Jordan's Track Talk

Category: Formula One

  • Alpine bolster leadership team

    Alpine have announced the appointment of Jason Somerville as their new Deputy Technical Director, in a move that further strengthens the team’s technical leadership group.

    Somverville was previously a key member of the Ensotne based operation’s Aerodynamics Department between 2010 and 2011, when they competed under the Renault name.

    He first worked in F1 with Williams in 1999, before joining Toyota in 2003, where he went on to become Deputy Head of Aerodynamics.

    Following his two-year stint at Enstone, Somerville returned to Williams to leader their Aerodynamics Department, before working for Formula One Management and helping to develop the 2022 technical regulations. He later moved to the FIA in 2022 as Head of Aerodynamics.

    I am really excited to be returning to Enstone and working with Flavio [Briatore, Alpine Executive Advisor], Steve [Nielsen, Alpine Managing Director], and David in this new role. I have been away from the competitive side of motorsport within a team environment for a few years now and I’m relishing the opportunity to be back in the thick of it, hunting milliseconds and fighting our rivals for points and hopefully silverware. I am looking forward to getting underway and joining the superb team of engineers, designers, and aerodynamicists at the factory and hopefully contributing to some of the team’s success in the not too distant future.
    Somerville on the news.

    We are thrilled to have someone of Jason’s calibre and experience joining the team and to continue our sustained level of progress. The work the team has already done this season has been extraordinary, but we all know that is just the beginning of the job and not one team member is resting on their laurels. Adding Jason to our technical team will allow us to take even further steps to better our performance in the latest Formula 1 development race.
    Sanchez added.

  • Round 5 – Canadian Grand Prix

    Kimi Antonelli has taken victory in a dramatic Canadian Grand Prix, and extended his championship lead to 43 points in the process, after Mercedes team mate George Russell was forced to retire on Lap 30 following a power unit issue on his car.

    The early stages of the race were dominated by a thrilling battle for the lead between Russell and Antonelli, with some contentious moments between them as the pair swapped positions on numerous occasions.

    But the duel came to an end in heartbreaking circumstances for Russell when the Briton suffered a sudden technical issue that forced him to stop on track.
    A virtual Safety Car was deployed and much of the field pitted, with Antonelli left holding a solid lead over second-placed Verstappen.

    From there the Italian was untroubled at the front, crossing the line with a margin of 10.7 seconds to seal his fourth consecutive win. Lewis Hamilton took a strong second place for Ferrari, the seven-time World Champion overtaking the Red Bull of Max Verstappen in the final laps.

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

    A great result for Antonelli, it wasn’t easy for the young Italian, having to fight his teammate for quite a while, unfortunate for Russell to DNF but they gave us an entertaining battle whilst it lasted!

    Excellent result for Hamilton, just what he would’ve wanted and needed going into the weekend, the seven time world champion had a few lovely battles on the way to his podium spot.
    As for his teammate, Leclerc finished 4th, a decent result and points but he didn’t have as much pace as his teammate.

    Third for Verstappen, the Red Bull Racing driver had an excellent race with some battles and he was rewarded with the podium. As for his teammate, Hadjar finished 5th, a decent result for him!

    Big points for Colapinto! It’s great to see him in battles and staying out of trouble, but also being more consistent!

    A weekend to forget for McLaren, Norris DNF’ed and Piastri finished outside the points. They started on the wrong tyres, which then caused them both to pit early. It really was just a horrible weekend.

    It was a really fun battle to be fair with George. We were pretty much in the limit and it was not easy today with the wind. Very gusty, Turn 10 was very difficult. I think one lap he locked up and then I went in front and locked up. It was very close and it was a shame for him to have he failure because it would have been a very cool battle but, I mean, we take it. Another win and I’m very happy, and a massive thanks of course to the team.
    Antonelli on the win.

