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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
Formula E and the FIA have announced an update to the 2026/27 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship calendar, with the 2027 Monaco E-Prix now scheduled to take place on 1st and 2nd May 2027.
This date change, which moves the event from the originally scheduled 15th & 16th May, serves to accommodate the country’s events calendars and removes a scheduling clash with the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
Furthermore, Formula E and the ACM are delighted to confirm a long-term commitment to the Prinicipality, extending their agreement to hos the Monaco E-Prix until 2030.
This extension marks a landmark chapter in the partnership between Formula E and Monaco. From its modest beginnings as a biennial event, the E-Prix has grown into an annual cornerstone of the calendar, competing on the legendary full-length track shared with other single seater series.
The 22 year old Frenchman will make his Formula E debut next season, at the start of the Gen4 era.
Despite his young age, Pourchaire has already made a name for himself in the motorsport world, winning the FIA Formula 2 title in 2023. Since then, he has raced in Indycar, the European Le Mans Series and the FIA World Endurance Championship, as well as taking up a driver development role in Formula 1.
And although the 2026/27 Formula E season will mark his debut campaign in the championship, Pourchaire’s skill and growing experience behind the wheel of all-electric machinery has been on display in rookie tests, including this year’s Miami Rookie Free Practice session and Madrid Rookie Test Pourchaire impressed many in the paddock with his performance in Miami, after finishing the session in P2, just 0.093 off the fastest time.
Fielding the Frenchman for his debut season is Opel GSE Formula E, the newest team to enter the championship. 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 welcome the Gen4 era – Formula E’s most exciting evolution to date.
It feels great to be joining the Opel GSE Formula E Team and the Opel family – an iconic brand with a rich racing history which is now making a name for itself in the World Championship. It’s the next step in my career and the biggest single-seater opportunity I’ve had so far. The new GEN4 generation is a perfect fit for my transition from Formula 2: more power, all-wheel drive and incredible acceleration – that’s exactly the kind of car I love. I want to learn, continue developing further and I will give my all from day one to ensure Opel’s succeed. Pourchaire on the news.
Citroen Racing have confirmed that they will field an unchanged driver line-up for the 2026/27 Formula E season, the first of the Gen4 era.
Capable of reaching speeds in excess of 335kph, 0-100kph in approximately 1.8 seconds and 0-200kph in just 4.4 seconds – Gen4 will deliver 50% more power in race mode than the current Gen3 Evo race car.
The Gen4 car will be an average of 10 seconds faster per lap than the Gen3 car in qualifying mode. In Attack Mode, Gen4 produces to 600kW of power, a 71% increase in base output over Gen3 Evo, delivering performance that pushes the limits of electric racing. Gen4 is the only single-seater race car with permanent all wheel drive.
To take on the challenge, Citroen have opted for experience within their driver line-up with Cassidy and Vergne undoubtedly one of the most consistent and formidable pairings on the grid.
Cassidy finished Season 12 in 8th on 114 points, whereas Vergne in 12th on 68. Overall the team finished 5th in the Teams Standings.
I’m very happy to continue with Citroën Racing Formula E Team for Season 13. We’ve built a strong relationship within the team, and I’m looking forward to continuing the development of the GEN4. It’s an exciting time for Formula E, with a new generation of car that represents a completely new challenge. I can’t wait to keep working with the whole team and unlock the full potential of the GEN4 once it hits the track. Nick Cassidy, Citroen Racing Formula E driver.
I’m proud to continue this journey with the team. Developing a new generation of race car is always a unique challenge for a driver. The arrival of the GEN4 is incredibly exciting and will mark a major step forward for the championship. We still have plenty of work ahead of us, but I’m confident we’ll arrive at the start of Season 13 with strong foundations and be ready to fight from the very first race. Vergne on the news.
Lando Norris has taken his second consecutive victory of the season during an eventful Dutch Grand Prix, the Briton beating Kimi Antonelli to the win while home favourite Max Verstappen suffered a dramatic crash that resulted in the race being red-flagged.
After Norris initially led away from pole position at the start, the race was halted just one lap later when Verstappen lost the rear of his Red Bull and hit the wall heavily. The Dutchman fortunately reported that he was okay.
When the action resumed, Antonelli made a flying start to overtake Norris for P1 and from there stretched out a lead – but as the race entered its final third, Norris made ground and retook the position from the Mercedes.
A late Virtual Safety Car – called due to Esteban Ocon’s Haas stopping out on track – resulted in a number of drivers pitting including Antonelli, setting up for a potential chase to the end as both Norris and George Russell in front of him had not stopped for fresh tyres.
While the Silver Arrows inverted their cars to release Antonelli into second, Norris would prove unbeatable at the front and crossed the line with an 11.536s margin over the championship leader. Russell, meanwhile, just sealed the final spot on the podium, having fended off that chasing Ferrari’s to the very end.
The full top 10 are- P1: Norris, P2: Antonelli, P3: Russell, P4: Hamilton, P5: Leclerc, P6: Piastri, P7: Lawson, P8: Hulkenberg, P9: Alonso and P10: Gasly.
What a result for Lando Norris! Fresh off summer break and started exactly how he would want! Makes it even more sweeter having the win before summer break. He really did no wrong in the race, so great to see him up on the top step. As for his teammate, not such an amazing race, Piastri finishing in sixth, but when your teammate wins, nothing will match up to that unfortunately.
Double podium for the Mercedes duo, Antonelli seemed to have some pace it wasn’t enough compared to the McLaren. The same for Russell, he seemed to be putting right foot forward all weekend and then he couldn’t match up either.
Good haul of points for the Ferrari’s, 4th & 5th. A shame they didn’t get on the podium, but was great to see a bit of fighting with Mercs and staying with them for a long period of the race.
P7 for Liam Lawson in the Red Bull – a great race for him in the points, that drive may have just secured his future on the grid… Talking of Red Bull, Max Verstappen out on the first lap. First and foremost, so glad to see he was okay as it looked like a nasty crash but also I really can’t believe how he didn’t collect someone after the initial hit into the barriers. It was definitely not the home race he was expecting.
P8 for Hulkenberg, a good race for the Audi man, little mention of I don’t know how he didn’t hit his teammate when he spun at the same time as Max…
P9 for Fernando Alonso! Points! A good race for him and Aston Martin, there upgrades are finally getting somewhere and making it worthwhile.
Rounding out the top 10 is Pierre Gasly, another point for the Frenchman.
Now we have another week off! As we head to Itallyyyy, for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza from the 4th to 6th September.
Red Bull has announced that they have appointed Gwen Lagrue as Director of the Red Bull Junior Programme for the 2027 season.
Lagrue will join the team next year having spent more than a decade with Mercedes, and will essentially replace Helmut Marko who left Red Bull at the end of 2025.
Red Bull’s Junior Programme has become one of the strongest on the Formula 1 grid over several decades, with the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon come through the ranks.
More recently, Arvid Lindblad was promoted to Racing Bulls this season, while F2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov is expected to move into the top tier of single seater racing in future.
Gwen is one of the very best talent developers in F1 and I know first-hand the expertise, leadership and passion he brings to developing young drivers. The Red Bull Junior Programme has always been a cornerstone of Red Bull’s success, and having Gwen lead it soon reflects the importance we continue to place on developing the next generation of F1 talent. We want to recognise another time today the extraordinary contribution Helmut Marko has made over more than two decades creating and leading the Junior Programme. The Junior Programme has become the benchmark in F1 because of his vision, commitment and ability to identify and develop exceptional talents and he deserves enormous credit for that. As we continue to build the next chapter of Oracle Red Bull Racing, attracting leaders of Gwen’s calibre is fundamental to achieving our ambitions. We’re strengthening our high-performance organisation with outstanding people in every part of the business, and Gwen is an important addition of that journey. Together, we will build on an incredibly strong foundation while continuing to evolve the programme for the future. Laurent Mekies, Team Principal.
