McLaren have unveiled a new iteration of their chrome livery, to be used by Lando Norris and championship leader, Oscar Piastri at this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
The livery pays homage to the iconic chrome look of McLaren’s of the mid-2000s and early 2010s, as raced by the likes of Kimi Raikkonen, Juan Pablo Montoya and current Ferrari driver, Lewis Hamilton.
The livery was revealed to fans in a special McLaren Racing Live event held in London’s Trafalgar Square, with Norris and Piastri both in attendance, along with development driver Alex Dunne, and several other team members.
The team previously used a chrome livery at the 2023 British Grand Prix, while other special liveries used in recent times include the team’s ‘Triple Crown’ paint job for the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix, and their ‘Riviera’ look for this year’s Monaco and Spanish Grand Prix.
Racing Bulls and their partner HUGO have unveiled a special livery for the British Grand Prix in collaboration with Nigerian artist Slawn.
Revealed by Slawn along with Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar at the Flannels X store in London this evening, the link-up sees VCARB 02 adorned with Slawn’s caricature style street art.
The artwork will also feature on the drivers’ race suits and the team’s kit across the weekend, while Slawn will also be in the paddock on Thursday alongside Lawson and Hadjar where the squad say he will be “designing the garage IRL”.
Slawn’s famed graffiti aesthetic – rooted in his Yoruba heritage and London’s urban culture – has seen him make his name in the city’s art landscape. He also has previously made a foray into the world of sports, having designed the Emirate FA Cup Trophy in May this year.
Slawn’s work is unlike anything we’ve seen in Formula 1, and that’s exactly why this collaboration felt right. Partnering with HUGO and Slawn has allowed us to push creative boundaries in a way that reflects the bold identity of our team. Silverstone is a massive moment in the season, and we’re proud to bring something completely original to our fans.
Witnessing the big reveal of Slawn’s fresh, energetic art on the VCARB Team’s new livery and his exciting takeover will consolidate HUGO’s ambition to take F1 further off-track and into culture. This collaboration is a brilliant demonstration of the power of going your own way, which is at the core of HUGO and VCARB’s DNA. All eyes will be on VCARB during the action at Silverstone. James Foster, SVP of Global Marketing at Hugo Boss.
Alpine Reserve Driver, Paul Aron will make his free practice debut at the upcoming British Grand Prix weekend with Kick Sauber after the rival teams came to an agreement to share his driving services.
The Estonian driver, who competed in Formula 2 last season, is not racing competitively this year, with his focus currently helping Alpine with simulator work as they try and claw their way back up the standings from P10 in the Championship.
Alpine entered the 2025 F1 Season with plenty of driving talent in reserve. While Ryo Hirakawa soon departed for Haas, the Enstone-based squad still have Jack Doohan alongside Aron – the Australian had started the year in a full-time race seat but was swapped out in favour of Franco Colapinto ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
The agreement Alpine have reached with Kick Sauber will release Aron for two FP1 sessions this season, with every team having to give up four FP1 sessions across the year.
Kick Sauber only need to give up two FP1 sessions this season, as they are running a designated rookie in their other car in Gabriel Bortoleto. As such, Aron will replace Nico Hulkenberg at Silverstone and in Budapest.
I am very pleased to be given the opportunity to have valuable track time in Formula 1, so thanks to BWT Alpine Formula One Team for coming to this arrangement. It is no secret that my desire is to one day race full-time in Formula 1 so any chance to be on track in a competitive environment is an important stepping stone. While I continue to focus on my development with Alpine, I do look forward to the two sessions with Kick Sauber and giving my maximum effort to them at Silverstone and Budapest. Aron on the news.
It is in our interests to maximise any driving opportunities for our young talent, so it is good to have an agreement with Sauber for Paul to drive in Free Practice 1 in Silverstone and Budapest. We are seeing varied success from last year’s Formula 2 drivers this year up and down the grid, and Paul was a front runner in that category, so this is an opportunity for him and the team to continue his progress and to give him valuable track time. Briatore on the news.
Lando Norris returned to winning ways at the Austrian Grand Prix after getting the better of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in a head-to-head scrap for victory.
Norris converted pole position into the lead at Turn 1 but soon came under intense pressure from championship leader Piastri, who launched several attacks and at one point muscled his way past, only for the positions to be swiftly reversed.
After a particularly close call under braking for Turn 4, which saw Piastri lock up and almost run into the back of Norris, the Australian went slightly longer on his starting set of tyres in attempt to build an advantage for the remainder of the race.
While Piastri lit up the timesheets in phases across the second and third stints, Norris had just enough pace in hand to hold onto P1 and take the chequered flag – marking his third win of the season and first victory since last month’s Monaco Grand Prix.
The full top 10 are- P1: Norris, P2: Piastri, P3: Leclerc, P4: Hamilton, P5: Russell, P6: Lawson, P7: Alonso, P8: Bortoleto, P9: Hulkenberg and P10: Ocon.
What a result for McLaren! P1 for Norris and P2 for Piastri, their pace was unmatched and no-one got anywhere near the two drivers, however, I think they need to set boundaries between the two drivers, as much as we love seeing them battle it out for the lead, one of the moves Oscar done almost ended Lando’s race, just doesn’t seem to be any boundaries set…
A lovely result for Ferrari, a podium for Leclerc and 4th for Hamilton, a decent amount of points for the Italian team, seems like they had a strong weekend and things are starting to look up for the team.
P5 for Russell, he was kind of in no mans land, the pace just didn’t seem to be there to battle with the Ferrari’s which is a shame but still a decent points haul for the Brit. As for his teammate, Antonelli’s race was over on the first lap as the young driver carried too much speed into Turn 3 and took out Max Verstappen which saw both of the drivers out.
P6 for Liam Lawson, a lovely result for the New Zealander, his best career finish so far! A very good points haul for the Racing Bulls, this will all help for the midfield battle.
A double points finish for Kick Sauber, which means first career points for Gabriel Bortoleto! This will be the same as above, and really help in the midfield battle towards the end of the season.
A weekend to forget for Williams, a DNS for Sainz as his rear brakes were on the fire in the pitlane as he struggled to get started on the grid for the first formation lap. Not only this, Albon retired in the pit lane to an unknown issue at the time.
Now next up, we have Silverstone this weekend for Round 12 of 24!
Lando Norris has sealed a commanding pole position in Qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix, the McLaren driver recording a time that was half a second clear of nearest challenger Charles Leclerc to mark the biggest pole margin of the season so far.