  • Round 5 – Canada Sprint

    George Russell resisted incredible pressure to hold on to the lead of the Canada Sprint, beating Lando Norris and a fiery Kimi Antonelli to victory after clashing with his Mercedes teammate.

    For the first time this season, Russell and Antonelli held position on the opening lap, but it was far from a straightforward win for the Briton.
    He endured a tight battle with the 19 year old, who repeatedly darted off track and was forced to settle for third place behind a rapid Norris, despite multiple calls for Russell to be penalised after the pair banged wheels and the Italian was pushed onto the grass.

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

    A great result for Russell, exactly the result he would’ve wanted going into the Sprint, he kept it out of trouble and was rewarded with the best outcome possible. As for Antonelli a great result for the team, he had a bit of a scrap with his teammate but it didn’t go the way he wanted and started to moan over the radio which didn’t end well…

    A great result for Norris, a position made up and more points in the bag, even with the Mercedes bringing a big upgrade it’s good to see the McLaren’s close by! As for Piastri, he ended P4, points for the Australian driver.

    5th and 6th for the Ferrari driver’s, a decent result for both Leclerc and Hamilton, not as much pace as previous weekends.

    P7 for Verstappen, not the best result for the Dutchman, seems like he has struggled so far this weekend with the car and how it is handling at the track.

    Points for Lindblad, a great result for him! Will be interesting to see how he handles the rest of the weekend.

  • F1 returns to Istanbul Park from 2027

    Formula 1 have announced that the Turkish Grand Prix will return to the FIA Formula One World Championship from 2027, with Istanbul Park confirmed on the calendar through the 2031 season following a new agreement with Turikye’s Ministry of Youth and Sports.

    The Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED) will be Formula 1’s delivery partner for the future events.

    The Turkish Grand Prix was last staged in 2020 and 2021 with Lewis Hamilton securing his seventh Drivers’ Championship at the venue in 2020 – equalling Michael Schumacher’s all-time record.

    Istanbul Park first joined the Formula 1 calendar in 2005 and quickly earned a reputation as one of the championship’s most technically demanding tracks. The 5.33 kilometre layout features dramatic elevation changes that challenge both driver skill and car performance.

    The multi-apex Turn 8 is an incredible test of driver precision and commitment, challenging their ability to maintain speed and balance through its long, sweeping left-hander.

    The most recent winner at Istanbul Park was Valtteri Bottas in 2021 with Mercedes who, alongside Hamilton, is one of only two current drivers to have won the Turkish Grand Prix.

    Formula 1 ranks among the world’s foremost sporting events, distinguished by its spectacle, its young fan base, and its leadership in automotive technologies. In our country, too, Formula 1 enjoys a broad following across all age groups – especially among our youth – with a truly passionate fan base. The races reach nearly 19 million people in our country, while around 7.5 million follow them closely on social media. We have hosted Formula 1 a total of nine times: seven races between 2005 and 2011, and two races during the COVID period in 2020 and 2021. Istanbul Park – particularly famous for its Turn 8 and a favourite among racing enthusiasts – will, Inshallah, once again host five seasons of exciting, high-quality races between 2027 and 2031.I regard Türkiye’s return to the Formula 1 calendar as a clear reflection of the strong confidence placed in our country – in our robust organisational capacity, in our modern sports and healthcare infrastructure, and, of course, in the renowned hospitality of the Turkish Nation. As Türkiye, we will once again fulfil this trust by delivering a flawless organisation in every respect, just as we have done in the past. I extend my sincere congratulations to everyone who has contributed to bringing Formula 1 back to our country and to Istanbul. I hope that Türkiye’s partnership with Formula 1 – as a country of motorsport – will continue to grow stronger in the years ahead.
    President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye.

