Kimi Antonelli predicts the 2026 F1 cars will turn racing into 'chess at high speed,' where success hinges on split-second strategic energy management. He suggests younger drivers, familiar with annual car changes, might adapt faster to the new regulations that reward creative thinking during battles.
Williams got its 2026 F1 challenger, the FW48, on track for the first time during a shakedown at Silverstone. Drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon completed initial laps, providing positive feedback and data for the team to analyze before the upcoming pre-season test in Bahrain.
Oscar Piastri says McLaren is revising its team order protocols after several 2025 incidents led to confusion and frustration. While affirming his belief in equal treatment, the Australian driver acknowledged specific situations needed clearer handling to avoid future 'headaches' and strengthen the team's unified approach.
Lando Norris says F1's 2026 cars feel like F2 machinery to drive, a sentiment echoed by other drivers, but the FIA strongly denies any similarity in performance, calling such comparisons misleading ahead of further testing in Bahrain.
McLaren's Lando Norris forecasts increased unpredictability in F1's 2025 season, stating new technical rules will bring 'more chaos' by bringing the midfield much closer to the traditional front-running teams, making every race weekend a broader challenge.
Max Verstappen hopes his F1 success leaves a lasting legacy in the Netherlands, expressing a desire for the country's motorsport scene to remain vibrant and continue producing young talent even after he retires from the championship.
Lando Norris warns that 2026 F1 cars could produce chaotic 'yo-yo' racing due to energy management, while Christian Horner defends teams aggressively interpreting engine rules as a fundamental part of the sport's competitive nature.
Oscar Piastri confirms McLaren will modify its contentious 'papaya rules' team order strategy for 2026, conceding the system created unnecessary internal complications last season. He asserts the team aims to streamline the process to maintain its strategic benefits while avoiding the operational headaches it previously caused.
Williams has gotten its new FW48 car on track for the first time during a wet shakedown at Silverstone, confirming a switch to pull-rod front suspension. The run provided crucial initial data for drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon ahead of the official pre-season tests in Bahrain.
Red Bull's Christian Horner says Oscar Piastri will be "fully motivated" by the hurt of his 2025 title collapse, where a large lead evaporated in the season's second half. Horner believes the experience, in only Piastri's third F1 season, is a powerful learning tool that will make him a stronger contender.
Toto Wolff warns that early lap times from F1's 2026 pre-season testing are meaningless for gauging true performance, emphasizing Mercedes's focus was solely on reliability checks for its new car and power unit under the sport's revolutionary new regulations.
Williams has completed the first track run of its delayed 2026 F1 car, the FW48, at Silverstone after missing the official pre-season shakedown in Barcelona due to build issues. The successful test is a vital step, but the team faces a significant task to catch up on lost development time ahead of the new season.
