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.
Kimi Antonelli secured his first world title with three races left but identifies Max Verstappen as the biggest threat for 2027. The Italian driver expects a tight championship fight involving five top rivals, including teammate George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
The International Court of Appeal will hear Audi's challenge to the Italian Grand Prix stewards' decision not to penalize Yuki Tsunoda for causing an extra formation lap.
Nikola Tsolov will serve as the official reserve driver for Red Bull and Racing Bulls in 2027, following the confirmation that Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad retain their race seats. The 19-year-old Bulgarian joins an extensive development program to prepare for F1 while finishing his F2 campaign.
George Russell opened the GR63 Karting Academy at Silverstone to identify young talent for a fully funded championship. The program targets drivers aged eight and nine, starting with £25 sessions and culminating in a complete 2028 campaign for the winner.
Lando Norris won the São Paulo Grand Prix from pole position, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen. His celebration was marred when his champagne bottle shattered and he stumbled into fireworks, though he confirmed his ear was unharmed.
Kimi Antonelli leads the 2026 Formula 1 championship by 111 points over Max Verstappen as geopolitical tensions ease. The Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix are expected to proceed, with Las Vegas serving as a backup if security concerns arise.
Mercedes secured its ninth constructors championship at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, ending a four-year drought. George Russell credits Toto Wolff's decision to maintain staff stability during the 2022 to 2025 struggles as the key factor in the team's return to Formula 1 dominance.
Racing Bulls has not confirmed Liam Lawson for next season despite his ninth-place finish with 89 points. CEO Laurent Mekies deflects responsibility to shareholders, while team principal Alan Permane admits the delay causes driver frustration.
Lewis Hamilton fell to 22nd in the 2026 SportsPro marketability list, dropping behind Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who rose to ninth.
Charles Leclerc was penalized five seconds for contact with Liam Lawson at the Brazilian Grand Prix, dropping him behind his rival in the final classification. Drivers like Lando Norris and Max Verstappen criticized the ruling as overly strict for a minor interaction.
Red Bull Racing faces a critical technical crisis as Max Verstappen trails Kimi Antonelli by 111 points. The team has lost chief designers and engineers to rivals, leaving a hollowed-out staff to manage the car while leadership changes disrupt long-term development plans.
F1 confirmed that Qatar and Abu Dhabi will host their races, ending the season as planned after Imola halted preparations. All 11 teams support the schedule, and F1 avoided a $10 to 15 million cost by not activating the Italian back-up.
Max Verstappen declared he would leave Formula 1 immediately if he lost faith in being the best driver. The four-time champion made the statement before the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, where he finished second from 21st place to stay 17 points ahead of George Russell.