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  • A look into London

    We are now onto the final stretch of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with the 2022 SABIC London E-Prix taking place this weekend at the ExCeL in the city’s historic docklands.

    Formula E made its first trip to the venue last season, and in a first for an international race series raced on an indoor/outdoor circuit layout which offered up a completely unique challenge for drivers and teams.

    The top four, are only split by fewer points than are on offer in any single Formula E round, and with the two races in London followed by a double-header in Seoul still to come, the season may be heading towards its climax but there’s still time for it to change…

    There will be a strong British presence both when the cars line up on the grid and in the garages supporting them. Six of the 22 drivers will be competing on home soil, with a full complement of fans in the grandstands for the first time after COVID restrictions affected the Season 7 event.

    The Circuit-

    We’re heading back to East London’s historic docklands and the ExCeL exhibition centre and circuit designed by British architect, Simon Gibbons in collaboration with the FIA and Motorsport UK.

    The 2,141km, 22 turn track is tight and twisty with a slicker, less grippy surface indoors and asphalt outside, with plenty of elevation changes. Regen is high with the new for Season 8 chicane complex between Turns 10 and 13 replacing last year’s double hairpin, and there is plenty of opportunity for overtaking.

    16x9-01

    Times for the weekend-

    Friday 29th July-

    • Free Practice 1: 17:15pm (BST)

    Saturday 30th July-

    • Free Practice 2: 09:00am (BST)
    • Qualifying: 10:40am
    • Round 13: 15:00pm

    Sunday 31st July-

    • Free Practice 3: 08:30am (BST)
    • Qualifying: 10:40am
    • Round 14: 15:00pm.

  • Pepe Marti continues with CUPRA Kiro

    After a podium winning rookie season, Pepe Marti is set to continue with the CUPRA Kiro team into Formula E’s all new Gen4 era.

    Marti, who hails from Spain and is managed by A14, the driver development group co-founded by former Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso, impressed many in the paddock with his on track performances in the 2025/26 season.

    After scoring points in only his second E-Prix appearance, and leading his home race in Madrid, he achieved his maiden Formula E podium in Monaco – putting on a brilliant performance, after starting from 15th.
    Not only was the podium a significant milestone for Marti, but it also marked the first time a Spanish driver had reached the rostrum in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    A further podium followed at the 2026 Sanya E-Prix, with the additional points helping the CUPRA KIRO driver to finish the season as the highest placed rookie in the Drivers’ Championship with 66 points.

    Continuing with CUPRA KIRO, Marti will play a crucial role in the team’s next chapter as Formula E enters the Gen4 era, the most exciting chapter to date in the all-electric championship.

  • Red Bull sign Tom McCullough

    Long-time Aston Martin figure Tom McCullough is set to join Red Bull Racing in 2027 as their Head of Racing, it has been announced.

    McCullough will make the move after a lengthy stint with Aston Martin and their previous guises, Racing Point and Force India, where he worked in various engineering roles.

    At the start of 2025, as part of a senior leadership restructure, he was moved away from the Aston Martin F1 project and into another area of the business that focused on “the expansion of the team’s broader range of racing categories”.

    Last month, it emerged that McCullough would be leaving Aston Martin at the end of the 2026 season, with his future plans unclear.

    Red Bull communicated McCullough’s impending arrival as the Milton Keynes based team look to rebuild their own senior leadership structure following several high-profile exits.

    Max Verstappen’s Race Engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, is one of the most recent examples, with the Briton due to leave Red Bull when his current contract expires and join McLaren as their Chief Racing Officer.

    McCullough started his F1 career at Williams back in the early 2000s, spending around a decade with the outfit and then following up a brief spell a Sauber with a move to Force India.

    We’re delighted to welcome Tom to the team at the beginning of 2027 and look forward to the wealth of experience and expertise he will bring to the role.
    Statement from Red Bull.

  • Norris commits future to McLaren

    Lando Norris has committed his future to McLaren after signing a new deal that will extend his stay at the British team until at least then end of 2030, with a multi-year option to commit beyond that date.

    The Briton joined McLaren in 2017 as a test and development driver before earning promotion to the grid as a race driver for 2019.

    The 26 year old has since gone on to win 13 Grand Prix victories, 19 pole positions and 49 podiums – as well as his maiden World Championship in 2025. Additionally he has now race in 165 Grands Prix for the team, more than any other McLaren driver in history.

    His previous deal is believed to have been set to expire at the end of 2027, but McLaren moved to lock him down for the foreseeable future with a fresh contract extension.

    By the end of the current agreement, Norris will be 31 and have spent 12 years with McLaren, matching the stint Lewis Hamilton achieved with Mercedes.

    Norris’ team mate Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, is contracted with McLaren up until the end of 2028, having signed a fresh deal ahead of the 2025 campaign. That gives McLaren stability for at least the next two Formula 1 campaigns.

    McLaren is my home, and I’m very pleased to be signing a new contract to keep me with the team until at least 2030. When I started this journey nine years ago, I was clear about the goals I wanted to achieve: to get McLaren back to the front and to win championships. We’ve achieved that goal, but we want more, we want to keep on winning, and we know as a team that we’re capable of achieving it. I can’t wait to get back in the car in Monza and I’m very excited about what the future holds for us, both over the rest of this season, and in the coming years.
    Norris on the news.

    I’m incredibly pleased to be signing a new contract with Lando, extending his commitment with McLaren until at least 2030. His journey with the team is a fantastic example of our commitment to identifying, developing and supporting world-class talent, and his achievements speak for themselves. Together with Andrea [Stella], Oscar [Piastri] and the wider team, Lando has helped drive McLaren into a new papaya era of success, helping us go from the back of the grid, to double consecutive constructors’ titles in 2024 and 2025 and our first Drivers’ Championship in 17 years. We are extremely excited about what lies ahead and remain fully focused on continuing to compete for wins and championships.
    Zak Brown on the news.

  • Alpine announce Colapinto contract extension

    Franco Colapinto will continue to race in Formula 1 with Alpine next season after the Enstone-based team announced he will partner Pierre Gasly in an unchanged line-uo.

    The Argentine driver joined Alpine as a reserve for 2025 before stepping into the race seat from the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix as a replacement for Jack Doohan.

    He was retained for this season and has since scored 27 points across eight races so far this season, working with Gasly to help the team to P6 in the Teams’ Championship.

    Colapinto has formed a strong partnership both on and off track with Gasly, who signed a deal to race with Alpine until at least the end of 2028 around this time last year – and was favourite to keep his seat.

    Following discussion internally, Alpine have extended Colapinto’s stay saying the combination with Gasly “provides the perfect match-up to drive the team forwards into the future”.

    We are very happy to confirm our driver line-up for 2027 with Franco staying as a race driver alongside Pierre. For me, having consistency is very important. We are now settled from a driver point of view and I have said many times that, while this is an important piece of the puzzle, the most significant we have to get right is designing and building a fast race car, which absolutely remains our number one priority. We have seen Franco truly grow and mature into a great driver this year. His results in Miami and Montreal especially confirmed what I already knew: Franco belongs in Formula 1 and he belongs at this team. I expect both Franco, and Pierre, to continue doing a fantastic job on track and for the entire team to push relentlessly until we are fighting, and winning, at the front end of this sport.
    Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor.

    I am very pleased to remain with this team in 2027. I feel very happy and very settled here and it’s been even better that we have made significant progress this year compared to last. We have a lot more milestones to reach and I know the team is working so hard in finding performance and making the car better and better. Our long-term goals are obvious – to compete and win – and I am grateful to the team, Flavio and Steve [Nielsen, Managing Director], for the trust placed in me to be one of its drivers going into the future. I’m looking forward to seeing how everything plays out and focusing on my job on-track first and foremost.
    Colapinto on the news.

