Alpine is set to launch its 2026 F1 season on January 23rd in Barcelona, unveiling its new livery and confirming a major strategic shift to a customer Mercedes power unit. This move comes as the sport prepares for significant regulatory changes, including tripling electrical energy and removing the MGU-H, marking a pivotal moment for the team's future competitiveness.
Aston Martin has announced that Fernando Alonso will step aside for FP1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Formula 2 rookie Cian Shields taking his place alongside Jak Crawford. This move fulfills the team's mandatory rookie driver obligations for the season, providing two promising young talents with valuable F1 experience in the AMR25 chassis.
Lewis Hamilton was genuinely shocked to discover Max Verstappen had won the Qatar Grand Prix, admitting he "had no idea" about the race result after his own challenging weekend. Verstappen's victory, his seventh of the season, significantly tightens the championship standings, setting up a thrilling three-way title fight in Abu Dhabi.
British teenager Arvid Lindblad, a Red Bull Academy product, is set to make his Formula 1 debut with Racing Bulls in 2026, replacing Isack Hadjar. The 18-year-old, who made history as F2's youngest race winner, joins Liam Lawson, marking Red Bull's continued investment in young talent for their F1 future.
The 2025 F1 title fight heads to Abu Dhabi with Max Verstappen and Red Bull holding a crucial advantage over McLaren. While Lusail favored McLaren's MCL39, the Yas Marina Circuit's mix of high-speed and tight corners is an 'ideal hunting ground' for Verstappen's RB21, which excels in straight-line speed and 'explosive' traction. This dynamic sets the stage for a tense finale where McLaren must overcome Red Bull's inherent strengths on a track that plays to their rivals' advantage.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is targeting a podium finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to conclude a challenging 2025 season. Despite a difficult weekend in Qatar, Vasseur remains optimistic, citing Abu Dhabi's historical favorability for Ferrari. This strong finish would provide a crucial morale boost for the team, aiming to rebound after a season described as "a punch in the stomach" by vice chairman Piero Ferrari.
Piero Ferrari described the team's 2025 season as 'a punch in the stomach', expressing deep disappointment over their struggles. Despite the poor performance, he remains confident in Ferrari's ability to rebound, citing the team's history of overcoming adversity and emphasizing the strong talent within Maranello to return to winning ways in Formula 1.
Oscar Piastri has voiced strong support for McLaren's 'no team orders' policy, asserting it's the right call even for the 2026 season. Despite recent struggles, Piastri attributes issues to car and execution, not the team's fair treatment approach. He believes this philosophy fosters positives, aligning with McLaren's long-standing stance against driver favoritism as they aim for future championship success.
An official F1 website error prematurely declared Lando Norris a World Champion, sparking a flurry of online discussion just before the Abu Dhabi finale. This technical glitch adds an unexpected twist to an already nail-biting three-way title fight, with Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri all in contention for the 2024 championship.
Australian Senator Matt Canavan has questioned McLaren's strategic decisions and alleged 'bias against Oscar Piastri' during a parliamentary hearing. This follows a significant drop in Piastri's championship standing and a critical pit-stop blunder at the Qatar Grand Prix, which cost him a potential win and fueled public concern over his treatment by the team. McLaren has acknowledged the error and promised a thorough investigation.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team has sealed a groundbreaking multi-year global partnership with PepsiCo, bringing together Gatorade, Sting, and Doritos starting in 2026. This marks the first time three PepsiCo brands will co-sponsor an F1 team, leveraging Gatorade's sports science for driver performance, Sting's appeal to Gen Z, and Doritos' global fan engagement to enhance the F1 experience and bolster Mercedes' competitive edge.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team has forged a significant global partnership with PepsiCo, bringing Gatorade, Sting, and Doritos into Formula 1 as of 2026. This landmark deal will see Gatorade apply its sports science expertise to driver hydration, while Sting and Doritos will engage fans through social media activations, marking a major commercial win for Mercedes and expanding F1's appeal to a wider audience.
