Jordan's Track Talk

Author: jordanlhaynes

  • Miami & Montreal to host rounds

    FIA Formula 2 announce that Miami and Montreal will be hosting Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 calendar, alongside Formula 1 – the first time the Championship will race in North America.

    The opportunity for Miami and Montreal to join the F2 calendar has come about following the news that the Sakhi and Jeddah rounds will not take place in April.

    The FIA Formula 2 Championship will go to Miami, USA on May 1st – 3rd for what will be the second round of the 2026 season, followed by Montreal, Canada on May 22nd – 24th, as Round 3, before returning to Europe, starting with Monte-Carlo, Monaco on June 4th – 7th.

    While it has not been possible to go ahead with the two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia this month, and we look forward to being back with our passionate fans there as soon as possible, it is great news for our fans, the drivers and the teams that Formula 2 will be racing in Miami and Montreal. Bruno and the whole F2 family have done a great job, working closely with us, the FIA, and the Miami and Montreal promoters, to ensure we limit the gap in racing for the championship this season and I want to thank them for making this possible. It is going to be fantastic to restart the racing in a few weeks’ time and to have F2 alongside Formula 1 as we return to the US for the first time this season.
    Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1.

    Following the necessary changes to the calendar at the start of the season, the addition of these new rounds ensures the FIA Formula 2 Championship remains strong and balanced, and able to deliver for our teams, drivers and fans. Bringing the championship to North America via Miami and Montreal for the first time marks an important step in its continued global growth, strengthening the pathway alongside Formula One and connecting with new audiences. I thank all those who worked tirelessly to make these rounds possible. Our thoughts remain with all those affected by the ongoing events in the Middle East and we continue to hope for a swift return to stability. We look forward to racing in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia very soon
    Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President.

    We always love to race in Sakhir and Jeddah, and we wish them well and look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow. We are now going to Miami and Montreal for the second and third rounds of the 2026 season, respectively. I would like to thank Stefano Domenicali and Formula 1 for their support in making this possible, and also the FIA, the promoters of the Miami and Canadian Grands Prix, and of course my team, who have worked hard to put in place two new Rounds in such a short amount of time. It was not an easy thing to do, but bringing F2 to North America for the first time is really fantastic. It’s something we have been wanting to do for a long time, and it enables us to ensure we’re back racing as quickly as possible. It will be a great new challenge for our teams and our drivers, who have all welcomed the news with enthusiasm. I am certain that the quality of racing will bring a lot of excitement to the fans and to everyone attending both Grands Prix.
    Bruno Michel, FIA Formula 2 CEO.

  • Lawrence joins Aston Martin Academy

    Aston Martin have welcomed F1 Academy Discover your Drive karter, Ava Lawrence to their academy.

    At just 11 years old, Lawrence has already shown promise. Competing across Rotax, IAME and FIA aligned categories, she has claimed multiple podium finishes. The Australian-born karter made histroy as the first female MENA Cup Champion, the first female winner of a Mini race in ROK Cup Italy, and the first female driver to achieve a podium in the Mini class of the COFTA International Series.

    Lawrence, who races under an Emirati licence is currently competing as an F1 Academy Discover Your Driver karter in the OK-N junior class of the British Champions of the Future Academy Program. She previously represented the initiative in the Mini class of the International Series.

    Lawrence joins F1 Academy driver Mathilda Paatz as a member of the Aston Martin Aramco Driver Academy, and is the second F1 Academy Discover Your Drive karter to be part of an F1 driver development programme.

    I’m really excited to join the Aston Martin Aramco Driver Academy. It’s going to be such a huge step to help me improve my driving and become even better on track. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone on the team and learning from them. Getting to visit the AMR Technology Campus (AMRTC) for my announcement was so cool. My favourite part of the day was seeing the different materials they use on the Formula One cars and actually getting to touch parts of the car. It was so interesting to see how it’s all made!
    Lawrence on the news.

    Bringing in talent at a junior level is an important part of our strategy, and Ava and Roland are excellent examples of the calibre of young driver that we want to bring in the programme. Both drivers have already shown impressive potential on the international stage, with strong performances in highly competitive categories. Having the opportunity to contribute to a driver’s development from such an early stage is incredibly important, allowing us to help shape their progression both on and off the track as they continue to grow in the sport.
    Nuno Pinto added.

  • Sophia Florsch joins Opel as Test & Development Driver

    Opel has signed Sophia Florsch as Test and Development Driver as it enters the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    The 25 year old will make her first public appearance on April 21st and 22nd, when the new Gen4 cars of the all-electric series will be officially presented in France.

    Florsch began her career in karting before moving up to motor racing in 2015 and making a splash in the British Ginetta Junior Championship as the youngest winner.

    Through stints in ADA Formula 4, the European Formula 3 Championship and the Formula Regional European Championship, she established herself in single-seater racing and made history by becoming the first woman to score points and podium finishes in both the German Formula 4 and later in the FIA Formula 3 Championship.

    In the years that followed, she successfully continued her career in prototype and GT racing, finished on the podium in the European Le Mans Series, finished in the top 10 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) – and is now considered among the most prominent women in international motorsport.

    With Sophia’s signing, we at Opel are sending a clear signal for the consistent promotion of young talents in electric motorsport. Her precise technical feedback as well as her analytical way of working in the simulator and on the track will play an essential role in the further development of our GEN4 package. At the same time, her fresh approach fits perfectly with our OMG! GSE campaign, with which we present the emotional side of our all-electric high-performance models. We combine targeted talent promotion with high sporting standards and thus strengthen the visibility of a new generation in motorsport that combines sporting performance with public presence.
    Jorg Schrott, Team Principal.

    Formula E is currently the toughest racing series in the world – and that’s exactly where Opel and I are now competing together. The fact that a brand with 125 years of motorsport DNA is now taking the step into a world championship is impressive. As a German driver, being part of this factory team is more than a privilege for me. The GEN4 car is a thoroughbred race car: over 800 hp, all-wheel drive, ultra-fast. I can’t wait to go into depth with the engineers, understand this car and get the maximum out of it. Together, we want to show what true teamwork can do – achieve sporting success and win the hearts of motorsport fans for Opel and Formula E.
    Florsch on the news.

  • F1 Academy introduces two, three race weekends

    F1 Academy has announced the introduction of a new three-race weekend format for select events in 2026 and beyond, debuting at Round 2 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal and returning at Round 5 at the Circuit of the Americas, Austin.

    The new format introduces a brand new ‘Opening Race’ and restores the 2026 calendar t 14 races, following confirmation that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will no longer take place in April.

    The opening race brings a new strategic opportunity for teams and drivers while offering fans even more racing action.
    Sitting at the start of the series’ weekend racing schedule, it forms a dynamic trio of formats, alongside the Reserve Grid Race and the Feature Race.

    The grid for the opening race will be set using each driver’s second fastest Qualifying time, adding a tactical element to the sole 30-minute qualifying session. The opening race will award full points and contribute to both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Standings. One point will be awarded for the fastest lap, with no points awarded for pole.