  • Round 17 – Singapore Sprint

    Max Verstappen followed up his victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia by winning Saturday’s Sprint around the street of Singapore – mastering the mixed weather conditions while George Russell crashed out early on and the McLaren drivers clashed in the closing stages.

    After a pre-race downpour, which soaked the first and third sectors of the Marina Bay Street Circuit, while leaving the middle sectory merely damp, the action got under way around half an hour later than planned, with all drivers running the intermediate tyres.

    In a repeat of last weekend’s start at Sepang, Russell charged past polesitter Verstappen in the slippery conditions and initially drove into the distance, only to undo that work by dramatically crashing at the final corner of the first lap.

    Verstappen moved back into the lead as a result, and after nailing the race restart, the Dutchman never looked back – managing his intermediate tyres in ever-drying conditions and steadily pulling away from the Ferrari’s and McLaren’s behind.

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

    What a result for Verstappen! An excellent way to start the weekend for the Dutchman! Fresh of the back of his win the weekend before, he will be glad seeing the points come in after a tough start to the season.

    A double sprint podium for the Ferrari duo! A great result for them both, with Hamilton having had a flying start.

    A decent result for Antonelli in 4th! Shame he couldn’t get the Ferrari’s but he kept out of trouble and scored points for his all important championship battle.
    As for his teammate, it seemed an excellent start for George getting the jump on Verstappen, but it all went horribly wrong. A shame as it would’ve been an interesting race!

    Points for Lawson in 5th, gaining additional places due to others downfall.

    Bearman, Hulkenberg and Norris round out the points scoring position.

    The last lap was a nightmare for the McLaren duo, as Norris went for a ‘move’ which wasn’t there on Piastri and it ended up with them both spinning and Piastri out. They were both running in decent points position which would’ve meant a lot to the team.

    A LOT of drivers didn’t finish the Sprint Race.
    Stroll, Perez, Russell, Colapinto, Hadjar, Bottas, Bortoleto, Albon and Piastri…

  • Audi unveil special livery for Singapore

    Audi have revealed a special livery for this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, celebrating the city’s unique identity as well as the team’s first night race in Formula 1.

    The R26 will sport a design that combines a Singapore specific variant of Audi’s usual Titanium Silver Grey with a traditional peranakan pattern, which will adorn the sidepods and rear wing as well as carrying over onto Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto’s race suits.

    Inspired by the city’s transition from daylight to twilight, the livery has been launched alongside a limited-edition Adidas capsule collection, building on ‘The Art of Influence’ a 360 degree programme that brings F1 closer to the finals through activations across Singapore and online.

    Bringing Formula 1 to the people means giving fans more ways to feel part of the team, wherever they are. Singapore shows how we can do that through one connected idea. Audi’s special livery expresses our brand through a design shaped by the city, and fans around the world can discover it for themselves through the online reveal. With the Adidas collection and experiences across Singapore, that story continues beyond the race car. ‘The Art of Influence’ invites people to engage with the team in ways that are meaningful to them, whether they are here in the city or following from home.
    Stefano Battistion, Chief Brand & Commercial Officer at Audi.

  • Mercedes confirm Russell set for penalty

    Mercedes’ George Russell is set for a grid penalty at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, following an unavoidable engine change after his late retirement in Malaysia.

    While on course for a podium finish, Russell suffered a power unit failure during the closing laps of the Bahrain Grand Prix and had to pull over to the side of the track, marking his third non-scoring round of the season.

    The DNF has impacted his title hopes as teammate Kimi Antonelli extended his lead to 84 points in the driver’s standings and Russell’s likely penalty at the Marina Bay Circuit will make that gap even harder to close.

    He was expected to take a new engine later in the season once Mercedes had capitalised on the FIA’s ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) programme to introduce a new upgrade, however the damage from Malaysia means that they have been forced to bring it forward to Singapore.

    Russell will therefore exceed the season allocation of power unit components and be penalised, with the regulations specifying that a grid penalty will be imposed at the first event where each additional element over the quota is used.

    The penalty will be a minimum of 10 positions depending on the exact parts Mercedes switch out – effectively, the more new parts, the greater the grid drop.

    The incident was the latest in a string of reliability problems for Mercedes in 2026 – Russell previously retired from the Canadian Grand Prix due to a power unit failure, while Antonelli suffered in Barcelona.

    Malaysia was obviously a very difficult weekend for us. We have spent the days since then working hard to understand why our performance was not where it should have been. We have identified several areas we need to investigate further, but F1 doesn’t offer simple answers and we need more evidence before drawing firm conclusions. Singapore gives us an immediate opportunity to continue that work. The characteristics of the circuit are very different and that will help us build a clearer picture of where we are. That is why we will evaluate both the latest update package and our previous specification across the weekend to ensure we fully understand the direction we need to take. George has the added challenge of a power unit penalty, which will mean starting from the back of the grid on Sunday, following the engine failure in Malaysia. That is particularly frustrating given the way he drove last weekend and the result he deserved to be fighting for. Unfortunately, these things are part of the sport and our focus now is on giving him the best possible car and opportunities to fight back through the field. We need to maximise this final Sprint weekend of the year, keep learning, and score the strongest result we can with both cars. Singapore will be an important test of our understanding and our resilience as a team.
    Toto Wolff, ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend.

  • R16 – Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

    Max Verstappen converted pole position into victory during Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, which was impacted by heavy rain, featured an entertaining crossover from intermediate tyres to slicks and saw overtaking from start to finish – as well as a dramatic late retirement.

    After a delayed start and then a suspended start procedure, as several drivers struggled to maintain speed on the initial formation lap, the race eventually got underway in slippery, mixed conditions – leading to split tyre strategies and plenty of early action.

    Polesitter Verstappen fell behind Mercedes pair Kimi Antonelli and Russell on the run down to Turn 1, with all three drivers running intermediate tyres, but he soon settled into a rhythm and managed to pick off the Silver Arrows either side of a Safety Car that was deployed when Valtteri Bottas spun out.

    That Safety Car period represented the ideal window for the intermediate starters to switch to slick tyres, with those who line up on slick compounds getting caught out, and threats of further rain not materialising before the chequered flag.

    Verstappen controlled proceedings after working his way back into P1, pulling away from Antonelli and Russell – who had their own battle over second – and navigating a late Virtual Safety Car/Safety Car combination to secure his and Red Bull’s first win of the 2026 campaign.

    Antonelli was already set to extend his championship lead over Russell by three points when his teammate dramatically ground to a halt on the start/finish straight behind that final Safety Car, dealing another blow to the Briton’s already slim title chances.

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

    What a result for Max Verstappen! If you told him at the beginning of the season he would’ve got a win I think he would’ve thought it was very far away, but he did it and he did it in style.
    As for his teammate, Hadjar finished 5th, a decent result – a shame he didn’t manage another podium but a very good points haul for the team.

    A great result for Antonelli, at the start of the weekend he seemed to have struggled slightly but he managed to make up for it and get on the podium for that all important Championship fight.
    Which is on to my next topic – is it still a Championship fight? Russell DNF’ed after it was looking like a decent weekend for him however can he get back mentally strong for these final 7 races… It’s a big ask considering how on form Antonelli has been.

    Third for Hamilton, back on the podium again which we love to see – but it does make you think could he have potentially got a bit more if what went wrong didn’t? We will never know…
    As for his teammate, Leclerc, he finished closely behind in fourth, so a good points haul for the team!

    Sixth for Piastri a good result for him, managed to keep it out of trouble and score some points. As for his teammate, a disappointing weekend with Norris finishing ninth not what they would’ve expected and to see that it was the straightline speed they was struggling with is not ideal.

