After four years of the ground-effect era, which spanned from 2022 to 2025, McLaren claimed a remarkable double.

Lando Norris won the Drivers’ Championship, while teammate Oscar Piastri helped the team secure the Constructors’ title, a first since 1998.

From Triumph to a Blank Slate

Despite last season’s success, all of that momentum counts for little in the 2026 season.

Norris will carry the number ‘1’ on his car, but the team faces an entirely new challenge as F1 undergoes the sport’s most significant technical reset in history.

Cars are now 20 centimetres shorter, 30 kilograms lighter, and feature active aerodynamics.

Engines will run on sustainable fuel, with a 50/50 split between electrification and internal combustion power.

New race strategies include “Overtake” mode, allowing drivers to boost engine power within one second of a rival in designated areas, while “Boost” mode offers power injections at any point in a lap.

A Season of Change

For McLaren, the timing is unique. The team returned to the top step of the podium in 2024, then followed it with another Constructors’ title and Norris securing the Drivers’ crown by two points, ending Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s dominance.

Brown says the team is energized rather than daunted.

“I mean, it’s been an amazing quest to go from where we were, not only on track, but off track,” he told PlanetF1.com in Abu Dhabi.

He added, “As far as the rule book, that’s the exciting part of Formula 1, we’ve got to do it all over again.”

Preparing Behind the Scenes

Brown praised McLaren’s technical and leadership teams for their work.

“We changed a lot of our car this year so even though the rules didn’t significantly change, our technical team didn’t sit still,” he explained.

He highlighted the effort from the CFO, HR head, communications team, and others, noting the complexity of supporting a winning F1 outfit.

“There’s a lot of stuff that has to go on behind the scenes to even give them the tools, the resources and us the people,” he said.

Brown emphasized that competition has never been tougher, with no “minnow” teams left, and everyone operating within the cost cap.

Testing Ahead of the Season

McLaren, along with other Mercedes-powered teams, will gain an early indication of competitiveness during tests starting in late January.

The first group test with new cars begins January 26 in Spain behind closed doors.

Teams then travel to Bahrain for the first open test from February 11 to 13, followed by a second session from February 18 to 20.

The 2026 Formula 1 season will kick off with the Australian Grand Prix on March 8.

The post Zak Brown Makes 2026 McLaren Prediction Amid F1 Regulation Shakeup appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.

The 19-year-old faced a wave of abuse after comments from Red Bull personnel suggested he had deliberately allowed Lando Norris to overtake him during the closing laps.

Antonelli had been defending fourth position against Norris in the final stages of the race.

A mistake on the last lap allowed the McLaren driver to pass, a result that proved critical for the championship battle.

With Max Verstappen winning the race, Norris’s fourth-place finish positioned him to secure the 2025 world title by reaching the podium at the final race in Abu Dhabi.

Clarifying the On-Track Incident

Both Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko and Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase initially speculated that Antonelli had intentionally let Norris through, undermining Verstappen’s championship hopes.

However, onboard footage clearly showed that Antonelli experienced a massive oversteer moment, nearly losing control of his Mercedes, which allowed Norris to pass.

There was no evidence of intentional yield or team orders in play.

Following these claims, Antonelli was subjected to abusive messages on social media.

Red Bull and Marko subsequently issued apologies, acknowledging that their public commentary was misleading and had contributed to the harassment of the young driver.

FIA Statement on Abuse

The governing body has now publicly addressed the situation.

In a post released on social media, the FIA said:

“The FIA and its United Against Online Abuse campaign condemns abuse and harassment in any form.”

The statement emphasized the importance of a safe and respectful environment for everyone in the sport.

“It remains absolutely critical that everyone operating within our sport can do so in a safe and respectful environment,” it added.

The FIA urged fans and participants alike to treat drivers, teams, and officials with respect and compassion.

Antonelli’s Response to Harassment

In response to the abuse, Antonelli temporarily changed his Instagram profile picture to a blank image, likely as a measure to reduce attention from trolls.

Despite the online harassment, he has continued to perform impressively in his debut season with Mercedes.

Antonelli is currently just two points behind seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton heading into the final race, highlighting his strong rookie campaign.

The young Italian’s season has been marked by both promise and learning experiences.

The Qatar incident serves as a reminder of the pressures faced by rookie drivers competing at the highest level, especially when championship positions are at stake.

