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.
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.
Toto Wolff clarified that his 1,000-word email to Mercedes staff after Kimi Antonelli won the drivers' title was meant to stay internal. Bradley Lord shared it on LinkedIn, highlighting the team's ninth constructors' championship and Antonelli's 390 points.
Esteban Ocon was dropped by Haas during the Mexico City Grand Prix after a dispute with race engineer Laura Mueller, ending his 2026 season. The 30-year-old Frenchman now lacks a confirmed seat for 2027, having scored only seven points this year.
Formula 1 confirmed that Imola will not serve as a backup for the final races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, locking in the schedule despite regional conflict. The decision prioritizes financial stability and safety, with officials noting that travel conditions remain normal and teams support the plan.
The FIA finalized ADUO rules for the 2026 Formula 1 season, confirming that no power unit manufacturer will receive additional homologation opportunities.
Mercedes secured the 2026 Constructors' Championship at Interlagos, but Toto Wolff launched an immediate investigation into severe balance problems. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli spun out due to strange car behavior on intermediate tires, leaving the team unable to challenge for third place.
Max Verstappen rejected Johnny Herbert's claim that he threatened Liam Lawson's Red Bull seat after their Mexican GP collision. The Dutchman dismissed the former driver's comments as irrelevant, noting that he and Lawson have already resolved the incident.
Lewis Hamilton finished ninth at Interlagos after missing the pit lane entrance during a sudden downpour. The seven-time world champion claimed he lacked critical rain data from his engineer, leaving him behind Charles Leclerc and trailing Kimi Antonelli by 129 points.
Liam Lawson is expected to retain his Racing Bulls seat for 2027 after scoring 89 points and helping the team reach a historic fifth place. Nikola Tsolov will join as a reserve driver instead of taking a full-time spot, with final approval pending from Red Bull shareholders.
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri ended his partnership with Mark Webber's management team after a mutual agreement. The split follows Webber's reduced trackside role and Piastri's current seventh-place standing with 152 points in the Drivers' championship.
Liam Lawson secured a third-place grid start at the 2026 Brazil Grand Prix after penalties moved him up from fifth. The result strengthens Racing Bulls' Constructors' Championship position, but speculation persists that Red Bull may promote Nikola Tsolov for 2027, creating uncertainty about Lawson's
Oscar Piastri qualified 12th at Interlagos after an 84-minute delay, blaming McLaren's late switch to intermediate tyres for his Q2 elimination. Grid penalties moved him to 10th, but he noted the team needed more laps to warm the new rubber before the red flag.