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.
A first official F1 outing in Cadillac colours is coming up for @ColtonHerta! 🙌
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.
We are pleased to announce a series of organisational changes within our technical department, aimed at reinforcing our focus on performance and innovation. pic.twitter.com/KlVtvmTA25
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) April 17, 2026
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.
We’re delighted to announce that Dan Milner has been appointed as Chief Engineer of Vehicle Technology here at Atlassian Williams F1 Team.
Dan joins us after 14 years with Mercedes, where he progressed from simulation and design roles into senior leadership.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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 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 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 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 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.
Williams have revealed the striking blue livery that will adorn their 2026 Formula 1 challenger.
Team Principal James Vowles and his race drivers, Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon unveiled the new look to their 1,200 strong workforce at Grove.
The FW48’s lead colour is vibrant gloss blue and is contrasted with a slowing section of black that sweeps from the chassis side through the rear of the car.
There’s a red and white keyline, which was a feature of the championship-winning Williams cars like Nigel Mansell’s FW14B and Damon Hill’s FW18, the latter of which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
The biggest tweak to the design sees the addition of white across the sidepod, front wing and rear wing.
The car also features a suite of new sponsors, including the addition of Barclays, the bank of which founder Sir Frank Williams was a customer and which provided the team with banking services for many years.
The iconic British team are looking to make another step forward in their quest to return to the sharp end of the field after securing a superb fifth-placed finish in the Teams’ Championship in 2025.
2026 is the next step on the path back towards the top for Atlassian Williams F1 Team as we enter a new era for the sport, and we are excited about the season ahead. We have a great driver line up, some fantastic new partners, an ever-growing fanbase and want to build on the success we tasted last year, but we are not naïve about the challenge ahead of us. Nobody quite knows what will happen at the first race but we are looking forward to finding out, and hope our fans will love cheering us on with this great new livery. James Vowles on the news.
It’s always special to see a new livery for the first time and the FW48 looks incredible. The design really stands out – it’s bold, modern and unmistakably Atlassian Williams F1 Team. I can’t wait for the fans to see it on track and cheer us on in 2026. Albon added.
The FW48 is a real statement of our intent for 2026. The design celebrates Atlassian Williams F1 Team’s heritage while embracing a fresh, dynamic look for the new era. I’m excited to race in this livery and to share the thrill with fans around the world – their support makes all the difference as we continue on our journey together. Sainz added too.
Haas have signed former Alpine driver, Jack Dohhan as one of their reserve drivers for the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 campaign.
Doohan, son of five-time 500cc motorcycling World Champion Mick, was Alpine reserve in 2023 and 2024 before getting a seven-race stint as a race driver – beginning with the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the opening six races of 2025.
The Australian subsequently reverted to the reserve role for the remainder of last year’s campaign, having been replaced by Franco Colapinto, before parting ways with the Enstone-based team last month.
Ahead of the start of official pre-season testing, Haas announced Doohan would join Japanese racer, Ryo Hirakawa as the American team’s reserve drivers.
I’m thrilled to be joining TGR Haas F1 Team. It’s the ideal place to continue my Formula 1 career. I would like to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to grow and take on the great challenge of 2026 together. I’m eager to begin working with the team and collaborating on a successful season. Doohan on the news.
I’m personally very excited to have Jack join us on the team given the strength of his racing resume and of course his experience in being a reserve driver in Formula 1. The dedication required to remain sharp and prepared to race while getting to know how the team works and so on, it’s challenging for any driver – especially one who’s obviously still very keen to race again at this level. I’ve enjoyed getting to know Jack and we’re looking forward to welcoming him into the team and benefiting from his contributions. Ayao Komatsu, Haas Team Principal.
Fred Vesti has been confirmed as Mercedes’ Third Driver for the 2026 season, with the Dane admitting that he is “extremely excited” to make the step up after working with the team for the past few years.
Having first joined the Mercedes Junior Programme back in 2021, Vesti went on to become a reserve driver for the team from 2025 onwards, a role which has seen him participate in FP1 sessions and undertake a vast amount of simulator work.
During the Silver Arrows’ 2026 launch event – where he joined George Russell and Kimi Antonelli as the W17 car was formally introduced – it was announced that the 24 year old is set to become the third driver for the season ahead, a progression that he is hoping will bring him even closer to joining the grid.
The news comes after the exit of former reserve driver Valtteri Bottas, who makes his return to the grid this season with Cadillac.
I’m extremely excited to be joining the team, George and Kimi trackside more often this year as Third Driver. That’s going to be very cool for me. I’ve worked with this team for five years now, so to step up even closer to my dream of racing in Formula 1, that’s a huge privilege. And obviously I’ve been working so hard on this car, W17, with everyone in Brackley, so to get to see it around the world and with F1 is going to be very special. Vesti on the news.
F1 World Champion, Jenson Button is joining Aston Martin as Team Ambassador ahead of the 2026 season, the Silverstone-based squad have announced.