Joining Oracle Red Bull Racing marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for me. After eleven memorable years at Mercedes, I felt this was the right moment to take on a new challenge and continue growing personally and professionally. The Red Bull Junior Programme is one of the most respected and successful driver development programmes in motorsport. It has produced some of the greatest talents F1 has ever seen, and it is a real honour to have the opportunity to lead such a talented group of people and help shape its next chapter. I’m looking forward to working closely with Laurent as well as the entire team and I am very thankful for this opportunity. Together, we have a fantastic framework to build on the programme’s remarkable legacy, continue to evolve it for the future, and identify, develop and prepare the next generation of F1 race winners and World Champions, following a pattern Oracle Red Bull Racing has successfully repeated over the past 20 years. Lagrue on the news.
Formula 1 and the FIA can confirm that Malaysia will host the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit from October 2nd – 4 2026, between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grand Prix.
The event, which is subject to final agreements and official sign-off, including the approval of the World Motor Sport Council, will become the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
This agreement, reached between Formula 1, the FIA, the Government of Bahrain, and the Government of Malaysia, allows Formula 1 to preserve a Grand Prix that would otherwise not have happened. The rest of the schedule for 2026 remains unchanged.
Sepang – which made its debut as an F1 venue in 1999 – is one of Formula 1’s most iconic and challenging circuits, known for its passionate fans, exciting racing and unpredictable weather.
We are delighted to confirm that Malaysia will host the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2026. Once again, the sport has demonstrated its ability to adapt, find solutions, and deliver, creating an exciting moment for everyone who follows Formula 1. I would like to express our sincere thanks to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, as well as their respective governments for making this extraordinary outcome possible through their vision, commitment, and decisive action. Of course, I would also like to thank FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem for his partnership and collaboration throughout the process. Most importantly, this is fantastic news for our fans. They will continue to enjoy a full and exciting Formula 1 calendar, while also seeing the sport return to a great venue. Malaysia is an incredible country, and Sepang holds a special place in Formula 1 history. It will provide a spectacular setting for racing and an unforgettable experience for fans at the circuit and watching around the world. Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1.
I am incredibly proud of the collaboration that will enable Malaysia to host the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at the iconic Sepang circuit later this year. Throughout this process, the FIA, Formula One Management, and our partners in Bahrain have worked tirelessly to explore every option, with the safety and wellbeing of the teams, volunteers, officials, our colleagues, and fans remaining our highest priority. Malaysia has long held an important place in the history of Formula 1 and the return of the Championship to Sepang is testament to our close relationship with the Motorsports Association of Malaysia, the continued commitment of the Malaysian Government, and the strength of international cooperation within our sport. My sincere thanks to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain, for their vision and support in making this possible. We look forward to welcoming the global motorsport community back to Sepang. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of FIA.
Red Bull have confirmed that Isack Hadjar will not take part in this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson stepping up to the top team as his replacement.
The Frenchman has sustained a wrist injury ahead of the season-resuming event at the Circuit Zandvoort – where team mate Max Verstappen will compete in his home race – thereby ruling him out of the round.
Hadjar, who currently sits eighth in the standings and was on a run of seven Grands Prix in the points, will be substituted for Lawson. The New Zealander previously had a stint at Red Bull for two rounds at the beginning of 2025 before he was demoted to their sister team – he has become a start of the midfield there and is ‘best of the rest’ in terms of points won.
His temporarily vacant seat will subsequently be filled by Yuki Tsunoda, another former Red Bull racer who lost his full-time drive at the end of last season and was reassigned to the role of test and reserve driver for both teams.
Hadjar has sustained a wrist injury during summer shutdown that will prevent him from racing at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. We will be welcoming back Lawson who will replace him in RB22 this weekend. The Team wishes Isack a speedy recovery and thanks Liam for stepping in on short notice. Red Bull’s Statement.
Nissan have confirmed that they will provide powertrains to Andretti across Gen4 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The multi-year deal unites two of the championship’s most established teams to build a powerful technical alliance for the sport’s next generation.
Andretti confirmed in May that they would be concluding their relationship with Porsche going into the Gen4 era, but did not provide more information on which powertrains would be taking their place as Formula E prepares for an exciting new generation.
Launched at the start of the 2022/23 season, the Andretti-Porsche alliance quickly became one of Formula E’s most formidable and rewarding partnerships. Together they helped Jake Dennis win his first drivers’ title.
We’re delighted to welcome Andretti Formula E as our customer team for the GEN4 era. Formula E is an increasingly competitive championship, and having a strong partner is an important part of maximizing both performance and technical development. Andretti is one of the most successful names in motorsport, including Formula E, where it has established itself as one of the leading teams in the sport, consistently competing at the front and securing a Drivers’ World Championship. We look forward to working closely together and building a strong partnership. Tommaso Volpe, Nissan’s Team Principal and Managing Director.
With a motorsports legacy lasting over 80 years and multiple wins and championships across a diverse range of categories including the current Formula E World Drivers’ Championship, Nissan has more than proven its pedigree at the highest echelons of the sport. As an early pioneer of electric vehicles, Nissan has developed vast knowledge in this category and through their time in Formula E have shown how immensely competitive they can be. It’s these characteristics that align so well with the approach of Andretti Formula E and why we are extremely proud to be aligned with the Japanese manufacturer entering the highly anticipated GEN4 era in Formula E. Roger Griffiths, Team Principal of Andretti Formula E.
The FIA Formula 3 Championship will conduct a two-day in-season official test at the new venue MADRING on 24th – 25th August. F3 will also conclude its 2026 season with an expanded finale in Madrid, featuring an additional qualifying session and a second feature race.
Taking place two weeks before the inaugural Formula 1 Tag Heuer Gran Premio De Espana on 11th – 13th September, the F3 in-season test will provide an opportunity to validate the circuit’s sporting, operational and safety procedures under real track conditions.
In addition to this added test session, the FIA Formula 3 Championship confirm an expanded weekend format for the final round of the 2026 season, which will take place at the MADRING, in order to reach the number of events planned originally for this year. The season finale at Madrid will include an additional qualifying session and a second feature race.
The revised weekend schedule will consist of:
Friday morning: one 45 minute Free Practice session
Friday afternoon: two consecutive 20 minute Qualifying session.
Saturday morning: Sprint Race, with the reverse-grid order determined by the results of the first Qualifying session.
Saturday afternoon: First Feature Race, with the starting grid set by the results of the first qualifying session.
Sunday morning: Second and final Feature Race of the 2026 F3 season, with the grid determined by the results of the second qualifying session.
Pole position in each qualifying session will award 2 points, while both Feature Races will carry the standard points allocation, in accordance with the FIA Formula 3 Sporting Regulations.
I’m very pleased to announce this F3 test session at the MADRING. It will be two very valuable days of testing for our teams and drivers to appraise this new challenge before the crucial final round of the 2026 season, which will be held at this new venue. This season will have a pretty unique conclusion with an enhanced finale, which will provide the teams and the drivers with an additional opportunity to score points, following the loss of the race weekend at Bahrain earlier this year. Bruno Michel, FIA Formula 3 CEO.
