Liam Lawson has completed his first significant running on Pirelli's new 2026 Formula 1 tyres, describing a 'very different feeling' compared to the 2025 compounds. The Racing Bulls driver logged 141 laps in post-season testing to gather crucial data ahead of the sweeping regulation changes.
The final track action of the 2025 F1 season concluded at Yas Marina with a post-season test, blending evaluations of young drivers with crucial early running on Pirelli's prototype 2026 tires for all ten teams.
Helmut Marko's departure from Red Bull after 21 years brings his era of overseeing the team's ruthless and successful young driver program to a close. The Red Bull Junior Team, founded in 2001, has produced nearly half the current F1 grid, including champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, through a system known for its cutthroat promotion and demotion policies.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has revealed Helmut Marko was instrumental in his appointment, calling the advisor's departure 'very sad news' that will leave a void. Marko, a key architect of Red Bull's success for over two decades, is stepping down after the 2025 season.
The 2025 Formula 1 season officially ended with a two-part post-season test in Abu Dhabi, combining a Pirelli tyre test for 2026 with a Young Driver session. Aston Martin's Jak Crawford set the fastest overall time, while teams gathered crucial data ahead of next year's major regulation changes.
Helmut Marko's announced departure from Red Bull as 'voluntary' obscures deep tensions following Dietrich Mateschitz's death. Internal clashes over driver decisions, controversial remarks, and shifting corporate oversight reveal a fractured relationship beneath the official narrative of a graceful exit.
Max Verstappen will keep Gianpiero Lambiase as his race engineer through 2026, debunking reports suggesting the Dutch driver's trusted strategist would shift to base-only duties. The decision preserves a championship-winning partnership responsible for 71 victories and four titles amid Red Bull's recent leadership upheaval.
Max Verstappen will part ways with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase after 2025 following an eight-year partnership that delivered four world titles. Lambiase steps down due to personal circumstances but remains at Red Bull's base, marking another major shift for the team amid speculation about Helmut Marko's future.
Lando Norris will switch to driver number 1 for 2026 following his maiden F1 title, breaking from Lewis Hamilton's precedent of keeping a personal number. The 26-year-old emphasized the change celebrates McLaren's collective effort, declaring mechanics and engineers deserve to 'wear that with pride' as world champions.
Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda exchanged signed helmets as farewell gifts after Tsunoda lost his Red Bull race seat for 2026. The Japanese driver moves to a reserve role amid ongoing struggles in Red Bull's second-driver search since Ricciardo's 2018 exit.
Ferrari star Charles Leclerc issues urgent warning that 2026 represents Ferrari's critical opportunity to end its 16-year title drought after a winless 2025 season with Lewis Hamilton. The 'now or never' ultimatum comes as major technical regulations reset the competitive landscape, with Leclerc emphasizing next year's success is vital for the next four championship cycles.
Helmut Marko's unofficial departure ends his controversial tenure at Red Bull Racing. Once a key architect, his recent role was largely ceremonial amid growing tensions with team leadership. The move signals Red Bull's shift toward corporate professionalism over outspoken personalities.
