Formula 1

Valtteri Bottas says he lost three kilograms during the Spanish Grand Prix and believes the black overalls worn by the Mercedes Formula 1 drivers were a factor. Early in the Barcelona race Bottas, who finished the Spanish GP in third place, was heard telling his engineer on the radio, “these black overalls are f**cking hot”

Charles Leclerc was prevented from rejoining the Spanish Grand Prix after pitting to have his seatbelts tightened as Ferrari had to investigate an issue with his Formula 1 power unit. Leclerc was running 11th at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya before hitting the kerb at the exit of the final chicane, causing him to spin. The

Although Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix didn’t produce an on-track thriller, it still yielded notable storylines; from the latest chapter in a messy divorce to the clearest update yet on the future of the Mercedes’ hierarchy. LUKE SMITH picks out the talking points One week on from the heat-induced shake up the Formula 1 pecking

The 2020 Spanish Grand Prix will hardly go down as a Formula 1 classic, but there were still plenty of key storylines developing throughout. Lewis Hamilton routed the field at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, gapping second-placed Max Verstappen by 24 seconds at the close of the 66-lap affair. There was more to the race than

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas reckons the 2020 Formula 1 title is “drifting away” after he finished the Spanish Grand Prix in third place behind Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Bottas lost ground to both rivals in the title battle – he now lies 43 points behind his team-mate and six behind Verstappen. His day was

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has reverted to a previously used power unit after Honda discovered an “anomaly” in the data of his Formula 1 car. Under parc ferme conditions Verstappen has swapped back to a previously used V6, turbo, MGU-H and MGU-K. No penalties are associated with the changes. A Red Bull spokesperson told Autosport:

Lewis Hamilton starts on pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes Formula 1 team-mate Valtteri Bottas. Here’s how and when you can watch the race. The F1 champion secured his 92nd career pole position by beating Bottas by just 0.059 seconds. Mercedes is looking to strike back after losing its 100% winning

As Lewis Hamilton claimed his 92nd career Formula 1 pole position at the Spanish Grand Prix, qualifying had a familiar feel but surprises could be sprung in Sunday’s race. Having dominated practice, Mercedes secured another 1-2 in qualifying with Hamilton edging team-mate Valtteri Bottas by 0.059 seconds, while Max Verstappen’s “subscription” to third in qualifying

Formula 1 could be set to return to Turkey and Jerez in November as it puts the final pieces in place on the 2020 calendar. With the Vietnam Grand Prix looking set to be cancelled, F1 is moving to add some more European events to the calendar before finishing the 2020 season in the Middle

After an unseasonal British heatwave at Silverstone last weekend, the Formula 1 paddock was graced with more high temperatures as practice for the Spanish Grand Prix got underway on Friday. Mercedes was able to set the pace with a 1-2 finish in both sessions, but remains wary of the tyre problems that led to its

Haas Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean says he has no explanation for the strong performance in Barcelona where the Frenchman finished sixth fastest in FP1 and fifth in FP2. Last year Grosjean and his team-mate Kevin Magnussen both finished in the points in the Spanish Grand Prix, but nevertheless Friday’s speed came as a surprise

Mercedes is ready to “move forward” with signing the Concorde Agreement after talks with Formula 1 led to a change in opinion from team boss Toto Wolff. Wolff said last Friday at Silverstone that Mercedes was not in a position to put pen to paper on F1’s new commercial terms for 2021, feeling the team

Lewis Hamilton says the impending move to ban powerful Formula 1 qualifying engine modes will not “get the result that they want” in terms of its impact on Mercedes’ performance. F1 squads have been informed that the FIA will issue a new technical directive ahead of this month’s Belgian Grand Prix, which will mean the

The Haas Formula 1 team has rebuilt Kevin Magnussen’s car following the Dane’s difficult weekend at Silverstone, but no specific issue has been traced. Magnussen was eventually retired from the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix for safety reasons after his car used up its tyres at an alarming rate, and afterwards he suggested that something had

Formula 1 teams have been informed by the FIA about new restrictions on engine modes for qualifying which will be put in place by the Belgian Grand Prix. The changes are set to rein in the Mercedes-powered teams that traditionally make the biggest performance gains in qualifying, and are likely to further ramp up tensions

