Formula 1

The new owner of the Williams Formula 1 team is determined that it retains the close family feel that has characterised the multiple title-winning squad for decades. Following the sale to American private investment firm Dorilton Capital last year, the Grove-based outfit is undergoing a period of investment and restructure as it bids to move

Max Verstappen thinks that Red Bull would have enjoyed Mercedes levels of dominance in Formula 1 if the turbo hybrid rules had not been introduced. The arrival of new powerunits in 2014 opened the door for Mercedes to deliver title winning form ever since. The German car manufacturer has delivered seven consecutive F1 title doubles

Carlos Sainz Jr entered initial talks with Ferrari over a 2021 Formula 1 deal “without trying to believe it too much”, assuming it was talking to a number of drivers. Ferrari announced last May it had struck a deal for Sainz to join the team on a two-year contract from 2021, replacing four-time world champion

Alexander Albon will dovetail Red Bull Formula 1 reserve and test duties with select events in the DTM racing a Ferrari 488 GT3 after losing his spot to Sergio Perez. With Albon replaced by Perez in Red Bull’s 2021 line-up, the Anglo-Thai driver faces an unexpected year ahead as he remains in the F1 team’s

Lando Norris believes a “perfect combination” of rivalry and friendship with Carlos Sainz Jr as Formula 1 team-mates helped drive McLaren forward in their two years together. Norris made his F1 debut in 2019 alongside Sainz at McLaren as part of an all-new line-up at the British squad, with the pair combining to give the

Former Mercedes executive Jurgen Hubbert, a key player behind the marque’s move into the DTM and Formula 1, has died at the age of 81. It was on Hubbert’s watch that Mercedes joined forces with McLaren, creating a partnership that would win two World Championships with Mika Hakkinen in 1998 and 1999, and a third

Autosport is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s greatest Formula 1 title with a 1991-themed special issue of the magazine. The full impact of Adrian Newey at Williams wouldn’t be realised until 1992 but, as the aerodynamics guru told GIORGIO PIOLA in the 11 July 1991 issue, the key principles of making cars go

Alfa Romeo Formula 1 boss Frederic Vasseur has called on Antonio Giovinazzi to become more of a team leader in the Italian’s third full season with the Swiss outfit. Following a difficult debut season in 2019, two years after a two-race cameo for the team then known as Sauber subbing for the injured Pascal Wehrlein,

Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc is battling “mild symptoms” after testing positive for COVID-19. Leclerc announced via Instagram on Thursday afternoon that he had contracted COVID-19, and was now self-isolating at home in Monaco. “Hello guys, I hope you are all staying safe. I want to let you know that I have tested positive

Bringing the Schumacher name back to Formula 1 in 2021 through Formula 2 champion Mick is “an honour” for Haas, but also brings “a lot of pressure”, reckons Gunther Steiner. Schumacher will step up to F1 this year after winning last year’s F2 title, joining the Haas team alongside fellow rookie Nikita Mazepin. Mick is

Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer says four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel will “bring out the best” in new team-mate Lance Stroll. Vettel joins the former Racing Point outfit this year after his Ferrari contract was not extended beyond 2020, having struggled in the past two seasons at the Maranello squad against Charles Leclerc.

McLaren has one target in mind for Daniel Ricciardo’s first Formula 1 grand prix on board: that team and driver feel like they have been together for years. With F1’s pre-season testing schedule the most compact it has ever been, and strict limits on who could join the Abu Dhabi young driver run last year,

Alfa Romeo Formula 1 boss Fred Vasseur says his team’s close links to the Italian manufacturer are more than just a “nice reward”, with the tie-up crucial to its future. The team formerly known as Sauber first carried Alfa Romeo branding in 2018 before it took over the name of the Swiss outfit from 2019

The deal between Formula 1 and the new promoter of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos faces a hurdle after a judge intervened and temporarily suspended the contract. The decision results from a legal challenge regarding the use of public funds to secure the race, and the level of transparency surrounding the deal. In

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says his team faces a “formidable” challenge to stay on top in Formula 1 this year, ahead of the “earthquake” of all new 2022 regulations. Mercedes is coming off the back of seven consecutive F1 title doubles, and is favourite for the campaign ahead with teams carrying over their cars for

