FIA Agrees to Shift F1 Power Unit Balance Toward ICE for 2027
The FIA confirmed on Thursday that Formula 1 will abandon the current 50/50 power split between internal combustion engine and electrical motor for the 2027 season. The agreed changes would increase ICE output by approximately 50kW through higher fuel flow, while reducing ERS deployment power by the same amount to create a roughly 60/40 ratio favoring the combustion engine. The shift addresses widespread driver complaints about excessive energy harvesting that limits flat-out driving, particularly the super-clipping phenomenon at the end of straights. Power unit manufacturers and teams must still formally vote on the final package before World Motor Sport Council approval via e-vote.
Red Bull Explains Miami Turnaround with Macarena Wing and Steering Fix
Red Bull gained nearly a second per lap at the Miami Grand Prix compared to the opening three races, and the team has now revealed the key factors behind the dramatic improvement. A large upgrade package headlined by seven new components included revised sidepods, a new floor, and Red Bull’s own version of the rotating “Macarena” rear wing active aerodynamics concept. Max Verstappen also revealed that a steering system issue present since the season opener had been identified and corrected. The upgrades roughly halved the car’s excess weight from approximately 12kg to 6kg overweight, contributing to Verstappen’s first front-row qualifying result of 2026.
Sources: Autosport, Speedcafe, Motorsport.com
Liberty Media Reports 53% Surge in F1 Revenue to $617 Million
Liberty Media reported a 53% increase in Formula 1 revenues during the first quarter of 2026, reaching $617 million compared to $403 million in the same period last year. Operating income rose to $107 million, with core operating profit hitting $172 million. The revenue boost was partly driven by the Japanese Grand Prix moving from April to March, adding an extra race to the quarter. Strong commercial progress also contributed, including the extension of key partnerships with Salesforce and Allwyn, plus new multi-year sponsorship agreements with Marsh, FanDuel, and Betway. The positive figures arrived despite the cancellation of two Middle East races.
Russell in Uncomfortable Spot as Antonelli’s Championship Lead Grows
George Russell now trails Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli by 20 points in the drivers’ championship after four races, with the 19-year-old Italian winning three consecutive grands prix to Russell’s single victory at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Former champion Damon Hill warned that alarm bells should be ringing for Russell, who has been outqualified in three of four rounds. Russell responded by insisting he has not lost any speed, stating that the championship remains long and the margins between the two Mercedes drivers are small. Toto Wolff has maintained that both drivers remain free to race without team orders for now.
Sainz Warns Williams Against Complacency After Miami Progress
Carlos Sainz cautioned Williams against overconfidence following the team’s strongest weekend of the 2026 season at the Miami Grand Prix. Both Sainz and teammate Alex Albon finished inside the top ten on pure pace, recording a first double-points result of the campaign. Williams brought approximately 30 performance projects to Miami, including a new floor, bodywork, front wing elements, and modified rear suspension. Sainz described the upgrade as the car Williams should have had at Race 1, noting production delays pushed the package back five weeks. The Spaniard warned the full turnaround would take until the final third of the season.
Alpine Faces Over $1M Damage Bill After Gasly’s Miami Barrel Roll
Alpine faces repair costs of approximately $960,000 after Pierre Gasly’s car was flipped into a barrel roll at the Miami Grand Prix, bringing his cumulative season damage total to $1.1 million. The incident occurred on lap five when Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson clipped Gasly at Turn 17 after suffering a sudden gearbox failure under braking. Gasly’s Alpine was pitched into the air and came to rest partially on top of the safety barrier. The Frenchman walked away without injury. Stewards cleared Lawson of blame after telemetry data confirmed the mechanical failure, and no penalty was issued.
Sources: GPFans, Motorsport.com
Domenicali Declines to Reveal Calendar Backup Plans for Middle East Races
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has declined to elaborate on contingency plans for the 2026 calendar, amid ongoing efforts to reinstate races cancelled due to the conflict in the Middle East. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were dropped from their April slots after the war in Iran destabilized the Gulf region, reducing the schedule from 24 to 22 races. A decision on potential reinstatement is expected within two to three weeks, with an October window identified for Bahrain and a December slot under consideration for Saudi Arabia. Both options would create additional logistical challenges for teams on an already compressed calendar.
Aston Martin Plots Path Forward After Upgrade-Free Miami Weekend
Aston Martin arrived at the Miami Grand Prix without any upgrades, remaining anchored to the bottom of the constructors’ championship alongside Cadillac with zero points after four rounds. The team continues to struggle with fundamental chassis problems and Honda power unit reliability issues, with Martin Brundle describing their situation as a horror show unlikely to improve before 2027. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll have both failed to score this season. Aston Martin is now focusing its development resources on understanding the root causes of the car’s performance deficit rather than rushing incremental updates, hoping to build a foundation for a stronger 2027 campaign.
Drivers’ Championship
1. Andrea 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. Alex 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 — 30 pts
5. Alpine — 23 pts
6. Haas — 18 pts
7. Racing Bulls — 14 pts
8. Williams — 5 pts
9. Audi — 2 pts
10. Cadillac — 0 pts
11. Aston Martin — 0 pts
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.