Alpine has officially parted ways with former interim F1 team principal Bruno Famin, finalizing a leadership transition. In related team news, advisor Flavio Briatore dismissed significance of rumors that Mercedes is interested in buying a minority stake in the operation, comparing such an investor to a mere 'passenger'.
Jonathan Wheatley has left Audi, paving the way for a future move to Aston Martin. However, a gardening leave clause in his contract will delay his start, meaning Adrian Newey will remain as Aston Martin's team principal for the immediate future. The situation highlights the complex contractual landscapes governing top F1 personnel moves.
Max Verstappen will drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in a four-hour Nurburgring endurance race this Saturday as preparation for May's 24-hour event. The race will be streamed live on RacingNews365's YouTube channel, offering a rare chance to see the F1 champion in action outside his Red Bull.
David Coulthard was deeply moved by Kimi Antonelli's emotional reaction to his first F1 win in China, defending the teenager's tears as a sign of authentic passion. The former driver believes this victory could be the start of a journey that makes Antonelli one of the sport's youngest ever world champions, especially with a competitive Mercedes beneath him.
Adrian Newey is reportedly set to step down as Aston Martin F1 Team Principal to focus on technical work, with Audi's Jonathan Wheatley the favorite to replace him. While the team denies the speculation, the move is seen as an attempt to stabilize leadership after a terrible start to the 2026 season.
F1 commentator David Croft warns Aston Martin's severe vibration issue, which caused Fernando Alonso to lose feeling in his hands in China, may take months to fix and could require a new 'B-spec' car by mid-season, crippling their development race.
Mercedes has promoted long‑time communications chief Bradley Lord to Deputy Team Principal, expanding Toto Wolff’s leadership team as the sport’s scale and complexity grow.
Despite serious safety concerns over chassis vibrations that can cause driver injury, most F1 fans support allowing Aston Martin to start the Japanese GP to gather crucial data. The team, however, faces a dilemma between development and driver welfare as it races to fix a Honda battery-related issue.
Williams Racing faces a severe crisis as its 2024 FW48 car is criticized as the grid's 'biggest flop,' primarily due to being reportedly up to 30kg overweight. Former drivers Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya have issued damning verdicts, with the latter calling for accountability. The fundamental weight issue presents a massive technical and financial challenge for Team Principal James Vowles to solve under F1's cost cap.
F1 returns to the legendary Suzuka circuit for the Japanese GP, with dominant Mercedes facing a Ferrari threat. While the Silver Arrows seek a third straight win, Red Bull and McLaren struggle for pace. The race airs live this weekend on Sky Sports F1 in the UK.
Reigning F1 World Champion Lando Norris will receive a wax figure at Madame Tussauds London this summer, placing him alongside legends like Lewis Hamilton and Cristiano Ronaldo. The honor recognizes his status as a defining global sports icon following his 2025 title win.
Lewis Hamilton speculates Mercedes may still use a qualifying-specific engine 'mode' for a power boost, citing a familiar pattern from his time with the team. McLaren's Lando Norris, a Mercedes customer, firmly rejected the idea, suggesting it's a mental construct. The exchange highlights the ongoing search for answers behind Mercedes' consistent Saturday supremacy.