After setting the pace in Q1 and Q2, Norris continued that theme by claiming provisional pole during the initial runs of Q3 – but the McLaren man went even better on his next effort, pumping in a 1m 03.971s.
The full top 10 are- Pole: Norris, P2: Leclerc, P3: Piastri, P4: Hamilton, P5: Russell, P6: Lawson, P7: Verstappen, P8: Bortoleto, P9: Antonelli and P10: Gasly.
What a lovely result for Lando, exactly what the Brit would have wanted! Last time he was on pole, it was the Monaco Grand Prix, which he went on to win… However, the Red Bull Ring is a very different track compared to Monte Carlo, there’s lots of overtaking spots here so McLaren’s strategy has to be perfect. As for his teammate, Piastri qualified 3rd, unfortunate for him as his last flying lap got ruined due to a spin from Pierre Gasly, but still a good position for today’s race.
A lovely result from Ferrari! P2 for Charles Leclerc and P4 for Lewis Hamilton, the whole team will be happy with that result, hopefully they can turn it into a potential win/podiums!
A decent result for Russell, P5 for the Mercedes driver, it seems like the Silver Arrows have got some pace underneath them this weekend, so it will be interesting to see where they finish. As for Russell’s teammate, Antonelli qualified 9th, not the best result for the rookie driver but he can still make up decent positions.
A little shout out for Liam Lawson, P6! The best result out of all the Red Bull cars! A lovely result for the Racing Bulls driver, hopefully he can score some points this weekend.
As for Verstappen, he qualified 7th, not the best result at all for the Dutchman, he also got hindered by the late yellow flag in the session, he has a lot of work to do if he wants to get on the podium at least.
Another little shout out for Gabriel Bortoleto! P8 for the Kick Sauber driver, his best qualifying result so far, he will be hoping to score some points aswell.
The FIA World Motor Sport Council has confirmed that a request to grant F2 driver and Red Bull Junior Arvid Lindblad a Super Licence prior to his 18th birthday has been granted.
It was previously stated in the rules that, for a driver to obtain either a Friday practice Super Licence or a Super Licence to compete in a Grand Prix, they had to be at least 18 years old and hold a valid driving licence.
However, adjustments were made to the FIA International Sporting Code last year, removing the clause that necessitated a valid driving licence as well as adding the line: At the sole discretion of the FIA, a driver judged to have recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition may be granted a Super Licence at the age of 17 years old.
The tweak to the rules allowed for Kimi Antonelli – who did not pass his driving test until January of this year – to get his Super Licence last year and compete in FP1 sessions for Mercedes prior to making his full-time debut this season.
Now 17 year old Lindblad has become the latest youngster to be granted a Super Licence, meaning that he would be eligible to compete in an F1 race weekend.
The FIA has received a request to grant a Super Licence to Arvid Lindblad prior to his 18th birthday. After considering the information presented in support of this request, the World Council found that the driver has recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition and therefore approved the request. The FIA on the decision.
Lindblad is currently competing in his debut Formula 2 campaign for Campos Racing and sits third in the Drivers’ Championship, having achieved two race victories and one pole position so far.
Prior to this, the British driver finished fourth during his sole F3 season in 2024 after climbing the ranks in junior categories, a rise that saw him win the Macau F4 World Cup race at the end of 2023.
McLaren have confirmed that Formula 2 standings leader, Alex Dunne will take part in Free Practice 1 at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix.
Dunne, a member of the McLaren Driver Development Programme since May 2024, will get behind the wheel of the MCL39 in the weekend’s opening session in place of Lando Norris, in which he becomes the first Irish driver to take part in an F1 weekend for 22 years.
The 19 year old currently races for Rodin Motorsport in F2, as he sits three points ahead of second placed Richard Verschoor in the standings, while he also serves as Reserve and Development Driver for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team.
Dunne began karting at eight years old, and secured his first European karting title in the 2019 WSK Champions Cup OKJ Category. He then made his single-seater debut in the 2021 Spanish F4 Championship, securing pole position and a podium on his debut.
In his 2022 season, he picked up a combined 16 race wins whilst competing in the British, UAE and Italian Formula 4 Championships, earning him the British F4 Championship, before going on to earn the vice-champion title in the GB3 Championship the following year.
Dunne then moved onto Formula 3 for 2024 with MP Motorsport, where he finished 14th in the Drivers’ Standings, before stepping up to F2 this season.
It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to drive during FP1 in Austria. I’m really looking forward to getting laps in behind the wheel of the MCL39 and supporting the team with the setup for the race weekend ahead. I’ve been preparing well for the sessions, taking part in Testing of Previous Cars tests in the MCL60 and spending time on the simulator, which has been a fantastic learning experience. Thank you to Zak [Brown], Andrea [Stella] and Alessandro [Alunni Bravi] for their faith in me. It’s a great step within my development with the McLaren Driver Development Programme, and I’m really excited to join the team trackside. Dunne on the news.
It’s great to be able to give Alex the opportunity to run in Free Practice 1, and for him to get valuable time behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car as part of his development. The team are pleased to be working with him more closely, and for his support across the weekend, where he will be providing useful feedback to help with the car’s set-up. The rookie sessions are fantastic for seeing the talent of tomorrow and enabling that rare chance to get time in a current car, so we look forward to seeing him on track. McLaren Team Principal, Andrea Stella.
Dino Beganovic will be driving for Ferrari in replacement of Charles Leclerc, in the first free practice session at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.
It marks the second time that Beganovic has replaced Leclerc so far this season, with the Monegasque also making way in FP1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix in April.
Beganovic is currently competing in his first full season of F2, with the Hitech GP team, claiming two podium finishes across the opening 12 races of 2025. The Swedish driver is a champion in Formula Regional European as well as being a race winner in Formula 3.
The 21 year old has been a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2020, and took his first steps in F1 machinery this year, representing the Scuderia in a TPC (Testing of Previous Car) test in Barcelona in January.
George Russell has clinched Mercedes’ first victory of the season in the Canadian Grand Prix, a race that ended in dramatic style after a collision between McLaren team mates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris that saw the latter crash out.
It had been a strong start from pole position for Russell, the Briton launching away cleanly to hold the lead from Max Verstappen. What followed was a race of different strategies across the pack, with some opting for a two-stop plan while others tried to nurse their tyres on a one-stop.
Most of the front runners executed a two-stop strategy, setting up for a thrilling finale as the gaps amongst the top five cars became increasingly close in the closing stages. While Russell was leading from Verstappen, Piastri was trying to catch Kimi Antonelli for third – but the Australian also had Norris hot on his tail.
