Haas's Oliver Bearman starts the 2026 F1 season dangerously close to a one-race ban, holding ten penalty points. He must avoid any infractions through the first six events to prevent an automatic suspension, echoing the caution Max Verstappen exercised to escape a similar fate last year.
Ahead of his home race, Oscar Piastri will test a Tickford Racing Supercar in a private session organized by mutual sponsor Monster Energy, highlighting the growing trend of cross-discipline promotions in motorsport.
David Coulthard has slammed the FIA after Mercedes was alleged to have found a compression ratio loophole in the 2026 engine rules. The FIA is proposing a mid-2026 rule change to close it, but Mercedes insists its design is legal. Coulthard argues the governing body's small team fails to write rules for real-world racing conditions.
David Coulthard speculates Max Verstappen could take an F1 break after 2028 to race elsewhere, like GT or Le Mans, before a potential return, citing the champion's focus on fun over longevity and precedents set by Alonso and Räikkönen. **categories**: [
Apple TV+ begins its exclusive U.S. broadcast of Formula 1, replacing ESPN with a high-tech streaming package featuring 4K video, multiple commentary tracks, and over 30 live feeds. The deal, part of a broader push to grow F1's audience, includes a unique partnership with Netflix to simulcast races and integrate *Drive to Survive*.
In a groundbreaking move, Netflix will broadcast the Canadian Grand Prix live in the U.S. this June, while Apple TV gains rights to stream the new season of 'Drive to Survive.' This content-swap deal between streaming giants aims to supercharge Formula 1's growth in the American market by combining live event access with documentary storytelling on rival platforms.
George Russell is tipped as the leading contender for the 2026 F1 world championship, building on a highly consistent 2025 season and a promising new Mercedes car. His experience and dedicated preparation for the new regulations position him to spearhead the team's bid for a first drivers' title in six years.
In 2009, F1 drivers and the FIA reached a tense compromise over super license fees, avoiding a potential boycott. Drivers, led by the GPDA, protested massive fee hikes but ultimately agreed to pay after securing a cap on future increases tied to inflation, setting a lasting precedent.
Formula 1 achieved record revenue of $3.87 billion in 2025, marking 14% year-over-year growth. A significant rebound in sponsorship, which surpassed 20% of primary revenue for the first time under Liberty Media, and increased fan attendance and viewership were key drivers behind the sport's strong financial performance.
F1 commentator David Croft says George Russell faces major self-imposed pressure leading Mercedes into the 2026 season, viewed as a prime title chance with new regulations. He also notes teammate Kimi Antonelli, now more experienced, could become a significant threat within the team, similar to McLaren's driver dynamic.
McLaren's 2024 championship-winning season did not translate into the biggest financial prize for 2025, as Ferrari claimed the top payout due to special historical payments and success over the past decade. The complex prize money structure, detailed in Liberty Media's results, shows a significant gap between on-track performance and financial reward, with Mercedes and Red Bull also earning more than the title-winning team.
Mercedes will accept the FIA's ruling in a vote over 2026 engine compression ratio tests, a dispute Toto Wolff calls insignificant for performance. The outcome will clarify a regulatory grey area and set a precedent for handling technical interpretations, with a new hot-temperature test likely to be adopted.