    Double points for the Racing Bulls – Lawson finishing 7th and Lindblad in 10th. Really great result for them considering it’s both of their first time driving at this track.

    And rounding out the point scorers, is Mr Fernando Alonso who finished 9th – a really great result for the whole team. Hopefully a step in the right direction!

  • Zane Maloney joins Rowland at Nissan

    Nissan have announced Zane Maloney will join the team alongside Oliver Rowland for the 2026/27 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    Rowland continues into a fourth year, having built a strong relationship with the Japanese manufacturer over the years, having originally joined its Formula E program as a rookie in Season 5 (2018/19) – Nissan’s first year in the sport.

    Since returning to the team during the Gen3 era in Season 10, Rowland has enjoyed some of the most successful years of his career, including claiming the Drivers’ title in Season 11. In the last campaign, he earned six podiums including a victory on the streets of Monaco, securing fourth in the Drivers’ World Championship and maintaining his record of top-four finishes in every season since his return.

    Meanwhile, Maloney enters his third season in Formula E, having gained valuable experience across his first two campaigns, scoring top 10 finishes in Sao Paulo, Monaco and Tokyo in 2025/26.

    The Barbadian earned his opportunity in Formula E after a highly successful junior career, impressing across the 2023 and 2024 Formula 2 seasons with 11 podiums, including two wins and finishing fourth in the last year.

    I’m delighted to continue with Nissan for our seventh season together and fourth consecutive one with Nissan. With the GEN4 car coming in, we’re going to see a big step in performance and it’s something we’re really excited for. I’m looking forward to Zane joining the team, he’s had a great junior career and two years of experience in Formula E, which puts him in a good position to start Season 13 strongly. Heading into the future with Nissan Formula E Team is very exciting and we’re aiming to improve on our performances from this year.
    Rowland on continuing with Nissan.

    I’m very excited to join Nissan. When I came into Formula E, the team was winning the championship with Oli, so it’s a great chance for me to now join a top manufacturer. I’ve spent the last two seasons with a new team, developing my skills and trying to get the best results we could, so I’m really looking forward to taking this next step in my career. It’s also a great opportunity to be teammates with Oli. He’s a World Champion and someone I watched when I was growing up, first winning races in Formula 2 and then in Formula E, so to be alongside him and learn from him will be really valuable. GEN4 is a big opportunity for everyone to develop quickly, and I’ll be doing everything I can to prepare well and hit the ground running from the first race. A big thank you to Nissan for the trust in me. I’m really looking forward to getting started and achieving some very good results together.
    Maloney on the switch.

  • Mercedes reveal special livery

    Mercedes have unveiled a special livery that will adorn the W17 at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

    During the weekend at the Sepang International Circuit, the Silver Arrows’ challenger will sport a design honouring the colours of the team’s title partner PETRONAS, with the car featuring shades of green alongside its usual black.

    The event will mark F1’s return to the Malaysian track – which previously hosted Grans Prix between 1999 and 2017 – and Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has acknowledged that the venue is a special one for the team.

    Alongside their special livery, Wolff confirmed that Mercedes will bring an update package to Malaysia which the team home will be “another step forward”.

    This weekend has extra significance for us because of our long-standing relationship with PETRONAS. It’s fantastic to see Formula 1 returning to Sepang and we should also recognise the effort that has gone into making this Grand Prix happen. It has required strong collaboration between Malaysia and Bahrain, and that deserves credit. Once the cars are on track, though, our focus is on the job ahead. Sepang is a demanding circuit that asks every question of the car. You need performance in the high-speed corners, good traction, strong tyre management and consistency in hot, challenging conditions. It is one of the more complete tests on the calendar.
    Wolff on the news.

  • Opel finalises line-up with Mitch Evans signing

    Opel GSE has confirmed the capture of one of the most successful drivers in ABB FIA Formula E World Championship history with Mitch Evans joining the squad from the 2026/27 season.

    The 32 year old New Zealander has achieved the most victories in the racing series – 16 – and brings his experience from 10 years in the series to the new German manufacturer team.

    Together with rookie Theo Pourchaire, Evans forms what Opel GSE view as a driver mix of top driver and young talent, underpinning the team’s ambitions to compete at the front field from the start.

    The completion of the driver line-up, which includes Test and Development Driver Sophia Florsch in addition to Evans and Pourchaire, marks Opel’s next step on the way to the World Championship.

    The next major milestone is coming this autumn, when Opel, together with Evans and Pourchaire, will unveil the final design of the race car for the 2026/27 season at the Paris Motor Show on 12th October 2026.

    We have secured our dream team. Mitch Evans was the preferred candidate for our Opel GSE Formula E Team from the very beginning. His commitment once again underlines the seriousness of the entire project. We have already met Mitch on and off the racetrack. In addition to his undisputed exceptional sporting pedigree, he also fits perfectly into our team as a person. After so many years with another manufacturer, he was deliberately looking for a new challenge. Now the Opel family and Mitch are taking this next step together. In doing so, we are sending a clear message: We are joining the World Championship to challenge at the front.
    Opel Motorsport Director and Team Principal, Jorg Schrott

    I am proud to be an Opel works driver and to be part of this new chapter in Formula E. It’s great that we can finally make this step official. After ten years with a manufacturer, it was time for me to take on a fresh challenge. The leap to the GEN4 cars represents the perfect moment to start something new. I immediately felt how much energy and passion Opel is putting into the Formula E project. The team isn’t just coming into the series to compete: Opel is here to win, and that’s exactly what I aspire to. The title clearly remains the big goal for me, in this respect I still have a score to settle in Formula E. That’s exactly why the move to Opel feels like the right new challenge for me. Starting a new Formula E generation with a new team and being successful right away is anything but a matter of course, but that’s exactly what appeals to me. I want to contribute my experience from ten years of Formula E and play a strong role in the World Championship together with Opel and Théo.
    Evans on the news.

  • Verstappen signs contract extension

    Red Bull have announced that Max Verstappen has committed to a new deal that will see him race for the team through to 2030.

    The Dutchman first joined the Milton Keynes based outfit in 2016 in a mid-season promotion from sister team Toro Rosso (now named Racing Bulls) and has gone on to achieve a spectacular 71 victories and four Drivers’ Championship.

    His most recent triumph in 2024 was followed by McLaren clinching both titles last season, when a stunning comeback by Verstappen resulted in him losing out on a fifth championship by just two points to Lando Norris.

    However, Red Bull have dropped further down the order under the new regulations, leading to speculation that the 28 year old was beginning to explore options at other teams despite his previous contract lasting until 2028.

    The announcement, brings a definitive end to the rumours and highlights his belief that under the leadership of Laurent Mekies, Red Bull will return to race-winning ways sooner rather than later.

    I am really pleased with the contract extension. We have the best people and I’m excited to keep working together with everyone to get back to the top again. This remains the ultimate goal that all of us have been working towards and will continue to pursue. I want to thank Red Bull, Laurent and everyone at Oracle Red Bull Racing for the trust they put in me. I have always said it: The team is like a second family for me and I feel very at home. I came to the team hoping to be able to win races. What we went on to achieve together has been simply lovely and we have shared many incredible moments and won four World Championships. To continue this journey with the same team that I have been with my whole career is really special and something I have always wanted to do. Getting to work with Laurent now for over a year has also been great, I see a clear vision he has for the team. Everyone in Milton Keynes believes in what we are building and I am looking forward to the next chapter, fighting for more victories and competing for championships as we continue to shape the future of this team.
    Verstappen on the news.