The McLaren pair then engaged in a feisty battle and contact occurred between them after Norris hit the back of Piastri’s car, resulting in Norris parking up at the side of the track.
The full top 10 are- P1: Russell, P2: Verstappen, P3: Antonelli, P4: Piastri, P5: Leclerc, P6: Hamilton, P7: Alonso, P8: Hulkenberg, P9: Ocon and P10: Sainz.
What a result for the Mercedes duo, their first win of the 2025 season and done in style by Russell and it makes up from last year’s Canadian Grand Prix. As for Antonelli, his first podium in F1 in his rookie season! It makes him the third youngest podium sitter.
A very good result for Verstappen, I think he would have liked the win, but with different strategies going on up and down the field it was a difficult one to grasp. As for his teammate, Tsunoda finished outside of the points in P12, after starting from 18th… Not a very good weekend for him.
P4 for Piastri, a shame he didn’t get on the podium as he was closing in on Antonelli, but sometimes it’s not meant to be. However, it wasn’t a smooth sailing race for the McLaren’s, late on in the race Norris was closing in on Piastri and it all came to blows, after Norris went for a very tight gap which he shouldn’t of gone for and clipped the back of Piastri wheel which saw Norris’ front wing come off and damage the front axel skidding himself along the pit wall and out of the race. Piastri was okay to carry on and finish the race as he had no damage at all. A gutting end to the weekend for Norris, but it was a mistake which he owned up to straight away and took full responsibility, he will be looking towards the next race weekend.
A decent result for the Ferrari’s, but still not amazing. P5 for Leclerc and P6 for Hamilton, the latter was no where in the race as he suffered damage to his Ferrari early on in the race.
Points for Alonso again, a good display of the improvements Aston Martin are making, every point scoring finish for the Silverstone based team will be vital at the end of the season.
Hulkenberg also was in the points again for the second race weekend in a row, lots of improvements made from the Stake team and it is great to see.
Now we have a little break before the next race weekend and it’s a double header starting in Austria on the 27th – 29th June!
The Canadian Grand Prix is the tenth round of the season, the second in North America after Miami. Montreal is one of the staples on the calendar, for many years the only round in this part of the world.
The Gilles Vileneuve Circuit is a semi-permanent facility built on the manmade island of Notre Dame, on the saint Lawrence river, which was home to the Expo ’67 World’s Fair and some events in the 1976 Olympic games.
The track was completely resurfaced last year, but it has retained its low abrasiveness and reduced grip that has always been one of its characteristic features.
4.361 kilometres long, it features a sequence of straights and tight chicanes, with 14 corners (six to the left and eight to the right). It’s a real stop n go track where stability under braking and efficient traction are vital.
Overtaking is possible, partly down to the three DRS zones. The best bet has always been the braking point at the end of the straight that takes the drivers back to the start. The following chicane, where drivers cant still use DRS from the previous activation zone, has often seen some spectacular accidents, which has led to it being known as the “wall of champions” after no fewer than three world champions, Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve all crashed into it during the 1999 race.
For the third time this season, the softest trio of compounds will feature on the track. It’s the first time after appearing in Imola and again in Monaco the C6 (Soft), C5 (Medium) and C4 (Hard).
This weekend, when using the new C6, teams and drivers will be able to make the most of the information and data gathered at its two previous appearances.
The Gilles Villeneuve Circuit is a track where the lateral forces exerted on the tyres are medium to low, while the longitudinal ones are a bit more severe, although not particularly high, because of the cars being subjected to strong deceleration followed by sharp acceleration.
Aston Martin have confirmed that Lance Stroll will be back behind the wheel at the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix weekend, following his withdrawal from the previous race in Spain.
The Silverstone-based squad announced a few hours after Qualifying at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya that Stroll will be sitting out Sunday’s Grand Prix with the 26 year old set to undergo a medical procedure after experiencing pain in his hand and wrist.
The team went on to say that Stroll’s medical consultant believed that the pain the driver was experiencing was “in relation to the procedure he underwent in 2023”.
However, after his latest procedure, Stroll will be back driving the AMR25 in front of his home crowd in Montreal less than a fortnight on from that weekend in Spain.
I am excited to get back behind the wheel with the team for my home Grand Prix this weekend. I was always going to fight hard to be ready to race in front of the Montreal crowd. I’m feeling good after my procedure and put some laps in at Paul Ricard this week to prepare. Thanks for all the support, see you guys this weekend! Stroll on the news.
Haas have shown off a special livery for the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend, where the team will celebrate their 200th race since entering the sport almost a decade ago.
Haas arrived on the F1 grid in 2016, initially fielding Frenchman Romain Grosjean and Mexican Esteban Gutierrez as part of an operation split across sites in the United States, the United Kingdom and Italy.
Powered by Ferrari engines, the squad climbed as high as fifth in the Teams’ Championship standings through 2018, with Grojean achieving their personal best Grand Prix result of fourth at the Austrian Grand Prix that season.
Other highlights so far include, Kevin Magnussen’s shock pole position for the Sao Paulo Sprint race in 2022, while the Dane also secured their highest Grand Prix grid slot of fourth during 2023’s visit to the Miami International Autodrome.
Now represented by rookie Ollie Bearman and experienced racer Eteban Ocon, Haas will offer a nod to the past for the upcoming Montreal weekend by adopting a livery that resembles the clean black, grey and red design which they used throughout their debut 2016 campaign.
Formula 1 and the FIA have announced the calendar for the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship, with drivers and teams set to embark on another 24-round campaign as new technical regulations and 100% advanced sustainable fuels come into play.
Starting with the Australian Grand Prix on the weekend of March 6th – 8th and concluding with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from December 4th – 6th, the F1 community will visit five of the world’s seven continents over the course of the year.
In 2026, Ramadan will take place throughout February and March, meaning the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will again be held in April.
The calendar sees further improvements to the geographical flow of races, including the Canadian Grand Prix now following Miami in an earlier slot from May 22nd to 24th, delivering significant freight efficiencies as some equipment can move directly from one event to the other.
This change creates a consolidated European leg of the season across the summer months, beginning in Monaco from June 5th – 7th and finishing in Spain, where Madrid will make its F1 calendar debut from September 11th – 13th.
The championship then returns to Asia with the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grand Prix ahead of a triple header in the Americas, before Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi close out the season.
