Breaking from the paddock
The latest Formula 1 news as it breaks: team announcements, driver updates, FIA decisions and everything moving in the paddock, updated daily.
Fred Vasseur will host a joint meeting between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in Brazil to address the opening-lap contact in Mexico. The clash cost Ferrari a potential victory, prompting leadership concerns from John Elkann regarding driver conduct and team respect.
Red Bull has signed Alan Permane to a long-term contract through 2031 to lead Racing Bulls as team principal and co-CEO. The Faenza-based squad has seen significant growth under his leadership, increasing its points from 46 in 2024 to 92 in 2025.
Kimi Antonelli clinched the 2026 Drivers' Championship after George Russell finished sixth in Mexico following an energy deployment issue and a collision. Russell expressed mental exhaustion after facing technical setbacks in 14 races this season.
Liberty Media generated $1.115 billion from Formula 1 in the third quarter of 2026, marking the first time quarterly revenue has exceeded $1 billion. Team prize money payments rose to $422 million during this period despite the sport holding two fewer races than in 2025.
George Russell dropped to fourth in the drivers' championship after a power-unit failure in Mexico led to a collision and a 10-second penalty. Kimi Antonelli secured the title in Mexico, finishing the season with nine wins to Russell's three.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc collided at Turn 4 during the Mexico Grand Prix, resulting in a second place finish for Hamilton and a fourth place finish for Leclerc. The incident cost Ferrari a potential 1-2 finish and led Fred Vasseur to hold discussions regarding driver conduct.
Mike Krack reports that Aston Martin staff are feeling uncertain due to potential retaliation lists targeting hotels in the Middle East. While F1 has sent freight to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, officials are monitoring regional stability to decide if the season finale remains in place.
Leaked images of Max Verstappen wearing Adidas gear suggest Red Bull Racing will end its partnership with Castore. Bild reports that a new deal with Adidas could earn the Austrian team 27 million euros per season for at least three years.
Kimi Antonelli will wear a special helmet at the Brazilian Grand Prix to honor Ayrton Senna. The Mercedes driver also visited the Fazenda Dois Lagos estate to sit in the Lotus 98T driven by Senna in 1986.
Alan Jones, the 1980 Formula 1 world champion and last Australian to win the title, died on 5 November 2026. The Melbourne-born driver achieved 12 Grand Prix wins and helped Williams secure its first world championship during his successful racing career.
Max Verstappen will wear a special helmet featuring the colors of the Brazilian flag at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver chose the design to honor his connection to Nelson Piquet and his friend Gabriel Bortoleto while seeking his fourth victory at the circuit.
Vesti finished third in the Mexico FP1 session driving for Mercedes, while Colton Herta prepares to drive the Cadillac MAC-26 in Brazil to earn his final FIA superlicence point. Herta currently holds 39 points and needs 40 to qualify for Formula 1 racing.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and his wife Alexandra welcomed their first child, a daughter named Bianca, on November 3, 2026. The news follows Leclerc's fourth-place finish at the Mexican Grand Prix and drew congratulations from fellow drivers and celebrities.