    We are delighted to be returning to the incredible and vibrant city of Istanbul from 2027 to thrill all our fans in Türkiye and around the world on one of the most exciting and challenging circuits in Formula 1. As a city, Istanbul represents a cultural gateway between Europe and Asia, offering a unique blend of history and tradition with a forward-thinking approach to sport, business, and entertainment. I want to thank His Excellency President Mr Erdoğan, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation for their support in securing Formula 1’s return. Many memorable moments have been made in our sport’s history at Istanbul Park and I’m excited to begin the next chapter of our partnership, giving fans the opportunity to experience even more incredible racing in a truly fantastic location.
    Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.

  • Round 4 – Miami Grand Prix

    Kimi Antonelli has taken victory in an action packed Miami Grand Prix, the Italian resisting pressure from Lando Norris to seal his third consecutive win of the season.

    A dramatic start ensued when the race got underway, with polesitter Antonelli facing a three-way scrap alongside Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc before both the Mercedes and Red Bull cars locked up into the first corner.
    Verstappen then dropped down the order after spinning out shortly after.

    The lead changed hands numerous times from there, with Antonelli later taking over Leclerc while Norris, Oscar Piastri and Verstappen all enjoyed stints at the front.
    Separate crashes for Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly, meanwhile, saw the Safety Car deployed in the opening laps.

    But it would ultimately prove to be a two-horse battle between Antonelli and Norris as the race wore on, the McLaren remaining on the tail of the former during the latter stages.
    Despite that tension, Antonelli held on to score his third victory of the campaign, making history as the first driver to convert their maiden three pole positions into wins.

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

    What a result for Antonelli, unfortunate he locked up at the start, but he kept his Mercedes out of trouble and had a little fight with the McLaren of Lando Norris but managed to come out on top. P4 for Russell, after late battles with Verstappen and Leclerc.

    McLaren’s have improved massively! Great to see them fighting at the top again, Norris especially with Antonelli and then Piastri being there waiting to see if he can capitalise on anyone’s mistake which he was able to and the team came home with a double podium!

    5th for Verstappen, with a 5 second time penatly, which I do think he was very lucky to only get that, as some of his moves were a bit controversial… As for his teammate, Hadjar, a weekend to forget, from being disqualified in qualifying and then crashing out the race at Turn 14, he will want to keep his eyes focused on the next round.

    As for the Ferrari’s, unfortunate for Hamilton to get damage with Colapinto at the start, but he did well to manage it and still finish 6th, so some decent points considering. As for his teammate, Leclerc had a 20 second time penalty for leaving the track on multiple occasions and got dropped down to 8th, not good at all, considering the McLaren’s and Red Bull’s have improved since the start of the season.

    Colapinto finished 7th! A great result for the Alpine man, he deserved a points finish after having a great weekend, qualifying well!

    A double points finish for Williams rounds out the top 10! A good result for the team, they capitalised on others not finishing and keeping themselves out of trouble.

    The start was not as bad as yesterday – it was a little bit better. I didn’t expect Charles to brake that early, so to avoid him I locked up. I was a bit lucky with what happened in Turn 2. I did a little mistake with the energy management, trying to overtake Charles, then I lost a place to Lando. But then the pace was strong, I was able to stay close, and then the team did a great strategy. We did a massive undercut, and we managed to bring it home, even though it was not easy.
    Antonelli on the win.

    Now next up, we have a little break (but not too long) as we head to Canada for Round 5 on May 22nd – 24th and it is another sprint race!

  • Allan McNish announced as Racing Director

    Audi have appointed former Formula 1 racer Allan McNish as Racing Director, with the Scot beginning his role heading up trackside operations from the Miami Grand Prix onwards.

    The German manufacturer have been evaluating their senior leadership structure following Jonathan Wheatley’s departure from his role as Team Principal just under a year since he joined the team.

    Audi, who made the Sauber outfit their factory team for their debut in F1 this year, have opted to promote from within, moving McNish into the newly created role, reporting to CEO and Team Principal Mattia Binotto.

    McNish, who accumulated 17 starts with Toyota in 2002, has long been a part of Audi’s motorsport activities, including being involved with the Formula 1 project from the beginning.

