Formula 1
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Verstappen on Red Bull F1 engine: "Still quite a bit of work to do"
Max Verstappen stated “there’s still quite a bit of work to do” on his new Red Bull Ford Powertrain after the Barcelona Formula 1 shakedown.
F1 hosted a five-day private test in Barcelona this week, where all 11 teams were given a maximum of three days running ahead of this season’s wholesale regulation change.
Not only is there a new ruleset, however, but Red Bull - with Ford...Keep reading -
Alonso's verdict on Aston Martin's first proper day of 2026 F1 running
Given the revolving door of technical directors, team principals and CEOs at Aston Martin in recent seasons, the scrutiny of its activities during the Barcelona shakedown would have been intense even if its new car were not the first product of its new structure under Adrian Newey.
The team was the last to arrive of those who actually ran during the five days at the track, pitching up on the...Keep reading -
What happened on day five of F1's secretive 2026 shakedown
Lewis Hamilton set the fastest lap on the final day of Formula 1’s 2026 shakedown in Barcelona, while Mercedes conducted the most mileage across the week.
The Ferrari driver completed an unofficial 1m16.348s towards the end of day five at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, knocking former Mercedes stablemate George Russell off top spot.
In what can only be described as a ‘glory run’...Keep reading -
The "huge changes" Aston Martin had to overcome to make the Barcelona F1 shakedown
Like Indiana Jones snatching his misplaced fedora from under a rapidly descending stone doorway, Aston Martin’s timing was dramatically close to the edge this week. The team arrived for the Barcelona shakedown week late on the third of the five days and only achieved a handful of laps when its AMR26 emerged from the garage on the afternoon of the fourth.
Aston Martin had admitted – albeit...Keep reading -
What happened on day four of F1's secretive 2026 shakedown
Aston Martin finally appeared on track in the latter stages of the fourth day of the Barcelona Formula 1 shakedown, while Mercedes kept collecting miles and McLaren's day was cut short with trouble.
Fresh from turning over 90 laps apiece on Wednesday, Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell traded turns again on Thursday with a combination of long runs and shorter outings to get on top of...Keep reading -
Exclusive interview: Lowdon on why Cadillac F1 hired on values over ability
As Formula 1's first expansion team in a decade, Cadillac is very much up against it to take on F1's establishment when its veteran race winners Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez join the grid in March.
Following an intense recruitment spree for its bases in Silverstone and North America, which the team says yielded over 140,000 job applications for around 600 positions, the organisation...Keep reading -
How Williams benefits from F1 Barcelona shakedown - despite no running
It has been a very weird week in the world of Formula 1: cars have hit the track for the first time in 2026 but the general public, media included, has only been drip-fed information. In a world where everything is usually on constant demand, putting the Barcelona shakedown behind closed doors as teams gear up for this year’s regulation change certainly caused a stir.
But alas, what can you...Keep reading -
Alpine's innovative 2026 F1 rear wing explained
Alpine needs to turn a page in its history. Team boss Flavio Briatore insisted on swapping from Renault to Mercedes power, removing one long-standing excuse for its underperformance. The Enstone-based team finished last year at the bottom of the constructors’ championship and its engineers have responded by exploiting the new regulations with curiosity and creativity.
The A526, overseen by...Keep reading -
Mercedes impresses with first race sim at F1's Barcelona shakedown
Mercedes has delivered a strong start to the 2026 Formula 1 pre-season as Andrea Kimi Antonelli completed a full race simulation on day two.
The Mercedes W17 ran reliably on both Monday and Wednesday, with George Russell having completed 92 laps by lunchtime yesterday before handing over the car to Antonelli. The youngster then reeled off 91 laps after the break, including what he said was a...Keep reading -
What the new F1 rules mean for driver workload: ‘An element of subjectivity’
Almost every driver who has run so far during the Formula 1 shakedown in Barcelona came up with the same line after climbing out of the car: “It’s very different from what we’re used to.”
