Formula 1: Articles & News Reports.

[Fortitude]

F1 urged to make immediate changes following frightening crash.
F1 and the FIA have been urged to make immediate changes to the new regulations for this season following Oliver Bearman's frightening crash during the recent Japanese Grand Prix.
7 Apr 2026
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Oliver Bearman was fortunate to escape with nothing worse than a contusion to his right knee following a 50g impact with a barrier at Sukuka after avoiding running into the back of Franco Colapinto in his Alpine. The incident threw an uncomfortable spotlight on an area of racing that the FIA, in particular, opted to ignore heading into the race in Japan despite repeated warnings from the drivers.

Bearman was caught out by the significant closing-speed difference between himself and Colapinto as they used different energy deployment settings at that moment in the race. The Haas driver was travelling 50 km/h faster than his rival and felt he was not given adequate room on the inside before skating across the grass and into the barrier at high speed.

Post-race, the F1 drivers highlighted the seriousness of the incident and the dangers posed by the new power units in wheel-to-wheel action. F1 fans have also had their say in a RacingNews365 poll, and the overwhelming majority have made it clear that the FIA needs to react swiftly before the next race in Miami in early May to avoid a repeat situation.

‘F1 and the FIA have been urged to make immediate changes’;

https://racingnews365.com/f1-urged-t...ghtening-crash


Damon Hill says 2026 F1 cars are ‘highly dangerous’ after Oliver Bearman’s Japanese GP crash
30 Mar 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Damon Hill claims ‘safety issue’ with new F1 regulations has been exposed. In response to the FIA’s post on X, where they defended the new regulations and vowed to look into the safety concerns, Damon Hill responded that there is a safety issue at play.

“I think we have a safety issue. Cars suddenly slowing at high speed is highly dangerous.” When informed of Carlos Sainz’s criticism of the new regulations, Hill agreed and noted that these concerns from him and other drivers are completely valid. “I think he’s right to be concerned. Cars unexpectedly slowing on the fastest parts of any circuit is tantamount to being ‘brake tested’. Lights are slightly too late to give enough warning.”

‘Highly dangerous’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/dam...nese-gp-crash/


Martin Brundle questions legality of 2026 F1 cars
8 Apr 2026
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle outlined his displeasure and alarm with the discovery, calling into question the car’s legality, believing the cars are becoming “self-learning” “Now, there’s a regulation in Formula 1, it’s been around for forever, it’s very simple and far-reaching,” he said on The F1 Show. “The driver must drive the car alone and unaided,” Brundle insists.

And article 27.1 of the sporting regulations does indeed mandate that a driver must pilot their vehicle independently, yet the current power units are overriding their input. “I think the problem the drivers have got; one thing that really worried me was Lando Norris saying ‘I didn’t want to overtake Lewis Hamilton, but my battery decided it did, and then I had nothing to defend with’.”

“The drivers shouldn’t have any surprises by a self-learning car. They’ve got to get rid of that. I’m sure it’s not the work of a moment, but the power delivery must be proportional to what the drivers are doing with the throttle. That’s the fundamental. It has to be linear. It’s a big issue for the FIA.”

‘Legality of 2026 F1 cars’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/...-2026-f1-cars/


Marko urges FIA action: ‘The driving aspect needs to come back’
5 Apr 2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Former Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has delivered a blunt warning to Formula 1’s leadership and to the FIA, insisting urgent action is needed to rein in the sport’s increasingly complex regulations in a bid to bring the drivers back to the forefront of the competition.

At the heart of the issue lies the heavy reliance on hybrid systems, with battery deployment and software strategy often overshadowing driver input. For Marko, that balance has tipped too far. "On the chassis side, the deficit is quite large," the Austrian told Kleine Zeitung. "But Red Bull has a tradition of turning things like that around. It’s just all too complicated, and the software plays an overly dominant role."

Marko’s call to action is as direct as it is urgent. "Whether you can correct that within a single season, I don’t know," Marko continued. "Something has to be done, and the driving aspect needs to come back to the forefront. The mood among the drivers is negative. Adjustments need to be made now, and hopefully, the FIA will do everything it can to reduce the role of the battery and place more emphasis on the combustion engine."

‘Blunt warning’;

https://f1i.com/news/562492-marko-ur...come-back.html


Can F1 navigate its crossroads crisis?
7 Apr 2026
James Phillips and Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Crisis talks are scheduled this week between the FIA and the teams to address the 2026 F1 regulations. These meetings will prove crucial on the long road to securing the sport’s future and moving it away from the constant mocking, meming, and savage takedowns it has endured in the open races of the season.

