Hello, it\u2019s the final Sunday before the first race, when the spin will stop, and we get the first results of the season. As predicted, the spin continues, ask anyone there appears to agree on the top four, where there isn\u2019t, is what order\u2026<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a reset reflection, a new series of Drive To Survive, which offers insight into 2025. Optimism, hope and will 2026 top a sport which is going places\u2026<\/p>\n
This edition was written before the US-Israel strikes on Iran on Saturday, the bombing of airfields in Bahrain, a statement from FOM on Saturday lunchtime read, “Our next three races are in Australia, China and Japan, not in the Middle East – those races are not for a number of weeks. As always, we closely monitor any situation like this and work closely with relevant authorities.”<\/p>\n
Organisers of next weekend\u2019s season-opening Australian Grand Prix, after the \u2018In Her Corner\u2019 initiative was launched to celebrate International Women\u2019s Day, which is the date of the race in Albert Park.<\/p>\n
Red Bull\u2019s head of race strategy, Hannah Schmitz and Esteban Ocon\u2019s race engineer, Laura Muller, will be celebrated. Mueller said: \u201cThe \u2018In Her Corner\u2019 initiative promotes the importance of \u2018if you can see it, you can be it. To be a part of this acknowledgement so early on in my Formula 1 career is an honour, and I hope it motivates girls and young adults to pursue a career in STEM.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schmitz added, \u201cI was always curious about how things work and loved cars. For me, it has been an absolute honour to represent the team on the podium.\u201d<\/p>\n
The dedication of Turn 6 will be celebrated with a lunch on Thursday ahead of the race, featuring a star-studded panel including Schmitz, Mueller, Jess Hawkins, and F1 Academy drivers Aiva Anagnostiadis and Joanne Ciconte.<\/p>\n
Pirelli\u2019s head of motorsport and F1, Mario Isola, is leaving his role as its head of motorsports, which includes managing its F1 operation today, with Dario Marrafuschi as his replacement. Isola will leave the company at the end of June, with Marrafuschi becoming head of motorsport.<\/p>\n
A statement on Friday said, \u201cPirelli announces that, effective March 1st, Dario Marrafuschi will become head of Pirelli\u2019s motorsport business unit, replacing Mario Isola, who will provide support until July 1st to ensure a smooth and effective transition.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIsola will then leave the company to pursue new professional challenges. The company wishes to thank Mario Isola for the dedication and great passion with which he has contributed to the growth of the motorsport business unit over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marrafuschi joined Pirelli in 2008 and has previous experience its Pirellis’ F1 research and development section. More recently, Marrafuschi headed up the development of Pirelli\u2019s road tyres. Like Isola, Marrafuschi will report to Giovanni Tronchetti Provera, executive vice president of sustainability, new mobility & motorsport.<\/p>\n
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes Ferrari and Mercedes are \u201ca step ahead\u201d following last week\u2019s final pre-season test. Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets by over eight tenths of a second from Lando Norris after an impressive final day and had a strong race simulation in the heat of the day.<\/p>\n
Stella thinks McLaren is “not far” behind the top two teams despite ticking all of their test item boxes ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, next Sunday. Asked by Sky Sports about the pecking order, he said: “Very difficult to say. There is a race simulation that I was, I think, on Thursday [between] Oscar [Piastri] and [Max] Verstappen. It happened at a similar time of the day, and it was a similar pace.<\/p>\n
\u201cOften, the race simulation is actually where you can more accurately see what the genuine performance of cars is. The reason why I think we have to be careful is that, depending on the time of the day, the race simulation may be quite a lot faster.\u201d<\/p>\n
McLaren believes they do remain in the leading group but behind Mercedes and Ferrari, though they say it is difficult to quantify how large the gap is. The team is aiming to develop their car and close the gap as quickly as possible, while warning that the last step is the most difficult.<\/p>\n
He admitted that Norris performed strongly in his race simulation, with the caveat that it was done at the end of the test, when the track was at its best. Stella pointed out that the Bahrain International Circuit features more braking zones compared to Albert Park in Australia, so the testing pecking order may already change at the first race.<\/p>\n
McLaren believes that the car is good for power unit-dependent circuits, saying that Barcelona was demanding between deployment and harvesting. But in Sakhir harvesting was easier because you don\u2019t need to harvest energy and deploy energy in a way that is efficient.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Stella added that the team will try to \u201cexploit the counterattack\u201d. Saying \u201cwe are equally aware that some of our main competitors, it is not a coincidence that all three are works teams, have done an excellent job.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to work hard to catch up and develop the car as quickly as possible. Once the cards are on the table, development will become the major challenge. To use a football metaphor, the first part of the season will see us playing a bit defensively, trying to exploit the counterattack.\u201d<\/p>\n
It looks to me, and Stella says that McLaren isn\u2019t unhappy with what they achieved in testing, but they were not where they wanted to be. But they are reliable and are making progress, but it\u2019s about how much progress they have made; they also need to work with Mercedes.<\/p>\n
