Proposals for further evolutionary changes to the 2026 regulations have been agreed in principle following an online meeting, convened by F1’s governing body the FIA and attended by Team Principals, Formula One Management and power unit manufacturer representatives.

Friday’s meeting began with a review of the recently agreed rule refinements introduced at last weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.

“These measures, designed to improve safety and reduce excessive harvesting, were deemed to have delivered improved competition and represent a positive step in the continued refinement of the 2026 framework,” read a statement issued by the FIA following the meeting.

The FIA also reported that “no material issues or safety concerns” had been noted following the introduction of these refinements.

“Further evaluation of the Miami package is ongoing with a view to the introduction of further adjustments at future events,” continued the FIA’s statement.

“These include improved start-safety revisions and measures to improve safety under wet conditions. These will be communicated to teams once defined.

“Turning to the longer-term refinement of the regulations, it was agreed in principle to introduce evolutionary changes to the rules regarding hardware components, making competition safer, fairer and more intuitive for drivers and teams.

“The measures agreed in principle today for 2027 would see a nominal increase in Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) power by ~50kW alongside a fuel-flow increase and a nominal reduction of the Energy Recovery System (ERS) deployment power by ~50kW.”

Further detailed discussion in technical groups, comprising teams and power unit manufacturers, will take place before the final package is decided.

The final proposals presented during Friday’s meeting were developed through a series of consultations between the FIA and multi-stakeholders, including input from F1 drivers, over the past few weeks.

The next step in the process will be to formally present the next set of evolutionary changes, once refined, for a World Motor Sport Council e-vote, and once the power unit manufacturers have voted on the package.

Kimi Antonelli has clinched pole position for the Miami Grand Prix in style, setting a magnificent lap to edge out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to the honour.

The Mercedes driver was consistently towards the top of the times throughout Qualifying and, although he couldn’t improve on his final lap, an earlier effort proved to be unbeatable as he ended the session on a time of 1m 27.798s.

Verstappen looked close to pipping Antonelli to pole position at the last second with rapid sectors at the Miami International Autodrome, but he ultimately lost out by just over a tenth and will line up on the front row ahead of Leclerc.

Lando Norris recovered from a boost issue to take P4 on the grid, with both he and his McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri – who placed seventh – coming close to being knocked out early on. George Russell secured a frustrating P5 ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, with Franco Colapinto, Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly rounding out the top-10.

Qualifying Results available on formula1.com

Nico Hulkenberg bounced back from his DNS in the Sprint to qualify P11 for Audi ahead of Liam Lawson and Ollie Bearman, who outperformed his Haas team mate as Esteban Ocon claimed P15.

Carlos Sainz was sandwiched between the Haas duo in P14 as both Williams drivers progressed to Q2, although Alex Albon was heard expressing his frustration over the radio as his effort was only good enough for P16.

Arvid Lindblad was the driver who came closest to scraping into Q2, which would have forced a shock exit for Piastri who set all of his Q1 laps on used tyres, but the Racing Bulls rookie couldn’t quite find enough improvement.

He qualified ahead of the Aston Martin pair of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll while Cadillac, in their first home event, ended up in P20 and P21 with Valtteri Bottas leading Sergio Perez. Last up was Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto, who made it onto the track with just a few minutes to go and failed to match his competitors’ pace before a brake fire forced him to abandon the car.

Max Verstappen will start the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from pole position, the Red Bull driver setting a stunning lap in Q3 to hold off the challenge of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

While Piastri and George Russell had led the way in Q1 and Q2 respectively, Verstappen laid down a gauntlet during the opening runs of the top-10 shootout, the Dutchman going quickest before improving with his final effort to post a scintillating 1m 22.207s lap.

Both McLarens attempted to claim top spot on their final efforts, but Norris had to settle for second after clocking a lap 0.201s slower. Piastri, meanwhile, took third place as the top three prepare to battle for the World Championship on Sunday.

Russell ended the session in fourth for Mercedes, while Charles Leclerc claimed fifth and Fernando Alonso took a solid sixth in the Aston Martin. Gabriel Bortoleto put in a good drive for Kick Sauber in seventh, with Haas’ Esteban Ocon, the Racing Bulls of Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda – in his final Qualifying for Red Bull – completing the top 10.

QUALIFYING RESULTS AVAILABLE ON F1.COM

Despite strong pace through the weekend so far, Haas’ Ollie Bearman missed the cut for Q2 – as did Carlos Sainz, the Williams man ending up in P12 one week on from his podium in Qatar.

Liam Lawson followed in 13th for Racing Bulls, while Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli departed Q2 in 14th place – the Italian having reported struggles with the rear of his car – ahead of the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll in 15th.

The big story from Q1 was another early exit for Lewis Hamilton, the Ferrari driver finding himself down in P16 just hours after a crash into the barriers during third practice. There was also disappointment for Williams’ Alex Albon, who will line up one spot behind in P17.

A good showing for Nico Hulkenberg on Friday did not follow through come Qualifying, with the Kick Sauber man winding up in 18th, while the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto brought up the rear in 19th and 20th respectively.

Post-race, the rearmost skid wear on both McLaren MCL39 machines was found to be below the minimum 9mm thickness by technical delegates on inspection.

The matter was referred to the stewards, who subsequently disqualified both cars from the official result, with Norris having finished second and Piastri fourth.

As a result, race winner Max Verstappen has made a significant gain with regards to the 2025 Drivers’ Championship, as the Red Bull man now sits level on points with Oscar Piastri on 366. Lando Norris is 24 points ahead on 390 at the top of the standings with just two rounds of the season to go.

Confirming the disqualifications of the McLaren pair, the stewards’ document stated that the skid blocks on both cars were “measured and found to be below the minimum thickness of 9mm specified under Article 3.5.9 of the Technical Regulations.”

