Formula 1

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen topped both Friday practice sessions at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. He headed McLaren’s Lando Norris in the second session, with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton third and Valtteri Bottas fifth split by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. Verstappen was first and Bottas second in the first session with Norris third. The field appeared very

Britain’s George Russell says he has proved he can fight for world titles and wants a car that will allow him to do that. Russell said: “That opportunity I had last year showed that when the pressure is on, when I am thrown into the deep end, I was able to do a pretty solid

Fernando Alonso says he did not expect there to be so much attention on his age as he makes a Formula 1 return after two years away. The two-time champion, who is driving for Alpine, the former Renault team, is 39 and will turn 40 in July, while seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton is 36 and

Lewis Hamilton says world champions Mercedes are “not the fastest” team heading into the first race of the new Formula 1 season in Bahrain. Mercedes struggled with their car in testing and Hamilton said the title fight would “absolutely” be closer than 2020, which he and his team dominated. The seven-time champion said: “It’s massively

Two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso speaks to BBC Sport’s Ben Croucher about being back in F1 after two years racing in other categories, driving for the Alpine team, formerly Renault. He says he “feels lucky” after a cycling accident earlier this year, and insists he is “better” than the biggest names on the

Formula 1 drivers will be allowed to take the knee to demonstrate their opposition to racism before Grands Prix again this season. The move is part of an initiative to promote “sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and community”. Unlike last year, the pre-race demonstration will not just be devoted to anti-racism and drivers will not be

New Williams chief executive officer Jost Capito has made his first major appointment in recruiting a new technical director to lead car design. Francois-Xavier Demaison joins from Volkswagen, where he worked under Capito on the electric ID.R racer. The ID.R is most notable for setting a new record at the famous Pikes Peak hill climb

Briton George Russell has been appointed one of the directors of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association. Russell joins chairman Alexander Wurz and Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel as a director of the organisation that represents all F1 drivers on safety and other matters. He replaces Romain Grosjean, who steps down following his departure from F1

Mick Schumacher starts his Formula 1 career this weekend in Bahrain as a rookie like no other. As the son of the man who until last year was the most successful grand prix driver of all time, the 22-year-old’s path to the top of the sport has long seemed pre-ordained. And as Michael Schumacher’s son,

Former Formula 1 driver Johnny Dumfries has died at the age of 62. The Scotsman raced under a pseudonym to disguise his aristocratic background – he was John Crichton-Stuart, the seventh Marquess of Bute. Dumfries spent a year in F1 in 1986 with Lotus, where he was a subordinate team-mate to Ayrton Senna. His best

McLaren have signed a contract with 13-year-old American karter Ugo Ugochukwu to support him through racing’s junior categories. The Formula 1 team said the agreement gives them an option to sign Ugochukwu to a race deal in the future. McLaren Racing chief executive officer Zak Brown said: “We’ve been watching Ugo’s progress with interest. “So

Mercedes say they expect to start the new Formula 1 season next weekend with a slower car than Red Bull. In pre-season testing last weekend, Mercedes struggled, with their new car apparently lacking pace and stability. “There are a lot of unknowns,” Mercedes strategy director James Vowles said. “No-one up and down the paddock can

The inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will take place on the sport’s fastest street circuit, claims Formula 1. The track will be on the coast about seven miles north of Jeddah and will be the second longest on the F1 calendar, at 6.175km (3.84 miles). Simulations suggest the average lap speed will be 155mph, among

World champion Lewis Hamilton says rivals Red Bull will be a “different animal” in this year’s title after the conclusion of pre-season testing. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was fastest after testing in Bahrain, which hosts the first race on 26-28 March. Mercedes driver Hamilton said: “Red Bull have had some really good running. Both drivers

Legendary Formula 1 commentator Murray Walker has died at the age of 97. Walker commentated on his first grand prix race for the BBC at Silverstone in 1949 and became a full-time F1 commentator in 1978. He became synonymous with F1 through his commentary, first with the BBC and then ITV, before retiring in 2001.

Legendary Formula 1 commentator Murray Walker, who has died aged 97, explains why working in the sport meant so much to him, and friends and colleagues pay their own tributes. WATCH MORE: ‘The high-octane voice behind a high-octane sport’ – Murray Walker dies at 97 READ MORE: Murray Walker: A legend with effervescent enthusiasm

Legend is a word bandied around all too easily, but it is a completely appropriate description of Murray Walker. The Formula 1 broadcasting great, who died on Saturday at the age of 97, was loved by millions across the world for his high-energy motorsport commentary style, peppered with amusing mistakes and malapropisms. The errors are

Valtteri Bottas was fastest as Mercedes made progress on the second day of pre-season testing despite a spin by Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion lost control into Turn 13 at Bahrain’s Sakhir track during his running and ended up beached in the gravel. But Mercedes had a much better day than Friday, when they