Formula 1

Aston Martin have refused to rule out the possibility of Sebastian Vettel making a shock comeback at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. Team principal Mike Krack admitted he had spoken to the four-time champion since Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was forced to miss pre-season testing. But he refused to say whether Vettel, who retired at

Confidence about the Formula 1 campaign ahead simply oozed out of Max Verstappen as pre-season testing came to a conclusion in Bahrain on Saturday. The Dutchman heads into the opening race of the season at the same track next weekend as an overwhelming favourite to win a third world title, and he was positively gushing

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez set the fastest time of Formula 1 pre-season testing ahead of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. The Mexican was 0.359 seconds faster than Hamilton, despite using a harder and theoretically slower tyre. Champion Max Verstappen did not run on the final day. Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas was third, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc fourth.

George Russell says he does not expect Mercedes to be competing for victory at the start of the Formula 1 season in Bahrain next week. Russell said he believed Red Bull were the team to beat on the evidence of the first two days of pre-season testing. He said: “We definitely believe eventually we will

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set the pace on the first day of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain. The world champion, top of the timesheets for most of the day, ended it 0.029 seconds quicker than Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were third and fourth fastest, ahead of McLaren’s Lando

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. By Charlotte Simpson & Ian Murphy Newsbeat reporters A female driver hasn’t competed in a Formula 1 grand prix since 1976. Only last year the sport’s CEO said he couldn’t see that changing in the next five

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem did not attend Tuesday’s meeting of Formula 1’s rule-forming body, the F1 Commission. The meeting was chaired by new FIA F1 single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis and F1 president Stefano Domenicali. Among a series of changes was a revision to the points system to avoid the controversy that arose at last

Aston Martin reserve driver Felipe Drugovich will drive on the first day of this week’s pre-season test in place of injured race driver Lance Stroll. The Brazilian Formula 2 champion will steer the car on Thursday morning in Bahrain before handing over to Fernando Alonso for the afternoon session. Aston Martin have not revealed their

The burnt-out shell of a Formula 1 car that saved Romain Grosjean’s life in his fiery crash at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix is to go on show. The chassis from the accident will form a key exhibit at a new official Formula 1 exhibition. It will start in Madrid next month before touring the

Lance Stroll is to miss this week’s pre-season test after suffering “minor injuries” in a cycling accident. The Canadian’s Aston Martin team have not yet decided how to cover his absence over the three days in Bahrain starting on Thursday. Stroll’s injury means there is a risk he could miss the opening race weekend at

Honda says it is considering a formal return to Formula 1 to coincide with the new engine regulations that will be introduced in 2026. The company officially pulled out of F1 at the end of 2021, although its engines are still used by the two Red Bull teams and will be called Hondas again in

Formula 1’s governing body appears to have backtracked on a rule introduced this year banning freedom of speech for drivers on key issues. The rule outlawed “political, religious and personal statements” without prior consent, and expressed no limitations on where that restriction applied. But a “guidance” note issued on Friday puts strict limits on its

Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon believe they can work together to achieve the Alpine team’s ambitions despite their cool personal relationship. The Frenchmen were childhood friends and karting rivals but fell out some years ago. “We are grown-up people, more mature, and we aware of the responsibilities of being Alpine drivers and having such a

Lewis Hamilton says the ban on drivers’ free speech will not prevent him from speaking out on key issues. Hamilton is the latest driver to voice concerns about a new rule prohibiting “personal, religious and political statements” without written consent. Governing body the FIA says it will clarify the meaning of the new rule it

Mercedes have returned to an all-black colour scheme for a 2023 car that team boss Toto Wolff hopes will “eventually fight at the very front”. The team fell from the pinnacle of eight consecutive world titles last year with a car that won only one race. Mercedes are sticking with their ‘no-sidepod design’ but hope

Charles Leclerc has set his sights on trying to win Ferrari’s first Formula 1 drivers’ title for 16 years this season. Leclerc, who finished second to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen last year, said he believed Ferrari had done a “great job” on their new car, which was unveiled on Tuesday. “The goal is to win,

McLaren’s Lando Norris says that Formula 1’s governing body should abandon its plans for an apparent ban on free speech for drivers. A number of drivers have expressed concern about a new rule that prohibits “personal, religious and political statements” without written consent. Norris, 23, said: “I feel there has been quite a bit of

Fernando Alonso says he is convinced the Aston Martin team he has joined this year will become winners in Formula 1 in the future. Their 2023 car was launched on Monday at a new factory, which is due to be finished in the summer, with hopes of significant improvement this season. Alonso said he “believed