Feb.19 (GMM) Formula 1’s controversial new start procedure is under increasing scrutiny after further confusion during practice runs in Bahrain. Following the chaotic end to the first test – when multiple cars lined up for practice starts and nearly collided – teams again experimented with launch procedures as the second test began, while off-track talks […]
Liberty eyes expansion of Sprint format
Feb.19 (GMM) Formula 1 could be heading toward a dramatic expansion of its Sprint format. In a statement following the latest Formula 1 Commission meeting in Bahrain, officials confirmed the idea is firmly under discussion. “There were discussions around the possibility of increasing the Sprint events up to 12 based on the demand for Sprints […]
Red Bull clears fuel hurdle as Mercedes races against time
Feb.19 (GMM) Red Bull is believed to have secured FIA homologation for its 2026 sustainable fuel – leaving Mercedes and Petronas increasingly isolated as the Melbourne opener approaches. Earlier this week it emerged that only Shell – supplying Ferrari, Haas and Cadillac – and BP, Audi’s partner – had fully cleared the FIA’s new sustainable […]
Rumours swirl over Cadillac livery legality
Feb.19 (GMM) Cadillac’s eye-catching Formula 1 debut may already be under scrutiny – not for performance, but for paint. According to Germany’s Bild, the American newcomer could face FIA questions over the legality of its recently unveiled 2026 livery. Cadillac reportedly spent more than EUR 20 million to showcase the car’s colours in a high-profile […]
Antonelli loses licence after AMG crash
Feb.19 (GMM) Italian police have confirmed that Kimi Antonelli temporarily lost his road driving licence following his recent traffic accident in Italy. The 19-year-old Mercedes driver lost control of his Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO Motorsport Collectors Edition company car during the night of February 7-8 in Serravalle. According to the police statement, the incident occurred […]
Vettel urges patience as F1’s 2026 ‘DNA’ debate grows
Feb.18 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has called for calm as criticism of Formula 1’s new 2026 cars intensifies – but admits the sport must not “lose sight” of its identity. Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have all publicly questioned the new energy-heavy regulations, with Verstappen even likening the cars to “Formula E on steroids”. […]
Spa still negotiating with F1 despite rotation deal
Feb.18 (GMM) The future of the Belgian GP remains under discussion, despite last year’s announcement of a rotation deal with Formula 1. In 2025, F1 confirmed a multi-year extension for Spa-Francorchamps covering the 2026, 2027, 2029 and 2031 seasons, as part of a rotation model. This week’s confirmation that Barcelona will share the alternating slot […]
F1 Commission meets as Mercedes engine saga escalates
Feb.18 (GMM) The Formula 1 Commission meets in Bahrain on Wednesday amid intensifying controversy over Mercedes’ disputed engine compression concept. With the Powertrain Advisory Committee also gathering, the agenda is heavy – concerns about the complexity of the 2026 regulations, mounting criticism from top drivers, and – above all – the so-called compression saga. Reports […]
Schumacher links Piastri changes to Webber tensions
Feb.18 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher believes Oscar Piastri’s evolving management structure may reflect tensions behind the scenes at McLaren last season. Speaking on Sky Deutschland, Schumacher suggested it had been important for McLaren that Piastri made key changes ahead of resumption of racing in 2026. “I have heard that it was very important for McLaren that […]
MotoGP-Albert Park move blocked
Feb.18 (GMM) The Victorian state government has rejected a proposal to relocate the Australian MotoGP round from Phillip Island to Albert Park – the home of Formula 1’s Australian GP. The current MotoGP contract expires after the 2026 season and has yet to be renewed. Promoters had reportedly demanded significant infrastructure upgrades at Phillip Island […]
Only Shell, BP fuel homologated ahead of F1 season
Feb.18 (GMM) Only two fuel suppliers have fully cleared the FIA’s new sustainable fuel homologation process ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, according to Italian media. Shell – supplying Ferrari, Haas and Cadillac – and BP, Audi’s partner, are understood to have successfully passed all certification tests required under the new regulations. From 2026, […]
Vettel cool on F1 return but backs Russell for 2026
Feb.18 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has played down the prospect of a Formula 1 comeback – either as a driver or in a senior paddock role – but admits endurance racing with Max Verstappen remains an intriguing possibility. The four-time world champion was recently linked with a potential succession to the now-ousted Dr Helmut Marko at […]
Gearbox joins Honda on Aston’s growing problem list
Feb.17 (GMM) Aston Martin’s 2026 troubles may extend beyond Honda’s power unit and cooling concerns, with Spain’s Marca reporting that the team’s first in-house gearbox is also struggling under the demands of the new regulations. The Silverstone outfit has switched from Mercedes-supplied transmissions to its own design this season – but the new energy-heavy era […]
Towriss sets F2 target for Herta as Cadillac eyes 2027
Feb.17 (GMM) Cadillac chief executive Dan Towriss has outlined clear expectations for Colton Herta as the American begins his unusual Formula 2 campaign with one goal in mind – a Formula 1 seat in 2027. Herta, now part of Cadillac’s F1 development program, left IndyCar as one of its top stars to compete in F2 […]
Barcelona secures F1 future in rotation deal with Spa
Feb.17 (GMM) Long-running uncertainty about Barcelona’s Formula 1 future has been settled, with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya confirmed on the calendar through 2032 on a rotational basis. Formula 1 announced a multi-year extension that will see the renamed Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix take place in 2026, and then in 2028, 2030 and 2032. The event will […]
Aston ‘five seconds’ adrift as Honda concerns grow
Feb.16 (GMM) Aston Martin may be significantly further off the pace than first feared, as the scale of its 2026 struggles becomes clearer. After Lance Stroll admitted the team was “four or four and a half” seconds down, ambassador Pedro de la Rosa confirmed the shortfall could indeed be measured in multiple seconds. “We’re not […]
F1 Commission showdown looms as compression saga intensifies
Feb.16 (GMM) The Formula 1 Commission is set for a crucial meeting this week as the controversy over Mercedes’ power unit compression concept continues to escalate. With a significant bloc of teams and manufacturers reportedly pushing for clarity before the season opener in Melbourne, Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur said the focus must be on […]
Finger-pointing intensifies over 2026 pecking order
Feb.16 (GMM) The guessing game over who is leading Formula 1’s new 2026 era has descended into open finger-pointing in Bahrain. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff insists Red Bull-Ford is clearly in front – a claim now echoed by George Russell. “They’re not just a small step ahead,” Russell said. “We’re talking about a lead of […]
Start procedure chaos raises fresh safety fears
Feb.16 (GMM) Concerns about the complexity of Formula 1’s new 2026 start procedures boiled over at the end of the first Bahrain test. The session had officially ended when a chaotic practice start on the main straight triggered alarm in the paddock. As drivers lined up, Franco Colapinto suddenly lost control of his Alpine while […]
Renault cuts other programs, Alpine F1 future in doubt
Feb.16 (GMM) Renault’s decision to shut down Alpine’s World Endurance Championship program and Dacia’s rally-raid effort at the end of the year has intensified speculation about the long-term future of its Formula 1 team. According to L’Equipe, Formula 1 will be spared despite Alpine finishing last in last season’s constructors’ championship and now running a […]