."
12 December 2025
Gerd Jansen & Nick Golding
RacingNews365

Max Verstappen staged a remarkable comeback in the second half of the 2025 season, but fell just short of capturing his fifth consecutive world title. When Verstappen found himself 104 points adrift, Norris was also a reasonable margin behind Piastri after suffering a technical failure in the Dutch GP. As a result, many expected the title to be won before the final race, let alone for a three-way scrap to be decided in Abu Dhabi.

"It was great how he [Verstappen] managed to make this world championship so exciting again," Glock said. "About the best driver of all time, we don't need to argue — that's Max Verstappen at the moment. He is open, he has admitted his weaknesses, and yet he has remained true to himself," highlighted Former F1 driver Timo Glock. "It's nice to see that drivers today are not just made of steel."

‘Max Verstappen thanked';

https://racingnews365.com/max-versta...le-fight-alive


Max Verstappen handed 'miracle' praise despite F1 title defeat
Max Verstappen came agonisingly close to winning a fifth F1 title earlier this month in Abu Dhabi.
16 December 2025
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

Former F1 driver Romain Grosjean has declared it was a “miracle” that Max Verstappen entered the season finale in Abu Dhabi as a title contender. “Abu Dhabi was almost the least exciting race of the whole season, but the build-up to Abu Dhabi was amazing,” Grosjean told beIN Sports.

“Max Verstappen, I got to say for me, this year, is the [most] outstanding driver of all of them. He didn't have a good car, lost a lot of points and then came back. It was a miracle that he was in the fight in Abu Dhabi. There was no world where he should have been in there and finishing two points only behind Lando Norris,” he said.

“He’s definitely delivered one of his best seasons. Last year was strong as well. The year before, the car was so dominant that it was easier. His first world championship was tough in the battle with Lewis. This year, just coming back so from so far behind, and being so impressive and so consistent and strong, that has been very, very inspiring for a lot of drivers.”

“The [most] outstanding driver of all of them”;

https://racingnews365.com/max-versta...1-title-defeat


Verstappen aims dig at rival teams in speech to Red Bull staff
12 Dec 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen appeared to aim a subtle dig at rival Formula 1 teams during his end-of-season address to Red Bull Racing staff in Milton Keynes. “Everyone is just as important to achieve this type of success, and especially, I think, in a season like this where we had tough times and everyone stuck together and made it work. I know it sucks to lose by two points,” Verstappen began.

“But at the same time, we can be super proud… coming out of very tough times and overcoming these things and starting winning again in one season. Maybe other teams can do that the season after, or two seasons, or 20… some. It’s super impressive to see that, and for me, I’m very proud to be part of it. It’s honestly like my second family,” he concluded.

“Everyone stuck together and made it work”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verst...red-bull-staff


How Red Bull is processing Max Verstappen’s narrow F1 championship loss in 2025
12 Dec 2025
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week

Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has insisted Max Verstappen‘s marginal Formula 1 title loss won’t lead the team to scrutinise its missed opportunities more than usual. Mekies reckons it would be wrong to get caught up thinking too much about the occasions where Verstappen could have captured those elusive two points.

“I don’t think we should now go into making the list of the circumstances on where we could have found these two points,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “We will probably do it internally in a way we will learn from the mistakes we make, but we don’t need to wait for the end of the championship to do that. We anyway always do it. But the two points could be everywhere.”

“What is important is that we as a group turned around things in the way that has been done,” he continued. “All the credit should go to our people in Milton Keynes for having believed in this year’s project, and having been proven right, I guess.”

All the credit should go to our people in Milton Keynes”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...f1-title-loss/


Max rewarded with Action of the Year award at FIA Gala
14 December 2025
Kees-Jan Koster
Verstappen.nl

Max Verstappen has been honoured with the Action of the Year award at the FIA Gala. At the gala in Uzbekistan, which Max was unable to attend due to illness, he was announced as the winner following his overtaking move on Oscar Piastri just after the start of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in May earlier this year.

The other nominees were Haas driver Oliver Bearman, for his move on Max during the Mexican Grand Prix, and Lando Norris for his overtake on Oscar Piastri at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Fans were able to cast their votes online and overwhelmingly chose Max’s move. Since Max made his debut in motorsport, this is already the fifth time the Dutch native has claimed this award.