    Introducing the Opening Race at select rounds underscores our commitment to building a platform where the most talented can thrive by maximising competitive track time. As F1 ACADEMY continues to grow on and off the track, I am continually looking for ways to elevate our race weekends. I’d like to thank our promoters for their support and enthusiasm for this dynamic new format, which will deliver additional on track action in Montreal and Austin and provide a compelling schedule for fans and drivers alike.
    Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy.

    The Opening Race gives us an opportunity to evolve the race weekend while protecting the sporting integrity of the series. By setting the grid using each driver’s second fastest qualifying time, we’re adding another layer of strategy to the weekend. This approach also provides the flexibility to replace a postponed race if needed and allows us to make the most of any additional track time available on the Grand Prix weekend schedule.
    Delphine Biscaye, Head of Race Operations.

  • Citroen Racing commits to Gen4

    Citroen Racing are the latest team to commit to Formula E’s Gen4 era.

    The historic French manufacturer, who joined the all-electric championship at the start of this season, has already made a lasting first impression with their competitive performance over the opening six rounds.

    Nick Cassidy picked up a podium in Citroen Racing’s first race during the season opener in Sao Paulo, followed by a win in just their second race in the championship back in Mexico City.
    Id Madrid, Round 6 of the 2025/26 season he ticked another box, after securing the Julius Baer Pole Position.

    Citroen made the announcement of their Gen4 commitment during the Madrid E-Prix weekend, with their decision reinforcing Formula E as a central pillar of Citroen’s electrification and performance strategy.

    At a race day media round table, the French team reinforced the importance of Formula E in helping the manufacturer achieve their electrification goals, calling the championship “the ultimate platform” for the “humble but ambitious” team.

  • Wheatley to leave Audi with immediate effect

    Audi have announced that Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley is leaving the organisation with immediate effect, just under a year after his arrival.

    Former Red Bull stalwart Wheatley stepped up to F1 team boss duties last April with a switch to Kick Sauber – the team Audi took over the 2026 season.

    Whealtey made a strong start to his tenure, overseeing plenty of points finishes – including a breakthrough maiden podium finish for Nico Hulkenberg at Silverstone – and a move off the foot of the Teams’ Championship standings.

    He then spearheaded Sauber’s transition to the works Audi effort over the winter, bringing the German manufacturer to the sport for the first time, and marking the moment with a debut points finish.

    However, just two rounds into the campaign, and all F1’s all new era of regulations, it has been confirmed that Wheatley is stepping away from his role and departing Audi due to personal reasons.

    Head of Audi F1 project, Mattia Binotto, will take on Wheatley’s responsibilities, with more information on the team’s future structure to follow in due course.

    Wheatley’s career in F1 started with Benetton in the early 1990s, where he worked his way up the ranks to become Chief Mechanic and stayed there through the team’s Renault gise.

    He joined Red Bull’s new squad in 2006, and went on to enjoy plenty of success – including six Teams’ and seven Drivers’ titles – as Sporting Director before joining Sauber ahead of their Audi transformation.

    As it continues its journey towards the front of the grid, Audi Revolut F1 Team will implement significant changes to its senior management structure. Due to personal reasons, Jonathan Wheatley will depart the team with immediate effect. The team thanks Jonathan for his contribution to the project and wishes him the best for his future endeavours. Mattia Binotto, Head of Audi F1 Project, will continue leading the team while taking over additional responsibilities as Team Principal. Since joining at the helm of the project in 2024, Mattia has been in charge of the transformation of the team as Audi prepared for and ultimately entered F1 as a chassis and power unit manufacturer. The team’s future structure will be fully defined at a later stage, as the organisation continues to adapt to the evolving environment of Formula 1. With the unwavering commitment of AUDI AG, Audi Revolut F1 Team will continue progressing towards challenging for championships by 2030.
    A statement read.

  • Haas reveal special livery

    Haas have unveiled a special Godzilla-themed livery for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.

    The design was revealed during a major activation in Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, with Haas recently announcing a season-long collaboration with TOHO CO LTD, the iconic Japanese entertainment studio and home of Godzilla.

    Sticking to Haas’ core colour scheme of white, black and red, the striking special livery incorporates the ‘King of the Monsters’ into the design across the engine cover.

    It will be shown on both Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman’s Haas’ across the whole weekend, where they hope to continue scoring points again.

  • Racing Bulls’ Special livery for Japan

    Racing Bulls have presented a striking one-off livery that will be used by the team across the Japanese Grand Prix weekend.

    Continuing the theme of special designs over the last few seasons, Racing Bulls unveiled another for this year’s Suzuka event during the Red Bull Tokyo Drift night time car meet.

    Inspired by the new Red Bull Sprint Edition can, the red and white livery “blends the energy of F1 with the elegance of traditional Japanese shodo calligraphy” – having been designed in collaboration with Japanese calligrapher Bisen Aoyagi.

    As well as covering the VCARB 03 cars of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, the colour scheme will be reflected on their driver suits and on team kit.

  • Opel announce entry into Formula E

    Opel has announced its entry into the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship for Season 13 – the beginning of the GEN4 era.

    Named the ‘Opel GSE Formula E Team’ the Russelsheim-based organisation is taking its commitment to electric motorsport to the next level, while showcasing its all-electric GSE models.

    As a German brand with a long motorsport tradition and success in rallying, touring cars and endurance racing, Opel is now bringing its technical expertise to the world’s fastest-growing racing series.

    The news was officially announced by Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds and Opel CEO Florian Huettl at a press conference.

    Opel’s motorsport department, led by Opel GSE Formula E Team Principal and Motorsport Director Jorg Schrott, has already been established and is preparing for the German brand’s entry into the championship.
    A team of vehicle, development and strategy engineers and operational management is already preparing for the start of the season.

    We are delighted to welcome Opel as a new factory team in Formula E. As a strong German brand with distinctive engineering expertise and a fresh, bold image, Opel brings a long and storied history in motorsport and a new dynamic to the starting grid. Opel’s commitment also shows the importance of Formula E for global car manufacturers in the transition to electric mobility.
    Jeff Dodds on the news.

    Joining Formula E marks a new milestone for Opel on our journey towards an electric future. With Formula E moving to GEN4 cars as of the coming season, we see this as the ideal time to join this exciting, all-electric racing competition. Our Opel GSE Formula E Team will show what our brand stands for: German engineering, bold design and electrified performance, attributes that also apply to Opel’s fully-electric GSE models such as the Mokka GSE and soon the new Corsa GSE.
    Huettl on the news.

  • DS to depart Formula E at the end of the season

    DS Automobiles has announced that it will be departing the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship at the end of Season 12.

    DS Automobiles is one of the most decorated manufacturers in Formula E history, famously becoming the first brand to secure back-to-back double titles.
    Since joining the series in Season 2, the marque has secured four titles, 18 victories, and 55 podiums across more than 139 races.

    They have a rich history in the sport, partnering with Virgin Racing before moving to Techeetah in 20218 and its most recent tenure being with Penske since 2023.

    The team’s current drivers are Maximilian Guenther and Taylor Barnard with having the likes of Jean-Eric Vergne, Stoffel Vandoorne, Antonio Giovinazzi, Sergio Sette Camara and Nico Muller across many years.