It continued: “The rear skids were re-measured in the presence of the Stewards and the three McLaren representatives, and those measurements confirmed that the skids did not comply with the regulations. The relevant measurements were even lower than those measured originally by the Technical Delegate.”

It was also confirmed that McLaren had argued “mitigating circumstances existed in that there was additional and unexpected porpoising at this event, limited opportunity to test due to the weather on Day 1, and shortened practice sessions.”

While the stewards dismissed this, they added “the FIA noted that it strongly held the view that the breach was unintentional and that there was not a deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations”.

McLaren are not the first team to fall foul of skid block infringements this season, with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Hulkenberg also disqualified from the Chinese and Bahrain Grands Prix respectively for similar transgressions.

With two Grands Prix and one Sprint remaining, there are 58 points on offer over the next two weekends to determine the outcome of the 2025 title.

Norris had started on pole for the 50-lap race in Las Vegas and aggressively moved over on Verstappen off the line before running wide at Turn 1 and slipping to third.

Eventually recovering to second, Norris dropped back drastically in the final laps as he was told to lift and coast by his team over a possible fuel concern.

“I don’t know what the issues were. The team just told me there were some problems and they were telling me to back off. So that’s something I’ll go and speak to them about in a bit,” said Norris post-race and prior to the disqualification.

Piastri, meanwhile, had recovered from dropping to P7 on the opening lap after contact with Liam Lawson into Turn 1, finishing fifth on-the-road but initially moving up a position as Kimi Antonelli was handed a five-second penalty for a false start.

“I think first lap was eventful to say the least and then a couple of mistakes after that which didn’t help,” said Piastri post-race prior to the stewards’ decision.

“The team did a really good job in getting our race back on track with strategy, so that was probably the highlight of the race.

“Got stuck behind Kimi, got close on one lap and I lost all grip when I tried to get alongside and I couldn’t get close enough again. That made life pretty tough but a bit of a feeling of more on the table.”

Lando Norris surged to a stunning pole position in Qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix, the Briton leading the way from the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton while McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri ended the session back in eighth.

After setting the pace in Q2, it looked like Norris had a challenge on his hands in the top 10 shootout when Leclerc grabbed provisional pole during the opening runs. But the 25-year-old was in commanding form for his second lap, pumping in a 1m 15.586s to go 0.262s quicker than Leclerc’s final effort.

Hamilton added to a solid outing for Ferrari by taking P3, followed by Mercedes’ George Russell in P4 and the Red Bull of Max Verstappen in P5. The other Silver Arrows machine of Kimi Antonelli, meanwhile, claimed P6 from Williams’ Carlos Sainz, though the Spaniard will take a five-place grid drop following a penalty last time out in Austin.

It looked to be another tricky session for Piastri, with the Australian nearly eight-tenths adrift of his team mate in eighth place, while Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar and Haas’ Ollie Bearman completed the top 10.

Qualifying results on F1.com

Yuki Tsunoda just missed the cut for Q3 by 0.014s, putting the Red Bull driver out of the session in P11. Also eliminated in the second segment were Haas’ Esteban Ocon in P12 and the Kick Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg in P13.

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso followed in 14th, while Liam Lawson failed to set a representative time for Racing Bulls, leaving him in 15th.

Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto was pushed out of Q1 in P16, followed by the Williams of Alex Albon in P17 and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in P18.

Lance Stroll claimed 19th for Aston Martin after aborting his final effort, while the other Alpine of Franco Colapinto rounded out the order in 20th place.

KEY QUOTE

“I’m happy to be back on pole, it’s actually been quite a long time,” said Norris. “A good feeling. The lap? I don’t know. It was one of those laps where you don’t really know what happened, it felt decent but when I crossed the line and saw 1m 15.5s, I was very pleasantly surprised.

“I’ve been feeling good all weekend, especially from today, FP3, Q1, Q2, Q3. I got a little bit nervous of the Ferraris in Q3 at the end, but I pulled it out when it mattered and I’m happy because of that.”

Max Verstappen has claimed a dominant victory at the United States Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver converting pole position into a commanding win while Lando Norris beat Charles Leclerc to second place in a thrilling duel between the pair.

It had been a strong start to the race for Verstappen, the Dutchman holding the lead from pole position while the rest of the field got through Turn 1 much more cleanly than during Saturday’s action-packed Sprint.

Though questions remained in the early stages over strategy choices, all of the field opted for a one-stop plan – and this worked smoothly for Verstappen, who remained in P1 after his stop. And while he had to nurse his soft tyres home in the latter stages, the reigning World Champion crossed the line with a margin of 7.959s to seal his fifth Grand Prix triumph of the season.

Behind him, a close fight played out between Norris and Leclerc, a scrap that firstly unfolded in the early stages after Leclerc got ahead of the McLaren at the start. With the two going head-to-head again in the final laps, Norris eventually made a move stick to take a valuable P2, leaving Leclerc to round out the podium in third.

Lewis Hamilton added to Ferrari’s points haul in fourth place – a position he just held onto despite seemingly suffering a puncture on the final lap – while championship leader Oscar Piastri brought a tough weekend to an end by taking fifth.

Results of US Grand Prix available on F1.com

Mercedes’ George Russell followed in sixth, ahead of Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda and the Kick Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg. Ollie Bearman scored points on Haas’ home soil in P9, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso completing the top 10.

Liam Lawson just missed out on points for Racing Bulls in 11th, as did the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll in 12th. Kimi Antonelli embarked on a recovery drive to 13th, the Mercedes driver having dropped backwards early on in the race following a collision with Williams’ Carlos Sainz.

The other Williams of Alex Albon claimed P14, followed by Haas’ Esteban Ocon (P15) and Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar (P16). Franco Colapinto took P17 for Alpine – after ignoring a team order to hold position behind team mate Pierre Gasly – while Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto was sandwiched between them in P18.

