Formula 1: Articles & News Reports.

[Fortitude]

Max Verstappen’s prediction has already come true after Racing Bulls’ first lap with Red Bull engine.
Verstappen predicted at the Red Bull launch in Detroit just last week, suggesting that testing will be about spending more time in the garage than on track.
20 January 2026
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

Max Verstappen’s ‘more time in the garages’ prediction has already come true at Racing Bulls. “I think that during the first tests in Barcelona starting on 26 January, we’ll be spending more time in the garages than out on the track,” Max Verstappen said. “None of us have any idea about the new car or the engine. Hopefully, we’ll all be a bit wiser after the two tests in Bahrain in February.”

Racing Bulls’ very first day of running with the new engine hasn’t quite been as successful as it could have been. After completing just one lap, they were stuck in the garage for a while, trying to fix gremlins with their car before completing the rest of their 15km shakedown.

‘Max Verstappen’s prediction has already come true’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/max...d-bull-engine/


Racing Bulls immediately hit problems with Red Bull’s 2026 engine at Liam Lawson’s Imola shakedown
20 January 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Racing Bulls immediately hit problems with Red Bull’s 2026 F1 regulations engine amid their shakedown with Lawson at Imola. According to Motorsport.com, Racing Bulls’ faced a delayed start to the track action as they had ‘some start-up problems’ with the RBPT DMO1.

Racing Bulls hired Imola for the day to put the VCARB 03 through its initial paces ahead of a filming day at the now-former home of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Wednesday. The session eventually started at 12:26 in Italy, with Lawson completing three installation laps.

‘Delayed start’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/rac...ola-shakedown/


Round-up: Racing Bulls’ new F1 car for 2026 runs at Imola, and more
21st January 2026
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Racing Bulls 03 first shakedown with Lawson and Lindblad (YouTube)

‘Racing Bulls’ new F1 car’;

https://www.racefans.net/2026/01/21/...-january-2026/


Gary Anderson's verdict on the real 2026 Racing Bulls
Jan 20, 2026
Gary Anderson
The Race

Tuesday’s running at Imola is the first time the DM01 power unit, designed and built in-house by Red Bull Powertrains, has run on track. We can see a very small Ford logo (red ellipse) on the nose and the sidepod just above the body stay. I’m pretty sure that is, in reality, about the size of Ford’s technical involvement in this project!

Starting with a look at the front suspension, it’s pushrod operated (red highlight above). The top wishbone (forward leg dark blue, rearward leg light blue) has a lot less anti-dive than used last year.
The rear suspension is also pushrod-operated (red highlight) inboard suspension. The rear top wishbone (front leg highlighted in dark blue, rearward leg in light blue) and lower wishbone (rear leg highlighted in dark green, rearward leg highlighted in light green) have retained a reasonable if not increased amount of rear anti-lift.

Around the middle of the car, we can see a fair amount of change with a body stay (highlighted in red below) supporting that large flat area of underfloor. I expect this flat floor area will be one of the first areas where we will see developments flooding in. The final question is whether, as Racing Bulls is the junior team, this car we’ve now seen for real is close to what Red Bull Racing will actually hit the track with?

‘Gary Anderson's verdict’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/g...-racing-bulls/


First images of 2026 Racing Bulls revealed from Imola shakedown
Jan 20, 2026
Jack Cozens
The Race

The Race can reveal images from Racing Bulls' 2026 Formula 1 car's first on-track running during a shakedown at Imola. Alongside sister team Red Bull, Racing Bulls took part in the first launch of 2026 last week when its livery was revealed at an event with Red Bull Powertrains' new partner Ford in Detroit.

But as this was displayed on a showcar - different from the FIA and F1's models, and the one used by Red Bull - Tuesday's shakedown images offer the first representative sight of the 2026 Racing Bulls car, which has a particularly distinctive airbox.

What will be known as the VCARB 03 - the chassis name derived from its Visa Cash App sponsorship - completed its first laps just before lunchtime local time on Tuesday at a cold and wet Imola. It's understood Racing Bulls plans to do just its 15km 'demonstration' day running allowance today then the longer 'promotional' running on Wednesday. Liam Lawson was at the wheel for the car's track debut.

‘Distinctive airbox’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/r...ola-shakedown/


Rookie Lindblad spins during Racing Bulls shakedown
Racing Bulls gave its 2026 Formula 1 car a first taste of the track at Imola, with a brief shakedown interrupted by a spin for rookie Arvid Lindblad.
21 Jan 2026
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

During his run, the F1 newcomer lost control at the Villeneuve chicane and slid into the gravel, bringing the shakedown to an early halt.
#ArvidLindblad’s car after he spun at Variante Villeneuve earlier today.#F1 #VCARB #test #Imola pic.twitter.com/RBpD78r5VH
— Jacopo Rava (@JacopoRava04) January 20, 2026

The car appeared to avoid significant damage and was recovered back to the garage, with Racing Bulls still able to complete its remaining laps from the demo allowance. The VCARB 03 was sporting the livery unveiled last week and featured several design elements in line with the new regulations, including a distinctive airbox, narrow sidepod inlets and pushrod suspension at both ends.
lo lindo que suena el motor del racing bulls pic.twitter.com/hJffaFv4e1
— Tino (@TinoCLeclerc) January 20, 2026

Racing Bulls will remain at Imola on Wednesday for a 200km filming day, where Lawson and Lindblad are set to complete up to 40 laps on demonstration rubber. The running will allow the team to gather further data and mileage before the car heads to Barcelona for the private pre-season test from January 26–30.

‘Spin for rookie Arvid Lindblad’;

https://speedcafe.com/rookie-lindbla...lls-shakedown/

[Fortitude]

Ferrari insiders worried Lewis Hamilton is still ‘chasing’ what he had at Mercedes.
It’s believed that Lewis Hamilton still seeking what made him so successful while racing for the Silver Arrows, rather than trying to adapt to what’s already going on in Maranello.
20 January 2026
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Ralf Schumacher told Lewis Hamilton is not ready to change his driving style at Ferrari. Schumacher was speaking about how the most experienced drivers on the grid will adapt to the upcoming regulation changes on the Backstage Boxengasse Podcast.

Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are going to be two of the most interesting case studies, and Schumacher explained: “It’s impossible to say in general terms, as every driver deals with it differently. “Based on my gut feeling, I would say that Fernando Alonso, even though he is getting on in years, has proven that he can handle the situation quite well. I would trust him more at this point. When I look at Lewis Hamilton, I would say that it has to work out.”

