McLaren Racing have announced that Matteo De Palo has joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme, adding to its stable of young talent.
The 18 year old, started karting in 2016, progressing through junior karting series with success across 60 Mini, OK-Junior and OK, with top finishes in WSK Super Master Series and the FIA Karting Academy Trophy.
The Italian, from Rome, made his single-seater debut in 2023 with Campos Racing in the Spanish F4 Championship. A successful season saw him secure a race win and three additional podiums, finishing fifth in the Championship overall.
He also took part in rounds of the Italian F4 and British F4 Championships. In 2024, he stepped up into the Formula Regional European Championship, with one race win and one second place finish.
This year, Matteo competed in FRECA with Trident Motorsport, winning four races and visiting the podium on another seven occasions, securing second place in the Championship.
The team also confirms that Ugo Ugochukwu, Martinius Stenshorne and Brando Badoer will not continue with the McLaren Driver Development Programme past the end of the year.
The McLaren Driver Development Programme is pleased to welcome Matteo. He is an exciting young talent who has made great progress over the past seasons, showing adaptability, consistency and growth. We look forward to supporting his development across driving, as well as the wider aspects of being a professional driver, within our programme pathway. We also thank Ugo, Martinius and Brando for their contribution to McLaren and wish them the best for the future. Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Chief Business Affairs Officer.
Joining the McLaren Driver Development Programme is a great honour. The team have a fantastic track record for developing talent, so I am excited to grow across all elements of being a racing driver. Thank you to Zak, Alessandro and the entire McLaren team. I am excited to get out on track in papaya. Matteo on the news.
Franco Colapinto will complete Alpine’s driver line-up alongside Pierre Gasly in 2026, the team have announced.
The 22 year old joined Alpine in January as a reserve driver on a multi-year deal before earning promotion to a race seat after six races as a replacement for Jack Doohan.
The Argentine endured a difficult start to his time at the team with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore conceding in August that he was not happy with Colapinto’s performance.
However, Colapinto went on to up his game and in the last six Grands Prix has been competitive relative to team mate Gasly, who in September committed his future to the team until at leas the end of 2028.
The improved form – in what is the slowest car on the grid – made him favourite to keep his seat for 2026, with the team believed to have narrowed the choice down to him or fellow reserve Paul Aron.
I’ve been following Franco’s progress throughout his time in Formula 1 and I have always believed that he has the right attributes and potential to be a top driver who can grow with the team. Our decision to continue together for 2026 is a clear indication of our commitment and strong support for Franco as he develops as a race driver. It has been a tough year for the whole team, and it hasn’t been the easiest scenario to perform in, however both Franco and Pierre have done their best to help put the team in the best possible position for next season. With the line-up of Pierre and Franco, we have a good blend of experience, speed and talent that will help drive the team forward and hopefully give our fans something to cheer and shout about next season. Briatore on the news.
I am very grateful to Flavio and the entire team for their belief in me to help drive the team forwards in the future. Ever since I made my Formula 1 debut, I knew, given the circumstances at play, it would be a huge challenge to keep my place in this sport. It has been a long and tough road, and I am very proud for the opportunity to drive with this team again in 2026, alongside Pierre, who has been a great team mate and will undoubtedly be someone I can continue to learn from. Finally, it is very special and timely to make this announcement here in Brazil this weekend. Being so close to my home country of Argentina and an event that feels like a home race for me where I have so much support. To have so many fans on this journey with me and the team is why we go racing and next year, when there should be a reset in Formula 1, we can hopefully give every single person who cheers for us something to truly smile and celebrate. Vamos Alpine! Colapinto on the news.
Williams Racing will become Williams F1 Team from next season as a part of a refresh of the iconic British squad’s identity.
The Grove-based team is among the most successful Formula 1 teams of all time, with nine Teams’ Championships, seven drivers’ titles and 114 Grand Prix wins.
Williams are well into a rebuild phase under the ownership of Dorilton Capital and leadership of James Vowles and are set to finish an impressive fifth in the teams’ standings this year having scored 121 points to date, which is more than their tally accrued in the last seven seasons combined.
In line with the introduction of sweeping new chassis and power unit rules next season, Williams have opted to revise their team name, which they say “connects the team’s glorious legacy to its bold and ambitious future” and team logo.
The team say their existing “W” logo will be replaced by a 21st century reimagining of team founder Frank Williams’ famous ‘Forward W’ first introduced in our founding year of 1977.
I am proud that from next year we will be known as Atlassian Williams F1 Team and carry a logo on our car inspired by our founder Sir Frank Williams and deeply connected with our decades of success. As a team we are inspired by our past but excited about our future and committed to writing a new Championship-winning chapter in Williams’ history. This evolved team identity reflects who we are, where we are going, and reintroduces our title-winning legacy to a growing F1 audience that was not following the sport when we were last dominant. Vowles on the news.
Invicta Racing have confirmed the signing of the 2025 Formula 3 Champion Rafael Camara for the 2026 season, completing their line-up for next year.
After a stellar campaign in F3, during which he achieved four victories, five pole positions and podiums in total on his way to winning the title with a round to spare, Camara will now step up to Formula 2 with Invicta.
Camara graduates to the second tier with an impressive record in single seater racing having won the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine and finished third in the Middle East equivalent that same year and in 2023 also.
The Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member will now step up to Formula 2 with Invicta, racing alongside Joshua Duerksen.
I’m very proud to be joining Invicta Racing for my first season in Formula 2. Over the past few years, this team has become the top target for any driver who wants to race in F2 and has shown time and again that it knows how to develop young drivers. To follow Gabriel Bortoleto and Leonardo Fornaroli in making this step as Formula 3 Champion is a huge honour. After an incredible season in F3 this year, I feel ready for the next challenge, and I can’t wait to get started with the team. Camara on the news.
We’re thrilled to welcome Rafael to Invicta Racing for 2026. At every stage of his career to date, he’s shown pace, consistency, and maturity, delivering outstanding results that really speak for themselves. To have the reigning Formula 3 champion join the team for a third consecutive season underlines our commitment to providing the very best young talent with a platform to perform at the highest level, and we’re very excited to see what Rafael can achieve next season. James Robinson, Invicta Racing Team Principal.
Lando Norris soaked up the pressure of a nervy Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to finish on the podium and in turn secure the F1 Drivers’ Championship for the first time – following rivals Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri home.
Norris started the title-deciding race from second on the grid, between Red Bull racer Verstappen and McLaren teammate Piastri, knowing that finishing in the top three places would be enough to put the 2025 crown beyond doubt.
A bold Piastri move demoted Norris to third on the opening lap, before attacks from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, a spell in traffic after his first pit stop and wheel-to-wheel moment with the other Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda put the Brit under pressure.
Norris, though, dealt with everything that was thrown at him to cross the line in third and clinch the title over Verstappen and Piastri, who both delivered flawless races en route to the win and second position respectively.
At the end of it all, just two points separated Norris and Verstappen at the top of the World Championship standings, given the 10 point swing at the Yas Marina Circuit, with Piastri finishing further 11 points back.
The full top 10 are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Piastri, P3: Norris, P4: Leclerc, P5: Russell, P6: Alonso, P7: Ocon, P8: Hamilton, P9: Hulkenberg and P10: Stroll.
