Aston Martin F1 team has entered a multi-year partnership with energy drink brand CELSIUS, featuring fan fitness challenges and track-side activations. The deal sees CELSIUS move from Ferrari to Aston Martin ahead of the 2026 season.
Kimi Antonelli led a Mercedes 1-2 on the final day of F1's Barcelona pre-season test, setting the fastest time ahead of teammate George Russell. Reigning champion Lando Norris was third for McLaren, while Audi's Nico Hulkenberg struggled with technical issues.
Aston Martin has not confirmed its participation in the Barcelona test, stating only an 'intention' to run its new AMR26 after missing the first three days. The car reportedly still needs assembly, putting its planned Thursday track debut in doubt as the team faces a compressed pre-season schedule.
Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner met with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in Paris, fueling speculation about his F1 future. This comes as Alpine confirms Horner is part of an investor group interested in buying a stake in the team, though any sale faces contractual complexities with current shareholders.
Williams F1 boss James Vowles admits missing the Barcelona test is painful but denies rumors of a heavy 2026 car, blaming delays on an overly complex design that strained production. He confirmed the car passed crash tests and will run in Bahrain, with the Barcelona skip being a strategic choice to ensure spare parts for early races.
Williams will be present at the Bahrain pre-season test with its 2026 car, the FW48, having missed the Barcelona shakedown due to build delays. Team boss James Vowles confirmed the car has passed all FIA crash tests and framed the delay as a result of pushing performance limits, with the team using advanced simulator testing to compensate for lost track time.
Kimi Antonelli led a Mercedes one-two on the final day of 2026 pre-season testing in Barcelona, setting the fastest time overall and signaling the team's strong start to the new regulatory era. McLaren's new car finally debuted, while a red flag interrupted the afternoon session.
During a wet, private test in Barcelona, Ferrari evaluated a new 'partial' active aerodynamics mode for the 2026 F1 season. This third aero setting, which flattens parts of the front wing while the rear stays closed, was added to the rules to prevent cars from draining their hybrid batteries and wearing out skid blocks too quickly on straights.
Max Verstappen will participate in a Team Redline gaming stream while at the F1 pre-season test in Barcelona, highlighting the blend of real-world testing and sim racing engagement for modern drivers. The stream follows his first laps in the new Red Bull and a disrupted schedule due to a crash for reserve driver Isack Hadjar.
Ferrari has not officially appointed a race engineer for Lewis Hamilton, with Carlo Santi temporarily on the pit wall during testing. The unresolved key role creates uncertainty as Hamilton prepares for his first season with the Scuderia.
The Brad Pitt-led Formula 1 film 'F1' has been nominated for three BAFTA awards in editing, sound, and visual effects categories. This follows its four Oscar nominations, recognizing the film's technical achievements in blending its fictional story with real-world F1 events. The movie, a global box office hit, was filmed during actual Grand Prix weekends and featured cameos from current drivers.
Mercedes engineer Andrew Shovlin says the 2026 regulation overhaul – a new hybrid power unit, fresh chassis and revamped electronics – is the team’s most monumental project ever. Early shakedown laps in Barcelona show the car is runnable, setting the stage for a rapid development push ahead of the season.
