Lewis Hamilton has hit back at his critics after a strong start to the 2026 F1 season with Ferrari, stating his recent podium and competitive form prove he still belongs at the front of the grid. The seven-time champion emphasized his active role in helping the team develop its car to catch Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton admitted Ferrari lacks the pace to fight at the front after a challenging Friday at Suzuka, citing car balance issues and a straight-line speed deficit. The team trails McLaren by over seven-tenths and is working overnight to find a better setup ahead of qualifying.
Mattia Binotto says Jonathan Wheatley's sudden exit as Audi F1 team principal was a surprise, citing personal reasons. Audi will not appoint a replacement, with Binotto opting to restructure the team's management internally ahead of its 2026 entry.
Haas driver Ollie Bearman says watching former F2 teammate Kimi Antonelli claim his first F1 win was 'very special' and gives him confidence he can do the same. Bearman, who is fifth in the standings, highlighted their similar skill level and called Antonelli's Chinese GP performance 'incredible.'
Mercedes had a clean first day of practice in Japan but is wary of the strong pace shown by McLaren and Ferrari. The team identified an energy deployment issue to fix and is focused on overnight improvements to challenge for the top spots in qualifying at Suzuka.
Lewis Hamilton criticized a severe 'super clipping' power issue at the Japanese GP, forcing drivers to coast into corners at Suzuka. Teammate George Russell agreed, suggesting the FIA's last-minute energy reduction wasn't enough to solve the disruptive problem that marred an otherwise great driving circuit.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri led Friday practice in Suzuka, but Mercedes' strong long-run pace confirms their early 2026 strength. The bigger story is how the new power unit regulations are forcing drivers to lift and harvest energy through Suzuka's legendary 130R corner, altering the track's character and shocking veteran commentator Ralf Schumacher.
Max Verstappen and Red Bull endured a dismal Friday at the Japanese GP, with the champion admitting to "big problems" after struggling for pace and balance. He finished 10th in practice, over 1.3 seconds off the lead, casting serious doubt on his weekend prospects and highlighting the team's ongoing struggles in F1's new era.
McLaren enjoyed a morale-boosting FP2 at the Japanese GP with Oscar Piastri fastest, but the team immediately downplayed the result, stating the true 2026 pecking order with Mercedes and Ferrari on top remains unchanged. The Woking squad expects its practice pace to be an outlier as the competitive weekend sessions begin.
Ferrari chairman John Elkann openly addressed the team's disappointing 2025 Formula 1 season, calling it a failure to meet ambitions, but highlighted a core philosophy of learning from mistakes. This mindset seems pivotal as Ferrari has quickly rebounded in 2026, establishing itself as the nearest competitor to Mercedes with both drivers on the podium already.
Ferrari will not use its novel 'Macarena' rotating rear wing in Japan, adhering to a cost-cap-driven strategy of saving major upgrades for the European season. The team will use the April break to fast-track developments, with weight reduction being the top priority before Miami.
A global fuel crisis stemming from Middle East conflict threatens motorsport's core operations, impacting far more than just on-track running costs. The industry now confronts severe challenges in logistics, event economics, and team finances, pushing governing bodies to urgently evaluate contingency plans and accelerate the shift toward sustainable fuels.