Sainz was the only retiree of the day, having pulled off track following his aforementioned clash with Antonelli. And in terms of the standings after the race in Austin, Verstappen is now just 40 points away from Piastri in the Drivers’ Championship, while Norris is only 14 points adrift of his team mate.

KEY QUOTE

“It was an unbelievable weekend for us,” said Verstappen. “I knew that the race was not going to be super forward. If you look at the whole race, the pace between myself and Lando was really close. Just in that first stint was where we made the difference and I could eke out a bit of a gap, which is basically what we kept to the end.

“It wasn’t easy to manage the tyres for most of the stints, but we kept it in the lead and I’m just incredibly proud of everyone to be able to deliver a weekend like this.”

Max Verstappen has seized pole position for the United States Grand Prix, the Dutchman’s initial lap in Q3 proving enough to secure him the top spot after running out of time to put in a second effort.

Having set the pace through Q1 and Q2, Verstappen looked to have continued that theme by going quickest during the opening laps of Q3 on an effort of 1m 32.510s. While he attempted to go again in the final runs, the Red Bull driver did not reach the line before the chequered flag fell, meaning that he would have to rely on his earlier effort.

It turned out to be enough, with his time putting him 0.291s clear of closest challenger Lando Norris in second. The McLaren driver was only six-thousandths ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in third, while Mercedes’ George Russell slotted into fourth.

The other Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton claimed P5, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri seemingly experiencing a tricky session in P6. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli followed in P7, with Haas’ Ollie Bearman, the Williams of Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin rounding out the top 10.

Results of US Grand Prix available on F1.com

After his impressive Sprint Qualifying performance on Friday, Nico Hulkenberg was unable to replicate this in Saturday’s Qualifying. The Kick Sauber driver exited Q2 in 11th, putting him one position ahead of Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson in 12th.

Yuki Tsunoda took P13 for Red Bull, with the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto just behind in P14 and P15.

There was early drama just a few minutes into Qualifying when a crash for Isack Hadjar brought out the red flags, leaving the Racing Bulls man down in 20th and last place.

Track limits proved to be the undoing of Lance Stroll and Alex Albon in the segment, with the deletion of their respective laps putting the Aston Martin and Williams drivers in 18th and 19th respectively, though a five-place grid penalty for Stroll will drop him to the back. The other names to exit early doors, meanwhile, were Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto (16th) and Haas’ Esteban Ocon (17th).

Max Verstappen denied Carlos Sainz a shock pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Drivers' Championship leader Oscar Piastri crashed out.

The Red Bull driver claimed back-to-back pole positions after a thrilling Qualifying session which was impacted by an F1 record of six red flags, the final one having huge ramifications on the final order.

With Sainz, Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar having set laps in Q3 and drops of rain starting to fall, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc hit the barrier at Turn 15 to bring out the red flag and prevent anyone else from finishing a lap time.

When the session resumed, Lando Norris and Verstappen were setting fastest sector times but dramatically, Piastri hit the barrier at Turn 3 to cause another stoppage with less than four minutes left on the clock.

With the green light back on, track conditions were far from their optimal and drivers scrambled to find the grip, with Verstappen setting a 1m 41.117s to deny Sainz pole by just under half a second.

Lawson improved with his second lap to remain third, ahead of the Mercedes cars of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell and the second Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda.

Baku results for qualifying are available within the Baku Qualifying report on F1.com

Norris failed to capitalise on his team mate's pivotal error with a scrappy lap that left him only P7 in front of Hadjar and the timeless Piastri and Leclerc.

Despite an impressive showing across practice, Lewis Hamilton was eliminated in Q2 after struggling to string a lap together, leaving the Ferrari driver P12 and behind Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin.

Gabriel Bortoleto's Kick Sauber headed the second Aston Martin of Lance Stroll, while Haas rookie Ollie Bearman wound up P15 and without a time after hitting the barrier on the exit of Turn 2 which caused a red flag.

Franco Colapinto was left 16th and eliminated in Q1 after the Alpine driver brought out the red flag at the end of the session, having hit the barrier at Turn 4.

Nico Hulkenberg finished P17 and also caused an earlier stoppage after striking the barrier at the same turn, while Esteban Ocon (Haas), Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and Alex Albon completed the order, the Williams driver bringing out the first red flag after hitting the wall at Turn 1.

Full Report on F1.com

Pierre Gasly has committed his long-term future to Alpine by signing a contract extension that will see him race for the French manufacturer until at least the end of the 2028 campaign.

The 29-year-old joined Alpine ahead of the 2023 season and has since scored two podiums while also playing a key role in helping the team secure sixth place in the Teams’ Championship last season.

Gasly’s previous contract wasn’t due to expire until the end of next season but both sides were keen to extend that deal by a further two years and so put pen to paper ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.

Alpine said in a statement: “The deal reaffirms Pierre’s commitment to Alpine and cements Alpine’s belief in Pierre as the driver to lead the team into the new regulation era in 2026 and beyond, under the leadership of Flavio Briatore and with the full backing of Renault Group led by the new CEO Francois Provost.”

Speaking about the news, Gasly said: “I’m thrilled to commit my long-term future to Alpine. As a Frenchman, especially, driving for a French car company, it makes me feel very proud.

“Since I joined in 2023, I have always felt that this team is the right place to be for the future.

“Flavio’s support and belief in me, Francois’ commitment to the Formula 1 project, as well as the people we have in Enstone made this a natural decision and I want to be here in years to come and deliver on our joint objective: to win races and World Championships.

“We’re all in this together and I look forward to continuing this special story.”

Briatore added: “Since I returned to the team, I have always stated how important it is to build and grow the competitiveness of BWT Alpine Formula One Team.

