All articles tagged with #formula1
GianPiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s race engineer since 2016 and Red Bull’s head of racing since 2024, will leave Red Bull to join McLaren on a lucrative contract, with a potential move timeline around 2028 when his current deal ends; his exact role at McLaren is unclear, potentially as a senior race engineer or a deputy to team principal Andrea Stella.
F1’s first sprint weekend of 2026 in Shanghai drew a massive crowd to the Tilke-designed circuit as Mercedes led the pace and Ferraris chased, but reliability issues marred the weekend with several DNFs and DNSs. Kimi Antonelli secured his maiden F1 win on Sunday after pole in the sprint, while Hamilton and Leclerc completed the podium; teams will push upgrades ahead of the next race in Japan as they regroup from the mixed results.
Formula 1 and the FIA announced the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April due to safety concerns linked to the Iran war and broader Middle East tensions, with no substitutions planned and a five-week gap before the next race in Miami.
Formula 1 has canceled the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 12 and the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on April 19 due to the Iran war and broader Middle East instability; no replacement races will be added this April, leaving a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix and the Miami Grand Prix, and the F2, F3, and F1 Academy events in those countries are also canceled.
The 2026 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix have been canceled due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, scrapping the April races and creating a 35-day gap between the Japanese GP (March 29) and the Miami GP (May 3). The cancellations also extend to supporting events (F2, F3, and F1 Academy) with no substitutions planned, following a FIA decision made in consultation with Formula One Group and local promoters, potentially impacting teams financially and tightening the calendar.
George Russell took sprint pole in Shanghai for Mercedes, beating teammate Kimi Antonelli by 0.289s with Norris third and Hamilton fourth; Piastri fifth and Leclerc sixth complemented a Mercedes-dominated front, while Verstappen endured an eighth-place showing as Red Bull lagged. Russell’s pole is his second in six days after Australia, highlighting Mercedes’ pace in the sprint format ahead of tomorrow’s race.
George Russell won the Australian Grand Prix from pole, beating Leclerc after a tight early battle and Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli, then urged the FIA to immediately review the new battle-promoting modes—specifically the straight mode—citing reduced front-end grip and understeer as potential issues, with a next race in Shanghai on the horizon.
Mercedes reasserted itself in a chaotic Australian Grand Prix, led by Russell and the maturing Antonelli as the team unveiled a stronger energy-deployment approach under the 2026 rules; Cadillac delivered a promising F1 debut with solid pace, while Red Bull and Audi showed competitive form despite early teething issues. McLaren struggled to sustain momentum across the new regulations, Aston Martin–Honda battled vibrations and reliability concerns, Williams lagged with weight and downforce penalties, and rookies Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad impressed for Racing Bulls, with Piastri's home race ending in retirement and Bearman/Colapinto earning praise for smart saves.
George Russell topped final Australian Grand Prix practice, his 1:19.053 lap 0.616s quicker than Hamilton, after Kimi Antonelli suffered a heavy Turn Two crash that Mercedes must rebuild from before qualifying. Leclerc and Piastri completed the top four, Verstappen was sixth amid an energy deployment issue, and Lance Stroll did not run FP3 due to an engine problem, with qualifying set for 04:30 GMT.
Defector’s six-story 2026 preview centers on a sweeping regulations overhaul—active aerodynamics, new power units without an MGU-H, and a heavier emphasis on energy management and a five-second pre-start—creating a season where strategy and driver micromanagement may trump raw speed; Cadillac debuts with Checo Pérez and Valtteri Bottas, Aston Martin battles a reliability crisis, rookies have grown into potential threats, and Ferrari looks strongest in testing, setting them up as favorites though Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull remain threats and the winner remains uncertain.
With 2026 bringing a full reset of F1—new cars, engines and rules—the article surveys multiple writers’ predictions: Mercedes is favored to top the Constructors’ standings over Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull, while George Russell is seen as the driver most likely to finally contend for the title. Haas is tipped for a top-five finish; Aston Martin is expected to struggle. Surprises loom in pole positions and podiums from drivers like Gasly, Sainz Jr, Hadjar or Bearman, and Cadillac and Audi’s entries add further intrigue to a season defined by upheaval.
Formula 1’s 2026 season kicks off a landmark rules overhaul that shifts the focus to energy management and long-term strategy with slimmer, battery-powered cars and no DRS; Cadillac joins the grid as a GM-backed American entry, Audi debuts, and star drivers like Verstappen, Hamilton and Alonso navigate new machinery and renewed title races as U.S. fans will watch exclusively on Apple TV.
A sweeping 2026 rule reset rewrites Formula 1: engines stay a ~1.6L V6 turbo hybrid with around 1000hp, but the ICE/electric split shifts to ~50/50 and electrical output rises to about 470hp (350kW) while the MGU-H is removed, leaving no energy recovery from the front axle and creating a more energy‑starved setup. Aerodynamics pivot from ground effect to a new "step‑plane" design with narrower, lighter cars and smaller tyres, plus moveable front/rear wings that reduce drag on straights via a “straight‑line mode” instead of DRS. A new overtaking framework adds an "overtake" mode and a driver‑activated "boost" for maximum power, complicating energy management which teams pre‑set but can be overridden by the driver. Early lap times are expected to be slower by about two seconds, with development anticipated to evolve the package over the season.
Amid travel chaos from the Middle East conflict, Formula 1 chartered three flights to move about 400 paddock personnel to Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix, helping the roughly 1,500 paddock attendees reach on schedule; freight has arrived, some staff were rerouted to hubs in Asia, a Pirelli test was canceled, and F1 is reorganizing logistics and the calendar to minimize disruption.
Formula 1 manufacturers unanimously approved a compromise to the 2026 engine-testing rules after a dispute over compression ratio, introducing hot and cold testing from June 1 and deciding that compression measurements will be taken only in operating conditions (130°C) from 2027, with ongoing checks on energy management and battery charging as teams adjust to the new regulations ahead of the season.