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 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 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.
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.
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.
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 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).
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
Aston Martin have unveiled the livery that will adorn their 2026 car – the team’s first challenger designed by Adrian Newey – as part of a special launch event in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
During the evening at Ithra (the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture), the team revealed a concept car sporting the design that will feature on the AMR26.
As well as being the first car made to the new technical regulations for 2026, the campaign marks a milestone moment for Aston Martin; not only is it the maiden year of the team’s works partnership with Honda, but the car is also the first to be designed under Newey’s lead and overseen by Chief Technical Officer Enrico Cardile.
The AMR26 will be driven by the team’s incumbent driver line-up of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, who enter into their fourth season as team mates.
The AMR26 represents a defining step for Aston Martin Aramco as we enter Formula 1’s new era in 2026. These regulations mark the biggest reset the sport has seen in a generation, and we are approaching it with clear ambition: to build a team capable of winning. Every move we make is by design – considered, deliberate and built for where we are going. This year also marks our first season as a full works team, supported by world-class partners including Honda, Aramco and Valvoline. With the AMR Technology Campus now complete, we have the people, facilities and long-term investment in place to compete with the very best. Today is another important milestone on that journey. Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman.
2026 is a rare moment in Formula 1 because, for the first time, the chassis and power unit regulations have changed together. With brand new regulations, the best philosophy is never immediately obvious, and your understanding evolves as the car develops. With the AMR26 we’ve taken a holistic approach: it’s not about one standout component, but how the full package works together. The focus has been on strong fundamentals, development potential, and a car that Lance and Fernando can hopefully extract performance from consistently. Newey – who will act as Team Principal alongside his role as Managing Technical Partner in 2026 added.
Payton Westcott has become the latest driver locked in for the 2026 F1 Academy season, with Mercedes recruiting the American racer for the upcoming campaign.
The 16 year-old will take on her rookie season in the Mercedes operated by PREMA Racing car, alongside contesting a dual programme in Italian F4.
Starting out in karting aged six, Westcott progressed to competitive karting six years later, scoring promising results in the United States, Pro Kart Series, California Pro Kart Challenge and finished third in the Challenge of the Americas.
After being selected for the inaugural cohort of F1 Academy Discover Your Drive karters in the 2024 Champions of the Future Academy Program, Westcott progressed into single-seaters the following year.
Honing her craft in the Formula Winter Series, Italian F4 Championship, E4 Championship and F4 Saudi Arabian Championship, Westcott achieved a Female Trophy win in the Formula Winter Series alongside becoming the first and only woman to take home a victory in the UAE Trophy Series.
Making her F1 Academy debut as the Wild Card entry for the Las Vegas season finale, the American delivered a P6 finish on home soil in Race 1.
I’m excited to join the Mercedes family for the 2026 F1 ACADEMY season. They are an incredible team and one that is driven by passion, determination, and a constant pursuit of excellence. It’s an amazing opportunity to work with such a talented group of people that are commitment to developing young talent. I’m looking forward to learning new tracks throughout the season and continuing to grow my skill set both on and off the circuit. Every race weekend will be a chance to push my limits, refine my driving, and build consistency. I’m motivated to make the most of this journey and take the next big step in my career. Westcott on the news.
We’re very pleased to welcome Payton Westcott to the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team family for the 2026 F1 ACADEMY season. She steps into big shoes by succeeding Doriane, who set a very high benchmark within our programme. We know Payton is a rookie, and we approach the season with realistic ambitions, but this is a challenge she understands and fully embraces. At just 16 years old, Payton has already demonstrated both maturity and strong performance. Her results in the 2025 Italian F4 and Euro 4 championships, as well as her recent performances in the UAE Formula 4 series, underline not only her speed but also her ability to adapt quickly to highly competitive environments. The 2026 season will be intense for Payton. Alongside F1 ACADEMY, she will continue racing in Italian F4 to further develop her race craft, technical understanding, and overall experience. We believe this dual programme will accelerate her progression and provide a solid foundation for her long-term ambitions in single-seater racing. We look forward to supporting her throughout this important next stage of her journey with us. Gwen Lagrue, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Driver Development Advisor.