2026 will be a new era for Formula 1 where we will witness a brand-new set of regulations for our sport, the cars and the engines that will be powered by 100% sustainable fuel. We are excited to welcome Madrid to the calendar, and to see huge automotive brands like Audi, Cadillac and Ford join the Formula 1 grid. It promises to be an unforgettable season, where once again we will come together at 24 amazing global venues to watch the best drivers in the world push themselves to the limit and produce incredible wheel to wheel racing for our millions of fans watching around the globe. I want to thank all our fans for their passionate support and the FIA, with all the volunteers, marshals and officials, as well as the promoters, partners, sponsors, host cities and the local motor racing federations for their commitment and support in delivering this schedule in what I know will be another historic year for Formula 1. Stefano Domenicali on the 2026 Calendar.
Next year’s FIA Formula One World Championship marks a significant new chapter for our sport. A new race, new teams, and the arrival of new manufacturers, all ushering in a fresh era of innovation and competition. With 24 Grands Prix across five continents, the season truly reflects the global nature of our community, while the improved geographical flow of the calendar shows our joint commitment to making the championship more efficient and sustainable. The debut of Madrid, the arrival of iconic brands like Audi, Cadillac, and Ford, and the introduction of the next generation of F1 cars powered by 100% advanced sustainable fuels signal an exciting new era of racing. My thanks to everyone involved in putting on this incredible season and in delivering a calendar that continues to drive the sport forward on all fronts. And, my thanks to the fans whose passion and unwavering support keep the spirit of our sport alive. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA added.
Oscar Piastri has further strengthened his championship lead by clinching a commanding victory in the Spanish Grand Prix, the Australian leading teammate Lando Norris in a McLaren 1-2 amid a dramatic end to the race.
Piastri made an excellent start from pole position, allowing the 24 year old to build an early lead from Verstappen who had overtaken Norris into Turn 1. Norris later retook the position – only for Verstappen to leapfrog both McLaren’s after the first pit stops, putting himself into P1.
This proved to brief, as the Dutchman pitted early for a second stop, handling the lead back to Piastri all of which triggered much intrigue over whether Verstappen would opt for a three stop strategy.
Verstappen did indeed embark on a three stop – but the whole picture was dramatically shaken up when a Safety Car was deployed in the latter stages after Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes pulled off track with a mechanical issue prompting most of the frontrunners to pit again.
The full top 10 are- P1: Piastri, P2: Norris, P3: Leclerc, P4: Russell, P5: Hulkenberg, P6: Hamilton, P7: Hadjar, P8: Gasly, P9: Alonso and P10: Verstappen.
A lovely result from McLaren, a 1-2 for the Papaya team, I don’t think they had anything to worry about as their pace was just incredible. Piastri kept it cool, calm and collected as always and produced a lovely drive.
P3 for Leclerc, an unexpected podium for the Ferrari driver, but sometimes being there when another driver makes a mistake is sometimes a good thing. As for his teammate, Hamilton finished 6th he didn’t have the best race, he seemed to struggle a lot but still managed to get some decent points.
P4 for Russell, a good result for the Mercedes driver finally after two bad race weekends. Unfortunately for his teammate, it was a horrible weekend, he went into the gravel with a mechanical issue saw him out of the race.
P5 for Hulkenberg! A lovely result for him and the team, a massive points haul! Hulkenberg was pulling off some lovely overtakes and that result is very well deserved.
P7 for Hadjar, another points finish for the young driver. As for his teammate, Lawson was just outside of the top 10. He finished in 11th.
Points for Fernando Alonso finally! P9 on home soil for the Spanish driver. He was also the only Aston Martin car on the grid yesterday, so a good result for the team.
Now we have a little break after a triple header, for Round 10, we are heading to Canada!
Oscar Piastri has grabbed his fourth pole position of the season during Qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, the championship leader beating McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the dying moment of the session.
After setting the pace across Q1 and Q2, Piastri lost out to Norris when the opening runs of Q3 took place, the Briton having snatched provisional pole. But it was advantage Piastri as the final flying laps came in, the Aussie putting in a 1m 11.546s to go 0.209s quicker.
Max Verstappen put in another solid performance to slot into third for Red Bull, while Mercedes’ George Russell set an identical lap time to the Dutchman but had to settle for fourth after crossing the line later.
The full top 10 are- Pole: Piastri, P2: Norris, P3: Verstappen, P4: Russell, P5: Hamilton, P6: Antonelli, P7: Leclerc, P8: Gasly, P9: Hadjar and P10: Alonso.
A lovely result for McLaren, a 1-2 finish in qualifying for the team, which is the best result they would of wanted going into this weekend. They will want to grab another 1-2 in the race today, but who is favoured to win? And will team orders come into play?
A great result for Verstappen, keeping himself in the top 3. The Dutchman will be keeping close going into Turn 1 to see if he can go into the lead and try and grab as many points as he can for both championships. As for his teammate, Tsunoda qualified 20th… not a good result at all and no where near his teammate either, this is going to really hurt Red Bull in the Constructors’ if he doesn’t score points.
Lewis Hamilton qualifies 5th, a good result for the Ferrari driver, in a decent position to score a good amount of points too, maybe even a possible podium depending on strategies. As for his teammate, Leclerc qualified 7th, could’ve been a lot better but still in the top 10.
Russell had a much better qualifying compared to last week in Monaco, P4 for the Brit, he will be aiming for a podium today. So watch out for the battles from the Mercedes driver.
P9 for Isack Hadjar, the rookie driver loves a top 10 start! I feel like this is just expected now from the Racing Bulls driver.
A little mention to Gabriel Bortoleto, qualified in his highest position so far in P12, hopefully (fingers crossed) he can score his first points this weekend.
Aston Martin have announced that Lance Stroll will not be taking part in the Spanish Grand Prix, with the Canadian set to undergo a medical procedure after experiencing pain in his hand and wrist.
After participating in qualifying at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – a session he finished 14th – the team confirmed a few hours later that Stroll is set to miss the remainder of the weekend.
Stroll sustained fractures and a broken toe after a cycling accident during the 2023 pre-season, which led him to go for surgery as well as a rehabilitation process. He went on to make his return in time for the first race of the camapgin.
The 26 year old went on to finish that even – in sixth place, despite later revealing that his medical team had initially doubted whether he would be able to compete in the opening races of the season.
Ahead of the 2024 season, Stroll admitted that he had to adapt to a more cautious approach to his training programme.
The 2025 season has marked Stroll’s seventh season with the Aston Martin team, having joined the team in 2019, when it was running under the Racing Point guise. He currently sits 11th in the Drivers’ Championship on 14 points.
