Formula One Social Feed | Formula 1 News

Russell: "Crazy" F1 2026 top speeds will have safety implications The FIA has presented a design concept for the 2026 Formula 1 cars, emphasizing electric energy, reduced drag, and downforce levels, which could make cars faster on straights but slower in corners, potentially compromising safety. Driver George Russell expressed concerns about high-speed crashes on street circuits like Jeddah and Baku, urging rule makers to reconsider prioritizing top speeds over safety. Sebastian Vettel proposed reforms to promote competitive racing by reducing the gap between top and bottom teams through technical regulations and financial redistribution, allowing for more equal opportunities and pushing drivers to perform better on track.. Source: Motorsport

F1 trophies: 10 of the weirdest designs awarded at a grand prix Formula One (F1) trophies have undergone significant changes in design over the years, reflecting local cultures and sponsors. Prior to strict rules, F1 trophy designs were more creative, featuring unique characters and symbols. Ayrton Senna won several iconic trophies, including the Sega Trophy from the 1993 European GP, which featured a golden Sonic the Hedgehog on top of the Sega logo. In recent years, F1 has incorporated technology into its trophies, such as kiss-activated designs that display the winner's national flag when kissed. Examples include the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix trophy and the 2023 Japanese and United States Grands Prix trophies. Additionally, F1 partnered with Amazon Web Services to design a trophy using generative AI for the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix. Other unusual trophy designs include the Australian Grand Prix's Foster's can-shaped trophy and the British Grand Prix's Santander-branded trophy that did not sit well with winner Lewis Hamilton. The French Grand Prix featured a King Kong-inspired trophy from 2018 to 2022, designed by Richard Orlinski.. Source: Motorsport

Ricciardo admits he’s not driven well enough to justify Red Bull return Daniel Ricciardo admitted that he didn't meet expectations early in the season and therefore couldn't return to Red Bull, which opted to retain Sergio Perez for two more seasons. He expressed frustration with his inconsistency throughout the year. The Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal was painted green and yellow to honor Ayrton Senna's 30th anniversary of his death. Alpine junior drivers Victor Martins and Kush Maini tested a ground effect Formula 1 car at the Red Bull Ring, with Martins driving a 2022 A522 on the second day of a two-day test. Formula 2 driver Felipe Martins had a productive test day at a circuit, running solo and gaining experience in qualifying and race simulations.. Source: Race Fans

Tsunoda wants "more commitment from Red Bull" after 2025 F1 snub Red Bull has re-signed Sergio Perez for two years until the 2026 season, retaining him alongside Max Verstappen. This decision affects Yuki Tsunoda's future at Red Bull, who was expected to be promoted but will remain with their sister team in 2025 instead. Tsunoda is unhappy with Red Bull's lack of commitment regarding his future contract and has received interest from rival teams, considering this a positive for his value as a driver. Despite being committed to Red Bull, Tsunoda is keeping his options open in case he needs to switch to another team.. Source: Motorsport

Ocon denies Doohan's FP1 outing is a punishment for Monaco F1 incident Esteban Ocon is leaving Alpine F1 Team at the end of the season after a mutual agreement between him and the team. The decision was likely made before a collision with Pierre Gasly during the Monaco Grand Prix, but Ocon denied any connection between the two, stating it was just a routine practice run for reserve driver Jack Doohan. Despite speculation about punishment for the crash, Ocon has been with Alpine for five years and will fulfill his contract. Additionally, he confirmed there is no tension with teammate Fernando Alonso after their Monaco incident, and will continue to follow team instructions when racing against Gasly.. Source: Motorsport

Alonso: Making 2026 F1 cars 30kg lighter an "impossible target" The Formula One (F1) governing body, FIA, has presented new regulations for 2026 that focus on increasing electric energy in power units to maintain speeds. The chassis will feature active aerodynamics and smaller cars, with a reduced wheelbase by 200mm, width by 100mm, downforce by 30%, and drag by 55%. However, Aston Martin driver Alonso expressed concerns about reducing car weight by 30kg due to added battery weight from the electric power unit. Williams driver Albon also expressed worries about slow speeds in simulator testing, stating that more work is needed. The F1 championship typically consists of 20-22 teams competing in a series of Grands Prix around the world, with highly advanced cars powered by hybrid engines producing over 1,000 horsepower and reaching speeds exceeding 370 km/h (230 mph).. Source: Motorsport