‘Action of the Year award’;

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/6052/


Max Verstappen believes 2025 marked his strongest F1 season to date – Was that the case?
14 Dec 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Max Verstappen believes that the 2025 Formula 1 season was his best in terms of overall driving and performance. Motorsport Week examines how that might be true.

“Yeah, I think so. I mean, I have no regrets about my season,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “I think the performance has been strong. I’ve hated this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times. And I always tried to extract the most from it, even in the difficult weekends that we’ve had.”

“But, yeah, it’s been, like I said before, a proper rollercoaster with the car. Luckily, the last, I would say, eight, nine rounds in general have been a lot more enjoyable. And also, in the team, we have a great atmosphere at the moment. We’re really on a roll – positive energy, belief, confidence – and that’s exactly what you want heading into next year.”

“Great atmosphere at the moment”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...that-the-case/

[Fortitude]

Ex-Ferrari F1 boss brands Lewis Hamilton documents ‘useless’.
Hamilton is not the first to try and enforce a change in a team notorious for being stuck in its own ways, stated Maurizio Arrivabene, Team Principal from 2015 to 2019.
17 Dec 2025
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Ex-Ferrari Formula 1 boss Maurizio Arrivabene has hinted Lewis Hamilton faces a terminal decline, repeating the mistakes of previous drivers who moved to the team. Arrivabene confirmed Ferrari did not act on Vettel’s recommendations, the German a four-time champion with Red Bull when he arrived at Ferrari. Labelling Vettel’s documents “almost useless”, he compared the dire situation of Hamilton to Vettel’s decline during his time at the Italian marque.

“I don’t want to say anything bad about Sebastian, but everyone should mind their own business,” he said. “When a driver starts playing engineer, that’s it. Then it’s really over. Drivers spend two or three days in the simulator and get a general impression, but the devil is in the details. When the car is on the track, the driver must provide relevant feedback so that the engineers can make targeted improvements – especially when there is potential.”

Sebastian Vettel, the only driver with an understanding of Ferrari’s ways of working, believed Hamilton faces an uphill battle to save his career in 2026. “The longer it takes, the harder it becomes,” he said on the Beyond the Grid podcast. “He has the incredible ability to reflect the situation he’s in now, struggles he might have, and I think he’s still in a point of his life where this is what he wants to do. I think he has a fair shot from his performance, but a lot of things need to come together.”

“The longer it takes, the harder it becomes”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...ments-useless/


Ferrari told what they must give Lewis Hamilton to stop him from falling apart in 2026
17 December 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s relationship in their first year together was far from harmonious, as both parties struggled in 2025. The Maranello outfit opted to focus more on the 2026 F1 regulations, thus halting development on the SF-25. The upgrades they did bring, such as a modified rear suspension in Spa, did not improve their fortunes as they went winless in 2025.

Hamilton disagreed with Loic Serra, whom he brought to Ferrari from Mercedes, over the SF-25’s development. He wanted to continue improving the car, but Ferrari sided against him, and his form only got worse in the second half of the season, getting knocked out in Q1 in the final three races. Riccardo Patrese tells Ferrari to give Lewis Hamilton a competitive car in 2026 or he will ‘fall apart’. Asked by Quotidiano Nazionale if Hamilton was ‘finished’, the former F1 driver simply replied: “For goodness’ sake!” When he was told that the Brit’s season was ‘really slow’, he said: “Yes, but what kind of car did he have at his disposal?”

Patrese then said that Leclerc can challenge Max Verstappen in equal machinery. When asked what that has to do with Hamilton, he explained: “It does, because Lewis is the driver who has broken all the records in F1. He has won seven world championships, which would be eight because we all know how his eighth title was taken away from him in Abu Dhabi in 2021. You have to give a guy like that a competitive car, otherwise he’ll fall apart. Put Lewis in a Ferrari that’s at least close to the strongest team and you’ll see he’ll still be in contention.”