    Having Max continue with us and retaining the best driver on the grid is fantastic news for everyone at Red Bull, Oracle Red Bull Racing, as well as F1 and motorsport as a whole. Very few partnerships in sport achieve what Max and this team have. Since the very beginning, Max has embodied everything that makes Oracle Red Bull Racing special: uncompromising competitiveness, relentless determination and the courage to challenge convention. His impact on our team and on Red Bull’s motorsport story has been transformational, and he has been fundamental to everything we have accomplished together. The decision to continue our journey together is rooted in the trust Max and the team have built over many years, as well as Max’s confidence in our people, our culture and our vision for the future. Forged through championship-winning success, intense battles and challenging moments alike, this relationship has only grown stronger – making it one of Formula One’s greatest success stories. But we are not done yet. There are more races to win, more milestones to achieve and more history to write. Together, we continue to raise the bar with the same determination that brought us to the top of the sport and an even greater faith in what we can achieve. Much will evolve as we move forward, but our ambition remains unchanged – united by one direction, one vision, one team.
    Mekies on signing Verstappen.

  • Sainz agrees new multi-year contract with Williams

    Carlos Sainz has agreed a new multi-year contract with Williams, one day on from the news that Alex Albon is also set to stay at the team for 2027.

    Sainz arrived at Williams in 2025 following his departure from Ferrari – and while the Spaniard was no longer in the fight for race wins, he went on to collect two Grand Prix podiums for the Grove-based team during a season in which they climbed up to P5 in the Teams’ Championship.

    The 2026 campaign has been more challenging so far for the team, but Sainz will continue with Williams after agreeing a new multi-year contract as the team aim to bounce back from their struggles and make progress towards their goal of competing at the front of the field.

    Sainz has been open about the setbacks that have led to him settling for six points so far this season, achieving his best result of 9th in the early rounds held in China, Miami and Canada.

    He will therefore be hopeful that Williams’ next upgrade package, set to be introduced at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, will put them in contention for more consistent top 10 finishes throughout the second half of the year and into 2027.

    I’m thrilled to announce my continued journey with the Atlassian Williams F1 Team family. I truly believe in the people that form this team, both at the factory and at the racetracks, and the investments and hard work that are happening in the background. We have what it takes to turn this around together. I’m as committed as I was on day one to helping get Williams back to where it belongs, and I look forward to creating more memories with the team.
    Sainz on the news.

    From the moment he joined, Carlos’ talent behind the steering wheel and dedication back at the factory have been extremely valuable for this project – working day in, day out with his engineers to find every millisecond. He is a leader of this team, and I’m thrilled that he can see what’s possible as we continue to rebuild it. It’s not just his racecraft and speed that stand out, but the work he does behind the scenes in the pursuit of high performance. Carlos shares the belief and ambition we have at Atlassian Williams F1 Team and is pushing every day to deliver it. Along with Alex, I truly believe we have one of the strongest line-ups on the grid, and a team capable of fighting for every ounce of performance together.
    Vowles on the news.

  • Williams confirm Albon for 2027

    Williams have confirmed that Alex Albon will continue to race for the team in 2027, extending his record-breaking stay with the team.

    Albon first joined Williams back in 2022 following a year on the sidelines as a reserve driver for Red Bull, and the Thai driver has since gone on to be a part of the Grove-based team’s mission to return to the top, a journey that saw them climb up to P5 in last year’s Teams’ Championship.

    While it has been a tougher season for the team so far in 2026, Albon has reaffirmed his commitment and will again drive for Williams into 2027.

    It comes after Albon became the driver to record the most starts for Williams at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, his 96th race with the historic outfit – overtaking previous record holder Nigel Mansell in the process.

    The 30 year old then achieved another milestone when he reached his 100th Grand Prix with Williams four rounds later in Hungary.

    Albon currently sits in P16 of the drivers’ standings on five points, while Williams are down in ninth place of the Teams Championship following a challenging start to the campaign.
    However, with an upgrade package planned for Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the team will be hoping for better during the second half of the season.

    Since joining Atlassian Williams F1 Team in 2022, the transformation this team has made is difficult to put into words. One tough year doesn’t tell the full picture, and it only gives me more motivation to keep building and pushing together with the factory and our fans to achieve great things. Our story is not over yet, so my full focus now is on doing whatever it takes to get us back up the grid.
    Albon on the news.

    I am delighted that Alex and Atlassian Williams F1 Team are continuing our extraordinary journey together. Alex has been a leader of this transformation project since day one and we have plenty of unfinished business that we are determined to achieve. Alex is one of the best drivers on the grid and knows better than anyone the enormous improvements we have made in recent years – re-signing him shows the belief we both have in the direction we are heading.
    James Vowles on the news.

  • Nato to leave Nissan

    Norman Nato and the team have confirmed he’ll leave Nissan and likely Formula E, for now – following the end of the 2025/26 campaign.

    The Frenchman exits the team after a two season spell with the Japanese manufacturer.

    Nato first made his Formula E debut in 2021 with ROKiT Venturi Racing, capping his rookie campaign with a victory in Berlin.
    Following a reserve role with Jaguar and strong WEC outings, he secured full-time seats with Nissan (Season 9) and Andretti (Season 10), claiming podiums in Rome and Shanghai.

    Back with Nissan in Season 11, Nato demonstrated front-running pace by taking pole position in Miami.
    The 34 year old secured 20 points during the 2025/26 season and finished overall 19th in the Drivers’ table.

    I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone at Nissan Formula E Team. I’ve had three great years with the team and we’ve shared lots of good moments together. Thank you to all the engineers, mechanics and everyone behind the scenes for all the hard work and support. While I now move on to focus on another chapter in my career, I’ve really enjoyed my time in Formula E, both on the track and around the paddock, and I’m happy to have been part of this championship. It’s goodbye for now, but I hope to see everyone again soon. I’ve had three great years with the team and we’ve shared lots of good moments together. Thank you to all the engineers, mechanics and everyone behind the scenes for all the hard work and support. While I now move on to focus on another chapter in my career, I’ve really enjoyed my time in Formula E, both on the track and around the paddock, and I’m happy to have been part of this championship. It’s goodbye for now, but I hope to see everyone again soon.
    Nato on the news.

  • Gunther confirms DS Penske exit

    Maximilian Gunther has announced that he’ll be leaving DS Penske following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.

    After initially serving as a Reserve Driver, Gunther made his full time Formula E debut with Dragon in Season 5.
    Moving to BMW i Andretti Motorsport for Season 6, he became Formula E youngest’s race winner with victories in Santiago and Berlin.

    Following a brief stint with Nissan e.dams, he joined Maserati MSG Racing for Seasons 9 and 10, claiming multiple podiums and wins in Jakarta and Tokyo.

    The German moved to DS Penske for Gen3 Evo and made history by taking the first-ever PIT BOOST victory and leading home a team 1-2 finish in Shanghai after teammate Jean-Eric Vergne’s last lap heroics.

    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.

    Joining the series in Season 2, the marque secured four titles, 19 victories and 55 podiums across 151 races.
    Taylor Barnard ensured the team signed off in style with a finale victory in London.

    The Brit became the youngest ever race winner in Formula E history at 22 years and 76 days with his penultimate lap move on Nyck de Vries for the win in Round 17.

  • F2 – RND 11 – Day 2 & 3

    Sprint Race-

    Miyata had a great start and took the lead before Turn 1 ahead of Fittipaldi. Noel Leon held on to P3 ahead of van Hoepen who, alongside Gabriele Mini and Mari Boya, started on the soft tyres, while the rest chose Hards.

    There were plenty of battles, as Rafael Camara overtook Dino Beganovic for seventh at Turn 5 while Alexander Dunne dived to the inside of Roman Bilinski for P8 at Turn 8.