Is Red Bull trapping the F1 driver it refuses to promote? Red Bull Racing has offered Sergio Perez a contract extension but neglected other drivers, including Yuki Tsunoda, who is outperforming Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri. Despite impressive results, Red Bull is uninterested in promoting Tsunoda to the main team alongside Max Verstappen and has an option to keep him for next season. However, Tsunoda hopes for a formal discussion with the team about his future, as he has received offers from rival teams for 2025. His priority is securing a long-term deal with Red Bull, but the team's loss of Honda engines in 2026 makes it less desirable for a driver seeking ambition.. Source: The Race

BETTING GUIDE: Who is tipped to make their mark in Montreal? The Canadian Grand Prix is approaching, with Max Verstappen of Red Bull favored to win at odds of 1.50. The previous three races have had different winners, including Lando Norris of McLaren in Miami, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari in Monaco, and Verstappen himself in Imola. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve's flowing track layout is expected to suit Red Bull's RB20 package better than the twisting Monte Carlo circuit, setting up a potential thrilling three-way title fight between Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren.. Source: Formula 1

Tsunoda to stay at RB in 2025 alongside Ricciardo or Lawson – Marko Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko confirmed that Yuki Tsunoda will stay with the team for a fifth season in 2025. However, it is possible that Tsunoda's teammate may change as Liam Lawson is being considered to replace Daniel Ricciardo, whose contract expires at the end of the season. Ricciardo has struggled this year and scored points only once, while Tsunoda has outperformed him, finishing in the points five times and ranking 10th in the championship, four places ahead of his teammate.. Source: Race Fans

Magnussen: "I shouldn't have trusted" Perez in Monaco F1 battle Kevin Magnussen believes Sergio Perez was mainly responsible for their collision on the opening lap of the Monaco Grand Prix. According to Magnussen, he initially thought Perez would leave room to pass, but Perez didn't provide enough space, resulting in a crash that eliminated both cars from the race. Despite watching replays multiple times, Magnussen still believes Perez was at fault, saying normal post-race analysis often provides a different perspective on incidents. He notes that if he wasn't sure Perez had seen him, he wouldn't have stayed alongside Perez's car, and once his front wheel was alongside, it was too late to back out safely.. Source: Motorsport

The FIA’s ‘Nimble Car concept’ needs to set a new trend for F1 The FIA has released new technical rules for the 2026 Formula 1 season aiming to reduce car weight by 30kg (from 798kg) and improve handling and acceleration. The changes include: reducing combustion engine's contribution to total output, increasing MGU-K's role in generating power, using active aero extensively, and optimizing drag reduction systems. Car width has been reduced from 2m to 1.9m, wheelbase proportionally to 3.4m, and complex parts simplified to reduce weight further. The rules aim to improve safety and reduce "dirty air" affecting car performance when following closely behind another vehicle. Despite the modest weight reduction, some teams expressed concerns about rising car weights and Pirelli's new tyres adding an estimated 46kg.. Source: Race Fans

2024 F1 Canadian Grand Prix session timings and preview Max Verstappen leads the Formula 1 championship ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, but his Red Bull team's RB20 car has a weakness over bumps and kerbs that could allow McLaren and Ferrari to gain an advantage. The article provides session timings for the race in various time zones: US Eastern Time (ET), US Pacific Time (PT), Australia (AEST), Japan (JST), and Africa. Formula 1 has announced its schedule for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from June 8-9, 2024, including three practice sessions, qualifying, and the main race.. Source: Motorsport

McLaren ends relationship with Juncos Hollinger over death threats row McLaren terminated its partnership with Juncos Hollinger, an IndyCar rival, due to a social media row between drivers Agustin Canapino and Theo Pourchaire following their collision at the Detroit Grand Prix. The dispute escalated after Pourchaire claimed to receive death threats and hate speech on social media, which Canapino doubted. McLaren's CEO Zak Brown condemned Canapino's reaction as "sad and pathetic", leading to Juncos Hollinger releasing a statement announcing the end of its partnership with McLaren.. Source: Race Fans