Formula E’s Gen4 era is fast approaching, and ahead of the start of the 2026/27 Formula E season, Porsche and Kiro Race Co have confirmed the continuation of their technical relationship into the next season and beyond.
Since the start of the partnership at the beginning of the 2024/25 season, the CUPRA Kiro team have been able to utilise the highly efficient, championship-winning Porsche 99X Electric powertrain package. This has seen the small but mighty team put in some impressive results over the last few seasons, including a race win and two pole positions.
Heading into Gen4, both manufacturer and customer are faced with an all-new challenge. The Gen4 car will be an average of 10 seconds faster per lap than the Gen3 car in qualifying mode, Gen4 produces up to 600kW of power, a 71% increase in base output over Gen3 Evo, delivering performance that pushes the limits of electric racing, Gen4 is the only single seater race car with permanent all-wheel drive.
Andretti has become the first Formula E team to confirm their line-up for the 2026/27 season, with both Jake Dennis and Felipe Drugovich set to continue with the team.
The Brazilian born racer joined Andretti at the start of the 2025/26 season, having already made a name for himself in single seater racing as 2022 FIA Formula 2 champion, and reserve driver for the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team (2022-2025).
After a challenging start to the season, Drugovich has found his footing in recent rounds, scoring his first podium at the 2026 Monaco E-Prix. Starting fifth, his best qualifying result at that point in the season, he produced a calm and controlled drive around the principality.
The podium marked an important turning point for the Andretti driver, after admitting in Berlin that he was still learning how to fully adapt to Formula E’s all-electric machinery.
For Andretti, maintaining stability in their driver line-up has been important, especially as the championship looks to enter unchartered territory with the start of the Gen4 era, Formula E’s most exciting chapter yet.
Establishing a relationship in the form of fitting into the bigger picture was always the plan. When we brought Felipe into the team, we centered our relationship as a long-term commitment from both sides with him playing an important part in our future. He’s shown strong speed, great professionalism and has already achieved his first podium in his rookie season, demonstrating his capability of integrating quickly into the team. Roger Griffiths, Andretti Formula E Team Principal.
I’m very happy to continue this journey with Andretti Formula E. From the moment I joined the team, the goal was always to build something that could carry into the future and I’m excited to be part of the team as we enter the GEN4 era. Felipe Drugovich, Andretti Formula E Team.
Envision Racing have announced the continuation of their customer relationship with Jaguar into Formula E’s Gen4 era.
Envision Racing and Jaguar have enjoyed a long and successful relationship together in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, accumulating 58 podiums, 23 wins and 13 poles since the start of their partnership in Season 9.
The Jaguar I-TYPE 7 has been central to this success, racking up 11 race wins in the Gen3 Evo era – the most of any manufacturer.
Heading into the 2026/27 season, the partnership prepares to write a new chapter, as Formula E welcomes the start of the Gen4 era. Capable of reached speeds in excess of 335kph, 0-100kph in approximately 1.8 seconds, and 0-200kph in just 4.4 seconds – 1.5 seconds faster than it predecessor – Gen4 will deliver 50% more power in race mode than the current Gen3 Evo race car.
The Gen4 car will be an average of 10 seconds faster per lap than the Gen3 car in qualifying mode. In Attack Mode, Gen4 produces up to 600kW of power, a 71% increase in base output over Gen3 Evo, delivering performance that pushes the limits of electric racing. Gen4 is the only single-seater race car with permanent all-wheel drive.
Continuing our relationship with Jaguar into the GEN4 era is an important step for Envision Racing. Over the past four seasons we’ve built a strong technical partnership founded on collaboration, innovation, and a shared ambition to compete at the highest level. Together we’ve celebrated race wins, podiums and a World Championship each, and we believe there is more to come. GEN4 represents an exciting new chapter for Formula E, bringing an unprecedented level of performance alongside the championship’s continued commitment to sustainability. Having the confidence of a proven partner gives us a strong platform from which to fight at the front, and we’re excited to continue pushing the boundaries of electric racing together. Sylvain Filippi, Envision Racing Team Principal.
We have had an exceptional relationship with Envision Racing throughout the GEN3 era, and we’re delighted to be continuing this partnership as Formula E enters its next technological chapter. Over the past four seasons, our shared commitment to performance, innovation and electric racing excellence has delivered race wins, podiums, World Championships and a Manufacturers’ title fight that both teams can be proud of. As we move into GEN4, Jaguar’s focus remains on providing a world-class powertrain and working closely with Envision to ensure both teams can compete at the very front of the grid. We look forward to building on the success we’ve achieved together and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in this championship. Ian James, Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal.
Extending our partnership with Jaguar reflects Envision Racing’s long-term commitment to competing at the forefront of electric motorsport while advancing the technologies and ideas that will shape a more sustainable future. Formula E is a powerful platform where innovation, performance and purpose come together, and this collaboration has consistently demonstrated what can be achieved through shared ambition. As we enter the GEN4 era, we are excited to build on this successful relationship and continue challenging for victories while showcasing the potential of cutting-edge electric mobility. Franz Jung, CEO & Chairman of the Board, Envision Racing.
Formula E and the FIA announced the first provisional calendar for the 2026-27 season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship following validation from the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
Featuring it’s most expansive season yet with 21 races across 13 global cities, highlights include new races at The Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin and MASCOT Zandvoort Circuit, as well as a new home for the London E-Prix at the iconic Brands Hatch circuit.
Round
Location
Circuit
Date
1 & 2
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Corniche Circuit
18th & 19th December 2026
3
Mexico City, Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
16th January 2027
4
Austin, USA
Circuit of the Americas
06th February
5
Miami, USA
Miami International Autodrome
20th February
6
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Anhembi Sambadrome Circuit
13th March
7
Sanya, China
Haitang Bay Circuit
17th April
8 & 9
Berlin, Germany
Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit
8th & 9th May
10 & 11
Monaco
Circuit de Monaco
15th & 16th May
12 & 13
London, UK
Brands Hatch
29th & 30th May
14 & 15
Zandvoort, Netherlands
MASCOT Zandvoort Circuit
18th & 19th June
16 & 17
Madrid, Spain
Circuito de Madrid Jarama
26th & 27th June
18 & 19
Shanghai, China
Shanghai International Circuit
10th & 11th July
20 & 21
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo Street Circuit
24th & 25th July
As Formula E and the FIA prepare to unleash the Gen4 car, its massive boost in power and velocity requires tracks built for extreme performance. This has driven a natural shift toward established permanent circuits, through the series remains firmly committed to its city-centre roots. The new locations strike a perfect balance – offering tracks that can handle Gen4’s raw speed while remaining accessible from major city hubs.
Sustainability has been central to the development of the calendar, with race events grouped by continent across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific, reducing freight mileage and Co2 emissions.
New Race Format
The 2026-27 season and start of the Gen4 era will also welcome a transformative new race format for double-header race weekends, featuring the classic race (E-Prix) and an all-new shorter race (E-PrixUnleashed).
Introduced to showcase the full, unrestricted power of the GEN4 car, this new approach delivers a completely different, fast-paced racing style. The complementing formats will offer fans a highly entertaining mix of tactical, strategic racing and pure, high-speed performance drama across a single weekend.
