Formula 1

McLaren comes into the 2021 Formula 1 season with arguably the most differences to its updated MCL35M chassis. But amid its attempts to consolidate its hard-earned third place in the constructors standings, there’s an element of jeopardy too, says ADAM COOPER What can a resurgent McLaren achieve on its return to Mercedes power in 2021?

Red Bull has confirmed Max Verstappen has a performance clause in his Formula 1 contract and believes he will be top of Mercedes’ list if Lewis Hamilton quits after 2021. Mercedes announced last week that seven-time world champion Hamilton had signed a new one-year contract to remain at the team for 2021, leading to speculation

McLaren has unveiled its MCL35M challenger for the 2021 Formula 1 season, reclaiming Mercedes power for the new year. The team now has a driver pairing of Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo following Carlos Sainz Jr’s departure to Ferrari, and comes off the back of taking third in the F1 constructors’ championship. Despite carryover from

You can watch McLaren become the first team to unveil its 2021 Formula 1 car live on Autosport. The Woking-based outfit will reveal its new MCL35M during an event at its Woking factory at 7pm on Monday evening. Although teams are only allowed limited changes to their 2021 cars, McLaren has faced a challenging winter

When McLaren pulls the covers off its new MCL35M at its Woking factory this evening, the expectation is of it being Formula 1’s most different car of 2021. With teams forced to carry over their chassis from last season to this one, as part of cost-saving measures introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the

The decision to introduce one-shot qualifying to Formula 1 in 2003 proved controversial and was prone to being exploited but, as STUART CODLING argues, the initial idea behind it was sound While the form of the racing has resisted change throughout the seven-decade span of the Formula 1 world championship, qualifying has been tormented with

Guanyu Zhou represents China’s only chance of having a Formula 1 driver in the next 15-20 years, according to Alpine academy director Mia Sharizman. Zhou has been part of the French team’s academy since 2019, joining under its previous Renault guise, and served as the squad’s F1 test driver last year. Zhou scored his maiden

After months of back-and-forth between Formula 1 teams, an agreement was reached last week to introduce an engine development freeze from 2022. Ever since Honda announced at the start of October that it would be ending its involvement in F1 after 2021, Red Bull had been pushing hard to get an engine freeze implemented. The

The new Formula 1 season may still be six weeks away, but a number of key decisions were taken in the past few days that could shape the series’ future. Following months of discussions in the wake of Honda’s decision to quit F1, Red Bull finally got the green light for its proposed engine freeze

Despite new aero rules aimed at slowing Formula 1 cars down, while also improving their ability to race closely, the 2019 Mercedes W10 continued the team’s turbo hybrid-era winning streak. Lewis Hamilton saw off the challenge of Ferrari and team-mate Valtteri Bottas to secure his sixth world championship title, as Mercedes comfortably continued its run

OPINION: After the significant decision was agreed by Formula 1 teams to freeze engine development from 2022, focus will invariably turn to the next set of regulations. As JONATHAN NOBLE explains, F1 is prepared to learn from the mistakes of 2014 Formula 1 has made no secret of the fact that it did not get

Ferrari has set the dates for its two launch events ahead of the new Formula 1 season, presenting both the team and the new SF21 car. After completing a first fire-up of the new car for the 2021 season on Friday morning, Ferrari announced that it would be holding two launch events in the coming

Mercedes admits it is battling some “issues” with its engine preparations for the new Formula 1 season, but is confident it can have fixes in place for the first race. The German manufacturer is chasing an eighth consecutive F1 title double this season, having been undefeated during the turbo-hybrid era. But, as it ramps up

Alpine Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso is set for minor surgery on some broken teeth as the first details have emerged regarding his cycling accident. Two-time F1 world champion Alonso was involved in an accident whilst out riding on the outskirts of Lugano on Thursday around lunchtime, leaving the Spaniard hospitalised. Alpine issued a statement

Alpine Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso has been taken to hospital after being involved in an accident while riding his bike in Switzerland. According to a report by Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy, two-time F1 world champion Alonso was hit by a car while out on a training ride near Lugano in Switzerland. Alonso was