What a season for Mr Lando Norris aka the new WORLD CHAMPION!!!!! A really good race from the Brit, he kept it all cool, calm and collected exactly when he needed to, and most importantly trusted the process! A decent result from Piastri, unfortunately it wasn’t enough to get the championship but a really strong season he should be proud of!
A lovely result from Max, a win to round out the season, which has been a tough one for himself and the team but they really did turn it round, but maybe it was a little too late in the end… As for his teammate, Yuki’s last race in F1, the team used him with orders to slow Norris down but they just made themselves look bad with the un-sportsman like behaviour….
P4 for Leclerc, a good result to round out a difficult season, they seemed to have some pace during the race aswell. As for Hamilton a really good race up in the points again after a difficult starting position. It will be a season of lots of learning and where to go from here for next season for both drivers!
A decent result for Russell, seems like he dropped off in the race compared to his pace in qualifying, but the points helped solidified P2 in the Constructors.
P6 for Alonso, a great way to round out the season, especially with their performance over the last couple of races! The sames goes to Lance Stroll as he finished 10th so a double points finish for the team. Is this a sign of things to come in 2026?!
Oh God! I’ve not cried in a while. didn’t think I’d cry but I did. It’s a long journey. First of all, I want to say a big thanks to my guys, everyone at McLaren, my parents… I’m not crying! My mum, my dad, they were the ones who supported me since the beginning. It feels amazing. Now I know what Max feels like a little bit, and I want to congratulate Max and Oscar, my two biggest competitors all season. It’s been a pleasure to race against both of them, and I’ve learnt a lot from both of them as well. I’ve enjoyed it, it’s been a long year, but we did it, and I’m so proud of everyone. Norris on winning the Drivers’ Championship.
Now, that was our last race of the year in the world of Formula 1 and we do not have another race now until 6th to 8th of March but keep coming back for more updates!
Aston Martin have confirmed that Formula 2 Championship hopeful Jak Crawford will become their third driver for the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Crawford has been a member of the team’s Young Driver Development Programme since 2024, accumulating over 2000km in Formula 1 machinery since then.
The 20 year old took part in the end-of-season test in Abu Dhabi last year and made his Grand Prix weekend debut in Mexico City just a few weeks ago.
Crawford is in the midst of a tightly fought Formula 2 title battle, sitting second in the Drivers’ Championship on 169 points – just 19 points behind leader, Leonardo Fornaroli heading into the final two rounds of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
The young American is now set to take up a full-time Formula 1 role with Aston Martin, and expressed how delighted he was to be given the opportunity.
I’m incredibly proud to be confirmed as the Third Driver for 2026. It’s a huge moment in my journey with Aston Martin Aramco and a big motivation to keep learning and contributing. Over the past two seasons, I’ve learned so much from being in the Formula 1 environment, both at the factory and trackside. I’ll be doing everything I can to support the team and continue developing as a driver. Crawford on the news.
It is great to see Jak progress to become our Third Driver for 2026. Over the past two years, he has shown his value as a key member of our driver squad and built up a valuable bank of experience and test mileage. Jak has impressed in the simulator, having completed regular sessions at the AMR Technology Campus to support our race operations and car development. Jak’s performances in Formula 2 have also been outstanding, and we are excited to continue supporting his growth as he takes on a bigger role. Andy Cowell, Aston Martin Team Principal.
Abu Dhabi hosts the last Grand Prix of the season and it will also be the final appearance at a race weekend for the size of tyre Formula 1 has used since 2022.
Yas Marina has hosted the final race of the Formula 1 season, 13 times. It is a modern, cutting-edge facility, the track is 5.281 kilometres long and features 16 corners.
The drivers know it well as it has long been the venue for the post-season test session. Designed by Hermann Tilke, the track underwent an overhaul four years ago, which slightly reduced its length, while making it faster and more flowing, producing more overtaking opportunities, especially on the 1.2 kilometre long straight between the slow turns 5 and 6.
Another interesting section is to be found through turns 10, 11 and 12, where drivers have to brake hard, thus generating heavy lateral loads on the car. The track surface is made with aggregate imported from England and provides medium levels of abrasiveness and grip.
To iron out some bumpy sections, the surface was redone this year from Turn 1 to Turn 4. As at all night races, there will be a significant drop in temperature between the first and last sessions. Track conditions can change according to when the cars are on track and they will also be affected by how much it rubbers in thanks to the support races, including Formula 2.
Pirelli is sticking with the usual selection of compounds for the last race of the season, namely the C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium) and C5 (Soft). Historically, the Yas Marina track sees graining on the tyres, but as from last year this phenomenon seems to be relatively limited and the greater resistance of the current tyres could reduce it to such an extent that even the Soft, usually only used in qualifying, could be a tyre around which to put together a race strategy.
In Yas Marina last year, 19 drivers fitted the Medium for the start, the sole exception being Hamilton who went with the Hard. The one-stop was the quickest strategy, using the hard for the second stint.
Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi will be racing for DAMS Lucas Oil in the 2026 Formula 3 season, the team confirmed.
The Thai driver graduating from karting in 2022 and achieved his first podium in single seaters in the next season on his debut in the Formula 4 CEZ Championship.
Since then, Bhirombhakdi has competed in two seasons of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, achieving several points finishes in 2025.
The 19 year old has spent the last few weeks taking part in the post-season tests in Jerez, Barcelona and Imola with DAMS and at the announcement talked about how happy he was to be joining the French team.
I’m really excited to be joining DAMS Lucas Oil for the FIA F3 next year. I want to thank the team for giving me this opportunity and can’t wait to get started. Bhirombhakdi on the news.
We are very pleased to welcome Jem to the DAMS Lucas Oil family. He’s shown great potential and a strong work ethic for his age. We look forward to supporting his progression as he takes on the challenges of FIA Formula 3 next season. Charles Pic, DAMS Lucas Oil Team Principal.
Jaguar TCS Racing has today announced Stoffel Vandoorne will join the team as Reserve Driver for Season 12, alongside long-serving simulator and reserve driver Tom Dillmann.
Vandoorne, the 2022 ABB FIA Formula E Drivers’ World Champion, joins the team after a year at Maserati MSG Racing.
With more than 100 Formula E race starts to his name, the Belgian brings a wealth of experience and momentum from an impressive 2024/25 season – capped by his performance in Tokyo that lead Maserati to its sole victory in the GEN3 Evo era.
His Formula E journey spans seven seasons and includes a standout rookie year with HWA Racelab, a three year tenure at Mercedes-EQ Formula E team, where he secured the Drivers’ world title and two seasons with DS PENSKE before his move to Maserati.
He joins Tom Dillmann, Jaguar TCS Racing’s long-serving simulator and reserve driver, who enters his sixth year with the team. Together, Vandoorne and Dillmann will play a pivotal role in shaping the team’s technical development – contributing both on track and behind the scenes as they help develop a competitive GEN4 contender for the 2026/27 season.
I’m thrilled to be joining Jaguar TCS Racing as reserve driver for the upcoming season. It’s a team I’ve long admired for its performance and professionalism, and I’m excited to contribute to their continued success. I’m looking forward to supporting the team both on and off the track and helping push the Jaguar I-TYPE 7 to its full potential. Vandoorne on the news.
It’s a real pleasure to be continuing with Jaguar TCS Racing for my sixth season. Over the years, I’ve seen the team grow into a true championship contender, and I’m proud to have played a part in that journey. There’s a great energy heading into this season, and I’m looking forward to what we can achieve together. Dillman on the news.
