Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur says swapping Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer from Riccardo Adami to Carlo Santi will have little impact. Vasseur emphasizes the team’s depth over any single role.
Red Bull Racing team principal Laurent Mekies will return trackside for the second F1 pre-season test in Bahrain after recovering from a minor medical procedure that caused him to miss last week's session. His return ensures full leadership is present for the final preparations ahead of the 2026 season.
F1 technical expert Gary Anderson breaks down the key aerodynamic design differences between McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull for the new season, focusing on their unique approaches to front-wing endplates, bargeboards, and the critical front floor section.
Lewis Hamilton’s 22‑second rev in Bahrain practice sparked speculation that Ferrari’s smaller turbo gives it a launch edge under the 2026 hybrid rules, raising risk and prompting an FIA review.
Four‑time champion Sebastian Vettel used a former Ferrari portrait for his Winter Olympics accreditation in Italy, sparking a wave of Reddit jokes and highlighting the lasting brand value of ex‑F1 stars.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown says the team will retain its internal ‘papaya’ driver‑order system into 2026, ensuring Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri can race freely despite past bias accusations.
In 2006, FIA chief Max Mosley proposed a football‑style promotion‑relegation system linking F1 and GP2 to force under‑performing teams out and reward successful feeder‑series outfits. The plan was quickly dismissed, but its core idea foreshadowed today’s cost‑cap and ladder reforms.
Red Bull rookie Isack Hadjar crashed in a Barcelona shakedown and joked social‑media backlash made him feel ‘screwed for the whole season.’ He’s testing in Bahrain, logging 146 laps to close the gap.
Formula 1's top drivers, including Verstappen and Hamilton, are openly criticizing the complex 2026 energy management systems after initial tests, warning it makes the sport too complicated and risks alienating fans. Their unified concern highlights a major communication challenge for F1 as it balances technological progress with maintaining driver-centric spectacle.
F1 experts rank 2026 liveries, with Red Bull’s blue and Haas’s crisp white top, while Ferrari’s red‑and‑blue design lags. The list shows a striking livery can boost a team’s brand and fan appeal.
Esteban Ocon wasn’t shocked by Haas boss Ayao Komatsu’s “we expected more” comment after a 15th‑place finish in 2025. Ocon blamed VF‑25 brake lock‑up and instability, promising a better 2026 effort.
Mercedes’ Antonelli set the fastest lap (1:33.669) at the 2026 pre‑season test in Bahrain but logged the fewest laps. McLaren and Williams topped mileage; Honda’s power unit covered the least distance.
