Why McLaren’s approach to introducing F1 upgrades is different from rival teams
During the British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone, McLaren introduced a completely new floor, as noted in the FIA’s technical documents. The squad ran it during opening practice, but team principal Andrea Stella made clear that the new spec would be removed afterwards. “The plan was always going to be that the floor was a […]
Brown «not surprised» by Horner’s Red Bull F1 exit
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown was “not surprised” by Christian Horner’s Red Bull Formula 1 departure — but was a little thrown off by the timing. Just three days after the British Grand Prix on 9 July, Red Bull announced the removal of Horner as CEO and team principal, roles he’d held since the team’s […]
Why Ben Sulayem’s V8 F1 plan might work
It was on the morning of the glitzy season launch at London’s O2 Arena in February when Formula 1 lost its collective head. There, it’s said, during an F1 Commission meeting, Christian Horner – Red Bull’s then team principal – set his smartphone in the middle of the table. “Bring back V10s” hissed the voice […]
How Sainz brought the «missing» ingredient to drive Williams forward
The arrival of Carlos Sainz at Williams provided far more than just a Formula 1 sporting boost, according to sporting director Sven Smeets. The Spaniard’s move to the team is reportedly impacting everything from the development of the 2026 car, to sponsor interest and even the appeal of the Williams Driver Academy. Since the Spaniard […]
Why drivers rarely use F1’s wet tyres, and how Pirelli plans to improve them
Seeing full wets in action during a race weekend has become a rare sight in Formula 1. The main reason for that is visibility, as when there’s significantly more water than – let’s say – was seen during the British GP at Silverstone, high levels of spray greatly hinder visibility on track. The FIA […]
How one race shaped Bearman’s F1 future – and marked out his Ferrari dream
Oliver Bearman’s path to Formula 1 has been built on raw speed, early maturity, and an urgent need to make every chance count – like he did with Ferrari – while keeping expectations in check. There’s a story that says a lot about the 20-year-old. In April 2023, fresh from his breakout Formula 2 weekend in Baku […]
Autosport Retro: My favourite F1 season
The Autosport Retro Podcast channel has been running through a series called ‘My Favourite F1 Season’. It has entailed Autosport Editor-In-Chief Kevin Turner sitting down with broadcasters and journalists to discuss their favourite Formula 1 campaign — for example, Karun Chandhok and 1997. Nine campaigns were therefore discussed in detail but for the 10th and […]
Why F1’s commercial boom «can’t be taken for granted»
With McLaren taking over Trafalgar Square, LEGO trophies on the Silverstone podium and Harrison Ford announcing a new partnership with Glenmorangie, Formula 1 really tapped into its ever-deepening commercial reservoir during the week of the British Grand Prix. Given her role within F1, Emily Prazer would have been delighted to see the series “out-activate” Wimbledon, […]
Why developing the all-new F1 tyres for 2026 is so challenging
The 2026 revolution in Formula 1 doesn’t just involve new cars and a different engine formula. It also includes an entirely new generation of tyres — an element that plays a crucial role in modern F1. Initially, the FIA wanted to switch to 16-inch for 2026 to reduce weight, but sole tyre supplier Pirelli opposed […]