We’re proud to welcome Stoffel Vandoorne to Jaguar TCS Racing as our reserve driver for the upcoming season. Stoffel’s credentials speak for themselves – a former Drivers’ World Champion with over 100 race starts and a wealth of experience across seven seasons. We’re also glad to retain Tom Dillmann, who has been a hugely valuable member of Jaguar TCS Racing for the past six years. His dedication and technical expertise have played a key role in our development, and we’re grateful for his continued support as we prepare for Formula E’s most exciting era of racing yet. Ian James, Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal.
Leonardo Fornaroli kicked off his Lusail weekend in strong form, setting the fastest time of the free practice session with a 1:38.656. The Invicta Racing driver completed that time with his final lap of the 45 minute outing, with Hitech TGR’s Dino Beganovic in second and Rodin Motorsport’s Alexander Dunne in third.
After the first set of laps though, it was MP Motorsport’s Richard Verschoor who topped the timesheets with a 1:41.163, with Fornaroli in second, over two-tenths behind.
Fornaroli then led the way with a 1:40.342, but it was close at the top, as Verschoor and Victor Martins went to within 0.080s off the Italian’s leading time.
Luke Browning then took over at the top on a 1:39.701, while Verschoor made things even closer, going to within 0.009s of his title rival, as Fornaroli settled into P3.
Browning lowered the time to beat on his next attempt with a 1:39.285, and this time he was followed by the Invicta pairing of Fornaroli and Roman Stanek. The Hitech TGR driver then ducked into the pitlane after that lap but the Championship leader continued on and went fastest on a 1:39.064.
Browning had then been on a quicker lap but ran wide in the final sector. However, his teammate Beganovic continued to fly the Hitech flag going to P2, 0.044s off Fornaroli’s time.
As the session entered its final stages, the drivers were still finding time on their hard tyres, with Dunne jumping up to third. Fornaroli continued to set the standard and improved to a 1:38.656 on his final lap, although Beganovic closed to the gap to 0.102s moment later.
Qualifying-
Oliver Goethe claimed his maiden FIA Formula 2 Aramco Pole Position Award, logging a 1:36.115 for MP Motorsport.
Championship leader, Leonardo Fornaroli had been fastest for much of the qualifying session but was bested by just 0.040s to wind up second, ahead of ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins in third.
PREMA Racing’s Sebastian Montoya set the early pace before the Invicta Racing duo of Roman Stanek and then Fornaroli went quicker still. The pair were split by Jak Crawford, but it was the Championship leader that went P1 on a 1:37.850 after the first laps.
Martins delivered a 1:37.512 to go to the top on his second attempt, until MP Motorsport teammates Oliver Goethe and Richard Verschoor went 1-2.
Stanek put Invicta back on top with a 1:37.189, but teammate Fornaroli once again went quickest of all, this time laying down on a 1:36.996. Several drivers began to peel into the pitlane to bring their first run to a close, but Goethe went to within 0.075s of Fornaroli on his third flying lap, improving to P2.
Into the final 10 minutes and everyone returned to the track with fresh Soft tyres and Dino Beganovic delivered a time good enough for provisional pole on a 1:36.826.
Fornaroli was flying behind though, and he went back to P1 on a 1:36.307. Stanek cut the gap down to 0.214s in P2, while Goethe delivered the third-quickest time to go ahead of Beganovic.
Goethe though found enough time to go in front of Fornaroli as both drivers improved on their final attempts, just 0.040s between them in favour of the MP driver as he set a 1:36.115.
However, Goethe was handed a grid penalty following the conclusion of qualifying, as he impeded Martinius Stenshorne at Turn 6. It then promotes Leonardo Fornaroli for pole position in the feature race.
Sprint Race-
Duerksen got the best launch from the front row to take the lead from Verschoor, while Nikola Tsolov slotted into third place on the run to Turn 1.
Championship leader, Leonardo Fornaroli went wheel-to-wheel with teammate Roman Stanek on the opening lap and attempted a move on the second tour, though was unable to clear his teammate as the Invicta Racing pair fought over seventh place.
Onto Lap 4, and with DRS enabled, Verschoor had clawed his way back to within a second of Duerksen and he swept back into the lead at Turn 1.
The MP title-hopeful was comfortably the fastest driver on track in the following laps, extending his advantage over the pack to two seconds.
Further back, a wide moment at Turn 4 on Lap 12 lost Victory Martins P11 to Dino Beganovic and on the following tour he was passed by Gabriele Mini, dropping him to 13th.
Lap 14 and a collision between TRIDENT teammate Laurens van Hoepen and James Wharton left the latter beached in the gravel at Turn 1. It brought out the Safety Car and wiped out race leader Verschoor’s four-second advantage.
Stanek opted to pit, the only driver from inside the top 10 to fit the softs, while Arvid Lindblad, Oliver Goethe, John Bennett, Luke Browning, Cian Shields and Kush Maini also fitted the red-marked tyres. The DAMS Lucas Oil driver did however come to a halt before racing resumed, extending the Safety Car period.
Racing resumed entering Lap 17 with Verschoor retaining his lead over Duerksen with seven laps to go. By Lap 20, the advantage was back out to 2.4s with Tsolov trailing by a further second in P3.
A spin for Shields on the exit of Turn 5 brought out the Safety Car once more, bringing the pack back together and setting up a final lap shootout. Verschoor got things back underway and the fight for the podium places heading into Turn 1 was on.
Tsolov was rounded by Villagomez, who ran wide ahead of Turn 2 but claimed the place, whilst the Bulgarian driver went wide himself and fell from third to 10th.
The Dutch driver was untroubled though, taking the Lusail Sprint Race victory ahead of Duerksen and Villagomez after his final lap pass on Tsolov.
Feature Race-
It was a great start from Martins, taking the lead from Fornaroli going into Turn 1, while Dunne took P4 for Oliver Goethe at Turn 3.
The Rodin driver was chasing Roman Stanek for third, but ran wide at the final corner. It allowed Goethe and Nikola Tsolov to close in, although Dunne was able to hold off the chasing pair.
Martins then set the fastest lap and by the start of lap 3, he had built up a 1.7s gap to Fornaroli, with the Italian coming on the radio to complain of his soft tyres to his Invicta tam.
Further behind them, Sebastian Montoya used the DRS to good effect to get ahead of Tsolov for P6 into Turn 1. Martins was 4.1s clear of Fornaroli by the start of Lap 5, and it looked like Invicta were struggling on the soft tyres, as Dunne overtook Stanek for P3 into Turn 1.
The pit window opened up at the end of Lap 6 and Fornaroli, Dunne, Montoya, Verschoor and Duerksen came in to swap to the Hard tyres.
The race leader was in on the next lap, joined in the pitlane by Goethe and Stanek. It was a slow stop for Martins, but he was still able to come back out ahead of Fornaroli and Dunne.
At the front of the field, Dino Beganovic was the lead driver on the alternative strategy and by the end of Lap 10, he had built a 7.1s lead to Arvid Lindblad.
But in the battle for the net race lead, Fornaroli and Dunne were closing in on Martins, the Championship leader 1.4s behind by the start of Lap 11. Verschoor was looking to fight his way through the field and having overtaken Villagomez, he bided his time before overtaking Stanek, putting him in a net P7.