Button, who previously carried out a similar role at Williams, will support Aston Martin’s media, partner and commercial activities in a multi-year agreement, bringing a “unique blend of credibility, global recognition and storytelling power to the role”.
Button’s career spanned almost two decades, covering stints at Williams, Benetton, Renault, BAR/Honda, Brawn GP and McLaren – the Briton claiming 15 Grand Prix victories and the 2009 world title.
After his time in F1, Button went on to contest and win the Super GT Championship in Japan with Honda, who have become Aston Martin’s engine partners for 2026 and beyond.
Button will also reunite with two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso, the pair having been McLaren team mates during the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Joining Aston Martin Aramco during such a transformative time in the team and the sport’s history is really exciting for me. Honda’s new works partnership with the team was a huge draw and I look forward to bringing my years of experience working with them to my new role as ambassador. The 2026 season is going to be fascinating and being part of such an ambitious team is a real opportunity. I can’t wait for Melbourne! Button on the news.
Jenson is one of the most respected figures in modern Formula 1 and we are delighted to welcome him to Aston Martin Aramco as Team Ambassador. He brings World Championship pedigree, deep experience with Honda, and an outstanding ability to connect with fans and partners around the world. As we enter the sport’s defining new era in 2026, Jenson’s insight and presence will be a valuable asset as we continue building this team for long-term success. Jefferson Slack, Managing Director of Commercial at Aston Martin’s F1 Team.
Rising star Freddie Slater has become the first recruit of the Audi F1 Team’s new Driver Development Programme.
The British racer will compete in F3 this season with Trident Motorsport, under the guidance of Audi’s new journey academy run by former F1 driver Allan McNish, following a stellar rise through the motorsport ranks.
He followed up major championship wins in karting with the UAE and Italian F4 Championship titles. Last year, he won the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA) in his rookie campaign.
Audi say Slater’s signing reinforces their “strategic focus on youth and long-term planning, laying the foundation for a competitive team and aiming to cultivate the champions of tomorrow”.
It’s an incredible honour to be the first driver selected for the Audi Driver Development Programme. Audi is a brand with a legendary motorsport history, and to have their trust and support at this crucial stage of my career is a dream come true. Joining forces with a respected team like Trident Motorsport for Formula 3 and having the backing of Audi Revolut F1 Team is a massive opportunity. I am fully focused on working hard and making the most of this pivotal step towards my goal of reaching Formula 1. Slater on the news.
In Freddie, we see the immense potential of a future star. His track record is remarkable, but more importantly, he possesses the focus, determination, and willingness to learn that are essential for reaching the pinnacle of our sport. He is the ideal candidate to be the first signing of the Audi Driver Development Programme, and we are committed to providing him with the tools, mentorship, and support he needs to succeed as he steps up to Formula 3 with Trident Motorsport. This is the first step in building our future on and off the track. McNish added.
Alpine have pulled the covers off their 2026 F1 car, the A526, during a launch event in Barcelona.
Two days on from the challenger getting its first track running as part of a filming day at Silverstone, Alpine gave fans a look at their new machine and its livery for the upcoming campaign.
As in recent years, the Enstone based team have continued with their distinctive blue and pink colour scheme as they prepare to go racing in a season that will feature a wave of new technical regulations.
Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto remain as the team’s driver line-up while the leadership team features Managing Director Steve Nielsen – who joined in September and Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore.
The team will be hoping to make major strides forward following a tough 2025 season that saw them finish last in the Constructors’ Standings with just 22 points, 48 behind their nearest rival Kick Sauber.
They elected to switch their focus to developing the 2026 challenger at an early stage to prepare for both the new regulations and the major change in power unit from Renault to Mercedes, leaving Gasly and Colapinto with plenty to adjust to ahead of the first race.
Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for BWT Alpine Formula One Team. It is with great pleasure to begin our season here in Barcelona with our partner MSC Cruises on board the MSC World Europa as we prepare for what will undoubtedly be a unique season in Formula One history, not least for us with the new technical regulations, which offer a clean sheet of paper and a great opportunity for us to be more competitive than previous campaigns. It has been a relentless few months at the Enstone factory in preparation for the season, designing and creating the A526, together with Mercedes-AMG who will supply the new power unit and gearbox from this season; a partnership we are very much excited about. To be joined by so many of our partners including title partner BWT, our hosts MSC Cruises and premium partner Eni at this event, where we unveil our livery, is just fantastic. I thank them all, both new partners, and existing ones, for their commitment to the team, especially after our challenges on track last year Briatore on the launch.
Ferrari have pulled the wraps off their latest Formula 1 car ahead of the 2026 season.
Built to all-new regulations, the SF-26 will be driven by continuing team mates Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, while Fred Vasseur remains in the Team Principal role.
