Feb.4 (GMM) Adrian Newey has played down talk of a radical first Aston Martin design despite widespread paddock admiration after the delayed AMR26 finally appeared at the tail end of the Barcelona shakedown week. The car, which has yet to run in green livery and only just made the track after a compressed development program, […]
Williams missed test to be ‘competitive’ – Vowles
Feb.4 (GMM) Williams team boss James Vowles has defended the decision to miss the entire Barcelona shakedown week, insisting delaying the FW48 was painful but necessary as the team prioritises competitiveness. Speaking to AFP on the day Williams unveiled its 2026 livery using rendered images rather than a physical launch car, Vowles admitted the call […]
South Africa admits F1 return still years away
Feb.4 (GMM) South Africa’s long-running push to return Formula 1 to the African continent has hit a reality check, with sports minister Gayton McKenzie conceding that a grand prix will not happen anytime soon. After previously striking an optimistic tone, McKenzie now says the scale and complexity of hosting a Formula 1 race has been […]
Ocon warns ‘lift-and-coast’ in qualifying in ’26
Feb.4 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has acknowledged what many fans fear most about Formula 1’s radically revised 2026 cars – that ‘lift-and-coast’ driving will not just be common, but extreme, even in qualifying. The Haas driver has already voiced doubts about the new active aerodynamics, dismissing it as merely “DRS at the front”, and now admits […]
Wolff hits back ahead of February FIA meetings
Feb.3 (GMM) Toto Wolff has sharply criticised rival teams for continuing to question the legality of Mercedes’ 2026 power unit solution, with two further FIA engine meetings scheduled this month to discuss the controversial compression topic. Speaking to German media, Wolff made clear he sees the debate as unnecessary political noise rather than a genuine […]
Wolff cools title hype, Russell impressed by Aston
Feb.3 (GMM) Early whispers that Mercedes could be the team to beat under Formula 1’s new 2026 regulations are being firmly played down in Brackley – by both boss Toto Wolff and presumed title favourite George Russell. With Mercedes widely tipped to start the new era strongly thanks to its power unit, Russell has emerged […]
Ocon wary of 2026 overtaking despite ‘fun’ new cars
Feb.3 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has questioned whether Formula 1’s much-hyped active aerodynamics will actually improve racing, describing the new system as “simply DRS at the front”. Speaking to L’Equipe after the Barcelona shakedown week, the Haas driver said his first real experience of the 2026 cars was largely positive – but with reservations. “It’s very […]
Williams lose Santander backing ahead of delayed reveal
Feb.3 (GMM) Williams will unveil its 2026 car without one of its most recognisable partners, with it emerging on the eve of the team’s online launch that Santander has ended its sponsorship of the Grove-based outfit. According to Spanish daily Marca, the Spanish banking giant has revised its Formula 1 sponsorship strategy and will no […]
Doohan left without seat after Super Formula setback
Feb.3 (GMM) Jack Doohan’s hopes of salvaging his career with a 2026 race program have suffered another blow, with reports from Japan indicating the Australian has missed out on a Super Formula seat following a troubled test. After losing his Formula 1 drive with Alpine midway through last season, Doohan had been widely expected to […]
Antonelli ‘ready’ for year two after moving out on his own
Feb.3 (GMM) Kimi Antonelli says he feels more prepared for his second Formula 1 season after taking another step toward independence, revealing he has moved out of his family home and is now living on his own in San Marino. Speaking to Italian daily La Repubblica, the 19-year-old said the change off track has mirrored […]
Horner exploring team share purchase – Albers
Feb.3 (GMM) Christian Horner is actively exploring the possibility of buying into a Formula 1 team, according to former F1 driver Christijan Albers, who says he recently discussed the idea directly with the former Red Bull boss. Speaking to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Albers revealed that Horner raised the subject during a recent meeting in […]
Colapinto sponsor vanishes from Alpine branding
Feb.2 (GMM) Observers in Barcelona have noticed that Mercado Libre, Franco Colapinto’s most prominent Argentine backer, has quietly disappeared from the Alpine livery – just days after Flavio Briatore publicly reassured that Colapinto is secure for the entirety of the 2026 season. The timing has inevitably raised eyebrows, particularly as the Argentine-backed brand has simultaneously […]
Shareholders paid EUR 20m as Dutch GP walks away
Feb.2 (GMM) The decision to end the Dutch Grand Prix after 2026 is facing renewed scrutiny after it emerged that shareholders behind the Zandvoort project paid themselves a EUR 20 million dividend – despite citing financial uncertainty as a key reason for not renewing their Formula 1 contract. Formula 1 will visit Zandvoort for the […]
Verstappen ‘a bit sick’ as Hamilton tops times
Feb.2 (GMM) Max Verstappen has revealed he was unwell throughout Formula 1’s closed-door shakedown week in Barcelona, adding important context to his limited mileage with Red Bull’s all-new 2026 car and Red Bull-Ford power unit. The Dutchman confirmed to De Telegraaf that he is still struggling with illness, describing it as a lingering flu that […]
Horner – I have unfinished business in Formula 1
Feb.2 (GMM) Christian Horner has spoken publicly for the first time since his ousting from Red Bull, making clear that a return to Formula 1 remains firmly on his mind – but only on his terms. Speaking at the European Motor Show in Dublin, Horner admitted he feels his F1 story is not complete. “I […]
Illness sidelines Rovanpera again as road to F1 stalls
Feb.2 (GMM) Kalle Rovanpera has suffered another setback on his early single-seater path, after illness forced him to miss the final weekend of the Oceania Formula Regional series. Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat reports that the 25-year-old fell ill with a stomach bug following last Thursday’s tests, ruling him out of Friday running and ultimately ending hopes […]
Schumacher ‘in own world’, psychologist explains secrecy
Feb.2 (GMM) former Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese has shared his perspective on the condition of Michael Schumacher, following renewed reports that the seven-time world champion is no longer bedridden and can sit in a wheelchair. Speaking to Hochgepokert, Patrese – who raced alongside Schumacher at Benetton in the early 1990s – said he has […]
Horner visits FIA, Ralf thinks Alpine deal ‘done’
Jan.30 (GMM) Christian Horner has added further fuel to speculation about his Formula 1 future after being spotted at the FIA’s Paris headquarters for talks with president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The meeting comes just days after Flavio Briatore confirmed that Horner and his backers are among those exploring the purchase of the 24 percent Otro […]
Red Bull warns rules could lock in engine advantage
Jan.30 (GMM) Ben Hodgkinson has warned that Formula 1’s 2026 power unit regulations risk freezing in an early competitive advantage – amid growing paddock belief that Mercedes may already be setting the clear benchmark. As ‘shakedown week’ in Barcelona races towards its end, the Red Bull-Ford engine boss said the FIA’s homologation framework could unintentionally […]
Aston rolls out radical Newey car, Mercedes ‘shocks’
Jan.30 (GMM) Aston Martin finally joined Formula 1’s Barcelona shakedown late on Thursday, unveiling a strikingly radical 2026 car that contrasts strongly with the totally-absent Williams. The Silverstone-based team only arrived late on Wednesday night, its car running late in the day on Thursday in bare carbon with no sponsors. Lance Stroll completed what a […]