The Safety Car was then deployed on Lap 15, with Oliver Goethe having stopped on track, just as Dunne and Tsolov were given five-second time penalties for an unsafe release in the pitlane.
Racing resumed on Lap 17 of 32, and Beganovic once again was showing good pace, and had built a 1.7s lead to teammate Luke Browning by the start of the next lap.
Martins was now up to fifth, leading the drivers who had pitted, but he was struggling to overtake Laurens van Hoepen, allowing Fornaroli to close in on the Frenchman.
Beganovic was 4.2s clear of Browning at the start of Lap 22, while Fornaroli was now 1.1s behind Martins, just as Lindblad on his Soft tyres, continued to reduce the gap.
But by Lap 25, the option tyre runners were starting to struggle, as Dunne closed in on Lindblad for seventh on the road. However, the Campos Racing driver held him off at Turn 1.
In the battle for the net race lead, Fornaroli was now within DRS range of Martins, while Dunne went to the inside of Lindblad at Turn 1 to take seventh place.
After a superb stint, Beganovic was called in to fit the softs at the end of Lap 27, coming back out in P12. Browning and Bennett then pitted on Lap 29, leaving Martins and Fornaroli to fight for the race win.
However the ART driver was 1.1s clear of Fornaroli, as Dunne closed in, looking to build the five second gap he needed to keep third ahead of Lindblad. But out in front, Martins had done enough to win the Feature Race, but the day belonged to Fornaroli, as he claimed the 2025 FIA Formula 2 title by finishing second.
Max Verstappen claimed a crucial victory in the Qatar Grand Prix from Oscar Piastri, with the title battle set to go down to the final round as Championship leader Lando Norris could only finish fourth.
Verstappen’s unlikely win was courtesy of McLaren’s alternative strategy which came as a consequence of an early Safety car intervention and an enforced 25 lap maximum stint level on all Pirelli tyre sets.
The Red Bull driver jumped Norris on the run to the first turn from P3 on the grid and shadowed poleman Piastri in the opening laps before a clash between Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly at Turn 1 several laps later turned the race on its head.
While all drivers pitted for the first of two mandatory pit stops in the 57 lap race, both Piastri and Norris remained out on track, which ultimately put them behind Verstappen in the final order.
The full top 10 are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Piastri, P3: Sainz, P4: Norris, P5: Antonelli, P6: Russell, P7: Alonso, P8: Leclerc, P9: Lawson and P10: Tsunoda.
What a result for Verstappen! This is what he needed to continue the championship fight and that he has done so, with a perfect strategy he absolutely stole the show and now the fight continues until the final race weekend!
A disappointing result, for Piastri, a weekend where he had everything together but got done over in the race by strategy, horrible weekend for him, and now his behind in the championship fight. As for Norris, another bad result for McLaren, he lost out to Verstappen at the start and then a bad strategy aswell meant he could only do the best finish of P4.
What a result for Carlos Sainz! P3 for the Williams driver, this confirmed their fifth place in the Constructors’ after a strong season so far! A brilliant drive from Sainz after qualifying really well.
A decent result for Mercedes, P5 for Antonelli and P6 for Russell, not the best result for them but still very good points in the bag for them!
P7 for Alonso, a decent points finish for the Spaniard, a pretty good weekend overall for the Aston Martin driver, it will be interesting to see how he does in the last race of the year!
Another disappointing weekend for Ferrari, P8 for Leclerc and P12 for Hamilton after making up quite a few spots since his qualifying position. This isn’t the end of the season the Italian team would’ve wanted.
This was an incredible race for us. We made the right call as a team to box under the Safety Car. That was smart. Of course, I’m super happy to win here and stay in the fight until the end. Incredible. I think [the pace] was a little bit offset because of it all, but for us I think it was a very strong race on a weekend where it was a little bit tough. We still won the race and that was the most important thing. Verstappen on the win.
Oscar Piastri claimed a crucial pole position for the Qatar Sprint, beating George Russell and McLaren team mate Lando Norris to the top spot.
The Australian set the pace when it mattered most in Friday’s SQ3, sitting at the top of the times after both his flying laps, with his final benchmark of 1m 20.055s leaving him just 0.032s clear of Mercedes’ Russell.
Norris who holds a 24 point lead over Piastri and Max Verstappen ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, which means he can claim a maiden Formula 1 title this weekend, finished two-tenths further back after running wide at the last corner on his final effort.
The full top 10 are – Pole: Piastri, P2: Russell, P3: Norris, P4: Alosno, P5: Tsunoda, P6: Verstappen, P7: Antonelli, P8: Sainz, P9: Leclerc and P10: Albon.
What a result for Piastri! Exactly what he would’ve wanted going into this weekend, this will give him the momentum to continue the weekend strongly. A very good result for his teammate, Norris in P3, they both did well to beat Verstappen.
As for the Dutchman, he had been out-qualified by Tsunoda. The four time world champion qualified 6th and Tsunoda finished 5th. A decent result, but still a lot of work to do for Verstappen.
A great result for Russell, P2 for the Mercedes man, as for his team mate 7th for Antonelli, not the best result for the Italian but still a good enough result to get some good points!
P4 for Alonso! A great result for the Aston Martin driver, some good performances from Aston Martin over the past few race weekends!
A day to forget for Ferrari, Leclerc qualified 9th and Hamilton 18th. A horrible result for Hamilton, a lot of work for the Brit to do, whereas for Leclerc still in a good position to make some moves and be rewarded with points.
It’s been a good day, which is nice for a change. It’s been a day where things have clicked from the start and I think the Sprint Qualifying session went really well. I had a pretty big moment on my lap but it was just enough in the end so thanks to the team – it’s a great car and it’s looked really good this weekend so far. I’m pretty happy with that. Piastri on pole position.
The Qatar Grand Prix is the penultimate race of the season and the last to be run to the Sprint format. It comes just one week on from Las Vegas, 13,000 kilometres as the crow flies from this week’s venue in Lusail. Both races and indeed the final one in Abu Dhabi, take place at night, but the weather could not be more different.
Conditions were cold on track in the Nevadan desert, but in Qatar drivers will have to deal with heat and humidity similar to that experienced in Singapore. The Middle Eastern track is particularly demanding for the tyres and that has led to the introduction of an exceptional measure.
The three hardest compounds in the Pirelli range have been selected for Doha. The C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium) and C3 (Soft) are the obvious choice at a track where tyres are subjected to energy levels similar to those experienced in Suzuka and indeed, these are the only compounds that have ever been run at the this Grand Prix.
The majority of the corners at the Lusail track are high speed, which means the tyres have little time to recover and the section which works them the hardest is from turns 12 and 14. The track surface which is quite smooth has usually led to graining which contributes to producing a high wear rate on the tyres.
The Lusail circuit was originally conceived as a motorcycle racing track, which is clear from its rather unique layout; fast and twisty with a straight that is over a kilometre in length. The circuit on the outskirts of Doha, presents the drivers, cars and tyres with some unusual challenges. It boasts 16 corners, ten of them right handers while its desert location means that sand often gets blown onto the track, inevitably influencing track evolution. In an effort to prevent this, there are several areas of artificial grass around the circuit.