    At the end of Season 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, DS Automobiles is changing its sporting commitment to explore new areas of technological innovation. Within this framework, the Brand is focusing on its title partnership with SailGP Team France announced on January 15, 2026 and thus opening a new chapter in its evolution.
    The statement read.

  • Update on Bahrain & Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

    It has been confirmed that, after careful evaluations, due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East region, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April.

    While several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions will be made in April.

    The Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy rounds will also take place during their scheduled times.

    The decision has been taken in full consultation with the FIA and respective promoters.

    While this was a difficult decision to take, it is unfortunately the right one at this stage considering the current situation in the Middle East. I want to take this opportunity to thank the FIA as well as our incredible promoters for their support and total understanding as they were looking forward to hosting us with their usual energy and passion. We cannot wait to be back with them as soon as the circumstances allow us to do so.
    Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.

    The FIA will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first. After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind. We continue to hope for calm, safety and a swift return to stability in the region, and my thoughts remain with all those affected by these recent events. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season, and I look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow. My sincere thanks to the promoters, our partners, and our colleagues across the championship for the collaborative and constructive approach that has led to this decision.
    Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President.

  • Envision Racing name Lloyd for Rookie Test

    Ella Lloyd will once again get behind the wheel of the GEN3 Evo, representing Envision Racing at the upcoming Madrid Rookie Test on March 22nd.

    Lloyd from Wales, began racing competitively in 2022 in the Ginetta Junior Championship, finishing in the points at 15 of the 25 races that season. The following year, she competed in the Ginetta GT Championship, earning the vice-champion title in a competitive field.

    At the beginning of 2024, Ella competed in the Formula Winter Series, taking the Female Driver Trophy multiple times. The same year, she competed in British F4, completing the season with three P2 results, one P3 and multiple points finishes.

    In 2025, Ella competed in F1 Academy, finishing the season 4th in the championship with 109 points and has returned for her second season this year.

    Madrid will mark Ella’s fourth opportunity to drive Formula E machinery – her second representing Envision Racing.

    I’m really looking forward to driving the Formula E car again with Envision Racing. The test last year in Valencia was a fantastic experience and I learnt a great deal from the  team. I’m excited to build on that progress and continue developing in Madrid.
    Lloyd on the news.

    We are delighted to  welcome Ella back to the team for the Madrid rookie test. She demonstrated impressive pace during her first outing in Valencia. This test will be a great opportunity for her to continue that progress and further integrate with the team.
    Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director & CTO of Envision Racing.

  • Dunne joins Alpine Academy

    Alex Dunne has joined the Alpine Academy ahead of his second season in the Formula 2 Championship.

    The Irishman, driving for Rodin Motorsport this campaign, has now been confirmed as a fully-fledged member of Alpine’s young driver programme following his exit from McLaren’s Driver Development Programme in October last year.

    The 20 year old participated in two Free Practice 1 sessions for McLaren at last year’s Austrian and Italian Grand Prix – his outing in Speilberg particularly caught the eye as he posted the fourth fastest time of the session.

    This season he will have his eyes on the 2026 title having impressed in his debut campaign in F2, scoring two wins, two pole positions and eight podiums overall on his way to fifth place in the standings.

    I am really happy to be joining the Alpine Academy and making this next step in my racing career. I am very grateful for the trust the team has in me to represent the team and the brand on the global stage in FIA Formula 2, which has proven to be the perfect place to progress young drivers into professional racing roles. Naturally, after a competitive season in 2025, the goal this year is to fight for the Drivers’ Championship. Last year was a great experience on many fronts. Lots learned, lots gained, some challenges along the way, but everything has made me a better driver, a better person, and I aim to give my all for Alpine and doing my best as an Alpine Academy driver. It would be great to reward the team for their faith with wins and podiums and I am excited to work together with everyone in this next chapter of my career.
    Dunne on the news.

    We are pleased to welcome Alex to Alpine as a member of our Academy. His performances in FIA Formula 2 and also his Free Practice sessions in Formula 1 last year were impressive and he is clearly a very talented young driver with pure, natural speed. We have a talented pool of drivers in Formula 2 with Gabriele Mini and Kush Maini. We look forward to watching the three of them compete in FIA Formula 2 in 2026 where the goal is very clear: to win the Drivers’ Championship.
    Briatore, Alpine Executive Advisor.

  • Porsche reveal drivers for Rookie Test

    Porsche has confirmed Ayhancan Guven and Elia Weiss for the Madrid Rookie Test on Sunday 22nd March.

    Reigning DTM champion, Ayhancan Guven will get his third opportunity behind the wheel of the GEN3 Evo in the Madrid Rookie Test.
    The 28 year old previously took part part in the Miami Rookie Free Practice session earlier in the season, as well as the Berlin Rookie Test held last July.
    During the test, Guven took the second fastest time of the day – an impressive feat against a highly talented field.

    Joining Guven, and completing Porsche’s line up for the test, is 16 year old Elia Weiss. Last year, Weiss became the youngest driver to test Formula E machinery, having celebrated his 16th Birthday just three weeks before last year’s Berlin Rookie Test.
    The youngster has just finished his first season in the UAE4 Series (the successor of the F4 Middle East Championship).

  • Dennis & Andretti agree multi-year contract

    2022/23 Formula E Champion, Jake Dennis, has signed a multi-year contract extension with Andretti Global and will remain with the team into Season 13 and beyond.

    The news comes five years after Dennis’ Formula E debut at the Diriyah E-Prix in 2021. Since then, Dennis and Andretti have formed one of the longest running and most successful driver-team pairings in the history of the all-electric championship, accumulating seven race wins, 24 podiums and over 700 points.

    Dennis 2025/26 Formula E campaign got off to a strong start, with a victory from pole at the Sao Paulo E-Prix.
    Since the opening race, the Andretti driver has managed to score points in all, but one, of the following rounds. He currently sits 8th in the drivers’ championship on 39 points.

    I’m absolutely thrilled to be signing a multi-year deal with Andretti Global. For me, it made perfect sense to continue our partnership and my career with the team, a team which I’ve been with from the start of my Formula E career. The belief the team has shown in me over the years has been incredible, and that trust means a huge amount. We’ve built something really strong together, and I’m proud to continue that journey with a group of people I know so well and genuinely enjoy working with. There have been so many great memories together, and I’m confident we can continue our success into the future.
    Dennis on the news.

    I am beyond pleased to be able to make this announcement. At the time, when the team, along with BMW, initially partnered with Jake, we never could have imagined how the relationship would develop. Jake has been  an integral part of Andretti Formula E’s transformation into one of the series’ leading teams of today. His  commitment to us, his belief in the team and ours in him, is one of the key reasons for all of the success we  have been fortunate enough to have experienced together. We look forward to closing out the current season as strong as we started it before transitioning to Season 13 together.
    Roger Griffiths, Team Principal of Andretti Formula E.

  • Round 2 – Chinese Grand Prix

    Kimi Antonelli claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory in the Chinese Grand Prix beating Mercedes team mate George Russell as Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton claimed his first Grand Prix podium for the Scuderia after a thrilling intra-team battle.

    Having become the youngest Grand Prix polesitter on Saturday, Antonelli was only briefly headed at the start of Sunday’s race in Shanghai, losing the lead to Hamilton who got the jump on both Mercedes from P3.

