Formula 1

Charles Leclerc says Ferrari have made “quite a good step” with their 2021 car but admits it is too early to say how well they can perform. Ferrari had their worst season for 40 years in 2020, but the team have worked hard on fixing their main weakness, which was speed on the straights. Leclerc

World champion Lewis Hamilton has pledged to “keep pushing” in the fight against racism this year. Hamilton, who led Formula 1’s pre-race demonstrations promoting equality last year, said it was important “to hold ourselves and others accountable.” Hamilton said he was “proud” of the fact the majority of drivers had taken the knee before races

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen says he is “realistic” about his chances of battling for the title against Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes this year. The Dutchman, 23, said he “did not want to hype things up” after driving Red Bull’s new car for the first time at Silverstone on Wednesday. “Mercedes must be the favourites still,”

Red Bull have revealed the car they hope will enable them to mount their first title challenge for eight years. The RB16B develops the 2020 car, with which Max Verstappen finished third in the championship behind Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. Red Bull have worked on eradicating the instability issues that plagued last

The Alfa Romeo team have launched their 2021 Formula 1 challenge with the aim of improving on a disappointing season last year. Alfa Romeo finished eighth in the constructors’ championship in 2021 after a year battling at the back of the field. Team principal Frederic Vasseur said: “We want to improve. All the team is

Red Bull’s Alexander Albon says he is determined to return to the Formula 1 field in 2022 after being demoted to reserve driver this season. Albon said: “My goal is to be back in a seat and be ready – you never know what will happen with Covid. “I am confident in myself. I know

Mike Beuttler raced against many of the all-time Formula 1 greats in the early 1970s – and then disappeared. Even the British driver’s closest motorsport friends heard nothing from him over the final 14 years of his life. Then, in late 1988, they learned from his family that he had died in Los Angeles of

Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi is to stay on as reserve driver at Haas this year. Fittipaldi, 24, replaced the injured Romain Grosjean in the final two grands prix last season following the Frenchman’s fiery crash at Bahrain. The grandson of two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi finished 17th in the Sakhir race and 19th in Abu Dhabi.

Alpha Tauri have set themselves the target of running consistently at the front of the midfield in 2021 as they launched their new AT02 car. Alpha Tauri, who won the Italian Grand Prix with Pierre Gasly last year, finished seventh in the championship. Team boss Franz Tost said: “In 2020, we were fighting against other

Daniel Ricciardo says he is “excited” about his prospects at McLaren, as the team launch their new car and driver line-up for the 2021 season. The Australian has signed a three-year contract with McLaren, who are switching from Renault to Mercedes engines in 2021. Ricciardo, who joins after two years at Renault, said: “Everything I

Fernando Alonso has been discharged from hospital after suffering a fracture of his upper jaw in a cycling accident last week. The two-time Formula 1 world champion, 39, collided with a car while on a training ride near his home in Lugano, Switzerland, on Thursday. His Alpine team said Alonso will now have “a short

Red Bull’s Formula 1 teams will continue to use Honda’s engines after the Japanese company quits the sport at the end of this season. Red Bull has concluded a deal to buy Honda’s F1 engine technology and will run the engines until 2024. The drinks giant has set up a new company to maintain the

The 2021 Formula 1 season is nearly upon us, but first there is the small matter of car launches and pre-season testing to look forward to. Testing for the new campaign looks a little different this year, with just one three-day session starting on 12 March for teams and drivers to fine-tune their new cars.

Fernando Alonso sustained a fracture of his upper jaw in his cycling accident on Thursday, his Alpine team say. The 39-year-old two-time world champion had a “successful corrective operation” on Thursday and will remain in hospital for observation for 48 hours. The team added: “The medical team are satisfied with his progress. After a few

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has been involved in a road accident while cycling in Switzerland. The Spaniard, who is returning to Formula 1 this season after a two-year absence, is “conscious and well in himself”, according to his Alpine team. Alpine said Alonso would have further medical examinations on Friday, without confirming whether he

Formula 1 teams have backed a plan to hold shorter ‘sprint races’ at three Grands Prix this season. Details are still to be ironed out, but all teams gave their support to the idea at a meeting of the F1 Commission. Teams and F1 bosses also agreed to the introduction of a freeze on engine

Formula 1 has secured confirmation that Portugal can host the third grand prix of the 2021 season on 2 May. But F1 bosses have committed to the race at Portimao following talks with race organisers. F1 personnel attending the race will not return to the UK within the 10-day restriction period from such countries. All

Formula 1 bosses are to discuss a new proposal to introduce shorter ‘sprint’ races in an attempt to increase entertainment levels this season. Teams and bosses will vote on Thursday on a plan for a shorter race on Saturday, which would define the grid for Sunday’s grand prix. Qualifying for the Saturday race would take