‘Give Lewis Hamilton a competitive car in 2026’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fer...apart-in-2026/


Vasseur admits he underestimated psychological impact of switching focus to 2026 as he reflects on ‘tough’ 2025 season
Ferrari ended the season as the fourth-best team after they elected to put more of their resources into refining their 2026 challenger.
16 Dec 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has conceded that the choice to sacrifice some upgrades in 2025 in order to have more resources available for next season’s car was “quite tough to manage psychologically", despite it being a collective decision. Asked to reflect on this season, Vasseur explained: “McLaren was so dominating in the first four or five events that we realised it would be very difficult for 2025. It meant that we decided very early in the season – I think it was the end of April – to switch to '26.”

“It was a tough call. Perhaps I also underestimated a little bit the call on the psychological side, because when you still have 20 races to go, or 18 races to go, and you know that you won’t bring any aero development, it's quite tough to manage psychologically. But overall, we continued to push. We brought some mechanical upgrades, and we are trying to do a better job operationally, and this is the DNA of our sport. We have to accept this. It was a call, and I’m still confident with the call that we made.”

“It was a tough call”;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...3d9gfRKTXpv2ss


Damon Hill tells Lewis Hamilton he ‘overdid the workload’ during his first season at Ferrari
17 December 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Damon Hill has now provided Hamilton with some advice before he takes on the upcoming 2026 campaign. He believes that in an effort to get up to speed as quickly as possible at Maranello, Hamilton might have taken on too much, and it hurt his performance.

Hill was asked about Hamilton on the Drive to Wynn Podcast and said: “I think they’ve all done a great job. This season is gruelling. I mean, they get paid well, and they’re doing the job they love, but, at 24 races and different time zones all over the place, it takes its toll. They definitely will need a break after this one. And mentally, I think it’s exhausting. I think Lewis, particularly, never really recovered from 2021.”

“I mean, he went into the next few seasons, and the car wasn’t competitive, and he struggled there. And I think he was demotivated, and he went to Ferrari as a kind of way to give himself another chance. I think he maybe overdid the workload. He was everywhere promoting and working, and trying to get to know the team. I think he probably needs a rest. I definitely agree that out of all of them, he probably needs to go away and just enjoy life.”

‘Overdid the workload’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/dam...on-at-ferrari/


Hamilton's dismal debut season linked to 'miscommunication' struggles
17 December 2025
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

Former F1 driver Karun Chandhok believes that "miscommunication" between Lewis Hamilton and race engineer Riccardo Adami added to the Brit's struggles at Ferrari. “I just think that is one of the points of the season. Rewind all the way back to Melbourne, and there were so many points of miscommunication," the 41-year-old explained on The Fast and Curious podcast.

“Don’t forget, Lewis has come off the back of an incredibly successful time with Bono, and that relationship between driver and engineer is massively important. They can almost read your mind. Mercedes are the gold standard. They’re concise, they’re precise, they give the drivers the right bits of information. Lewis has gone from that to Ferrari, where there are cultural and language differences, and he’s not been able to make it work."

A catalyst in the relationship between the pair is something that needs to happen quickly, according to Chadhok. “I think there’s a wider thing around how they all communicate. I do think, and maybe they are doing this, but if I were in Lewis’ position, I would go after every race and listen back to how George communicates with Marcus Dudley, for example," continued the former HRT driver.

'Miscommunication struggles’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/hamil...tion-struggles


Why Lewis Hamilton isn’t worried by Charles Leclerc gap in 2025
17 Dec 2025
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week

With new regulations on the horizon in 2026, the Lewis Hamilton isn’t worried about how he stacked up relative to Leclerc during their opening season at the Italian marque. “I’m not concerned about it,” Hamilton told media including Motorsport Week. “No. Of course, I’ve just been focusing on my side during this period. Obviously, Charles has done a great job. He’s been there for seven years. He’s got a team around him that he’s worked with for many years. So, it’s a well-oiled machine.”

“On my side, it’s a new group of people. For me, it’s a new environment that I’m still getting used to working with. Then I had another new member halfway through the year. So, we’re all working as hard as we can, but getting that to work as well as someone that’s had it for several years is not… you don’t just do it like that. It takes a bit of time.”