E-Prix Unleashed
E-Prix
30 minute sprint
45 minute race
High downforce aero setting
Low downforce aero setting
6-minute Attack Mode
8 minute Attack Mode
No PIT BOOST
Mandatory PIT BOOST
We are incredibly proud to unveil our biggest and most ambitious calendar to date. Expanding to 21 races across 13 iconic cities is a huge milestone, and welcoming world-renowned tracks like COTA in Austin, Zandvoort, and Brands Hatch provides the ultimate stage to showcase our new GEN4 era. Every stop on this calendar has been chosen to deliver maximum sporting drama. Launching the season with our first-ever opener under the lights in Jeddah to showcase the speed of these GEN4 cars sets a spectacular tone, while grouping our races into distinct continental clusters ensures we do so as sustainably as possible. The tracks are faster, the competition is fiercer, and we cannot wait to get this historic season underway. Alberto Longo, Co-Founder & Chief Championship Office, Formula E.
We are delighted to support the expansion of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship calendar into key markets such as the USA, as well as on circuits that we believe will truly showcase the dynamic capabilities of the new GEN4 car. This is also a particularly significant moment for us, as we are now able to reveal the framework of the GEN4 sporting regulations. Working in partnership with Formula E and in close consultation with the competitors, we have adapted these regulations to match and highlight the incredible performance of the GEN4, and we believe the result will achieve exactly that. Marek Nawarecki, Director, FIA Circuit Sport Department.
Formula 1 will continue racing in Las Vegas, the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World, through to 2037, following a 10 year extension.
Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc, Clark County officials, and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), have all commited to the long-term future of one of the standout evens on the global sporting calendar.
Held in the heart of the destination, and racing down the iconic Strip, the Las Vegas Grand Prix has become synonymous with world class hospitality, entertainment, and fan experience. It brings together leaders and audiences from across sport, entertainment, culture and business, redefining what a Grand Prix can deliver as a full-scale destination experience in the US.
The race, which also featured in the world’s biggest ever sporting film, the F1 the movie, takes place on the 6.2km Las Vegas Strip Circuit, where drivers exceed speeds of 322 kph while passing iconic landmarks including Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Wynn Las Vegas and the Venetian Resort Las Vegas.
On track, Max Verstappen has claimed victory twice (2023 and 2025), with George Russell winning in 2024 – the same year the event witnessed an incredible 113 overtakes and Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive World Drivers’ Championship.
We are thrilled that Formula 1 will continue racing in Las Vegas for many years to come. Since its debut in 2023, the event has been extraordinary, rapidly establishing itself as a premier destination for great racing, world-class entertainment, global business leaders, A-list celebrities and influencers. It has delivered a strong and lasting impact on the local economy and community. We always believed that Las Vegas would become a cornerstone of our presence in the United States, and this extension, together with the success of recent years, reinforces our long-term commitment to this important market. I would like to thank Las Vegas Grand Prix, Clark County, and the LVCVA [Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority] for their continued support, passion, and vision. The future is incredibly exciting, and we look forward to taking this event to even greater heights. Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1.
Securing a 10-year extension through 2037 is a defining moment for the Las Vegas Grand Prix and a reflection of the strength of our local partnerships. I’m incredibly proud of the team we have built in Las Vegas and of our shared commitment to supporting the Southern Nevada community. We’re deeply grateful to the Clark County Commission, LVCVA, our resort partners and the broader Las Vegas community for their continued collaboration and support in bringing this event to life. Las Vegas is unlike anywhere else in the world, and its energy, hospitality, and scale have played a major role in shaping what this race has become. This long-term extension allows us to continue delivering a world-class experience for our fans. Emily Prazer, President and CEO of Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen’s future with Red Bull and in Formula 1 continues to be the subject of huge speculation.
In recent weeks rumours surrounding Verstappen’s fate has only intensified after it emerged ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix that the four-time world champion’s representatives had met with McLaren to hold “preliminary talks” about a possible deal.
Speculation about a potential bombshell announcement regard Verstappen has been rife ever since, particularly as F1 enters a key period of time when it comes to the driver market for 2027 and beyond.
So… what is actually going on? Here is everything we know about Verstappen’s future and the McLaren rumours.
Why did the meeting take place?
The meeting took place amid the backdrop of a hugely frustrating campaign for Verstappen. It has been a difficult season for Red Bull, leaving the 28 year old Dutchman currently out of contention for wins in a car that has largely been fourth best.
On top of Verstappen’s disappointment with Red Bull’s lack of competitiveness, he has been the biggest critic of F1’s new cars and engine regulations for 2026. Verstappen’s fierce attacks on the new rules left his future uncertain, though changes for 2027 and 2028 have led to him softening his stance after several threats to quit the sport altogether.
While reports of the meeting have sent the F1 rumour mill into overdrive, it is commonplace for drivers and their management to assess the market as they weigh up their next move. Verstappen could simply be testing the waters, and using Red Bull’s struggles as leverage as a bargaining tool to strengthen his own position within the team.
Alternatively, he could be seriously interested in a move and putting the early groundwork in place. Verstappen is under contract to Red Bull until the end of 2028 but has a performance clause in his exiting deal that could allow him to leave at the end of this year if he so wished.
However, it has recently come about that the clause in question does not come into effect until October, but Verstappen is on course to be in a position to trigger it based on his current position in the world championship and deficit to the top two.
Following the meeting, Red Bull took an encouraging step forward with a major upgrade at its home race in Austria. But two rear wing failures in the space of nine days have done little to improve the Dutchman’s mood.
After ending the British Grand Prix stuck in the gravel at Stowe, Verstappen was at his most annoyed to date, stating he is “fed up” with the ongoing woes.
How has McLaren responded?
McLaren, meanwhile, has been doing everything possible to downplay the rumours linking Verstappen with the team, though it has not gone as far as denying the reports.
In several interviews, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has stressed he is happy with his current driver line-up and has no plans to make any changes, with both reigning world champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri holding long-term contracts with the team.
Could a move to McLaren work?
There are two things to consider here. Firstly, and arguably the most important, is the fact that both Norris and Piastri are tied down to big deals with McLaren.
To facilitate a move for Verstappen, Brown would have to remove one of his drivers. It is hard to imagine he would let the reigning world champion go, leaving Piastri as the more likely candidate to be moved on in most people’s eyes.
Many have suggested that Piastri could be used as part of a direct swap with Verstappen and replace the Dutchman at Red Bull. But there is no indication from Piastri that he is looking to leave, or move to Red Bull.
It is generally accepted in F1 that driver contracts are not worth the paper they are written on. At the end of the day, if a team wants a driver badly enough, and has the financial might to make a deal happen, it will.
And if a four-time world champion and the driver of Verstappen’s calibre is available, a team would be foolish not to explore the possibility.
But McLaren must weigh up the pros and cons. It currently boasts a harmonious and successful driver pairing. Bringing Verstappen onboard would risk destabilising that, as well as threatening the policy of fairness that McLaren prides itself on.
It was a great start from fourth place for Kanato Le, who took the lead before getting up to Turn 1. Le settled into second ahead of Nael with Ernesto Rivera in fourth.
But the Safety Car was called upon following a collision at the front of the field. Jin Nakamura hit the rear of Xie heading into Turn 2 before going into the side of Maciej Gladysz.
Nakamura and Gladysz were out of the race, while Xie continued on to the pitlane with a right rear puncture, before coming back out at the back of the field.
Racing resumed on Lap 4 and Le led Nael away with Rivera in third ahead of Mattia Colnaghi, with Brando Badoer in fifth.
In the battle for sixth, after multiple laps of pressure, Ugo Ugochukwu made his way past Nicola Lacorte with the help of DRS into Turn 1.
On Lap 8, Ugochukwu was up to fifth with another move at the opening corner, this time on Brando Badoer.