Over the course of the past six weeks Lance has been experiencing pain in his hand and wrist, which his medical consultant believes is in relation to the procedure he underwent in 2023. As a result his medical team have confirmed that he will not race tomorrow and he will undergo a procedure to rectify these issues before focusing on his recovery. A statement from the team.
The second triple-header of the season concludes at another classic Formula 1 track, the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit that has hosted the Spanish Grand Prix every year since 1991.
It’s an eagerly awaited event as the track is one of the most complete in offering a full range of technical challenges. That’s why it was one of the most popular tracks for testing, on the basis if a car works well here it does everywhere else.
Since the inaugural race in 1991, the track has undergone several modifications, especially in the final part, with various attempts made to create overtaking opportunities.
In 2023, the original configuration was restored, with the final two corners linked so as to make for a much faster entry onto the pit straight, one of the longest on the calendar.
In the race, drivers tackle 66 laps of the 4.657 kilometre track with its 14 corners. The highest downforce corners are turns 3 and 9, both right handers.
Not only is the track challenging for the cars, it also places high demands on the tyres. After two consecutive rounds featuring the softest trio in the 2025 range, as usual Pirelli has chosen the hardest, namely the C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium) and C3 (Soft).
The forces exerted on the tyres are medium to high, because of the many fast corners, such as turn 3 and the final two, both of them righthanders. The corner of the car subjected to the greatest stress is the front left, as right hand turns are in the majority.
Even if the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit is no longer used for testing by the teams, because of the virtual elimination of in-season testing a reduction in pre-season work, it is still a very important test bench.
🔙 The hardest compounds return for the #SpanishGP! Pirelli selects C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium), and C3 (Soft) for the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar. Read more here 👉 https://t.co/KwAcw1xZSQ#F1pic.twitter.com/9H0yIKjV2a
Haas have confirmed Ryo Hirakawa will replace Esteban Ocon during FP1 at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend.
The Japanese driver will get his second first practice run out with the American team at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, having deputised for Ollie Bearman in Bahrain.
That came the week after Hirakawa stood in for Jack Doohan in the weekend-opening session at Suzuka, before promptly leaving Alpine early the following week to rejoin Haas, where he enjoyed test and reserve opportunities last season.
The 31 year old is expected to also compete in FP1 in Mexico and Abu Dhabi later this year, which will satisfy the team’s four rookie session requirements.
Hirakawa has strong links to the Banbury-based squad due to his ties to Toyota, which is a technical partner of the team.
Williams have confirmed that Victor Martins will participate in an F1 race weekend for the first time at the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix, by getting behind the wheel of the FW47 during Free Practice 1.
Martins who joined the Williams Driver Academy in March – is currently competing in his third Formula 2 season, during which he has so far scored a podium in the Saudi Arabia Feature Race as well as taking pole position in Melbourne.
The Frenchman previously won a closely-fought title fight in the 2022 Formula 3 campaign, beating drivers including Isack Hadjar and Ollie Bearman to take the crown at the Monza season finale.
Following his progression to F2, Martins helped the ART Grand Prix to secure their first F2 teams’ title in 2023 and went on to claim five podiums in 2024, which included a victory in Barcelona.
In preparation for his FP1 debut, Martins took part in the TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) programme in Monza earlier this year where he drove the FW45 alongside fellow Williams Racing Academy driver Luke Browning.
Martins’ FP1 appearance will mark the second of the team’s four mandated young driver sessions of the season, with Browning having previously been in action during first practice in Bahrain.
I’m super happy to be taking the wheel of the FW47 for the first time in Barcelona! It will be an incredible experience to drive for the team. I’m working hard to prepare as much as possible to maximise my time in the car and make it a valuable session for myself and the team. I’m hugely grateful to everyone at Atlassian Williams Racing for giving me this opportunity and I’m looking forward to enjoying every second of it! Martins on the news.
We’re proud that Victor will be taking part in his first Formula 1 session with Atlassian Williams Racing in Barcelona. He continues to demonstrate that he is a talented driver, and this session is an important step forward in his career as part of the Academy. His participation in our TPC programme and simulator work in Grove have prepared him well and we look forward to seeing him in the garage this weekend. Sven Smeets, Sporting Director at Williams.
Lando Norris expertly converted pole position into victory during Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix, leading home Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
Norris survived a massive lock-up at the first corner before working through Virtual Safety Car phases, spells of traffic and the mandated two-stop rule to score his second win of the season and slash Piastri’s championship lead.
Leclerc applied plenty of pressure at various stages of the race, including that initial run to Sainte Devote and late on when Verstappen backed the pack up, but ultimately had to settle for second with Piastri – now just three points clear of Norris in the standings – completing the podium.
Verstappen ran an off-set tyre strategy that saw the Red Bull driver go much longer across his stints, giving him the race lead into the very closing stages, but he dropped to fourth after completing his required second stop with a lap to go.
The full top 10 are- P1: Norris, P2: Leclerc, P3: Piastri, P4: Verstappen, P5: Hamilton, P6: Hadjar, P7: Ocon, P8: Lawson, P9: Albon and P10: Sainz.
What a result for Norris and McLaren!! This is exactly what Norris would’ve wanted this weekend, a win to boost his confidence as he has struggled in past weekends but this was a lovely drive by the Brit! As well, Piastri on the podium too, a big points haul for the Papaya team and boosting their lead in the Constructor’s Championship.
A lovely result for home hero, Charles Leclerc, P2! His second podium of the year too, it’s a shame he didn’t have that bit extra for the win, but McLaren are just so quick and its Monaco unfortunately there’s not many overtaking places where your not gonna risk it. As for his teammate, Hamilton finished P5, a good points haul for the Italian team which has now brought Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari all within 5 points of each other…
P4 for the reigning World Champion, he struggled with the car a lot this weekend, however he still managed to grab P4, a shame he didn’t get on the podium but a decent strategy from the team, it just didn’t pay off with the red flag they hoped for.
P6 for Isack Hadjar, what a lovely drive for the rookie, he stayed out of trouble and was rewarded with a decent amount of points! As for his teammate, Lawson also comes home with points finishing 8th, a decent weekend for the team overall.
P7 for Ocon in the Haas which we love to see! As for Bearman he made a few places up, finishing just outside the points in P12, but a decent effort from the Brit who started P20.
Now onto Mercedes, a horrible weekend for the team, both drivers out in Q2, they knew from there that it wasn’t their weekend, Russell finished 11th and Antonelli finished 18th.