McLaren have unveiled their new livery for the 2026 season in a live event broadcast from the Bahrain International Circuit.
The Woking based team headed to the track early to showcase their striking livery, maintaining their papaya colour palette that adorned last season’s championship-winning MCL39.
Their unchanged driver line-up of reigning World Champion Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri spoke alongside Team Principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown at the launch event, while Chief Marketing Officer Lou McEwen and Chief Designer Rob Marshall showcased the new livery.
McLaren have historically carried over a successful championship-winning livery through to the following campaign and this year is no different after the Teams’ and Drivers’ Championship successes last year. Alongside the familiar papaya the design continues to have anthracite and small hints of teal.
This design also carries over onto the drivers’ overalls for the season, with Norris and Piastri donning an all-papaya fronted fire suit.
We’re delighted to present our 2026 challenger’s livery from our second home, Bahrain. The iconic papaya continues on the MCL40 as we keep our tradition of carrying championship-winning liveries through to the next season. Racing performance is also at the forefront of design when exploring creative routes, and we’ve balanced creative direction with aero considerations to create this striking 2026 competitor. Thank you to all our committed shareholders and partners, without whom we simply wouldn’t be able to go racing, to our fans for their continued support, and to our team of people who have worked tirelessly to get us to this point in the exciting new era of Formula 1. We’re all excited to see it hit the track. Zak Brown on the new car.
It’s fantastic to reveal the livery for our 2026 challenger, the MCL40, as we reach an important milestone in our team’s incredible work and dedication before we begin racing this year. 2026 marks a new challenge as we take on a new era of Formula 1 regulations. We also go into the season as an independent challenger facing five top manufacturers who all want to beat us. While we have the benefit of the lessons learned from our success in the past few years, the whole grid is restarting from zero and our past achievements count for nothing. Our objective is to hit the ground running, and we have the best combination of team, driver pairing, collaboration with Mercedes HPP, partners, and fans to be able to do this. We will continue to focus on creating the conditions to succeed as we approach our biggest challenge to date. It should be a fantastic season of racing for the fans, and we’re excited to get going. Team Principal, Andrea Stella.
Cadillac have unveiled their livery for the team’s debut season in Formula 1, with the design revealed during a television advert at the Super Bowl.
Amid the sporting action at the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) – this year held in Santa Clara, California and played between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks – Cadillac showcased the colours that will adorn their car in 2026.
The reveal marks the latest milestone for the American outfit before their first-ever campaign in F1.
Drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez put their new challenger through its initial paces during the Barcelona Shakedown, where the car sported a special livery featuring the names of the founding members of the team from both the United States and the UK.
At the close of the event, Bottas hailed the team’s running as “really valuable” and spoke of his pride over how everyone in the team was “working so hard”.
Cadillac’s driver line-up for their first season also features Zhou Guanyu as a reserve driver, while former IndyCar star Colton Herta will hold a testing role.
We still have lots of problems to solve, and a bit of a mountain to climb, but we are getting there step by step. Each run we’re getting better and more together as a team. Each run we are solving issues and going forward, so that’s good. Bottas explained.
We got a lot of running, a lot of information. Still finding a few issues out there, which is great – it was all about that today. I think we are improving pretty much every run. We’re obviously starting to explore the car, the set-up, directions we want to be taking, so I think it’s starting well. Perez added.
Enzo Deligny will drive for Van Amersfoort Racing in 2026 the team has confirmed.
The Frenchman will complete the Dutch team’s line-up alongside the previously announced Hiyu Yamakoshi and Bruno del Pino.
Van Amersfoort confirmed that they had mutually parted ways with Jesse Carrasquedo, with Deligny now completing their line-up in his place.
Last year Deligny competed in the Formula Regional European Championship where he finished the season in third. He also took part in the Macau Grand Prix where he also finished 3rd overall.