    Re-taking the lead before the end of the second lap, the 19 year old Italian was never headed again, retaining first after his only pitstop under the sole Safety Car period early in proceedings.

    Despite a nervous moment after running deep at Turn 14 hairpin with four laps remaining, Antonelli finished 5.5 seconds clear of Russell to become the second youngest winner of a Grand Prix.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Antonelli, P2: Russell, P3: Hamilton, P4: Leclerc, P5: Bearman, P6: Gasly, P7: Lawson, P8: Hadjar, P9: Sainz and P10: Colapinto.

    What a race for Kimi Antonelli! He pretty much had a perfect race, apart from Lewis leading for one lap, but he kept it cool and collected, which is great to see in such a young driver! George Russell was right there with him, which is another great result for Mercedes.

    Hamilton has now achieved his first podium with Ferrari in a Grand Prix race! So well deserved and he got the work done to be rewarded with this. As for his teammate Leclerc P4 for the Monegasque the pair had a nice little battle between them. sometimes it looked a too little close to comfort, but it was actually nice and respectful.

    P5 for Mr Ollie Bearman! What a performance from the Brit! They have had a brilliant start to the season and need to carry on the momentum!

    P6 for Gasly, a lovely finish for the Alpine driver, a great follow up from the weekend in Australia and to make it even better, Colapinto finished 10th meaning he scored his first points for Alpine!

    A disappointing race for the McLaren’s having both drivers did not start due to two separate issues but both looking like electrical issues. A big shame for Piastri as he hasn’t started a Grand Prix this season and is behind and for Norris seemed like he was getting pretty well this weekend so a big shame for the team.

    As for the Red Bull’s a good race for Hadjar, scoring his first points for the team! As for Verstappen he DNF’ed and looked like an engine related problem as he got told to retire the car and managed to bring it back into the pitlane, not the best of starts for the Red Bull team.

    Gabriel Bortoleto and Alex Albon also failed to start the race due to car problems on the way to the grid, not at all what both of their teams would want.

    Now we have a break and the next race being the 27th to 29th March for the Japanese Grand Prix!

  • F1 Academy – RND 1 – Day 1

    Practice-

    Alisha Palmowski started the 2026 F1 Academy season in style as she confidently set the pace in the sole Free Practice session around the Shanghai International Circuit.

    Despite having the lowest lap count on the board, the Red Bull Racing driver sealed the top spot with a time of 2:04.550 to eke out an advantage of 0.467s over Alba Larsen.
    Rookie Peyton Westcott completed the top three for Mercedes, only 0.024s off the Ferrari junior.

    Amid a gradual start to the 40 minute session, it came down to Ferrari’s Larsen to kick off the action as she set one of the first flying laps with a 2:07.132.
    With just one practice on offer in Shanghai, both experienced and rookie drivers – with 11 making their full time debut in the series – had limited running to learn the track ahead of qualifying.

    The Danish driver quickly bettered her own effort, becoming one of the few to brave the dusty conditions while PUMA driver Rachel Robertson found herself just over two tenths adrift of the lead.

    Larsen’s hold on P1 didn’t last long as Robertson then went half a second faster to break into the 2:05s, with Nina Gademan sat in third place at the halfway point.

    As the traffic increased, the gaps began to narrow, with Emma Felbermayr the next to set the fastest lap of the session before Mercedes’ Westcott immediately shot into first on a 2:05.319.

    McLaren driver Ella Lloyd entered the contest, taking P2 before she was demoted by fellow second-year racer Palmowski, with the top four covered by just 0.071s.

    Palmowski went five tenths clear on her next attempt and set a benchmark of 2:04.699, which she then improved on in the final minutes to end with a rapid time of 2:04.550.

    Elsewhere, the drivers continued to explore the limits with Shi Wei triggering a brief Yellow Flag appearance after spinning at Turn 1 before being able to rejoin.

    Palmowski’s Campos Racing teammate Rafaela Ferreira was fourth behind Larsen and Westcott, with Lisa Billard settling in as the second quickest rookie in P5.

    Qualifying-

    Alisha Palmowski conquered qualifying in Shanghai to claim her long-awaited maiden pole position, starting her second year in the series on a high.

    After coming close to pole on numerous occasions last season, the Red Bull Racing driver was untouchable as she continued to better her own efforts, finishing with a rapid time of 2:04.182.
    Ferrari’s Alba Larsen settled for second place, making her first front row start in F1 Academy, with fellow sophomore driver Emma Felbermayr lining up in third.

    Following a short delay to the start, the drivers were keen to hit the track and build temperature in their tyres as they adapted to the changed grip levels.

    Aston Martin’s Mathilda Paatz jumped to the top of the timings early on, with her teammate Payton Westcott – tucking in just behind her.
    However, the rookies’ times were quickly eclipsed by Palmowski and Felbermayr as the Audi driver set the pace with a time of 2:05.362.

    Palmowski’s next effort showed that there were plenty of improvements still to come as she took P1 before Larsen leapt from fifth to first, building a buffer of over two tenths to the Briton.

    At the halfway mark, the Ferrari driver was firmly on provisional pole while all of the drivers returned to the pits to bolt on a set of fresh tyres, preparing for more runs. But before anyone could find a major improvement, the Red flags were waved as Haas’ Kaylee Countryman slowed to a halt.

    She soon got going again and joined her competitors in the pitlane, but the temporary disruption meant that everyone had to complete another out lap with less than 10 minutes to go, adding another element of pressure to the proceedings.

    Palmowski was the first to set her eyes on pole position and despite a small mistake, she drove the fastest lap of the session so far, albeit by less than a tenth to Larsen.
    Westcott, meanwhile demonstrated that her pace in Practice wasn’t a fluke as she began to challenge for the top spot.

    The Mercedes driver couldn’t improve in Sectors 2 and 3 and remained in third place, but it was a different story for Palmowski as she extended her advantage to four tenths over Larsen.

    Her lap proved to be impossible to beat in the final seconds and she held onto pole ahead of Larsen and Felbermayr, who improved late on to demote Rafaela Ferreira to fourth.

  • Round 2 – China Sprint

    George Russell claimed Sprint victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, following an early frenetic battle for the lead and surviving a late Safety Car.

    The Mercedes driver started from pole for the 19 lap Sprint on Saturday, an unlike a week ago in Australia, Russell held the lead through the opening corners before conceding the position to a surging Hamilton at Turn 9 – the Ferrari man had started fourth on the grid.

    The pair engaged in a tussle for the lead, swapping positions across the early laps until Russell made the decisive move into Turn 14 hairpin on Lap 15, pulling a gap to both Hamilton and Leclerc.

    Leclerc eventually got the better of his team mate, finishing just 0.6 seconds behind Russell, the leading drivers having made a late pit stop following a Safety Car that was called when Nico Hulkenberg’s stricken Audi needed to be retrieved.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Russell, P2: Leclerc, P3: Hamilton, P4: Norris, P5: Antonelli, P6: Piastri, P7: Lawson, P8: Bearman, P9: Verstappen and P10: Ocon.

    Great result for Russell, he is on a different level at the minute and is being rewarded with points and wins! As for Antonelli, not the best result at all, he had a poor start and then had to serve a 10 second time penalty after a collision with Isack Hadjar on the opening lap.