Double point finish for Williams too, Albon 9th and Sainz 10th. The smaller teams have really benefited from both Mercedes not being in the top 10 this weekend, and honestly, this is what is going to matter closer to the end of the season when they’ve grabbed points as and when they can.
Now we don’t have to wait too long, as the next race is this week! For Round 9 we are headed to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix!
The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most iconic and prestigious events on the Formula 1 calendar, not just because of its long history but also because of the mystique that surrounds it.
Narrow streets, tight turns, steep climbs and descents and the famous tunnel that leads onto the harbour are some of the defining characteristics that make Monaco a track like no other. It’s a place where precision is more important than power, with virtually no room for mistakes.
Winding its way through the streets of the Principality usually open to normal traffic, the track is 3.337 kilometres long and tackled 78 times in the race. Very narrow with 19 corners, some of them very tight, there are virtually no run-off areas and the barriers are so close that the drivers often brush up against them.
Around half the track has been resurfaced, specifically from Turn 12 to Turn 3, so that this section should now be as smooth as the rest of the circuit. This type of surface does not promote tyre grip and could lead to graining, especially in the first couple of practice sessions.
For a second consecutive race, Pirelli has selected the three softest compounds from the 2025 range. As in Imola last week, the C4 (Hard), C5 (Medium) and C6 (Soft), with the first two being the mandatory compounds for the race.
This weekend will see an important change to the regulations, specifically for this event only. During the race, two pit stops will be mandatory, the aim for this is to inject more excitement into a race that has often been very linear and predictable.
In the Monaco Grand Prix drivers usually pit just once to change tyres, but last year out of theoretical field of 20, only six drivers made an actual in-race pit stop.
That was because the race was red flagged on the opening lap so that all the drivers still in the race were able to immediately adhere to the rule that two different compounds must be used, with the nine who started on the medium switching to the hard and the remaining 11 doing the opposite.
Precision, glamour, heritage. The #MonacoGP is more than just a race — it's the purest expression of @F1.
Discover what makes Monte Carlo truly unique from a tyre point of view.
McLaren have revealed a special ‘Riviera-inspired’ livery enhancement that will run on their Formula 1 cars at the upcoming Monaco and Spanish Grand Prix.
In collaboration with team partner OKX, the livery change is a nod to McLaren’s iconic M7A race car, while “drawing inspiration from the elegance of the Riviera”.
The M7A was the car with which founder Bruce McLaren claimed the team’s first F1 victory at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix – as well as being the machine that debuted their now legendary papaya livery.
McLaren’s new design will run on both MCL39s throughout the entirety of the Monaco and Spanish Grand Prix weekends, with drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri also sporting fresh overalls in Monaco.
It is not the first time McLaren have run a bespoke livery in Monaco, with the squad unveiling an Ayrton Senna-inspired design for last year’s Grand Prix on the streets of the Principality.
Before that, they ran a one-off ‘Triple Crown’ papaya, white and black livery at the 2023 event as part of their 60th anniversary celebrations and in 2021 they brought the blue and orange colours of then partner Gulf Oil back to F1.
We’re always proud to be able to celebrate our storied legacy. Working with OKX on this latest livery enhancement is a great way to not only celebrate this history, but also the innovation and forward-thinking nature that inspires both McLaren and OKX brands. I can’t wait to see the cars on track over the next two race weekends. Louise McEwen, Chief McLaren Officer at McLaren Racing.
Max Verstappen has surged to an impressive second victory of the season at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, the Dutchman having snatched P1 at the start before holding his position ahead of the McLaren pair in an eventful afternoon.
The race got underway in an exciting fashion as polesitter, Oscar Piastri initially launched well off the line – only for Verstappen to make a stunning overtake through the Tamburello chicane, resulting in the World Champion going on to build a lead in the laps that followed.
Piastri then joined a number of drivers who made an early pit stop, having stopped for the hard compound on Lap 14, but the call did not seem to work out the Australian.
As questions persisted over whether a one-stop or two-stop strategy was the way forward – with around half of the field remaining out following that earlier flurry of action in the pits for the other half.
The full top 10 are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Norris, P3: Piastri, P4: Hamilton, P5: Albon, P6: Leclerc, P7: Russell, P8: Sainz, P9: Hadjar and P10: Tsunoda.
What a result from Max Verstappen, a cool, calm and collected drive from the Dutchman. His strategy was spot on, and he didn’t fall for McLaren pitting Piastri early. As for his teammate, Tsunoda made up some good places from starting in the pit lane to finishing P10 and coming home with a point.
A double podium for McLaren, P2 for Norris and P3 for Piastri. A lovely result for the team, it’s a shame it wasn’t a win for the Papaya team, but Verstappen just ran away with the lead and there was no chance of battling him for it. But still a very good points haul for the team.
A lovely result from Hamilton! P4 for the Brit and it was his first Italian race as a Ferrari driver and he made up for a bad qualifying session. As for Leclerc his race wasn’t the best, he ran into quite a few problems along the road but he still managed to finish P6. Overall a decent points haul for the team.
P5 for Albon! What a great result from him! At one point, it almost looked like he was nearing the podium. But the main thing to take from that great result is how much they have improved! Sainz finished P8 aswell, so a very good weekend for the team.
P7 for Russell, not the best weekend for him, he was struggling a bit during the race. As well for his teammate, it went from bad to worse, Antonelli pulled over to the side as he had an issue and had to retire from his first home race. A big shame for the young rookie but he will bounce back.
Now we don’t have to wait too long for the next race as we are at the second race weekend of a triple header and we are headed to Monaco!
The first quarter of the season is now done and dusted, apart from a brief interlude in Canada in mid-June, the European season starts now, and goes on until the Italian Grand Prix on 7th September.
The Emlia-Romagna e del made in Italy Grand Prix takes place at the Imola Circuit, named in memory of Enzo Ferrari and his son Dino.
Imola’s Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari is one of the most iconic and technical tracks on the Formula 1 calendar. Situated in the heart of Italy’s Motor Valley, it is 4.909 kilometres long, with 19 corners – ten to the left and nine to the right – and runs anti-clockwise, which puts it in the minority of race tracks worldwide.
It’s old school, rather narrow with high and aggressive kerbs, as well as several natural changes of elevation and corner sequences that alternate between requiring heavy braking and some flowing sections.
Tyre management is affected by the many acceleration and braking points, with tyres subjected to a low average load and limited degradation. However, the high kerbs can increase mechanical stress, especially on the suspension and tyres.