    The Safety Car was called upon at the end of the lap. Kush Maini and Nico Varrone had contact at Turn 7 which sent the Van Amersfoort Racing driver spinning into the barrier.

    Elsewhere, Sebastian Montoya and John Bennett collided at the opening corner. Both drivers came back into the pitlane, and while the former continued on, the latter retired with damage.

    Racing resumed on Lap 5 of 23, with Dunne looking to make a move. The Rodin Motorsport driver went to the outside of Camara at Turn 5, but his Invicta Racing rival held on.

    The Irishman tried the same move on the next lap but again found the door shut.

    Further ahead, van Hoepen was keen to make his tyre advantage count, and the Trident driver dived to the inside of Leon at Turn 13 but could not make it stick.

    Van Hoepen then dived to the inside of Leon at the Turn 5 chicane on Lap 9. The Campos driver reclaimed the position at Turn 8, but having gone off track, he was told to give the place back to the Trident a couple of laps later.

    Leon was struggling and his teammate Tsolov tried to take advantage with a move past at Turn 1 on Lap 13. He held him off, but their fighting was bringing Martinius Stenshorne, Camara, Dunne and Boya into the mix.

    Fittipaldi had closed to within 1.1s of Miyata, but van Hoepen was almost half a second quicker, as he set the fastest lap of the race.

    Tsolov, having been on the radio calling for Campos to let him go and catch van Hoepen, tried a move at Turn 5. But as he went off the track to get ahead, the Bulgarian gave Leon back the place.

    Unfortunately for the Red Bull Junior, his day was over a few corners later. A slight brush with the wall at Turn 20 spun him into a stoppage, bringing out the Safety Car.

    With Tsolov’s car cleared, Miyata led the field to green on Lap 18, with van Hoepen immediately putting Fittipaldi under pressure.

    The Hitech driver was in good form, having pulled out of a 1.3s lead and set the fastest lap of the race.

    Van Hoepen had DRS and was within 0.3s of Fittipaldi on Lap 20, but the Brazilian was doing well to hold on to P2.
    Miyata however was in a league of his own, driving away from the rest to win by 2.6s – giving Hitech their first victory since the 2025 Baku Sprint Race.

    Feature Race-

    It was a great start from pole for Beganovic, while Dunne retained P2 ahead of Rafael Camara, despite locking up into Turn 1.

    Behind them, Nikola Tsolov, who was the lead driver to start on the hard tyre, was sitting in fifth but coming under pressure from Roman Bilinski.

    The Safety Car was signalled with Kush Maini in the barrier at Turn 8 after a collision with Cian Shields. The AIX Racing driver was given a 10 second time penalty for his part in the incident.

    Racing resumed on Lap 7 with Trident bringing Laurens van Hoepen into the pitlane from P8. Mari Boya and Van Amersfoort Racing duo Nico Varrone and Rafael Villagomez also came in for their mandatory stop.

    Noel Leon then got past Bilinski for P6 at Turn 1, while Gabriele Mini dived to the inside of teammate Oliver Goethe for ninth at Turn 13.

    The Italian attempted the same move on Miyata on Lap 10 but ran too deep, allowing the Hitech driver to retain eighth.

    At the end of the next lap, Leon was the first of the front runners to come into the pitlane. He put on the hard tyre and lost out to Boya, who was flying on the softs, at the exit.
    The Mexican driver then went side-by-side with John Bennett through La Monumental but kept the position.

    Stenshorne and Tsolov were in from P4 and P5 on Lap 14, and while the Rodin driver stayed ahead, the Bulgarian lost out to Boya, although he was able to fire up his soft tyres to overcut Camara.

    Oliver Goethe was next to pit from P8 and came out right in front of Boya and Tsolov, just as they were fighting for position. As they went three-wide into Turn 5, the Campos driver ran off track, but as he filtered out, he lost the place to Camara.

    Boya then made his way past the MP driver at La Monumental, with Camara now sizing up a move on Goethe.
    The two went side-by-side through Turn 1 at the start of Lap 18 but Goethe wound up in the barrier at the exit of Turn 2. This brought out the Safety Car while Camara was give a 10 second time penalty.

    At the same time, Bennett pulled over to the side of the road with an issue with the marshals also having to clear his Trident.

    This stoppage allowed the drivers who had not pitted to come in for their mandatory stop, all gaining an advantage and making up the top six positions ahead of Stenshorne.

    Racing resumed on Lap 22 of 32 as Beganovic started to pull away from Dunne. Mini made a move past Stenshorne for seventh, once again at his favoured Turn 15.

    Camara was keen to get a move on and went past Boya with the help of DRS into Turn 5, while Tsolov followed him through on the next lap.

    The race was now running to time and with just under seven minutes, Dunne brought the gap to Beganovic down to one second, but the Swede responded with the fastest lap to extend the lead to 2.2s.

    Further behind them, Fittipaldi was holding on to P4 as Duerksen put him under pressure. The Paraguayan tried a move at Turn 15, but the AIX driver held on.

    Tsolov then lost P10 to Bilinski, with the DAMS driver using the DRS to get ahead into Turn 5. Duerksen’s pressure on Fittipaldi finally told with Invicta making a neat move on the brakes into Turn 13.

    Tsolov’s day was going from bad to worse as he lost more places to Boya, Leon, van Hoepen and Montoya all overtaking him on the penultimate lap.

    But out in front, Beganovic was in supreme form, winning for the first time this season. Dunne was second ahead of Miyata.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DdOWxs5lO7Z/?stkn=ODc1MmZmemV3MXh5

  • F3 – RND 9 – Day 1

    Practice-

    Jin Nakamura started the Madrid weekend fastest of all for Hitech. The Japanese driver recorded a 1:49.835 in the final minutes of the session to lead compatriot Taito Kato for ART Grand Prix by a tenth.
    Van Amersfoort Racing’s Enzo Deligny completed the top three.

    Kato was the first to set a time in the session, with the ART driver leading an early 1-2-3 for the French team on a 1:52.026.

    The Japanese driver lowered his time to a 1:52.026 which was then bettered by Tuukka Taponen by just 0.037s.

    Kato then returned to the top with 15 minutes to run on a 1:51.567 before title contender Ugochukwu went fastest with a 1:51.192.

    The Campos Racing driver was flying on his next lap as he shaved off over half a second on his next attempt to lead the pack on a 1:50.587 with teammate Ernesto Rivera in P2.

    Championship leader Freddie Slater replied with 20 minutes to go, lowering the benchmark effort to a 1:50.453.

    Pedro Clerot had an earlier time good enough for P3 deleted, but he restored himself to the top three with just over 15 minutes to go with Taponen and then Rodin Motorsport teammate Brando Badoer in the top five.

    Kato then went quickest once again, 0.060s ahead of Slater’s time, before Fionn McLaughlin went just behind Clerot for Hitech in fifth.

    Ugochukwu logged on a 1:50.268 on his next lap to return to the top, before title rival Slater bettered that by just 0.072s.

    Into the final five minutes and Enzo Deligny went to P2 just 0.069s off top spot before the next set of improvements arrived.

    Kato lowered his best to a 1:49.936 to go P1, as Ugochukwu finished 0.064s down on that time in P2, 0.002s ahead of Rivera, with Slater fourth.

    Nakamura then went quickest in the final minute, with Deligny moving himself back to third just as the Red Flag was thrown.
    A crash for Nicola Lacorte in the final seconds brought out the practice to a close, with the DAMS Lucas Oil driver OK after tagging the barriers at the exit of Turn 9.

    Qualifying-

    Qualifying 1
    Kato was the first driver to cross the line and completed a 1:51.127. But no one else could match the ART driver with Alex Powell 0.161s behind in second.

    It was not good news for Trident, with Noah Stromsted’s sidepod coming loose after contact on the warmup lap with Kanato Le, while Slater complained of issues with the car.