“I’m not concerned about it”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...c-gap-in-2025/

[Fortitude]

Honda announces unusual F1 reveal for 2026.
Honda will break with Formula 1 convention by unveiling its 2026 power unit at a standalone launch event in January, ahead of its full works return with Aston Martin.
17 Dec 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

In an official statement, Honda said: “This is the Japanese marque’s first power unit under the dramatically reformed regulations which sees 50 percent internal combustion power and 50 percent electric power. At this event, we will share the aspirations of Honda and Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 Team as we take on the challenge of competing in F1, the pinnacle of motorsport. “We will also explain the new regulations and reveal our new power unit for the upcoming season.”

Honda has framed the project as the start of a long-term push to return to the front of the grid. “2026 marks the start of Honda’s new era in F1, having first entered in 1964,” the company added. “Since then, Honda has established itself as one of the most successful power unit manufacturers in the sport’s history.”

Honda president Koji Watanabe has also emphasised the scale of the challenge and the ambition behind the partnership. “I’m confident we’re going to deal well with these challenges,” he said. “Honda has been accumulating experience in F1 since 1964, and we’re confident that, working together with Aston Martin Aramco as one team, we can be very competitive in F1’s new era.”

‘Unusual F1 reveal’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-h...artin-details/


Honda opens up on ‘intense’ discussions with Adrian Newey amid Aston Martin partnership
19 Dec 2025
Tiana Soans
Motorsport Week

Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe has opened up on the “intense” discussions he has had with Aston Martin Formula 1 boss Adrian Newey. “We laughed a lot in the first meeting after he joined Aston Martin Aramco – it was very much a case of: ‘Well, here we are again!’” Watanabe quipped to Aston Martin.

“It’s very exciting that he’s here and, of course, there is huge respect for him and his capabilities,” Watanabe added. “In terms of power unit development, we have our processes and timetable for making a power unit that is capable and competitive,” he explained. “Adrian has been working from day one on doing the same for the chassis – so we’re working very closely and communicating a great deal at the point where those two things meet.”

“Whenever we’re having a technical discussion about components or development, it’s always with the long-term focus on how we get the win,” he said. “And that can be about anything: it might be a very detailed design issue, but equally it might be about competitor analysis, or how to manage people to get the best out of them, or even finance and using the limitations of the cost cap most effectively.”

‘Intense discussions’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...ship-ramps-up/


Newey. Honda. Alonso. And Stroll: Weak Link or Weapon?
December 17, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Aston Martin’s 2026 bet looks bulletproof on paper: Honda power returning with a pedigree of four drivers’ titles in the last five, Adrian Newey sketching the future in green, and a two-time world champion in the other car. Which leaves one variable that keeps getting dragged into the spotlight—Lance Stroll. The Canadian finished the 2025 season 16th with 33 points, while Fernando Alonso logged 56. That gap has fuelled the familiar Stroll discourse heading into F1’s next rules reset: is he the weak link, or just chronically underestimated?

Former F1 driver Christian Danner didn’t hold back in a recent German TV hit, arguing Stroll doesn’t project much enthusiasm for the job. In Danner’s view, the body language reads indifferent, even grumpy, and in a normal team that would’ve had consequences. Aston Martin, of course, is not a normal team environment. It’s family. And that’s always complicated. Strip the emotion out and Stroll’s record is what it is: 193 starts, three podiums, no wins. Not bad. Not career-defining, either. He’s hovered in that grey zone where his raw speed shows in flashes—especially on chaotic Sundays—but not often enough to tilt a team’s trajectory over a season.

Newey, however, isn’t buying the caricature. Aston Martin’s new design boss believes Stroll “has an unfairly bad rap,” pointing to a long run of heavyweight teammates—Sergio Perez, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel and now Alonso—against whom Stroll has, in Newey’s words, been right there more often than outsiders give him credit for. Coming from the man whose cars have taken 26 world titles (14 drivers’ and 12 constructors’), that’s not a throwaway defense. It’s a framing: if Newey thinks there’s a platform to work with, the team will treat it as such.