There was a change for the lead on the next lap with Nael, having been within DRS range for several laps, making an impressive late move on Le at Turn 1.
On to Lap 11 and Le had managed to stay within DRS range of Nael, while Rivera had closed in on the top two.
It was bad news for Ugochukwu however, as he was given a five=second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage on the opening lap. At the same time, his pace was starting to fall off with Badoer right on his rear with DRS.
Lap 14 of 19 and Le had managed to stay within DRS range of Nael, while Rivera dropped back, leaving the top two to fight for the lead.
For Ugochukwu he was now two seconds behind Colnaghi, and Badoer dived to the inside of the Campos at Turn 1 to retake 5th.
Lacorte tried to follow him through but with the gap closing, the DAMS driver and Ugochukwu made slight contact, this allowed Taponen to make a move past the Italian for seventh.
The American driver was starting to fall through the field with Taponen now demoting him to P7 on Lap 17 at Turn 2, while Lacorte made his way past later in the lap.
Back at the front, Le was coming under pressure from Rivera for P2, but Nael was in a world of his own, winning by 2.7s to earn his second victory of the season. Le held off Rivera to take his first F3 podium.
Feature Race
It was a clean start from pole for Taponen keeping the lead ahead of Slater, while Mattia Colnaghi retained P3 despite pressure from Badoer.
Slater was keen to take the lead early on and looked to go the inside of Taponen at Turn 12. But the two made slight contact, leaving the Trident driver with front wing damage.
The Safety Car was called upon moments later with Maciej Glaysz and Gerrard Xie in the barrier at the exit of Turn 13. The DAMS Lucas Oil driver collided with Jin Nakamura which sent him into the ART Grand Prix rookie, with all three out of the race.
Taponen used the opportunity to come into the pitlane having suffered a right rear puncture, and with the other drivers following him in, he only dropped to P6.
The incident between Slater and Taponen was under investigation as the Brit led the field away at the restart on Lap 6.
But the Virtual Safety Car was signalled moments later with Salim Hanna having stopped on track at Turn 13.
With the AIX Racing car cleared from the track, racing resumed on Lap 7 and Colnaghi was under pressure from Badoer and Ugochukwu.
The Campos driver was showing great pace and went around the outside of both Badoer and Colnaghi at Turn 2 to get up to second with one of the moves of the season.
At the same time, the Stewards ruled that there was No Further Action for the incident between Taponen and Slater.
But the Briton had new problems with Ugochukwu right on his gearbox on Lap 12, and he went defensive into Turns 1 and 2 to keep his race lead.
The Virtual Safety Car was called upon on the next lap with Kanato Le having stopped at Turn 12.
Racing resumed on Lap 14 and Ugochukwu resumed his attack on Slater, but the top two were not alone, with Badoer, Colnaghi and Theophile Nael all right behind.
The Safety Car was out on the next lap following a three-car collision at Turn 1 between the AIX cars of Fernando Barichello and Yevan David, as well as Enzo Deligny.
Barichello was left on the side of the road with a broke rear left suspension, while David and Deligny continued on – although the Van Amersfoort Racing driver retired in the pitlane.
Slater led the field to green on Lap 18 of 24 as Nael and Taponen went wheel-to-wheel at Turn 1. The MP driver was not pleased, believing he had been run off the track by his Campos rival.
On Lap 19, the Briton extend his lead out front to 1.1s, breaking the DRS barrier to Ugochukwu. The American fought back on Lap 21 but was too far behind to make a move.
Ugochukwu was closer to his title rival on the penultimate lap, even looking up the inside at Turn 9, but once again Slater held on.
On to the final lap and Ugochukwu once again had DRS but was still not close enough to Slater to make a move.
The British driver had done enough and took his first ever victory in FIA Formula 3 and with that the championship lead going into the summer break.
Lando Norris claimed his and McLaren’s first Grand Prix victory of 2026 in Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix, taking the chequered flag ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli – after mid-race drama and a late retirement for team mate Oscar Piastri.
Polestitter Norris spent the first half of the race in Piastri’s mirrors, having been jumped at Turn 2 on the opening lap – the latter doing just enough to hold onto the lead thereafter, and McLaren resisting Norris’ calls to be ushered through.
However, the intra-team battle was flipped on its head just after the midway point when Piastri – fresh from his second pit stop – encountered traffic in the form of Carlos Sainz in the first sector, and dramatically made contact with the Williams.
That moment, added to Norris’ sublime place in clear air ahead of his own second stop, swung the race in the reigning World Champion’s favour, before Piastri’s day ended in despair thanks to an apparent gearbox problem.
A Virtual Safety Car triggered by Piastri’s stoppage led to more pit lane action, with Verstappen and Antonelli staying out to take second and third respectively, ahead of three-stopping Ferrari pair.
Hamilton had initially emerged from that final stop ahead of Antonelli, only to cede the position after replays showed he had reached the relevant VSC white line at the end of the start/finish straight just behind the Mercedes.
A five second penalty for speeding in the pits ended any hopes Hamilton had of finishing on the podium even if he pressed on and harried Antonelli to the flag, with Leclerc also edging ahead for P4 once the sanction was applied.
The full top 10 are- P1: Norris, P2: Verstappen, P3: Antonelli, P4: Leclerc, P5: Hamilton, P6: Hadjar, P7: Russell, P8: Lawson, P9: Hulkenberg and P10: Lindblad.
What a result for the reigning World Champion! If they said at the beginning of the season that McLaren would’ve got a win before the summer break I think everyone would’ve laughed, but they did it! What an effort from Norris, he got the job done when it mattered the most, now they can go into summer break somewhat happy! As for his teammate, a BIG shame for Piastri, it looked like it was going to be a podium for him, but it will be interesting to see how he comes back from this after the summer break.
A great result for Verstappen! Made up a couple of spots, in the race and finished the first half of the season. Two podiums in two races, he will be looking forward to the summer break and re-group with the team. As for Hadjar, another P6 for him! His been consistent so far this year, it’s been good to see.
3rd for Antonelli, a decent result for him considering he didn’t have the best of weekend’s like his had previously. He also benefited from the Ferrari’s pitting when the VSC was out – in the end damage limitation. As for his teammate, Russell, not the best of races for him. A terrible start which saw him drop all the way down to back of the grid, he then had the battle of coming through the field – in the end he finished 7th, good result considering what happened, but it could’ve all been avoided and had a much better result.
4th and 5th for Leclerc and Hamilton, obviously pitting under the VSC wasn’t worth it in the end, as they threw away a podium spot and then Hamilton ended up with a penalty again – so if they didn’t pit it all would’ve been avoided but you live and you learn.
P8 for Lawson, another good race for him in the books, he will be happy with his performance so far this season. And the same goes for Lindblad, who finished in the final points position.
P9 for Hulkenbergggg, points for Audi again and Hulkenberg’s first points again with no penalty added! The team have now jumped ahead of Williams in the standings with just 1 point between them.
Another disappointing weekend for Cadillac – a double DNF for the team – they will be wanting this summer break now to gather all their information from the first half of the season and look at where to go from here.
As for the next race, it is now the summer break, so we have a couple of weeks off due to the shut down – but we will be returning to the Netherlands for the Dutch Grand Prix on the 21st – 23rd August for Round 12!
Dennis led the pack away as the 20 cars funnelled through the tight first sector – sadly not unscathed as Nico Mueller and Nyck de Vries both needed to pit for repairs after contact.