All drivers started the Qatar Grand Prix on the Medium tyre with the exception of Nico Hulkenberg who opted for Hards. The one-stop strategy proved the most popular, with drivers looking to extend the first stint on the yellow-banded tyre, managing to make it last well past the half race distance.
Van Amersfoort Racing have confirmed that Nicolas Varrone will be driving for the team in the 2026 Formula 2 season.
The Argentine driver has been racing in sports cars since going over to Europe in 2018, and has won several trophies, including winning the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMGTE Am class. Prior to that, he also finished third in the 2021 Le Mans Cup in the LMP3 class.
Varrone now makes the switch to single seater racing, but does have previous experience in an F2 car having driven on the final day of post-season testing in Abu Dhabi last year.
At the announcement, the 24 year old spoke of how excited he was at the chance to race with VAR in 2026.
I’m super excited to be joining Van Amersfoort Racing for the 2026 F2 season. A very professional team with a lot of history and success. Can’t wait to get behind the wheel and start working with them. Thankful to everyone who believed in me all these years. Varrone on the news.
We’re very pleased to welcome Nico to Van Amersfoort Racing for our 2026 FIA Formula 2 campaign. His experience and achievements in endurance racing, including his success at Le Mans, speak for themselves. Stepping into Formula 2 will be a new challenge, but with his talent and technical understanding, we’re confident he will adapt quickly to the environment. We’re looking forward to working with him and believe his arrival will bring great value to the team as we take on the season together. Brad Joyce, Van Amersfoort Racing Team Principal.
Invicta Racing have announced that Joshua Duerksen will be racing for the team in the 2026 Formula 2 season.
Duerksen is set to return for a third season in the Championship, having achieved two victories and four podiums in his rookie campaign in 2024, finishing 10th in the standings with 87 points.
So far this season through the first 12 rounds of his second year in F2, Duerksen has one win and five podiums in total.
Prior to his stint in Formula 2, finished second in the 2019 Formula 4 UAE Championship and sixth in the 2020 ADAC F4 and 2021 Italian F4 seasons.
I’m incredibly proud to be representing Invicta Racing and Paraguay for the 2026 Formula 2 season. The team has shown over several years that it’s one of the very best in the championship, and I’m excited to seize this huge opportunity. I’ve learned a lot during my time in F2 so far, and I feel ready to fight at the very front every weekend and to show what Paraguay is capable of. I’m really looking forward to starting work with everyone in the team, and I’m confident that we can achieve great things together next year. Duerksen on the news.
Joshua has been one of the standout performers in Formula 2 over the past couple of seasons and we’re very excited to welcome him to Invicta Racing for 2026. He’s a proven race winner with not only the speed, but the mindset to fight at the sharp end of the grid. Joshua’s ability to extract performance under pressure and his commitment to constant improvement have immediately impressed us, and I’m confident that we will deliver some strong results together next year. James Robinson, Invicta Racing Team Principal.
DAMS Lucas Oil have announced their first driver signing of the 2026 season, with Dino Beganovic set to race for the team next year.
Beganovic is in the midst of his first full campaign in Formula 2 and is currently eighth in the Drivers’ Standings with one victory and pole position, as well as four podiums in total.
Prior to that, the Swede competed in the final two rounds of the 2024 F2 season with DAMS, achieving a third-place finish in the Yas Marina Sprint Race.
The Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member also achieved nine podiums, which included two wins during his two seasons in Formula 3.
Beganovic also won the 2022 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine after finishing third in the 2020 Italian F4 season.
I’m extremely happy to return to DAMS Lucas Oil for another season in Formula 2. I felt an instant connection with the team last year — both on a professional and human level — and we showed great potential together, including a podium in Abu Dhabi. I’m grateful for the trust they’ve placed in me, and for the continued support from the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy. The goal now is to build on the progress we’ve made and fight consistently at the front. Beganovic on the news.
We were impressed by Dino’s maturity and professionalism during his first outings with us. His work ethic, technical understanding and consistency perfectly match the values of our team. We’re thrilled to welcome him back for this next step in his career, and we’re confident we can achieve great things together. Charles Pic, DAMS Lucas Oil Team Owner.
Campos Racing have confirmed the signing of Noel Leon for the 2026 Formula 3 season – completing their lineup for next year following the announcement of Nikola Tsolov.
Leon steps up to F2 after two seasons in Formula 3, achieving six podiums across both campaigns and finishing 10th in the Drivers’ Championship as a rookie in 2024.
Prior to that, the Mexican driver won the 2023 Euroformula Championship. He also took the 2019/20 NACAM Formula 4 Championship title and the 2021 US F4 Championship.
Leon is now set to take the next step in his career by graduating to Formula 2 and at the announcement, he expressed his delight at being able to do so with Campos.
It is an honor to take this important step in my career and join Campos Racing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship. I am truly grateful for the team’s trust and for the support of my sponsors, whose commitment has made this dream possible. Campos is a team with great history and experience, and I am fully committed to learning from them and giving my very best in this new chapter. Leon on the news.
We are proud to welcome a driver of Noel’s caliber to our FIA Formula 2 team for 2026. His titles in junior single-seater categories speak for themselves, and I am convinced he has plenty to say in FIA Formula 2, even as a rookie. At Campos Racing, we will provide him with all the tools necessary to ensure his adaptation to the category is as quick and effective as possible. Adrian Campos Jr, Team Principal.
McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix after both their cars were found not to comply with the technical regulations.
Post-race, the rearmost skid wear on both Mclaren MCL39 machines was found to be below the minimum 9mm thickness by technical delegates on inspection.
The matter was referred to the stewards, who subsequently disqualified both cars from the official result, with Norris having finished second and Piastri fourth.
As a result, race winner Max Verstappen has made a significant gain with regards to the 2025 Drivers’ Championship, as the Red Bull man now sits level on points with Oscar Piastri on 336. Lando Norris is 24 points ahead on 390 at the top of the standings with just two rounds of the season to go.
McLaren are not the first team to fall foul of skid block infringements this season, with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Hulkenberg also disqualified from the Chinese and Bahrain Grand Prix respectively for similar transgressions.
With two Grand Prix and one Sprint remaining, there are 58 points on offer over the next two weekends to determine the outcome of the 2025 title.
Confirming the disqualifications of the McLaren pair, the stewards’ document stated that the skid blocks on both cars were “measured and found to be below the minimum thickness of 9mm specified under Article 3.5.9 of the Technical Regulations. The rear skids were re-measured in the presence of the Stewards and the three McLaren representatives, and those measurements confirmed that the skids did not comply with the regulations. The relevant measurements were even lower than those measured originally by the Technical Delegate. It was also confirmed that McLaren had argued “mitigating circumstances existed in that there was additional and unexpected porpoising at this event, limited opportunity to test due to the weather on Day 1, and shortened practice sessions. While the stewards dismissed this, they added “the FIA noted that it strongly held the view that the breach was unintentional and that there was not a deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations”. The Stewards’ document.
Max Verstappen claimed an impressive victory in the Las Vegas Grand Prix, denying Lando Norris and reducing the McLaren driver’s lead in the standings to 42 points as Oscar Piastri finished fourth.
Verstappen was left in control of the 50 lap race on the streets of Las Vegas after the opening corners, passing poleman Norris when the Drivers’ Championship leader ran wide through Turn 1 having initially chopped across his title rival off the line.