‘Weak Link or Weapon?’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/newey-ho...ink-or-weapon/


Ted Kravitz names the F1 driver Aston Martin will want if they can’t sign Max Verstappen
18 December 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Ted Kravitz gives his verdict on Charles Leclerc to Aston Martin. Kravitz was speaking about what’s happening at Ferrari on The F1 Show and said: “Let’s not forget about Charles Leclerc.”

“Something else that happened this year was that his manager, Nicolas Todt, said just after the summer break, started talking about, well, it’s time for Charles to be in a car that’s worthy of the championship and potentially looking elsewhere. Even though I think he signed for Ferrari to the end of 2028. So it could be Leclerc leaving Ferrari before [Lewis] Hamilton does.”

Karun Chandhok responded: “He’s at his peak, isn’t he? He’s at an age and a time of his career where he’s now got the experience. He’s always had the speed. And he’s in that category with a George Russell, a Lando Norris, and an Oscar Piastri. That next rung just below Max Verstappen, who could all win the world championship in the right car if they had the opportunity.”

“Let’s not forget about Charles Leclerc”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ted...ax-verstappen/


F1 paddock ‘spies’ say Andy Cowell tried to leave Aston Martin after Adrian Newey dispute
3 December 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Andy Cowell will become Aston Martin’s chief strategy officer in 2026 after just one year as the team principal. This follows a reported dispute with Adrian Newey. It’s widely claimed that Newey and Cowell were at odds over the ultimate hierarchy at Silverstone. The former started work as ‘managing technical partner’ in March. But from 2026, Newey will take over the role of team principal. It’s unclear if his remit will be quite as expansive as that of Cowell.

Meanwhile, the former Mercedes engine chief will work with new partners Honda as well as fuel suppliers Aramco. Newey told Sky Sports in Qatar that Cowell had ‘very magnanimously volunteered’ to focus on integrating the Honda power unit, which opened up the team principal vacancy. Joe Saward’s paddock ‘spies’ have painted a very different picture. They say that Cowell ‘actually resigned’ from the company altogether, but owner Lawrence Stroll convinced him to stay in a separate role.

Lawrence Stroll is seen as ruthless, but he gives his staff second chances. This isn’t the first time that Stroll has moved key staff around. Mike Krack was reassigned to lead Aston Martin’s trackside operation when Cowell became the boss.

‘Ruthless’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/f1-...newey-dispute/


Matt Bishop: Why Newey's new F1 team principal title isn't the real story
December 2, 2025
Matt Bishop
Motor Sport Magazine

When Aston Martin announced that Adrian Newey, the most celebrated drawing-board sorcerer in F1 history, would henceforth be addressed as team principal, a sizeable tremor could be felt rolling through the F1 paddock. Why? Because, on the face of it, it was a crazy development, that is why. Or, to put it another way, why would Lawrence Stroll take his extremely highly paid 66-year-old car design genius and diffuse his focus by unnecessarily expanding his responsibilities in a direction in which he has never shown any skill hitherto?

Well, Stroll is cannier than that. So my guess is that Newey’s apparent elevation is less of a new role and more of a judicious repositioning: the marking out of new territory for and by a man who has spent 40 years demonstrating that you can, in fact, teach an old dog new tricks, providing, of course, that the old dog in question is a 66-year-old aero messiah whose tricks were better than everyone else’s to begin with. And that is the key: for all the chatter about Newey’s new role, no one who has watched the arc of his extraordinary career could believe for a moment that he will suddenly relax his devotion to his daily worship at the altar of aerodynamic innovation in favour of management speak, motivational huddles, media tartery, or the complex abstractions of corporate and commercial strategies.

‘Adrian Newey: Devotion to his daily worship at the altar of aerodynamic innovation’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a.../?nowprocket=1

[Fortitude]

F1 bracing for 2026 engine controversy over ‘thermal loophole’.
Estimates suggest this exploit could yield a performance gain of up to 15 horsepower, which translates to roughly 0.3 seconds per lap—a massive margin in the context of modern F1.
20 Dec 2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

The Compression Conflict: The controversy centers on Article C5.4.3 of the 2026 technical regulations. For the upcoming era, the FIA has mandated a reduction in the maximum geometric compression ratio from 18.0:1 to 16.0:1. This change was intended to curb peak performance and promote more efficient combustion, yet it has inadvertently created a technical battlefield.