Lap 10 and Dennis led Mortara, da Costa – who made it back by Barnard at Turn 1 with the Brit now fourth – Ticktum, Cassidy, Wehrlein, Guenther, Vergne and Nato.
Buemi was the first to jump for his 50kW, all wheel drive Attack Mode boost, and clambered to second – up 12 spots on his grid slot came Lap 17, finally muscling by Edoardo Mortara.
Drivers started to hit the PIT Boost window, with Guenther, Nato, Eriksson, Ticktum and Cassidy the first to jump. In the melee, Da Costa was fed to the wall but managed to carry on. Wehrlein was the driver he clashed with and the standing leader was left worse off and with front wing damage – passed by Evans and left 12th and eventually to retire.
Dennis remained out front and jumped into the pits some time later on Lap 21. He emerged behind compatriot Ticktum who’d gone for Attack Mode to make up enough ground to hit the front.
Ticktum was the eventual race leader once it all shook out, with Mortara, Cassidy and Dennis, four, six and seven seconds back – but the latter pair both in Attack and making up ground fast.
Mortara again put up a staunch defence with Cassidy finally able to squeeze by ahead of Turn 16 on Lap 28 for P2. Dennis still had a couple minutes of Attack in hand.
Dennis dispatched of Cassidy, and within another lap, on Lap 29, Dennis had caught the leader with 20 seconds of Attack to play with. Dennis made it by on the lead up to the final chicane for the race lead.
Evans and Rowland went late with their Attack Mode activations, with energy in-hand. The Kiwi managed to climb up to fifth once his 50kW boost came to an end.
From there, Dennis looked like he’d control things to the flag but right at the last, into the final couple of corners Ticktum jumped Dennis for the win – the pair heading home Nick Cassidy who sealed an emotional podium for Citroen Racing.
Dino Beganovic secured top spot in Free Practice for DAMS Lucas Oil. The Swede put in a 1:30.720 to wind up fastest, just 0.015s ahead of MP Motorsport’s Gabriele Mini. Nico Varrone completed a tight top three, 0.021s off P1 for Van Amersfoort Racing.
Hitech’s Colton Herta set the early pace on a 1:33.077 in the opening 10 minutes of the session.
Teammate Ritomo Miyata then took over P1, with a 1:32.053 the new time to beat. Rafael Camara delivered a 1:31.484 to then go to the top for Invicta Racing by over half a second.
Sebastian Montoya and then Herta cut that down to four-tenths on their next laps, before Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak went P2 for ART Grand Prix, 0.219s off top spot with less than half an hour to go.
Martinius Stenshorne got closer still, moving himself up into P2, 0.102s off Camara’s time. That was before the Brazilian delivered an improvement of his own to move onto a 1:31.144.
Montoya and Mini then followed across the line to go second and third respectively.
Rafael Villagomez went to fourth place for Van Amersfoort before the Red Flag was out after Mari Boya found the barriers at Turn 1 following a big lock-up.
Mini dethroned Camara at the top of the times as he set a 1:30.744 to go four-tenths clear of anyone. Nikola Tsolov went P2 0.388s off the Italian’s effort.
Top spot changed hands again as the clock approached 10 minutes to go, with Beganovic going fastest. Tsolov then went quicker but lost his time for exceeding track limits.
That left the Swede top of the pile on a 1:30.720, with Nico Varrone right behind in P2, 0.021s off. Mini then managed to split the two on his next attempt, going second and just 0.015s behind Beganovic.
Qualifying
Kush Maini took his second pole of the 2026 FIA Formula 2 season , setting a 1:28.896 for the Aramco Pole Position Award in Budapest.
The ART Grand Prix driver beat title contender Rafael Camara by over a tenth of a second, with the Invicta Racing driver narrowly ahead of Campos Racing’s Noel Leon in P3.
With the green light displayed, everyone headed out for their opening attempts, and it was a heart-in-mouth moment for Joshua Duerksen as he reached the penultimate corner. The Invicta driver had to catch a big slide on entry to keep his car out of the barriers.
Nikola Tsolov set the pace with his first lap on a 1:29.601 to take top spot provisionally, 0.193s quicker than title rival Gabriele Mini who went to P2.
Leon opted to run later than the majority and he delivered a 1:29.486 to go quickest just ahead of the halfway stage.
Camara had done his outlap on Mediums before pitting and putting on the softs, so his first lap came slightly later too. The Brazilian went P1 on a 1:29.380.
Maini was one of those to set a lap slightly offset to the early runners too, and he filtered into third, 0.215s off top spot.
Camara went again on the same set of Softs and he improved his time to take the benchmark effort down to a 1:29.323. With less than 10 minutes to go, the early group headed back onto the circuit once more, and Tsolov set a 1:29.313 to pip his title rival to top spot.
Mini went to third place until Duerksen went to P1 on a 1:29.106, but Maini improved. He was the first underneath a 1:29s to lead the field. Teammate Inthraphuvasak made his own improvement to go third quickest entering the final five minutes.
As those drivers filed back into pitlane, Camara headed back onto track with three minutes to go.
Laurens van Hoepen went up to fourth ahead of Tsolov with the Bulgarian back in the pits, while Alexander Dunne could only manage P15 on his final lap.
With the clock at zero, the final laps filtered through. Leon went to second place until Camara displaced the Mexican driver for a front row start, but nobody could beat Maini.
Freddie Slater ended the Budapest Free Practice at the top of the timesheets with a 1:33.947.
The Trident driver led the way by over a tenth from Bando Badoer, with his Rodin Motorsport teammate just behind in third.
Woohyun Shin was the first driver out on track in the early stages. He completed a 1:36.471 but that time was deleted after he exceeded track limits at Turn 9.
10 minutes into the session and the rest of the field – apart from the three Rodin Motorsport cars – made their way out of the pitlane.
Ugo Ugochukwu set the pace with a 1:34.798 eclipsing title rival Slater in P2 by just 0.052s.
With 26 minutes left, Rodin released their drivers out on track, while Matteo De Palo returned to the pitlane with damage after going off at the exit of Turn 7.
Moments later, Salim Hanna found the barrier at Turn 5 bringing out the Red Flags.
The session resumed with 12 minutes to go and once again Ugochukwu led the way with a 1:34.522, with Slater in P2, 0.180s behind.
On his next lap, Hitech’s Jin Nakamura took over at the top with a 1:34.360. However, Slater went back to P1 with a 1:33.947, eclipsing Rodin’s Brando Bardoer time by 0.135s.
It was not all good news for Trident however, as Noah Stromsted stopped on the run to Turn 12, bringing out the Red Flags.
That brought the session to a close with Slater on top for a fourth consecutive practice session, ahead of Badoer and Pedro Clerot.
Qualifying
Tuukka Taponen left it late to take his first ever Aramco Pole Position Awards, sealing top spot with a 1:33.411.
The MP Motorsport driver left it until the final lap of the day to take the top time by 0.042s over Slater, with teammate Mattia Colnaghi rounding out the top three – 0.072s away from Taponen.
There was a mixture of strategies to start the session, with PREMA Racing, ART Grand Prix , DAMS Lucas Oil and Hitech all sending their drivers out later than the rest.
But after the first set of times it was Theophile Nael on top after a 1:33.533, with Taponen his closest challenger 0.019s behind in second.
In the battle between the top two drivers in the championship, Slater was seventh, while Ugo Ugochukwu was ninth after a huge lock up at Turn 1.
The drivers returned to the track with 18 minutes to go on new Medium tyres.
Slater then went quickest on a 1:33.451 with Nicola Lacorte just behind him in second, 0.064s behind, ahead of Brando Badoer in third. Critically in the title fight, Ugochukwu wad down in P12.
