F1 champion Lando Norris captured the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year award in Madrid, joining elite F1 names like Hamilton and Button after his 2025 title and a rise from rookie to champion.
The FIA has implemented immediate rule changes starting in Miami, targeting 2026's problematic energy management. Key adjustments include reducing the qualifying energy cap to curb "superclipping," capping overtake boost for safer racing, and introducing a new safety system for race starts to prevent stranded cars.
Formula 1 has finalized its first set of mid-cycle tweaks to the 2026 technical regulations, opting for sensible, data-backed adjustments over a radical rewrite. The changes aim to improve racing by modifying energy deployment rules, though significant challenges like dramatic straight-line speed drops remain.
McLaren's Lando Norris has dismissed any suggestion of abandoning the 2026 title defense, despite the team's difficult start. Citing past comebacks, Norris vows the reigning champions will fight to close the 89-point gap to Mercedes, though he admits a lack of track time with the new car is a major hurdle.
F1 officials have agreed on a set of 2026 regulation tweaks to be trialed at the Miami Grand Prix, tightening qualifying energy limits, boosting recharge power, and adding safety measures to curb excessive closing speeds and improve race‑start reliability.
Liam Lawson used the April break to return to New Zealand and renew his passport after filling all its pages, a common issue given his F1 travel demands. The successful renewal ensures no travel disruptions for the remainder of the season, allowing him to focus fully on racing and simulator preparation for upcoming events like the Miami Grand Prix.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has welcomed confirmed changes to the 2026 F1 cars, developed after driver complaints. The modifications, targeting qualifying, race starts, and wet weather running, resulted from a collaborative meeting and aim to uphold safety and sporting fairness for the rest of the season.
Rookie Kimi Antonelli praised the FIA’s ban on Mercedes’ qualifying “continuous offset” trick after a stressful Suzuka cooldown lap left his car powerless. He called the tactic unsafe, noting the safety, fairness and strategic implications of the ban.
F1's key stakeholders have agreed on immediate tweaks to the 2026 energy recovery rules, targeting artificial driving in qualifying and safety concerns over closing speeds. The changes, including a lower qualifying energy limit and revised race power caps, aim to improve the racing product and could debut in Miami.
The FIA’s new ADUO rule gives engines 2‑4% off the benchmark one extra upgrade and those over 4% two, sparking debate as Mercedes stresses transparent application while Ferrari hopes to close the gap.
Max Verstappen’s ‘secret’ GT technique—using F1‑style dirty‑air avoidance and side‑draft overtaking—was explained by teammate Daniel Juncadella, revealing how the Dutchman translates high‑down‑force expertise to the Nürburgring and could reshape endurance racing tactics.
Haas F1 driver Ollie Bearman gifted his younger brother a customized, electric Fiat Topolino for Christmas, a beach-friendly vehicle legal for a 16-year-old to drive in Monaco. The heartwarming reveal comes as Bearman enjoys a strong start to the 2026 season, currently sitting seventh in the standings.