    A great result for the Ferrari’s, they have had a great start to the season, and they are challenging for wins/podiums. Leclerc finishing P2 and Hamilton P3, a little fight with the Merc’s which is very good to see.

    P4 for Norris, a decent result for him, a shame he couldn’t grab onto a podium. P6 for Piastri, a somewhat decent result, he got overtaken late on in the Sprint by Antonelli.

    No points for Verstappen where he finished P9, not a great race for the Red Bulls at all, especially with Hadjar being crashed into and finishing a horrible 15th.

  • Round 2 – China Sprint Qualifying

    George Russell claimed Sprint Qualifying pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix, as Kimi Antonelli ensured Mercedes locked out the front row in Shanghai.

    Russell and Mercedes dominated proceedings on Friday, the Briton having topped the sole practice session earlier in the day before setting the fastest time in all three segments of Sprint Qualifying.

    The Briton’s 1m 31.520s in SQ3 wit the soft tyre left him nearly three-tenths clear of Antonelli, with the young Italian starting second after being cleared of impeding Lando Norris earlier in proceedings.

    The full top 10 are- Pole: Russell, P2: Antonelli, P3: Norris, P4: Hamilton, P5: Piastri, P6: Leclerc, P7: Gasly, P8: Verstappen, P9: Bearman and P10: Hadjar.

    What a result for Mercedes, a great result for the team, it would be the result they wanted going into the weekend, a very strong start to a usy weekend.

    P3 for Norris and P5 for Piastri, it seems like the McLaren’s have found some pace since Australia which was only last week! It will be interesting to see how they do in the races and if they are putting all their pace in the qualifying set up rather than the race…

    P4 for Hamilton! A great result for the Ferrari man, another good results on the books, hopefully he could get a podium as we all know he loves this track! As for Leclerc, an okay result! It’s not his strongest track but he does seem to have a good car underneath him so hopefully some good results this weekend.

    P7 for Gasly! What a result for the Alpine driver, a really good start to the season for the Frenchman. He will be looking to score some big points this weekend.

    P8 for Verstappen, not the best result but still in the top 10, it will be interesting to see how he gets on as his somewhat near the middle of the pack so in somewhat of a danger zone…

    Bearman in the top 10 again! Haas will be liking the results for the Brit and be hoping he will be scoring points this weekend.

    The car’s been feeling amazing – we knew after Melbourne we had a really good car, the engine’s performing really well, and today was a real joy to drive, so [I’m] happy. I’m intrigued to know what the lap times are compared to last year, because it felt really quick and that was pretty cool, very different to Melbourne.
    Russell on pole position.

  • Bruce joins F1 Academy grid

    Megan Bruce will move up to F1 Academy for 2026, with the Briton representing TAG Heuer, the series’ Official Partner, Timepiece and Timekeeper.

    The 21 year old first began racing competitively three years ago, contesting the 2023 Caterham Academy campaign, scoring her first podium after just five races. The following season saw her race in the Caterham 270R Championship.

    In addition, Bruce progressed into single-seaters for the 2024 GB4 Championship, delivering nine top 10 finishes.
    Returning for a sophomore campaign, she achieved a highest finish of fourth at Oulton Park. Taking part in the inaugural F1 Academy Rookie Test at the Circuito de Navarra, the Briton clock in two top four times.

    Bruce made an early F1 Academy debut appearance, stepping into the TAG Heuer car for a one-off showing at the penultimate round of the 2025 season in Singapore.

    She also benefited from further track time in the F4 Saudi Arabian Championship, claiming a best finish of seventh. Bruce will now be taking on her rookie season racing in the TAG Heuer operated by Campos Racing car.

    I’m really excited to be joining TAG Heuer and Campos Racing for the 2026 F1 ACADEMY season. TAG Heuer have a major presence in motorsport and supporting many successful athletes in F1 and other sports. Having started this journey just three years ago, I’m super grateful for their belief in me and giving me this opportunity. I had a great time getting my first taste of F1 ACADEMY in Singapore, learning so much, so I can’t wait to work with Campos Racing and get this season started.
    Bruce on the news.

  • Pourchaire joins Mercedes as development driver

    Mercedes have announced that 2023 Formula 2 Champion, Theo Pourchaire has joined the team as Development Driver.

    The French racer is the newest addition to Mercedes’ driver portfolio, joining the likes of F1 racers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli as well as Third Driver Fred Vesti – who finished as runner-up to Pourchaire in the 2023 F2 Championship.

    After finishing runner-up in the 2020 F3 season and Formula 2 in 2022, Pourchaire secured the 2023 F2 title with ART Grand Prix.
    The 22 year old went on to gain experience in IndyCar in 2024 and served as a reserve for the then-named Alfa Romeo/ Kick Sauber team.

    In his position with the Sauber team he took part in three FP1 sessions across the 2022 and 2023 seasons before leaving the team after graduating from their programme.

    The French driver then progressed to endurance racing, joining Peugeot as a development driver in 2025 and he also made his World Endurance Championship debut in the same year.
    Alongside his Mercedes duties he will also become a full-time Hypercar driver for Team Peugeot TotalEnergies in 2026.

    The news is finally out, I’m incredibly proud and grateful to be joining Mercedes as a Development Driver. I grew up watching this team winning in F1 and now I have the honour to work with them and represent them. A big thank you to everyone involved for giving me this opportunity, I’m going to make the most of it. Let’s start the work in Brackley.
    Pourchaire on the news.

  • F3 – RND 1 – Day 2 & 3

    Day 2-

    It was a great start for the all-Van Amersfoort front row, with Del Pino keeping the lead ahead of Deligny, while Badoer got ahead of Noah Stromsted to take P3 at Turn 1.

    It was a bad start for the home favourite Wharton, however, as having started fifth, he was down to P8 by the end of the first lap. The PREMA Racing driver ran deep into the first corner after trying to avoid colliding with the rear of Stromsted’s car.

    On to Lap 2, Mattia Colnaghi ran wide and into the gravel at the exit of Turn 12. The MP Motorsport driver had been battling with Maciej Gladysz for P6, but was now at the back of the field after returning to the track.

    By the start of Lap 6, Del Pino had built a 1.3s lead over Deligny, who was coming under pressure from Badoer and Stromsted. The top four had built a nice buffer and were two seconds clear of Taito Kato in P5.

    Campos Racing’s Ugo Ugochukwu then went around the outside of Nicola Lacorte at Turn 9 to move up to ninth.

    Just ahead of Ugochukwu, Wharton and Louis Sharp went wheel-to-wheel throughout the opening sector on Lap 8 but made contact at the entry to Turn 6, which sent them both into the barrier.

    With both the cars and the track needing to be cleared and the barriers having to be repaired, the red flags were waved, before the stewards later confirmed that the race would not be resumed.

    This gave VAR their second consecutive victory in the Melbourne Sprint Race with Del Pino winning ahead of Deligny, while Badoer took a maiden podium in third.

    As a result of more than 25% of the racing laps having been completed, only the top five are awarded points, leaving Stromsted in P4 and Kato in P5 as the only other point scorers.