“If not, then he has a bigger problem changing his driving style. You can hear from the team that he is always chasing after things he used to know and is somehow not really ready to change his style. If not, then he has a bigger problem changing his driving style. You hear that from the team, too, that he’s always chasing things he used to know and somehow isn’t really ready to change his style. So I’m curious to see how that plays out.”

‘Lewis Hamilton is not ready to change his driving style at Ferrari’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fer...d-at-mercedes/


Has Lewis Hamilton spearheaded Riccardo Adami’s demotion at Ferrari?
19 Jan 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Given its surprise yet complete inevitability, is the demotion of Riccardo Adami at Ferrari the first step towards change at Formula 1‘s most historic team, spearheaded by Lewis Hamilton? An unusual failure for Adami and Ferrari. Demotion from race engineer to one of the most successful drivers in F1 history to manager of both its Driver Academy and Testing Previous Cars programme is similar to switching your car from a Mercedes E Class to a Dacia Sandero. It’s going to get noticed.

Announced just weeks from pre-season testing, Ferrari has, once again, chosen to act and make changes in the face of criticism and adversity. While Adami’s demotion is not as dramatic, it is still significant. It indicates a team that is beginning to listen to a driver it paid a blockbuster sum to secure, vital given Adami’s poor season. Whether Hamilton was involved is debatable, but this decision felt as inevitable as a harsh British winter extending into spring.

Listening to radio exchanges between the two, the issues are laid bare. Hamilton asks a specific question, while Adami either gives the wrong information back or ignores it entirely. One could almost see the script he has to studiously follow on the Ferrari pit wall, unable and or unwilling to deviate from it.

‘An unusual failure for Adami and Ferrari’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/...on-at-ferrari/


Ferrari have just dealt Lewis Hamilton yet another challenge that could set him up to fail
20 January 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Ferrari risk setting Lewis Hamilton up to fail by not naming his new race engineer ‘anytime soon’. But while Ferrari will give Hamilton a new race engineer, Corriere della Sera reports that the Scuderia will not name Adami’s replacement ‘anytime soon’. Instead, Ferrari are set to make Bryan Bozzi pull double duty during the first pre-season test in Barcelona on January 26-30.

Corriere della Sera adds that Hamilton and Adami met for dinner before Christmas to try to improve their understanding of one another. FunoAnalisiTecnica also claims Ferrari ‘worked hard’ through the winter in the hope of keeping Adami as Hamilton’s race engineer in 2026. But it became clear that they could not continue working together, so Adami stepped down and he will now manage the Ferrari Driver Academy and their testing of previous cars (TPC) programme. Yet Ferrari are leaving Hamilton even further on the back foot entering 2026.

Hamilton is set to go into the new season facing an additional hurdle compared to his rivals by not having a permanent race engineer in place to replace Adami. Although it is thought that performance engineer Luca Diella is the favourite to be Hamilton’s new race engineer. There have been widespread fears since the 2026 F1 regulations started to take shape that drivers could run out of energy on high-speed tracks or long straights due to the increase in electrical power. F1 has increased the electrical share of power from a 20/80 split to 50/50.

‘Not naming his new race engineer anytime soon’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fer...im-up-to-fail/


Gary Anderson thinks ‘confused’ Ferrari might already have a ‘problem’ with their 2026 F1 car
20 January 2026
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Gary Anderson has now been speaking about a fundamental part of the car that can often be overlooked by fans: the suspension. According to MARCA, Ferrari are rumoured to have switched from a pull-rod front suspension to a push-rod system. Gary Anderson concerned about Ferrari’s suspension ahead of the 2026 F1 season. Anderson was speaking about the situation on The Race F1 Podcast and explained: “It’s a difficult decision, really, to make.

“I personally, if I were making it, would be going for the pull-rod because I think it’s more complicated to package, being that it’s down in the bottom of the chassis. But you can package it in such a way that it’s sort of forward of the pedals, I suppose you might call it, or down the side of where the pedal pivots are. I think the initial decision of a lot of them going to push-rod at the front would be packaging and ease of setup.”

‘Ferrari might already have a problem’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/gar...r-2026-f1-car/


Mattia Binotto just told Ferrari why they are already doomed in 2026 battle with Mercedes
21 January 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

It has been reported that Ferrari could protest the results of the Australian Grand Prix, the first round of the season. They feel Mercedes are breaking the spirit of the rules. However, speaking to The Race, Audi boss Mattia Binotto questioned whether this approach is viable, because they can’t pinpoint exactly which feature of the car is illegal. “You can protest if you know what you’re protesting,” Binotto, the former Ferrari team principal, said.

F1 teams will meet to discuss the issue on Thursday, but Binotto says this won’t lead to a ban. Instead, Audi are pushing for the introduction of a real-time measuring device, but this would take time. “I don’t think there will be clarity or compromise,” he said. “The meeting, which has been set for the 22nd of January, is more to continue to discuss how can we improve or develop a methodology for the future to measure the compression ratios in operating conditions.”

‘Can’t pinpoint exactly which feature of the car is illegal’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mat...with-mercedes/


Ferrari are ‘in danger’ of missing Q3 at the Australian Grand Prix due to horsepower issue
20 January 2026
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Ferrari could be F1’s fifth-fastest team at the Australian Grand Prix. F1 pundit Ralf Schumacher believes the 2026 Ferrari will be a ‘disaster’ based on the early rumblings, but that theory will only be put to the test during the first public testing in Bahrain next month.

Mercedes finding a ‘loophole’ in F1’s new engine rules. Rivals say they will exceed the maximum fuel compression ratio on track, but comply with FIA checks when the car is stationary. It’s believed that Red Bull are also using the trick, but not to the same extent. As newcomers to the engine scene, they aren’t expecting to be on the level of established manufacturers straight away.

Mercedes, and the three teams they supply (McLaren, Williams and Alpine), could conceivably gain up to 13 horsepower through the higher ratio, equivalent to around four-tenths per lap. According to Top Speed columnist Umberto Zapelloni, this puts Ferrari at risk of being F1’s fifth-fastest team when the season begins in Australia. If so, the drivers will have to nail their laps to even reach Q3, with P9 and P10 potentially their ceiling.

