F1 analyst Jolyon Palmer calls Williams the 'biggest disappointment' of 2026, highlighting a problematic car with weight and downforce issues that has failed to meet pre-season expectations following their focused build-up to the new regulations.
Early 2026 F1 qualifying data reveals initial teammate battles, with McLaren's Norris and Piastri in a dead heat, Hamilton edging Leclerc at Ferrari, and rookies like Bearman at Haas making a strong first impression.
Flavio Briatore states that talks over selling a 24% stake in Alpine are with Mercedes, not just Toto Wolff individually, as multiple bidders including Wolff and Christian Horner vie for the share owned by Otro Capital. The outcome could shape the future of the Mercedes-partnered team.
An early look at the 2025 F1 teammate qualifying battles reveals a mixed picture. George Russell dominates at Mercedes, while Red Bull rookie Isack Hadjar has already outpaced Max Verstappen in a session. Other pairings like McLaren's Norris/Piastri and Ferrari's Leclerc/Hamilton are neck-and-neck, setting the stage for compelling intra-team rivalries this season.
George Russell took pole for the Chinese GP sprint, leading a Mercedes 1-2 with rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli in a dominant qualifying display. McLaren's Lando Norris was third, while Max Verstappen struggled to a distant eighth for Red Bull, highlighting a potentially significant shift in the competitive order.
FIA stewards will investigate two separate alleged impeding incidents from Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying. Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli is accused of blocking Lando Norris, while Alpine's Pierre Gasly is under scrutiny for allegedly impeding Max Verstappen. Both drivers risk three-place grid penalties for the Sprint race.
George Russell led a Mercedes front-row lockout for the F1 Sprint in China, but teammate Kimi Antonelli faces a post-qualifying investigation for impeding. Sergio Perez failed to set a time due to a mechanical issue, while Red Bull struggled outside the top five.
Lewis Hamilton finished P4 in China's Sprint Qualifying but highlighted a significant power deficit to Mercedes, stating Ferrari has "a lot of work" to do. He praised the car's handling but said straight-line speed losses require urgent development, as the team shelved a premature rear wing upgrade.
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli keeps his P2 starting spot for the Chinese GP Sprint after stewards ruled he did not deserve a penalty for impeding Lando Norris in SQ2. The decision hinged on the finding that Norris was not on a qualifying push lap during the incident.
Sprint Qualifying is in progress at the Chinese GP, determining the starting order for Saturday's short-form race. The fast-paced session uses mandatory tyre compounds and a shortened format, providing the first true competitive benchmark at the Shanghai circuit since 2019.
Oscar Piastri experienced a bizarre echo of his childhood when he crashed before the 2026 Australian GP, missing his grid kid just as Daniel Ricciardo did to him in 2015. The McLaren driver has connected with the fan and moved his focus to the Chinese Grand Prix after analyzing the Melbourne incident.
Flavio Briatore has confirmed Mercedes is negotiating to buy a 24% stake in Alpine F1, currently held by the Otro Capital group. The move highlights F1's growing value and complex team alliances, with multiple bidders reportedly in the mix for the shares.
