Formula 1

Mercedes technical director James Allison believes that Formula 1 aerodynamic rule changes mandated for this season will initially trim performance to 2019 levels. The changes were introduced to reduce loadings on Pirelli’s tyres by negating the natural increase in downforce that teams would have made with their 2021 cars, given that aero development is not

Formula 1’s 2021 technical regulations have largely mandated the carryover of last year’s cars, but with a few key changes to address the rising speeds. The FIA and F1 have aimed to cut downforce by 10% by bringing in a collection of changes to the floor and diffuser, and have limited structural changes with a

In 2022, Formula 1 is due to receive an extensive overhaul to its technical regulations – having been delayed from their initial launch in 2021. F1’s hopes are that the new formula will bring more exciting racing both in the immediate and in the distant future, and the cars will look very different to those

The high-profile IndyCar to Formula 1 move of the early 1990s came when Michael Andretti joined McLaren for 1993. But two years earlier, his main rival had enjoyed a successful test with Williams at Estoril and harboured ambitions of a switch himself, as he told Autosport in the 28 November 1991 issue Al Unser Jr

A fictional crime film set in the world of Formula 1 that features Hollywood legend Robert De Niro and Star Wars actor John Boyega will be shown on Netflix. To be called The Formula, the film is about an American F1 driver who becomes involved with the mafia and is forced to serve as a

McLaren is targeting improved low speed performance and a car less sensitive to gusty conditions with its 2021 Formula 1 challenger. The Woking-based outfit made good gains last year with its MCL35, and has high hopes that a switch to Mercedes power for this season will deliver a step forward in pace. But beyond the

Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff says ‘curveballs’ thrown at lawyers have delayed his team finalising a contract with Lewis Hamilton, but he has no doubts it will get sorted. The German car manufacturer has been at the centre of intrigue over the future of Hamilton, with the world champion’s current deal having run out

Carlos Sainz Jr is set to get his first taste of Ferrari Formula 1 machinery in a private test ahead of the official 2021 pre-season testing. But with the preparations for the new season significantly reduced for 2021 to save costs with the largely carried over designs from last year, he and the other F1

Jenson Button’s return to Williams is a welcome feel-good story, but its signing of the 2009 world champion it handed an Formula 1 debut to as a 20-year-old could also be a shrewd move in its mission to move up the grid, says LUKE SMITH Almost 21 years to the day since he was named

Carlos Sainz Jr hopes he will be able to replicate his “special relationship” with ex-McLaren Formula 1 team-mate Lando Norris alongside Charles Leclerc at Ferrari. Sainz spent two years racing alongside Norris at McLaren, but left the team at the end of last year to join Ferrari for the 2021 season. Sainz and Norris enjoyed

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko says the team’s stance on the proposed 2022 Formula 1 engine freeze is not a case of “blackmail”. The Austrian has confirmed that a deal is in place for Honda to continue to supply Red Bull’s two F1 teams – Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri – in 2022 and

Ferrari has announced plans for a seven-driver test at Fiorano next week using its 2018 Formula 1 car, including Carlos Sainz Jr, Charles Leclerc and Mick Schumacher. Following the arrival of Sainz from McLaren ahead of the 2021 season, Ferrari said late last year that it planned to give the Spaniard in some older machinery

Jenson Button feels there is a “sense of optimism” at Williams after joining the team as a senior advisor, saying its new owners are “not afraid of change”. Williams announced on Friday that 2009 F1 world champion Button would be taking up an advisory role with the team on a multi-year deal. It marked a

Lance Stroll admits his 2020 Formula 1 season “was a year of missed opportunity” given the competitiveness of his Racing Point package. The Canadian took his maiden pole position for Racing Point – which has been rebranded as Aston Martin for 2021 – at the Turkish Grand Prix last season, and enjoyed two podium finishes

Jenson Button is returning to Williams in 2021 as a senior advisor, 21 years after making his F1 debut with the Grove outfit in 2000. The team is in a very different position now, but so too is Button – who reflected on his rookie campaign for the 11 August 2016 issue of Autosport magazine.

