News
The F1 news that matters
A selection of Formula 1 stories, summarised and explained. Every article cites its source.
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Teams & Business
At Ferrari, the plan was a secret — even from Hamilton
At Zandvoort, Ferrari chose to keep its strategy locked away rather than let its own driver in on it. The result: Lewis Hamilton asking over the radio whether he's being used as a guinea pig, Charles Leclerc holding him up for an extra lap, and the podium slipping away from the Scuderia. Team boss Frédéric Vasseur stands by the silence, but the comparison with a Mercedes team that decided fast and decided right doesn't flatter Maranello. Next stop: Monza, where the tifosi won't care much for explanations after the fact.
Teams & Business
At Zandvoort, Mercedes picked Antonelli over Russell — and stood by it
George Russell crossed the line at the Dutch Grand Prix with a third-place trophy and a slightly forced smile. A few laps earlier, he'd been told to let his teammate Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader, through. A team order that would normally be routine, except this one pitted two drivers from the same garage against each other in a title fight. Enough to reopen, for a weekend at least, the question of who really calls the shots at Mercedes.
Teams & Business
Aston Martin already eyeing a 2028 Mercedes return as pressure builds on Honda
Toto Wolff was spotted once more around Aston Martin at Zandvoort, and the paddock is talking again. According to Spanish media, the visit revives the idea of a return to Mercedes power as early as 2028, just two years after the split that sent Aston Martin into its Honda project.
Technical & Regulations
At Zandvoort, Honda's New Engine Puts Alonso's Future on the Line
On paper, it's just another engine update in a championship where every team tweaks its machinery week after week. In practice, what played out at Zandvoort this weekend looked more like an exam — for Honda, and for Fernando Alonso's future at Aston Martin.
Transfers & Contracts
Max Verstappen extends with Red Bull through 2030, closing out a summer-long saga
On the eve of the Dutch Grand Prix, Red Bull put months of speculation to rest by announcing Max Verstappen's contract extension through the end of the 2030 season. The timing carries real symbolism, coming on the four-time world champion's home turf.
Technical & Regulations
The 'Macarena' wing: why Red Bull backed off before Spa
A rear wing that rotates to pick up top speed — in the paddock, they call it the 'Macarena', a nickname coined by Frédéric Vasseur himself. Two Max Verstappen crashes later, the FIA took a close look at the system, and Red Bull chose to leave theirs in the truck for the Belgian Grand Prix rather than risk a third.
Transfers & Contracts
Alex Albon stays at Williams through 2027 — but this "extension" comes with an asterisk
Williams has confirmed that Alex Albon will remain with the team for the 2027 season. On paper, it's a routine piece of news: the Thai driver will start a sixth year with the Grove squad, a team record. In reality, the story is a bit less straightforward than a fresh contract signing, and it says a lot about where Williams actually stands this summer.
Teams & Business
Cadillac fires its own team principal mid-season — and the timing says a lot
Formula 1's summer break usually means silence. Cadillac used it to sack its own team principal. Graeme Lowdon, the man who built the American team from scratch, is out; Marcin Budkowski, a 49-year-old engineer with stops at Ferrari, McLaren and Alpine, is in — mid-season, and officially as part of a "planned leadership transition".
Drivers
Kimi Antonelli, the teenager who outran F1 itself
A year ago, Kimi Antonelli was in tears on the pit wall after retiring from his home race, deep in the roughest patch of his rookie season. At the 2026 summer break, the 19-year-old Italian sits atop the world championship with a 50-point lead. The Mercedes driver hasn't just improved: he's playing in a different league.