Podcast: F1's new 2026 rules explained + why they're changing The Formula 1 (F1) Podcast discussed the newly released 2026 regulations by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), which include key changes aimed at shaping the sport. The new power unit regulations aim to promote more competitive and sustainable racing, while a push for smaller and lighter cars is introduced to reduce costs and enhance safety. Modified aero regulations aim to reduce aerodynamic outwash and stiffness, making it easier to overtake and improving overall driving dynamics. Additionally, the "manual override" feature has been introduced to assist overtaking, allowing drivers more control during passing maneuvers. The implementation of adjustable aerodynamics is also expected to help achieve the objectives set by F1, including improved racing and reduced costs for teams.. Source: The Race

FIA’s Tombazis says 2026 F1 rules address 2022 errors The FIA has released technical regulations for 2026 Formula 1 cars aiming to address issues from the 2022 season, focusing on closer racing and reduced reliance on low and stiff car setups. Key changes include active aerodynamics, a smaller and lighter design, and modified floor and diffuser regulations. The goal is to create less downforce and a more level playing field due to the cost cap, potentially leading to more exciting racing and challenging competition among teams. The FIA's Nikolas Tombazis expects a reshuffle among teams, with restrictions limiting their ability to develop new regulations, forcing some teams to focus on both 2026 and 2022 seasons simultaneously.. Source: Racer

2026 F1 aerodynamics regulations explained: From nimbler cars to 'Z-mode' and 'X-mode' – unpicking the 2026 aerodynamics regulations Formula 1's revised 2026 regulations aim to reduce the car weight by 30kg, from approximately 798kg to 768kg, achieved by decreasing tire width and maintaining the same wheel size. The goal is also a 30% reduction in downforce and 55% reduction in drag. This change is expected to result in lower loads for tires compared to current levels, although teams are skilled at adapting their cars to optimize performance.. Source: Formula 1

2026 F1 power unit regulations explained: More electrical power, more overtaking aids and more sustainable – get the inside scoop on the 2026 power unit regulations The FIA has announced new power unit regulations for Formula 1 starting in 2026, aiming to make the sport more powerful and environmentally friendly. The current 1.6-liter V6 turbocharged hybrid engine will be replaced with a more powerful battery component, generating three times the electrical power of its current hybrid components (120kW to 350kW). Although the engine's power output decreases from 550-560kW to 400kW, the overall system will produce more power sustainably, utilizing the world's most efficient hybrid engine.. Source: Formula 1

FIA reveals new 2026 F1 rules to create slimmer, lighter cars The FIA has unveiled its plan for technical regulations in Formula 1 from 2026, featuring revised power units, car designs, and safety measures. Key changes include a 30kg weight reduction to 768kg, reduced downforce by around 30%, active aerodynamics with two modes (Z-mode and X-mode), narrowed front wings, and new bodywork to reduce wheel disruption. Power units will generate almost 300% more power using "fully sustainable" fuels. The Drag Reduction System is replaced by a manual override mode for overtaking. Safety measures include revised front crash structures, strengthened roll hoops, and stricter testing for approval. The proposed changes aim to create lighter, more agile cars with innovative aerodynamics, promising exciting racing and a record number of power unit manufacturers committed to the sport.. Source: Race Fans

Z-mode and X-mode: How Formula 1’s new active aero will work in 2026 Formula 1 will introduce a new active aerodynamics system from 2026, allowing drivers to adjust both front and rear wings for better performance. The system has two modes: "Z-mode" with closed wings for maximum downforce in corners, and "X-mode" with open flaps for reduced drag and increased speed on straights. This change is designed to maintain typical F1 performance levels as the cars transition from V6 hybrid turbos to more electrically-powered power units. The new system will allow drivers to adjust their wings to achieve a better balance between downforce and drag, which was not possible with the current Drag Reduction System (DRS).. Source: Race Fans

DRS out, “Manual Override Mode” in: F1’s new overtaking aid explained Formula 1 will replace its Drag Reduction System (DRS) with Manual Overtake Mode (MOM) at the end of the 2025 season as part of new technical regulations for 2026. MOM provides drivers with a power boost when close to another car, allowing them to use more electrical energy and accelerate from high speeds without restrictions. The system is designed to facilitate overtaking by giving the chasing car an opportunity to overtake on the straight section of the track. It will allow cars to recover up to 0.5MJ of energy per lap beyond the usual limit, providing an additional 60kW of power compared to other cars. The goal is to make it easier for cars to run closely together and enable more overtaking opportunities.. Source: Race Fans