Red Bull Targets Piastri as Preferred Verstappen Replacement
Red Bull Racing has identified Oscar Piastri as its preferred replacement for Max Verstappen should the four-time world champion activate his contract’s performance-related exit clause. Reports emerged Friday linking Red Bull to Piastri, who sits sixth in the 2026 Drivers' Championship with 43 points after four race weekends. Piastri is under contract with McLaren through 2027, but his manager Mark Webber has maintained connections with Red Bull, the team Webber raced for during his own career. Verstappen, who sits seventh with 26 points following his Miami Grand Prix penalty, has grown increasingly critical of the 2026 regulations and has publicly discussed the possibility of leaving Formula 1.
Sources: GPFans, Motorsport.com, GrandPrix247
F1 Agrees 2027 Power Unit Overhaul to Reduce Electrical Dominance
Formula 1 has agreed in principle to overhaul its 2027 power unit regulations, shifting the balance away from the current near-50/50 split between internal combustion and electrical power. The changes, agreed at a meeting on Friday attended by the FIA, team principals, and power unit manufacturer representatives, would increase ICE output by approximately 50kW while reducing ERS deployment by the same amount. The adjustment moves the power split closer to 60/40 in favour of combustion, reducing the super-clipping at the end of straights that has frustrated drivers throughout the 2026 season. Full implementation requires a formal World Motor Sport Council vote after review by technical working groups.
FIA and Teams Agree Further Package of 2026 Regulation Refinements
The FIA, Formula One Management, and all ten team principals have agreed in principle to a further package of refinements to the 2026 regulations, building on changes introduced for the Miami Grand Prix. The proposals were finalised during an online meeting on Friday and are designed to enhance safety and reduce the energy-harvesting behaviours that prevent consistent flat-out driving. The Miami changes, including reducing maximum permitted recharge from 8MJ to 7MJ and adjusting wet-weather tyre blanket temperatures, were judged a positive first step. The next stage is a formal World Motor Sport Council electronic vote once power unit manufacturers have reviewed the full package.
Verstappen Seventh in Standings as Exit Clause Pressure Mounts
Max Verstappen sits seventh in the 2026 Drivers' Championship with 26 points, 74 adrift of leader Kimi Antonelli, after a five-second post-race penalty for crossing the pit-lane exit line in Miami compounded a difficult weekend. Verstappen's Red Bull RB22 has shown limited competitive pace against the top three teams, and the four-time champion remains one of the most vocal critics of the 2026 regulations. Reports indicate his contract contains a performance-related exit clause that could be triggered if his championship position falls below a specified threshold at the summer break, currently identified as the Hungarian Grand Prix in late July.
Hamilton Steps Back from Ferrari Simulator After Miami Setup Problems
Lewis Hamilton has paused use of Ferrari's simulator following a difficult 2026 Miami Grand Prix, where he finished seventh after struggling with a car setup that failed to match his driving preferences. According to multiple reports, Hamilton blamed poor feedback from the simulation tool for an ill-fitting setup that compromised his race pace throughout the weekend. The seven-time champion has urged the team to improve correlation between simulator data and real-world car behaviour, and has halted sessions until the tools are updated. Ferrari sits second in the Constructors' Championship with 110 points, 70 behind Mercedes, with mid-season upgrades expected to close some of the performance gap.
FIA President Signals Turkey Could Enter 2026 F1 Calendar This Year
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has indicated that Turkey's Intercity Istanbul Park could be added to the 2026 Formula 1 calendar this season, ahead of its confirmed 2027 return, as the sport works to replace rounds cancelled due to ongoing Middle East conflict. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were removed from the April schedule following escalating regional instability. Ben Sulayem said Turkey could feasibly host a race in 2026 if homologation requirements are met in time. Silverstone's chief executive has separately offered to host a second British Grand Prix, echoing the venue's back-to-back double-header during the 2020 pandemic season.
Wolff Credits Bonnington for Shaping Antonelli's Record-Breaking Season
Toto Wolff has praised the role of race engineer Peter Bonnington in shaping Kimi Antonelli's extraordinary start to the 2026 Formula 1 season. Antonelli has become the first driver in the sport's history to win his first three Grands Prix from pole position, taking victories at the Chinese, Japanese, and Miami Grands Prix in succession. Wolff told Sky Sports F1 that Bonnington, who engineered Lewis Hamilton's championship years before transitioning to Antonelli, has been instrumental in the 19-year-old's rapid development. Antonelli leads the Drivers' Championship with 100 points, 20 ahead of team-mate George Russell, with the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve next on May 22.
Sources: Formula 1, Sky Sports F1
F1 Commercial Revenue Surges 53% in Q1 2026 Despite Race Cancellations
Formula 1's commercial revenue rose 53% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to figures reported this week, underscoring the sport's continued financial growth ahead of the season's race cancellations. The strong Q1 performance was driven by primary race hosting fees, broadcast agreements, and sponsorship income, with the Apple broadcast rights deal and a surge in North American viewership cited as key contributors. The cancelled Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix are expected to weigh on second-quarter revenues, but commercial leadership expressed confidence in the overall financial trajectory for the 2026 season.
Sources: RaceFans
Drivers' Championship
1. Kimi Antonelli — 100 pts
2. George Russell — 80 pts
3. Charles Leclerc — 59 pts
4. Lando Norris — 51 pts
5. Lewis Hamilton — 51 pts
6. Oscar Piastri — 43 pts
7. Max Verstappen — 26 pts
8. Oliver Bearman — 17 pts
9. Pierre Gasly — 16 pts
10. Liam Lawson — 10 pts
11. Franco Colapinto — 7 pts
12. Arvid Lindblad — 4 pts
13. Isack Hadjar — 4 pts
14. Carlos Sainz — 4 pts
15. Gabriel Bortoleto — 2 pts
16. Esteban Ocon — 1 pts
17. Alexander Albon — 1 pts
18. Nico Hulkenberg — 0 pts
19. Valtteri Bottas — 0 pts
20. Sergio Perez — 0 pts
21. Fernando Alonso — 0 pts
22. Lance Stroll — 0 pts
Constructors' Championship
1. Mercedes — 180 pts
2. Ferrari — 110 pts
3. McLaren — 94 pts
4. Red Bull Racing — 30 pts
5. Alpine — 23 pts
6. Haas F1 Team — 18 pts
7. Racing Bulls — 14 pts
8. Williams — 5 pts
9. Audi — 2 pts
10. Cadillac — 0 pts
11. Aston Martin — 0 pts
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