Ralf Schumacher has slammed Ferrari for criticizing a suspected Mercedes engine loophole for 2026, telling the Scuderia to 'shut their mouth' in light of its own 2019 engine settlement with the FIA. He and Ross Brawn argue that exploiting regulatory grey areas is a standard and legitimate part of F1 competition.
Cadillac's F1 team completed a reliability-focused shakedown in Barcelona and will now target performance at the Bahrain test. Team boss Graeme Lowdon says the initial goal was building a stable platform, with the focus shifting to unlocking speed ahead of the new season.
Mercedes and Ferrari logged the most laps in F1's Barcelona test, signaling strong early reliability for 2026. McLaren and Red Bull showed flashes of hidden speed, while new entrants Audi and Cadillac focused on learning their complex new power units, setting the stage for a revealing season opener in Bahrain.
Christian Horner breaks his post-Red Bull silence, defending his fierce rivalry with Toto Wolff as vital for F1's excitement. He expresses respect for Wolff but insists being "nicey-nicey" would be detrimental to the sport. Horner also hints at a possible F1 return, citing "unfinished business."
Lando Norris says he's ignoring early comparisons after McLaren's 2026 car completed fewer laps and was slower than Mercedes and Ferrari in Barcelona. The champion driver stressed the shakedown was for reliability and understanding the new car, not for judging performance, with the real test coming in Bahrain later this month.
Aston Martin boss Mike Krack admits the team's new works partnership with Honda requires time to gel, drawing comparisons to the Japanese manufacturer's past failed collaboration with McLaren and its successful one with Red Bull. The team's future competitiveness hinges on which model this crucial relationship will follow.
Christian Horner ends his post-Red Bull silence, stating he has "unfinished business" in F1 but will only return to a winning project. His comments come alongside confirmed talks about a potential minority investment in Alpine, setting the stage for a strategic paddock comeback.
Jack Doohan's planned move to Japan's Super Formula championship with Kondo Racing has fallen through after failed negotiations, leaving him without a 2026 drive. The collapse follows a difficult test at Suzuka and sees the seat go to Ukyo Sasahara, casting doubt on the former Alpine driver's next career step.
Fernando Alonso expressed that driving Adrian Newey's first Aston Martin design was a "very special" moment, following a frantic team effort to prepare the delayed AMR30 for its two-day Barcelona test debut ahead of the 2026 season.
Mercedes dominated a private 2026 car test in Barcelona with impressive mileage and pace, leading Martin Brundle to say they may have 'aced' the new rules early. However, the Sky F1 analyst warns it's too soon for hype, as true performance must be proven in race conditions, noting past issues with tire management in different temperatures.
Ferrari's Frederic Vasseur is optimistic after winter testing, citing strong reliability and valuable data from the new SF-26. The team completed high mileage, with Hamilton setting the fastest lap, marking a positive start after a difficult 2025 season.
Ralf Schumacher has told Ferrari to stay quiet in the debate over a 2026 engine regulation loophole, reminding the team of its own 2019 fuel flow controversy. His comments come as Red Bull and Mercedes are rumored to have found a performance-boosting interpretation of new compression ratio rules, putting the FIA under pressure to provide clarity before the season begins.
