George Russell speculated that Max Verstappen and his father Jos used their influence to force Christian Horner out of Red Bull, calling it "manipulation." His comments, filmed for 'Drive to Survive,' revisit the political drama surrounding Horner's 2025 exit.
Kimi Antonelli admits Mercedes is struggling with the new, more complex race start procedure, identifying it as a team weakness. While Ferrari's power unit appears strong on launches, Antonelli says Mercedes made progress during testing but still has significant work to do to match its rival off the line.
Cadillac enters F1 in 2026 with a focus on long-term growth over instant results. With a car at the back of the grid after testing, the team defines success through steady in-season development, earning rivals' respect, and building a foundation for its future as an independent works team.
Carlos Sainz shared details of a conversation with Fernando Alonso, where the two Spanish drivers discussed the "complicated" and challenging situations at their respective teams, Aston Martin and Williams, ahead of the 2026 F1 season. Both teams have faced significant pre-season setbacks, putting their development and reaction capabilities to an early test.
Max Verstappen's plea to keep Formula 1 distinct from Formula E may be challenged by the electric series' rapid advancement. As Formula E prepares to launch a dramatically faster Gen4 car and plans a Gen5 model that could rival F1's speed, the debate over which championship represents the true pinnacle of motorsport is set to intensify.
F1 Fantasy is introducing key changes for 2026, including a net-based transfer system that allows lineup testing and halved penalties for sprint race DNFs. The game expands to 22 drivers and 11 teams with a lower minimum price, aiming to boost accessibility alongside F1's real-world regulatory revolution.
Sebastian Vettel predicts George Russell will win the 2026 F1 title, praising the Mercedes driver's intelligence and dedication. Russell, already the bookmakers' favorite, says he feels prepared for the championship battle and is focused on mastering the new car regulations.
David Coulthard predicts Valtteri Bottas will have the upper hand over Sergio Perez at Cadillac, citing Bottas's recent role as a Mercedes reserve driver as a significant preparation advantage over Perez's full year away from F1. He called the veteran pairing a safe but not top-tier choice for the new team.
Cadillac's new Formula 1 team has reportedly spent $1 billion before its first race, facing significant hurdles with a three-base operational spread across the US and UK and potential cultural clashes between American and F1 work ethics, according to analyst Will Buxton.
Ferrari's 2026 car has shown the strongest race starts in pre-season testing, setting a high benchmark. While Mercedes made notable improvements in Bahrain, the complex new power unit procedures mean the starting grid in Melbourne will be the first true test of which team has mastered the launch.
Fernando Alonso remains confident Aston Martin can turn its season around despite a troubled start plagued by reliability issues and a significant pace deficit. The driver expressed particular faith in the chassis team led by Adrian Newey, while identifying the new power unit as the primary challenge needing understanding and resolution.
Red Bull, once a Formula E skeptic under Helmut Marko, is now considering technical ties to the electric series as it gains relevance for F1. With the high-performance Gen4 car arriving in 2026, a partnership for knowledge sharing and driver development is becoming a logical strategic move, potentially through collaboration with an existing team.