That starts with the fact that the 2026 cars have considerably less downforce, and less downforce usually means more complaints from the person behind the wheel. The FIA, however, hopes that this...Keep reading -
Norris: "Surreal" to see number 1 on my car as McLaren kicks off F1 2026 testing
Lando Norris says driving around as the reigning Formula 1 world champion was a "surreal" feeling as he took to the track in Barcelona for a day of discovering his 2026 McLaren MCL40.
McLaren delayed its start to pre-season testing until Wednesday, the third of five shakedown days at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya. With teams able to pick and choose a maximum of three days to run at the...Keep reading -
What happened on day three of F1's secretive 2026 shakedown
There was a lot more action on the third day of Formula 1’s pre-season shakedown which, as is common knowledge by now, is taking place behind closed doors in Barcelona.
Six out of 11 teams took to the track, including McLaren, which skipped the first two days but is planning to run continuously until Friday evening – each team is allowed three days of testing this week.
Lando Norris was...Keep reading -
Williams missed Barcelona F1 test due to production delays, denies significant weight issue
Williams Formula 1 team boss James Vowles says it is "incredibly painful" for his squad to miss out the Barcelona shakedown test this week, but denies rumours the team's car will be significantly overweight.
Last week Williams abandoned its plans to attend F1's first testing opportunity of the 2026 pre-season in Barcelona, losing three days of running in Spain.
The reason given was "delays...Keep reading -
Ferrari tested wet-weather active aerodynamics in F1 Barcelona shakedown
Although only two teams took to the track on the second day of Formula 1's five-day 'shakedown' behind closed doors at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, there was plenty of material for analysis.
During the morning, as Ferrari focused on data collection and logging mileage on its first proper day of running the SF-26, Charles Leclerc was able to complete his first laps on a soaking track...Keep reading -
Why Hadjar's Red Bull testing crash doesn’t mean a Gasly 2019 repeat
Seven years ago, Red Bull signed sophomore Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly as Max Verstappen’s new team-mate following the Frenchman’s convincing rookie season, forgoing a more experienced option in Carlos Sainz – but Gasly crashed twice at Barcelona in pre-season testing and was demoted to Toro Rosso after a nightmare first half of the season.
Seven years later, Red Bull signed sophomore...Keep reading -
Ford: Horner deserves respect, but Mekies' engineering background an asset in F1
The initial filming day for Racing Bulls at Imola and the collective shakedown in Barcelona mark the first steps for Red Bull-Ford Powertrains on track.
The partnership came about after Red Bull’s negotiations with Porsche – which wanted to be a partner “on equal footing” – broke down and Ford Performance director Mark Rushbrook saw his opportunity. By his own admission, he simply...Keep reading -
Red Bull undecided on third Barcelona F1 test day after "very unfortunate" Hadjar crash
The Red Bull Formula 1 team is still evaluating its plans for a final day of Barcelona running after Isack Hadjar suffered a crash with the new RB22 on Tuesday.
In tricky wet conditions, Hadjar spun backwards into the wall at Barcelona's final corner, damaging the rear of Red Bull's 2026 challenger in the process and ending the Frenchman's day. Given the limited information available from the...Keep reading -
What happened on day two of F1's secret 2026 test
The second day of Formula 1’s secretive ‘shakedown week’ at the Circuit de Catalunya proved much quieter as only two teams took to the track. Ferrari, like McLaren, had signalled its intention to miss the opening day but the reigning constructors’ champion also did not appear on the second.
Each team is permitted three days of running during the five-day ‘shakedown’, and these do...Keep reading -
Hadjar crashes Red Bull’s new F1 car
Isack Hadjar has crashed Red Bull’s RB22 car on the second day of Formula 1’s first pre-season test at Barcelona.
A five-day test is taking place behind closed doors at the Catalan track this week, as teams get to grips with new machinery meeting the overhauled chassis and engine regulations for 2026, with each outfit allowed to run on three of those days.
Red Bull is the only squad...Keep reading -
Why the FIA is so confident in unprecedented F1 2026 rule changes
After what seemed like an endless back and forth about Formula 1's much vaunted 2026 rules, cars have finally hit the track in Barcelona, a prelude to the series' new era.