“We’re well prepared for the new era of Formula 1, beginning in 2026, and now we have our lead driver confirmed to bring us well into the future.

“Pierre has been an immense asset for the team during this challenging period. I have been very impressed with his attitude, dedication and talent and we look forward to continuing this project together for a long time.”

It remains unclear who will be Gasly’s team mate from next season and beyond, with Franco Colapinto currently occupying the seat alongside him.

McLaren Racing has reached a value of over £3billion, according to Sky News.

Bahraini sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat and automotive investment group CYVN Holdings, which already own McLaren Group, are looking to acquire a further 30% stake in McLaren Racing. If the transaction is completed, the two companies will gain 100% ownership of the racing arm of the automotive company. An official confirmation is expected imminently.

The 30% that Mumtalakat and CYVN Holdings are looking to buy out is currently owned by companies including MSP Sports Capital, which acquired an initial 15% in 2020 when McLaren Racing was valued at £560million, Ares Investment Management, UBS O'Connor, and others.

This comes during a dominant Formula 1 season for the Woking outfit. After clinching its first constructors' championship since 1998 in 2024, the team has taken another step forward in 2025.

With nine races left this year, McLaren leads the standings with 584 points, 324 points ahead of Ferrari, sitting in second. Drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris lead in the drivers' standings with 309 and 275 points, respectively. Over the season so far, McLaren has secured 12 grand prix wins, 25 grand prix podiums, nine grand prix poles, one sprint win, five sprint podiums, and one sprint pole.

"If I take a step back and look at the team, I can see a lot of energy, a laser-sharp focus, and an incredible determination to succeed," McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown wrote in an open letter ahead of the F1 summer break.

"But crucially, we must continue striving to be the very best we can be in the ultra-competitive world of Formula 1. We are always looking for ways to improve. The moment you rest on your laurels, any competitive edge you have can disappear in the blink of an eye.

"And when we look at the competition, we must remember that even our weakest rival is really damn good. We’re talking about milliseconds. So the secret to our success is to come together and never give up.

"For me personally, I have two highlights so far this year. The first was winning the Monaco Grand Prix, for obvious reasons. It’s a Triple Crown event, along with the Indy 500 and the 24 hours of Le Mans and sits at the very core of McLaren’s DNA."

He added: "McLaren Racing is one of the only teams to have won the prestigious Triple Crown, and we want to achieve that again when we enter the World Endurance Championship in 2027.

"Secondly, winning the Bahrain Grand Prix was a very special moment for us as a team. The Crown Prince and Mumtalakat, our long-standing shareholders, have been tremendous supporters, and they had never won their home race before - so achieving victory in Sakhir was incredibly important for everyone at McLaren."

George Russell was the only Mercedes driver to finish the race in the points in Zandvoort – but despite coming home in what seemed a credible fourth, he was left frustrated and disappointed with how his Sunday panned out.

The Mercedes man finished just five seconds off the podium in the Netherlands, at the end of a chaotic race that featured three Safety Cars plus a Virtual Safety Car. Having started fifth, Russell was in the thick of the action – and yet, took no real positives away from the race.

His day quite literally started badly, as he lost a place off the line to Charles Leclerc. Russell could then not find a way back past the Ferrari, but was fortunate that Leclerc pitted before the first Safety Car. The time Russell gained with his ‘free’ stop leapfrogged him back ahead of the Monegasque driver – but that is where the day began to unravel.

Leclerc tried an aggressive move around the outside of Turn 11 and into the inside of Turn 12, and wound up barging past a slightly caught out Russell. But that left the Mercedes man with car damage, leading to him being asked to let team mate Kimi Antonelli through – a message that Russell appeared to question over the radio.

“I take zero satisfaction in finishing P4 after that race to be honest,” Russell said afterwards.

“It was a bad start, poor driving from my side. Then Charles passed me, then the pace was bad, then obviously the damage after the incident with Charles. Because of the damage I lost one second per lap, so it was just really not fun at all, and very lucky to finish in P4.”

The stewards did look into the overtake, but both drivers agreed it was a racing incident and so no further action was taken.

Russell was then fortunate to inherit two places when his team mate and Leclerc subsequently came together, the Ferrari man crashing out while Antonelli picked up enough penalties to drop outside of the top 10 post-race.

But with the car damage, he lacked the pace to try and chase down Isack Hadjar for the last podium place. But while fourth looked like a good return on paper, it was clear Russell was not happy with his Sunday.

“You hope when you return [from summer break] that it's going to be a bit more plain sailing but Formula 1 is never like that. But it just wasn’t a good race in many regards, and we just need to look at that, why that was,” added Russell

“But the fact is the gaps between a lot of the teams now are very tight, and when you come to a track like this where overtaking is very difficult, that track position is vital, Qualifying is important and the pit stop strategy is very important. Luck – you know, Charles was unlucky with the Safety Car timing, and we were lucky with everything else that happened.

“Yeah, I need a day to assess it.”

The one thing Russell was quick to do was congratulate Hadjar on his maiden podium finish, saying the rookie did “an amazing job” and repeating that he himself “didn’t deserve” to finish on the rostrum at this race.

Russell does not have long to collect his thoughts and ascertain where his race went wrong though – as there are just a few days to go until the F1 circus travels to Monza, with the Italian Grand Prix getting underway next weekend.

Cadillac have signed Grand Prix winners Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas to be their drivers when the team joins the Formula 1 grid for the first time in 2026.

The American squad, who are backed by General Motors and will be led by former Marussia Sporting Director Graeme Lowdon, will become the sport's 11th team next season.

Cadillac have opted for experience with their line-up, signing 'Checo' Perez and Mercedes reserve Bottas – who boast 527 Grand Prix starts and 16 Grand Prix wins between them – on multi-year deals.