‘Ferrari could be F1’s fifth-fastest team at the Australian Grand Prix’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fer...sepower-issue/

[Fortitude]

Toto Wolff makes vow following new Mercedes W17 reveal.
Crucially, Wolff stated: "We will continue to push hard in the months ahead."
22 Jan 2026
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

The W17 has been revealed to the world to a minimum of fuss, with Toto Wolff making clear the team's ambition in the coming months. Assessing the car and campaign to come, Wolff said: "Formula 1 will undergo significant change in 2026, and we are prepared for that transition.

"The new regulations demand innovation and absolute focus across every area of performance. Our work on the new car, and the long-term development of the power unit and advanced sustainable fuels with Petronas, reflects that approach. Releasing the first images of the W17 is simply the next step in that process. It represents the collective, sustained effort of our teams in Brixworth and Brackley."

‘Revealed to the world to a minimum of fuss’;

https://racingnews365.com/toto-wolff...des-w17-reveal


Mercedes Unveil Brand New Look For 2026 F1 Season; Toto Wolff Provides Warning
Jan 22, 2026
Agence France-Presse
NDTV.com

The W17 is smaller, narrower, and lighter than its predecessor. "Formula One will undergo significant change in 2026, and we are prepared for that transition," said team principal Wolff. "The new regulations demand innovation and absolute focus across every area of performance."

The new era starts here. Introducing our W17 pic.twitter.com/ld0Zu6vjTv
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) January 22, 2026
The team released digital images of their new W17 car on Thursday, describing the 2026 season as "the biggest technical shake-up in the sport's history".

"The new regulations demand innovation and absolute focus”;

https://sports.ndtv.com/formula-1/me...rning-10830190


Did Mercedes Just Unleash F1’s 2026 Secret Weapon?
Jan 23, 2026
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Mercedes’ first public run with the W17 at Silverstone was always going to be heavy on optics and light on hard answers. A filming day in January, on a cold, wet track, tells you almost nothing about lap time and plenty about whether the basics work. Still, there were a couple of tells worth clocking — not least from George Russell, who sounded quietly energised by what’s going on at Brixworth. With filming-day limits capping Mercedes at 200 kilometres, Russell and Kimi Antonelli split the work and logged 67 laps between them.

Mercedes’ head of trackside engineering Andrew Shovlin described it as a “sensible first day of running”, the kind of line you get when the priority is to get to the end of the day without the laptop screens turning red. The aim, he said, was simply to make sure everything “operates safely and reliably”, with both drivers getting their first feel of the new-generation machinery.

“It’s mega to see the new car, new engine on track,” Russell said. “It sounds amazing. It really sounds different to what I was expecting. It’s a really special day, getting to drive it for the first time, because this engine and power unit has been years in the works… and then finally getting the chance to drive today is always a really nice time of year. So yeah, great to be out. Great to see it on the track, and can’t wait to drive it full gas.”

‘George Russell, who sounded quietly energised by what’s going on at Brixworth’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/did-merc...secret-weapon/


Encouraging signs? Gary Anderson's verdict on the 2026 Mercedes
Jan 22, 2026
Gary Anderson
The Race

The 2026 Formula 1 season represents a big opportunity for Mercedes to recover from its relatively disastrous ground effect era, one in which it never really got on top of the situation and where inconsistency was its dominant trait. Being untouchable at one event then fighting to get into Q3 at the next one is not a good place to be; it just ebbs away your confidence.

So, will the problem continue in 2026? If Mercedes hasn't recognised where it was coming from - which is either the windtunnel and/or the simulation tools, or the way the team combines the data from those two - and rectified it, then yes it will. However, as this set of regulations is less critically dependent on what is happening between the ground and the undersurface of the car, the problem shouldn't be quite as bad.

As an overall package it looks good; nothing startling anywhere but good, clean lines with everything looking like it is working as one. As I have said before, sometimes it is better to optimise what you have experience of and Mercedes has stuck with the pushrod operated front suspension. That's no bad thing as I don't believe there is much to choose between a pullrod or pushrod, so packaging is the prime consideration in that area. Will it be back to the domination seen before 2022? Rumour has it that the new Mercedes power unit is a rocketship and with McLaren, Williams and Alpine using it too, that's eight drivers who are all very competent that could take big points.

‘As an overall package it looks good’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...erson-verdict/


Mercedes W17 Unveiled With Active Aero for F1 2026
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS debuts a downsized hybrid W17 with refreshed black-and-silver livery and bold new Microsoft partnership.
23 Jan 2026
HYPEBEAST

Mercedes is treating 2026 as a hard reboot. The W17 is the team’s first response to the sport’s sweeping chassis, power unit and fuel regulations, arriving as the “biggest technical shake-up in the sport’s history”. The car is shorter, narrower and lighter than its predecessors, built around active aero with moveable front and rear wings and a power unit delivering a near 50/50 split between electric and combustion power on advanced sustainable fuels.

On track, the intent is just as aggressive. Russell and Antonelli have already logged nearly 200km at a wet Silverstone filming day to validate systems before the behind-closed-doors Barcelona shakedown and dual Bahrain tests. After four years without a title, Mercedes is leaning on its historic record of nailing major rule resets, its Brixworth power-unit brain trust and now its Microsoft-backed data stack to try and own F1’s next era rather than chase it.

‘Active Aero’;

https://hypebeast.com/2026/1/mercede...ro-for-f1-2026


F1: Mercedes engine solution deemed legal ahead of 2026 season
22 Jan 2026
Last Word On Sports

Since the German manufacturer began developing this solution, the federation have deemed their interpretation of the regulations as valid. Because the engine still complies with the mandated 16:1 limit during standard checks, it is technically compliant with the rules. Mercedes’ success in increasing their compression ratio when the engines are on track and at racing temperature does not directly violate the rules or result in a failure of the FIA’s scrutineering.

Of course, this technicality is something that other teams have disputed. A stricter interpretation of the regulations would always make the use of this design controversial. Regardless, it would have taken a surprise twist for the FIA to change their stance on a solution they have known about for some time. In any case, the other engine suppliers were hopeful to receive some clarification in today’s meeting. To some extent, they did gain a better understanding of the situation.

The headline is that Mercedes’ unique design has been deemed as legal by the FIA. By extension, Red Bull (who are also working on this idea) will also be able to utilise it later in 2026. With the start of the season inching ever closer, alterations to the regulations were always going to be unlikely. Doing so would not only contradict the federation’s previous stance, but also create a nightmare scenario for the four Mercedes-powered and two Red Bull-powered teams ahead of round one in Australia.

