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Mekies 'staunch defender' amid Hadjar's Red Bull struggle

GMM — 2026-05-05T07:03:00Z

Isack Hadjar is already under scrutiny after a difficult Miami weekend, with French media questioning whether the infamous "second seat curse" alongside Max Verstappen is striking again.
L'Equipe correspondent Frederic Ferret noted concerns after the young Frenchman struggled to match Verstappen's pace in the upgraded Red Bull, before crashing out of the race.
However, he also stressed the driver retains strong internal support.
"Laurent Mekies is a staunch defender of him," Ferret (…)

Mercedes, Ford, Cadillac back V8 return as F1 momentum builds

GMM — 2026-05-05T06:14:00Z

Support for a return to V8 engines in Formula 1 is rapidly building - with key US manufacturers now openly backing the idea after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem declared the concept "will happen".
Speaking to the Detroit News, Cadillac owner General Motors as well as Ford both made clear where they stand.
"It's great to see the FIA and Formula 1 already talking about what is the next set of regulations," said Ford Racing chief Mark Rushbrook.
"We are a stakeholder in the sport and (…)

Alonso 'entertaining himself' amid Aston struggles

GMM — 2026-05-04T13:33:00Z

Fernando Alonso admits he and teammate Lance Stroll are effectively experimenting - and even entertaining themselves - during races as Aston Martin battles through a difficult 2026 season.
"Yes, trying to keep ourselves entertained," Alonso said after the Miami GP.
"Lance and I always talk about it every morning - whether we'll be together or if not, wait for each other or whatever, to learn a bit about energy management and all that since we didn't do many kilometres in winter."
"With (…)

Brown, Mekies meet to defuse Lambiase row

GMM — 2026-05-04T11:51:00Z

Zak Brown and Laurent Mekies held talks in Miami to calm tensions over the future of Gianpiero Lambiase.
The dispute had flared after Red Bull boss Mekies suggested Lambiase - who is set to join McLaren in 2028 - could eventually become team principal, prompting a public pushback from Brown.
The McLaren CEO had also hinted the situation could become uncomfortable for Lambiase long before his contract ends in 2028.
"We know how this game works," Brown said.
"At some point, it will (…)

Mercedes' Canada upgrade 'has to work' - Wolff

GMM — 2026-05-04T10:57:00Z

Kimi Antonelli has written himself into the record books by becoming the first driver ever to convert his first three pole positions into victories.
The 19-year-old now leads the championship by 20 points over teammate George Russell.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali praised the young Italian's rapid rise. "Grand Prix after Grand Prix, Kimi is proving his worth," he told Sky Italia.
"The great thing is that he's becoming more aware of it. And so the higher he goes, the thinner the air, (…)

V8 return 'will happen', Sainz says 'stop criticising'

GMM — 2026-05-04T10:04:00Z

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has declared that a return to V8 engines in Formula 1 is inevitable, as criticism of the new 2026 regulations continues apace.
"It's coming," he said, amid another controversial race weekend under the new rules in Miami, where even the energy management tweaks failed to address core issues.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri described the racing as "pretty crazy".
"At one point George was one second behind me and managed to overtake me by the end of that (…)

Hamilton pushes for engine help, Ferrari has 'best car'

GMM — 2026-05-04T09:15:00Z

Lewis Hamilton has openly called for Ferrari to benefit from Formula 1's looming ADUO engine balancing decision, insisting the team's weakness lies not in the chassis but in power.
"What we desperately need is an engine upgrade because it's very tough for us right now to compete against the power of Red Bull and Mercedes," he said after Miami.
"Both have a big advantage over us. Otherwise we have a great car, perhaps the best, so we need to solve this problem."
"If we succeed we could (…)