    The Scot has had several roles with Audi in recent times, including director of coordination for Audi Group Motorsport and Team Principal of their Formula E project.
    Most recently, he headed up the Driver Development Programme – a role he will dovetail with his new responsibilities.

    McNish will have oversight of sporting matters, engineering coordination, driver management, race strategy and garage operations, as well as on track media and partner activities.

    He enjoyed plenty of success behind the wheel of endurance racing machinery, including multiple wins in the Le Mans 24 Hours plus a title in the World Endurance Championship.

    Allan brings an exceptional combination of racing experience, technical understanding and leadership to this role. He has been a central part of the motorsport structure of Audi for many years and, in his roles within Audi Revolut F1 Team since its start, has played a key role in shaping our preparation for Formula 1, not least with his work around technical partnerships. This appointment strengthens our trackside leadership at a crucial stage of our project. Allan’s ability to connect all performance-related areas – from sporting operations to driver development – will be fundamental as we continue to build our team.
    Binotto on the news.

    It is a privilege to take on the role of Racing Director for Audi Revolut F1 Team: this is a marque that means a lot to me and it is an honour to be able to represent Audi and our partners on the most prestigious stage in motorsports. This is an exciting challenge at a pivotal moment in the history of Audi and Formula 1, and I am looking forward to contributing even more directly to our trackside performance. The project we are building is ambitious, and my focus will be on ensuring that all aspects of our race operations are delivering at their most competitive level and continuously improving. Together with our Driver Development Programme, to which I remain fully committed, my focus will be on implementing the building blocks for our success, under the direction of Mattia and the Board of Directors.
    McNish added.

  • Round 4 – Miami Qualifying

    Kimi Antonelli has clinched pole position for the Miami Grand Prix in style, setting a magnificent lap to edge out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to the honour.

    The Mercedes driver was consistently towards the top of the times throughout qualifying and, although he couldn’t improve on his final lap, an earlier effort proved to be unbeatable as he ended the session on a time of 1m 27.798s.

    Verstappen looked close to piping Antonelli to pole position at the last second with rapid sectors at the Miami International Autodrome, but he ultimately lost out by just over a tenth and will line up on the front row ahead of Leclerc.

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

    A lovely result for Antonelli, Pole for the Italian, just what he would’ve wanted, he will be looking to go for the win without any challenges. As for Russell, a little further back, his got his work cut out as he has Hamilton just behind and Norris just infront.

    A great result for Verstappen, seems like the Red Bull has improved since last time out, which we like to see as it brings the fight closer together and more action on track.

    A decent result for the Ferrari’s with Leclerc in the mix in third, he will be wanting to fight the Red Bull and McLaren for a podium and get those all important points needed.

    McLaren qualified 4th and 7th for Norris and Piastri, a decent result for them, a bit more work to do for Piastri having to pass through some drivers for better points.

    A really good result the Alpine’s, Colapinto in 8th, he has started to become more consistent this season, hopefully he can turn that P8 start to some good points. His teammate, Gasly starts in 10th, so will be looking for a double points finish.

    No real surprises out of qualifying, so will be an interesting race if anything happens, weather wise which can change strategies.

    The race has moved forward due to potentially having a storm coming in, so start time is now 6pm (BST).

    It’s been an amazing day, to be on pole again. It was obviously a difficult start of the day with the Sprint, where it didn’t go our way, but I’m super happy with the recovery. It was a good Qualifying. I got a little bit too excited on the last lap of Q3, but the first lap was good enough, and I’m really happy with that.
    Antonelli on pole.

  • Round 4 – Tyre Selection

    The first stars and stripes race of the season will take place this weekend in Miami. With F1 having observed a lengthy break following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and resumes it championship campaign on the street circuit in Florida.

    The Miami Grand Prix is held on a track built specifically for the event around the Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins.
    The layout which runs through sections of public roads and the stadium’s parking areas, measures 5.412 kilometres and is raced over 57 laps.