‘Mercedes engine solution deemed legal’;

https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...f-2026-season/


First Mercedes reaction emerges as Russell and Antonelli break silence on shakedown
23 Jan 2026
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Mercedes’ head of trackside engineering, Andrew Shovlin, called it a “sensible first day of running” with the focus on “ensuring everything operates safely and reliably. “We were able to get through our allotted mileage, with both George and Kimi getting to experience the 2026 car on track for the first time.”

George Russell, tipped by many pundits to be amongst the favourites for this year’s title amidst reports Mercedes may have gained a march on its rivals, gave a nod to the Mercedes power unit. “It’s mega to see the new car, new engine on track,” he said on Mercedes’ social media feed. “It sounds amazing. It really sounds different to what I was expecting. It’s a really special day, getting to drive it for the first time, because this engine and power unit has been years in the works.”

Kimi Antonelli: “First day in the new car, super big day for the team, for everyone involved in the project,” he said. “And I have to say it was a good day. I’m super happy. And, you know, a massive thanks to all the people back in in Brackley and Brixworth because they’ve done an incredible job on putting the car together and allowing us to do some laps today.”

“Sensible first day of running”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/first-...elli-shakedown

[Fortitude]

Alpine’s Quiet Barcelona Laps Hint at a 2026 Reckoning.
Alpine completed a TPC (Testing of Previous Car) day with its 2025 machine… …teams don’t book track time in January for nostalgia. These days are about sharpening process — and Alpine needs that edge as much as anyone going into 2026.
21 Jan 2026
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Gasly has been pretty clear about what 2026 represents for him personally, and his comments in recent days sounded less like marketing and more like a driver who’s done enough seasons of compromise. “I just care about being fast,” he said, adding that if Alpine has a good car in 2026, it could be “the first time” he gets machinery that truly lets him show “my talent and my skills”.

There’s a directness to that which will resonate inside the paddock. Drivers say plenty of things in January. But Gasly’s point is hard to argue with: in Formula 1, your ceiling is often defined by what you’re given. He’s not asking for patience; he’s saying give me the tools and judge me properly.

He also didn’t pretend to have a crystal ball on what the new rules will do to the quality of racing. “Whether [the new rules for 2026 are] going to be good or better or not for racing, I don’t know,” he admitted. But the closing thought landed with the bluntness of someone who’s reached the stage of his career where the margins don’t interest him unless they lead to trophies: “I just want to win and I’ll do anything I can do to make it happen.”

‘2026 Reckoning’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/alpines-...026-reckoning/


Briatore cast verdict on Alpine 2026 prospects with daring prediction
23 Jan 2026
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Flavio Briatore has voiced strong confidence in Alpine’s prospects following the unveiling of the team’s 2026 challenger. Speaking during the launch of the Alpine A526 car, the 75-year-old motorsport executive, who serves as de facto team principal, detailed his optimism about the squad’s direction heading into the new campaign. Briatore further added that the blame should fall squarely on team leadership if the car fails to deliver on performance.

"I believe Alpine will really come back in performance this year,” he began. "If the car is bad, it is our fault. We did not have any problems building this car. We had the budget,” he concluded. The Alpine outfit endured a challenging 2025 season, finishing bottom of the Constructors’ standings after opting against further developments on its car and shifting its resources to its 2026 machinery.

"I believe Alpine will really come back in performance this year”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/briat...ing-prediction


TEAM PREVIEW: Alpine – All you need to know about the team ahead of the 2026 F1 season
After ending 2025 at the bottom of the Teams’ Championship, can Alpine bounce back in 2026?
22 Jan 2026
Anna Francis
Formula One Official Site

Needless to say, Alpine will be aiming not to repeat their last-place finish in 2026. The team are entering the new campaign with an increased sense of stability; Steve Nielsen joined as Managing Director in September – reporting to Briatore – while the incumbent driver pairing of Gasly and Colapinto adds to the continuity. With Gasly continuing to lead the charge and Colapinto experiencing something of an upturn in form during the latter stages of 2025 – leaving Briatore “impressed” – the target will be to provide the drivers with a car that they can fight with.

Indeed, this has been set out as a goal for 2026 by Briatore, while the Italian also voiced his belief that the increased stability at Alpine – along with the arrival of experienced new recruits – can help the squad to climb back up to P6 in the standings. “We are setting the team for next season,” Briatore explained. “We will have a great Mercedes engine and gearbox. I'm sure next season will be good for the team and we give our drivers the right car to compete. We are doing the best possible and my target is to be in P6 [next year]."

‘P6’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Vt6tTLVrzxL7lH


Can Alpine produce a 2026 F1 car worthy of its engine?
23 Jan 2026
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine

Alpine enters the 2026 F1 era with a new engine and renewed purpose, hoping a reset can succeed where recent seasons have fallen short. Alpine ’s 2026 Formula 1 car launch will be one of the least celebratory of the new era, not because expectations are low, but because the stakes are unusually clear.

The 2026 car will be the first Alpine to be conceived entirely around a customer power unit, and Enstone’s first time running a modern-style customer engine rather than being aligned to a manufacturer’s own works project. The question that will frame everything Alpine unveils is whether the team has built a car worthy of what it has been given after a disastrous 2025.

‘Renewed purpose’;

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


Alpine’s Mercedes-Powered Gamble: Glory or Reckoning?
23 Jan 2026
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Alpine has finally put proper eyes on its 2026 car, unveiling the A526 in front of sponsors and guests aboard an MSC cruise ship in Barcelona on Friday. It’s the kind of glossy launch setting the team has leaned into in recent years, but this time the car it rolled out carries a different kind of significance: it’s the first Alpine of the new rules cycle, and the first to arrive with the team no longer making its own power unit.

The timing made it feel like a coordinated bit of launch-day theatre across the sport. Ferrari had shown its SF-26 earlier on Friday, and Alpine followed with a reveal that was as much about signalling intent as it was about bodywork and paint. The A526 had already turned a wheel in public, too — it ran during a filming day at Silverstone earlier this week, a low-key shakedown that did its job: systems check, early correlation, no drama.

