Audi has confirmed it will launch its first Formula 1 car on January 20-21, 2026, in Berlin, with a public event on the second day. The team will officially be named the Audi Revolut F1 Team, racing with drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
In a rare personal interview, Max Verstappen discusses the joys and adjustments of fatherhood, revealing how he manages his F1 schedule to spend more time with his infant daughter and his role as a stepfather, offering a glimpse into the champion's life away from the track.
McLaren's narrow 2025 F1 title win, secured by Lando Norris, wasn't a collapse but a deliberate strategic play. The team chose to halt development on its dominant car early to focus entirely on the 2026 regulations, allowing a resurgent Red Bull to close the gap and create a tense finale. The success of this high-risk, long-term gamble will only be judged next season.
Toto Wolff has pushed back against rumors positioning Mercedes as the 2026 favorite, stressing a cautious team culture and highlighting McLaren as the first benchmark to beat, even with a strong power unit.
Sergio Perez has openly discussed the challenges of being Red Bull's clear number two driver to Max Verstappen, admitting the team's project was built around the Dutchman. He called the experience "extremely demanding" but stated that leaving was the best outcome for his career, as he looks ahead to a new chapter with Cadillac.
Johnny Herbert warns that Max Verstappen holds unprecedented power over the F1 driver market for 2027, suggesting his potential decision to leave Red Bull could make every top seat insecure and trigger a major grid shake-up.
Max Verstappen reflects on a 2025 season where he came within two points of a fifth title, calling it a "rollercoaster" with his Red Bull but having no regrets. He credits a mid-season upgrade for a late surge that made the fight enjoyable and believes the team's positive momentum is perfect for the upcoming 2026 rules revolution.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown asserts his team has defied F1 convention by successfully managing two equal number-one drivers in Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who fought fairly for the 2025 title. He credits their professional dynamic and the team's calculated risk in hiring them as rookies for proving a harmonious dual-leader model is possible.
Helmut Marko asserts that Red Bull's delayed dismissal of Christian Horner directly cost Max Verstappen the 2025 Formula 1 championship. In a candid exit interview, Marko detailed a bitter internal power struggle he claims diverted focus and hurt on-track performance, arguing that acting sooner would have allowed a recovery in time to secure the title.
Helmut Marko disputes Red Bull's account of his exit, citing internal power struggles. Kimi Antonelli dominated a karting event incognito, and McLaren's 2025 car is said to use an Adrian Newey-inspired design trick, highlighting key off-season F1 developments.
The FIA has modified the 2026 active aerodynamics rules, permitting a partial mode to prevent skid wear in wet weather. Separately, Red Bull's Laurent Mekies explains he left Ferrari for the opportunity to become a team principal, a career step he couldn't refuse.
Red Bull's Laurent Mekies believes Yuki Tsunoda can return to the F1 grid after being dropped for 2026, citing the driver's own rapid promotion in 2025 as proof that fortunes can change quickly. Tsunoda will serve as the team's test and reserve driver next season.
