What is super clipping – and can it be F1’s plan B for 2026?
When Andrea Stella addressed the media on Friday evening in Bahrain, he shared something in addition to his first impression of the new pecking order: McLaren had tested so-called super clipping up to the full 350 kilowatts that day. Super clipping is, put simply, the state in which the 2026 cars can harvest energy while […]
Overlooked F2 champion who “deserved better” returns to F1 in Mercedes role
It looked like the Formula 1 door had closed for 2023 F2 champion Theo Pourchaire as he took up a full-time race drive in Peugeot’s WEC Hypercar programme this season. But it has creaked open just a fraction since Pourchaire has been announced – somewhat surprisingly – as an addition to Mercedes’ F1 development ranks. […]
Why Melbourne will be more challenging for F1 – and what a plan B might look like
The moment Max Verstappen voiced his concerns about the new Formula 1 regulations, he immediately added: “On this circuit in Bahrain it’s not too bad, but when we go to Melbourne, that’s when you will really see how much we run out of energy on the straights.” The Red Bull driver has received backing from […]
F1 considering format changes, 12 sprints from 2027
Formula 1 is actively looking into doubling the number of sprint races from six to 12 per year from 2027, and is investigating other format changes to regular weekends. F1’s commercial rightsholder Liberty Media has been keen to expand the number of sprint races for a while as it has found they lead to more […]
The concern with straight mode which arose in F1 Commission meeting
McLaren boss Andrea Stella previously outlined three major concerns with the 2026 Formula 1 power unit rules and he has since revealed a fourth issue entered the mix. This year F1 is introducing a completely new set of regulations with one of the changes concerning the power unit, which is now more reliant on electrical […]
Is F1 engine vote a fair solution after Mercedes kept FIA ‘in the loop’?
Ever since rivals discovered that Mercedes could comply with the 16:1 limit during static tests, but can achieve a higher ratio while running on track, the compression ratio has become the biggest political topic of Formula 1’s pre-season. During the first week in Bahrain, Wolff made it clear that Mercedes had closely involved the FIA […]
My F1 2026 practice starts were my worst ever
George Russell claimed his two practice starts in testing for the 2026 Formula 1 campaign “were worse” than his worst ever, with Ferrari looking the strongest in that regard. Changes to the race start procedure has been one of the main talking points during pre-season, as drivers must now rev their engines for at least […]
Ferrari fastest as Aston Martin ends running early
Ferrari has achieved the fastest lap in Formula 1’s 2026 pre-season testing, courtesy of Charles Leclerc. The eight-time grand prix winner topped the timesheet throughout the day. He was quickest in the morning with a 1m33.689s; in the afternoon, he successively brought this benchmark down to 1m33.629s, 1m33.162s and 1m32.655s with C3 rubber. Leclerc then […]
Aston Martin ends F1 Bahrain pre-season test early after six laps on final day
Aston Martin curtailed its Formula 1 pre-season testing programme in Bahrain as an after-effect of earlier technical issues. Having switched to a Honda engine supply for F1’s new era, Aston Martin is the only team to use the Japanese power units and has struggled so far. Regardless of its mediocre pace, the AMR26’s unreliability has […]