It’s also hard to ignore how much Alpine has been reshaped on the management side in the past 12 months. Another leadership upheaval marked 2025, with team principal Oli Oakes resigning after the Miami Grand Prix. That sort of mid-season disruption always leaves scar tissue: projects get paused, technical direction gets challenged, and the factory ends up spending energy on org charts instead of lap time. For 2026, the public-facing structure is clearer. Flavio Briatore continues as executive advisor to Renault CEO Francois Provost, and he’s now supported by the new managing director, Steve Nielsen, as Alpine tries to hit the reset button ahead of the regulation change.

‘Glory or Reckoning?’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/alpines-...-or-reckoning/


F1 car on a cruise ship! Alpine launch new challenger after dismal 2025
23 Jan 2026
ESPN

Alpine has launched its 2026 Formula 1 car at an event aboard a cruise ship in Barcelona. The team's new car, the A526, made its track debut at a filming day at Silverstone on Wednesday before the livery reveal took place on Friday. "It has been a relentless few months at the Enstone factory in preparation for the season, designing and creating the A526, together with Mercedes-AMG who will supply the new power unit and gearbox from this season; a partnership we are very much excited about," team boss Flavio Briatore said.

"It is quite rare to see such changes in our sport and ones which have the potential to shake up the competitive order. We are taking it step by step. We do not know where we will rank at race one let alone the final race. Development will be crucial and learning and understanding how best to maximise the package at each circuit will make a big difference to our success.”

“We know this is a long journey and one we look forward to taking on. Pierre and Franco have a real hunger in their eyes. Last year was not easy for anyone, not least for them, and it is our duty to provide them the car which will allow them to showcase their talent in the most competitive positions."

'Relentless months at Enstone';

https://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id...-car-last-2025


Horner in talks over Alpine buy-in - Briatore
23 Jan 2026
Valentin Khorounzhiy, Jon Noble
The Race

Former Red Bull Formula 1 boss Christian Horner is in active negotiations to buy into Alpine's F1 team, according to its boss Flavio Briatore. Briatore didn't exactly refute the possibility when asked about it during Alpine's 2026 livery launch, effectively confirming talks were in progress.

"In this moment, this is a lot of confusion," he said. "A few groups - I don't know how many, six, seven; every day is a new group - every day people call me about Otro. I don't care. So [suppose] Otro want to sell their participation in Alpine. The moment somebody buys 24% of Otro, we still have 75% [the rest] and we discuss it. But for the moment, this is the situation.”

"I've known Christian for many years, I talk with Christian anyway, but this has nothing to do with me. First you need to buy [the] Otro [share], and after Renault need to accept the buyer, and after we see what's happening. But there's no link with me, because he's negotiating with Otro, he's not negotiating with us."

‘Christian Horner is in active negotiations to buy into Alpine's F1 team’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/h...y-in-briatore/

[Fortitude]

Williams Misses Barcelona: Crash-Test Woes Stir 2019 Ghosts.
The team has been here before, most painfully in 2019 when it missed the first two days of pre-season testing and began the year on the back foot.
January 23, 2026
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

The Grove squad confirmed in a short statement that the FW48 won’t take to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as planned, with the hold-up understood to centre on getting the new chassis through FIA crash tests. Williams has already completed the car’s first fire-up, but the build hasn’t reached the point where it can be wheeled out for running. Crucially, those close to the situation insist the issue is contained to the chassis programme rather than the power unit package or its installation. In other words, this isn’t a late integration panic that’s forced the team to repackage the back end; it’s a fundamental timing problem with the survival cell and the approvals that have to be signed off before anyone can even think about mileage.

There was also an internal all-staff address at the Grove factory, with team members briefed on what’s happened and what the recovery plan looks like. That sort of meeting, this early, tends to be as much about keeping a lid on the narrative as it is about logistics: pre-season is when momentum is built inside a factory, and nothing punctures it quite like watching rival cars do laps while yours is still stuck behind a compliance hurdle. Barcelona’s five-day running this year is set up more as an extended shakedown than the traditional two-test sprint, particularly for teams that haven’t yet banked mileage on a filming or demonstration day. But missing the opening window still bites.

‘Crash-Test Woes’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/williams...r-2019-ghosts/


What we know about major Williams setback with 2026 car
Jan 23, 2026
Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race

The key detail missing from Williams's short statement about its test absence is the exact cause but its car build programme has been interrupted. Though there was speculation that Williams's chassis is not ready, The Race understands this is not the case and it has passed everything required.

That does not preclude that process taking longer than expected, though, either because of a failed crash test or a problem identified by Williams itself. Either will potentially have added weeks of development and manufacturing work to rectify the situation. Williams switched its design focus to 2026 extremely early and had intended to sign off the first version of the car early too, to make sure it avoided exactly this situation.

With that in mind it cannot just be poor planning or improper tools, and it's understood to not be a result of a supplier or production issue. It must relate to a core architecture design - like the monocoque or suspension - needing reinforcement in some way and Williams wanting to find a way to make its intended designs work as it chases performance with the car.

‘Williams switched its design focus to 2026 extremely early’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...-what-we-know/


How Williams staff reacted in the factory to real reason they’re missing Barcelona shakedown test
24 January 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Williams staff are not surprised they’ll miss the Barcelona shakedown as their nose cone failed the FIA’s crash test. While Williams’ new chassis is ‘well above’ the minimum 768kg weight, the Brazilian edition of Motorsport.com reports that the Grove squad will miss the Barcelona shakedown as their nose cone has failed the FIA’s mandatory crash tests – not their chassis, as initially feared.

Williams’ nose cone designed for F1’s new regulations that require a two-stage design to try to reduce the risk of detachment during initial impacts is understood to have failed the FIA’s frontal crash test. Therefore, Williams have not been approved to run their nose on a circuit. The news that Williams will miss the Barcelona shakedown ‘did not generate much surprise’ among staff inside their factory in Grove. Team members were already well aware that their FW48 project has been behind schedule ‘for quite some time’ before Friday’s confirmation.

The 2026 F1 regulations stipulate that a nose cone must maintain at least 150 millimetres of intact structure after contact, which the FIA tests at 17 metres per second (38mph) and then at 14m/s (31mph). The FIA’s frontal test that Williams have failed generates a peak of 40G. Williams will now conduct a series of tests in their factory next week, rather than joining the other 10 teams in Barcelona for the official shakedown. The Grove crew will also need their nose cone to pass the FIA’s crash test in time for Albon and Sainz to run in the Bahrain tests.