The group also announced a new multi-year partnership with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. The deal with the title sponsor of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix runs across F1 and WEC, branding will feature across the F1 race cars in prominent positions such as the rear wing and halo, the F1 drivers’ helmets and WEC cars. It will also result in new fan experiences and a new livery for the Etihad fleet, which will be introduced later in 2026.<\/p>\n
Zak Brown said, \u201cWe\u2019re excited to welcome Etihad as an Official Partner. As we travel to more races around the world, working with a global airline that shares our passion for excellence is a natural fit. Etihad\u2019s commitment to delivering high\u2011quality experiences aligns strongly with our values, and we look forward to working closely together across both Formula 1 and WEC.\u201d<\/p>\n
Antonoaldo Neves, group CEO of Etihad Airways, added: “Today, we are thrilled to team up with McLaren Racing to begin an extraordinary partnership. Formula 1 racing brings together fans from around the world in one of the most exhilarating sports, and we\u2019re excited to see the Etihad brand across the 2026 McLaren car as it competes worldwide.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercedes has added Niccolo Perico and Devin Titz to its junior programme. The team describes this programme as a decade-long pipeline spanning talent from karting through to the Formula Regional European Championship. Within hours of the news being posted to Instagram, it drew over 17,000 likes and comments from the likes of Kimi Antonelli.<\/p>\n
Titz, who finished fourth in the 2024 German Kart Championship, said in a press release, \u201cIt is truly a dream come true to represent the Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Programme as a German driver. Mercedes stands for excellence and success, and I\u2019m incredibly proud to be part of this team. I would like to thank Motorsport Team Germany for nominating me for the joint talent promotion project with Mercedes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Perico, who won the ROK Cup Superfinal in 2025, added, \u201cIt is a great honour for me to join the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Junior Programme. I am confident this will be a decisive step in my career, and I am truly looking forward to making the most of this opportunity.\u201d Mercedes currently has nine drivers on the books as it marks a decade of its driver development programme.<\/p>\n
The oldest of the group, 17-year-old Emirati Rashid Al Dhaheri, continues in Formula Regional, while British Formula 4 driver Ethan Jeff-Hall will stay in British F4 after joining the outfit in 2025 alongside the Emirati. 16-year-old Frenchman Andy Consani also joined in the same year, and has since seen huge success, becoming UAE4 vice-champion this year.<\/p>\n
Luna Flux\u00e1 graduates from karts into Spanish F4 after joining the programme in 2022, and Kenzo Cragie, the same age, will compete in Italian F4 and Euro4 championships. James Anagnostiadis, in his second year with the team, continues racing in OK and KZ2 karting.<\/p>\n
Martin Brundle believes that George Russell is \u201cready\u201d to fight for his first world championship. The Englishman goes into next weekend\u2019s season opener as the favourite following a strong preseason.<\/p>\n
However, Brundle believes there is “not a clear favourite” for the title as it stands based on the picture from testing, but Russell is among those set to fight for the crown if pre-season expectations prove accurate. Speaking on Sky Sports Season Preview, he said, \u201cI do think he’s ready for it. He’s a smart guy; they’re all smart guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGeorge has got the team around him. Kimi [Antonelli] will be stronger this year in the other car, but George is completely out of Lewis [Hamilton]’s shadow there, he’s the king of the castle at Mercedes-Benz. He did all those years at Williams and then he went to Mercedes when they just stopped dominating, so he’s done the hard yards.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking about his team-mate Kimi Antonelli, Brundle added he \u201cwill have a great season as well, but George has got all the confidence he needs to win races and to go and win a championship, if it’s available to him. We questioned that with Lando [Norris] last year, and Oscar [Piastri] too, whether they would wilt under pressure from Max [Verstappen], and they didn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former CEO and team principal, Christian Horner, has spoken out about his exit from Red Bull Racing during the eighth season of Netflix’s Drive to Survive. The fourth episode of the series, titled A Bull with No Horns, will cover Horner’s exit from Red Bull.<\/p>\n
After being with the team since it joined the grid in 2005, Horner was replaced as Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal in July 2025 by former Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies. The Briton has now had the opportunity to speak about his exit, which he believes was the decision of Oliver Mintzlaff and Helmut Marko.<\/p>\n
In clips released before its premiere on Friday, Horner said, \u201cI feel a real sense of loss and hurt. It was all rather sudden. I didn’t really get a chance to say a proper goodbye. I never imagined to be in this position. Of course, your immediate reaction when you get delivered a s**t sandwich like that is like, f**k them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve had something taken away from me that wasn’t my choice, that was very precious to me. I only ever gave my best. I did my best for my team, for the people that I represented. But performance this year hasn’t been as strong as previously.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked if he thought the Verstappen\u2019s had anything to do with the decision, Horner added: “[Max Verstappen’s] father has never been my biggest fan. He’s been outspoken about me. But I don’t believe that the Verstappen\u2019s were responsible in any way. I think this was a decision that was made by Oliver Mintzlaff, with Helmut advising from the sideline.<\/p>\n