Zanardi to be buried, mother Anna reveals sudden final hours

GMM — 2026-05-04T07:23:00Z

Alessandro 'Alex' Zanardi will be laid to rest in Padua on Tuesday following a public memorial service, as his family begins to come to terms with his sudden death.
The ceremony will take place at the Basilica of Santa Giustina, with the funeral led by Father Marco Pozza, a close friend of the late 59-year-old Italian.
Zanardi's death shocked the motorsport world, particularly given the lack of public updates on his condition since his serious hand-cycling accident in 2020.
Speaking to (…)

Interpol hunts missing Sutil hypercar amid legal troubles

GMM — 2026-05-03T15:36:00Z

Adrian Sutil is at the centre of a bizarre international investigation after a collection of his luxury cars - including a rare Koenigsegg One:1 - vanished without a trace.
According to Auto Motor und Sport, "nine exclusive vehicles belonging to former Formula 1 driver Adrian Sutil have vanished without a trace," with the case now escalated to a global search coordinated by Interpol.
The report describes a dramatic sequence of events in Monaco.
"Several men insistently demanded the (…)

Vibrations 'gone' but pace fix 'months' away - Alonso

GMM — 2026-05-03T09:46:00Z

Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin has finally solved its crippling vibration problem - but admits performance gains are still a long way off.
After a disastrous start to 2026 in the first season of the Honda-Newey era, the Spaniard confirmed the team has at least fixed its most fundamental issue.
"The best news is that the vibrations have disappeared. Completely," Alonso said in Miami.
"It's much improved and that's the best thing about the weekend. The car is behaving normally now and (…)

Williams trims weight as Sainz plays down rule tweaks

GMM — 2026-05-03T07:09:18Z

Williams has taken a step forward in Miami after a difficult start to 2026, with a key part of its upgrade focused simply on reducing weight.
Driver Carlos Sainz said the car is at least more competitive than before the April break.
"The good thing is that we were able to recover," he said.
"We were faster than the Haas cars, which we weren't five weeks ago, so it's positive."
However, as a GPDA director, Sainz also played down the impact of the new regulation tweaks, designed in (…)

Zanardi dies aged 59 as F1 paddock pays tribute

GMM — 2026-05-03T06:36:00Z

Alex Zanardi has died at the age of 59, his family confirmed - having passed on the same date that marked the 32nd anniversary of Ayrton Senna's death.
"It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Alessandro Zanardi, which occurred suddenly on the evening of yesterday, May 1," a statement read.
"Alex passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family."
Zanardi's life was defined by extraordinary resilience.
After racing in Formula 1 in the early 1990s, (…)

Leclerc backtracks after Antonelli criticism in Miami

GMM — 2026-05-03T06:07:00Z

Charles Leclerc has backed down after sharply criticising championship leader Kimi Antonelli during the Miami sprint.
In the heat of the race, the Ferrari driver had complained over team radio that "Kimi is so bad wheel-to-wheel" and described "moving under braking" as "unbelievable".
But speaking afterwards, Leclerc admitted he had gone too far.
"First of all, I have to apologise for my comments," he told Viaplay.
"I think in the heat of the battle they were a little too hard for (…)

Perez wants 'four more years' after F1 return

GMM — 2026-05-02T13:41:00Z

Sergio Perez says he wants to extend his Formula 1 career well beyond his current deal after returning to the grid in 2026.
The Mexican, now 36, is back with Cadillac after a difficult exit from Red Bull and a year on the sidelines in 2025.
"Fantastic!" he told Bild newspaper when asked what it feels like to have returned. "I realise how much I enjoy the competition.
"It feels great to work with a team. I still have plenty of that energy you put into a race weekend."
"So much so that (…)

Alonso hints pain remains as Honda claims vibration progress

GMM — 2026-05-02T09:27:00Z

Fernando Alonso has indicated Aston Martin's vibration issues may be far from solved - despite more optimistic signals from Honda.
During practice in Miami, the Spaniard was asked over team radio about the situation.
"How are the vibrations?" he was asked.
"Very bad," Alonso replied.
He was also seen repeatedly touching his hands in the cockpit and again in the pitlane - even exaggerating the gesture when spotting a TV camera - suggesting ongoing discomfort at the wheel.
That (…)

