Ryo Hirakawa's Turn 1 crash during F1's Abu Dhabi post-season test triggered a 15-minute red flag, disrupting Haas' development program. The Le Mans champion's incident highlighted the high stakes of limited testing time as teams gather critical data for 2026 car development.
Lando Norris partied until 5am singing Queen after clinching his first F1 world title by 2 points over Verstappen, then posted a 'lifetime of work' hangover quip before testing with a gold helmet. The whirlwind transition captures F1's brutal championship reality where celebrations end at dawn.
All 10 F1 teams return to Yas Marina just 48 hours after the season finale for critical 2026 tire testing and rookie evaluations. Pirelli uses modified 'mule cars' to validate next year's narrower tires amid uncertain aero projections, while teams assess future talent including O'Ward, Vesti, and Iwasa.
Fresh F1 world champion Lando Norris reveals his 6am McDonald's disappointment after title celebrations and the mental 'click' that transformed his season. The Briton partied until dawn, sought nugget comfort, and reflected on embracing authentic emotions over staged celebrations.
Pirelli has unveiled its 2026 Formula 1 tire design, eliminating the controversial wheel covers introduced in 2020. The new sidewall features a checkered flag pattern with compound-specific colors while maintaining the existing color-coding system and expanding compound differentiation for strategic racing.
F1 teams begin 2026 preparations at Abu Dhabi test using mule cars to evaluate Pirelli's narrower tires amid major regulation shifts. Norris participates while Verstappen skips as sport transitions to active aerodynamics era.
Lewis Hamilton plans a complete digital detox during F1's winter break following his toughest season, revealing he'll 'unplug from the matrix' with no phone access until January. The seven-time champion endured a career-worst campaign with zero podiums and 86-point deficit to Leclerc, citing 'unbearable anger' after repeated qualifying failures while crediting fan support for keeping him motivated.
Lando Norris identifies his Monaco qualifying lap as the psychological turning point that reversed his season slump. The session—where he overcame self-doubt to secure pole and win—reignited his confidence amid teammate comparisons, though his 'world title' reference appears to be a factual error in the original report.
Former Alpine reserve Jack Doohan enters Suzuka's post-season Super Formula test with Kondo Racing, signaling his serious commitment to Japan's top series after losing his F1 pathway. The move highlights growing competition among drivers seeking alternative routes to Formula 1 through Super Formula's Toyota-powered grid.
Apple TV's debut ad showcases its upcoming exclusive US F1 coverage starting in 2026, featuring driver-cam Multiview and mobile leaderboards. The five-year partnership follows the success of Brad Pitt's 'F1 The Movie,' signaling Apple's commitment to transforming American fan engagement with innovative broadcast technology.
Alex Dunne is finalizing a 2026 Alpine F1 reserve role after Red Bull talks collapsed, with his Super Licence status expected to be resolved through 2025 performances. The Irish prospect could challenge for a race seat if Colapinto underperforms.
The FIA has added a penalty point to Liam Lawson's superlicence for erratic defending against Oliver Bearman at the Abu Dhabi GP, bringing his 12-month total to six. With 12 points triggering an automatic race ban, the Racing Bulls driver now faces heightened scrutiny as he approaches the critical threshold with two races remaining in the evaluation window.
