Red Bull F1 boss Laurent Mekies says the team's performance deficit is not due to one specific flaw but requires overall optimization. He highlighted progress on the new power unit and factory but acknowledged a substantial gap to leaders Mercedes, framing the 2026 season as a crucial development and learning phase.
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, leading the championship after wins in China and Japan, says he feels "much more in control" in his second F1 season. His rapid rise creates a new dynamic with teammate George Russell and establishes him as an immediate title contender.
Cadillac's new F1 team has secured consecutive two-car finishes, marking a solid start, but faces a steep development climb. Sergio Perez notes the challenge of outpacing established rivals, as the car remains over a second off the midfield pace. The team is now rolling out an aggressive upgrade plan to add performance and close the gap.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri says Mercedes are "far from untouchable," citing his prolonged battle with George Russell in Japan. He believes flawless execution is key, even with the best car, and finds encouragement in McLaren's pace but admits a significant gap remains after finishing 15 seconds behind the winner.
Former F1 driver Jean Alesi warns that the 2026 hybrid power‑unit rules, with a 50/50 split between combustion and electric power, are throttling the pace of the sport’s quickest drivers, notably Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, who now must manage battery harvests even on single‑lap qualifying runs.
GT driver and occasional Max Verstappen teammate Jules Gounon collapsed and needed extended medical care after racing with severe food poisoning at Paul Ricard. He pushed through illness to complete a double stint before passing out, highlighting the extreme physical risks in motorsport.
Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss announced General Motors' in-house Formula 1 power unit is ahead of schedule and targeted for a 2029 debut. This accelerates the team's plan to evolve from a Ferrari customer to a full works operation, despite potential regulation changes in 2031 that could shorten the engine's initial competitive lifespan.
As Max Verstappen questions his F1 future, Ralf Schumacher argues a move to Red Bull for Charles Leclerc is unlikely. Schumacher believes Red Bull's current internal chaos makes it an unattractive option, and Ferrari cannot afford to lose Leclerc as they build for the future, despite the theoretical vacancy of the sport's top seat.
1996 F1 champion Damon Hill and runner-up Jacques Villeneuve discuss the intense challenge of battling a teammate for the title at Williams, revealing their rivalry was underpinned by profound mutual respect rooted in their similar family tragedies and racing legacies.
During F1's April break, drivers like Alex Albon and Oscar Piastri attended the Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament in Monaco, where they met with Italian tennis star and official 'Friend of F1' Jannik Sinner, highlighting the crossover between the two elite sports.
A look at the meaningful stories and personal history behind the permanent race numbers for every driver on the 2026 F1 grid, including champion Lando Norris's switch to #1 and Max Verstappen's move to his preferred #3 following a recent rule change.
During Pope Benedict XVI's 2011 visit to Spain, organizers seriously proposed F1 star Fernando Alonso as the driver for the Popemobile. Security authorities flatly rejected the idea, insisting only a police officer could do the job, highlighting the clash between celebrity status and inflexible security protocols.
