Ralf Schumacher has criticized Max Verstappen for publicly criticizing Red Bull, contrasting it with his brother Michael's habit of supporting his team privately during struggles. The comments come as Red Bull admits to a 'substantial' performance gap to rivals after a poor Chinese GP.
Despite a tough Chinese GP revealing performance and reliability issues with the RB22, Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies is confident the team can rapidly improve the car, targeting a step forward at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka.
David Coulthard has backed Max Verstappen and Lando Norris against critics of their harsh assessment of F1's 2026 rules, arguing their champion perspectives are valid. He acknowledges the regulations need tweaks but have increased on-track action, framing a central conflict between sporting purity and engineered spectacle.
Jacques Villeneuve delves into his fierce 1990s rivalry with Michael Schumacher, explaining their complete lack of off-track relationship and the fearless mindset that allowed him to compete. He reveals the fascinating, pre-planned story behind his legendary outside pass on Schumacher at the 1996 Portuguese GP, inspired by his IndyCar experience on banked ovals.
McLaren's reigning F1 world champion Lando Norris will receive a wax figure at Madame Tussauds London this summer, a major cultural honor that highlights his global fame. The announcement comes after a difficult Chinese GP where he failed to start the race, but Norris remains confident in his team's ability to mount a comeback this season.
F1 is considering using the unexpected month-long break created by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix to hold an additional test session. The move aims to help teams solve early issues with the new 2026 car regulations and provide fans with track action before the season resumes in Miami.
The FIA has named Paul Burns as its new deputy Formula 1 race director. He replaces Claire Dubbelman, who left for a role in Saudi Arabian motorsport, and will support lead director Rui Marques. Burns brings prior experience from F2 race control and a background in F1 timekeeping.
Fernando Alonso's F1 future is in doubt as Aston Martin's troubled Honda engine causes major issues, leading Felipe Massa to suggest his time is up. The 44-year-old Spaniard, who retired in China due to severe vibrations, faces a lack of competitive alternatives and has given himself until September to decide whether to continue.
Flavio Briatore says Mercedes' potential purchase of a 24% stake in Alpine would not give the German manufacturer any operational control, comparing a minority shareholder to a "passenger." He confirmed negotiations are underway and cited Red Bull's ownership of two teams as a working precedent within F1's rules.
In 2016, Formula 1 introduced a short-lived and universally hated 'elimination' qualifying format that caused chaos for two races. The confusing system, branded "pretty crap" by then-boss Bernie Ecclestone, was scrapped after drivers were eliminated mid-lap and sessions ended with an anticlimax, forcing a swift return to the traditional knockout style.
Ralf Schumacher has called Williams the "biggest flop" of 2026 due to the FW48 car's severe weight problem, which may cost a second per lap. Former driver Juan Pablo Montoya suggested holding engineers accountable, while team boss James Vowles admits to process failures but says fixes are planned within budget cap limits.
Felipe Massa called Fernando Alonso the best driver he ever faced but used the praise to take a sharp jab at Lance Stroll, suggesting Alonso could beat his Aston Martin teammate "even at 65." The comments highlight the performance disparity in the team and question Alonso's future in a struggling car.