    Day 3-

    Polesitter Nael kept the lead into Turn 1, while Slater got ahead of Ugochukwu to take second place at the opening corner.

    Slater’s strong opening lap continued as he tried to go around the outside of Nael at Turn 3 only for the Campos driver to shut the door.

    Kato was also on the move for ART Grand Prix, as he managed to make a move around the outside of Trident’s Stromsted at the penultimate corner for P8.

    On to Lap 2, Ugochukwu was within one second of Slater and overtook his rival at Turn 9 to get back to P2. Ugochukwu then closed in on Nael rapidly after and once again made a move at Turn 9, this time to take the lead of the race.

    Just behind them, Kato and Mattia Colnaghi went side-by-side through Turns 9 and 10, with the ART driver taking P7.

    Out in front, the top three had separated themselves and were two seconds clear of Maciej Gladysz at the start of Lap 8.

    Brando Badoer and Nicola Lacorte had been battling for P5 with the former having lost the place to the DAMS Lucas Oil driver earlier in the lap. As he looked to regain the position, he spun at the final corner, dropping him down to P12.

    The Safety Car was then called upon on Lap 9 with Nandhavud having found the barrier at Turn 12.
    Racing then resumed at the start of Lap 12, and Ugochuwku pulled out a 1.1s gap to Nael, who was coming under pressure from Slater after running wide at the exit of Turn 4.

    The Campos driver was holding on to P2, but Gladysz lost P4 to Lacorte at Turn 9, while Bruno del Pino was up to eighth ahead of Colagni after making a move at the same corner.

    Lacorte was charging towards the podium and was right on the back of Slater at the start of Lap 15, and before taking P3 on the brakes at Turn 12.

    Moments later, Nael was given a five second time penalty for a false start.

    Slater though was struggling on Lap 15, coming under pressure from teammate Stromsted, who had just overtaken Gladysz for P5 at Turn 12.

    Lacorte’s hopes of a podium were damaged on the next lap, losing out to Slater, before contact with Stromsted gave him front wing damage. The Stewards then handed the DAMS driver a five second penalty for a false start, while Stromsted was later handed a 10 second time penalty for causing a collision with the Italian.

    Slater had recovered things nicely and was within 0.5s of Nael for P2 by the start of Lap 20. The Trident driver used the DRS to overtake the Frenchman at Turn 9 to get up to second.

    Just as Nael was fighting Stromsted for the final spot on the podium, the Safety Car was called upon with Woohyun Shin having pulled over at the side of the road with rear suspension damage.

    The track could not be cleared in time for a restart with the race ending under Safety Car conditions, leaving Ugochukwu to take a first victory in F3 ahead of Slater. With Nael and Stromsted’s penalties taking effect, Kato inherited P3.

  • Round 1 – Australian Grand Prix

    George Russell claimed victory in the 2026 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, the Brit leading team mate Kimi Antonelli to secure a Mercedes 1-2 ahead of the Ferrari duo in an action-packed event that saw the Silver Arrows make one-stop strategy work to their favour.

    A thrilling start to the race saw Charles Leclerc surge forwards from P4 on the grid, seizing the lead from Russell before the two continued to swap positions over the next few laps.
    Both Mercedes cars subsequently pitted when a Virtual Safety Car was deployed due to Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar pulling off the track – while the Ferrari’s opted to stay out.

    Another VSC phase followed due to the retirement of Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas, during which Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton again remained out on track.
    When the Scuderia’s drivers later made their stops, Russell and Antonelli returned to the front – leading to questions over how each team’s strategy calls would unfold, given that Ferrari looked likely to run until the end of the race while Mercedes may have to stop again.

    Despite their ageing tyres, the Silver Arrows appeared to be staying out until the chequered flag, with the Scuderia pair having not closed in enough to pressure the leading duo into making another stop – and the plan worked, with Russell crossing the line 2.9s ahead of Antonelli to secure a sixth career victory.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Russell, P2: Antonelli, P3: Leclerc, P4: Hamilton, P5: Norris, P6: Verstappen, P7: Bearman, P8: Lindblad, P9: Bortoleto and P10: Gasly.

    What a result for the Mercedes duo! Just how they would’ve wanted to start the season, a flawless drive from Russell, cool, calm and collected! As for Antonelli, he lost a few positions at the start but still done well to bring it back and on the podium.

    A great result for Ferrari! P3 for Leclerc, and P4 for Hamilton, I must say it’s nice to see them back near the top, they had a little fight with the Mercs at the start but they couldn’t bring it to them as much due to the strategy and not pitting. But they are probably the closest to the Mercs at the minute!

    An okay result for the reigning world champion, Norris, didn’t see much of him but kept the Red Bull of Verstappen at bay. But the Brit did well to keep his spot and score some vital points.
    As for his teammate, Oscar Piastri…. how unfortunate he crashed on the way to the grid especially at his home grand prix, not the start to the season he and McLaren would’ve wanted…

    As for Verstappen, what a drive! To come back from 20th, it was damage limitation to score some points and that is what he done. As for his teammate, the Albert Park curse continues for Hadjar, which is so sad as he qualified so well to then be out of the race due to reliability issues is unfortunate. But they way he kept up with the teams and qualified is SO promising for Red Bull.

    Points for Bearman! What a drive from him, kept it out of trouble and started the season strong with Haas scoring valuable points!

    Now our only rookie this year, Arvid Lindblad, what a debut weekend from him! Qualifying in the top 10 and then going on to score points, now that is how you make an entrance!

    Now our next race isn’t too far away… It’s this weekend, and we are heading to Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix!

  • F2 – RND 1 – Day 1

    Practice-

    Gabriele Mini started off his Melbourne weekend on the front foot, ending the Practice session quickest of all.
    The MP Motorsport driver set a 1:29.137 to take top spot ahead of Noel Leon and Rafael Camara in second and third places for Campos Racing and Invicta Racing respectivly.

    Sebastian Montoya led the way in the early stages for PREMA Racing on a 1:33.093, but that time was then bettered by Joshua Duerksen. The Invicta driver delivered a 1:31.939 to lead the field with 10 minutes gone.

    Dino Beganovic was able to post an improvement soon after, going top on a 1:31.505 despite catching traffic in the final sector.

    Duerksen responded on his subsequent attempt to restore his advantage at the top and became the first driver to dip into the 1:30s.

    MP’s Mini secured the top spot before Nikola Tsolov then set the quickest effort for Campos. The Bulgarian’s 1:30.178 came just before the Red Flags were waving after a spin into the wall for Colton Herta on the exit of Turn 10.

    Once the Hitech was recovered, the session resumed with 20 minutes left of practice.
    Mini returned to the top of the times on his following lap, going narrowly ahead by just 0.017s before Leon usurped him by 0.018s.

    Tsolov then went to the top on a 1:29.668 though Mini had been ahead before he lost his lap for exceeding track limits at Turn 6.

    Into the final 10 minutes and Leon pipped his teammate by a tenth to go quickest until Mini secured top spot once again, this time on a 1:29.137.
    A second red flag was thrown after a spin into the gravel for Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak at Turn 12.

    With the ART Grand Prix car cleared away, running resumed with three minutes to go, enough time for the majority to get back around for one final flying lap. Though there were several improvements, nobody could take P1 away from Mini.