“Signing two very experienced racers like Bottas and Checo is a bold signal of intent," said Lowdon. "They’ve seen it all and they know what it takes to succeed in Formula 1. But more importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team.

"Their leadership, feedback, race-hardened instincts and of course their speed will be invaluable as we bring this team to life. A big thank you to the team at Mercedes for their co-operation and understanding.”

It marks a remarkable return for the veteran duo, both 35, after they lost their respective F1 race seats at the end of last season.

Perez took some time out to consider his future goals and spend time with his family after leaving Red Bull, while Bottas stayed in the paddock as reserve for Mercedes following his Sauber exit.

Mexican Perez brings immense F1 experience, having competed for Sauber, McLaren and Force India/Racing Point before moving to Red Bull, where he helped the team win the Teams' Championship in 2022 and 2023.

“Joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is an incredibly exciting new chapter in my career," said Perez. "From our first conversations, I could sense the passion and determination behind this project.

"It's an honor to be part of building a team that can develop together so that, in time, we will fight at the very front. Cadillac is a legendary name in American motorsport, and to help bring such a fantastic company to Formula 1 is a huge responsibility, one I’m confident of taking on.

"I’m proud to be part of such an ambitious and meaningful project from the very beginning. I’m really pleased to be part of such a dynamic line-up, and together I believe we can help shape this team into a real contender, the team of the Americas. We’re counting on support from across the continent – and we want to make everyone proud.”

Finland's Bottas enjoyed incredible success at Mercedes, playing a key role in the Silver Arrows winning the Teams' Championship every year from 2017 to 2021.

"From the moment I began speaking with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, I felt something different – something ambitious but also grounded," said Bottas. "This isn’t just a racing project; it’s a long-term vision.

"It's not every day that you get a chance to be part of something being built from the ground up and helping shape it into something that truly belongs on the F1 grid.

“I’ve had the honor of working with some of the best teams in the world, and I can already see the same professionalism and hunger here.

"This is an iconic brand with a big legacy in American motorsport, and to be a part of the story as it enters the world stage of F1 is incredibly special for me. I’m looking forward to representing the American spirit of racing on the greatest circuits in the world. I’d also like to thank Mercedes for their unwavering support and sportsmanship in facilitating such an exciting step.”

CEO of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team and TWG Motorsports, a division of TWG Global, Dan Towriss said: "Bottas and Checo bring the perfect balance of talent, maturity, and drive.

"They’re not just accomplished racers, they’re builders, collaborators, and professionals who will help define what the Cadillac Formula 1 Team stands for. This moment marks more than just a line-up announcement. It’s the beginning of a bold new chapter in American motorsport.”

GM President Mark Reuss added: "Our new drivers are a welcome addition to the Cadillac racing family – each brings a depth of experience, and an unwavering passion to win.

"Together, we’re building the foundation for American motorsports that will be an extraordinary legacy for Cadillac, GM and the sport.”

Sources close to the former World Rally champion and Dakar winner said that several key figures from within the motorsport world have approached him about running against Ben Sulayem, the current FIA president.

Motorsport.com understands that Sainz, the father of Williams F1 driver Carlos Sainz, is now seriously considering whether to stand against Ben Sulayem, whose tenure as president of F1’s governing body has been marred by controversy.

If 63-year-old Sainz were to stand against Ben Sulayem, himself a former rally driver, sources said it would be to “present a positive and constructive program” to give the FIA delegates another option in the election for president.

Ben Sulayem, also 63, was elected president at the end of 2021 – replacing Jean Todt, who had served for 12 years.

The next general assembly, and with it the next presidential election, will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 12 December.

Earlier in the year, there was speculation that Susie Wolff, managing director of F1 Academy, could run for president, but those rumours were shut down.

Ben Sulayem's term in office has been hit by a swathe of controversies. Most recently, the FIA has seen a string of key figures leaving the governing body. Robert Reid, deputy president for sport, left last month, stating “a fundamental breakdown in governance standards” and “critical decisions being made without due process”.

In February, several FIA members were barred from a meeting of its world council after refusing to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Reid was one of those who refused to sign, alongside David Richards, the UK's representative. Richards subsequently issued an open letter in which it made clear that a growing number of people had concerns about the governance of the FIA.

“The governance and constitutional organisation of the FIA is becoming ever more opaque and concentrating power in the hands of the president alone”. Richards said. “We cannot allow a shift of the moral compass of our leadership to simply dismiss any request for transparency and open discourse.”

Ben Sulayem has not been embroiled in controversy with just FIA members but has also upset drivers over his ban on swearing.

Rally drivers protested by refusing to give interviews in English, while F1 drivers wrote an open letter asking to be treated like adults.

Other controversies involving Ben Sulayem include the Emirati being investigated for potential meddling in a race result, something he was later cleared of. He received a ‘cease and desist’ letter from F1’s lawyers over comments he made on social media about the value of Formula 1. Historical quotes also emerged of him making misogynistic remarks.

At the end of 2023, the FIA, under Ben Sulayem’s guidance, also launched a compliance inquiry into Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and his wife, Susie, on the grounds of a conflict of interest. The claim was withdrawn within two days after all of the other nine teams issued a joint statement stating they had no problem, and there is now a legal case against the FIA ongoing as a result.

Other figures are expected to emerge in a bid to run against Ben Sulayem.

ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON MOTORSPORT.COM

The company cut 170 jobs last month after fewer cars were sold in 2023. This was put down to production delays and it eventually led to debts of over £1billion.

Stroll’s investment has been done through his Yew Tree Consortium, which bought a stake in Aston Martin five years ago, and that share will now rise to 33%.

"I am pleased to clearly demonstrate my unwavering support and commitment to Aston Martin,” he said. “Since 2020, my Yew Tree Consortium partners and I have invested around £600m into the company."