    To tackle the 19 corners and three long straights of the Miami International Autodrome, as it was named for its inaugural race in 2022, teams will have access to the three softest compounds in Pirelli range: C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium) and C5 (Soft).

    Last year’s Grand Prix, won by Oscar Piastri, was very straightforward from a strategic point of view. At the start, drivers spilt between those who opted for the Mediums and those who chose the Hards, keeping their options open in case of a neutralisation or a sudden change in weather conditions.

    One interesting characteristic that emerged last year was how quickly the circuit dried. This was clearly demonstrated during the Sprint, the short race that will also feature this season, when drivers switched from intermediate tyres to slicks during the 19 laps.

  • Miami FP1 session extended

    It has been announced that Free Practice 1 at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix will be extended to 90 minutes when the season resumes following a five-week break.

    The session during the Miami weekend – which takes place across May 1-3 will no run from 1200 to 1330 local time, meaning that all other track sessions scheduled prior to FP1 will also move forward by 30 minutes.

    The remainder of the event will run as originally planned, with Sprint Qualifying being held at 1630 local time later on Friday before the second Sprint of the season takes place at 1200 on Sunday.

    Qualifying follows at 1600 on Saturday, while the Grand Prix itself gets underway on Sunday at 1600.

    The Miami Grand Prix marks the fourth round of the campaign, with Kimi Antonelli currently heading he Drivers’ Championship standings while Mercedes are on top of the Teams’ standings.

    This decision has been taken in recognition of the gap since the last Grand Prix, the recently announced regulatory and technical adjustments, and the fact that as the Miami Grand Prix operates under the Sprint format which reduces the amount of practice time available over the course of the weekend.
    A statement from the FIA confirming the news.

  • Cadillac reveal special home race livery

    Cadillac have unveiled a special livery for the Miami Grand Prix, and event that will be the team’s first home race in Formula 1.

    The one-off design – presented by the team’s primary partner TWG AI – integrates the Stars and Stripes motif into Cadillac’s signature black and white colour scheme, while the front wing includes 50 stars, one to represent each American state.

    There is also a touch of colour on the rear wing, which feature the word ‘USA’ alongside shades of red, white and blue in honour of Cadillac and TWG AI’s American heritage.

    As well as racing in a newly liveried car, Bottas and Perez will sport special race suits for the Miami weekend which also nod to the American identity of the team.

    The Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s special Miami Grand Prix livery is a natural extension and speaks without excess. It’s deliberate and confident. This is our first home race, and it mattered to us that fans still recognize what they’ve come to know. I can’t wait for the crowd to see it on track for the first time. There’s no place like home.
    Cassidy Towriss, Chief Brad Advisor for Cadillac.

    Miami is a big moment for the team, and we’re proud to have our name on the car for it. This new livery for the first American race is more than just a design – it’s a statement of identity and intent. It celebrates the shared heritage of two American brands coming together, united by a relentless drive to push boundaries and innovate. That synergy is what makes this partnership so special, and this livery is a bold reflection of the ambition and forward-thinking spirit that TWG AI brings to the team.
    Drew Cukor, President of TWG AI.

  • Herta to take part in four FP1 sessions

    Cadillac have announced that Colton Herta will make his practice debut with the team at the upcoming Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

    American Herta, 26 is currently combining an F2 race seat with a test driver role at Cadillac’s new for 2026 outfit, as the former IndyCar racer pushes towards a planned F1 debut in the future.

    After appearing in FP1 at the Spanish venue, Herta will tackle three other Friday sessions – in place of regular drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez 0 over the course of the season.

    Herta will be back in action at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix weekend, with F2 being added to the schedule for the event – as well as the Canadian F1 round that follows.