Ferrari are no doubt hoping the car can end a championship drought that stretched almost two decades to 2008, when they won the Teams’ title – with 2007 marking their last Drivers’ crown courtesy of Kimi Raikkonen.
2026 for sure will be a very exciting season. It’s probably the biggest change in the regulations of F1 over the last 25 years. We are changing the chassis, the engine, the battery, the tyres, the sporting regulations. It means that the approach is a bit different. We have to start from scratch on every single topic. The launch of the season is always exciting, but I think this one is particularly exciting. We put a lot of energy, time and effort on the 2026 project. We started one year ago. But what is exciting in the new regulations is that everybody probably took a different direction, different path. We will have to be very open-minded at the beginning of the season to react to every single circumstance. This is very important to have stability into the organisation, to have a good group of people used to working together with the same focus. It will be key for the season. Vasseur on the news.
Audi have announced the launch of their driver development programme ahead of the manufacturer’s first season as a works team in Formula 1, with the initiative set to be directed by former F1 driver Allan McNish.
Identified as a key part of the team’s strategy to build a competitive Formula 1 team by investing in young talent on and off the track, the programme will scout and support promising young drivers from karting and junior formula series, providing a clear path to the top of motorsport.
Members of the Driver Development Programme will receive world-class training and mentorship as part of bespoke programme, covering various aspects from on track performance and driving and engineering development, through to human performance and media and marketing.
McNish brings a wealth of experience to his role with the programme. Along with his racing background – which includes an F1 stint with Toyota in 2002 and three 24 Hours of Le Mans victories – the Scot has worked in team management roles and has held a long-standing relationship with the Audi brand.
To be entrusted with finding the cornerstones of the future Audi Revolut F1 Team is a great honour and a responsibility I am very passionate about. This brand is built on a history of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’, and that philosophy must apply to our young drivers as much as to our cars. We are not just looking for raw speed; we are looking for the resilience, intelligence, and team-driven mindset that defines a future Audi champion. Our goal is to build a pathway that turns potential into precision and performance on the world stage. I am thrilled to begin this work and identify the first generation of talent to join this ambitious project. McNish on the news.
Investing in the champions of tomorrow is a key pillar of our Formula 1 strategy. The Audi Driver Development Programme is a clear statement of our long-term commitment to youth and our ambition to be competitive. With Allan McNish, we have a director who not only has an incredible track record in motorsport but also embodies the spirit and dedication of our operations. Under his leadership, this programme will be integral to our vision for 2030, our goal of building a winning team and shaping the future of Audi in Formula 1. Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal of Audi.
Mercedes have revealed the first images of their 2026 challenger, which features a revised livery in their iconic silver and black colours.
The Silver Arrows, who fought back to finish second in the Teams’ Championship last year, will run an unchanged line up of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli this season.
The W17, like all its rivals, will be smaller, narrower and lighter than its predecessor as it has been designed and built to sweeping new aerodynamic regulations.
The team will be heading to Bahrain for official pre-season testing with two three-day tests planned for teams to refine their cars and start to chase performance before the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Formula 1 will undergo significant change in 2026, and we are prepared for that transition. The new regulations demand innovation and absolute focus across every area of performance. Our work on the new car, and the long-term development of the Power Unit and advanced sustainable fuels with Petronas, reflects that approach. Releasing the first images of the W17 is simply the next step in that process.”It represents the collective, sustained effort of our teams in [their Power Unit base in] Brixworth and [chassis base in] Brackley. We will continue to push hard in the months ahead. Wolff on the new car.
Audi have revealed their first-ever Formula 1 car with a stunning launch event at Kraftwerk Berlin.
The German manufacturer, who first announced their intention to enter F1 back in August 2022, will make their Grand Prix debut in Australia with a machine that will be powered by their inaugural F1 Power Unit.
Audi had opted to mark their arrival as a full works Formula 1 team with a spectacular event at a historic power station in the German capital.
Audi CEO Gernot Dollner was joined by Head of Audi F1 project Mattia Binotto, Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley and team drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto who race together last season.
Audi has enjoyed immense success in other motorsport, unveiled the R26 that featured a striking titanium, carbon fibre and lava red livery first teased at a launch event in Munich last November.
Veteran Hulkenberg teams up with Bortoleto for a second campaign together. The pair dovetailed well as a partnership last year with Hulkenberg scoring his maiden podium and Bortoleto taking five points finishes in his rookie year.
Today marks more than a launch; it marks the public declaration of a new era for Audi. Formula 1 is the most demanding stage in the world of motorsport, and we are here not just to compete, but to define the future of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik.’ This project is a catalyst for our entire company, a symbol of our transformation towards a more performance-driven, efficient, and innovative culture. Our philosophy is one of absolute, long-term commitment. We understand that success in Formula 1 demands relentless perseverance and Audi Revolut F1 Team is not here to make up the numbers; we aim to be fighting for the World Championship by 2030. Dollner on the Audi project.
