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Audi joins forces with BP for F1 2026 project Audi has formed a partnership with oil giant BP to supply its Formula 1 team with 100% sustainable fuel starting from the 2026 season. The fuel, lubricants, and greases will be provided by BP's Castrol brand and Aral sub-brand. This collaboration builds on their existing relationship in various motorsport series, including DTM, WRC, and Le Mans. The sustainable fuel must meet FIA regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Audi has been testing the fuel with BP since the end of 2022, emphasizing the importance of starting this process early due to the high performance requirements of Formula 1. Additionally, Audi is developing its F1 power unit in tandem with fuel properties, utilizing three single-cylinder test benches allowed by FIA regulations to create multiple fuel variants for the 2026 season.. Source: Motorsport

Why F1 upgrade stumbles have become twice as costly in 2024 Formula 1's current era is marked by unpredictable performance leaps or setbacks due to upgrades. Teams like McLaren, Red Bull, and Aston Martin have experienced significant gains, while Ferrari and Red Bull had to revert to older specs due to issues. The complexity of ground-effect dominant cars makes it challenging to balance performance across various corners, speeds, and track conditions, including bumps and kerbs. Even advanced simulations cannot fully replicate real-world conditions, leading to designers being caught off guard by issues like porpoising and bouncing. Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Red Bull are struggling with their cars' performance over bumps on circuits like Singapore and Monaco. With stable regulations in place for three years, teams are chasing small gains from upgrades, making it harder to validate them. Timing is crucial in making updates, as a small margin of difference can significantly impact performance. Team Principals Laurent Mekies (Red Bull Racing) and Mattia Binotto (Ferrari) emphasized the need to balance speed with reliability and taking calculated risks to stay ahead of the competition.. Source: Motorsport

Gary Anderson's verdict on all 10 F1 teams at 2024's mid-point Here is a summary of the article: As the midpoint of the 2024 Formula 1 season approaches, the competitive order remains close with teams separated by less than two seconds on each weekend's grid. Red Bull leads the constructors' championship, but their dominance has not been as pronounced this season due to challenges managing ride height and avoiding porpoising issues. Ferrari is inconsistent, struggling with porpoising, while McLaren makes remarkable progress despite slow pitwall decisions. Mercedes has improved significantly and could be a title threat in 2025. Aston Martin struggles with porpoising and needs an upgrade package. Racing Point (now Aston Martin) drivers Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll underperform due to lack of motivation and inconsistency respectively. Red Bull is criticized for not maximizing their relationship with Aston Martin, leading to inconsistency. Haas has shown significant improvement due to improved communication between trackside team and design hub. Alpine struggles with car issues and internal turmoil. Williams deals with an overweight car design, accidents, and incidents hindering development. Sauber fails to become competitive since Audi took over and needs to improve recruitment process. Individual drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo need to be left alone to focus on racing. The season outcome is uncertain, making it exciting for fans as top teams Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren possess competitive drivers who could dominate the second half of the season.. Source: The Race

F1 Podcast: Red Bull's self-inflicted driver conundrum The latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast focuses on Red Bull's driver situation, specifically Sergio Perez's uncertain future despite signing a new deal just over a month ago. Hosts Mark Hughes and Edd Straw are joined by guest Nelson Valkenburg to discuss Perez's chances of staying with the team and potential replacements, including Liam Lawson and Daniel Ricciardo. The podcast also touches on Yuki Tsunoda as an unlikely option, highlighting long-term issues with Red Bull's driver program. Additionally, rumors surrounding Max Verstappen's position within the team and a potential move to Mercedes are discussed.. Source: The Race

Clinching his fourth title will tax Verstappen’s restraint more than ever Max Verstappen holds an 84-point lead over his closest Formula 1 rivals, but his dominance may face increased competition in the second half of the season. Despite Red Bull's strong performance, Verstappen's title is not threatened by mechanical issues, but rather by his own mistakes or reckless driving. His rivals have closed in, and to maintain his lead, he will need to exercise restraint in wheel-to-wheel combat. In recent races, Verstappen has demonstrated shrewd judgment, taking factors into account before making a move. With an 84-point lead, Verstappen's chances of winning are still strong, but other drivers have narrowed significant leads in the past through consistent finishes and strategic decisions. The outcome of the championship is uncertain, as it remains to be seen how much Verstappen will be willing to risk in wheel-to-wheel battles with his rivals.. Source: Race Fans

How Mercedes has shielded Antonelli from F1 media glare Mercedes' junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, considered a future F1 star, has been managing a media frenzy after Lewis Hamilton's departure from Mercedes to Ferrari in 2025. Initially, his disappointing early season results led some to speculate that Carlos Sainz could join Mercedes instead. However, Antonelli's first F2 win at Silverstone boosted his confidence and fueled hype surrounding his potential promotion to F1 for 2025. Mercedes has been preparing him for the media through in-house training, shielding him from direct interactions with journalists to manage appearances and protect him from intense pressure. As Antonelli progresses, he may face increased media scrutiny, including sponsor appearances and senior figure interactions. His F1 future remains undecided, with options including a seat at another team or staying in F2.. Source: Motorsport