The new C6 compound is making its race debut in Imola, as Pirelli has chosen the softest trio of compounds in its 2025 range for this weekend, with the C4 (Hard), C5 (Medium) and C6 (Soft).
Last year, the one-stop strategy proved the most competitive. 15 drivers started the race on the Medium (C4), three on the Hard (C3) and two on the Soft (C5).
The harder compounds worked best, offering very consistent performance, with limited degradation. Those who started on the soft tyre had to make two stops.
Pirelli has chosen the softest trio of compounds in its 2025 range for this weekend: C4, C5 and C6. It will be the first time that drivers will run the C6 on this season’s cars as none of them used it in the Bahrain test. Read more here 👉https://t.co/6WLJ4glS4J#F1#ImolaGPpic.twitter.com/ds0aThNF50
Alpine have confirmed that Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan for the next five race weekends, starting from this weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, with the team deciding to “rotate” the race seat alongside Pierre Gasly.
The news comes following the confirmation that Alpine Team Principal Oliver Oakes had resigned with immediate effect. Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore will be covering the duties previously performed by the Brit.
Having previously served as a reserve driver for the Enstone based team, it was announced last summer that Doohan was set to be promoted to the main race squad for 2025.
The 22 year old was then given an earlier-than-expected debut at the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi, following the departure of Haas-bound Esteban Ocon.
After starting his first full-time campaign this year, Doohan has struggled to match teammate Gasly, and his troubles continued last time out in Miami, where he retired from the race following a lap 1 collision with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson.
Now Alpine have announced that Doohan’s seat will be filled by Colapinto for the next five rounds with the Argentinian having been signed to the outfit as one of their roster of reserve drivers following his impressive nine-race run as a substitute for Williams in 2024.
As part of an on-going assessment of its driver line-up, the team has made the decision to rotate one of its race seats for the next five rounds of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship. BWT Alpine Formula One Team therefore announces that Franco Colapinto will be paired with Pierre Gasly from the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, ahead of a new evaluation before the British Grand Prix in July. Jack Doohan remains an integral part of the team and will be the first-choice Reserve Driver for this period of time. Alpine’s statement.
Firstly, I want to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to drive competitively for the next five races. I will work hard with the team to prepare for the next race in Imola and the upcoming triple-header, which will no doubt be intense and a big challenge for everyone. I have stayed sharp, and I am as ready as possible with the team’s race support testing programme, as well as on the simulator at Enstone. I will do my best to get up to speed quickly and give it my all to deliver the best possible results alongside Pierre. Colapinto on the news.
I am very proud to have achieved my lifelong ambition to be a professional Formula 1 driver and I will forever be grateful to the team for helping me achieve this dream. Obviously, this latest chapter is a tough one for me to take because, as a professional driver, naturally I want to be racing. That said, I appreciate the team’s trust and commitment. We have long-term goals as a team to achieve and I will continue to give my maximum efforts in any way I can to help achieve those. For now, I will keep my head down, keep working hard, watch with interest the next five races and keep chasing my own personal goals. Doohan on the news.
Following on from the Miami Grand Prix, Alpine have announced that Team Principal Oliver Oakes has resigned from the team with immediate effect.
Oakes joined Alpine in July 2024, the former racing driver, who also runs the Hitech Grand Prix squad – overseeing a strong end to the season that saw the team lift themselves to sixth in the Teams’ Championship.
Post-Miami, the team currently sits P9 in the Teams’ standings on seven points, only one point ahead of Kick Sauber, as Jack Doohan was still to score this season.
It remains to be seen who Alpine will look to replace Oakes with, but in the mean time Flavio Briatore will be taking the role of team principal too.
Oakes joins the likes of Otmar Szafnauer and Bruno Famin on the list of Alpine team bosses who have left the position in the previous two years.
BWT Alpine Formula One Team announces that Oliver Oakes has resigned from his role as Team Principal. The team has accepted his resignation with immediate effect. As of today, Flavio Briatore will continue as Executive Advisor and will also be covering the duties previously performed by Oliver Oakes. The team would like to thank Oliver for his efforts since he joined last summer and for his contribution in helping the team secure sixth place in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship. The team will not be making any further comment. The teams’ statement.
A lot has been said in the past 24 hours incorrectly associating the decision of Oli resigning to an alleged disagreement, or that we shared different views. This is completely false and far from the truth. Me and Oli have a very good relationship and had long-term ambitions to drive this team forward together. We respect Oli’s request to resign and have therefore accepted his resignation. The reasons are not related to the team and are of a personal nature. I will continue to be more and more involved with the team, together with the strong management we already have in place. We will work hard on improving our position this season and preparing for 2026. Flavio Briatore on the news.
It’s been a privilege to lead everyone at Enstone. What a team, what a place. It is a personal decision for me to step down. Flavio has been like a father to me, nothing but supportive since I took the role, as well as giving me the opportunity. Everyone is in place for 2026 and where this dream deserves to be! I believe in Enstone. Oakes on the news.
Formula 1 has announced that the Miami Grand Prix will remain on the calendar through 2041, following a 10 year extension to its existing agreement with the promoter South Florida Motorsports – a new deal that will make Miami the longest contract event on the F1 calendar.
Since joining Formula 1 in 2022, the Miami Grand Prix has established itself as one of the most desirable sporting events in the world, attracting fans from across the USA and around the globe with a perfect combination of thrilling racing on track and incredible entertainment off it.
The race has made a significant impact on the local economy and community, generating more than US $1 billion in economic impact across its fist three years. The race organisers have also established internship programmes, worked with local charities, and promoted home-grown businesses each year to ensure that the legacy of the race is felt in the local area.
The 2024 race saw a circuit record of 275,000 fans attend the Miami International Autodrome across the weekend to see McLaren’s Lando Norris take his first Grand Prix victory, as well as Abbi Pulling secure back-to-back race victories in F1 Academy.
The Grand Prix attracted the largest US television audience of all time, with 3.1 million viewers tuning in to follow the action.
In just three years, the Miami Grand Prix has established itself as one of the most important and spectacular events on our calendar, an extraordinary example of quality and vision that truly represents the spirit and ambition of Formula 1 in the United States. Extending this agreement until 2041 is a strategic milestone of enormous importance, which strengthens our presence in America and consolidates the ever-deepening bond with our fan base there, which is constantly growing and passionate like never before. Miami is not only an extraordinary city, but also a truly global sporting hub, energetic, dynamic and culturally vibrant. All this would not have been possible without the far-sighted vision and tireless commitment of Stephen Ross and Tom Garfinkel, to whom I extend my sincere gratitude for the leadership, support and dedication with which they have helped transform the Miami Grand Prix into a world-class event. Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO.