‘Did not generate much surprise’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/how...hakedown-test/


Williams Snubs Barcelona: Genius Gambit or Looming Disaster?
January 24, 2026
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

“A series of tests, including a VTT programme (virtual test track) next week with the 2026 car” will replace the Spain running, Williams said, with the focus shifting to the first official test in Bahrain and the season-opening race in Melbourne. The message to fans was upbeat — “there is a lot to look forward to together in 2026” — but the subtext is unavoidable. When a team chooses to miss the only guaranteed real-world mileage on offer before Bahrain, it’s because there isn’t a car ready to run, or there isn’t a car they believe is worth running yet.

Alex Albon, at least publicly, is keeping it simple. “It’s not how we wanted to start the year, but these things can happen when you are pushing the limits!” he wrote on Instagram. “Full focus ahead!”

‘Genius Gambit or Looming Disaster?’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/williams...ming-disaster/


How missing Barcelona testing will compromise Williams in 2026
24 Jan 2026
Last Word On Sports

Before it was announced Williams would entirely miss Barcelona testing, they were seen as dark horses for the 2026 season. After all, team principal James Vowles has spent the last twelve months speaking about his decision to start work on the 2026 cars as early as possible. In fairness to Williams, they still managed to finish 5th last season (their best result since 2017) despite prioritising the new regulations. This is partly why, with full focus on 2026, they were expected to make an impact.

However, failed FIA crash tests have forced the British squad to abandon the first week of pre-season in Barcelona. This automatically puts Williams at a disadvantage to other teams, who will accumulate three days of data to analyse and use to refine their 2026 packages. More concerningly, Williams could pay a greater long-term price for their mismanagement.

Although pre-season mishaps are never ideal, the conditions surrounding this Williams blunder make their failure especially unforgivable. Their strategy for the last eighteen months has been to put all available resources into the 2026 cars. This time last year, Williams were already dedicating the majority of their wind tunnel hours to the new regulations. With all this context in mind, the British team are understandably being questioned for how they reached this stage. The most likely reason for Williams being in this position is a severe oversight in the design of the FW48’s architecture. Making corrections will take time, although arriving to Bahrain testing is still the plan.

‘Conditions surrounding this Williams blunder make their failure especially unforgivable’;

https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...liams-in-2026/


Why missing the first F1 test has major consequences for Williams
23 Jan 2026
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com

For Williams, being unable to take part in the first test days likely has major consequences that will be felt throughout the rest of the season. It’s a paradox. The very team that was first to halt development of the 2025 car to focus early on this year’s machine wasn’t ready with its F1 car in time for the first test in Barcelona.

GPblog understands that there is significant dismay within Williams, as 2026 was supposed to be the year the team would consistently fight for podiums — and perhaps more? Yet before a single meter has been driven, Williams is already on the back foot. Can they make up the deficit over the course of the year? That will simply be difficult. As is well known, there are entirely new technical regulations starting this season, which will drive constant development throughout the long campaign.

For Williams, the discovery phase won’t begin until Bahrain, much later than the rest of the field. An added drawback is that if something in the car isn’t right — such as having questionable reliability — there’s hardly any time left to address it. In a sense, the Australian Grand Prix then becomes a test session rather than the first opportunity to perform. It should also be noted: if the Williams is even ready to race in Bahrain and then Australia. Reportedly — though not confirmed — the car has not passed the mandatory crash test. Solving that issue may require drastic design changes.

‘The very team that was first to halt development of the 2025 car to focus early on this year’s machine wasn’t ready with its F1 car in time for the first test in Barcelona’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/analysis/w...s-for-williams

[Fortitude]

Fred Vasseur reveals Ferrari F1 testing plans after successful 2026 launch.
Fred Vasseur has revealed when Ferrari will first be on-track during F1's first pre-season test in Barcelona next (now this) week.
23 January 2026
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

After its successful shakedowna at Fiorano, Ferrari will be heading to Barcelona for the shakedown pre-season test. "It's quite an emotional day for us today, the launch of a new project is always an important milestone," Vasseur told select invited media, including RacingNews365.

"But I would say that it is even more true this year with the completely new regulations for 2026. It was a long way to go until today, and I think it went pretty well. It was a good start, so let's be positive and enjoy the journey, and now we have to be focused on Barcelona. We will start the test on Tuesday, and then with the regulation, we will decide which date to run with Thursday, we will [also] be on track on Thursday.”

"It has been a huge amount of work in the last weeks, month and probably also years on the engine side, but we are more than happy with the setup today, and it is not the end of the story, but the beginning of the season."

‘Ferrari F1 testing plans’;

https://racingnews365.com/fred-vasse...ul-2026-launch


Gary Anderson's take on Ferrari's basic 2026 F1 launch car
Jan 23, 2026
Gary Anderson
The Race

And then there was Ferrari! We have heard so much through the Italian tifosi during the winter that it sort of feels like we have seen the team’s 2026 Formula 1 design already, but here is the real thing. It’s a mixture of renders and the actual car that did Ferrari’s first few shakedown laps at Fiarano.

The team has already stated this first version of the 2026 car - which Ferrari calls its ‘spec A’ - is to allow it to build up data and reliability mileage, giving it time for more research and development, so this is not the final Australian Grand Prix race version of the car. But anyway let’s see if Lewis Hamilton’s memos to Ferrari about what it needed to do to improve have been taken on board.

Overall I’m glad Ferrari itself said this was simply a test and reliability version of the car that was being released first. I’m not seeing that much that makes me wide eyed. That said, it’s neat and tidy so perhaps a decent base to start from - but developments will count and Ferrari will ultimately be judged on the success (or not) of those.

‘Ferrari's basic 2026 F1 launch car’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/g...f1-launch-car/


2026 F1 Car Reveal | Scuderia Ferrari SF-26
Jan 23, 2026
Ferrari

The covers are off! Meet our F1 2026 Challenger, the SF-26!
@BizzleDizzle33: I’ve never been more worried about a car
@PuskaPoju21: ”New rules same spirit” the spirit being depressed
@GTR-NismoGT: “same spirit” D.N.F
@dagandaje: "New Rules, same tractor"
@tuklonsane: please dont be a tractor

@kyxlseo: can't believe my mental health depends on a metal box on wheels
@DharshithGirikumarDhanya: 1:16 "New Rules, SAME SPIRIT". Same spirit of ruining WDC's
@st_urch: We’ve suffered so much , please give us happiness this year
@Priasurabaya-bukansolo: Certified landmower
@varunvkamath1500: I’ve never seen such a beautiful advertisement for a tractor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkSrX2rM8jk


INSIDE Lewis Hamilton & Charles Leclerc's first day on track in 2026 for Ferrari ��
Jan 23, 2026
Sky Sports F1

Sky Sports F1's Ted Kravitz reflects on Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc taking to the wheel of the SF-26 for the first time as they look to beat the likes of Lando Norris, George Russell and Max Verstappen and bring a world championship back to Italy for the first time since 2008.

