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F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin takes major step towards F1 dream with first Mercedes test
motorsport.com·

F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin takes major step towards F1 dream with first Mercedes test

2025 F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin has taken part in a Formula 1 test with Mercedes.  The French driver recently revealed in an interview on the F1 Beyond The Grid podcast that the plan was to take part in an F1 test with the Brackley outfit. Now, Mercedes has shared photos of the milestone moment with the caption, "A milestone moment for Doriane Pin. Getting behind the wheel of an F1 car ...Keep reading

Sam Bird reveals what Formula 1 reserve drivers actually do behind the scenes
motorsport.com·

Sam Bird reveals what Formula 1 reserve drivers actually do behind the scenes

Former Formula E driver Sam Bird has shed light on what it actually is that Formula 1 reserve drivers do for teams. Bird, who previously served as a reserve driver for the Mercedes F1 team, shared insight into the gruelling reality of the role during an interview with Lucas Stewart. "A lot of simulation. So, pre-event and post-event," Bird explained. "Pre-event, it will be making sure ...Keep reading

Christian Horner speaks for first time after dramatic Red Bull exit: 'I have unfinished business'
racingnews365.com·

Christian Horner speaks for first time after dramatic Red Bull exit: 'I have unfinished business'

Christian Horner has spoken to media for the first time since being ousted as Red Bull team principal, declaring that he has "unfinished business in Formula 1". Horner had been Red Bull boss from its very first season back in 2005 but was axed after last season's British Grand Prix in July.  It marked the end of a major era in the Milton Keynes-based outfit's history and represented a shock exit from the F1 paddock for Horner.  Since his exit from Red Bull, the Briton has been heavily linked with a move to Alpine, with a consortium led by Horner having discussed purchasing Otro Capital's 24% stake. He feels there is more for him still in the pinnacle of motorsport but insists he would only return for the right project. "I feel like I have unfinished business in Formula One," Horner said at the European Motor Show in Dublin, as quoted by The Guardian . "It didn’t finish the way that I would have liked it to finish. “But I am not going to come back for just anything. I am only going to come back for something that can win. I don’t want to go back in the paddock unless I have something to do. I miss the sport, I miss the people, I miss the team that I built.  "I had 21 incredible years in Formula One. I had a great run, won a lot of races, championships and worked with some amazing drivers, engineers and partners. “I don’t need to go back. I could stop my career now. So I would only go back for the right opportunity to work with great people, and to work in an environment where people want to win, and they shared that desire.  "I would want to be a partner, rather than just a hired hand, but we will see how it plays out. I am not in a rush. I don’t need to do anything." Horner 'flattered' Despite being asked over six months ago, Horner speaking at the European Motor Show marked his first interview, much to his surprise.  The 52-year-old has found himself hungry to return to F1 and has found it "flattering" being rumoured with so many positions. "What has been fascinating is that I stepped out of Red Bull on July 8, and this is the first time I have actually spoken to anyone. [In the media] I have been going to every single Formula One team, which has ranged from the back of the grid, to the middle of the grid, and to the front of the grid. And there just seems to be an appetite as to: ‘What am I going to do? Where am I going to go?’ "The reality is that until the spring I can’t do anything anyway. It is very flattering to keep being associated with all of these different teams."

Oliver Bearman spins in Haas F1 shakedown
racingnews365.com·

Oliver Bearman spins in Haas F1 shakedown

Oliver Bearman suffered an unfortunate moment as he put the new Haas through its first paces in a shakedown at Fiorano. The Briton was on-track in the VF-26 for the first at Ferrari's home-track, but suffered a low-speed spin as he ventured around, but unlike Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad, was able to continue on his way.  Haas has become the seventh team to run its new 2026 car before official testing gets underway on Monday with the Barcelona private test, with just McLaren, Red Bull, Aston Martin, and Williams yet to do so.  Check out the spin for Bearman below! reel/DT5TT26DLBS/?igsh=bzh5ZmRqeDgzdnBn View this post on Instagram A post shared by F1wow (@f1wow)

Max Verstappen unveils new helmet for 2026 F1 season
racingnews365.com·

Max Verstappen unveils new helmet for 2026 F1 season

Max Verstappen has unveiled a new helmet for the 2026 F1 season. A week on from Red Bull Racing's RB22 launch at the home of new technical partner, Ford, in Detroit, Verstappen has now decided to show off the latest design of his Schuberth lid. In contrast to previous seasons, the helmet bears the number 3 that Verstappen has chosen to race with this year after losing the right to bear the No.1 after missing out on a fifth consecutive drivers' championship last season by two points to Lando Norris. There is also the 'Ford Racing' logo that features just above the visor on either side of the helmet. The colours are also far more glossy than previously, reflecting the livery of this year's car, and with a block design forming a background to the colours. You can catch Verstappen's reveal below via a social media post. DT2VcRmiCdi View this post on Instagram A post shared by Max Verstappen (@maxverstappen1)

What's Honda hiding? Details of new F1 power unit expertly concealed
racingnews365.com·