The loophole apparently resides in how the FIA measures this ratio. Under current guidelines, checks are conducted under static conditions at ambient temperatures. However, some engineers appear to have developed "clever designs" featuring complex internal components that expand significantly when the engine reaches its high operating temperatures on track.

By engineering parts to expand during running, a manufacturer could effectively push the piston closer to the cylinder head when hot than when cold. This would allow an engine to pass a "cold" inspection at 16.0:1 while potentially operating at a much higher, more powerful ratio during a race. Estimates suggest this exploit could yield a performance gain of up to 15 horsepower, which translates to roughly 0.3 seconds per lap—a massive margin in the context of modern F1.

‘Thermal loophole’;

https://f1i.com/news/556568-f1-braci...-loophole.html


Red Bull and Mercedes should be praised for potential engine innovation
20 Dec 2025
Luke-John Buckle
GPblog.com

Finding loopholes in the Formula 1 regulations isn't new and has been happening for decades. If Mercedes and Red Bull have found an advantage, this should be celebrated as Formula 1 is all about innovation. Both teams have a history of innovating with Mercedes' acing the hybrid engines in 2014. Their Austrian rivals waltzed to both titles in 2011, perfecting the blown diffuser.

It has become more difficult to innovate in recent years, as performance gains have become more marginal. Formula 1 also doesn't have a tyre war, and all 11 teams must use the same type of engine. This development should push the rest of the pit lane to find more performance, as they may already be playing catch-up behind Mercedes and Red Bull.

‘Should be praised for potential engine innovation’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/opinion/re...ine-innovation


Bernie Collins thinks Mercedes have a 2026 engine advantage none of their F1 rivals can replicate
18 December 2025
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

Bernie Collins expects Mercedes to have sizeable engine data advantage over their F1 rivals Bernie Collins believes that Mercedes do have a big advantage over their rivals heading into the new season. It could be crucial.

“I think the status quo will change amongst the teams because I think it’ll be who – someone will get the engine right, and someone will get the engine wrong,” she told the F1 Show Podcast. “I think the perception is that Mercedes-engineered teams will rise to the top.

“But we don’t know. We’ve not compared them against each other. If nothing else, they’ve got three teams that they’re supplying, so they’re going to learn a lot faster than Honda, who only supply one team.”

‘Mercedes 2026 engine advantage’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ber...can-replicate/


2026 Power Units: just the latest chapter in F1’s engine revolutions
20 Dec 2026
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

F1 power units will undergo a major overhaul from 2026, but over the years the sport’s engines have already been through a series of radical transformations.

The history of Formula 1 engines can broadly be divided into four major eras: the turbocharged V6 period, which dominated much of the 1980s before being progressively restricted and eventually banned outright from 1989; the golden age of naturally aspirated engines, led by the iconic V10s that reigned from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, followed by the V8 era from 2006 to 2013; and finally the hybrid age we know today, built around the current V6 power units.

Built around inline-four and V6 configurations with a tiny 1.5-litre displacement, these power units delivered roughly 850–1000 hp in race conditions and well over 1200 hp in qualifying, cementing their status as the most extreme and powerful engines Formula 1 has ever known in the 1980's.

‘F1’s engine revolutions’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/features/2...ne-revolutions


Imminent Audi F1 milestone with F1 2026 engine set to burst into life
13 Dec 2025
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

Earlier this year, Sauber team boss Jonathan Wheatley revealed the intention to fire up the new Audi F1 engine in December, with that timeline still on schedule. The Sauber name disappears after 32 years this winter, with the Swiss squad morphing into the factory Audi F1 team following a full takeover by the German manufacturer.

Manufacturing its own chassis and power unit for the new regulations incoming for 2026, Wheatley said the fact that the winter testing programme is starting so early has brought all the teams and manufacturers’ schedules forward compared to most years. “We’re bringing together a brand new power unit with a chassis for the first time and we’re firing it up before Christmas. I can’t remember ever doing that,” Wheatley told media including PlanetF1.com after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“So there’s a huge amount to do between now and then, and that’s why we talk about this project to be challenging at the end of the decade, because it takes time, and I’m hoping, certainly, I have a little bit more time in my life when I’ve just got to concentrate on being Audi and not being two teams at the same time!”