With the five-day shakedown held behind firmly closed doors, and coverage limited to guerilla reporting from a grassy knoll, the real answers of F1's new pecking order and its racing product are yet to follow, starting at...Keep reading -
Mercedes unique 2026 F1 front wing design revealed in Barcelona test
When new rules come into force in Formula 1, it's natural to see many different interpretations across the grid, especially on those components that define the car’s overall concept. From tail to tip, from the sidepods to the suspension, all the way to the front wing, changes have swept the 2026 cars in line with the new philosophy this season.
The FIA has sought to limit the outwash effect...Keep reading -
Hadjar surprised by Red Bull F1 engine: "More laps than expected"
The first serious test for Red Bull Ford Powertrains – following an earlier filming day for Racing Bulls at Imola – has gone largely according to plan. Liam Lawson caused a red flag at the start of the lunch break, but still completed 88 laps in his Racing Bulls.
Max Verstappen was not behind the wheel on Monday, but saw his team-mate Isack Hadjar lap the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 107...Keep reading -
Russell impressed by Red Bull and Haas: "It's not quite how it was in 2014!"
George Russell has been impressed by the amount of running completed by several rival teams, including Red Bull and Haas, during the opening day of Formula 1’s 2026 Barcelona shakedown.
The first day of running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya proved productive for a number of teams, despite the major changes introduced for the new regulation cycle covering both chassis and power...Keep reading -
Different, "but still a racing car" - Drivers share early verdict on F1's 2026 cars
Other than a few short filming runs, day one of Barcelona's five-day shakedown was the first real opportunity for Formula 1 drivers to put the brand-new 2026 generation of cars to the test.
Seven of the 11 teams made it out on day one, with Williams forced to skip the week completely and Aston Martin scrambling to make it out for at least two of the three days allowed per team.
No reliable...Keep reading -
What happened behind closed doors on day one of F1’s secretive 2026 shakedown
Formula 1’s shakedown week began on a crisp but chilly day at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with Mercedes’ W17 emerging from the garages first in the hands of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, followed in short order by Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto.
Both Bortoleto and Colapinto would later be delayed with technical issues but the closed-door policy of what is billed...Keep reading -
Aston Martin to lose one F1 test day, intends to run in Barcelona on Thursday
The Aston Martin Formula 1 team has announced its "intention is to run Thursday and Friday" at Barcelona's 2026 shakedown, which means it will not take up at least one of its three days of running.
F1 heads to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this weekend for a five-day pre-season test, dubbed the shakedown as official testing takes place in Bahrain in February with two three-day tests.
At...Keep reading -
Aston Martin set to skip first two days of F1 2026 Barcelona test
Aston Martin is set to skip the opening two days of the first 2026 Formula 1 pre-season test in Barcelona, Autosport understands.
F1 is currently hosting a five-day shakedown at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (26-30 January), ahead of further tests in Bahrain (11-13 and 18-20 February) before the forthcoming campaign.
This season will introduce widespread regulation changes and as a...Keep reading -
Audi signs Slater as first academy driver
Audi has signed reigning Formula Regional European champion Freddie Slater as its Driver Development Programme’s first member.
Audi has taken over the Sauber Formula 1 outfit after completing its acquisition in 2024 and announced on Friday it was launching its own academy, managed by former F1 driver and three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Allan McNish – who triumphed with Audi on two...Keep reading -
Red Bull reveals actual 2026 F1 car as Barcelona test begins
Red Bull has lifted the covers off its RB22 Formula 1 car for the 2026 season.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit previously revealed its livery on 15 January at an event in Detroit, Michigan, where its new engine partner Ford is based, but its actual machinery remained to be seen.
The first pre-season test gets under way on Monday at Barcelona, with all teams entitled to three days of running...Keep reading -
McLaren reveals renders of new MCL40 F1 car
McLaren has unveiled the car tasked with mounting a successful Formula 1 title defence in 2026, as it unleashed renders of its new MCL40 in a testing livery ahead of the behind-closed-doors Barcelona test.