The surprise standout who upstaged F1 2025 hopefuls Here is a summary of the article: Ferrari's latest hope for Formula 1 is Franco Colapinto, an Argentine Formula 2 driver who made his official practice session debut with Williams at the Austrian Grand Prix after just one week's notice. Despite having only driven an F1 car once before during a young driver test in Abu Dhabi, Colapinto impressed with his maiden F1 outing at Silverstone, completing the entire program and posting times just four tenths of a second behind Alex Albon's benchmark. He showed confidence behind the wheel and handled minor issues with radio communication calmly and professionally. With a junior career that includes top-ten finishes in F3 and F2, Colapinto is considered a promising prospect for future Formula One opportunities and may receive more FP1 outings or participate in the post-season young driver test if he continues to perform well.. Source: The Race

Edd Straw: How I'd fix F1's broken racing rules The article discusses the issue of Formula 1's rule changes aiming to achieve consistency, but argues that this approach can be counterproductive. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz states that he struggles with the complexity of current rules, which are too detailed and specific for drivers to follow at high speeds. Instead, the article suggests that drivers should use their experience and judgment to navigate dynamic situations on track, where factors like car position, circuit layout, and trajectory come into play. The article criticizes precise rules for creating a sense of entitlement among drivers, leading to incidents when they fail to assess risk versus reward. It proposes a more flexible approach acknowledging the imprecision of racing and allowing negotiation and give-and-take on track. Additionally, the article suggests modifying the penalty system by creating a permanent professional stewarding panel, reducing penalties issued, and using discretion in issuing penalties considering factors like honest mistakes and repeat offenses to make drivers more responsible for their actions and reduce the need for arbitrary rules.. Source: The Race

Who is Red Bull’s best solution for its Perez problem – right now? Red Bull is celebrating its 20th year in Formula 1 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, having won six constructors' championships during that time. However, the team is concerned about losing the championship lead due to McLaren's consistent points haul. Red Bull driver Sergio Perez has struggled, scoring only 15 points in the last six races and is under pressure to improve. Team principal Christian Horner acknowledged that Perez's poor form is unsustainable and no clear solution exists. Options include sticking with Perez or promoting RB junior team driver Yuki Tsunoda, who lacks a test drive for the senior team. Other potential candidates include Daniel Ricciardo, Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, and possibly even retaining current driver Sergio Perez.. Source: Race Fans

Crying at Disneyland, Verstappen’s cat-sitting duties and finger puppets – Getting to know the real Alex Albon Alex Albon, a Williams Formula 1 driver, participated in the "Getting to Know" quiz, revealing his personality and experiences. He described himself as "happy, quiet, and boring". Albon's interest in Formula 1 began after hearing Felipe Massa's Sauber F1 car during an ARKS test at Silverstone. He started driving a go-kart at age five at Disneyland Paris but initially cried because he didn't enjoy it.. Source: Formula 1

Is Lawson the right driver for Red Bull to replace Perez with? Sergio Pérez's future with Red Bull Racing is uncertain due to his poor performance since signing a two-year contract extension. He has scored only 11 points in four Grands Prix, trailing behind teammates and other drivers like Nico Hülkenberg and Lance Stroll. Red Bull considers his form "unsustainable" and may replace him with Liam Lawson, a young driver who will participate in a filming day at Silverstone next week. Lawson is considered a strong candidate for the seat due to his racing background, including runner-up finishes in ADAC F4 and Toyota Racing Series, as well as second place in Euroformula Open. Additionally, he has shown potential and versatility by finishing ninth in the Singapore Grand Prix while filling in for Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri, Red Bull's sister team, after his metacarpal fracture. Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motorsport advisor, has stated that Lawson is a candidate to replace Pérez at Red Bull Racing, with the possibility of fast-tracking him to the mother team in 2025 or replacing Pérez earlier.. Source: Motorsport

EXCLUSIVE: Adrian Newey on the RB17 hypercar, his ‘amazing ride’ at Red Bull and what’s next Adrian Newey, a renowned Formula 1 (F1) designer, is displaying his new hypercar, the RB17, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and driving historic vehicles up the hill. With over 30 years of experience in F1, Newey credits Emerson Fittipaldi's family-run team for giving him his first opportunity as an aerodynamicist in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has accumulated over 200 Grand Prix wins and 12 constructors' titles while working at Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull. The RB17 hypercar is Newey's latest achievement, showcasing his expertise and dedication to the sport...png) Source: Formula 1