Why change regulations when all that money is coming in, benefiting a select few, [most importantly you] and politically, you hold all the cards in the sport? And so, what if no one likes the new rules? Shareholders are delighted, and the $5k suits can be worn in the paddock, with the surplus income made can continue to be flaunted while fans pay big bucks to watch a substandard, dreadful and soul-destroying product.

Except, as with all gouging and asset extraction, there comes a point at which this becomes noticeable to the average consumer, and they lose interest. At this point, they stop paying with their wallets, while mocking the increasingly poor attempts by those involved to justify their decisions as the world begins to criticise and distance itself, interest rapidly declining. The wider world knows it’s a terrible choice, and even those responsible know, but they are forced to carry on regardless.

‘Crisis talks’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/...sroads-crisis/


Lewis Hamilton: F1 drivers “have no voting rights” as FIA “only listening to teams”
F1 drivers are calling for rule changes to the 2026 cars, but FIA only listening to teams so far
29 Mar 2026
Lewis Duncan , Adam Cooper
Crash.Net

Complaints over F1’s new power unit regulations and the energy management required have continued to draw criticism from drivers at the Japanese Grand Prix. These have only been intensified following Ollie Bearman’s crash in Sunday’s race, when he was caught out by a 50km/h speed differential with Franco Colapinto’s Alpine.

While the drivers have been voicing their suggestions and feedback to the FIA, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton shot down suggestions on Sunday that they will hold any real influence. “The drivers don’t have a say,” he told the media, including Crash.net. “We have no power. We’re not on the committee; we have no voting rights.”


Stefano Domenicali has changed his mind about 2026 F1 rules after seeing Oliver Bearman crash
8 April 2026
Aaditya Krishnamurthy
F1 Oversteer

Stefano Domenicali and FIA reportedly refused to make changes to 2026 regulations till Hungarian GP. Speaking on the Nailing the Apex podcast, F1 journalist Julianne Cerasoli revealed that she had spoken to Stefano Domenicali and other members of the FIA prior to the Japanese Grand Prix.

Domenicali was reportedly bullish about the new regulations, refusing to make a change as he didn’t see any issues with the racing, and admitting that any changes would come only after the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I was talking to people from teams, and I spoke to Stefano (Domenicali), and spoke to the FIA. And they’re all saying, ‘No, the racing is fine. There are no issues with the racing.”

“We are only going to address qualifying because qualifying is absolutely ridiculous. For racing, we just need people to be more adjusted to the regulations, and all the stuff that you’re seeing that maybe isn’t right. It’s because of that nobody is optimising anything. So let’s wait until Hungary.’ That’s what I was hearing. Now, after what happened with Bearman, I think they will do something for Miami.”

‘Changed his mind’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ste...bearman-crash/

[Fortitude]

Esteban Ocon admits F1 career ‘disappointing’ despite win and podiums.
While Esteban Ocon is proud to be a grand prix winner, he made the honest admission that, to his mind, he has not “achieved enough” in the sport.
4 Apr 2026
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

After almost 10 years on the F1 grid, one grand prix victory and a further three podiums does not cut it for Ocon. But, the Frenchman assured that he will keep striving to find the F1 success which he craves. At the F1 2026 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Ocon was asked by PlanetF1.com and other accredited media, whether he thought he would have been World Champion 10 years into his F1 journey.

“Yeah,” he confirmed. “I think it’s fair to say that I’m happy with what I’ve achieved in terms of podiums and wins, and I’m proud of those, but I haven’t achieved enough in F1. I’ve won in every category that I’ve driven in the past, apart from DTM maybe, with my half a year, but from karting to single seater, I’ve won everywhere.”

“And yes, I’ve won one race in F1, but it’s not enough. Out of 180 races, to my standard, it’s disappointing so far. So, I hope that this will change in the near future, but I will work hard for that to change.”

‘Disappointing’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/esteba...win-not-enough


Haas score again amid Bearman’s 50kph overspeed crash and Ocon’s first point of the season
30 Mar 2026
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Haas endured a turbulent but ultimately rewarding Japanese Grand Prix, marked by Esteban Ocon’s first point of the season and Oliver Bearman’s frightening high speed crash — a violent incident caused by an enormous closing speed that highlighted the challenges of Formula 1’s 2026 regulations. Ocon: “Overall, it was a positive weekend… we got the maximum out of the car.” Ocon’s race was shaped by the Safety Car, which cost him positions he had earned through a strong opening stint. Reflecting on the chaotic afternoon, he began with what mattered most.

