Nelson Piquet Jr. reports that Max Verstappen was 'surprised' by the early reliability and progress of Red Bull's new RB22 during its first pre-season test. While comparative pace remains hidden, the positive initial reaction to the car's durability is a promising sign for the team's switch to its own power unit.
Sky F1's Martin Brundle has offered public support to skiing icon Lindsey Vonn after she broke her leg at the Winter Olympics. Vonn, a known figure in the F1 paddock who once considered a racing switch, received praise from Brundle for her bravery, highlighting cross-sport camaraderie among elite athletes.
Cadillac debuted the livery for its 2026 Formula 1 entry in a Super Bowl advertisement, featuring a divisive asymmetrical black-and-white design. The reveal has sparked debate among fans, with some praising its unique, minimalist approach and others criticizing it for a lack of color and being too simplistic.
F1's 2026 pre-season testing begins in Bahrain on February 11th, but only the final hour of each day will be televised live. All teams, including newcomers Cadillac, will have revealed their cars by Wednesday, shifting fan focus to paddock reports and data analysis.
Lewis Hamilton was seen with Kim Kardashian at the Super Bowl, highlighting his dual role as an elite F1 driver and a cross-cultural celebrity. His attendance at such major events reinforces his global brand and helps elevate Formula 1's visibility in key markets like the United States.
Haas and Red Bull are the first teams to outline their driver schedules for the crucial three-day pre-season test in Bahrain. Haas will run race drivers Ocon and Bearman, while Red Bull will give junior driver Isack Hadjar a full day in the car alongside Max Verstappen. The test is the final major track running for teams to prepare their radically new 2026 cars before the season opener.
Toto Wolff has given a rare nod of respect to Red Bull's new in-house power unit project, acknowledging its apparent reliability after the first major 2026 prototype test. He cautioned, however, that true performance levels remain completely unknown.
McLaren's Mark Temple predicts the 2026 F1 regulations, with their huge boost in electrical power and new 'Boost Button,' will lead to unexpected and unorthodox overtaking. Drivers will engage in high-stakes energy management, where a successful pass could immediately make them vulnerable, transforming races into a strategic battle he describes as fundamentally different from today's racing.
Mercedes and Aston Martin have taken a unique approach to F1's new 2026 active aerodynamics, mounting the front wing nose unconventionally. This choice affects drag reduction, car balance, and aerodynamic flow, setting them apart from rivals like Ferrari and creating an early technical intrigue for the season ahead.
Toto Wolff has praised Red Bull's new in-house engine for a reliable debut in testing, a notable admission given hundreds of staff were poached from Mercedes to build it. He cautioned, however, that true performance comparisons will only come when the 'stopwatch' starts in Bahrain.
McLaren concedes that its championship-winning low-rake floor philosophy will be nullified by F1's 2026 rules, which force a return to high-rake designs. The team accepts this technical reset, acknowledging its current car offers little direct carry-over as it starts from scratch to adapt to the new aerodynamic paradigm.
Cadillac unveiled the striking split black-and-white livery for its debut 2026 Formula 1 car in a Super Bowl advertisement, marking a bold entrance for the sport's first new team in ten years. The General Motors-backed squad also revealed a replica in Times Square, highlighting its ambition to reach a mainstream audience.