Drivers unimpressed by Miami tweaks as bigger rule calls grow

GMM — 2026-05-02T07:59:00Z

Formula 1's regulation tweaks are debuting in Miami - but drivers are already looking beyond them to more fundamental changes for 2027 and beyond.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli says the immediate impact is limited.
"I tested them on the simulator, and it won't change much, at least for us," he said, prior to practice and sprint qualifying.
However, he acknowledged improvements in drivability.
"Yes. There's less superclipping. Now it's more fun and easier to drive. Before, the (…)

Mekies says Lambiase to be McLaren boss as rumours intensify

GMM — 2026-05-02T07:08:00Z

Laurent Mekies has effectively confirmed that Gianpiero Lambiase is heading to McLaren to be future team principal - despite repeated efforts to downplay the move.
"Gianpiero has been given an incredible opportunity. He will become the team principal of McLaren. I can only wish him the best," the Red Bull boss said in Miami.
The admission contrasts with McLaren's more cautious public stance on Lambiase's signing, amid speculation the Briton could ultimately replace Andrea Stella - who (…)

Verstappen pulls clear as Red Bull upgrades expose teammate

GMM — 2026-05-02T06:21:00Z

Max Verstappen has surged ahead of his new teammate in Miami as Red Bull's major upgrade package appears to suit his driving style - leaving Isack Hadjar struggling.
After a difficult start to 2026, Red Bull used the long April break to address multiple weaknesses in the RB22.
"Red Bull have discovered a number of problems in the car and they have found solutions," said former advisor Dr Helmut Marko.
"If the car is competitive again, the fun will also return to Max and his mood will (…)

Upgrades shake up Miami order as Mercedes loses edge

GMM — 2026-05-02T05:27:00Z

A wave of major upgrades has blown open the competitive order in Miami, with Mercedes no longer the clear team to beat after dominating the start of the 2026 season.
Sprint qualifying produced a tightly packed field, led by world champion Lando Norris ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli, with Ferrari and Red Bull also firmly in the mix.
Mercedes' George Russell admitted the shift.
"It's quite surprising the huge leap that McLaren and Ferrari have made. It's truly impressive," (…)

Pirelli to activate 2028 option, eyes longer F1 future

GMM — 2026-05-01T15:21:00Z

Pirelli has reportedly exercised its option to extend its Formula 1 contract through 2028, with ambitions to remain the sport's sole supplier beyond that.
The Italian company's current deal formally covered 2025-2027, with a conditional extension clause for 2028 requiring agreement from Formula 1 and the FIA.
According to Speed Week, that option has now been triggered, while Pirelli also intends to bid for the next supply cycle from 2029 onwards.
Outgoing racing boss Mario Isola admits (…)

Ocon laments 'unlucky' start, Bearman-Colapinto clash lingers

GMM — 2026-05-01T09:25:00Z

Esteban Ocon admits his 2026 season has started poorly - but insists misfortune rather than performance is to blame.
The experienced Frenchman, 29, is already being mentioned as a standout underperformer of 2026, whose place on the grid beyond this season is under increasing scrutiny.
"It's probably the unluckiest start to the season I've ever had, especially when you have such a good race as Suzuka, and then get the safety car at the worst possible time," said the Haas driver.
"That's (…)

FIA warns start 'cheats' as new system debuts in Miami

GMM — 2026-05-01T08:52:00Z

The FIA will closely monitor teams for potential exploitation of a new start safety system debuting in Miami, as part of wider rule tweaks for the troubled 2026 regulations.
Alongside changes to energy management, the governing body is introducing a system to prevent dangerously slow getaways.
The move follows several incidents this season, including a near-miss involving Franco Colapinto and Liam Lawson in Australia.
"We were concerned about turbo lag, that extremely slow starts could (…)

