FIA and Teams to Vote on April 20 Over 2026 Power Unit Regulation Overhaul
Formula 1 stakeholders will convene on April 20 to vote on whether to alter the 2026 power unit regulations, following a Sporting Regulations meeting held on April 15. Discussions centre on two problems identified across the opening three rounds: energy rationing in qualifying, where drivers cannot push flat out, and a safety hazard when cars suddenly slow to recharge batteries at speed. The Bearman incident at Suzuka — in which the Haas driver took to the grass to avoid a recharging Alpine — has given urgency to the talks. Racing Bulls suggested fixes could arrive in continuous steps, with changes likely introduced from Miami if April 20 talks produce consensus.
Sources: Sky Sports, Sky Sports, Autosport
Red Bull Reshuffles Technical Team Amid Talent Drain and Poor Start to 2026 Season
Red Bull has promoted Ben Waterhouse to chief performance and design engineer, reporting directly to technical director Pierre Waché, as it tries to reverse a poor start to 2026. The team lies sixth in the constructors' championship with 16 points from three races, and both drivers have complained about the RB22's handling. The promotion comes amid sustained talent loss: Adrian Newey joined Aston Martin, Jonathan Wheatley moved to Sauber, and race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is confirmed to join McLaren in 2028 as chief racing officer. Red Bull confirmed the Lambiase departure, with Jos Verstappen saying Max supports his engineer's decision to leave.
Sources: Crash.net, Sky Sports
F1 Returns to Nürburgring for First Test in Six Years as Antonelli Sets Benchmark Lap
Formula 1 returned to the Nürburgring for the first time in six years on April 14 and 15, with Mercedes and McLaren completing a Pirelli tyre evaluation covering 2,106 kilometres. The test trialled 2027 tyre compounds, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli setting the benchmark on day two at 1:32.990. Lando Norris was second fastest at 1:33.640. McLaren's Oscar Piastri was limited to 65 laps on day one after a technical failure. George Russell led day one with 127 laps. Alpine ran a separate 200-kilometre filming day at Silverstone with Franco Colapinto on April 16, using demonstration tyres rather than the Pirelli test rubber.
Sources: Motorsport.com, GPFans
Norris Vows McLaren Title Push Despite 47-Point Gap After Car Left Him a “Sitting Duck”
Reigning world champion Lando Norris sits fifth in the 2026 drivers' championship with 25 points — 47 behind leader Kimi Antonelli — after McLaren emerged from the regulation reset as one of the field's bigger losers. Norris described the automated electric deployment as leaving him feeling like “a sitting duck” during qualifying at Suzuka. Despite this, the Briton insisted McLaren would not abandon their title defence, saying the team would “push hard” ahead of Miami. Oscar Piastri is sixth with 21 points. McLaren is third in the constructors' standings with 46 points, 89 behind dominant Mercedes.
Sources: Sky Sports
Aston Martin Faces Honda Vibration Crisis as Newey Power Unit Layout Causes Repeated Retirements
Aston Martin has suffered two retirements each for Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll across the opening three rounds, with Honda power unit vibrations identified as the root cause. The problem is linked to an unconventional layout requested by Adrian Newey, who repositioned the MGU-K ahead of the engine — a first in Formula 1 — creating oscillations that damage reliability and driver comfort. Newey has defended the design approach. Honda is expected to receive catch-up upgrade allocations under the 2026 ADUO regulations. Development has also been hampered by a four-month wind tunnel delay, with the team's model not reaching the facility until mid-April.
Sources: Sky Sports, GPFans
2026 Regulation Reset Produces Widest Field Spread Since 2017 as Aston Martin Hit Hardest
The 2026 Formula 1 regulation reset has produced the widest gap between the fastest and slowest teams since 2017. The 22-driver qualifying field was separated by 3.63 seconds across the opening three rounds, nearly three times the spread recorded in 2025. Aston Martin has been hit hardest, losing 2.29 seconds per lap relative to the front of the field. Williams and Red Bull are also identified as significant losers under the new technical formula. Mercedes has capitalised most effectively on the clean-sheet reset, building a 45-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors' championship and filling the top two championship positions with Antonelli and Russell.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Domenicali Says Verstappen's Voice “Has to Be Listened To” Amid 2026 Regulation Criticism
Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali has acknowledged Max Verstappen's criticism of the 2026 regulations, saying the four-time champion's voice “has to be listened to” as the sport looks to address the new era's shortcomings. Domenicali confirmed teams and the FIA are examining qualifying energy deployment and safety-related regulation aspects. Verstappen had called the 2026 rules “anti-racing” during pre-season, arguing his 2023 warnings went unheeded. Domenicali separately claimed fan reaction to the season opener had been “very positive,” a characterisation that was sharply challenged by independent F1 media commentators who cited widespread driver and spectator discontent.
Sources: Motorsport.com, GrandPrix247
Marko Predicts Mercedes Will Win 2026 Title as Antonelli and Russell Head for Internal Battle
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has predicted that Mercedes will win the 2026 Formula 1 world championship, and suggested an internal battle between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell will determine the title outcome. Marko told Austrian media that the Silver Arrows have a clear advantage in the new-for-2026 technical formula and that their two drivers will be fighting each other before the season is over. Antonelli leads the championship with 72 points after three rounds, nine ahead of Russell in second. Mercedes holds a 45-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors' standings. Marko's comments came as Red Bull struggle in sixth place with just 16 points.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Drivers' Championship
1. Kimi Antonelli — 72 pts
2. George Russell — 63 pts
3. Charles Leclerc — 49 pts
4. Lewis Hamilton — 41 pts
5. Lando Norris — 25 pts
6. Oscar Piastri — 21 pts
7. Oliver Bearman — 17 pts
8. Pierre Gasly — 15 pts
9. Max Verstappen — 12 pts
10. Liam Lawson — 10 pts
11. Arvid Lindblad — 4 pts
12. Isack Hadjar — 4 pts
13. Gabriel Bortoleto — 2 pts
14. Carlos Sainz — 2 pts
15. Esteban Ocon — 1 pts
16. Franco Colapinto — 1 pts
17. Nico Hülkenberg — 0 pts
18. Alexander Albon — 0 pts
19. Valtteri Bottas — 0 pts
20. Sergio Pérez — 0 pts
21. Fernando Alonso — 0 pts
22. Lance Stroll — 0 pts
Constructors' Championship
1. Mercedes — 135 pts
2. Ferrari — 90 pts
3. McLaren — 46 pts
4. Haas — 18 pts
5. Alpine — 16 pts
6. Red Bull — 16 pts
7. Racing Bulls — 14 pts
8. Audi — 2 pts
9. Williams — 2 pts
10. Cadillac — 0 pts
11. Aston Martin — 0 pts