Welcome to TJ13’s daily rolling F1 news and comment. Here you’ll find the latest stories, rumours, and paddock whispers. We’ll be updating this page all day as the news breaks and the drama unfolds, so be sure to check back regularly for the latest updates straight from the F1 circus, and please leave a comment at the bottom of the page.
Mekies confirms that Red Bull’s first-ever engine is now running on the dynamometer ahead of its 2026 debut – Updated 19:35
Laurent Mekies revealed that the all-new 2026 Red Bull power unit, developed in partnership with Ford, is now undergoing testing on the team’s dynamometer as the development phase intensifies. Speaking on the Talking Bull podcast, Mekies described the project as “typical Red Bull crazy stuff to do” and called it “a huge symbolic step”.
The 2026 Red Bull–Ford Powertrains project marks the team’s first attempt at producing its own engine, following years of reliance on Honda. Mekies said the new unit is already ‘screaming on the dyno’ as engineers push it through peak stress testing before its track debut early next year.
The engine’s launch will coincide with a significant change in Formula 1 powertrains: Audi will join as a new manufacturer, Aston Martin will switch to Honda and Alpine will abandon their in-house programme in favour of Mercedes power.
VCARB apologises for conduct of team member in Brazil – Updated 12:40 UK
The Racing Bulls have been forced to apologise after a member of their staff was caught on camera mocking Lando Norris on the podium in a viral video.
The team have issued a public apology after one of their employees was filmed making a ‘thumbs-down’ gesture at Lando Norris during the podium ceremony at the Brazilian Grand Prix. The clip, which went viral, showed the staff member grinning and joining in with the booing fans, before a colleague quickly pulled his arm down.
In a statement, the sister team of Red Bull said that the behaviour “does not reflect our values or the spirit of VCARB”, and confirmed that the matter had been “handled internally”. The incident overshadowed a strong weekend for the team, with Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar finishing seventh and eighth at Interlagos.
Meanwhile, Norris tightened his grip on the F1 title race with another commanding win, moving 24 points clear of his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, and 49 points ahead of Max Verstappen.
Piastri admits that the memory of the team orders at Monza lingered as his F1 title bid began to unravel – Updated 10:30 UK
The Australian has revealed that McLaren’s controversial team orders at Monza were still playing on his mind when his championship slump began in Baku. Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, the Australian admitted that giving up second place to Lando Norris in Italy had unsettled him ahead of the next race, which quickly became the worst weekend of his motorsport career.
Piastri crashed twice in Azerbaijan after jumping the start and overdriving; he later reflected that the frustrations from Monza “probably didn’t help” his mindset. A combination of poor form, car issues and mounting pressure then triggered a collapse that saw him lose the title lead he had held after Zandvoort.
Now 24 points behind Norris and just 25 points ahead of Verstappen, Piastri says he has learned from this difficult period, even if it all began with the uncomfortable moment of team politics in Monza.
Gasly puzzled but upbeat after Alpine’s surprise return to form in Brazil – Updated 10:00 UK
Pierre Gasly was left both delighted and confused after Alpine suddenly rediscovered its form in São Paulo. The Frenchman finished eighth in Saturday’s sprint race and tenth in Sunday’s grand prix, marking the team’s first double-points weekend since before the summer break.
Gasly said the A525 felt “on another level” compared to recent races, but admitted that the team had “no idea why”. After a gritty drive that included a tight battle with Isack Hadjar’s VCARB, he joked that he would have “nightmares about that rear wing”.
The result was a vital morale boost for Alpine, who have struggled at the bottom of the standings all season. Gasly said the priority now is to “understand exactly why” the car performed so well at Interlagos, and he hopes it won’t be a one-off.
Red Bull and Ford are set to unveil their 2026 Formula 1 cars together in Detroit – 00:35
Red Bull will open the 2026 Formula 1 era with a joint launch event in Detroit, Michigan, on 15 January, alongside sister team Racing Bulls and engine partner Ford. Taking place at Ford’s US headquarters, the event will officially mark the start of the Red Bull Ford Powertrains partnership, which will see Red Bull operate as a full engine manufacturer for the first time. The new cars will be unveiled later at a private test in Barcelona.
Detroit was chosen as the venue to reflect Ford’s motorsport heritage and its return to Formula 1 after a 20-year absence, following the sale of Jaguar (now Red Bull) at the end of 2004. Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies described the partnership as a “bold step into the future”, and Ford CEO Jim Farley emphasised that it will also advance road car technology at Ford.
Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer said that launching in Ford’s hometown highlights the shared competitive spirit of the two brands. This will be the first time that both Red Bull teams have unveiled their cars together ahead of Formula 1’s biggest technical overhaul in over a decade. The 2026 power units will eliminate the MGU-H and increase battery output threefold, while also running on lower fuel loads to improve sustainability — the foundation of the Red Bull–Ford collaboration first announced in 2023.
The driver line-up beyond Max Verstappen remains uncertain, with Isack Hadjar tipped for promotion and Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad all in contention for Racing Bulls seats.
Ferrari insiders have revealed details of Hamilton’s contract
Lewis Hamilton’s contract situation with Ferrari is once again under scrutiny after another disastrous weekend in Brazil, where he crashed and retired early. According to BBC Sport’s Andrew Benson, insiders in the paddock have been saying for a while that Hamilton signed a firm three-year deal with Ferrari, which would keep him under contract until the end of 2027. This contradicts earlier assumptions that the third year was only an option.
The length of the contract means that Hamilton cannot easily be replaced, unless he chooses to leave or Ferrari buys him out. However, according to Jonathan McEvoy of the Daily Mail, the ‘small print’ includes undisclosed release clauses related to performance. Ferrari have not publicly confirmed the duration of the deal.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Oliver Bearman has strengthened his case for a future Ferrari seat after achieving strong results with Haas. Ferrari are reportedly pleased with his progress and plan to continue evaluating him in a lower-pressure environment.
The renewed focus on Hamilton’s contract comes after Ferrari chairman John Elkann criticised both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, saying the pair should “talk less and focus on driving” following Ferrari’s double retirement in Brazil — comments that have fuelled speculation about tension within the team.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