Leclerc plays down Ferrari gains as ADUO decision looms

GMM — 2026-05-01T08:13:00Z

Charles Leclerc has played down expectations that Ferrari's major Miami upgrade will immediately close the gap to Mercedes.
"It's strange to see so many updates brought by so many teams. Almost everyone here will have a new car. Five weeks off have pushed the departments to the limit," he said.
"One thing I doubt - I don't think the technical innovations will radically change the hierarchy from the start of the year."
That is despite championship leader Kimi Antonelli admitting (…)

F3 cars now '1,000 times more fun' than F1 - Stroll

GMM — 2026-05-01T07:40:00Z

Lance Stroll has delivered the strongest attack yet on Formula 1's 2026 regulations, declaring they are "completely wrong".
The Aston Martin driver went on the offensive in Miami, where minor rule tweaks are set to debut - even overruling attempts to shut down questions on the topic.
"No, it's fine. You can ask questions about this," he said when a team representative tried to intervene.
The Canadian then returned to his blunt assessment.
"Hopefully it will be better with the (…)

Miami GP under review amid storm threat - FIA

GMM — 2026-05-01T07:03:00Z

Formula 1 officials are holding meetings in Miami as a worsening weather forecast raises the risk of disruption to Sunday's race.
With US authorities warning of a 70 percent chance of thunderstorms, local regulations could force a suspension if lightning is detected - including grounding medical helicopters, which would halt all on-track activity.
An FIA spokesperson confirmed preparations are already in place.
"We are closely monitoring the weather forecast. Given a similar situation (…)

Verstappen still weighing F1 future despite rule tweaks

GMM — 2026-05-01T06:31:00Z

Max Verstappen says Formula 1's rule tweaks will not change his thinking about the future.
Amid ongoing criticism of the 2026 regulations, the quadruple world champion made clear the small changes debuting in Miami fall well short.
"The changes that have been implemented are no more than a tickle," he said.
"In the end, Formula 1 is very complex and political. Everyone has done their best to change something, but this will not change the world."
"It involves small adjustments - I (…)

Alonso hints at 2027 stay as Aston struggles continue

GMM — 2026-05-01T05:55:00Z

Fernando Alonso has hinted he could extend his Formula 1 career into 2027, despite Aston Martin's difficult start to the new era.
The 44-year-old, whose contract expires this year, confirmed talks with team owner Lawrence Stroll are ongoing.
"I haven't started thinking about the future yet," Alonso said in Miami.
"I've had conversations with Lawrence and the team - we met last week in Monaco and had dinner, but we didn't talk much about the future. We're aligned on everything and we (…)

F1 admits deadline looming for Qatar, Abu Dhabi races

GMM — 2026-05-01T05:18:00Z

Stefano Domenicali has admitted Formula 1 faces a key decision deadline over its remaining Middle East races later this season.
The sport is only just emerging from a five-week gap after the cancellation of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
"We had to cancel the first two races, which were in Bahrain and Jeddah," Domenicali told CNBC.
"But naturally, now we have to wait because we still have the two races at the end of the year, namely Qatar and Abu (…)

Red Bull, McLaren admit 2025 push hurt 2026 start

GMM — 2026-04-30T10:52:00Z

Both Red Bull and McLaren admit their slow start to the 2026 season is partly the price of pushing development deep into last year's title fight.
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies said the team knowingly carried over compromises into the new regulation era.
"Look, what happened in the second part of last year is something we're likely to carry with us for a long time and remember," he said.
"It was an incredible comeback - nobody wanted to give up."
Mekies admits that decision came at a (…)

Mekies backs ADUO 'recovery' role as FIA readies rollout

GMM — 2026-04-30T09:14:00Z

Laurent Mekies has backed the principle behind Formula 1's ADUO engine rules - while making clear Red Bull still expects to benefit from them.
Responding to the ongoing debate about how far the system should go, amid Toto Wolff's concerns that Honda should be the only real beneficiary, the Red Bull boss struck a measured tone.
"I think Toto is right. The ADUO is there to recover, not to overtake everyone. In that sense, I completely agree with him," Mekies said.
Referring to Red Bull's (…)