    Qualifying-

    Dino Beganovic left it to the final lap to secure the first Aramco Pole Position Award of 2026, setting a 1:28.695 for the top spot.

    The DAMS Lucas Oil driver delivered an improvement in his final attempt to beat Rodin Motorsport’s Martinius Stenshorne and Alexander Dunne to pole, the pairing finishing second and third respectively.

    Beganovic laid down the initial benchmark and a 1:29.953, 0.094s quicker than Joshua Duerksen in P2 and his Invicta Racing teammate Rafael Camara in third.

    Stenshorne took over in provisional pole until Nikola Tsolov delivered an improvement of his own to go P1 with a 1:29.381.

    The Red Flags were out following a snap for Mari Boya at Turn 12 that left the PREMA Racing driver in the barrier. He was out of the car and OK, and the session resumed soon after.

    Qualifying resumed with 20 minutes left but after filtering back out onto the track, drivers returned to the pitlane for a fresh set of Pirelli tyres without posting improvements.

    Drivers rejoined the circuit once more with 12 minutes to go, but before any times could be posted, Gabriele Mini pulled to the side of the track with an issue on his car, bringing out the Red Flags once again.

    Due to the delays, the session ran to time, leaving just three minutes on the clock as qualifying resumed, enough time for just one final lap.

    Provisional pole changed hands three times over in the final seconds but it was Beganovic that found the improvement to take top spot for DAMS on a 1:28.695.

    He pipped the Rodin Motorsport teammates Stenshorne and Dunne, who both in turn had taken the top spot prior to the Swedes’ final attempt.

    Noel Leon secured forth ahead of Tsolov, who fell to fifth by the chequered flag. Camara was sixth ahead of Kush Maini, Oliver Goethe, Duerksen and Inthraphuvasak in P10.

  • Round 1 – Australia Qualifying

    George Russell sealed pole position for the first race of the season in Australia, beating Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar’s efforts while Max Verstappen suffered an unexpected early exit.

    The Mercedes driver established his spot at the top early on, dominating throughout each segment of qualifying before positing a stunning final lap of 1m 18.518s to establish a major advantage over the rest of the field.

    Antonelli was second to polish off a superb day for the Brackley team, while Hadjar shone on his Red Bull debut to claim third.

    The full top 10 are- Pole: Russell, P2: Antonelli, P3: Hadjar, P4: Leclerc, P5: Piastri, P6: Norris, P7: Hamilton, P8: Lawson, P9: Lindblad and P10: Bortoleto.

    What a result for the Mercedes boys! Going into this weekend and the season Russell and Mercedes are the favourites at the minute and this has just proved it! He now needs to go win this race tomorrow and it will be a brilliant start to the season. As for Antonelli, Mercedes done a masterpiece getting his car ready for Q1 but they did it and Antonelli done the driving where it mattered.

    P3 for Hadjar! Just what he would’ve wanted going into his first race with Red Bull. I think it makes it even better as the team has at least one good result where as in the past if Max went out early (which is rare) the teammate wouldn’t do as good. But Hadjar is in the perfect place to score points, and maybe even a podium!
    As for Verstappen, an unfortunate qualifying for him, crashed out of qualifying before even being able to set a lap time! His got a lot of work to do, to just get into the points.

    Good result for Leclerc, P4 for the Monegasque, probably in the right place if you look at the results from the practices. It will be interesting to see how Ferrari do in the race, especially with strategies, can they get on the podium in the first round??
    As for Lewis Hamilton, a decent result in 7th, was just beaten by the McLaren’s but it was very close between himself and Norris!

    As for the McLaren’s 5th and 6th, not a bad result for them at all. They will be hoping to get at least one driver on the podium, so that battle could be interesting…

    P8 for Lawson, a good result for him! And for the team as Lindblad qualified P9 in his first qualifying! Points would be an excellent way to start his rookie season, so let’s see if he gets them!

    Bortoleto rounds out the top 10, a very good result for the Audi team as Hulkenberg is just behind his teammate in 11th, points will be wanted this weekend.

    It was a great day. We knew there was a lot of potential in the car, but until you get to this first Saturday of the season you never know. It really came alive this afternoon, especially when the track temp cooled – we know we sort of tend to favour those conditions. I’m also really happy to have Kimi here next to me as well because it’s been such a hard job from all the team to deliver this car and they did an amazing job in the garage as well today, so all in all a really good day.
    Russell on pole.

  • F3 – RND 1 – Day 1

    Practice-

    Ugo Ugochukwu set the pace in the opening session of the Melbourne weekend, the Campos Racing driver completing a 1:34.607 to top the times in Free Practice.

    Rodin Motorsport’s Brando Badoer was second to Ugochukwu, 0.427s behind with TRIDENT’s Noah Stromsted in third.

    Bruno del Pino led the way early on for Van Amersfoort Racing with a 1:36.589 before PREMA Racing’s Louis Sharp eclipsed that by 0.511s.

    As track conditions improved, several drivers took to the top though, with Stromsted, Jose Garfias, Brad Benavides and Alessandro Giusti all going to P1, until Ugochukwu took over on a 1:34.859.

    Entering the final 20 minutes of the session, the Campos Racing driver continued to lead the way ahead of Stromsted, who had closed within 0.197s, while teammate Theophile Nael went to third.

    Ugochukwu then lowered the benchmark time on his next flying lap, completing a 1:34.607 to lead the field by nearly four and a half tenths.

    After a brief stint in the pitlane, the drivers returned to the track for the final 10 minutes, with Rodin’s Badoer jumping up to P2 and Pedro Clerot going to seventh.

    With just over five minutes left to go, the red flags were waved with Mattia Colnaghi having stopped on track at Turn 1.
    There was not enough time to restart to the session, leaving Ugochukwu on top by 0.429s ahead of Badoer, Stromsted, Nael and Alessandro Giusti.

    Qualifying-

    Theophile Nael took the first Aramco Pole Position Award of the season, narrowly beating Campos Racing teammate Ugo Ugochuwku to take P1 in a dramatic Melbourne Qualifying.

    With his final lap of the day, the French driver completed a 1:34.187 to fight off Ugochukwu for pole by just 0.021s. This gives the Spanish team a 1-2 start for Sunday’s Feature Race, with Trident’s Freddie Slater in third.

    Ugochukwu had picked up where he left off in Free Practice, going to the top of the leaderboard with a 1:34.208 which put him 0.430s clear of Noah Stromsted in P2 after the first set of laps.

    The drivers then pushed on for their second attempts, but before they could set their times the red flags were shown as Matteo de Palo was in the barrier at the exit of Turn 10.

    With the Trident car cleared, the teams sent their drivers out on to the track on new sets of tyres. Having set the fastest middle sector, Ugochukwu hit a polystyrene board and sustained front wing damage.

    The Campos driver returned to the pitlane and stayed in P1 albeit with James Wharton cutting his lead to 0.413s – the Melbourne-native going up to second for PREMA Racing.

    There were nine minutes left when the majority of drivers went out on track for their final push laps, all with new sets of tyres.

    Ugochukwu was back out, with his Campos fitted new front wing. But he did not improve, with Slater going up to second 0.061s behind.