The drivers returned to the pitlane to strap on another set of Mediums for their final laps of the day.
On this occasion, Slater could not improve as Colnaghi went up to second, 0.024s off the top time. The Trident driver looked set for pole until Taponen snatched P1 with a 1:33.411, eclipsing Slater by just 0.040s.
Badoer got a great start from pole while teammate Clerot covered off Mattia Colnaghi into Turn 1, allowing Nakamura to sneak through into third place. The Hitech driver was alongside Clerot down the Kemmel Straight and made a move around the outside for second into Les Combes.
Just behind them, title rivals Ugo Ugochukwu and Freddie Slater locked horns. The pair then made contact and ran into the gravel at Turn 6, leaving the Briton out on the race. His Campos Racing rival returned to the pitlane with suspension damage, before rejoining the race one lap down with their collision having brought out the Safety Car.
Racing resumed entering Lap 4, with Badoer getting a good launch. But going up into Eau Rouge and Les Combes, Nakamura rounded the Rodin driver to take the lead.
Lap 5 and Clerot was on the attack into the final chicane, but Badoer held firm and retained second position ahead of his teammate.
With his title rivals out of the points, Nael set about making progress up the order. He cleared Taito Kato for P5 on Lap 7 along the Kemmel Straight.
On to Lap 8 and Tuukka Taponen seized on an opportunity to steal seventh from Enersto Rivera at La Source, but the Mexican driver fought back through into Les Combes with DRS.
The Safety Car was back out on Lap 8 after DAMS Lucas Oil’s Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi got wide out of Turn 1 and collected a polystyrene board, dispatching debris across the racing line that needed clearing away.
With two laps to go, the Safety Car was back in and before racing resumed, Nakamura almost spun off the road as he opted to go back to full speed at the chicane.
Behind the leaders, Kato battled back through on Nael to retake P5 around the outside on entry to Les Combes. The Frenchman returned the favour though before the end of the lap, making a bold move down the inside into the final chicane. But the ART rookie rejoined ahead of the Campos driver on corner exit.
Up ahead though, Nakamura held onto the lead and claimed his maiden victory in F3 ahead of the Rodin teammate Badoer and Clerot.
Feature Race-
Slater got a poor start from pole and it was Tuukka Taponen that led the field by Turn 1. Yamakoshi followed the Finn through to take second, while the polesitter recovered enough momentum to emerge from the first corner in third.
Yamakoshi then went wheel to wheel with Taponen approaching Les Combes and the Japanese driver swept into the lead of the race at Turn 5.
Ugochukwu ran into the gravel on the exit of Turn 7 after contact with teammate Theophile Nael. The Frenchman sustained front wing damage following an earlier touch with ART Grand Prix’s Taito Kato approaching Turn 5, and that caused him to understeer towards the Championship leader.
The Safety Car was deployed at the end of the first lap with AIX Racing’s Yevan David in the gravel.
Racing resumed entering Lap 4 and Yamakoshi suffered a big slide at the penultimate corner to leave him under pressure from Taponen. But it was Slater on the move, diving to the inside of the Finn at La Source, though the MP driver was able to hold onto second with a better exit.
With DRS re-enabled on Lap 6, Ugochukwu completed a pass on Rodin Motorsport’s Christian Ho, claiming P9 ahead of Turn 5 with the slip stream.
Lap 7 and Slater reproduced the title rival’s move, taking P2 from Taponen on the run to Turn 5. One lap later and the Trident driver was back into the lead of the race with a move into Les Combes on Yamakoshi.
Onto Lap 9 and behind the leaders, Rivera dived to the inside of Taponen to claim third place at Turn 5. However, there was slight contact with the right-rear tyre of Yamakoshi, leaving the Campos with a missing front wing endplate.
Taponen was wide out of Turn 1 at the start of Lap 10, allowing Mattia Colnaghi to move ahead for fourth place on the run to Eau Rouge.
Fellow Red Bull Junior Team driver Rivera was up to second at Turn 5, repeating his move from the previous lap on Yamakoshi.
Lap 11 and Taponen was down to P6 as a charging Maciej Gladysz put himself into the top five at Turn 5. Ugochukwu dropped out of the points as Brando Badoer put a move on the American.
Bruno del Pino and Jin Nakamura completed moves on the Campos driver at the start of Lap 12, while Rivera was on the attack with DRS up front. He cleared Slater on the run to Turn 5 to claim the lead of the race.
One lap later and Yamakoshi was attacking clearing Slater after the Briton dropped out of DRS range to Rivera ahead.
Entering the penultimate lap and the fight for the lower points places was hotting up, as Alessandro Giusti, Jin Nakamura and Badoer exchanging places in eighth, ninth and 10th positions.
After taking the lead, nobody could catch Rivera, who claimed his maiden Feature Race victory and second win overall in his rookie season.
Yamakoshi claimed P2, while Slater was able to remain in the podium positions to take third.
McLaren have announced that Leonardo Fornaroli will make his second F1 practice outing in Hungary this weekend, with the team also set to run a batch of upgrades on the MCL40.
A back-to-back F3 and F2 champion, Italian racer Fornaroli first appeared over an F1 weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last month, building on several private tests in older machinery by taking to the wheel of Lando Norris’ car through FP1.
Fornaroli, 21, will this time replace Oscar Piastri for the opening 60 minute session around the Hungaroring, giving the McLaren Development Driver some more valuable mileage as he grows into the role.
McLaren’s latest development including a new floor and other aerodynamic parts, which will be assessed throughout Friday practice.
Meanwhile, during FP1 only, the team will trial a developed version of the experimental rear wing that was due to be tested on the Friday of the Austrian Grand Prix. However, it is not scheduled to be introduced fully in Hungary or the following race in the Netherlands.
I’m looking forward to driving the MCL40 in this weekend’s Free Practice 1 at the Hungaroring. Every session is a chance to learn more, gain confidence and contribute to the team’s programme for the weekend. I’ve been very busy in Woking over the past few weeks preparing this session in both the simulator and at the Optimum Nutrition McLaren Performance Hub, to make sure I’ll be ready as I can. I’m really grateful to everybody at the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team for all the support they’ve given to me so far. I can’t wait to get out on track on Friday, have fun and make the most of every lap to help the team. Fornaroli on the news.
Heading to Hungary, we’re looking forward to a very different challenge at the Hungaroring and the final race before the summer shutdown. It’s a circuit that demands a high-downforce package and rewards confidence under braking, strong corner entry and good traction, while the combination of hot temperatures, relentless corners and limited straights makes tyre management a key factor. As always this season, we’ll also be focused on getting the most from our power unit deployment across the lap and understanding how the revised overtaking characteristics influence strategy. We have an upgrade package arriving this weekend too, and in such a competitive season every development is important so it will be great to gather further understanding on how those parts perform throughout Free Practice. Our aim is to maximise everything we have available, carry positive momentum into the shutdown and put ourselves in the strongest possible position for the second half of the championship. Randy Singh, Senior Director of Racing at McLaren.
Ferrari have announced a multi-year agreement with Charles Leclerc that will see the Monegasque race in red for the “coming seasons”.
Leclerc joined the Scuderia for the 2019 campaign after stepping up to F1 in 2018 with Sauber, which followed Formula 2 title success in 2017.
Over his years with Ferrari, Leclerc has given the Tifosi plenty to celebrate – including famous Monza victories in 2019 and 2024 as well as an emotional home win in Monaco in 2024 – and he is second on the leaderboard for most appearances with the team, behind Michael Schumacher.
