Mercedes has signed 2023 Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire as a development driver, providing the talented Frenchman a route back into F1 after his single-seater path stalled. He will support the race team while continuing his full-time drive with Peugeot in the World Endurance Championship.
Damon Hill, the 1996 Formula 1 World Champion, is returning to Williams 30 years after his title triumph to serve as an Official Ambassador. He joins Jacques Villeneuve and Jamie Chadwick in representing the team, marking a symbolic reunion aimed at connecting Williams's illustrious past with its ongoing rebuilding efforts for the future.
Pre-season analysis reveals a stark contrast: Ferrari's 2024 car is stunning observers with phenomenally quick race starts, dubbed a 'rocket' advantage, while Aston Martin is facing severe difficulties with its new challenger, described as an 'absolute disaster' that threatens its competitive ambitions.
Carlos Sainz warns that F1's 2026 energy management rules risk making races processional and urges the FIA and FOM to stay flexible. He highlights the Australian GP as a major test where drivers may be forced into excessive fuel-saving modes, threatening the spectacle.
1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill is rejoining Williams as an official ambassador for the 2026 season, marking a nostalgic homecoming on the 30th anniversary of his title win with the team. He replaces Jenson Button in the role and will work alongside ambassadors Jacques Villeneuve and Jamie Chadwick to support the team's legacy and future ambitions.
Isack Hadjar's daunting challenge of becoming Max Verstappen's Red Bull teammate in 2026 might be aided by the sport's major regulation change. Former teammates Alex Albon and Sergio Perez believe the new rules provide a 'fresh start' that could help the rookie establish himself more effectively than was possible in the past.
Ex-Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has pointed to Dutch junior Rocco Coronel as a possible future replacement for Max Verstappen, praising the teenager's impressive test pace and maturity. Coronel, set for Spanish F4 this year, is seen as a key part of Red Bull's long-term driver strategy.
NASCAR's Connor Zilisch, who raced against Kimi Antonelli in their karting days, reveals he always predicted the Italian's F1 future, citing his exceptional talent and a memorable engine-swap story that proved his raw skill.
F1 has unveiled its 'All To Drive For' marketing campaign for the 2026 season, starring actor Damson Idris and featuring every driver on the future grid. The push aims to harness the popularity of the recent *F1* film and build excitement for the sport's upcoming major technical regulation changes, promising a new era of competition.
Jeremy Clarkson has raised alarms about F1's 2026 regulations after pre-season testing, citing critical issues with battery power running out on straights, difficult race starts, and looming reliability problems. He quipped that the new era might be less about 'Drive to Survive' and more about 'Don't Break Down to Survive'.
George Russell says Red Bull still leads energy deployment after Bahrain testing, but Mercedes has cut the deficit to a manageable level. In the 2026 hybrid era, early races will reveal who can press the button best.
Lando Norris admits McLaren's 2026 car lacks the race pace edge of rivals Ferrari and Mercedes, leading to higher tire degradation when trying to match their speed. The reigning champions are now working on "every area" to improve the MCL40's performance ahead of the season opener in Melbourne.