“This proposed investment further underscores my conviction in this extraordinary brand, and commitment to ensuring Aston Martin has the strongest possible platform for creating long-term value while reducing equity dilution via this premium subscription, which should greatly reassure shareholders, as I again increase my long-term ownership in the company.”

As well as Stroll investing more money into the business, Aston Martin will sell a minority stake in its Formula 1 team, worth approximately £74m.

Stroll added: "Today's proposed investment, priced at a premium to the market price, and the forthcoming proposed sale of the Aston Martin F1 team shares owned by Aston Martin at a premium to book value, is expected to generate significant additional liquidity for the Group, of over £125m.

“With a long-term sponsorship agreement cementing the existing relationship between Aston Martin and the Aston Martin F1 team, our brand will remain present and competing at the pinnacle of motorsport for many years to come.”

A statement from the Aston Martin F1 team added that “a long-term contract” will ensure the British brand will remain in the series, with the Raine Group bank tasked with finding a buyer for the shares.

“These moves demonstrate that Aston Martin’s place on the Formula 1 grid is as secure as ever,” Stroll added. “AML recently re-committed to its long-term sponsorship and licensing agreement with AMF1, confirming that the legendary Aston Martin brand and its British racing green colours will compete in Formula 1 for decades to come.”

Stroll’s takeover started by leading a consortium of investors to buy the defunct Force India F1 Team in 2018 and renaming it as Racing Point for the following year.

In 2020, Stroll then led the Yew Tree Consortium to invest £182m into Aston Martin, which saw the British marque to have its own F1 team on the grid in 2021 after the rebranding of Racing Point.

It has remained on the grid ever since with Stroll’s son Lance driving for the team alongside two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso.

The Silverstone-based outfit finished fifth in the 2024 championship with a disappointing zero podiums, but there is much hope for the next regulation era in 2026 after the signing of legendary designer Adrian Newey.

ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED ON AUTOSPORT.COM

Formula 1 has seen some heated exchanges both on and off the track recently, leading to penalties for drivers like Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

Verstappen was assigned community service for swearing at a press conference during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, while Leclerc incurred a $10,000 fine, half of which was suspended, for his language at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Discussions of changes to Formula 1 broadcasts surfaced at a summit attended by FIA officials at Circuito del Jarama, where Ben Sulayem suggested that the removal or delayed transmission of team radio communications might be possible adjustments. He explained:

“Do we go on and then shut down the radios of live communications? Maybe. Do we delay it? Maybe.

“There’s a lot of things we will work [on] with our promoters. We are still the owners of the championship.”

Currently, team radio transmissions are aired with delays to filter inappropriate language, although premium services allow fans to hear real-time exchanges. These raw, uncensored communications are a fan favorite, adding a layer of authenticity that might be lost if changes are enacted.

This comes after Ben Sulayem commented to Autosport last year:

“We have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music.

“We're not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That's them and we are [us].

“I know, I was a driver. In the heat of the moment, when you think you are upset because another driver came to you and pushed you…

"When I used to drive in the dust [and something like that happened], I would get upset. But also, we have to be careful with our conduct. We need to be responsible people.

“And now with the technology, everything is going live and everything is going to be recorded. At the end of the day, we have to study that to see: do we minimise what is being said publicly?

“Because imagine you are sitting with your children and watching the race and then someone is saying all of this dirty language.

“I mean, what would your children or grandchildren say? What would you teach them if that is your sport?”

In my opinion getting rid of the radio messages just takes away from the thrill and emotion expressed by the drivers during the championship, I mean how are we supposed to know if the drivers are elated and overcome with joy at winning a race or the overall championship if the radio messages are muted or deleted from screen. It makes no sense.

Let me know your thoughts on this latest FIA move below.

Article first appeared on Sports Illustrated

The FIA thanked Wittich for his service, citing his professionalism and dedication during his tenure. His departure comes as the F1 season nears its conclusion, with only three races remaining​

“The FIA can confirm that Niels Wittich has stepped down from his position as F1 Race Director to pursue new opportunities,” said the governing body in a statement.

“Niels has fulfilled his numerous responsibilities as Race Director with professionalism and dedication. We thank him for his commitment and we wish him the best for the future.”

'WITTICH EFFECTIVELY SACKED AMID FALLOUT WITH BEN SUALYEM'

Sky Sports News reporter Craig Slater:

Senior sources have told me that he has effectively been sacked, that there wasn't a volition in terms of him deciding to leave his job with three races to go. That is obviously contrary to what the FIA have put out in their statement.

What I have also learned, and this has been explained to me by several sources, is that the relationship between Wittich and the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem was also somewhat at odds, and that has been a contributory factor today.

Wittich is only the latest in a number of important figures that have left the FIA over the last couple of years.

In terms of how this is being received in F1 today, there's some shock and surprise among the teams that I've spoken to. They think with three races to go, it's an unusual choice to change horses at this point in time.

Rui Marques is coming in, who's been the Formula 2 race director, but is inexperienced in F1 terms. There's a vast difference between operating in F2 and operating in F1, when every decision is scrutinised.

Wittich has been under some scrutiny. We can look back at Interlagos and what happened there, and even in events preceding that. Amid heavy rain at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, there were times perhaps when maybe the red flag ought to have been activated earlier on.

I've spoken to some individuals who felt that Wittich's judgement was perhaps lacking for some of these crucial decisions.

Was his relationship with the race stewards a bit problematic? Did that surface in Austin when there was all that controversy about the way Max Verstappen races, particularly in defence.

The other complicating factor in parachuting in with three races to go is that the Drivers' Championship is still live theoretically, even though Max Verstappen is the heavy favourite. But the Constructors' Championship is still ongoing.