The Woking squad claimed both world championship titles last year and had sewn up the constructors' championship as early as Singapore, well before Lando Norris clinched the drivers' title in...Keep reading -
Explained: The diffuser opening on Mercedes’ and Ferrari’s 2026 F1 cars
Caution is always required when analysing Formula 1 launches – especially with the introduction of new regulations. A few years ago, Red Bull played games with its sidepod inlets by showing different designs at the launch in Milton Keynes and on renders. During the subsequent test days in Bahrain, the design was different again, which illustrates the steps teams take to stop rivals gaining more...Keep reading -
Why the first 2026 F1 test is really being held in secret – and what to expect
The human brain is hard-wired to greet changes and unexpected circumstances with a stress response: the amygdalae, biochemical arbiters of the fight-or-flight instinct, flag the change as a threat.
This is just one deep seated explanation for the orgy of negativity that has surrounded the 2026 Formula 1 regulations and their introduction, from drivers hating their first experiences of the '26...Keep reading -
Why there are "no excuses" for Alpine in F1 2026
As Flavio Briatore said at Alpine's 2026 launch in Barcelona, his team has no more excuses. But rather than dreading the added pressure, a character-building 2025 has meant the team has been counting the days until it could finally show what it can do.
It was hard not to notice Alpine was in a buoyant mood as it kickstarted its new year on the MSC World Europa, with Pierre Gasly and Franco...Keep reading -
Haas completes 2026 F1 car shakedown ahead of Barcelona test
Haas has become the latest team to shake down its 2026 Formula 1 car, as the grid makes their final preparations for the first official test under the new regulations.
F1 sophomore Oliver Bearman turned the first laps in the Haas VF-26 at Ferrari’sFiorano circuit on Saturday, running Pirelli’s special demonstration tyres as part of the team’s filming allocation.
In a short social media...Keep reading -
Briatore: Horner interested in Otro's Alpine F1 team stake
Flavio Briatore has said Christian Horner is one of the interested parties in buying Otro Capital’s stake in the Alpine Formula 1 team.
Since being sacked as Red Bull F1 team boss last July, Horner's future has been the subject of numerous rumours and he has been linked to several teams.
Horner had been in talks with Aston Martin and Haas in recent months, but the most serious possibility...Keep reading -
Stella wants F1 to continue to openly communicate new regulations to fans
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has urged Formula 1 to keep up its push to communicate the nuts and bolts of the 2026 regulations to the fans due to how different the racing is set to look.
The forthcoming campaign will introduce what’s arguably the biggest rule change in F1 history: a car chassis is becoming lighter and smaller, while there’ll be a near 50-50 split between the...Keep reading -
JA on F1 podcast: Red Bull F1 team boss Mekies on why 2026 is a new dawn
This week we have a special episode with two conversations from the Autosport Business Exchange in London.
ABX is a gathering of leaders from across motorsport, exploring relevant themes. It takes place in London, Monaco and New York every year.
As we head into a new season with so much renewal and so many question marks, the theme for London this year was The Power Shift.
We hear...Keep reading -
Audi launches its own F1 young driver programme
In the same week it confirmed a five-year plan to win the world championship by 2030, Audi has announced a driver development programme which will scout and nurture young talent from karting through the single-seater ladder, and perhaps ultimately to Formula 1.
The move places Audi in the mainstream of F1 teams, the majority of which operate similar schemes with varying degrees of structure...Keep reading -
Williams to miss Barcelona test as 2026 F1 car is late
Williams will not take part in next week’s Formula 1 pre-season test at Barcelona, the team has revealed.
F1 will reconvene next week at the Catalan track as the world championship’s new era begins, with overhauled technical regulations featuring active aerodynamics and a near-50:50 split between combustion and electric power.
F1 squads have been open about the scale of the challenge...Keep reading -
Alpine launches livery for 2026 F1 season on a cruise ship
Alpine has revealed the livery for its 2026 car ahead of the upcoming Formula 1 season.
The Enstone-based outfit hosted its season launch on a cruise ship off the Catalan coast near Barcelona, celebrating the team's partnership with MSC Cruises.
The new design is not radically different from its predecessor, with Alpine's blue associated with title-sponsor BWT's pink.