@benm1988: Ted’s Launchbook!
@tonymcgo: incredible access
@samukelisiwesithole3795: Looks so good here wow!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ6iy7B-V04


Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton & Charles Leclerc REACT to first day in the SF-26 ��
Jan 23, 2026
Sky Sports F1

@amcavallaro: I wish Lewis a great season! He is always very humble and considerate of those who work hard for the team and those who support the team at the race! I also wish Charles the best! He is a great driver and has given us fans a lot of joy, through this drought of no championships. Good luck to Fred, as imo he is on borrowed time after the teams performance last year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xya23kWvf0s


Ferrari SF-26 On-Track at Fiorano: Lewis Hamilton & Charles Leclerc's 2026 F1 Challenger Revealed!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BLvTozt_xPU


Ferrari hit by launch blunder and shakedown scare ahead of F1 season
23 Jan 2026
Ben Hunt
GPblog.com

Ferrari have suffered another false start ahead of the new Formula 1 season with the team’s latest PR blunder, raising fresh questions about the Scuderia’s operational sharpness. The team published its much-anticipated media release with details and images of this year’s challenger. However, the images used were those of the 2025 car that delivered zero victories last season, an error that immediately caught the attention of fans and media alike.

Furthermore, the accompanying text said: “The 72nd (sic) Formula 1 car for Scuderia Ferrari HP is the first designed under the new regulations.” Hardly a revelation, and one that did little to inspire confidence during a crucial moment of the launch cycle. Ferrari eventually corrected the online error and added the correct photos, but the damage was already done, adding to a growing list of questionable PR decisions in recent weeks.

The team announced last Friday that they would replace Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer, Riccardo Adami – despite confirming to GPblog that he would remain in his position. Elsewhere, Ferrari were upstaged by engine customers Cadillac, who posted on social media the sound of their power unit firing up before the manufacturer itself.

‘Questionable PR decisions’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/opinion/fe...d-of-f1-season


Vintage Hamilton or Bust: Ferrari’s 2026 Chemistry Test
January 24, 2026
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Ross Brawn has seen enough driver-team marriages up close to know when the chemistry matters more than the headlines. And as Formula 1 heads into its 2026 reset, he’s convinced Lewis Hamilton can still deliver the sort of season that reminds everyone why he’s been the sport’s reference point for so long — if Ferrari gets the basics right around him.

Speaking at the Autosport Awards, Brawn framed Hamilton’s prospects less as a question of raw speed and more as one of alignment. The move to Maranello last year ended a 12-year stretch at Mercedes and, crucially, the long-running partnership with race engineer Peter “Bono” Bonnington. Ferrari paired Hamilton with Riccardo Adami, a change that was always going to be more than swapping a voice in his ear. It didn’t work. From early on, the radio exchanges had an edge to them: Hamilton seeking clarity and control, Adami sounding increasingly resistant to the way those requests were delivered.

Ferrari has already acted. Adami has been moved into a different role ahead of the new season, and Hamilton will have a new race engineer for 2026. Brawn, who spent a decade at Ferrari and understands the peculiar pressure that comes with that job, put it in the simplest terms: it has to gel. “I think we’d all love for him to be successful,” he said. “I’ve got a special place for Ferrari; I’ve been there 10 years. I know how tough it is there. But it’s always a fine line between a team gelling and not quite gelling, and it didn’t quite gel last year.”

‘Vintage Hamilton or Bust’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/vintage-...hemistry-test/


Ferrari set to lure ex-McLaren engineer for key Lewis Hamilton role
January 26, 2026
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Ferrari is set to poach McLaren for one of its senior Formula 1 personnel for the key role of being the new race engineer for Lewis Hamilton, it has been claimed. Hamilton is without a race engineer since the recent axing of Riccardo Adami, who has been shuffled to the role of its Academy and TPC testing head. The seven-time World Champion appeared to have little to no rapport with the Italian, and apparent concerns about a potential continuation of this led to the Scuderia’s decision.

Firstly, the team is set to re-hire, on a part-time basis, the services of Carlo Santi, a former race engineer to Kimi Raikkonen, and the man perhaps best known for his infamous “You will not have the drink” radio message to the Finn. But Italian publication Corriere dello Sport has reported that Ferrari is “waiting for a new figure to come, it seems, from McLaren.”

The McLaren figure is thought to be Cedric-Michel Grosjean, most recently the Woking-based squad’s Lead Trackside Performance Engineer. The Frenchman left McLaren at the end of last season, and, according to his LinkedIn page, is on a “career break”, but recently liked a post referring to this year’s car. Grosjean has not worked anywhere else, thereforer would provide him with a real step into the unknown should he be hired for the role. Bryan Bozzi, the race engineer of Hamilton’s team-mate Charles Leclerc, will reportedly be assisting as Hamilton’s interim over the course of pre-teasting testing.

“You will not have the drink”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/...hamilton-role/

[Fortitude]

Barcelona testing timings are online — and no one knows how's that possible.
The intention had been to keep all lap times strictly confidential, yet the moment the pit lane went green, timings began circulating online. So how did that happen?
26 Jan 2026
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com

There was widespread surprise in the Formula 1 paddock on the opening day of testing in Barcelona. A live YouTube stream quickly emerged showing real-time lap times — along with a wealth of additional data. That raised eyebrows, given that the test was deliberately held behind closed doors to avoid exactly this kind of exposure. Teams were keen to conduct their programmes away from the spotlight, without scrutiny or speculation based on headline lap times.

That hope has proven futile. Teams and Formula 1 alike are surprised to see a YouTube channel covering the test, complete with an accurate timing page. Since Formula One Management (FOM) is not tracking times and laps in Barcelona, everyone is wondering who is leaking this and how it’s happening. Given that FOM is extremely protective of its rights, it’s highly likely they are seeking answers to those two questions. For now, fans can at least view the timing; we’ll have to wait and see if that remains possible for the rest of the week.