Renault Formula 1 team boss Cyril Abiteboul is leaving the French car manufacturer, it was announced on Monday. The Frenchman had been expected to move into a new role within the company following a management shake-up at the rebranded Alpine squad, but instead he is departing completely. His exit has resulted in Laurent Rossi, director

Carlos Sainz Jr believes McLaren is building up to become a “force to be reckoned with” in Formula 1 and can “hit the ground running” under the 2022 regulations. Sainz made his final appearance for McLaren in last month’s Abu Dhabi season finale, ending a two-year stint with the team ahead of his move to

Alfa Romeo Formula 1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi believes working on his race starts has been one of the keys to his improvements across the 2020 season. After a tough debut season Giovinazzi was retained at Alfa alongside Kimi Raikkonen and managed to qualify ahead of the Finn in nine out of 17 events. Both drivers

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Lewis Hamilton’s qualities stretch far beyond what he shows on the Formula 1 track – and include him not thinking the universe revolves around him. The reigning F1 world champion delivered perhaps his strongest season ever in 2020 as he roared to his seventh title, matching the all-time titles record

Much-maligned given his record for the most races without a point and his disastrous two-race foray with Ferrari in 2009, Luca Badoer is perhaps the embodiment of the old adage that your most important race is your last one. JAMES NEWBOLD argues that his reputation is undeserved It will have been small consolation to George

Esteban Ocon says pre-race chats filled with encouragement from Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul helped him battle through the tough times on his Formula 1 return last year. Ocon made his F1 comeback with Renault in 2020 after a year on the sidelines as a Mercedes test and reserve driver. Having taken some time to get

Carlos Sainz Jr found suggestions he might regret joining Ferrari “a bit annoying” following its difficult 2020 Formula 1 campaign. Ferrari swooped for Sainz to replace outgoing four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel prior to the start of last season, announcing the signing of the Spaniard for 2021 in May. But as Sainz helped lead McLaren

Franz Tost believes AlphaTauri’s 2020 season surpassed its achievements with Sebastian Vettel in 2008, marking the best year in the team’s Formula 1 history. Following the rebranding of the Toro Rosso team, AlphaTauri scored just its second win in its 15-year history when Pierre Gasly claimed a shock victory at the Italian Grand Prix. It

The Chinese Grand Prix is set to become the second Formula 1 race to be postponed in 2021 as the promoter seeks a date change to later in the year. Last year’s race in Shanghai was the first to be scrapped following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a further 12 races eventually being

Renault says its most difficult weekend last year was key to delivering the answers that helped it make rapid progress over the second half of the 2020 Formula 1 season. The French manufacturer took three podiums last year en route to a fifth place finish in the constructors’ championship. But the highlights over the second

A significant figure in future McLaren supremo Ron Dennis’s formative years as a team owner, and himself briefly the head of a Formula 1 squad, Tony Vlassopulos died recently. He was 89. A barrister by profession, Vlassopulos was a circuit commentator at Goodwood, and some years later was put in touch with Dennis by John

Lance Stroll feels his performances in 2020 helped answer “a lot of questions to myself” over his ability, building his confidence in a good Racing Point Formula 1 car. Stroll enjoyed his best season to date in F1 last year, picking up two podium finishes and his maiden pole position en route to scoring more

Outgoing Renault Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has recalled the “panic” he felt after an inconclusive COVID-19 test result last season, before eventually being cleared as negative. All F1 drivers and paddock personnel were required to undergo regular COVID-19 testing as part of the FIA’s protocols to stage races throughout 2020 following the start of

McLaren has revealed the ways Lando Norris has grown as a Formula 1 driver, despite having already demonstrated some strong traits before making his race debut. Norris is heading into this third season with McLaren in 2021, and delivered his first podium for the team at last year’s opener in Austria. But while having made

The rebranded Aston Martin Formula 1 team is set to drop Racing Point’s pink livery, with the squad expected to run in predominantly green colours alongside a new title sponsor. After changing its name to Aston for the start of 2021, the team that started life as Jordan will lose the pink livery associated with