Fernando Alonso will skip Thursday's media duties at the Japanese GP to await the birth of his first child, arriving at Suzuka on Friday. Reserve driver Jak Crawford will take his car for first practice. Alonso returns to an Aston Martin team struggling with persistent engine vibration issues this season.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc pushes back against claims that F1's 2026 overtaking feels artificial, arguing drivers are learning to manage the new energy systems for more natural battles. He cites his China duel with Lewis Hamilton as proof, but acknowledges major issues with the qualifying format and warns, alongside Carlos Sainz, of bigger problems on certain track layouts.
Fernando Alonso will delay his arrival in Japan for the birth of his first child, missing Thursday's media day. His Aston Martin team faces a tough home race for engine partner Honda, which is openly struggling with unresolved vibration issues and a lack of performance.
Toto Wolff has bluntly rejected fresh rumors about Mercedes pursuing Max Verstappen, calling them "stupid" and stating he has no reason to change his current winning driver lineup of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Fernando Alonso will not attend Thursday's media activities at the Japanese Grand Prix due to personal family reasons. Aston Martin confirms he will arrive in time for Friday's running, with reserve driver Jack Crawford taking his seat for the first practice session. The team insists there are no concerns about his participation for the rest of the weekend.
Following his disqualification from a winning Mercedes GT3 drive at the Nurburgring, Max Verstappen received a playful offer from BMW Motorsport to supply him with a BMW M4 GT3 EVO. The social media exchange highlights his stature outside F1, coinciding with a difficult start to his 2026 championship defense with Red Bull.
Jonathan Wheatley cited poor driveability of Audi's 2026 F1 engine as a key weakness before his exit, highlighting challenges in racing conditions. His departure coincides with Audi's focus on resolving power unit issues under new project lead Mattia Binotto, amid early reliability setbacks and potential implications for FIA development aid.
The FIA has released the official timetable for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. The iconic circuit will host the fourth round of the season from March 26-29, featuring a full weekend of practice, qualifying, a Sprint event, and the main Grand Prix.
The FIA has published the media timetable for the 2026 Japanese GP, detailing press conferences with drivers like Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, as well as team principals including Andrea Stella, across the race weekend in Suzuka.
Ahead of the Japanese GP, Honda is racing to fix severe power unit vibrations hurting Aston Martin, while Mercedes unveils a special 'Wolf' livery. The updates set the stage for a high-stakes home race for both power unit manufacturer and team.
Audi must find a new team principal after Mattia Binotto opted against the permanent role, while Mercedes and Haas have shown off special car designs for the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, highlighting key team operations and marketing efforts.
Honda heads to its home race in Japan with its 2026 power unit still crippled by mysterious vibrations. While fixes have prevented battery failures, the core issue remains unsolved, leaving Aston Martin desperate for reliability at the punishing Suzuka circuit.
