Feb.11 (GMM) McLaren CEO Zak Brown has fired back after a tongue-in-cheek question in Australia’s parliament reignited debate about the team’s so-called ‘Papaya rules’ and whether Oscar Piastri has been disadvantaged. At a committee meeting on agriculture and transport, Queensland senator Matt Canavan asked a minister whether he thought Piastri had been deliberately disadvantaged so […]
Month: February 2026
Cadillac ‘disappointed’ if last in 2026
Feb.10 (GMM) Sergio Perez admits Formula 1’s newest team could face a tough debut season, but insists Cadillac would be deeply disappointed to end 2026 at the back of the grid. Speaking to Reuters after Cadillac unveiled its striking black-and-white, asymmetric livery during a Super Bowl commercial, the returning Mexican was clear that expectations extend […]
Isola upbeat on 2026 tyres as new F1 era takes shape
Feb.10 (GMM) Pirelli boss Mario Isola says Formula 1’s radically new 2026 cars have made a positive first impression, insisting the tyre supplier is well prepared despite the scale of the technical reset. Speaking after the recent shakedown running in Barcelona, Isola said the transformation of the cars inevitably brings uncertainty – but also encouragement. […]
Verstappen surprised Red Bull progress – Piquet
Feb.10 (GMM) Max Verstappen emerged from Formula 1’s Barcelona shakedown quietly encouraged by Red Bull’s new 2026 car, according to insider comments from his almost-brother-in-law Nelson Piquet Jr. With Verstappen entering a pivotal season – his run of titles now over, Red Bull debuting its first in-house power unit, and persistent speculation linking him to […]
Retirement clock not ticking as 2027 decision looms – Alonso
Feb.10 (GMM) Fernando Alonso insists time is still on his side as he approaches his 45th birthday, despite 2026 marking the final year of his current Aston Martin contract and a wide-open driver market expected for 2027. Asked whether experience will be an advantage in Formula 1’s radically new era, Fernando Alonso argued that age […]
Alonso admits Newey’s Aston ‘definitely behind’
Feb.10 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has openly conceded that Aston Martin is beginning Formula 1’s new 2026 era on the back foot, after the team’s Adrian Newey-designed car arrived late and barely ran during the Barcelona shakedown. Speaking to Spanish newspaper AS following Aston Martin’s livery launch, the two-time world champion made no attempt to downplay […]
FIA vows imminent engine decision as row intensifies
Feb.10 (GMM) The FIA has promised to resolve Formula 1’s rapidly escalating 2026 engine compression dispute before the season-opening Australian GP, as political pressure mounts around Mercedes’ controversial interpretation of the new power unit rules. In an official FIA interview, single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis confirmed the governing body is actively working on a solution and […]
Michael Bay sues Cadillac F1 over Super Bowl livery ad
Feb.9 (GMM) Cadillac’s high-profile Super Bowl livery reveal has been overshadowed by legal drama, with Hollywood director Michael Bay filing a $1.5 million lawsuit against the new Formula 1 team. According to a report by New York Times, Bay alleges that Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss and the team used his creative ideas for the […]
Audi confident on weight target, rivals face tough choices
Feb.9 (GMM) Audi believes it has a realistic shot at meeting Formula 1’s sharply reduced minimum weight for 2026, bucking early fears that the new limit would be out of reach for most of the grid. Under the new regulations, minimum weight drops by 30 kilograms to 770kg – a figure that alarmed engineers when […]
Red Bull joins push to stop Mercedes engine loophole
Feb.9 (GMM) Mercedes’ controversial 2026 engine ‘compression’ concept is facing mounting political resistance, with Red Bull now reported to have switched sides and joined Ferrari, Honda and Audi in urging the FIA to clamp down. The dispute centres on claims Mercedes has found a way to satisfy the FIA’s static, cold compression checks while achieving […]
Drivers stunned by brutal acceleration of 2026 F1 cars
Feb.9 (GMM) Formula 1 drivers say the most startling aspect of the new 2026 cars is not cornering speed, but the sheer violence of their acceleration – described by some as unlike anything previously seen in the sport. Haas driver Esteban Ocon was among the most outspoken after the shakedown running in Barcelona. “What surprised […]
Renault accused of betraying Viry F1 promises
Feb.9 (GMM) Renault is facing fresh criticism in France after the mayor of Viry-Chatillon accused the carmaker of reneging on commitments made to safeguard the future of its historic Formula 1 engine site. In comments to AFP, mayor Jean-Marie Vilain said he had learned “with astonishment” that Renault now intends to abandon plans previously outlined […]
Norris ‘not Max’ as McLaren refine ‘papaya rules’
Feb.6 (GMM) Lando Norris says he heads into the new season more relaxed and confident than ever, insisting self-belief – not swagger – has been the biggest change after finally proving to himself that he can win at the top level. The McLaren driver, now running the number 1 on his car after a breakthrough […]
Energy management defines early verdict on ’26 cars
Feb.6 (GMM) As Formula 1’s radically revised 2026 cars take shape on track, drivers and team bosses agree on one thing – the defining factor is no longer outright speed, but how teams manage energy. The cars are lighter, smaller and slower over a lap – but far more complex to race. Lando Norris admits […]
Schumacher shrugs off fears after oval baptism
Feb.6 (GMM) Mick Schumacher has taken his first steps into oval racing ahead of his full-time IndyCar debut, admitting initial nerves but emerging encouraged after a successful high-speed test in Florida. The 26-year-old, who has long heard warnings from family and pundits about the dangers of ovals, completed his first laps at the Homestead-Miami Speedway […]
Ocon laughs off rumours as Haas demands more in 2026
Feb.6 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has dismissed rumours that he is starting the new Formula 1 season injured, laughing off claims that he was seen on crutches during the Barcelona shakedown test. The speculation prompted bemusement from the Haas driver, who said the story had been wildly misinterpreted. “It was claimed that I was on crutches […]
Williams finally runs FW48 as first design clues emerge
Feb.6 (GMM) Williams has finally put its 2026 car on track, completing a low-key filming day at Silverstone after missing the entire Barcelona shakedown and becoming the last team to run its new machine. Running under typical winter conditions at Silverstone for a filming day, the Mercedes-powered car drew attention simply by turning a wheel, […]
Hamilton reshapes inner circle as Ferrari chapter resets
Feb.5 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s off-track environment has undergone a sweeping reset ahead of the new season, with changes spanning his race engineering, management and communications teams following a difficult first year at Ferrari. Questions remain over who will replace Riccardo Adami as Hamilton’s race engineer after tensions during the 2025 campaign. Speaking in Leo Turrini’s […]
Ferrari starts work on Merc-like engine for ’27
Feb.5 (GMM) Rival Formula 1 teams are believed to be closing in on the controversial Mercedes power unit concept amid rampant speculation linking a novel compression approach to the German manufacturer’s strong early running under the 2026 rules. In recent weeks, engineers up and down the pitlane have been discussing a theory involving a tiny […]
India explores Formula 1 return at Buddh circuit
Feb.5 (GMM) Formula 1 could be set for a surprise return to India after more than a decade away, with the government confirming exploratory talks aimed at bringing a grand prix back to the country. According to a report by Times of India, the Buddh circuit is being considered as a potential host, having last […]