    I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team car for the first time. I am looking forward to working closely with the team in a full Grand Prix environment and am fully focused on learning from every appearance. I hope I can contribute to the overall race weekend and help the team, Checo [Sergio] and Valtteri as much as possible.
    Herta on the news.

    Colton is a top talent, which he has not only proved by building an impressive resume in the NTT IndyCar Series before joining us, but also with a strong start to his Formula 2 season. Completing all four of our young driver FP1 sessions is a natural next step in his test driver role, and I look forward to seeing what he can bring in terms of development and focus.
    Graeme Lowdon, Cadillac’s F1 Team Principal.

  • Red Bull announce organisational changes

    Red Bull have announced a series of organisational changes within their technical department.

    Several key figures have left Red Bull in recent years, including long-time boss Christian Horner, Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko, Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley, Chief Engineering Officer Rob Marshall, Head of Race Strategy Will Courtenay and Chief Designer Craig Skinner.

    Most recently, it was confirmed that Max Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, will leave Red Bull for rivals McLaren when his contract expires at the end of 2028.

    With immediate effect, Ben Waterhouse takes on an expanded leadership role as Chief Performance and Design Engineer, with “overarching responsibility” across Design and Vehicle Performance – reporting to Technical Director Pierre Wache.

    Waterhouse joined the Red Bull family from BMW Sauber back in 2014, initially serving as Deputy Technical Director at Scuderia Toro Rosso, and since 2017 has been Head of Performance Engineering at the main outfit.

    Meanwhile, from July 1st, Andrea Landi will join Red Bull as Head of Performance reporting to Waterhouse.

    Landi has previously acted as Deputy Head of Vehicle Performance at Ferrari and Deputy Technical Director at Racing Bulls.

  • Williams sign long-time Mercedes engineer

    Williams have announced the appointment of Dan Milner from rivals Mercedes to act as their new Chief Engineer – Vehicle Technology.

    Milner joins Williams after a 20 year association with Mercedes, including a 14 year stint at the Brackley-based team across their Honda, Brawn GP and Silver Arrows eras.

    During his time at the F1 operation, where he progressed from simulation and design roles into senior leadership, Milner played his part in multiple World Championship triumphs – including eight consecutive Constructors’ titles.

    After several years heading up powertrain integration and transmission design, Milner most recently served as Chief Engineer for R&D (Research & Development).

    Outside of F1, he has held senior design roles in the America’s Cup sailing competition with Ineos Britannia, and has also worked in the defence sector.

    Williams explained that Milner “will be accountable for Vehicle Technology, driving on and off car performance through complex, integrated technology programmes”.

    I’m thrilled to be joining Atlassian Williams F1 Team as Chief Engineer across Vehicle Technology. After 20 years of association with Brackley, it’s the right moment to take on a new challenge. Williams has a clear, ambitious plan to move forward, and I’m looking forward to bringing my experience and knowledge to help accelerate that journey. I can’t wait to meet the team, learn the organisation and get to work converting ideas into performance on track.
    Milner on the news.

    Dan brings broad experience and clear leadership. He has led major programmes across R&D and powertrains, turning ideas into performance, and he knows how to bring teams together to deliver. Dan will be central to our vehicle technology plan and to converting innovation into consistent performance gains on track, so we’re thrilled to have him on board as we continue our plans of bringing Atlassian Williams F1 Team back to the front of the grid.
    Matt Harman, Williams Technical Director.

  • Lambiase to leave Red Bull for McLaren in 2028

    Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will leave Red Bull when his current contract expires in 2028, with the Briton joining McLaren as Chief Racing Officer.

    Lambiase – known to many as GP – has worked alongside Verstappen since the Dutchman was promoted to the team from the then-named Toro Rosso outfit in 2016, the pair going on to experience many highs and lows together in the years since.

    Starting his F1 career as a data engineer for the Jordan team in 2005, Lambiase went on to become a race engineer during the squad’s guise as Force India before later moving to Red Bull in 2015.