Securing a 10-year extension with Formula 1 through 2041 is an extraordinary milestone for all of us at South Florida Motorsports and a true testament to the hard work of our team, the strength of our partnerships, the support of our community and the growth of the sport in the United States. To have been granted this extension after only our third event speaks to what we have felt from the very beginning – the Miami Grand Prix is here to stay. I want to thank Stefano Domenicali and Formula 1 for believing in our vision, as well as Stephen Ross for his investment and commitment to growing this event. From day one, our goal has been to create a world-class race that also reflects the spirit of Miami — vibrant, inclusive and culturally significant. This long-term commitment allows us to continue innovating, investing in the fan experience and deepening our impact across South Florida. Tom Garfinkel, Managing Partner of Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix,
Formula 1 has announced that the Mexico City Grand Prix will remain on the calendar through 2028 as part of a new three-year extension starting from 2026.
Since its return to the sport in 2015, the Grand Prix has established itself as one of the standout events of the year with its passionate fans and electric atmosphere.
The Mexico City Grand Prix encapsulates the vibrancy and culture of the Mexican capital, where high speed racing meets Day of the Dead celebrations and incredible live music from world class acts.
The multi award winning event has become a favourite of fans, teams and drivers alike, with every event sold out since its return to the calendar. 405,000 people enjoyed the race weekend in 2024, setting a new record for the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Built in 1959, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit offers fans a spectacle like no other in motorsport. Sitting over 2km above seas level, both driver and car must battle the altitude as they tackle the 4.3km lap, which includes the iconic Estadio stadium section, where the drivers are met with a sea of more than 60,000 fans.
We are very excited to announce that the Mexico City Grand Prix will continue to be part of our calendar until 2028. Formula 1 is energy, passion and emotion, and every year the unique atmosphere created by our fans in Mexico City is one of the most incredible and energetic experiences of our championship. I want to express my sincere thanks to President Claudia Sheinbaum for her strong commitment to Formula 1, to the Head of Government Clara Brugada for her continued support and to Alejandro Soberón Kuri, whose leadership has been fundamental to the success of this event. I also want to thank the local stakeholders and businesses that share our vision and who make this event so special. We look forward to continuing this extraordinary collaboration together and seeing the incredible enthusiasm of the Mexican fans again in October. Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.
We are very excited to announce that the Mexico GP will be held for three more years. We are deeply grateful for the invaluable support of the Government of Mexico City, from the Head of Government of Mexico City, Clara Brugada, to our President, Claudia Sheinbaum, as well as Stefano Domenicali from Formula 1, who have made it possible to continue bringing Formula 1 to our country. This not only contributes to the economic development of Mexico City, but also promotes our city, as well as our country, in a significant way worldwide. Together, we will continue to work hard to ensure that fans get the most out of an event that offers a unique live entertainment experience, and which for almost 10 years has shown the world the quality of the events we organise in this city. Alejandro Soberon Kuri, President and CEO of CIE.
GM Performance Power Units LLC. – founded by TWG Motorsports and General Motors to build powertrains for the Cadillac Formula 1 Team – has officially been approved as an F1 power unit supplier starting in 2029 by the FIA.
With their entry recently being confirmed, the Cadillac Formula 1 Team will join the F1 grid in 2026 and use Ferrari power units until GM’s engines are homologated.
Cadillac have set up a European facility next to the Silverstone track, the home of the British Grand Prix, and are working on a new headquarters in Fishers, Indiana, within the American motorsport hub.
The FIA’s statement confirming the approval added that development and testing of the team’s F1 prototype engine technology is ongoing, while there are also plans to open a dedicated Performance Power Units LLC. facility at their US base in 2026.
With this approval from the FIA, we will continue to accelerate our efforts to bring an American-built F1 power unit to the grid. Russ O’Blenes, CEO of GM Performance Power Units LLC.
Welcoming GM Performance Power Units LLC. as an approved power unit supplier for the Championship starting in 2029 marks another step in the global expansion of Formula 1 and highlights the growing interest from world-class automotive manufacturers like General Motors. Their dedication to innovation, sustainability, and competition is fully aligned with the FIA’s vision for the future of our sport. It also strengthens our commitment to making motorsport more accessible and inclusive worldwide – welcoming new manufacturers, advancing technology, and connecting with a broader, more diverse fan base. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Oscar Piastri has strengthened his lead in the World Championship by clinching his fourth victory of the season at the Miami Grand Prix, the Australian leading home team mate Lando Norris making it a 1-2 for McLaren.
While Max Verstappen initially led away from pole, a battle with Norris saw the Briton run wide and drop down the order – letting Kimi Antonelli and Piastri through in the process. But as the laps ticked down – and Piastri overtook the Mercedes – Verstappen soon found himself under increasing pressure from the championship leader.
After Piastri eventually found a way past, a recovering Norris subsequently followed through into second, allowing the papaya cars to build up a sizeable gap at the front.
The full top 10 are – P1: Piastri, P2: Norris, P3: Russell, P4: Verstappen, P5: Albon, P6: Antonelli, P7: Leclerc, P8: Hamilton, P9: Sainz and P10: Tsunoda.
What a result for McLaren! A 1-2 for the papaya team, which is what they would’ve been aiming for, maybe not the order they expected but you’d rather it be your teammate than a rival. But one thing I will say is that Piastri has got pace this season, he is unstoppable at the moment, and if he carries on producing these results he will be a championship contender.
P3 for Russell! What a great result for the Mercedes driver, especially after his struggles this weekend, he came through the other side and managed to get the podium finish. As for Antonelli, he finished 6th, expected a little more from him to be honest, but still a very good weekend for the young driver.
P4 for Verstappen, a good result, however I did expect a podium from the Dutch driver, he was close to grabbing third from Russell towards the end of the race but it just wasn’t enough. As for Tsunoda, he finished the race in 10th, a point for Japanese driver, I did expect more from him to be fair and it’s a shame he wasn’t higher up in the points.
Now onto Williams, P5 for Albon! Beating a Mercedes, two Ferrari’s and a Red Bull! WOW, what a points haul aswell for Williams, it really is great to see them on the up.
A bit of a tough race for Ferrari, P7 for Leclerc and P8 for Hamilton, the latter having a somewhat disagreement on the radio with team orders, and in the end I think both drivers lost out on securing more points for the team.
Now onto the next race weekend, we have another weeks break and then we have another triple header where our first stop will be Italy for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix!
Jordan's Track Talk 