“First of all, I'm glad that Ollie is okay.” But the Frenchman also acknowledged the frustration of repeated bad timing. “Unfortunately, though, it has been three out of three races where the Safety Car timing has been bad for us.” He described the ebb and flow of his race: “We had a decent start and it was going okay, then we lost to Gabi and Liam. I managed to overtake Gabi on track, but with Liam it wasn't possible.”

Ocon had hoped to join the thrilling battle unfolding ahead. “There was a nice fight between Max and Pierre ahead, so I would've liked to have been part of that, however, I got stuck behind Liam, so we'll never know if I could've been a part of it or not.” Despite the setbacks, he was satisfied with the team’s execution. “Overall, it was a positive weekend on our side and we got the maximum out of the car in every situation. It could've been a few positions better, but we can't control everything.”

“First of all, I'm glad that Ollie is okay”;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28411


"Nightmare" F1 overtaking aid that 'sends you backwards' criticised
Esteban Ocon has been left frustrated by changes for the 2026 Formula 1 season, describing the boost as a "nightmare" that makes drivers "go backwards".
2 Apr 2026
Sam Hall
Crash.Net

Esteban Ocon has labelled Formula 1’s overtake “boost” system a “nightmare” after struggling to make progress at the Japanese Grand Prix. “Boost usage has been a nightmare, if you use it, you actually go backwards. So we just tried to stay on the baseline and keep pushing.”

F1 and the FIA has so far been focused improving the obvious problems in qualifying, with drivers being forced to lift and coast on what are supposed to be flat-out efforts to achieve the ultimate lap time. For Ocon, the focus of these talks needs to be the racing. He added: “I think it’s better to have bigger capacity in the tank, a bit more like last year.”

“To me, it’s energy hungry all of the time, and you can’t really plan anything, you can’t really try and get a move somewhere while overtaking, and it’s too much on the limit really. So, I think the fixes I understand for the lift and coast in quali, but it’s maybe 1% of the fix. There’s 99% that’s left on the table.”

"Nightmare";

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/109284...w-era-problems


Japanese Grand Prix: Race Recap
29 Mar 2026
Haas F1 Team - Official Site

TGR Haas F1 Team finished with Esteban Ocon 10th, while Ollie Bearman retired, at the Japanese Grand Prix, held Sunday at the Suzuka Circuit. Ocon started from 12th place on Pirelli P Zero Yellow medium tires and picked up a spot through the opening lap, before slotting into the top 10 at the expense of Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar. Ocon then passed Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad on lap six for ninth place, before pitting on lap 19 for White hard tires.

Ocon missed out on track position due to the timing of a subsequent safety car phase, allowing rivals to pit at reduced racing speed, and re-emerged P11. Ocon overhauled Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto to return to the top 10 and gave chase to Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, eventually taking the checkered flag in tenth. Ocon’s result ensured TGR Haas F1 Team has finished in the points at each race so far in 2026.

Esteban Ocon: "First of all, I'm glad that Ollie is okay. Unfortunately, though, it has been three out of three races where the safety car timing has been bad for us. We had a decent start and it was going okay, then we lost to Gabi and Liam. I managed to overtake Gabi on track, but with Liam it wasn't possible. There was a nice fight between Max and Pierre ahead, so I would've liked to have been part of that, however, I got stuck behind Liam, so we'll never know if I could've been a part of it or not. Overall, it was a positive weekend on our side and we got the maximum out of the car in every situation. It could've been a few positions better, but we can't control everything."

‘Race Recap’;

https://www.haasf1team.com/news/japa...x-race-recap-6


F1 oddity surprise as new unwanted record claimed
There is a major statistical oddity in the F1 record books as a new unwanted record has been claimed.
17 Mar 2026
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Esteban Ocon has claimed ownership of an unwanted F1 record after the Chinese Grand Prix: the most races without a pole position. Ocon has taken the record from a fellow Frenchman of this generation of driver, with Romain Grosjean managing a best of second on the grid from his 181 attempts, this coming at the 2012 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Check out the top 10 below!
Most F1 races without a pole position
F1 oddity surprise as new unwanted record claimed
Driver Number of races Best grid result
Esteban Ocon 182 3rd
Romain Grosjean 181 2nd
Pierre Gasly 180 2nd
Martin Brundle 165 3rd
Johnny Herbert 165 4th
Derek Warwick 164 3rd
Olivier Panis 158 3rd
Eddie Irvine 148 2nd
Eddie Cheever 143 2nd
Alex Albon 132 4th

‘F1 oddity surprise’;

https://racingnews365.com/f1-oddity-...record-claimed