‘F1 2026 engine set to burst into life’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/audi-f...r-2025-fire-up


'Good things' surface from Red Bull 2026 engine, F1 teams warned over loopholes
21 Dec 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

After two decades powered first by Renault and then by Honda, the Milton Keynes-based outfit is entering a new era by producing its first fully in-house car, with technical backing from Ford on the power unit side. It is a bold gamble that Red Bull hopes will pay off, with Raymond Vermeulen, manager of Max Verstappen, revealing he has already heard “good things” about next season’s power unit.

The focus turned on Friday to Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains, both of which were linked to questions surrounding a possible grey area in the compression-ratio rules, due to move from 18:1 to 16:1 next year. Speaking earlier this year, FIA single seater director Nikolas Tombazis underlined that any attempt by a team to bypass the regulations without first engaging with the governing body would be met with a swift response from the FIA, leaving no ambiguity.

'Good things'

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/f1-li...warns-f1-teams


Honda to launch F1 2026 engine in ‘kickstart’ of Aston Martin partnership
16 Dec 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Honda says the event will “share the aspirations of Honda and Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team as we take on the challenge of competing in F1, the pinnacle of motorsport. “We will also explain the new regulations and reveal our new power unit for the upcoming season.”

Speakers will include Toshihiro Mibe, President and CEO of Honda, along with Aston’s Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll and F1’s CEO Stefano Domenicali. Honda’s full-scale return to F1 has already been teased for fans, with an audio release of its 2026 engine that was posted on its social media channels last week.

‘Kickstart’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...n-partnership/


Report: Ferrari are now lobbying the FIA about Mercedes using a ‘loophole’ in the 2026 F1 engine regulations
19 December 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

A huge storm is now brewing in the F1 world ahead of the 2026 regulations, as Ferrari are concerned that Mercedes have already found a ‘loophole’ in the new engine rules. Ferrari fear Mercedes have found a 2026 F1 engine rules ‘trick’ worth three-tenths of a second.

That is according to Motorsport-Magazin, which reports that a dispute between the engine manufacturers has been ‘raging for some time’ due to how some have interpreted the new rules. So, Ferrari, Honda and Audi are now lobbying the FIA to put an end to the ‘loophole’.

‘A huge storm is now brewing’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fer...e-regulations/

[Fortitude]

Red Bull boss has no doubts about Verstappen leaving after 2026.
“What is most important for any athlete is that he sees everyone in the team giving everything for him,” Mintzlaff stated.
21 Dec 2025
Sandy van Wijngaarden
GPblog.com

Oliver Mintzlaff is not worried about Max Verstappen leaving. According to the Red Bull boss, Red Bull Racing is doing everything to keep the Red Bull Racing driver satisfied. The Red Bull executive is convinced that Verstappen will be impressed by the turnaround Red Bull managed to achieve last F1 season.

As long as the team maintains this philosophy, Mintzlaff is not afraid Verstappen will leave: “Of course Max always wants to win and have the best possible car, but so do we. As long as Max feels that we are working towards that and doing everything we can, I think he will remain loyal to us,” said Mintzlaff.

“For me, there is no doubt that Max Verstappen will end his career at Red Bull,” the German emphatically reiterated. The story that the four-time world champion is the boss at Red Bull was dismissed by Mintzlaff as nonsense. The Red Bull executive hopes that after his F1 retirement, the Dutchman will remain connected to Red Bull in another role.

‘As long as the team maintains this philosophy’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/red-b...ing-after-2026


Max Verstappen: Red Bull ‘never had a chance’ against McLaren in 2025 despite narrow F1 title loss
21 Dec 2025
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

Max Verstappen has said he “didn’t really lose” the Formula 1 title because Red Bull “never really had a chance” to challenge McLaren in 2025. “Well, I see it like this… We didn’t really lose it, because we were never really in it,” he told Viaplay. The 28-year-old had sat a mammoth 104 points off the lead after the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August.