Formula 1 wants to finalise plans to stage sprint races at select grands prix in 2021 after the plan received “broad support” from teams on Thursday. F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali revealed last week that sprint races were being considered as part of a format change for certain races this year, with the plan

Alpine is confident it can work with other Formula 1 teams to find seats for its young drivers in the future despite currently having no customer or affiliated squads. As part of the rebranding of Renault’s F1 project as Alpine for 2021, the French marque launched its 2021 academy on Wednesday, with three of its

Formula 1 has confirmed it will drop the rainbow branding from its We Race As One campaign after updating its objectives for the initiative in 2021. F1 launched We Race As One ahead of the delayed start to the 2020 season, adopting a rainbow flag as the symbol by merging the colours of all 10

Even as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic complicates the running of the 2021 Formula 1 season, officials remain confident of delivering a record-length calendar. But with concerns over a 23-race schedule, talk of rotating events in the future has swirled. LUKE SMITH looks at how F1 could make this work Although changes have already been forced

A Monaco-based start-up team remains interested in a Formula 1 entry in the near future, calling a possible waiver of the $200m dilution fund fee “a step forward”. Monaco Increase Management announced in late 2019 that it was targeting an entry to F1 in conjunction with Campos Racing upon the change in technical regulations in

With Lewis Hamilton’s 2021 Mercedes Formula 1 contract finally resolved, it is worth recalling a similar story that played out 28 years ago – involving his hero Ayrton Senna. Just as Hamilton held out in his discussions with Toto Wolff, so Senna went into 1993 without having signed a new McLaren deal with Ron Dennis.

Ferrari is considering a radical new engine concept for its 2022 Formula 1 project that could feature a design never seen in the sport before. As the outfit prepares for the all-new era of F1, there are suggestions from Maranello that part of its plan includes a total overhaul of its engine. The Italian team

Mercedes finally put an end to speculation about Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 future on Monday when it announced he had signed a new one-year contract with the team. Following a dragged-out process that was delayed by both Hamilton and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff contracting COVID-19, the two sides finally got the deal across the

New Peugeot World Endurance Championship signing Kevin Magnussen has ruled out returning to Formula 1 with Haas if asked to substitute for one of its new drivers in 2021. Magnussen, who was announced as part of Peugeot’s 2022 WEC line-up on Monday, was responding to comments from former boss Gunther Steiner. Steiner claimed that he

Toto Wolff says the decision to only agree to a one-year contract extension with Lewis Hamilton was the result of both parties wanting time to finalise a longer deal. Mercedes ended weeks of speculation on Monday when it announced that seven-time Formula 1 world champion Hamilton would be staying on with the team in 2021.

Stefano Domenicali believes Lewis Hamilton brings a “different dimension” to Formula 1 through his off-track work highlighting social issues, serving as a “massive ambassador” for the series. Hamilton clinched a record-equalling seventh F1 drivers’ championship in 2020 with Mercedes, but is yet to sign a new contract with the team for the coming season. The

Aston Martin Formula 1 chief Otmar Szafnauer is confident the team can “make racing fun again” for Sebastian Vettel following his winter switch from Ferrari. Four-time world champion Vettel was left without a seat for the 2021 season after Ferrari opted against offering him a new contract, signing Carlos Sainz Jr as his replacement. Ahead

Damon Hill says that it “broke my heart” to turn down racing for Jackie Stewart’s Formula 1 team for the 1997 season, but felt the move was too risky. Towards the end of his championship-winning 1996 campaign, Hill was informed by Williams that he would not be retained for the following season, with the team

In 2021 Formula 1 teams are operating for the first time with a success handicap created by a sliding scale of aerodynamic testing limits based on last year’s results. It means that Williams, as the worst performing team of 2020, can now do more aero R&D work in the windtunnel and on CFD than everyone

Haas Formula 1 boss Guenther Steiner hasn’t ruled out calling on Romain Grosjean or Kevin Magnussen should the team need a replacement driver during the 2021 season. However the priority will be to employ a reserve who can attend all the races and at the track in case of any late issues with regulars Mick