Formula 1 returns after a three-week break with the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 22-24, live on Sky Sports F1

part of this post was teken from F1.com and Skysports.com/f1

Despite continued tricky conditions, Norris surged through to claim pole position with a lap of 1m 23.405s, putting him 0.173s clear of Mercedes’ George Russell in second. Yuki Tsunoda, meanwhile, enjoyed his best-ever qualifying to take third for RB, the Japanese driver set to line up alongside Alpine’s Esteban Ocon in fourth.

Alonso and Aston Martin team mate Lance Stroll rounded out the top 10, with Alonso having been unable to continue following his incident while Stroll did not participate in Q3 after suffering a crash of his own at the end of Q2.

There was drama in the final moments of Q1 as Norris just managed to get through – which subsequently pushed out Lewis Hamilton, leaving the Mercedes driver down in P16.

Haas had a tricky session, with substitute Oliver Bearman and team mate Nico Hulkenberg failing to make the cut in 17th and 19th. Williams’s Franco Colapinto also exited in 18th, having earlier crashed into the barriers which left him unable to continue, and Kick Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu rounded out the pack in 20th place.

The chaos started before the event had even got under way after Lance Stroll spun off during the formation lap, leading to some confusion over the aborted start procedure as pole-sitter Lando Norris led a number of cars away while others stayed on the grid, meaning that Norris, George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson will be investigated after the race for a start procedure infringement.

When the Grand Prix did begin, Russell enjoyed a stronger launch and led from Norris while Verstappen worked his way through the pack in the early stages. As the event unfolded amid changing levels of rainfall, a red flag was thrown on Lap 32 following a crash for Franco Colapinto in the Williams – shortly after Russell and Norris had lost out by pitting just as a Virtual Safety Car period ended.

This meant that Esteban Ocon was leading from Verstappen and Pierre Gasly when the race resumed with a little over half distance remaining. But after another restart – following a Safety Car appearance due to a crash for Carlos Sainz – Verstappen surged into the lead and from there looked untouchable, the world champion going on to take the chequered flag with a margin of 19.477s.

it ended up being a chaotic race from start to finish with multiple drivers crashing out a various points during the race and there came a point where Williams’ Alex Albon was unable to race at all becuase of the damage done to his car during the qualifying sessions.

Nobody expected Alpine to be up on the podium with a two-three finish which takes them above rival team Haas in the constructors championship.

A chaotic but exciting and eventful race from start to finish and I wouldn’t change anything.

The 2024 season will enter into its closing stages with a final triple header of races, beginning with the Las Vegas Grand Prix on the weekend of November 21-24. 

Part of this post was taken from F1.com

“It’s an incredible feeling,” said Leclerc after jumping out of the car. “Actually I thought that the first time would just feel like this, and then the second time (if there was a second time) wouldn’t feel as special, but my god the emotions in the last few laps, exactly the same like in 2019.“

In other news Kevin Magnussen recieved a Race Ban for Baku next time out meaning he will miss the next round in Azerbaijan after reaching the maximum amount of penalty points within a year on his super licence. It reamins to be seen at the time of writing if Oliver Berman will replace K Mag for the next race or if F1 will race with 19 drivers on the grid.

The next stop on the 2024 F1 calendar will be the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which will take place in Baku over the weekend of September 13-15.

The result in Italy was aided by upgrades brought to this race by Ferrari. But Leclerc was unsure about whether the team could now become consistent challengers in the remaining eight races of the season, as he looked ahead to the next race in Baku – a track where he has traditionally performed well.

Team mate Carlos Sainz, meanwhile, also enjoyed a solid race in his final appearance for Ferrari at Monza before he heads to Williams next season, bringing home P4 on his 30th birthday – with Ferrari having now scored three race wins across 2024, Leclerc’s pair of victories complemented by Sainz’s Australia win.

With that race out of the way, Let me know your thoughts How did you find the race and did you expect Ferrari to win their home race?

The 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix delivered an electrifying race filled with strategic battles, on-track overtakes, and intra-team drama that kept fans on the edge of their seats. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri emerged victorious, clinching his maiden Formula 1 win after a contentious moment with teammate Lando Norris, who initially hesitated to obey team orders to let Piastri reclaim the lead.

START: CLEAN GETAWAY AND EARLY EXCHANGES

The race began under clear skies, with pole-sitter Lando Norris getting off to a strong start, maintaining his lead into Turn 1. Oscar Piastri, starting alongside him, slotted into second, while Max Verstappen, starting from P3, had to fend off a charging Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

The opening laps saw the McLaren duo pulling away from the rest of the field, establishing a comfortable gap. Verstappen, despite his best efforts, struggled to keep pace with the McLarens, while Alonso and Hamilton engaged in a thrilling battle for fourth place.

MID-RACE: PIT STOP STRATEGY AND TEAM ORDERS

The race dynamics shifted dramatically during the first round of pit stops. McLaren opted to pit Norris first, attempting to cover an undercut threat from Verstappen. Piastri, staying out longer, found himself in traffic upon rejoining after his pit stop, losing crucial time. Norris, with the advantage of a clear track, took the lead.

As the race progressed, it became evident that Piastri had the pace to challenge Norris. The Australian closed the gap rapidly, prompting McLaren to issue team orders, instructing Norris to let Piastri through to rectify the strategic disadvantage caused by the pit stops.

DRAMA UNFOLDS: NORRIS HESITATES

Norris initially resisted the team’s directive, arguing over the radio about the fairness of the order. The tension was palpable as laps ticked by with Norris holding firm. Piastri, visibly faster, stayed close behind, putting pressure on his teammate.

After several laps of debate and negotiation, Norris finally complied, allowing Piastri to pass with 15 laps remaining. The delay, however, had allowed Verstappen to close the gap, setting up a tense final stint.