    Several drivers were looking to push on late on, with Maciej Gladysz going up to third for ART Grand Prix.

    He was demoted to P4 moments later as Nael, having come out of the pitlane later than the rest of the field, went to pole, beating his teammate, Ugochukwu by just 0.021s.

    Nicola Lacorte then climbed up to fifth for DAMS, ahead of Mattia Colnaghi, Taito Kato and home favourite Wharton. Brando Badoer was ninth for Rodin Motorsport ahead of Stromsted in P10.

  • Craig Skinner leaves Red Bull

    Red Bull’s Chief Designer, Craig Skinner has left the Formula 1 team with immediate effect, the six time World Champions have confirmed.

    Skinner joined Red Bull in 2006 and worked closely with Adrian Newey, who has since left to join Aston Martin, and Pierre Wache, who heads up Red Bull’s technical division.

    He played a key role in Red Bull’s success when they won consecutive world titles between 2021 and 2024 with Max Verstappen.

    Red Bull, under the leadership of Laurent Meikies, enjoyed a resurgence at the back end of last year following a raft of updates on the car, which in turn enabled Verstappen to win six of the last nine races and fight for the title until the season finale.

    After 20 years with the team, Craig Skinner, our Chief Designer, will be leaving the Red Bull Technology team. Craig has been an integral part of our team and its success, and we would like to thank him for his hard work and commitment. The whole Red Bull team wishes him all the best for the future.
    Red Bull’s Statement.

  • F1 announces multi-year extension

    F1 has announced a multi-year extension with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to host a Grand Prix in 2028, 2030 and 2032 in addition to the event scheduled in 2026.
    From this year the race will also be re-named as the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

    The extension follows significant investment at the circuit in recent years including the construction of the Circuit Rooftop, a new hospitality space over looking Turns 9, 10 and 11 and the entrance of the main straight, as well as the installation of solar panels throughout the circuit.

    Built in 1991 as part of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games development programme, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya features an exciting mix of high and low speed corners and has played host to many memorable moments, including Max Verstappen’s maiden Grand Prix victory in 2016.

    In 2025, 300,000 fans attended the race weekend, which saw Oscar Piastri claim victory with team mate Lando Norris in second. From the current grid, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have also crossed the line first in Bacelona.

    The races in Barcelona will be in rotation with the Grand Prix at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps which will take place in 2026, 2027, 2029 and 2031.

    Barcelona is an incredible city, and the Formula 1 fans there always welcome us with such passion, so I am delighted that we will continue to race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for years to come. The team have invested heavily in the circuit and hosted fantastic fan festivals in recent years, so we look forward to seeing how they continue to develop the experience, both for attendees at the race and for the city as a whole. I would like to thank Salvador Illa, President of the Government of Catalunya, Pol Gibert, CEO of Circuits de Catalunya SL and General Secretary of the Department of Business and Employment for their unwavering commitment to hosting Formula 1, and Oriol Sagrera, the former CEO of Circuits de Catalunya SL and former General Secretary of the Department of Business and Employment, who was key to securing the renewal. I can’t wait to see our brilliant fans in Barcelona in June!
    Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1.

    We welcome the renewal of the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Catalonia, at least until 2032. We would like to express our gratitude to Formula 1 for the trust placed in the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and in the region over all these years. This renewal is the result of a strong relationship and close collaboration and represents a very important step in further consolidating Catalonia as a key fixture on the international calendar. Formula 1 generates an economic impact of more than €300 million per edition, but above all it is a strategic event that helps project Catalonia worldwide as a country capable of hosting top-level sporting competitions.
    Pol Gibert, CEO of Circuits de Catalunya SL and General Secretary of the Department of Business and Employment.

  • Tokyo to host first ever night street race

    The 2026 Tokyo E-Prix will return as a spectacular night race, with both of the races starting at 20:00 local time, making it the first time the all-electric series has raced after dark on the streets of Japan.

    The inaugural Tokyo E-Prix in 2024 was a landmark event, marking the first ever FIA-sanctioned World Championship motorsport event held in the city.

    The 2025 Tokyo E-Prix was a historic double header, where a Japanese team secured their first ever win on home soil. Nissan Formula E team’s Oliver Rowland took top step of the podium in Round 9, setting the stage to ultimately seal the 24/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship title.

    Returning for a third year, this season’s double-header will take place on Saturday July 25th and Sunday July 26th. The world’s most advanced electric race car, the Gen3 Evo, will once again battle it out on the streets around the Tokyo Big Sight convention center on the Tokyo Bay waterfront.

    It has been officially decided that the 2026 Tokyo E-Prix will be held as a night race. Tokyo E-Prix started in 2024 as Japan’s first-ever formal motor race on public streets, and 2025 Tokyo E-Prix ramped this up as a double-header. Each time the race is held, it draws many spectators captivated by the excellence of EVs and the intense and thrilling racing that takes place. The 2026 Tokyo E-Prix, the third time for Formula E to be held here in Tokyo, will be a night race to let the world know about Tokyo’s fascinating nightlife. I am confident that the 2026 Tokyo E-Prix will not only accelerate the spread of zero emission vehicles and initiatives for the realization of a sustainable world but will also add more brilliance to Tokyo’s nights. The race will be held on the two days of July 25 and 26. Let’s all cheer on a race that may be even hotter than the summer heat. Tokyo will join forces with the organisers and others related to the race to ensure its success.
    Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo.

    Hosting a Formula E night race event in Tokyo is a massive milestone. This is a city that is committed to our vision to accelerate change towards an electric future, and we thank Governor Koike and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for their partnership. We are delighted to play a part in re-energising Tokyo’s incredible nightlife scene and bringing exciting racing to the streets of the capital. To see the world’s most innovative electric race cars – the GEN3 Evo – competing under the dramatic lights of the Tokyo Bay waterfront will be an unforgettable moment for our passionate Japanese fans and those watching on at home.
    Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Office, Formula E.

  • PREMA Racing announce Garfias for 2026

    PREMA Racing has confirmed that Jose Garfias for the 2026 FIA Formula 3 season.

    Garfias has had previous F3 experience having competed in the Barcelona round last season.

    Prior to this season, the Mexican competed in Euroformula Open Championship where he finished fourth overall with three wins and 10 podiums.

    He also took part in Eurocup-3 where he finished 10th, with 52 points to his name with only competing in 12 races.
    In 2023, he took part in Eurocup-3 with 16 races to his name and finished 4th with 5 podiums to his name.

    Speaking about his signing with the Italian team, Garfias said he was excited at the prospect of working with PREMA.

    Ready to take on this new challenge with PREMA in F3. It’s a big step in the right direction for my career. Racing in F3 is something that I have been working towards for the last few years, and doing it with PREMA means a lot to me. Very thankful for everyone who is making this possible, and grateful to PREMA for giving me the opportunity to prove myself on a bigger stage. I’m ready to make the most of it.
    Garfias on the news.

    We are happy to welcome José for the season. Even though he will be competing full-time in the series for the first time this year, he has a good amount of experience in Eurocup-3 and Euroformula Open, so I think he will quickly adapt himself to the new environment and get positive results.
    Goffredo Pirro, PREMA Team Manager.