‘Widespread surprise in the Formula 1 paddock on the opening day of testing’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verst...thats-possible


What it’s like being locked out of F1’s first 2026 test
Jan 26, 2026
Jon Noble, Edd Straw
The Race

Having earned itself the nickname of "The Hill", it is the location where photographers will often get shots of cars testing, or fans without tickets will come to get a glimpse of the F1 and MotoGP races. It took just 18 minutes of testing to get under way before the first security car turned up and ordered a handful of assembled journalists and photographers away - including The Race's Jon Noble.

And while local journalists with better knowledge of the area tried to argue that this was public land as a hiking trail, the insistence from security was that everywhere that has a view of the track was off limits because it is owned by the track. As soon as a group of onlookers were told to disperse, they would decamp to another area - continuing the chase.

One group was spotted in a gravel car park that overlooks Turn 13. Several individuals were seen behind some trees further down the hiking ridge that offers a clear sight of Turn 10. One photographer was even spotted in the distance, atop some concrete barriers, capturing more of the final sequence of corners. Efforts were then made to try to ban anyone from all of the roads around the circuit, but that was more difficult to implement with so many access points from the outside.

‘Locked out’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...-f1-2026-test/


Why is the Barcelona Shakedown being held in private?
With the Barcelona Shakedown underway, F1.com explains why the event is being held in private, how much running the teams are permitted and more...
26 Jan 2026
Formula One - Official Site

What is the Barcelona Shakedown? The Barcelona Shakedown is an opportunity for the teams to run their new cars on track, without the limitations posed by filming days where running is generally restricted to 200km. The event allows each squad to check that everything works as expected on their 2026 machines and to see how various aspects correlate with the data from their simulations.

Why is the Barcelona Shakedown being held in private? A shakedown differs to a test in that it is the first time that a team runs its car. As such, the event is not about chasing performance – instead the teams will be focused on getting mileage on their cars and ensuring that all of the various parts work as expected amid the introduction of new regulations for the 2026 season. From the data they gather, each outfit will then be able to focus on where they need to improve going forward.

How much running will teams have at the Barcelona Shakedown? While the event spans five days, each team will be permitted to run for a total of three days. This allows them flexibility in deciding when it is convenient for their car to hit the track – for example, some may opt to run later in the week in order to work on their machine during the opening days. This approach also means that teams can adapt to any changing weather conditions and avoid running on days where the forecast predicts rain or snow.

‘The Barcelona Shakedown’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...zf6k6LcjQywspA


Unofficial F1 testing times: Day 1, Session 1
26 Jan 2026
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

Unofficial F1 Pre-season testing days, Day 1, Morning
Pos Driver Team Laps Best Gap
1 Isack Hadjar Red Bull 44 1:18.835
2 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 56 1:20.700 1.865
3 Franco Colapinto Alpine 28 1:21.348 2.513
4 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls 42 1:21.864 3.029
5 Esteban Ocon Haas 67 1:24.520 5.685
6 Valtteri Bottas Cadillac 33 1:24.651 5.816
7 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi 27 1:25.296 6.461

While no official timing is being provided from the opening five days of running, information received by PlanetF1.com has offered an unofficial glimpse into the pecking order.

Unofficial timing from the test has indicated that Hadjar has set a best lap of 1:18.835, a lap that came in the minutes approaching the lunch interval. The five days of running in Barcelona all commence at 9am local time and run through until 6pm, with a one-hour break from 1pm.

‘Hadjar has set a best lap of 1:18.835’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-res...ting-barcelona


Isack Hadjar has just shown why Red Bull made the perfect choice to pair him with Max Verstappen
26 January 2026
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

Hadjar is among the ‘very best’ according to team principal Laurent Mekies, who has worked quite closely with the 21-year-old at two different teams. Asked at the Autosport Awards about 2026, Hadjar made a ‘bold’ prediction, backing himself to be in championship contention. It sounds optimistic, but it might be realistic.

On the first morning of pre-season testing in Barcelona – a private outing for all 11 teams, Hadjar topped the timesheets by a long way. With a time of 1.18:835, he was 1.865 seconds faster than Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli in second place. He also racked up 41 laps, third most of the seven teams running.

So speed and reliability seem to be in order, and Hadjar, with the added pressure of being Verstappen’s teammate now, has started well. He’s already proving to Red Bull that he was the perfect choice to be their second driver in 2026 and is wasting no time in making a strong impression.

‘Hadjar topped the timesheets by a long way’;

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


Mercedes Or Bust: Briatore’s High-Stakes Alpine Reset
January 26, 2026
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Flavio Briatore has never been a man for half-measures, and he’s now made it clear his return to Enstone came with a single non-negotiable: Mercedes power. Briatore, back inside the Alpine set-up since mid-2024 as an “executive advisor” and now effectively running the operation day-to-day, says he told Renault CEO Luca de Meo there was only one way he was signing up again. Not a reshuffle. Not another internal “reset”. Not a promise that the next in-house engine would finally land. A Mercedes engine deal for 2026. Full stop.

“The moment when Luca de Meo was talking about joining the team, [there was] only one condition for me to join the team, which was to have a Mercedes-Benz engine. There was no plan B, it was only one plan,” Briatore said, in comments carried by Motorsport.com. “I wanted a Mercedes-Benz engine completely. There was only one way to come back, because in this moment, you need to be with the best people… I wanted to have the discussion with the best. With the second best, no interest.” That bluntness will either be applauded inside Alpine as the kind of clarity the organisation has too often lacked, or it’ll be seen as Briatore steamrolling a manufacturer identity that was central to the team’s modern branding.

In reality it’s probably both. Alpine, after all, has spent years trying to fight its way out of the midfield while carrying a power-unit deficit that became part of the team’s weekly vocabulary. “At every race, I asked [how much our deficit would be],” he said. “This race? Four tenths. This race? 3.5 tenths, This race? Five tenths. And last year in three tenths we had 14 cars. At least when I arrive to the race, I will not ask anymore how many tenths we have in disadvantage. Nobody is talking about engine anymore. Nobody is talking about gearbox anymore. At least we have two issues we don’t need to care about.” It’s classic Briatore: a little theatrical, but rooted in a truth anyone around Enstone would recognise.

‘A Mercedes engine deal for 2026. Full stop’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/mercedes...-alpine-reset/