Norris also slipped behind George Russell and only re-passed the Mercedes driver in the latter stages but was unable to mount a challenge on Verstappen, eventually limping home nearly 21 seconds adrift after nursing a late problem.
The full top 10 are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Norris, P3: Russell, P4: Piastri, P5: Antonelli, P6: Leclerc, P7: Sainz, P8: Hadjar, P9: Hulkenberg and P10: Hamilton.
What a result for Verstappen, this is what he would’ve wanted going into the race today! The minute he took the opportunity to lead he was gone and didn’t look back.
P2 for Norris and P4 for Piastri, a decent result for McLaren. Unfortunate for Lando to loose out on a couple of positions at the start of the race, but he did well to keep the momentum going and grab another position back. As for Piastri, a decent race, nothing amazing, he gained an extra place as Antonelli had a penalty which pushed him down to 5th and Piastri up to 4th.
For the Mercedes duo, a really good result for Russell, P3 for the Brit, which is needed in the fight in the constructors. As for Antonelli, what a drive by the Italian! Starting 17th to finish 5th! Honestly a really good drive, unfortunate for the penalty but one of the best drives his done so far.
P6 for Leclerc, a decent result but wasn’t anything wow, main thing was he kept out of trouble and still scored points. As for his teammate, Hamilton had a good drive to get into the points from starting 19th.
P7 for Sainz, a lovely result for him especially after starting third. A good result for the team especially as they fight it out for P5, which they have now built a 31 point gap between themselves and Racing Bulls in 6th.
We had 3 retirees, Alex Albon having collided with the back of Hamilton which required a new front wing, while Gabriel Bortoleto and Lance Stroll retired with damage after contact at Turn 1 on the opening lap.
In the race I think everyone was just trying to find a rhythm and see how much you could push, especially in the first stint because being on the more fragile tyre. It worked really well, normally the race is always a tough one for us – we are normally not that great on tyres, but today it seemed like we had that a little bit more under control and I could push a little bit more and that unlocked a bit more pace. I could stay out a bit longer and split basically the race in half. It definitely helped a lot and the car was working pretty well, much more to my liking and it was at the end quite a decent gap. It was just every lap feeling comfortable and not taking too much out of the tyre. Verstappen on the win and race.
Doriane Pin made her title intentions clear, topping the timesheets in practice ahead of rival Maya Weug on the series’ first appearance around the Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
The Standings leader posted a 2:07.967 to go two tenths clear of the Ferrari driver after a late running red flag denied them a chance to improve in the last 10 minutes of running.
Lia Block was the first to post a time around the 6.2km circuit, steadily lowering the initial benchmark from a 2:19.431 to a 2:15.321. Track temperatures continued to fall below 17.6˚C as the action heated up, with Pin breaking into the 2:12s, followed by Tommy Hilfiger’s Alba Larsen.
The Mercedes driver pushed on, remaining quickest on a 2:10.117. Meanwhile, Weug began to slowly bring her tyres up to temperature, moving into second, seven tenths off Pin’s effort.
As the rest of the field picked up the pace, Alisha Palmowski rocketed to the top with the first 2:09s time of the day, only to be quickly beaten by Pin. Weug briefly moved to the top of the order on a 2:09.045, while both Rafaela Ferreira and Lia Block took separate tips to the run-off.
Personal bests for Palmowski and Chloe Chambers elevated the Campos Racing pair to the top two, but it wouldn’t be long before Pin moved back out front on a 2:08.606, with Weug closing to within 0.050s.
Pin managed to put over two tenths between herself and her title rival with a 2:07.967. Chambers moved back inside the top three, but the Red Bull Ford driver’s session would be brought to a premature end.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, the American found the barriers after her front right suspension broke on the approach to Turn 1, necessitating a red flag. The clock continued to tick down and with only a minute remaining once the session resumed, no further improvements were possible.
Qualifying-
Red Bull Ford driver, Chloe Chambers sailed above the rest to secure pole position on home soil, beating rookies Alisha Palmowski and Alba Larsen around the spectacular Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
In a shock to the remarkably close title battle, Chambers took the top spot in dominant fashion, leaving contenders Doriane Pin and Maya Weug down in P4 and P5 respectively after the American set a time of 2:06.538.
Following a small delay to the start of the session, it came down to McLaren driver Ella Lloyd to set the first flying lap on a busy track, with everyone working to warm their tyres up in the chilly conditions. Her initial effort of 2:10.951 was quickly knocked off the top by title challenger Weug, who put in a purple sector 1 before getting caught behind Larsen.
There was a possibility that the Tommy Hilfiger driver was attempting to give her MP Motorsport teammate a tow to propel Weug to provisional pole, but Pin managed to go 0.420s clear with 18 minutes of the session remaining.
Larsen and Weug momentarily returned to the pits with plenty of improvements still to come – Chambers demoted Mercedes frontrunner Pin to P2, beating the fastest time set in practice in the process.
Lap times tumbled as Pin and Chambers continued to exchange P1 on the timesheets, leaving the battle for pole position wide open as the drivers headed into the tense final third of qualifying.
Meanwhile, Weug lingered down in sixth position before team tactics came into play and a successful tow from Larsen pushed her up to P2, just 0.044s behind Chambers.
With a lap around the dazzling Las Vegas track taking over two minutes to complete, everyone had to time their final attempts to perfection in order to maximise the tyre temperature.
Pin had previously been informed by her engineer that she needed a tow for Sector 3, but her PREMA Racing team mate Tina Hausmann did not make it easy to pass at the critical moment, leaving the Mercedes driver down in P4.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix is the last of three rounds of this year’s world championship to be held in the United States, before the season comes to a close with the final two races in the Middle East.
The race is run over 50 laps of the Las Vegas circuit, which has 17 corners and is unique because of the speeds attained and its technical layout. At 6.201 kilometres, it is the second longest on the calendar after Spa and one of the fastest in terms of average lap speed.
In 2024, Alex Albon in his Williams hit the highest top speed of the season (368 km/h) on the straight between turns 12 and 14. At the latter corner, drivers experience very strong deceleration when braking and it is one of the best overtaking opportunities.
Almost 80% of the lap is spent at full throttle, the cars passing famous landmarks such as the Venetian and Casears Palace, which hosted the first two Las Vegas GPs.
For the third consecutive year, the compounds chosen for the Las Vegas street circuit are the C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), C5 (Soft). One of the main challenges will be tyre temperature management especially during qualifying.
The fact the sessions are running earlier this year will help the drivers, as conditions won’t be quite as cold, thus helping tyre warm-up. However, the preparation lap prior to the flying lap will still be crucial to get the tyres up into the right temperature window. Furthermore, this year’s tyres have improved mechanical properties, which should see a reduction in degradation, which was particularly noticeable on the medium compound last year.
All but four drivers chose to start on the medium, Fernando Alonso went for the soft, while Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas and starting from pitlane Franco Colapinto, preferred the hard. The two-stop was the preferred strategy, drivers pushing tyres to the limit rather than having to manage them carefully.
CUPRA Kiro is excited to announce that Spanish racing driver, Pepe Marti, will join the team for the upcoming 2025/26 FIA Formula E World Championship season.
The 20 year old from Barcelona, Spain, joins CUPRA KIRO following a two-season spell in Formula 2, where he has established himself as one of the brightest young talents in single-seater motorsport.