Red Bull Acknowledges Error

Red Bull released a formal statement clarifying the situation:

“Comments made before the end of and immediately after the Qatar GP suggesting that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli had deliberately allowed Lando Norris to overtake him are clearly incorrect.”

The statement confirmed that replay footage showed Antonelli losing control momentarily, which unintentionally allowed Norris past.

“We sincerely regret that this has led to Kimi receiving online abuse,” the statement concluded.

Looking Ahead for Antonelli

After a challenging few weeks, Antonelli is expected to take time off during the winter to recharge for the upcoming 2026 season.

Mercedes and the FIA have both emphasized the importance of protecting young drivers from online harassment, aiming to prevent similar situations in the future.

The incident has also sparked broader discussions about accountability and responsible commentary in Formula 1.

Team personnel, fans, and media outlets are reminded of the impact that public statements can have on the mental well-being of drivers, particularly rookies.

The post FIA Responds to Max Verstappen Fans Abusing Kimi Antonelli appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.

The 27-year-old Brit relayed, “Lots of bottoming and plank wear from Kimi, exit turn four, entry turn five,” prompting immediate analysis.

Why plank wear matters

FIA regulations mandate a minimum plank thickness; failure led to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s infamous double DQ at the 2023 United States Grand Prix.

More recently, Nico Hülkenberg fell foul in Bahrain 2025, proving enforcement remains stringent.

Antonelli’s home-race spotlight

The Italian rookie is contesting his first Grand Prix in front of partisan fans, raising stakes for Mercedes to avoid any procedural missteps.

Russell’s intervention demonstrated a mentorship ethic Wolff had earlier demanded.

Engineering response

Trackside engineers raised ride height by 1 mm and adjusted damping to reduce sparks over Imola’s aggressive kerbs.

Simulated lap-time loss was negligible compared with the catastrophe of a post-race exclusion.

Mercedes’ 2025 resurgence

Four podiums for Russell and steady points from Antonelli have propelled the team to second in the constructors’ table behind McLaren.

Avoiding penalties is critical to sustaining that momentum in a tightly bunched midfield.

Disqualification precedent fresh in memory

Russell cited the “ridiculous” nature of losing results to millimetric infractions, referencing Hamilton’s 2024 Chinese GP DQ as a cautionary tale.

His comments echoed broader paddock debate about whether plank rules should evolve with increasingly low-rake car designs.

Role reversal since Hamilton’s exit

With no seven-time champion to lean on, Russell has embraced chief-tester duties, often logging extra simulator hours to fine-tune set-ups before race weekends.

Antonelli has lauded his team-mate’s openness, calling him “a textbook of F1 knowledge.”

Strategic implications for Sunday

If early safety-car periods arise, Mercedes may exploit raised ride height to double-stack both cars without fear of plank monitoring later.

Conversely, higher altitude could marginally compromise straight-line speed against low-drag McLarens.

FIA monitoring intensifies

Random plank inspections have increased by 20 percent in 2025, bolstered by laser measuring rigs introduced this season.

Teams therefore err on the side of caution, especially on tracks like Imola featuring compressive bumps at Variante Alta.

Russell’s broader influence

Beyond technical alerts, Russell liaises with new chief communications officer Bradley Lord to manage media expectations while Wolff is absent.

He also participates in nightly briefings where Antonelli deconstructs laps with performance coach Jock Clear.

Fan view

Many supporters praised Russell’s vigilance on X, dubbing him “Captain George” for protecting both team points and Antonelli’s confidence.

Closing thoughts

By flagging a risk that could have derailed Mercedes’ weekend, Russell reinforced the value of seasoned instincts in a squad navigating generational change.

Whether the adjustment sacrifices outright pace or delivers trouble-free points will be evident when the lights go out on Sunday afternoon.

The post George Russell fires disqualification warning appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.

Engineers hoped the suite would trim the deficit to McLaren and reclaim top-speed supremacy.

Track Reality

Free Practice 1 ended with Verstappen seventh and team-mate Yuki Tsunoda sixteenth.

FP2 produced incremental gains—P6 and P8 respectively—but still left both cars adrift of the leaders.

Driver Verdict

Speaking afterward, Verstappen offered a blunt assessment.

“We tried a lot of bits,” he said.

“Some worked a bit better than others.