Lewis Hamilton has urged his followers to “stay curious” in a LinkedIn post as he prepares for his second season with Ferrari. The seven-time champion had a disappointing first season with the team; however, recent posts online and comments has seen him refreshed by the regulation changes.<\/p>\n
Now, reflecting on his first year with the Italian outfit, he turned the experience into a moment of learning – something that mirrors his recently acquired partnership with AI company Perplexity. he wrote, \u201cOne year ago, I began a new chapter with Scuderia Ferrari HP. It was a massive leap and with that comes a lot of learning. Whether you\u2019re switching teams in F1 or pivoting in your own career, your willingness to learn will be your biggest advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTransitioning in this environment requires developing and redeveloping skills, like high-stakes collaboration and adaptability, while quickly picking up new ones to bridge the gap.\u201d Hamilton recently signed a deal with the AI company; the advert appears to centre around self-improvement.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead to Melbourne, he says he is reflecting on how the world is being changed by technology and AI.<\/p>\n
Former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone believes Audi F1 driver Gabriel Bortoleto “will be a threat” to his experienced team-mate Nico Hulkenberg as the German brand begins its first season this year.<\/p>\n
Audi’s entry has been highly anticipated by fans since the takeover of the Sauber team. While the four rings of the brand have been seen in several promotional activities since the news broke of its investment, 2026 is the first season where fans will see the car on the grid. Last year the Brazilian had a solid debut given where the team then called Sauber were.<\/p>\n
Ecclestone told Sport.de that a quick Audi surprised viewers in race simulations. And with the outfit bringing its own Audi-built power unit to the fight, it was impressively reliable with only a few issues that limited running in Barcelona. Saying \u201cThey have now gathered all the ingredients for a successful first year in Formula One.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team ended the second test with three-hundred and fifty-seven laps, and this is quite optimistic; they believe they have already achieved a lot. Team principal Jonathan Wheatley said during the second test, “We’re the first team to run this new generation of Formula 1 car, everyone here knows what that takes in order to pass certain deadlines to get there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it shows an ambition in the team as well. A tremendous job that’s happened in Neuberg and Hinwil and of course in Bicester – a hugely talented team of people who put a lot of effort into it, and we’re sat here as well with a brand, not just a brand new power unit, but a powertrain.\u201d<\/p>\n
From where Ecclestone is sitting, he’s excited for Audi to be able to capitalise on the new regulations. “All the teams are closely matched. Audi can definitely be competitive there,\u201d he said, before adding that Bortoleto “will be a threat” to Hulkenberg, describing him as \u201cvery fast and a potential future world champion.\u201d<\/p>\n
We are nearly there. This winter hasn\u2019t felt as long as normal, and there is plenty of intrigue going into this season, and as we\u2019ve written, the drama and controversy is already underway. The next week, the talking will stop, kind of, as we complete the first race of the season. The spin and talking will continue as part of the game of this sport but we will have some answers.<\/p>\n
The truth in this sport has always been somewhere in the middle; we have a long way to go over eleven months. Mercedes are, yes, the ones to watch and maybe Ferrari and McLaren. Listening and reading between the lines, using things like data to paint a picture over next weekend, will be key.<\/p>\n
Melbourne is Oscar Piastri\u2019s backyard, and if the pressure got to him last season, how he handles the pressure of the first two \u2018home\u2019 races, as he has Chinese ancestry as well as his three other races in Europe, could be telling. Piastri, if he is in this fight, will be up against if we expect a four-team fight, twelve drivers\u2019 championships between them, it won\u2019t be easy,<\/p>\n
Lewis Hamilton, could the year of the horse bring him his eighth title and Ferrari\u2019s first in two decades? I think the break and change in regulations have been helpful, but can Ferrari deliver? Red Bull has also sprung a surprise in testing, but can an untested engine supplier fight right away we will find out.<\/p>\n
As always, a more detailed Prixview will be out tomorrow lunchtime.<\/p>\n
Dive into the latest buzz in the world of F1 with our comprehensive analysis and round-up of this week’s top stories. Discover the strategic moves by top teams, and what it all means for the ahead season. Stay ahead of the curve with insights on and off the track. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":15471,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,18],"tags":[2339,664,754,2213,1996],"class_list":["post-15580","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-analysis","category-this-week","tag-2339","tag-f1","tag-formula-one","tag-news-analysis","tag-this-week"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15580"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15589,"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15580\/revisions\/15589"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}