Liam Lawson explains the mental and technical challenge of adapting to the Racing Bulls car after a demotion from Red Bull, revealing that consistency, not outright speed, was the initial hurdle before a mid-season breakthrough led to strong results.
As F1 confirms its return to Portugal in 2027, we look back at five defining moments from the nation's grand prix history, including Stirling Moss's legendary sportsmanship, Jack Brabham's miraculous escape, and the dramatic collisions that decided championships.
Mercedes engineer Andrew Shovlin reveals that Kimi Antonelli's mid-season slump resulted from "unrealistic expectations" on familiar tracks, while his late-season surge came from improved weekend management and tire understanding, setting him up well for 2026's regulation changes.
Portugal's return to the F1 calendar in 2027 revives a nation with a history of dramatic races. From Niki Lauda clinching a title by half a point in 1984 to Lewis Hamilton breaking the wins record in 2020, Portuguese Grands Prix have been stages for career-defining moments, including Ayrton Senna's first victory and Jacques Villeneuve's stunning 1996 comeback.
Max Verstappen will use the number 3 from the 2026 F1 season, moving on from the champion's number 1. The switch required special permission from former holder Daniel Ricciardo to bypass standard FIA waiting rules.
F1 experts Martin Brundle and Christian Danner warn that Lewis Hamilton is repeating Sebastian Vettel's key mistake at Ferrari by arriving without his core Mercedes team. They contrast this with Michael Schumacher's successful transformation of Ferrari, which was backed by importing key technical personnel. Hamilton's significant performance deficit to Charles Leclerc underscores the challenge of adapting alone to Ferrari's unique system.
Oliver Bearman cautions that Arvid Lindblad faces a uniquely challenging F1 debut in 2026 as the grid's only rookie during a major technical regulation overhaul. While confident in Lindblad's talent, Bearman highlights the intense pressure of learning both F1 and a new car formula without fellow newcomers for shared experience.
F1 fans are divided on Lewis Hamilton's future after a podium-less first season with Ferrari, with polls split between retirement and a push for an eighth title.
Ex-Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene has called Lewis Hamilton's detailed notes for improving the team "almost useless," arguing drivers should stick to on-track feedback and leave engineering to the experts. His comments challenge Hamilton's proactive approach to sparking Ferrari's recovery.
Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso delivered a flawless 2025 F1 season in Grand Prix qualifying, never being out-qualified by their teammates—a rare feat of dominance. Verstappen achieved his first career whitewash, while Alonso remarkably did so for the third time in his long career.
Max Verstappen is testing a Mercedes-AMG GT3 this week, indicating a likely manufacturer switch for his Verstappen.com Racing team in 2026 and a potential step up to the Pro class in GT World Challenge Europe. However, his planned Nürburgring 24 Hours debut might be delayed to focus on the crucial 2026 F1 season.
Honda will publicly debut its 2026 Formula 1 power unit at a Tokyo event on January 20, formally launching its works partnership with Aston Martin. The engine will be central to the team's new era, powering the first Aston Martin car designed by Adrian Newey under the sport's next set of technical regulations.