“But overall, yeah, not fast enough at the moment.”

Asked about confidence for Sunday, he replied, “At the moment, not very high.”

Specific Concerns

Verstappen highlighted corner-entry balance and tyre-temperature consistency, noting he had been overtaken by a McLaren during race-run simulations.

Such moments reinforce the narrow Imola layout’s punishing nature for cars lacking rotation.

Team Perspective

Management insists the update is a “step,” not a silver bullet, and points to additional parts scheduled for Barcelona.

Data engineers will fine-tune ride-height and diff settings overnight, searching for a tenth that could transform qualifying fortunes.

Championship Stakes

Verstappen trails Piastri by 32 points in the standings, and Red Bull sits third in the constructors’ table behind Mercedes.

Another subdued race could intensify pressure ahead of the Monaco street race next week.

The post Max Verstappen delivers damning verdict on Red Bull appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.

Lewis Hamilton, lured from Mercedes, has yet to finish higher than fifth.

Engineering the relaunch

Italian reports say a new rear-suspension layout will debut around the Austrian Grand Prix on 29 June, enabling “a more extreme mechanical setup.”

The tweak should let the SF-25 run lower without the skid-block drama that triggered Hamilton’s disqualification in China.

Phased development strategy

Team principal Fred Vasseur has promised “only a small step” at Imola, with a further package slated for Spain in early June.

The rear-suspension change is expected to pair with aerodynamic revisions assessed across Silverstone, Spa and Hungaroring before the summer break.

Managing expectations

Ferrari admits the upgrade will not catapult the car into championship contention, but aims to restore momentum ahead of 2026’s new regulations.

Pundit Jolyon Palmer has labelled the Scuderia “the most disappointing team so far,” intensifying pressure on Maranello engineers.

Hamilton’s adaptation challenge

The seven-time champion continues tweaking driving style to cope with rear instability, hoping the suspension overhaul will deliver the planted rear-end he craves.

The post Ferrari plan ‘bold’ upgrade to fix Lewis Hamilton disqualification appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.

He told in-house media he felt “buoyed by the team” but noted crucial staffing gaps.

Facility Versus Workforce

“Lawrence’s vision has created a great facility – the best facility in F1 – but it is important that we now optimise how we use it,” Newey said.

He stressed that “F1 is about people,” adding, “We have many talented people – also a few areas that need strengthening with greater numbers.”

Aero Department Under Spotlight

Newey pinpointed aerodynamics as the chief area needing reinforcements.

“One area of our team that needs to grow is the aerodynamics department,” he explained, warning that limited headcount could narrow concept exploration during the critical transition.

Short-Term And Long-Term Balance

While a small group remains focused on rescuing the struggling 2025 car, Newey is prioritising long-term gains that will pay off when wholesale regulations change.

He acknowledged that choosing research avenues under budget-cap constraints means risking blind alleys, but believes tighter focus is necessary.

The Path Forward

Aston Martin’s recruitment drive is expected to target experienced aerodynamicists from rival teams throughout 2025.

If Newey’s strategy succeeds, the Silverstone outfit hopes to rejoin the front-running battle just as the new era dawns.

The post Adrian Newey makes Aston Martin demand amid huge Lawrence Stroll investment appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.

Brown’s Allegation

Speaking to Mail Sport, Brown said Alpine’s 2022 announcement naming Piastri as Esteban Ocon’s 2023 team-mate “was used to bully him into doing what they wanted.”

He added, “The CRB ordered them to pay our expenses, so that tells you what they made of the situation.”

Brown also criticised then team boss Otmar Szafnauer, stating, “He [Szafnauer] got caught with his pants down.”

Piastri’s Ascendancy

Since joining McLaren, Piastri contributed to the 2024 constructors’ title and has won four of six races this year, emerging as a championship favourite.

Alpine’s Perspective

Alpine maintained the announcement reflected genuine contractual belief, but the Contract Recognition Board ultimately sided with McLaren, costing Alpine legal fees and prestige.

Bullying in F1

Sports lawyer Sarah Clements notes that public statements without driver consent “border on reputational coercion,” potentially breaching employment norms.

Looking Forward

Brown’s comments arrive as Alpine contemplates future driver changes, and they underscore evolving standards for how teams manage talent in a hyper-public arena.