Alpine has been...Keep reading -
Controversial 2026 F1 engine loophole won't be resolved before Australian GP
Here we are and here we go: the status quo will remain as the 2026 Formula 1 season gets under way. Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains will be able to race with power units which are understood to employ clever metallurgy to increase the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine beyond the permitted 16:1.
The issue has been the matter of great intrigue since before news leaked out to...Keep reading -
Ferrari reveals 2026 F1 car at Fiorano
Ferrari has become the latest Formula 1 team to unveil its 2026 car, the SF-26, ahead of a shakedown at its Fiorano test track.
As detailed last month, the Italian team has stuck to its traditional launch plan of revealing its new car on the same day as its shakedown at Fiorano, with both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on hand to complete the first laps of Ferrari’s 2026...Keep reading -
Fallows joins Racing Bulls after short-lived Aston Martin F1 stint
Racing Bulls has hired former Red Bull and Aston Martin engineer Dan Fallows as Formula 1 technical director.
Fallows will report to chief technical officer Tim Goss and “take responsibility for the overall technical direction of the team, working across design, aerodynamics and performance”, the Faenza-based squad stated in a press release.
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The challenges facing Alpine ahead of F1 2026
After finishing dead last in the 2025 constructors’ championship, Alpine will attempt to bounce back in the upcoming Formula 1 season.
What can the French outfit do with a largely unchanged team alongside a new engine partner? Ahead of its season launch in Barcelona on Friday, let’s delve into its prospects.
What's new at Alpine?
The main change for 2026 at Alpine is the team’s...Keep reading -
The challenges facing Ferrari ahead of F1 2026
The car launch season for the 2026 Formula 1 season is firmly under way with Red Bull, Racing Bulls, Haas, Audi and Mercedes all having revealed their liveries for this year.
Up next is Ferrari on Friday after what was a highly disappointing 2025 campaign, as the Italian outfit slipped to fourth in the championship and failed to win a grand prix for the first time since 2021.
But 2026...Keep reading -
McLaren likely won’t upgrade 2026 F1 car before Australian GP
“The car everyone will see in Barcelona won’t be the car that races in Australia. I think that will be across the board, because it's simply too early.”
A few days ago, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu was confident all Formula 1 cars would evolve significantly by the Australian Grand Prix – but McLaren differs.
The team won’t officially launch its MCL40 until 9 February, long...Keep reading -
Binotto fears Audi engine performance deficit to F1 rivals in 2026
Audi Formula 1 chief Mattia Binotto is expecting his team to have an inferior power unit compared to its more established rivals in the forthcoming 2026 campaign.
The German marque will make its debut as both an F1 team and engine supplier this year, after completing a takeover of Sauber to become a full factory works’ outfit.
It coincides with what is arguably the biggest rule change...Keep reading -
Mercedes’ completes 2026 F1 car shakedown at Silverstone
Mercedes’ 2026 Formula 1 car has hit the track for the first time as the Brackley-based squad ramps up preparations for the series’ new technical era.
Just hours after the official unveiling of the car on Thursday, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli put the W17 through its paces at Silverstone, running Pirelli’s grooved ‘demo’ tyres.
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Formula 1Mercedes...Keep reading -
Norris shares 2026 F1 target in defiant message after 2025 championship title
Lando Norris has said his goal is to secure a back-to-back Formula 1 world drivers' championships in 2026, after winning his first in 2025.
The McLaren driver accepted the Autosport Champion award at the 2026 Autosport Awards and confirmed to the cheering crowd that his eyes are on the title once again in the upcoming season.
"It's absolutely the goal. Yes, it's absolutely, absolutely the...Keep reading -
FIA aims to "resolve" engine loophole controversy before start of F1 2026 season
The FIA has said it is keen to settle Formula 1's first major technical controversy before the 2026 era gets under way in Australia.
Several manufacturers believe Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains have come up with a trick to cleverly exploit the F1 2026's power unit regulations, which prescribe a compression ratio of 16:1 down from 18:1 last year.
That compression ratio is measured when the...Keep reading