Mercedes Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas says armchair critics who feel he should be doing better against Lewis Hamilton only serve to motivate him rather than get him down. The Finn is heading in to his fifth season as Hamilton’s teammate in 2021, and has yet to beat the Briton in the points standings since

The countdown to the 2021 Formula 1 season is under way, but before the first race of the campaign there is still plenty to get done. F1 teams need to get their new cars ready and tested on track, and before that there will be the regular launch season. Here is what we know so

Esteban Ocon believes that the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team is “in good hands” and that its new management is “really motivated and really humble”. The Enstone outfit confirmed recently that erstwhile team principal Cyril Abiteboul has left, and that former Suzuki MotoGP boss Davide Brivio has joined as racing director. Brivio reports to new

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez said he felt like ‘the stupidest guy on earth’ last year when he became the first Formula 1 driver to catch COVID-19. Driving for Racing Point at the time, Perez caught COVID-19 after a trip home to Mexico to visit his mother who had been in hospital. It meant he missed

Sergio Perez says he is already working with Red Bull on a number of ideas that he thinks can help the Formula 1 team make a step forward in 2021. The Mexican has been signed as team-mate to Max Verstappen for this year after an impressive campaign for Racing Point last season, replacing Alexander Albon

Stefano Domenicali says Formula 1 is taking a “flexible approach” towards its 2021 calendar amid the ongoing pandemic and revealed alternative races are on standby if changes are required. After 13 of its planned grands prix were cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, F1 announced a 23-race calendar for 2021 that followed its

Alfa Romeo Racing has become the first Formula 1 team to formally announce the launch date for its 2021 car, confirming plans for a launch event in Warsaw next month. Alfa Romeo will unveil its new car – named the C41 – on 22 February at an event in the capital of Poland, which is

Max Verstappen’s victory in last year’s Formula 1 finale in Abu Dhabi lifted hopes within Red Bull that it finally had a car for a full-on title challenge in 2021. With F1’s chassis regulations pretty much frozen for this year, and the worst of the RB16’s vices having been ironed out, there was good reason

Lando Norris believes the Mercedes Formula 1 power unit package will be “much better” for McLaren in 2021 following its move away from Renault. McLaren announced in September 2019 that it would be switching to Mercedes power units, rekindling their famed partnership that yielded three world titles between 1995 and 2014. McLaren spent three seasons

Scuderia AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost says the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic “opened the eyes” of Formula 1 teams over the unsustainable financial nature of the series. Following initial plans to introduce a $175 million cost cap for the 2021 season, F1 teams agreed to reduce the figure to $145 million from this year after

Mercedes Formula 1 team boss Toto Wolff says key to George Russell’s progress is not improving his speed but in ironing out mistakes. Russell is a contender for a 2022 race seat at Mercedes, having boosted his chances of a drive at the team off the back of a strong showing at last year’s Sakhir

The 2021 Formula 1 season will mark the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s third and final world title triumph, which came in the 1991 championship against stiff opposition from Williams. Autosport magazine has produced a special issue dedicated to the anniversary of the 1991 season – including explanations of Jaguar’s design revolution in the World

Lando Norris feels his more serious approach towards social media in 2020 led some fans to believe he was doing a better job in his second Formula 1 season. Norris caught attention throughout his junior career for his humorous and entertaining posts on social media, and continued the approach through his rookie F1 campaign in

Alpine has announced that former Suzuki MotoGP team manager Davide Brivio will join its Formula 1 squad this year. As first revealed by Autosport, Brivio has chosen to call time on a lengthy career in motorcycle racing to make the switch to F1. Brivio will become Alpine’s racing director, and will report directly to the

AlphaTauri believes switching to Red Bull’s 60% Formula 1 windtunnel for this year will offer a “big advantage” in designing its 2022 car. Following the rebranding of Toro Rosso as AlphaTauri for 2020, Red Bull has identified the Faenza-based squad as being more of a sister team rather than as a B-team as it had