Max Verstappen is testing a Mercedes-AMG GT3 car in Portugal, with reports indicating his team is running cars in Red Bull colors ahead of their planned 2026 GT3 program. The presence of a factory driver suggests serious development work is underway.
Lando Norris admits he had personal doubts about winning the championship earlier in the season, making his title triumph a moment of proving himself wrong after overcoming a tough first half and teammate pressure to clinch the crown by two points.
Honda will officially launch its 2026 Formula 1 power unit at a Tokyo event on January 20, kicking off its new exclusive works partnership with Aston Martin. This marks Honda's shift from Red Bull Racing as F1 enters a major regulation change, with Aston Martin pinning its championship ambitions on the combination of Honda power, new facilities, and designer Adrian Newey.
The Portuguese Grand Prix will return to the F1 calendar in 2027 and 2028, with races scheduled at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimão. The multi-year deal secures the popular circuit's future after its successful stand-in appearances during the pandemic and fills a slot opening up after the Dutch GP's departure.
McLaren added a handwritten "You got this" message to Lando Norris's grid alignment tape before he clinched the 2025 title in Abu Dhabi. The revelation follows a €50,000 FIA fine for Red Bull over a separate grid incident involving the tape earlier in the season, highlighting the psychological detail in McLaren's championship-winning campaign.
New Zealand's top junior driver Louis Sharp will contest the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy with mtec Motorsport this summer. The series provides essential track time before his pivotal 2026 season, where he will race for the prestigious Prema Racing team in FIA Formula 3.
Stefan Salzer has left his role as a director of Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technology, making team principal Laurent Mekies the sole director. This formalizes Mekies' leadership and streamlines the team's corporate structure following Christian Horner's departure earlier in the season.
Jenson Button advises Fernando Alonso to consider retirement, while Helmut Marko claims an earlier dismissal of Christian Horner would have won Max Verstappen the 2025 title. Elsewhere, Audi confirms its 2026 team name and launch date, and details surface about Red Bull's next car.
Oscar Piastri admits McLaren's strict driver equality policy led to 'uncomfortable' moments and contributed to him losing the 2025 title. Despite leading the standings mid-season, the team's refusal to prioritize him allowed Lando Norris and Max Verstappen back into the fight, with Verstappen finishing just two points shy of the championship.
Red Bull promotes junior driver Isack Hadjar to partner Max Verstappen for 2025, replacing Yuki Tsunoda. The bold move tests their youth development program as Hadjar steps into F1's most scrutinized teammate role against the reigning champion.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown playfully roasted his champion drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at a team celebration, joking about their pre-McLaren options—highlighting Piastri's Alpine exit and Norris replacing Stoffel Vandoorne. The event showcased the team's confident culture following their 2025 championship wins.
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies says the team's 'sensational' recovery from a mid-season slump to win six of the final nine races provides invaluable confidence as it prepares to become an engine manufacturer for F1's 2026 rules. He believes this proven ability to turn a season around is a critical asset equal to a trophy.
