Did Ferrari's Hamilton swoop weaken its F1 line-up?
Just under a couple of years ago, I posited the question: how can anyone really be confident that Ferrari's marquee signing, Lewis Hamilton, will be a definite upgrade on Carlos Sainz when time rolls around to make the switch?The argument against this was laid out in the column was, in truth, a slightly detuned version of itself, just out of a worry of coming off as contrarianism-for-clicks amid t...
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Just under a couple of years ago, I posited the question: how can anyone really be confident that Ferrari's marquee signing, Lewis Hamilton, will be a definite upgrade on Carlos Sainz when time rolls around to make the switch?The argument against this was laid out in the column was, in truth, a slightly detuned version of itself, just out of a worry of coming off as contrarianism-for-clicks amid t...
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Has Ferrari actively weakened its F1 line-up?
One year into Lewis Hamilton's move, there's no evidence to suggest Ferrari has upgraded its F1 line-up. So the question is whether it's now weaker...
Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer and friend Gianpiero Lambiase is being targeted by Aston Martin for a senior role, The Race can reveal. Lambiase’s future at Red Bull had been the source of speculation after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, following an emotional exchange on the team radio with Verstappen post-race.With Verstappen’s victory not quite enough to secure him the title, Lambiase said:...
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As Formula 1 heads into the new regulations in 2026, we reflect on how well each of the 10 teams performed across the ground-effect rules era that finished this year. It's a results-based business, so the numbers carry the most weight when it comes to this ranking. However, we also factor in the overall progress made and the quality of a team's execution.10th SauberBest drivers’ championship: 10th...
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When it comes to reviewing a long, hard Formula 1 season fairly, you must avoid falling into the trap of the final part of the year being so fresh in your memory. It’s the points scored over all 24 events, sprint races and all, that matter, so to avoid that recency bias, it’s important to remember that the numbers don’t lie and allow you to see the real shape of the season for the 10 teams.To put ...
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Formula 1's ground effect cars are on their way out just four years after their introduction, as the championship has pivoted with a massive chassis/engine reset.The final campaign of this abandoned ruleset, 2025, was marked by ever-increased convergence but a continued decline in the cars' raceability.Like in any rules era, there have been highs and lows - but what is the overall verdict on the 2...
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The flaring up of a dispute between manufacturers over Formula 1’s 2026 engine rules has inevitably triggered doomsday fears about its potential impact on next season.There has been hype that the start of the year could be overshadowed by a protest lodged against Mercedes and even Red Bull at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.Another outcome that has been mentioned, with sources suggesting ...
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Five engine manufacturers will provide power units for the Formula 1's next rules cycle, which begins in 2026 and will run until the end of the 20230 season.That's an increase of one compared to the current list of providers, with Audi and a Ford-supported Red Bull Powertrains programme joining Ferrari, Mercedes and Honda - somewhat off-setting the loss of Renault at the end of 2025. Here's the co...
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The FIA has cut off another avenue of potential exploitation with the new Formula 1 engine rules for 2026, offering further evidence that manufacturers have been probing grey areas.While a major controversy has blown up about potential exploitation of compression ratio limits, a recent change to F1's technical regulations has highlighted that this is not the only place where there has been some un...
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The more tightly any set of regulations is defined, the more it tempts people to search for solutions to gain an advantage - or, as those who don't come up with such ideas would call it, exploit "grey areas". It's a bit like if you tell a kid not to do something - it's offering them an invitation to do something they would never otherwise have thought of.This new controversy over Mercedes and Red ...
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Unreliability always adds a frisson of excitement to a race. It’s a feeling that’s become increasingly uncommon in Formula 1 in the 21st century, to the point where mechanical failures are vanishingly rare. But the introduction of the 2026 engines might change that, albeit only temporarily, with Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin suggesting there will be “more jeopardy” thanks ...
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Alpine had a terrible 2025 Formula 1 season on track, but the true extent of its failure can only be fairly judged next year.There's a chance - and so lacking in credibility has the team become in recent years thanks to its poor performances and revolving-door leadership that this cannot be taken on trust - that 2025 might even go down as a success when you consider the big picture.Seeking the pos...
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Formula 1 looks to be heading for its first showdown over the new 2026 rules, with a potential engine loophole at the centre of a growing controversy between teams. Just weeks before the new F1 cars hit the track for the first time, it has emerged that at least two manufacturers may be exploiting a grey area in the rules that could help them eke out a decent performance advantage.High-level source...
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Every second of development time is crucial for Formula 1 teams right now and it will be especially so during the opening months of 2026.The cars that turn up to the first pre-season test at Barcelona will be very different from those that the teams develop them into once they’ve seen what the competition has come up with. That’s why the aerodynamic testing restrictions (ATR) - a sliding scale of ...
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Williams has revealed the winner of its fan vote to decide the livery of its 2026 Formula 1 car when it hits the track for the first time next month.Williams gave fans a choice of six different liveries, the winner of which would be on the Williams FW48 during 2026's pre-season, starting with the Barcelona test on January 26-30. The 'flow state' livery - the name is a reference to "the state of p...
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Formula 1's governing body the FIA has released the official entry list for the upcoming 2026 season.The entry list features driver numbers and the official names of the teams, their chassis and power units and the registered companies behind them.There are three driver number changes compared to 2025: Max Verstappen takes the #3 - having previously used #33 as his permanent number and #1 as the d...
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Ferrari has revealed plans to launch with a basic "spec A" version of its 2026 Formula 1 car to help prove out reliability in early testing.The team will launch its new design on January 23 – most likely at its own Fiorano test track where it will then be able to get some first mileage done as part of a filming day.This running can be completed either under the rules relating to demonstration even...
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The 2026 rules overhaul marks arguably the biggest reset in Formula 1 history, with both the chassis and engine regulations changing at the same time.And that means plenty of intrigue about what those challengers will look like in particular.Here's what F1 teams have confirmed about their launch plans so far:Red Bull + Racing Bulls - January 15 (livery only)Red Bull and sister outfit Racing Bulls ...
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Formula 1 stewards, as well as those in other world championships plus Formula 2 and Formula 3, will have new powers in 2026 to better review incidents and make more timely decisions.As part of a comprehensive refresh by the FIA of its International Sporting Code (ISC), some tweaks have been made to extend stewards' powers in the hope of improving the review process.One of the most interesting cha...
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Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has switched his personal race number to the number previously used by his former team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.Ricciardo was the sole holder of the #3 since the permanent driver numbers were introduced in 2014, when Ricciardo was already on the grid and about to make a very fruitful step up to the senior Red Bull team.Verstappen joined the grid a yea...
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Carlos Sainz’s biggest impact at Williams was felt far greater than scoring two podiums in his first season with the team. Sainz had a tricky start on-track with Williams after joining from Ferrari, but by the end of the year he and team-mate Alex Albon had very similar seasons, just in reverse - and with Sainz enjoying the higher peaks in terms of results. Those podiums were greatly enjoyed by dr...
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