Formula 1's prize money pool for teams will grow to around $1.25 billion in 2025. The payout order sees major shifts, with McLaren taking the top share as champion and Williams making a big jump, while Ferrari and Alpine fall down the financial rankings.
Max Verstappen will use the number 3 from the 2026 F1 season, moving on from the champion's number 1. The switch required special permission from former holder Daniel Ricciardo to bypass standard FIA waiting rules.
F1 veteran Riccardo Patrese says Ferrari needs a "strong technical leader" like Ross Brawn, criticizing team boss Fred Vasseur for being "slow to react" after a winless 2025 season where the team finished fourth.
Oliver Bearman cautions that Arvid Lindblad faces a uniquely challenging F1 debut in 2026 as the grid's only rookie during a major technical regulation overhaul. While confident in Lindblad's talent, Bearman highlights the intense pressure of learning both F1 and a new car formula without fellow newcomers for shared experience.
Guenther Steiner, the former Haas F1 boss set to lead a MotoGP team in 2026, has playfully invited new F1 world champion Lando Norris for a test ride on a KTM bike. The offer taps into Norris's well-documented early passion for motorcycle racing, though it remains uncertain if McLaren would allow its star driver to participate.
Ex-Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene has called Lewis Hamilton's detailed notes for improving the team "almost useless," arguing drivers should stick to on-track feedback and leave engineering to the experts. His comments challenge Hamilton's proactive approach to sparking Ferrari's recovery.
Formula 1 has confirmed the Portuguese Grand Prix will return to the calendar in 2027, to be held at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimão for an initial two-year period. The move is part of F1's new rotation strategy for European races.
Max Verstappen is testing a Mercedes-AMG GT3 this week, indicating a likely manufacturer switch for his Verstappen.com Racing team in 2026 and a potential step up to the Pro class in GT World Challenge Europe. However, his planned Nürburgring 24 Hours debut might be delayed to focus on the crucial 2026 F1 season.
Fresh off his narrow F1 title defeat, Max Verstappen was back testing a Mercedes-AMG GT3 at Estoril with the 2 Seas Motorsport team, continuing his active exploration of endurance racing as a future career path.
New F1 champion Lando Norris found himself in an awkward spotlight at the FIA Prize Gala when President Mohammed Ben Sulayem ruffled his hair on stage. While both laughed it off with jokes about fines, the gesture sparked a swift online backlash from fans who viewed it as disrespectful or a 'power play,' highlighting the scrutinized dynamics between the sport's governors and its stars.
Honda will fully return to Formula 1 as a works power unit supplier for Aston Martin in 2026, unveiling its new engine in Tokyo on January 20. The company states the sport's shift to high-electrification and sustainable fuels is now essential to its future technology roadmap, making F1 a platform it 'cannot live without'.
Jenson Button expressed admiration for Fernando Alonso's longevity in F1 while joking that fatherhood could extend the Spaniard's legacy through a "bunch of little Fernandos" taking up karting. The 2009 champion noted the emotional reward of children following in racing footsteps might surpass even winning a world championship.