What's Honda hiding? Details of new F1 power unit expertly concealed

In photos of the new Honda power unit, shared by RacingNews365 earlier today , the Japanese manufacturing giant displayed its all-new system. Of course, dark shadows made it a little tricky to really zoom in on the design. Even so, it was unusual for F1 to get acquainted with a power unit in this way, especially given the changes for this season. The PU has undergone a major overhaul, noticeably the removal of the MGU-H, leading to a beefed-up MGU-K that will provide 350kW of power as opposed to the previous 120kW, designed to enhance overtaking and improve straight-line speed. In other photos, however, it was clear that Honda, quite naturally under the circumstances, had no intention of revealing all of its secrets. Certain components on the underside of the PU were skillfully blurred out.  RacingNews365 technical expert Paolo Filisetti explained that it was done, not so much to hide certain components from view, but rather to shield the configuration of those components in relation to one another. Nevertheless, the spying eyes of Honda's competitors may still be able to conclude how the PU fits into the Aston Martin chassis, and from there, reach potential conclusions on the aero design as a result. Offering a general assessment on Honda's new PU, Toshihiro Mibe, Honda Motor Corporation president and representative executive officer, said: "In 2026, F1 will undergo a major change in regulations for both the chassis and power unit. "Honda sees F1 as a symbol of challenge and innovation, and HRC, the global racing arm of Honda, has developed the RA626H, the new power unit for the 2026 season, to meet those challenges. "Striving to become number one in the world, Honda will continue to take on challenges, together with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team."

A year on since Lewis Hamilton broke the internet
racingnews365.com·

A year on since Lewis Hamilton broke the internet

Exactly one year ago today, Lewis Hamilton stood outside Enzo Ferrari's house in Modena, dressed immaculately in a Ferragamo three-piece suit, posing beside an F40.  The image, posted on 20 January 2025, became the most liked Instagram post in Formula 1 history, amassing 5.7 million likes and reaching 25 million views on X. It was a moment of pure theatre, capturing the weight of expectation placed upon Hamilton to restore Ferrari's glory after 17 years without a constructors' championship.  The seven-time world champion's carefully curated appearance, complete with reports of him speaking Italian, signalled his total commitment to the Scuderia. What followed, however, was anything but glorious. Article continues below the Instagram post... https://www.instagram.com/p/DFC5g6WsxQW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton) Hamilton's nightmare 2025 in red Hamilton's 2025 campaign became the worst of his career. For the first time since joining F1 in 2007, he completed an entire season without a single grand prix podium.  His only appearance on the top step of a rostrum came in the China Sprint last March, an anomaly that only highlighted how dire his Sundays became. The numbers tell a brutal story. Hamilton finished sixth in the championship with 156 points, 86 behind teammate Charles Leclerc's 242.  He averaged four positions below Leclerc in qualifying and suffered a historic collapse at the season's end, becoming the first full-time Ferrari driver since 2009 to qualify last.  Three consecutive Q1 eliminations from Las Vegas to Abu Dhabi capped a nightmare he openly described as such. The SF-25 was fundamentally flawed. A backfiring suspension change, an extremely narrow operating window, and braking instability plagued the car.  After both Ferraris were disqualified in China for plank wear and weight violations, the team was forced into conservative setups that sacrificed performance.  Hamilton, adapting to machinery built without his input after 12 Mercedes years, never found comfort with the driving style required. Article continues below... Hamilton's 2026 reset Ferrari made a calculated decision in April 2025, stopping major development after determining the SF-25's concept carried irreparable limitations. Everything pivoted to 2026, where sweeping regulation changes offer a clean slate for all teams. The new rules introduce lighter, more agile cars with active aerodynamics, redesigned hybrid power units with an even split between combustion and electric power, and a manual override system replacing DRS. It represents the most significant overhaul in F1 history. For Hamilton, 2026 is critical. Reports suggest Ferrari are developing a split strategy to suit both him and Leclerc, with a third sidepod concept planned for the Australian season opener in March. Three separate pre-season testing sessions, starting in Barcelona on 26 January, provide crucial preparation time. That viral photograph from a year ago promised a fairytale ending to Hamilton's career. Instead, 2025 delivered pain.  Now, the 41-year-old faces his last great challenge: proving the dream is merely delayed, not dead.

McLaren fire up 2026 F1 power unit for the first time - listen!
racingnews365.com·

McLaren fire up 2026 F1 power unit for the first time - listen!

McLaren has fired up the power unit to its 2026 F1 challenger for the first time. The team goes into the new season as defending two-time constructors' champions after winning back-to-back titles for the first time in 34 years, whilst it will also have the number one on a car after Lando Norris was crowned drivers' champion last season. There are considerable question marks, though, over whether the team can enjoy a three-peat due to the biggest change in the regulations in the sport's history, especially around the power unit. The PUs will enjoy a 50-50 power split between combustion and electrical, making energy management tricky for the drivers, whilst the MGU-H has been dropped, with greater emphasis placed on the MGU-K. McLaren goes into the season still partnered with Mercedes, which many people believe will be the dominant supplier. You can hear the McLaren fire-up via the social media post below, with team principal Andrea Stella looking very pleased. DTsM7Adl20z View this post on Instagram A post shared by McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team 🧡 (@mclarenf1)