    Initially acting in the same role for Daniil Kvyat, it was in 2016 when Verstappen joined that Lambiase’s partnership with the four time World Champion began.
    More recently he also took on the role of Head of Racing at Red Bull while continuing to race engineer Verstappen.

    However, his time at the team will soon be coming to a close with Red Bull first confirming he would be departing in 2028 before McLaren also confirmed he would be joining the Woking based team.

    Lambiase is not the only figure from Red Bull to join McLaren in recent times, with Rob Marshall becoming Technical Director, Engineering & Design, in 2024 while Will Courtenay started in the role of Sporting Director at the beginning of 2026.

    When Lambiase joins McLaren he will take on the role of Chief Racing Officer with a view to freeing up some of the duties managed by Team Principal Andrea Stella.

    Oracle Red Bull Racing confirms that Gianpiero Lambiase will leave the team in 2028, when his current contract expires. ‘GP’ is a valued member of the team, which he joined in 2015. Until his planned departure, ‘GP’ continues in his roles as Head of Racing and as Race Engineer to Max Verstappen. The team and he are fully committed to add more success to our strong track record together.
    A Red Bull statement read.

    McLaren Racing is pleased to announce that Gianpiero Lambiase will join the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team as Chief Racing Officer, reporting into Team Principal, Andrea Stella. The role of the Chief Racing Officer already exists within the team’s structure with overall leadership of the race team. These duties are currently managed by Andrea Stella in addition to his role as Team Principal. Lambiase is the latest hire designed to strengthen and support the talent pool that exists at McLaren Mastercard, while also reaffirming the team’s long-term commitment to confirming its position as a Championship-winning team. The team’s ability to attract and secure top talent, like Lambiase, and previously Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay, alongside the retention and promotion of highly-talented people already within the team, is a testament to the strategic vision and culture that are integrally embodied in the McLaren Mastercard F1 Team under the leadership of Zak Brown and Andrea Stella, who are also both on long-term contracts. The team look forward to welcoming Gianpiero Lambiase when his existing contract ends, no later than 2028.
    A McLaren statement read.

  • Wheatley to leave Audi with immediate effect

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Haas reveal special livery

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

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

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

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

  • Racing Bulls’ Special livery for Japan

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

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

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

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

  • Update on Bahrain & Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Dunne joins Alpine Academy

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Round 2 – Chinese Grand Prix

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Round 2 – China Sprint

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Round 2 – China Sprint Qualifying

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Pourchaire joins Mercedes as development driver

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Round 1 – Australian Grand Prix

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Round 1 – Australia Qualifying

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Craig Skinner leaves Red Bull

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

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

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

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

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

  • F1 announces multi-year extension

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Aston Martin reveal new livery

    Aston Martin have unveiled the livery that will adorn their 2026 car – the team’s first challenger designed by Adrian Newey – as part of a special launch event in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

    During the evening at Ithra (the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture), the team revealed a concept car sporting the design that will feature on the AMR26.

    As well as being the first car made to the new technical regulations for 2026, the campaign marks a milestone moment for Aston Martin; not only is it the maiden year of the team’s works partnership with Honda, but the car is also the first to be designed under Newey’s lead and overseen by Chief Technical Officer Enrico Cardile.

    The AMR26 will be driven by the team’s incumbent driver line-up of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, who enter into their fourth season as team mates.

    The AMR26 represents a defining step for Aston Martin Aramco as we enter Formula 1’s new era in 2026. These regulations mark the biggest reset the sport has seen in a generation, and we are approaching it with clear ambition: to build a team capable of winning. Every move we make is by design – considered, deliberate and built for where we are going. This year also marks our first season as a full works team, supported by world-class partners including Honda, Aramco and Valvoline. With the AMR Technology Campus now complete, we have the people, facilities and long-term investment in place to compete with the very best. Today is another important milestone on that journey.
    Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman.