Andreas Seidl says Formula 1 teams will treat the logistical challenge of the Spanish Grand Prix in a similar way to Hungary amid growing concerns about COVID-19 in Catalonia. F1 will travel to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for this weekend’s grand prix while Spain grapples with a rise in COVID-19 cases. Restrictions were reintroduced in

McLaren Formula 1 technical director James Key says plans for the team’s new windtunnel are running a year later than planned due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. McLaren announced last year that it was planning to upgrade its facilities at its Woking base and construct a new windtunnel after receiving approval from the

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff doubts there will be an issue if anyone fails to meet Formula 1’s early deadline to agree terms for the new Concorde Agreement. F1 has been engaged with teams for some time over the new commercial agreement that will replace the Concorde Agreement for 2021, with the existing terms expiring

The McLaren Formula 1 team has decided not to progress with an appeal regarding the Racing Point brake duct case, but Ferrari and Renault are pushing ahead with the appeal. The decision by the latter two teams means that the matter will now definitely go to the International Court of Appeal. In their decision announced

Mattia Binotto has compared Racing Point’s role in the Formula 1 brake duct controversy to “copying a test” amid Ferrari’s plans to appeal for a harsher sanction. Racing Point was handed a 15-point constructors’ championship penalty and a €400,000 fine after its brake ducts were ruled to have been designed via an illegal process. Racing

McLaren Formula 1 team principal Andreas Seidl says there is no “bad blood” with Mercedes despite holding opposing views of the Racing Point brake ducts controversy. Racing Point was docked 15 points in the constructors’ championship and handed a €400,000 fine after it was judged to have used an illegal method to design its rear

Nico Hulkenberg was Mercedes’ second choice to join the team for the 2013 Formula 1 season had it not signed Lewis Hamilton, Ross Brawn has revealed. Hulkenberg made his F1 race comeback at Silverstone on Sunday, deputising for Sergio Perez at Racing Point after the Mexican driver tested positive for COVID-19. After an issue prevented

The FIA is to review the rule that limits radio communication between Formula 1 teams and drivers on the formation lap, and which led to penalties for Haas in Hungary. The restriction dates back to a technical directive issued in 2017 which stated the requirement that drivers have to drive the car “alone and unaided”

Daniel Ricciardo says his “Seb spin” during the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix was “salt in the wound” after slipping from fifth on the grid to finish outside of the points. The Renault Formula 1 driver impressed through practice and qualifying at Silverstone, but a decision to take a set of medium compound tyres for his

Ferrari Formula 1 chief Mattia Binotto says Sebastian Vettel’s first-lap spin hurt his race more than the team’s strategy calls, despite confusion from the German driver at Silverstone. Vettel slumped to 12th place in Sunday’s 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone after spending much of his race stuck in the midfield, trailing a group of

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says information gleaned from the tyres of Valtteri Bottas encouraged it to let Lewis Hamilton run a longer middle stint in the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix. Ultimately the strategy ensured that Hamilton got ahead of Bottas to claim second place in a late race battle, although both Mercedes drivers lost out

Formula 1’s bid to create some tyre ‘controversy’ by going softer with its choices at the 70th Anniversary GP this weekend was the right thing to do, says Lando Norris. Drivers and teams have faced some strategy headaches this weekend in dealing with the softer compound tyres, especially with there being such high degradation on

Valtteri Bottas starts on pole ahead of Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton looking to fight back in the Formula 1 title tussle. Here’s how and when you can watch the race. Fresh from signing his new Mercedes F1 contract for 2021, Bottas ended Hamilton’s run of three consecutive pole positions with a stunning last lap in

Sebastian Vettel feels like he is “going up against a wall” in trying to work out how to get more speed from his Ferrari in Formula 1’s 70th Anniversary GP. After a tough time at last weekend’s British Grand Prix, Vettel had hoped for an uplift in form at the 70th Anniversary GP. However, he

Christian Horner expects all 10 Formula 1 teams to sign the new Concorde Agreement despite resistance from Mercedes, anticipating it will be “concluded in the coming days”. F1 is nearing the conclusion of talks with teams over the new commercial agreements that will be in place from 2021, with the existing Concorde Agreement expiring at