Marti started his single-seater career in 2021, finishing third in the F4 Championship and as the runner-up in the Formula Regional Asian Championship before stepping onto the Formula 1 support bill in FIA Formula 3 in 2022.
After claiming three wins and four podiums in his second F3 season, Pepe graduated to FIA Formula 2 for 2024 and has since added four wins and eight podiums to his name.
Managed by A14 Management, a driver development group co-founded by Fernando Alonso, Marti’s career has been defined by a clear statement of intent and trajectory of ambition, discipline and performance and aligns closely CUPRA KIRO’s ultimate competitive targets in Formula E.
I’m very excited to join CUPRA KIRO for the 2025/26 Formula E season. Obviously, it will be my first time racing in the category, and I’ll be a rookie, but nonetheless, I’m looking forward to it. The team is coming into Season 12 off the back of a win in Jakarta, and I feel very motivated to get this new chapter started. With Dan [Ticktum] as my team-mate, I’ll have a lot to learn and catch up on at the beginning of the season, but my goal is to get up to speed, improve quickly and score points and hopefully get a couple of good results. Marti on the news.
Welcoming Pepe to CUPRA KIRO marks an exciting new chapter for the team. Despite being just 20 years old, Pepe has shown exceptional levels of maturity, composure, and intelligence, which, when combined with his natural speed, makes him stand out as a top talent in modern motorsport. His decision to step away from Formula 2 and commit fully to our Formula E project is a real statement of intent, and not only validates our vision as a team, but shows belief in the future of the championship. His track record and drive align perfectly with our own goals, and together, we’re building something with long-term potential. I’m excited to see how our journey together unfolds over Season 12. Russell O’Hagan, Chief Operating Officer, CUPRA KIRO.
Hitech TGR have confirmed that Colton Herta will be racing for the team in the 2026 season.
Herta joins the grid after seven full seasons in IndyCar where he achieved 19 podium finishes, which included nine victories as well as 16 pole positions and a best result of second overall in the 2024 season.
Prior to that, the Cadillac F1 Team Test driver, finished third in the 2015 MSA Formula Championship and the 2016 Euroformula Open Championship.
In addition to that, Herta also ended up second in the 2016 Spanish Formula 3 Championship. The American driver now returns to racing in Europe with Hitech and he is excited to get going in 2026.
I’m incredibly excited to be joining Hitech for the 2026 FIA Formula 2 season. This is a big shift in my career, and I’m ready for the challenge. I’ve loved my time in IndyCar and I’m proud of everything I achieved, but the opportunity to race in F2 – to compete on the Formula 1 calendar, against some of the best young drivers in the world – was one I couldn’t pass up. I’ve always worked to keep the door to F1 open, and this move is part of that ultimate ambition. I know it won’t be easy – learning the car, the tyres, the tracks – but I’m approaching this with determination, focus, and a lot of motivation. My goal is to compete at the front, continue developing as a driver, and put myself in the best possible position for a future in Formula 1. Hitech has an excellent reputation and a proven track record, and I’m confident it’s the right environment for me to develop and perform. I want to thank them for believing in me and providing the platform to make this step. Herta on the news.
We’re delighted to welcome Colton to the team for the 2026 Formula 2 season. He already brings a level of experience, professionalism, and talent that we’re typically used to nurturing in drivers as they progress through the junior categories. This is an exciting step for Colton, but also a challenging one. He’s stepping into a new racing environment that has very different formats, with high expectations, and a clear goal of progressing to F1. But his determination and commitment are impressive and we’re delighted to help maximise his potential during the 2026 season. Clive Hatton, Hitech TGR Team Manager.
CUPRA KIRO has confirmed Dan Ticktum will stay with the team through the 2025/26 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Ticktum enters his fifth season in Formula E after joining the grid from FIA Formula 2 in 2021.
In the 2024/25 season, the 26 year old produced a breakthrough campaign which saw the Brit claim a landmark maiden podium in Tokyo, a maiden Julius Baer Pole Position in London and an unforgettable first victory in Jakarta.
The upcoming 2025/26 season will mark Ticktum’s second with CUPRA KIRO and fifth overall with the Silverstone-based team, with the collaboration marking one of the longest active driver-team combinations on the grid.
I am back. And I’m happy to be back. Season 11 was far more positive than any season before it. Last year we faced a big challenge to get everything in the right window as fast as we could, and with limited time, but we achieved that halfway through the season. I’m looking forward to building on that this year, and I think that if we can hit the ground running, we have a car that can be good enough to get more wins. My personal goal is a top five finish in the championship, but overall, I want to really enjoy the environment in the team. I love all of the people in this team, and I’m really looking forward to this season. Ticktum on the news.
Continuing our relationship with Dan for Season 12 was the easiest decision we’ve had to make as a team. Since joining us in 2021, we’ve been very fortunate to watch him grow and transform into one of Formula E’s most gifted drivers. From securing his first victory in Jakarta to taking pole in London, Dan’s performances last season proved what we’ve always believed: that he has the makings of a World Champion. He has the drive, the instinct, and the pure talent to be the best, and we’re very proud, and very excited to continue our journey together in Season 12. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve! Russell O’Hagan, Chief Operating Officer, CUPRA KIRO.
Formula 1 has announced that the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, is set to remain on the calendar until the 2034 inclusive. The new deal secures the long-term future of the event as Formula 1 continues to experience significant growth across the United States.
Since its debut on the Formula 1 calendar in 2012, the United States Grand Prix has evolved into one of the sport’s biggest spectacles, drawing over 430,000 fans to the Circuit of The Americas in recent years. Renowned for its thrilling on-track battles and vibrant off-track entertainment, the venue blends world-class racing with performances from global and local music artists.
The 5.5 kilometre circuit starts with an iconic uphill run into Turn 1, before drivers take on the famous high-speed through Turns 3 to 6. The circuit has thrilled fans with wheel to wheel racing and overtaking since the first Grand Prix there 13 years ago, and COTA has delivered six different winners in that time, including Lewis Hamilton who holds a record five victories at the venues.
In 2024, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed his first win at COTA, breaking Max Verstappen’s three year winning streak there, as the Scuderia sealed a 1-2 result, with Carlos Sainz second.
Since 2012 the United States Grand Prix has continued to grow in strength and popularity, and I want to thank the City of Austin and Travis County for hosting us. Each year, the event at the Circuit of The Americas stands out as a true highlight for fans, drivers, and teams alike, drawing hundreds of thousands of passionate supporters who come to witness the thrilling on-track action and soak up the vibrant energy of the circuit and the city. As Formula 1 continues to grow and thrive in the United States, we are proud to extend our partnership with Bobby Epstein and his outstanding team in Austin, as well as with Governor Abbott, whose leadership has been instrumental in supporting the sport’s development in Texas and beyond. Both have shown unwavering commitment to F1, and their shared vision and investment have played a vital role in establishing the strong foundation we now enjoy in the US. Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1.
We’re glad Formula 1 has found a home in Texas, and are grateful to the fans, teams, and the entire F1 community who have consistently supported us and made the United States Grand Prix a favourite stop on the global calendar. Equally, we’re proud of – and appreciate – the people of Central Texas who have been such welcoming hosts! With this contract, COTA will overtake Watkins Glen as the longest serving Formula 1 track in the United States. Thanks to the great support and a wonderful host city, the United States Grand Prix has grown to be one of the world’s biggest single weekend sporting events – with an unrivalled annual economic impact. Bobby Epstein, Chairman of Circuit of the Americas.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will return to the vibrant coastal city of Sanya for Round 12 of Season 12 in June, marking the series’ first visit to the city since Season 5 (2018/19).