    2026 is a rare moment in Formula 1 because, for the first time, the chassis and power unit regulations have changed together. With brand new regulations, the best philosophy is never immediately obvious, and your understanding evolves as the car develops. With the AMR26 we’ve taken a holistic approach: it’s not about one standout component, but how the full package works together. The focus has been on strong fundamentals, development potential, and a car that Lance and Fernando can hopefully extract performance from consistently.
    Newey – who will act as Team Principal alongside his role as Managing Technical Partner in 2026 added.

  • McLaren unveil new livery for 2026

    McLaren have unveiled their new livery for the 2026 season in a live event broadcast from the Bahrain International Circuit.

    The Woking based team headed to the track early to showcase their striking livery, maintaining their papaya colour palette that adorned last season’s championship-winning MCL39.

    Their unchanged driver line-up of reigning World Champion Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri spoke alongside Team Principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown at the launch event, while Chief Marketing Officer Lou McEwen and Chief Designer Rob Marshall showcased the new livery.

    McLaren have historically carried over a successful championship-winning livery through to the following campaign and this year is no different after the Teams’ and Drivers’ Championship successes last year.
    Alongside the familiar papaya the design continues to have anthracite and small hints of teal.

    This design also carries over onto the drivers’ overalls for the season, with Norris and Piastri donning an all-papaya fronted fire suit.

    We’re delighted to present our 2026 challenger’s livery from our second home, Bahrain. The iconic papaya continues on the MCL40 as we keep our tradition of carrying championship-winning liveries through to the next season. Racing performance is also at the forefront of design when exploring creative routes, and we’ve balanced creative direction with aero considerations to create this striking 2026 competitor. Thank you to all our committed shareholders and partners, without whom we simply wouldn’t be able to go racing, to our fans for their continued support, and to our team of people who have worked tirelessly to get us to this point in the exciting new era of Formula 1. We’re all excited to see it hit the track.
    Zak Brown on the new car.

    It’s fantastic to reveal the livery for our 2026 challenger, the MCL40, as we reach an important milestone in our team’s incredible work and dedication before we begin racing this year. 2026 marks a new challenge as we take on a new era of Formula 1 regulations. We also go into the season as an independent challenger facing five top manufacturers who all want to beat us. While we have the benefit of the lessons learned from our success in the past few years, the whole grid is restarting from zero and our past achievements count for nothing. Our objective is to hit the ground running, and we have the best combination of team, driver pairing, collaboration with Mercedes HPP, partners, and fans to be able to do this. We will continue to focus on creating the conditions to succeed as we approach our biggest challenge to date. It should be a fantastic season of racing for the fans, and we’re excited to get going.
    Team Principal, Andrea Stella.

  • Cadillac reveal their new livery

    Cadillac have unveiled their livery for the team’s debut season in Formula 1, with the design revealed during a television advert at the Super Bowl.

    Amid the sporting action at the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) – this year held in Santa Clara, California and played between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks – Cadillac showcased the colours that will adorn their car in 2026.

    The reveal marks the latest milestone for the American outfit before their first-ever campaign in F1.

    Drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez put their new challenger through its initial paces during the Barcelona Shakedown, where the car sported a special livery featuring the names of the founding members of the team from both the United States and the UK.

    At the close of the event, Bottas hailed the team’s running as “really valuable” and spoke of his pride over how everyone in the team was “working so hard”.

    Cadillac’s driver line-up for their first season also features Zhou Guanyu as a reserve driver, while former IndyCar star Colton Herta will hold a testing role.

    We still have lots of problems to solve, and a bit of a mountain to climb, but we are getting there step by step. Each run we’re getting better and more together as a team. Each run we are solving issues and going forward, so that’s good.
    Bottas explained.

    We got a lot of running, a lot of information. Still finding a few issues out there, which is great – it was all about that today. I think we are improving pretty much every run. We’re obviously starting to explore the car, the set-up, directions we want to be taking, so I think it’s starting well.
    Perez added.