Aston Martin confirms reserve driver Jak Crawford will participate in FP1 at the Japanese GP, replacing Fernando Alonso. This mandatory rookie session offers valuable track time for Crawford and crucial data for the team as they seek to recover from a difficult start to the 2026 season.
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz warns that Formula 1's new Straight Mode active aerodynamics system is a dangerous stopgap that will cause a "big crash" at high speed. He criticizes racing at over 340 km/h with minimal downforce on tracks where straights have slight bends, calling the technology a "plaster" fix for deeper issues.
Ralf Schumacher urges legal action against F1 fans issuing violent online threats, citing the abuse aimed at Esteban Ocon after a clash with Franco Colapinto as a symptom of a toxic new fan culture fueled by the sport's global entertainment boom.
Max Verstappen has rebranded his affiliated sim racing team from Team Redline to Verstappen Sim Racing, formally integrating it into his personal racing brand. The move underscores his belief in sim racing as a genuine talent developer, a theory already proven by driver Chris Lulham's transition to real-world competition.
Aston Martin's unique structure with Adrian Newey as both Team Principal and technical lead is under scrutiny after a disastrous start to 2026, with both cars failing to finish races. Owner Lawrence Stroll has denied rumors of seeking a replacement, defending the non-traditional model, but performance pressure may force a reevaluation.
Carlos Sainz has issued a stark warning to Williams, urging the team to improve dramatically after a problematic start to the 2026 F1 season. Following a points finish in China, Sainz cited multiple issues including an overweight car, a lack of downforce, and poor reliability as areas requiring immediate attention.
Carlos Sainz has voiced strong criticism of F1's 2026 regulations, calling them flawed and far from his ideal of the sport. He joins Max Verstappen in highlighting artificial elements forced by the new energy management systems, particularly on high-power circuits, and urges the FIA to reconsider aspects of the formula.
Fernando Alonso reveals Aston Martin's recovery will be a long process, starting with simply finishing races reliably before even thinking about competitiveness. The team is plagued by unpredictable technical issues, with Alonso highlighting a concerning lack of control over the problems.
Ex-F1 boss Guenther Steiner forecasts Charles Leclerc will come out on top against Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari this season, pointing to the younger driver's age and greater hunger for a first title as the deciding edges in their closely matched partnership.
Aston Martin and Honda are scrambling to fix debilitating power unit vibrations before the Japanese GP, after both cars retired in Australia and China. Fernando Alonso parked his car in Shanghai due to the physical discomfort, highlighting a crisis that risks a humiliating failure at Honda's home race. The team hopes a two-week break will yield a 'magic' solution.
McLaren aims to mirror its famous 2023 turnaround but notes a key difference: this year's car is a conceptually solid platform needing development, not a flawed design requiring a complete rethink. Team boss Andrea Stella says the focus is on accelerating upgrades to catch Mercedes and Ferrari.
Charles Leclerc reveals the 2026 F1 cars have curtailed his ability to take qualifying risks, forcing a shift to a more consistent, rhythm-based approach. The Ferrari star admits this neutralizes a former key strength, marking a significant change in what defines a top qualifier in the new regulatory era.