1999 ORAL HISTORY: Part 2 Here is a summary of the article about Formula 1: In 1999, Damon Hill struggled on the track due to personal issues stemming from his father's death in a plane crash. He felt anxious and scared as he approached an age that reminded him of his father's age at the time of his death. As a result, Hill lost motivation and considered quitting mid-season, but was convinced by team owner Eddie Jordan to continue racing. Meanwhile, Heinz-Harald Frentzen had a breakout year with Jordan, driven by a desire to prove himself as a top driver. At the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Frentzen delivered an exceptional performance, crediting the car's perfect setup after testing for his success.. Source: Formula 1

Montoya to drive Hollinger’s F1 Williams FW26 at Goodwood The Goodwood Festival of Speed will feature a special display of Formula 1 cars, showcasing two legendary Williams cars from the 1990s and early 2000s. The lineup includes the Renault-powered Williams FW19, which Jacques Villeneuve drove to win the 1997 F1 World Drivers' Championship, and the BMW Williams FW26, which was driven by Juan Pablo Montoya during the 2004 season. Notably, both cars will be piloted by their respective former drivers, with Villeneuve's son Sebastian co-driving the FW26 alongside his father.. Source: Motorsport

More Mercedes upgrades coming at next two races Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff anticipates notable improvements in performance at the upcoming Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix due to planned upgrades. The team's recent British Grand Prix win, achieved by Lewis Hamilton, marked their first genuine victory of the season, following previous successes that relied on track conditions or other teams' mistakes. Although Mercedes introduced circuit-specific developments for Silverstone, the actual upgrades were intended for Hungary and Belgium, which are the last two races before the summer break. Wolff attributes the change in performance to a shift in development direction, similar to past successes, resulting in lap time gains. He acknowledges that the Silverstone win was a genuine achievement, with both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton leading under various conditions.. Source: Racer

Horner says it’s inevitable Verstappen will take an engine penalty this year Here is a summary of the article: Max Verstappen, the current Formula 1 championship leader, will eventually take a power unit penalty due to issues earlier in the season, according to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. Despite only winning two of the past five races, Verstappen has extended his lead. Horner attributes Verstappen's fluctuating form to getting performance out of different tire compounds. The sport's competitive order has been unpredictable, with four teams winning this season, but Horner sees this as a positive for Formula 1, citing exciting racing and crowds.. Source: Racer

From Hamilton’s home runs to Senna’s Monaco magic – The most wins at a single circuit in the history of F1 Lewis Hamilton won the British Grand Prix, ending a 945-day drought for race wins, and set a record for most victories at Silverstone with nine triumphs. This achievement makes him one of seven drivers to have achieved five or more wins at a specific circuit worldwide, joining Michael Schumacher, Max Verstappen, Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel, Ayrton Senna, and Graham Hill.. Source: Formula 1

What is going on with RB's F1 downgrades? Red Bull's 2024 Formula 1 season has been marked by struggles to maintain their early pace after recent races. The team's Barcelona upgrades aimed at improving high-speed stability instead made the car slower, forcing them to revert to most of their old package. Team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged that the upgrades did not work as expected and will continue to affect performance in the medium-term. Red Bull is working on a new front wing concept and finding solutions for their unsuccessful floor update. Despite setbacks, Mekies believes an aggressive development strategy is necessary for building a stronger foundation. The fight for sixth place remains unpredictable due to small gaps between teams, with Haas, Alpine, and Williams posing stiff competition.. Source: Motorsport

Red Bull must swallow its Sainz fears if it's giving up on Perez Red Bull Racing is considering replacing Sergio Pérez with Carlos Sainz, who was previously overlooked by the team in favor of Pérez's two-year contract. Despite Pérez's current struggles, Red Bull has shown no interest in promoting Yuki Tsunoda or Daniel Ricciardo to a senior role. Sainz's impressive performance this season, including his Melbourne victory and consistent qualifying average, makes him an attractive option for the team. His ability to perform well even when the car is not ideal and mental resilience are valuable assets that could benefit Red Bull. If Pérez continues to struggle, a rumored break clause in his contract could allow Red Bull to drop him before the end of his deal, paving the way for Sainz or another driver like Liam Lawson to take his place.. Source: The Race

Aston Martin "back to normality" after British GP - Alonso Fernando Alonso believes that Aston Martin's double-points finish at the British Grand Prix was a step back to normality after a tough stretch of races. The team had introduced an upgrade in Emilia Romagna but struggled with it, scoring points only twice in the next five races. However, they improved with new upgrades at Silverstone, finishing 7th and 8th, which Alonso sees as a return to their pre-Imola form. With more upgrades planned for the next two races, Alonso hopes that the team can make progress towards the top four teams like Mercedes this year or McLaren in 2023.. Source: Motorsport