The post McLaren boss accuses F1 boss of being ‘caught with his pants down’ appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.

Six races later, they sit fourth, 152 points adrift of runaway leaders McLaren, and Damon Hill warns that team principal Fred Vasseur is “going to feel the heat.”

Performance Gap Widens

Aside from Leclerc’s podium in Saudi Arabia, the SF-25 has been eclipsed not only by McLaren and Red Bull but also, occasionally, by Williams.

Hill told the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast that such results are “not acceptable” for the Scuderia’s resources.

“They shouldn’t be being beaten by Williams,” he said.

Pressure Points

Vasseur enjoyed a grace period after arriving in 2023, but the honeymoon is over as the Tifosi demand swift progress.

Incremental Upgrades, Big Expectations

Ferrari plan “small upgrades” for Imola and Monaco before mandatory Barcelona front-wing changes take effect.

Vasseur insists those tweaks, plus a later aerodynamic reset, will help close the gap.

“I trust completely Charles and Lewis,” he said, praising their qualifying prowess while admitting race pace must improve.

The Hamilton Factor

Hamilton’s headline transfer was meant to usher in a new era, yet the seven-time champion has found himself battling Aston Martin rather than the McLarens he left behind.

The Briton publicly backs Vasseur but privately urges quicker solutions.

Historical Echoes

Ferrari’s last constructors’ title came in 2008.

Each subsequent leadership cycle has collapsed under mounting expectation.

Hill suggests Vasseur must demonstrate a clear development trajectory by mid-season or face boardroom restlessness.

Path Forward

With cost-cap constraints limiting radical redesigns, Ferrari rely on incremental aero gains and a rumoured improved power-unit mapping.

If those updates fail, 2025 may be written off early in favour of 2026 preparation—a scenario that would test Vasseur’s job security.

Verdict

The next three Grand Prix should reveal whether Ferrari can reignite their challenge or whether Vasseur will indeed “feel the heat” like many predecessors.

The post Ferrari boss warned Lewis Hamilton won’t save him appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.

Albon Raises Eyebrows with Radio Comment

Albon was following George Russell’s Mercedes when he radioed in, saying: “I don’t know how that Merc is legal.” Though no context was given, the remark hinted at visible advantages, particularly in grip and speed.

Albon will start P8, while Russell qualified fifth and Kimi Antonelli shocked the paddock by grabbing pole with a time of 1:26.482.

Disappointment in Q3 for Williams

After the session, Albon admitted he had higher hopes: “Maybe a little bit disappointed in Q3. I thought my lap felt pretty good, but we were a bit further away than I would have liked.”

He also pointed to tyre struggles: “I felt like in many ways, the car was a bit better in FP1 than it was in qualifying… but we can try and get it a bit better for tomorrow.”

Still, he noted, “we’re still best of the rest, so I can’t complain too much.”

Antonelli Poised for F1 Breakthrough

Antonelli, meanwhile, is focused on capitalizing on his pole. “I’m feeling over the moon,” the 18-year-old said. “I was feeling good in the car. I was able to improve lap by lap… and that lap came all together.”

Looking ahead to the Sprint, he added: “We did quite a long run in FP1 to try and gather as many information as possible… but I guess we will see tomorrow during the race.”

The post Mercedes W16 sparks legality debate at Miami GP appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.

Team principal Toto Wolff has confidence in Russell’s capabilities, suggesting that with a “fairly fast car,” Russell can vie for the championship.

However, Russell aspires for more, stating, “Definitely want a bit more than fairly fast!… We just need to go make a fast car.” His remarks highlight a determined mindset, aiming not just for competitiveness but for dominance on the track.

The W16 features several design evolutions, including changes to the suspension and engine cover, drawing inspiration from successful elements of rival designs.

Russell emphasized the importance of avoiding past pitfalls, noting, “Every year [since 2022] we have uncovered a problem, solved it and it’s created a new one.”

This iterative approach reflects Mercedes’ commitment to continuous improvement and adaptability.

As pre-season testing progresses, Mercedes’ performance in comparison to Red Bull and Ferrari will be closely watched. Russell’s ability to lead the team in Hamilton’s absence will be crucial in determining whether Mercedes can return to the top of the standings after struggling to match Red Bull’s dominance in recent seasons.

The post George Russell worried about ‘creating new problem’ at Mercedes appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.