Naturally, the four-time champion could not overlook how fate had a strong hand in helping him take the title fight to the very final round against a dominant McLaren. “Because there were two of them, of course, [the McLaren drivers] took a lot of points away from each other. And because of that, if you’re on your own, and at some point, things start to go better, then of course you catch up a bit,” explained Verstappen.

“A few crashes or strategy mistakes, disqualifications, and then at some point you’re in it. I don’t really feel like we missed out on anything.” Verstappen has his own fair share of misfortune with the RB21. In Austria, for example, he was collected by rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s W16 on the opening lap. In Barcelona, however, his miseries were entirely of his own making.

“Look, I got knocked out in Austria. But then again, we had so many problems in so many races before that. Mistakes with pit stops, weekends where nothing went right at all. So, looking back, there are lots of things you could have done better. And ultimately, McLaren was disqualified in Las Vegas. If that doesn’t happen, then you’re not even in the race.”

‘Never had a chance’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...-for-f1-title/


Sebastian Vettel: Max Verstappen's F1 improvement is 'scary'
Nov 26, 2025
Laurence Edmondson
espn.co.uk

Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel has said the rate at which Max Verstappen is improving is "scary" and has praised the Red Bull driver's winning mentality ahead of this year's title showdown at the final two races.

"I think the scary thing is he's getting better," Vettel told the Beyond the Grid podcast. "We know he's good, but he's still improving. He's still hungry, he's still willing to learn. I think he's working very hard behind the scenes as well. And that's what makes him so strong.”

"And of course, he's, I think, blessed with a lot of talent on top of that. But even if he's one of the most talented drivers on the grid, I think ultimately what makes him so strong, it's always a combination, but the key ingredient is his head.”

'Scary';

https://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id...rovement-scary


Why Red Bull and Audi’s engines should not be written off
20 Dec 2025
Last Word On Sports

Having narrowly missed out on the drivers title with Verstappen, Red Bull don’t have long to lick their wounds and recover for 2026. Like Jonathan Wheatley’s Audi, the Milton Keynes squad will introduce their first F1 engines next season. Unlike Audi, however, Red Bull have a rich history of winning titles in Formula 1. This means greater expectations for the Austrian team – despite the unlikelihood of making a winning engine at the first time of asking. Still, in positive news for these new engine manufacturers, there are some signs they could be competitive in 2026.

Both Max Verstappen’s manager and Helmut Marko have spoken positively about the 2026 Red Bull engine. Although this guarantees nothing in a sport where performance is relative, it should still be noted. Having signed dozens of engineers from other engine manufacturers, most notably Mercedes, Red Bull have assembled a strong group for their power unit development already.

It must be stressed that still Red Bull face an uphill battle be at the front. There are still more hurdles than advantages for their engine development heading into next year. With that said, they should not be written off. New reports about Mercedes and Red Bull finding a potential loophole in the 2026 engine regulations are further evidence that Red Bull’s learning curve could be shortened – thanks to their acquisition of top technicians.

‘Dozens of engineers from other engine manufacturers’;

https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...e-written-off/


Hadjar chooses ‘acceptance’ over illusion ahead of Red Bull debut
21/12/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

History suggests Hadjar is right to be cautious. The Red Bull seat alongside Verstappen has become a graveyard for reputations, a high-pressure vacuum that has sucked the mettle out of some of the grid’s most capable drivers. Pierre Gasly’s tenure was cut short by a surplus of pressure, while Sergio Perez – a genuine Grand Prix winner – struggled over multiple seasons to stay relevant against Verstappen’s relentless speed, and lost.

Most recently, the revolving door spun through Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, proving that at Red Bull, survival is just as difficult as arrival. Hadjar knows the stopwatch will not be kind at first, and he’s making peace with that before the season even begins.

“If anything, the goal is to accept that I'm going to be slower the first months,” Hadjar said, quoted by RACER. “I think that if you go into that mindset, you accept already that it's going to be very tough – looking at the data and seeing things you can't achieve yet, it's going to be very frustrating. But if you know, then you're more prepared.”

‘History suggests Hadjar is right to be cautious’;

https://f1i.com/news/556603-hadjar-c...ull-debut.html