    On the second set of laps, Kato improved to a 1:50.547, with Jin Nakamura 0.218s behind in P2.

    The Japanese drivers were demoted a position moments later when Rodin Motorsport’s Clerot went quickest on a 1:50.547.

    In the battle for the title Slater was down in P11. The Championship leader was still complaining of issues with his car.

    Trident brought their driver in and fitted him with a new set of hard tyres, while the rest of the field continued on.

    Kato improved to a 1:50.535 to eclipse Clerot by 0.012s as Ugochukwu went to P4. Slater, despite the new rubber, came on the radio to complain of issues on his Trident.

    Elsewhere, Brando Badoer’s session looked to be over after he hit the barrier, with Rodin left in a race against time to fix his left rear suspension ahead of qualifying 2.

    Out on track, Kato could not improve on his final lap of Q1. But neither could his rivals, leaving him on pole for Feature Race 1, with Clerot settling for P2 ahead of Taponen.

    Qualifying 2
    After a short break the drivers were back out on track. This included Slater with Trident having worked to fix his car in the break between the sessions.

    The British driver looked to be back in the groove as he completed a 1:49.972 to go fastest, with Ugochukwu in second, over half a second behind his title rival.

    Clerot and Badoer, who was back out on track wit his car fixed, went up to second and third, although Nakamura split the Rodin duo moments later.

    On the second set of laps, Kato jumped up to P1 only for Ugochukwu to demote him to P2 moments later with a 1:49.901.

    Clerot continued his strong form to take over at the top with a 1:49.830. Slater, having set the fastest first sector, locked up on the entry to Turn 5, leaving him fifth.

    Ugochukwu then reclaimed P1 with a 1:49.771 as Slater aborted his lap and returned to the pit lane. Clerot finished his next lap to go to P2, 0.069s off the Campos driver.

    On the final lap of the day, Taponen went quickest on a 1:49.750. Ugochukwu came across the line but could not improve and stayed second.

    Behind them, Clerot had been on for a fast lap, but he pushed too hard at the final corner, winding up in the barriers, bringing the session to an end.

    This left Taponen on pole for Feature Race 2 ahead of Ugochukwu and Clerot.

  • F2 – RND 11 – Day 1

    Practice-

    Campos Racing’s Nikola Tsolov made a strong start to his Madrid weekend by topping the timesheets in Free Practice.

    The Championship leader set the pace with a 1:47.059 to lead Van Amersfoort Racing duo Nico Varrone and Rafael Villagomez.

    Tsolov was the early pacesetter on 1:50.065, but he soon found himself in P2 with Invicta Racing’s Joshua Duerksen going quickest by over six-tenths.

    Kush Maini then took over at the top with a 1:49.120, but soon after his ART Grand Prix teammate Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak found the barrier at the exit of Turn 19.

    The Thai driver was out of the car and ok. With the track cleared, running resumed with over six minutes to go after the session was extended.

    Alexander Dunne went to P1 on a 1:48.286 with Dino Beganovic following him across the line to go P2.
    The DAMS Lucas Oil driver was just 0.033s off the leading time.

    Moments later, Tsolov returned to the top with a 1:48.245, before improving to a 1:47.059 on his next lap, with Nico Varrone 0.110s behind.

    Maini briefly went quickest at the chequered flag but lost his time for exceeding track limits, just as Laurens van Hoepen found the barrier at Turn 13, bringing out the yellow flags at the session’s end.

    Tsolov finished in P1 ahead of VAR duo of Varrone and Rafael Villagomez.

    Qualifying-

    Dino Beganovic was in superb form to earn the Aramco Pole Position Award, his first since the opening round of the 2026 campaign.

    The DAMS Lucas Oil driver was a consistent presence at the top of the times, delivering a 1:44.331 to take the first ever FIA Formula 2 pole in Madrid. He beat Alexander Dunne and Rafael Camara to top spot.

    On the first set of push laps, ART Grand Prix’s Kush Maini suffered a spin ahead of Turn 15 and hit the wall to bring out the Red Flags.

    In a separate incident, Sebastian Montoya tagged the barriers in his PREMA Racing car to sustain suspension damage. Maini was out of his car and OK while the Colombian recovered to pit lane entry.

    The session resumed with 23 minutes remaining, and everyone eager to record a banker lap.

    Nikola Tsolov was the early pacesetter, going quickest on a 1:46.328 for Campos Racing, with Dunne P2 for Rodin Motorsport, 0.002s down on the leading effort.

    The second Red Flag arrived as Nico Varrone found the barrier at Turn 18 in the Van Amersfoort Racing. He was out of the car and OK, but everyone else returned to the pit lane while his car was recovered.

    Running resumed with 18 minutes left on the clock and once again, there was a rush to get another lap in.

    Dunne took top spot by almost a full second as the track continued to improve. Trident’s Laurens van Hoepen went up to P2 nearly eight tenths off top spot.

    Beganovic then delivered a 1:45.182 to secure P1 by 0.2s over Dunne, with teammate Roman Bilinski going third fastest with little over 11 minutes remaining.

    The Swede found another chunk of time with eight minutes to go, setting a 1:44.578 to extend his advantage to eight-tenths of a second over his closest challenger in Dunne.

    A third Red Flag arrived with just over five minutes remaining, with John Bennett in the barriers. The Trident driver was OK, but his car needed clearing from Turn 11.

    Running resumed once more with 05:28 on the clock and time for one last run.
    Personal best sectors were flying in, and Dunne pipped Beganovic to take top spot briefly until the Swede finished his latest lap, lowering the time to be a 1:44.331.

    Despite a big oversteer moment at the final corner, Invicta Racing’s Camara jumped up to third having been outside the top 10 prior to crossing the line.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DdJlXWOpBCr/?stkn=b2w4ZndtZmpmcDg1

  • Williams reveal special edition livery

    Williams will mark Formula 1’s return to Madrid by racing a special edition livery inspired by the colours of their 1981 championship-winning FW07C, which was the car the team raced the last time the sport competed in the Spanish capital.

    The livery, which will adorn the cars of home hero Carlos Sainz and his team mate Alex Albon, features a white, green and navy blue colourway in a nod to the 1981 design that was raced by Alan Jones and Carlos Reutemann at Madrid’s Circuito de Jarama.

    Williams say the design showcases how they are using the knowledge, methods and lessons of the past to inspire their fight back to the front.

    Sainz will be competing in his 13th Spanish Grand Prix but first in Madrid – the city where he was born, raised and began his motor racing career.
    He and team mate Alex Albon will be searching for the team’s first points since Albon took eighth in Monaco, eight Grand Prix weekends ago.

    The British team, who finished a superb fifth last year, currently sit ninth in the Teams’ Championship on 11 points, five adrift of Audi.

    Our mission to get back to the front of the grid is drawn from, inspired by and informed by everything we’ve done before. I am incredibly proud to celebrate that through [title sponsor] Atlassian’s special livery, connecting the team we were at Jarama with the team we are becoming today through focused collaboration, improved technological innovation, and real creativity. The car looks fantastic, and I cannot wait to see it lapping around Madrid.
    Vowles on the car.

  • Lawson to stick at Red Bull for third race

    Red Bull will continue to field Liam Lawson alongside Max Verstappen at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, with Isack Hadjar still recovering from a wrist injury.

    Lawson initially stepped in for Hadjar at Zandvoort, and remained in his place at Monza, while Yuki Tsunoda returned to take over the New Zealander’s Racing Bulls seat.

    On Monday, Red Bull announced that Hadjar – who injured his wrist while training over the summer break – will remain on the sidelines for F1’s first visit to the new Madring track.

