Sergio Perez has countered Mario Andretti's suggestion that he and Valtteri Bottas were rusty after a year away from F1, insisting he was quickly up to speed. Bottas admitted it took until the Chinese Grand Prix to feel completely comfortable again, signaling his full return to form with the new Cadillac team.
Lance Stroll attributes Aston Martin's poor start to the season to both the AMR26 chassis and the Honda power unit, citing a lack of straight-line speed and cornering performance. He confirmed a development plan is underway, but its success is uncertain as the team grapples with significant engine vibration issues.
Despite leading the championship, Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli is consciously ignoring talk of a title fight with teammate George Russell. He insists on focusing solely on self-improvement, drawing confidence from past struggles. However, with Mercedes as the current benchmark team, the pressure for an internal duel will only grow as the season progresses.
In 2009, Lewis Hamilton and McLaren were at the center of the "Lie-gate" scandal after the Australian GP. Hamilton and sporting director Dave Ryan lied to stewards about a team order, a deception exposed by radio evidence. The fallout included Hamilton's disqualification, Ryan's firing, and a major blow to the young driver's reputation, marking one of the lowest points of his early career.
Max Verstappen astounded his Mercedes GT3 teammate Dani Juncadella with a 'special trick' for following closely in turbulent air during a race at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Juncadella, a GT veteran, was so impressed he kept the technique a secret, highlighting Verstappen's instant adaptation and racecraft in his first real GT3 battle, heavily aided by his sim racing experience.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has voiced serious safety fears over F1's new 2026-spec power units, citing Oliver Bearman's high-speed crash in Japan and unpredictable car behavior under partial throttle as critical issues that require immediate review by the FIA and teams.
Lewis Hamilton and Kim Kardashian star in a fast-paced, cinematic video shot in Tokyo, styled after the *Tokyo Drift* franchise. The viral social media clip, created with photographer 13thwitness, highlights the intersection of F1 and mainstream pop culture.
Lewis Hamilton appeared to confirm rumors of a relationship with Kim Kardashian by posting an Instagram video of them driving together in Tokyo. This marks the first time either has publicly acknowledged the connection, fueling speculation that has followed them since the beginning of the year. The news emerges as Hamilton builds momentum with Ferrari, having just secured his first podium for the team in China.
Lewis Hamilton will get his first taste of a Ferrari F1 car this week during a Pirelli tire test at Fiorano. The session, which also features Charles Leclerc, is a key early step in Hamilton's integration with the team ahead of his blockbuster move for the 2025 season.
Williams boss James Vowles says the team's major car upgrades are coming after F1's summer break, with recent races being used unconventionally as live aerodynamic tests to fast-track development and escape their current Q1 exit cycle.
F1 veteran Riccardo Patrese has bluntly told Fernando Alonso to "shut up and drive" following the Spaniard's public criticism of Aston Martin's struggling car. Patrese acknowledged the car's problems but said a champion should defend his team. The rebuke comes as analyst Jolyon Palmer said Alonso's role has been reduced to that of a test driver due to the car's severe lack of pace.
Martin Brundle argues that F1's current power unit software, which can override driver input on energy deployment, may violate the long-standing rule that drivers must control their cars 'alone and unaided'. The issue, spotlighted by Lando Norris's experience of an unwanted overtake, raises fundamental questions about the balance between human skill and machine automation in the sport.