The new deal marks the latest chapter in a decade long relationship between the team and Leclerc, with the 28 year old joining the driver academy back in 2016, and also emphasises the faith the Monegasque has in one day bringing a World Championship back to Maranello in the near future.
I couldn’t be happier to continue this journey with Scuderia Ferrari HP. It has always been so much more than just a team to me. It’s the team I’ve loved and dreamt of being part of since I was a child, and after all these years it has become a second family. Together we’ve shared incredible moments and some tougher ones, but I believe in this team more than ever, and I’m deeply grateful that we will keep pushing side by side toward our shared goal of bringing the World Championship back to Maranello. Being a Ferrari driver is a dream, but it’s also a responsibility I never take for granted. I’ll continue to give absolutely everything I have to bring this team back to where it belongs, at the very top, for everyone in Maranello, and above all for the tifosi, whose passion is the heartbeat of this Scuderia. Leclerc on the news.
Charles has been part of the Ferrari family for many years now and this renewal feels like something very natural for us. Over these seasons we have seen him grow, to become not only one of the strongest drivers in Formula 1, but also a person who is completely at one with the team and everything Ferrari represents. We appreciate his talent, we love his determination and the way he approaches every day with the people in the Scuderia, both on and off the track. We know how much this project means to him and we are happy to continue working towards our shared goals. Fred Vasseur, Team Principal.
He’s here to stay ❤️ We are delighted to confirm that Charles Leclerc has agreed a new deal with Scuderia Ferrari HP pic.twitter.com/Lp8BSr458c
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) June 3, 2026
Kimi Antonelli returned to glory with victory at a closely contested Belgian Grand Prix, narrowly beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc as Max Verstappen settled for his third podium of the season in P3.
The Dutchman got off to a sublime start as he stormed past Antonelli on the opening lap at Eau Rouge, but couldn’t quite stay ahead of the Mercedes driver and quickly gave up the lead.
While Antonelli clung on at the front, there was heartbreak for his team mate who fell behind both Ferrari’s and made early contact with Lewis Hamilton, spinning George Russell into the gravel and bringing his race to an end, with far-reaching implications in the title battle.
The Italian resisted the pressure of a Safety Car restart as well as a late challenge from Leclerc after retaking the lead to take the chequered flag by 1.9s, securing his sixth race win of the 2026 season and first since the Monaco Grand Prix.
The full top 10 are- P1: Antonelli, P2: Leclerc, P3: Verstappen, P4: Hamilton, P5: Piastri, P6: Hadjar, P7: Norris, P8: Bortoleto, P9: Lindblad and P10: Colapinto.
What a result for Antonelli! This weekend is exactly what he needed, his first win since Monaco – it was his to run away with when the first Free Practice started and he kept it cool all weekend. As for his teammate, another weekend to forget – DNF for Russell and on the first lap too, he will be waiting for the summer break to come along quicker than anything!
P2 for Leclerc! Another great result for the Monegasque – his turned a corner and something’s switched in him this year and he is getting these great results and consistently too – a shame he couldn’t get the win. As for Hamilton P4! A pretty decent result considering everything which was thrown at him – if he didn’t get the 5 second time penalty it might’ve been a podium but still a great result.
Third for Verstappen, a great result for him – much better than Silverstone which he will be happy with! He will be looking to replicate that at the Hungarian Grand Prix. As for his teammate, a great race for Hadjar, from starting at the back to getting all the way to 6th a great result for him.
5th and 7th for the McLaren’s not amazing but still a decent result – especially with Norris having his penalty.
P9 for Lindblad, another race in the points and as well for Colapinto in 10th!
As for the next race weekend, it’ not long as we head to Hungary for Round 11 this weekend and our last before summer break!
It’s great to be back on the top step after obviously a few difficult rounds. Was a hard-fought race. We lost first place with a VSC but then we managed to make our way back. Was a tough win because Charles was quick and we had to hold onto that. Antonelli on the win.
Trident’s Freddie Slater wound up fastest overall in the Spa-Francorchamps Free Practice session, setting a 2:06.311 to lead the pack. Theophile Nael was second for Campos Racing, with Pedro Clerto third for Rodin Motorsport.
With preparation laps complete, Nael set the early time to beat with a 2:08.335. That was quickly beaten by compatriot Alessandro Giusit, who lowered the benchmark to a 2:06.895.
MP Motorsport teammate Tukkka Taponen then usurped him to go to P1 with a 2:06.622, with Slater moving up to second, just 0.093s behind the Finn.
Maciej Gladysz put ART Grand Prix top of the pile on his next attempt, before Clerot and then Slater beat his time. The Briton went to P1 with a 2:06.311, 0.239s ahead of the Brazilian.
Drivers returned to the pitlane with over 10 minutes to go to wait for more optimal track conditions.
With the cars back on track and the session ticking into the final five minutes, drivers went for their next flying laps, but there were few improvements in the field
Nael rebounded from an earlier setback in the session to move himself up to P2. Taito Kato was another to find time, jumping up to eighth place, 0.274s off Slater’s earlier effort.
Into the final minute and there was plenty of scrapping for track position in the third sector as drivers fought to get one last run in, but nobody could find any more time on their well-worn Pirelli Hard tyres.
Slater ended up fastest ahead of Nael and Clerot, with Gladysz and Ernesto Rivera rounding out a top five that was covered by a quarter of a second.
Qualifying-
Freddie Slater earned his second Aramco Pole Position Award Pole Position Award, setting a 2:05.150 on his first attempt in a rain and Red Flag-affected session.
The Trident driver finished ahead of Tuukka Taponen, who earned P2 for MP Motorsport, while Hiyu Yamakoshi wound up third, although the Van Amersfoort Racing driver was involved in the session-ending Red Flag incident.
The session began with rain beginning to fall and drivers were desperate to get their times in early in case the intensity increased.
Louis Sharp was at the head of the field and delivered a 2:06.864, but he was bettered immediately by teammate James Wharton.
Pedro Clerot then went to the top until Yamakoshi went quicker still. Taponen beat the Japanese driver by 0.088s to take provisional top spot.
But Slater went quickest overall on a 2:05.150, a quarter of a second ahead than the Finn in P2 with everyone’s first laptimes on the board.
Drivers pushed on immediately for a second attempt as the rain increased, with Fionn McLaughlin informed over team radio that heavy rain was five minutes away.
Noah Stromsted went up to fourth on his second lap ahead of Ernesto Rivera in fifth with 22 minutes to go.
Drivers then backed off to prepare for another flying lap which kickstarted the battle for track position, with everyone eager for a slipstream to avoid leading the field from the very front.
Some drivers opted to pit at the end of the lap while those that continued and opened a third attempt found that track conditions had deteriorated enough to prevent any improvements. They all boxed at the end of the lap with 17 minutes left of the session.
Cars re-emerged from the pitlane with just under half of the session remaining and with several drivers in search of an improvement. Championship leader Ugo Ugochukwu sat ninth as his closest rival in the Standings retained provisional pole.
There was more battling for track position heading into the final 10 minutes but this time, several cars made contact. Stromsted collided with Yevan David, who tagged Jose Garfias, while Yamakoshi was involved.
It caused a Red Flag with 9:38 left on the clock with the Trident, AIX Racing and Van Amersfoort Racing cars needing to be cleared away.
With the rain increasing, the session was not resumed. It left Slater on top ahead of Taponen and Yamakoshi.
Jordan's Track Talk 