    Tsunoda, meanwhile, remains alongside Arvid Lindblad with the sister Racing Bull’s team.

    Lawson has finished the last two races with Red Bull in P7 and P14 respectively, while Tsunoda has recorded P11 and P10 results.

    After racing for the team in Zandvoort and Monza, Liam will continue to drive alongside Max at this week’s Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. The decision has been taken as Isack’s recovery continues to progress positively. While he is not yet ready to return to the cockpit, he will be in Madrid supporting the team. Everyone at Oracle Red Bull Racing looks forward to welcoming Isack back behind the wheel very soon.
    A statement from Red Bull.

  • Buemi & Eriksson to leave Envision Racing

    It’s all change at Envision Racing as the team confirm the departure of Sebastien Buemi and Joel Eriksson at the end of the season.

    2015/16 Formula E Champion, Sebastien Buemi joined the British team at the start of then Gen3 era, bringing with him considerable experience and one of the most impressive stats sheets in the Formula E paddock.

    Despite not being able to replicate his title winning ways from seasons past, the Swiss driver still managed to achieve at least one podium before per season – his best result with the team being victory at the 2025 Monaco E-Prix.

    This season, Buemi was joined in the Envision driver line-up by Formula E rookie, Joel Eriksson. Despite being a newcomer to the championship, the Swedish-born racer has quietly put together a respectable points haul this season, even achieving a podium at the 2026 Shanghai E-Prix, Round 13.

  • Round 13 – Italian Grand Prix

    Kimi Antonelli rose from the rear of the grid to claim victory in Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, capping off a brilliant comeback drive by passing Mercedes team mate and title rival George Russell in the closing laps.

    Antonelli started his home race down in 19th position after an engine penalty, with Russell on the front row of the grid, but the youngster rapidly climbed to the front of the field via a devastating blend of raw pace and smart overtaking.

    A mid-race Virtual Safety Car played its part in the outcome, when Antonelli opted to pit under caution for a fresh set of medium tyres, and Russell stayed out on used hards, which gradually faded and made his life more difficult.

    Aside from a brief trip through the gravel as he attacked Russell late on, Antonelli could not be faulted across 53 laps at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza – making another huge statement in his quest for the 2026 world title.

    Russell had to settle for second place, crossing the line some four seconds behind Antonelli, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completed the podium finishers in a determined display that also featured serveral bold passes.

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

    What a result for Antonelli! Coming from 19th to finish P1, if that’s not a championship drive, I don’t know what is. At his home Grand Prix as well! Doesn’t get much better than that.
    It was a 1-2 for the Mercedes duo, a decent race from Russell, a shame he couldn’t turn it into the win but I don’t think there was anything stopping Antonelli!

    Third for Verstappen, a great race for the Red Bull driver, which meant a good haul of points after crashing out at his home grand prix the race weekend prior.
    As for his teammate, Lawson finished 14th – a tough weekend for him.

    4th for Norris and 5th for Piastri, a good set of points for the McLaren duo, just missing out on the podium which is unfortunate for the team, but they did well considering how many challenges they had to get through this weekend.

    Heartbreak for the Tifosi, Hamilton finished in sixth and Leclerc crashed out on Lap 2. Not an ideal weekend at all for the home hereo’s they will be looking forward to the next race weekend.

    P7 for the pole sitter, Pierre Gasly, a decent effort from him, he knew that he wouldn’t be able to fight the whole race with the surrounding teams, he did however, give the drivers around him a good fight!
    What makes it that bit sweeter, P9 for Colapinto, a shame for him how it played out in the race, but points are points!

    And to round out the points paying position, double points for Racing Bulls, 8th for Lindblad and 10th for Tsunoda, his first point since being back on the grid.

    Now we look towards the next race weekend, which is this weekend, as for the first time we head to Madrid, for the Spanish Grand Prix and take on a whole new track!

  • F3 – RND 8 – Day 1

    Practice-

    Alessandro Giusti led the way for MP Motorsport at the Monza Free Practice, topping the timesheets with a 1:37.445.

    Tuukka Taponen set the early benchmark of a 1:40.020, with his MP teammate Giusti half a second behind in P2. Noah Stromsted then reduced the gap to Taponen to 0.337s as PREMA Racing debutant Alex Powell went up to P3.

    Hitech’s Jin Nakamura then took over at the top but was quickly demoted to P2 by Mattia Colnaghi, who completed a 1:39.467.

    The times were starting to pour in quickly as Hiyu Yamakoshi went to within 0.064s off Colnaghi. However, on his next lap, Taponen regained top spot with a 1:39.150.

    Title hopeful Ugo Ugochukwu then went quickest on a 1:38.883, putting him 0.108s clear of AIX Racing’s Yevan David.

    But Taponen was once again showing his strong pace as he went back to P1, this time on a 1:38.444, as Taito Kato followed him across the line to go to second, albeit 0.405s behind.

    Taponen improved to a 1:38.437 but his lead was reduced with Van Amersfoort Racing’s Yamakoshi just 0.088s behind in P2.

    With just over 14 minutes to go in the session, the teams fitted the Soft tyre on their cars as they prepared for some qualifying simulation laps.

    The drivers returned to the track with less than 10 minutes left of Practice, with Campos Racing’s Ernesto Rivera going quickest on a 1:37.901.

    MP were showing great form as Giusti set the Formula 3 lap record around Monza with a 1:37.445 to lead teammate Taponen by 0.232s.

    Colnaghi then made it a 1-2-3 for the Dutch team at the chequered flag, just as Ugochukwu and Matteo de Palo made contact down the main straight, leaving both cars by the side of the road with damage.

    That brought an end to a strong session for MP with Giusti ahead of Taponen and Colnaghi.

    Qualifying-

    Group A-
    It was a slow start to the session but the drivers started to venture out with five minutes to go.

    This gave most of them time for just one flying lap, with Hiyu Yamakoshi fastest on a 1:38.261. Taito Kato was just 0.014s behind but ahead of Fernando Barrichello in P3.

    Critically, title contender Ugo Ugochukwu had a wide moment at Turn 1. Unfortunately for the Campos Racing driver he had no time to start another lap, having taken the chequered flag.

    Matteo de Palo was one of the few who was able to get a second lap, and he went P1 with a 1:38.143, beating Kanato Le to provisional pole by 0.020s.

    Kato wound up third ahead of Yamakoshi and Barrichello.
    With the final runs complete, Ugochukwu wound up in P10, leaving him with an uphill task for both races.

    Group B-
    De Palo’s 1:38.143 was the time to beat and just like the previous group, the drivers stayed in the pitlane until the final few minutes of the session.

    They all had time for just one flying lap and it was Freddie Slater that shone the brightest with a 1:38.114, beating Nicola Lacorte by 0.236s.

    Ernesto Rivera was third ahead of MP Motorsport duo Alessandro Giusti and Mattia Colnaghi as Pedro Clerot rounded out the top 6.

    Slater’s time was good enough to take pole position ahead of his Trident teammate De Palo, with Lacorte set to start P3.

  • Round 13 – Monza Qualifying

    Alpine driver Pierre Gasly earned a brilliant first-ever F1 pole position at the Italian Grand Prix, edging out Mercedes’ George Russell and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in a pulsating Qualifying session around the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

    Gasly, who claimed his maiden F1 win at the Temple of Speed back in 2020, featured towards the front of the times throughout Saturday’s Qualifying hour, as the Frenchman and his recently updated, Mercedes-powered car shone.

    Sitting third to Russell and Piastri after the opening Q3 runs, Gasly sent shockwaves through the paddock when he pumped in a time of 1m 21.786s on his final lap – launching ahead of his Mercedes and McLaren rivals in the process.