In 2024, he also took part in the Formula 4 UAE Championship where he finished the season 8th overall, with two podiums and a win.
I am really happy to be joining Van Amersfoort Racing for the 2026 season. Formula 3 is the next step I’ve been working towards and I’m excited to take it with VAR. I’m looking forward to working closely with the team and pushing to be competitive together throughout the year. Deligny on the news.
We’re very pleased to welcome Enzo to Van Amersfoort Racing. We’ve been watching Enzo closely over the past few years and he’s delivered some very strong results, particularly in Formula Regional last season. He’s shown speed, consistency and the ability to perform at the front. We believe he has a lot of potential and we’re looking forward to working with him this year. Brad Joyce, Team Principal for Van Amersfoort Racing.
Mortara led away from pole Dennis and Da Cost running two by two through the first sector – the Brit able to hold on to P2. At Turn 13, Dennis forced Mortara onto the defensive and Rowland sneaked by up the inside of the Mahindra in the process – the race lead for the reigning champion.
Buemi hit the front on Lap 4, with a leap from fourth around the outside of Rowland at the hairpin – the top six shuffling as drivers sought to look after energy.
Lap 5 and Buemi ceded the lead back to Rowland – with da Costa also making it by the Envision.
Come Lap 8, Rowland was backing the pack up some five seconds a lap slower than Buemi had dictated from the front earlier on – the Swiss briefly swapped spots with Rowland briefly, but the Nissan driver took P1 back at hairpin a lap later before da Costa again cycled to P1 on Lap 10.
Lap 11 saw di Grassi become the first to take the initial of two mandatory 50kW, all wheel drive Attack mode boosts, while Mortara took first position.
Rowland jumped for Attack on Lap 16, with the lead changing hands ever regularly – Buemi now out front with Mortara, da Costa and di Grassi in-behind.
Ticktum then made it past Rowland with the CUPRA KIRO making expert use of Attack – though he was still 2.5 seconds back from da Costa who’s made a break for it as it all kicked off behind.
Rowland was the first to take his second Attack Mode with the laps ticking down. Buemi and Mortara, dropping to fourth and fifth behind the Nissan driver, who was chasing Ticktum and da Costa – the Portuguese managing to jump through the activation zone while retaining the lead.
Da Costa led Ticktum, Rowland, Buemi, Mortara, Marti, Wehrlein, Evans, Vergne and di Grassi with four laps to run.
Rowland managed to make use of an Attack Mode overlap to take second from Ticktum, with Buemi also passing the Cupra Kiro driver before dispatching Rowland later that same lap.
Da Costa had checked out – leading the field home by some 3.5 seconds. Buemi held Rowland for P2.
Van Amersfoort Racing have announced the signing of Rafael Villagomez for the 2026 FIA Formula 2 season – completing the grid for the upcoming campaign.
Villagomez is set to return for a third season in F2 this year, fresh from a strong showing in 2025 where he achieved two podiums and finished 14th in the Drivers’ Championship.
This means Villagomez and VAR are set to continue their affiliation for the fifth consecutive season, with the Mexican driver having first raced for them in 2021.
I’m extremely excited and grateful to be staying another year in F2 with VAR. Together with the team, we finished the season strongly which gives me great confidence heading into the new year. I can’t wait to get back on track, and work with the team to achieve even stronger results in the upcoming season. Villagomez on the news.
We’re very happy to continue with Rafael for 2026. Over the past seasons, he’s shown strong commitment and a clear step forward in performance. The podiums in Barcelona and Qatar were defining moments, but more importantly, they reflect the progress we’ve made together. We’re looking forward to building on that momentum and fighting for the top steps of the podium together. Van Amersfoort Racing Team Principal, Brad Joyce.
BREAKING: Rafael Villagómez returns with @VARmotorsport!
The final piece of the 2026 F2 puzzle clicks into place 🧩
Jordan's Track Talk 