FINAL STAGES: PIASTRI HOLDS ON FOR VICTORY

With the lead in hand, Piastri managed to pull away slightly, but Verstappen's Red Bull remained a constant threat. Norris, now in third, defended valiantly against a resurgent Hamilton and Alonso, who were both pushing hard in the closing laps.

Piastri maintained his composure, expertly managing his tires and pace to cross the line first, securing his first Grand Prix victory. Verstappen finished a close second, while Norris held on to complete the podium, despite his earlier hesitation.

RACE RESULTS

Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

Lando Norris (McLaren)

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)

POST-RACE REACTIONS

Oscar Piastri was overjoyed with his victory, dedicating it to the team and his supporters. "It feels incredible to win my first Grand Prix. The car was fantastic, and despite the hiccup with the pit strategy, we managed to pull through. A massive thank you to the team and everyone who has supported me."

Lando Norris, while happy for his teammate, expressed mixed feelings about the race. "It’s a bittersweet result. I'm thrilled for Oscar, but it's tough to swallow losing the lead due to team orders. We'll debrief and move on, but today we showed how strong McLaren is."

Max Verstappen congratulated Piastri on his maiden win but remained focused on the championship. "Congratulations to Oscar on his first win. We gave it everything today, but McLaren was very strong. We'll keep pushing and come back stronger."

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

The Hungarian Grand Prix result has significant implications for the championship standings. Verstappen maintains his lead, but the gap has narrowed, while Piastri and Norris both gain valuable points in their respective campaigns.

LOOKING AHEAD

The next race promises more excitement as teams continue to develop their cars and refine strategies. The battle for the championship is heating up, with several drivers in contention and McLaren proving to be a formidable force.

Stay tuned for the next thrilling chapter in the 2024 Formula 1 season.

The 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session was nothing short of a rollercoaster. The weather played a significant role, with changing conditions making tire choices and strategy crucial. The session began on a damp track, with teams opting for intermediate tires, but as the track dried, it led to a chaotic end with everyone switching to slicks for the final runs.

Q1: EARLY DRAMA AND A SURPRISE EXIT

The first part of qualifying saw immediate drama as the drivers struggled to find grip on the damp circuit. The mixed conditions caused several spins and off-track excursions, but it was Sergio Perez's heavy crash that brought out the first red flag. Perez lost control at Turn 5, hitting the barriers hard and ending his session prematurely. He will start the race from the back of the grid, a significant blow for the Red Bull driver.

Once the session resumed, it was a race against time to set competitive laps. Several big names were at risk, but in the end, it was the Haas of Nico Hülkenberg and the Alfa Romeos that failed to make it through to Q2.

Q2: RISING TENSIONS AND CHANGING CONDITIONS

As Q2 began, the track was still damp but drying rapidly. This session was marked by intense competition and strategic gambles. The teams and drivers faced a dilemma: stick with intermediates or switch to slicks? The latter proved to be the right call as the session progressed. However, timing the switch was critical.

Several drivers, including Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso, gambled on early slick tire runs but struggled to find grip initially. As the track dried further, times tumbled, leading to a frantic final few minutes. Ultimately, Alonso's gamble paid off as he made it through to Q3, while Leclerc was among those who missed the cut, a surprising result given Ferrari's pace in practice.

Q3: RED FLAGS AND A FRANTIC FINISH

The final part of qualifying was the most dramatic. The session started under fully dry conditions, and it was immediately clear that the fight for pole would be fierce. The first runs saw competitive times from Norris, Piastri, and Verstappen, but the session was interrupted again by a red flag, this time due to a crash by Lance Stroll, who lost control at the final corner.

With just a few minutes left on the clock, the track was cleared, and it was a mad dash to the finish. The final minutes were a blur of flying laps and changing positions on the leaderboard. Norris delivered a stunning lap to secure his first pole position of the season, with a time that left his rivals scrambling.

FINAL STANDINGS AND KEY PERFORMANCES

Lando Norris (McLaren): 1:16.564

Oscar Piastri (McLaren): +0.123

Max Verstappen (Red Bull): +0.210

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes): +0.324

Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): +0.450

Norris's pole position is a significant achievement for McLaren, showcasing their competitive pace. Piastri's performance, securing a front-row start, underlines the strength of McLaren this weekend. Verstappen, though disappointed not to be on pole, remains a significant threat for the race.

POST-QUALIFYING REACTIONS

Lando Norris expressed his delight with the pole position, attributing it to the team's excellent strategy and his ability to extract the maximum from the car in tricky conditions. "It was a crazy session with the weather and the red flags, but we kept our cool and got the job done. The car felt amazing, and I'm really happy with this result."

Oscar Piastri was equally thrilled with his performance, noting the importance of a strong qualifying position at a track where overtaking is notoriously difficult. "Starting from the front row is fantastic. The team did a great job, and now we have to focus on converting this into a strong race result."

Max Verstappen, while disappointed with P3, remained optimistic about his chances in the race. "We have a strong car, and the race pace has been good all weekend. Starting from third is not ideal, but it's a long race, and anything can happen."

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE RACE

With the grid set and the unpredictable weather likely to play a role again, the Hungarian Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling spectacle. Norris and McLaren will aim to convert their qualifying success into a race win, but with Verstappen and Hamilton in the mix, the battle at the front is far from decided.

KEY QUOTE

"[I'm] very, very happy," said pole-sitter Norris. "Not an easy qualifying, difficult conditions like you said, but always ending up on top is the best part of it also. Happy, especially for the team, a one-two is even better to see, so congrats to the team.

"It does [give us confidence], but we've already got confidence so it's not like we need a lot more of it, or we're searching for it. We've come into this weekend and the last few happy and confident we can do a good job, and we've got a good car to fight for pole and that's exactly what we did today, so like I said a great job by the team; we've been improving every weekend, so to end up on pole today is sweet."