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

    However Antonelli will be starting at the back of the grid, due to his engine penalty and as well, Piastri has been given a 3 place grid penalty, due to impeding Liam Lawson during the qualifying session.

    So the starting 10 looks a little different to how they qualified, P1: Gasly, P2: Russell, P3: Leclerc, P4: Hamilton, P5: Verstappen, P6: Piastri, P7: Colapinto, P8: Norris, P9: Lindblad and P10: Bortoleto.

    What a result for Piereeee Gaslyyyyyyyyyy!!! Honestly so so so happy for him! He deserves this so much, especially after the news of him losing his Monaco Grand Prix podium. Let’s see what he can do in the race!

    P2 for Russell, a very decent result for the Brit! And it’s good to see Antonelli helping him out, seeing as his got a penalty himself. It will be interesting to see how he gets on battling through the field.

    A great result for the Ferrari duo, 3rd and 4th lining up on the grid, hopefully they can battle for the win/ and maybe a podium or two at their home grand prix!

    A decent result for Max Verstappen! He can do a lot from 5th position and he will be looking at the potential of a podium!

    Unfortunate for Piastri to get a penalty but 6th isn’t too bad, and he clearly has pace this weekend to qualify third. As for his teammate, a bit of a mixed weekend for Norris, starting 8th, he will have a bit of work to do to get into a good points position.

    7th for Colapinto, his highest starting position, he will be looking to score points at the Temple of Speed!

  • Browning to drive for Williams in FP1

    Williams have announced that reserve driver Luke Browning will take part in FP1 at the Italian Grand Prix, stepping for Alex Albon.

    The Briton joined the Williams Driver Academy in 2023 and has made multiple appearances for the team as part of their mandated rookie running, beginning with FP1 at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

    Since then, he has driven in a further four practice sessions and was promoted to the role of reserve driver at the start of 2026, balancing his team duties with a campaign in Japan’s Super Formula.

    Browning was initially scheduled, to get behind the wheel of FW48 in both Barcelona and Austria this season, and while an electrical issue forced him to sit out of the former, he place P18 in FP1 at the Red Bull Ring with a deficit of three-tenths to Albon.

    Under F1’s regulation, every full-time driver is required to step aside for a rookie – defined as someone who has started no more than two Grands Prix – in two practice sessions across the season.

    The 24 year old has completed important work on the simulator in what has been a tough year for Williams, with late development and a distinct lack of pace causing them to linger towards the back of the field.

    I’m thrilled to have another chance to drive an FP1 session with Atlassian Williams F1 Team. It’s a great opportunity to get invaluable laps in the FW48 while building my understanding of the car and helping to bring useful data and feedback back to Grove. Each session teaches you something new, and I want to take every bit of learning I can from this to keep pushing my development and the team forward. For this weekend, it’s about supporting Williams to help maximise the result here in Monza.
    Browning on the news.

  • Aron set for next FP1 run with Alpine

    Alpine have confirmed that reserve driver Paul Aron will participate in another Free Practice 1 outing for the team at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.

    Aron has previously been in action during three practice sessions so far in 2026, with the first in Barcelona and Austria being with Audi as part of an agreement between the two teams.

    The Estonian went on to drive for Alpine in Hungary and will again get behind the wheel of the A526 when Friday’s track running kicks off in Monza, sitting in for Pierre Gasly.

    From there Aron will embark on a busy weekend, as he will head back to the team’s Enstone base for simulator work in the evening after his FP1 run in order to help with fine-tuning the car’s set up.

    I am looking forward to driving again in Free Practice 1 with the team this weekend. I am grateful to the team for giving me the opportunity to get back behind the wheel so soon. I was very pleased with my session in Budapest, and I hope to build on it this time around, particularly helping the team compare our latest upgrade package which I have driven in the simulator. It’s going to be a busy weekend for me as I’ll be on the simulator at Enstone on Friday night to further help the team fine tune the set-up before returning to the track on Saturday. I’ll give it my all to hopefully assist the team in having a successful weekend.
    Aron on the FP1 appearance.

  • Lawson to replace Hadjar again

    Red Bull has confirmed that Liam Lawson will again replace Isack Hadjar at Red Bull for the Italian Grand Prix weekend as the Frenchman continues his recovery from a wrist injury.

    Lawson stepped in at the Milton Keynes based outfit last time out in Zandvoort, where he took home points for the team in P7 on race day.

    Now the New Zealander will get a second opportunity with the the team as Hadjar is set to sit out another round while his rehabilitation continues.

    Yuki Tsunoda, meanwhile, is set to fill Lawson’s Racing Bulls seat for a second weekend, giving the Japanese driver another outing after losing his spot on the grid at the end of 2025.

    Tsunoda spoke positively about his experience after returning to action at the Dutch Grand Prix having only just missed out on a point in P11.

    Liam will drive alongside Max Verstappen at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, while Isack continues to make encouraging progress following the wrist injury sustained during the summer break. The team is closely monitoring his rehabilitation and will take no unnecessary risks with his return to competition and wishes him a speedy recovery.
    A statement from Red Bull.

  • Ferrari reveal Schumacher-Inspired livery

    Ferrari have presented a special one-off livery for their home race at Monza, paying tribute to seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher.

    It is now 30 years since the German joined the Scuderia, and 20 years since his final victory with the team – scored at the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix.

    As well as claiming five of his world titles with the Maranello-based team, Schumacher bagged five Monza wins in red (1996, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006).

    Heading into the weekend, Ferrari revealed bespoke race suits that will be worn by current drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, featuring Schumacher’s logo and the seven stars he used to carry on his helmet to signify his seven titles.

    Ferrari explained that this week’s wide-ranging tributes are inspired by Schumacher’s “impact on the racing world” and “his enduring mindset”.

  • Cadillac announce Budkowski as new Team Principal

    Cadillac have announced that former Alpine boss Marcin Budkowski will become the new Team Principal of the American team.

    Budkowski previously acted as Executive Director of the Alpine team until his exit in 2022, having previously joined from the FIA in 2018. He has since been working as a television pundit in his native Poland.

    As well as holding roles with Alpine and the FIA, Budkwsoki also worked with teams including Prost, Ferrari and McLaren, with his experience spanning engineering and leadership.

    Now Budkowski will return to the paddock in his new position, marking a change in leadership for Cadillac as the team prepare for the second half of their maiden campaign in Formula 1.

    Graeme Lowdon has previously acted as Team Principal at the team.
    The appointment comes as part of a “planned leadership transition” Cadillac have said, as the organisation “evolves from its initial build phase into the next stage of racing performance”.

    Marcin’s appointment marks another important step in the continued evolution of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team. From the beginning, our goal has not been simply to participate in Formula 1, but to build a next-generation team capable of competing at the very front. As we enter this new era for the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, Marcin brings exceptional F1 experience, technical expertise and strategic leadership that will strengthen our organisation and help us develop the winning mindset, tools and processes required for long-term success. We’re grateful to Graeme Lowdon for his leadership and the role he played in forming the Cadillac Formula 1 Team from the ground up. His contributions helped establish a strong foundation in our build-up phase, and we thank him for his commitment and wish him well.
    Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac.

    Cadillac Formula 1 Team has an extraordinary foundation and ambition. This is a phase of huge opportunity for the team, one that will be defined by a clear objective: maximising car development within the cost cap and turning every team function on to compete. That means building an elite organisation with a winning mindset – driven, relentless in the face of setbacks, obsessed with detail and process, and able to execute with precision on race day. My focus will be on aligning our people, tools and information flow so the right decisions are made quickly, and the performance of the car improves every time we go racing. It is a privilege to be leading Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s on-track efforts, starting in Zandvoort next weekend.
    Budkowski on the news.