Sanya joins Shanghai on the Season 12 calendar, with China now hosting two events in a single season – a clear reflection of the country’s strategic importance to Formula E and its longstanding place in the series’ history. It’s also a testament to China’s strong interest in Formula E, underlining the nation’s role as a key market and enthusiastic supporter of all-electric racing made possible through the support of the Government of Sanya, as well as trusted partners Sanya Lian Xin.
Located on China’s Hainan Island, Sanya offers a unique blend of tropical scenery and a challenging street circuit layout, expected to deliver a unique racing experience for drivers and teams. As a city celebrated for its world-class tourism and positioned within the only free trade port with Chinese characteristics – the Hainan Free Trade Port – Sanya leverages Formula E as a global stage to showcase both its appeal to international visitors and its growing role as a hub for international business.
China has played a pivotal role in the history of Formula E, having hosted the very first race of the Championship at the Beijing E-Prix in 2014. Since then, the series has raced in four different Chinese cities, including both Hong Kong and now Shanghai and Sanya. Across these eleven races, there have been ten different winners, showcasing the unpredictable and competitive nature of the Championship.
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will form Mercedes’ Formula 1 driver line-up for the 2026 season, the team have announced.
The eight-time World Champions have opted to stick with Russell and Antonelli, who are both products of the team’s junior programme and have guided the Silver Arrows to P2 in the Teams’ Championship with three race weekends to go.
Russell was promoted to the works team in 2022, after three years at Williams, and has since clinched five Grands Prix wins, the latest of which came at Singapore.
Next year will be his eighth in F1 and 10th campaign for Mercedes, having joined their junior programme in 2017.
Rookie Antonelli has had some big peaks this year, including Sprint pole in Miami, a podium in Canada, where he became the youngest podium finisher in F1 history and podium in Sao Paulo, but also endured a difficult run through the European leg of the season.
Confirming our driver line-up was always just a matter of when, not if. We wanted to take our time, handle the negotiations properly and make sure everyone, on all sides, was happy. I’m pleased we have done that. George and Kimi have proved a strong pairing and we’re excited to continue our journey together. Our focus is now on the final six races of the year, as we fight for second in the Constructors’, and onwards to 2026 and a new era in F1. Wolff on the news.
I am really proud to be continuing our journey together. Next year will mark my 10th since I signed with Mercedes back in 2017. It has been such a long and successful partnership with the team so far and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead, particularly as we embark on one of the largest regulation changes in the sport’s history next year. We are all incredibly focused on making that a success and, for me personally, building on what has been my strongest season in F1 to date. Russell on the news.
I’m super excited to be continuing with the team. I’ve learnt so much in my first season in F1, both in the good moments and the more challenging ones. Those have all made me stronger, not only as a driver but as a team mate too. I want to say thank you to Toto and everyone at Brackley and Brixworth for their continued support and faith in me. Our focus now is to finish this year strongly and secure second in the Constructors’ Championship, before we then turn our full attention to 2026. There’s plenty for us still to achieve in these final six races and we will be giving it our all. Antonelli on the news.
PREMA Racing have confirmed that Louis Sharp will be driving for the team in 2026 – completing their driver lineup following the announcement of Enzo Deligny and James Wharton.
Sharp is returning for a second campaign in Formula 3 after achieving several points finishes in his rookie season, on his way to finishing 26th in the Drivers’ Championship.
Prior to that, the 18 year old achieved back-to-back title winning campaigns, securing both the 2023 British F4 and 2024 GB3 Championships.
The New Zealand driver will now return for another season in F3, and at the announcement, Sharp spoke of his delight at the opportunity to race for PREMA.
I’m very, very happy and excited for next season . PREMA has a very rich history of winning championships and developing drivers for Formula 1. To be able to say that I’m going to be a PREMA driver next year makes me proud, and already working with the team, I can see how motivated they are and how much they want to win. I’m really looking forward to having a strong season with them. I’m really proud to be here. Sharp on the news.
We think Louis is a really promising racer. He achieved great success at a very young age and showed that there is more to come from him. We are confident he will merge with the team well from the start and that he will be a great fit with how we operate. He has the potential to achieve impressive results in his second year in the series, and we are determined to maximize that potential as soon as possible. Rene Rosin, PREMA Racing Team Principal.
PREMA Racing have confirmed their second driver signing for the 2026 season, with James Wharton set to join the team.
Wharton is returning for a second season in Formula 3, following a rookie campaign where he achieved victory in the Spielberg Sprint Race and finished 18th in the Drivers’ Championship.
Prior to that, the Australian driver raced for PREMA for three years, finishing as the runner-up in the 2023 Euro 4 Championship and the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine.
In addition to that, Wharton won the 2023 Formula 4 UAE Championship. His Championship campaign included four wins and a total of eleven podiums across the 15 races.
The 19 year old is now set for another stint with the Italian team, and speaking at the announcement, Wharton expressed his delight to be back with PREMA.
Super excited to be back at my second home for the 2026 season. Going into testing is about getting comfortable with the car and back with the team, and to make full preparations to enter 2026 on the right foot and be able to start strong at home in Melbourne. I missed PREMA a lot. The family I have there is amazing, and everyone in the team is just exceptional people. Wharton on the news.
We are extremely happy to welcome James back to PREMA. We really enjoyed working with him since his very first steps in motorsport. We are proud of his journey, and we truly believe in his potential. To have him on board for 2026 makes great sense, and we are looking forward to seeing what the season has in store for us. Rene Rosin, PREMA Racing Team Principal.
Pascal Wehrlein will be joined by Nico Mueller at Porsche for Season 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
The 33 year old Swiss driver Mueller moves from Porsche customer team Andretti to the Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer’s factory Formula E team.
He succeeds Antonio Felix da Costa, the Portuguese driver having contributed significantly to the success of the Porsche Formula E Team over three years.
Wehrlein, Drivers’ World Champion for the 2023/24 season, has been part of the Porsche Formula E Team since August 2020. Mueller joined the factory driver line-up in August 2024 and competed last season as a regular driver in the Porsche 99X for Andretti.
Both drivers have already been conducting development work in the simulator in recent weeks for Season 13, when the fourth generation of Formula E cars will debut.
Preparations for the first drives at the end of the year are underway at the Porsche centre in Weissach. Parallel to the GEN4 development, Porsche is embarking on the final season with the current, third-generation car, which begins on December 6th with the opening race in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
I’m incredibly proud of this step and thank Porsche Motorsport for their trust. My last season wasn’t easy, but it was all the more instructive – that motivates me tremendously to repay the team’s trust on the track. I’m looking forward to getting to know the team even more and I am convinced that Pascal and I will form a strong duo. I want to contribute as quickly as possible to helping the team build on its recent successes. Mueller on the news.
I am delighted that we continue to have one of the strongest driver pairings in the field. Pascal is, of course, a well-known figure. Nico has been able to familiarise himself with the Porsche 99X Electric at Andretti during the previous season and is therefore well prepared when he gets into the factory car. Our goals for the upcoming season remain the same: We want to fight for all three titles at the finale in London next year. Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport.
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