Jack Doohan, the Haas F1 reserve driver, will race full-time in the 2026 European Le Mans Series with Nielsen Racing's LMP2 team. This move follows his exit from Alpine's F1 program and allows him to maintain race fitness while continuing his reserve role in Formula 1.
Mercedes is the dominant team early in the 2026 F1 season, but rookie Kimi Antonelli's two wins have disrupted teammate George Russell's status as clear title favorite, setting up a compelling internal battle that adds uncertainty to the championship fight.
Audi's 2026 F1 power unit suffers from a fundamental design flaw causing severely poor race starts and a performance deficit, with team principal Mattia Binotto confirming no quick fix is possible. The issue, linked to a large turbo compressor, won't be solved by new regulatory catch-up rules, forcing the German manufacturer into a multi-year recovery plan targeting competitiveness by 2030.
Martin Brundle doubts Max Verstappen will quit Formula 1, attributing the champion's retirement talk to frustration with Red Bull's uncompetitive 2026 car. Brundle believes Verstappen would only stay if he gets a machine that pleases him, highlighting performance as the key issue over his criticisms of the new technical regulations.
A German F1 outlet published an elaborate April Fools' joke claiming an immediate, government-mandated driver swap between Ferrari and Mercedes, involving Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton. The satirical article highlights the speculative nature of the driver market before revealing itself as a humorous hoax.
Max Verstappen rejects sympathy during a poor F1 start, openly criticizing new car regulations and admitting he finds it mentally taxing. The champion hints his future in the sport may depend on changes, while highlighting his growing passion for GT racing as a serious alternative.
Formula 1 will implement a drastic technical change by fitting wind turbines to cars starting in Miami, aiming to address driver complaints about the 2026 energy recovery rules. The move, approved after a secret meeting involving Sebastian Vettel, promises to reduce battery management burdens but has already caused stability issues in early testing.
Jack Doohan will combine his Haas F1 reserve role with a 2026 drive in the European Le Mans Series for Nielsen Racing. The move gives the Australian vital race experience after his Alpine F1 exit, marking a strategic shift into endurance racing as he aims to eventually return to the Grand Prix grid.
The Race's Edd Straw explains his contentious Japanese GP driver rankings, detailing why Pierre Gasly's intelligent drive earned top spot over Charles Leclerc, why George Russell was ranked 13th, and how Sergio Perez impressed despite a poor finishing position.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll salvaged fun from a tough Japanese GP, battling each other at the back of the pack in what Stroll called their "little Aston Martin championship." While Stroll retired, Alonso's finish marked the team's first full race distance of 2025, providing crucial data amid ongoing reliability struggles.
Charles Leclerc's podium at Suzuka was a triumph of strategy over pure speed. By masterfully managing his car's electrical energy under the 2026 regulations, the Ferrari driver successfully fended off a faster George Russell, showcasing how Formula 1 has become a high-stakes game of energy chess on track.
Red Bull's Isack Hadjar called Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad "that idiot" over team radio after a fraught battle at the Japanese GP, exposing friction within the Red Bull stable during a tough start to the 2026 season.
