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Helmut Marko: Mercedes to win 2026 F1 title, Kimi Antonelli to challenge George Russell
motorsport.com·

Helmut Marko: Mercedes to win 2026 F1 title, Kimi Antonelli to challenge George Russell

Helmut Marko expects the 2026 Formula 1 drivers’ championship to be a two-horse race between Mercedes’ lead driver George Russell and his sophomore team-mate Kimi Antonelli. Mercedes has dominated the first three rounds of the season as F1 switched to new technical regulations, taking a 1-2 in all four qualifying sessions and winning all four races so far (including the sprint in ...Keep reading

Max Verstappen outlines 'very important' factor ahead of new F1 regulations
racingnews365.com·

Max Verstappen outlines 'very important' factor ahead of new F1 regulations

Max Verstappen has outlined that a "very important" factor this season will be drivers’ ability to "adapt quickly" to the new cars, as Formula 1 introduces its new power unit regulations. F1 has introduced its biggest regulatory change, featuring power units consisting of a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrical power. With changes also made to the cars’ dimensions, the championship is set for a very different look from 2026 onwards. These changes have seen the entire paddock start from scratch, in particular Red Bull, which for the first time in its history has become its own power unit supplier. For all 22 drivers, entirely new systems need to be understood not only from the perspective of driving the car, but also in terms of energy deployment and battery management. Verstappen has often been praised for how quickly he gets on top of difficult situations, perhaps handing him a small advantage ahead of the new campaign. Asked how the new regulations could benefit him, Verstappen told Bloomberg : "I honestly have no idea.  "I haven't even done that many laps in the simulator. So for me, I will just see what happens when I sit in the car.  "I think what is always very important as a driver is that you can adapt quickly to the situation that you're in, if that is on a current car that you've known for a long time, or a completely new car.  "You just need to be able adapt quickly, learn quickly as well, because the cars will evolve, I think, also very quickly. But yeah, I'm not too stressed about that, to be honest."

Audi declares 'statement of intent' as Le Mans winner heads driver programme
racingnews365.com·

Audi declares 'statement of intent' as Le Mans winner heads driver programme

Audi has declared the launch of its driver development programme as a "statement of intent" as Le Mans winner Allan McNish is to assume control.  McNish, who was already linked with the team before it became Audi as an advisor in the final Sauber season, is to lead what the team has called "a cornerstone of the team’s F1 ambitions designed to identify, nurture, and develop the next generation of racing talent." Scot McNish raced in F1 himself in 2002 with Toyota before going on to success in sports cars, with three Le Mans wins to his name, two of which came with the Ingolstadt concern. He also won the 2013 world endurance championship title.  Audi is to ensure members of the academy "receive world-class training and mentorship, benefiting from the brand’s decades of experience at the highest levels of motorsport. The curriculum will focus on the drivers’ requirements, with a bespoke development programme going from on-track performance, driving and engineering development, human performance, and media and marketing," and declared the move as a "statement of intent." "To be entrusted with finding the cornerstones of the future Audi F1 Team is a great honour and a responsibility I am very passionate about," said McNish.  "This brand is built on a history of 'Vorsprung durch Technik', and that philosophy must apply to our young drivers as much as to our cars. We are not just looking for raw speed; we are looking for the resilience, intelligence, and team-driven mindset that defines a future Audi champion.  "Our goal is to build a pathway that turns potential into precision and performance on the world stage. I am thrilled to begin this work and identify the first generation of talent to join this ambitious project." Team principal Jonathan Wheatley added that "investing in the champions of tomorrow is a key pillar of our Formula 1 strategy," as well as playing up McNish's credentials to lead the programme.

Lando Norris warned 'all bets are off' on F1 title defence hopes
racingnews365.com·

Lando Norris warned 'all bets are off' on F1 title defence hopes

Damon Hill believes "all bets are off" when it comes to whether Lando Norris can defend his F1 drivers’ title. Norris overcame a 34-point deficit to defeat McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen to claim his maiden championship last season, securing the #1 on his car for the 2026 season. However, defending his title is set to be extremely difficult, with the pinnacle of motorsport introducing entirely new power-unit regulations. The new regulations have the potential to completely change the pecking order from last year, as seen in 2014 when the turbo-hybrid era began. From this year, the power units will consist of a 50/50 split between electrical power and internal combustion, with Mercedes expected to be the strongest initially. However, with Mercedes powering four teams, including themselves, McLaren’s continued dominance is far from guaranteed. Asked if Norris can win a second consecutive drivers' title, 1996 F1 champion Hill told talkSPORT : "Well, all bets are off for this year. We have no idea who is going to have the form. "We can't assume that people who found their feet with these last regulations, which were sort of Venturi ground effect cars, will be able to follow through. "I mean, some of it will follow through. The power units are completely different. They've got to share 50 per cent of their power from electric battery power, so storage in the car. "So the way the cars will be driven, the way they're designed, the way they work aerodynamically is completely different."

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen destroy F1 rivals in staggering statistic
racingnews365.com·

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen destroy F1 rivals in staggering statistic

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s dominance in Formula 1 across the turbo-hybrid era is well-known, with the pair having won 10 world titles between them from 2014 to 2025. While driving for Mercedes, Hamilton secured six drivers’ championships—from 2014 to 2015 and 2017 to 2020. As for Verstappen, he secured four consecutive titles from 2021 to 2024, with Lando Norris ending his reign of dominance last season. Nico Rosberg and Norris are the only two other drivers with a championship to their name in the turbo-hybrid era, which is set for a major change this year. F1’s new regulations from 2026 will see a 50/50 split between electrical power and internal combustion, marking the pinnacle of motorsport’s biggest move yet towards electrification. It marks a moment to look back on the turbo-hybrid era so far before its major change for the upcoming campaign. Despite struggling since 2022, Hamilton has scored the most points since the turbo-hybrid era was introduced, with the seven-time world champion having amassed 3,916.5 points. To no surprise, Verstappen is second, although almost 500 points adrift of the Briton on 3,444.5. The duo are in a different league compared to the rest, with Valtteri Bottas having scored the third-most points since 2014, but over 2,000 behind his former Mercedes teammate on 1,793. Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel complete the top five, despite the latter having retired from the sport at the end of the 2022 season. Check out the top 10 list for most points scored since 2014 below! Points scored from 2014-2025