Last Updated on November 25 2025, 10:49 am
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.
Cadillac joins the F1 Academy in a landmark expansion in 2027 – Updated 21:00
As part of a new “landmark” agreement, Cadillac will expand its Formula 1 footprint by joining the F1 Academy in 2027. This agreement confirms that all 10 current F1 teams will continue to sponsor a driver and livery in the all-female series. This announcement comes as Cadillac prepares to enter Formula 1 in 2026 as the sport’s 11th team.
The F1 Academy has also announced a rule change that will allow select drivers to compete for a third season if they demonstrate “strong potential for continued growth”. Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon said that the brand’s involvement in the series reflects its ambition to nurture young racing talent and strengthen its presence across multiple levels of motorsport.
Verstappen reveals that he told Red Bull to “keep an eye” on Bortoleto – Updated 16:50 UK
The Dutch driver opened up about his unexpected friendship with the Brazilian rookie on the Pelas Pistas podcast, revealing that he had once urged Red Bull to “keep an eye” on the young driver. The two first met years before Bortoleto’s Formula 1 debut, when the then-teenage Bortoleto jumped a Monaco pit wall to ask Verstappen for advice before an F4 race. Verstappen’s blunt response — “Flat out” — resulted in Bortoleto crashing at Turn 1, sparking a story that both now laugh about.
In fact, the pair first met even earlier, in karting, when Verstappen approached the long-haired Bortoleto for a photo after being impressed by his pace. Since then, they have developed a strong bond, sharing simulator sessions and chatting during F1 parades. Bortoleto praised Verstappen’s humility, saying that the Red Bull star treats younger drivers with respect — a rare quality among the grid.
Verstappen described Bortoleto as ‘hungry but humble’, adding that team chemistry matters more than outright speed when choosing teammates. “A driver pairing works because of what happens away from the cameras,” he said. ‘I’ve always told my team to keep an eye on him. I hope he’s in a competitive car in a few years — and if we’re together, even better.”
F1 confirms major multi-year deal to secure the future of the F1 Academy – Updated 13:15 UK
Formula 1 has announced a landmark partnership with the all-female series that guarantees the involvement of all ten current F1 teams — plus future entrant Cadillac. As part of the renewed agreement, each F1 team will continue to sponsor a livery and a driver, demonstrating their long-term support for the championship’s mission to nurture female talent in motorsport. Cadillac will join the grid as a sponsor in 2027, following its F1 debut the previous year.
Alongside this agreement, the F1 Academy has unveiled a key rule change that will allow select drivers to compete for a third season if they demonstrate exceptional growth potential. Managing director Susie Wolff hailed the move as a sign of progress, calling it “a powerful message about the future of the F1 Academy”. She added that the extended partnerships and revised regulations would help to ensure that the series continues to showcase and nurture the best emerging female talent in racing.
Red Bull faces new EU antitrust probe over market restrictions – Updated 12:25 UK
The European Commission has launched a new antitrust investigation into the company, alleging that it has implemented tactics to restrict competition in the energy drink market, particularly against rivals selling cans larger than 250 ml. This investigation follows raids in 2023, which were prompted by complaints from Monster Energy, and could result in fines amounting to up to 10% of Red Bull’s global turnover if the company is found to have violated EU competition law.
EU Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera said that the aim of the investigation is to determine whether Red Bull’s market strategy has “kept prices high and limited consumer choice”. This investigation is part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to ensure fair market conditions and prevent monopolistic practices within Europe’s food and beverage sector.
Perez back in black: Sergio returns to F1 action with Ferrari-powered Cadillac test at Imola – Updated 11:50 UK
Sergio Pérez has officially returned to Formula 1 machinery, completing a private test at Imola in a black Ferrari SF-23 as part of Cadillac’s preparations for the 2026 F1 season. After parting ways with Red Bull following a disappointing 2024 campaign, the Mexican driver spent the session readjusting to F1 speeds, assessing his fitness, and working with his new race engineers.
This test marked Perez’s first track outing in almost a year, as well as an early integration exercise with Cadillac’s technical team, who will be using Ferrari power units next season. Perez, who is 34 years old, said that the run was about “starting to speak the same language” with his new crew before pre-season testing begins in early 2026.
Yas Marina’s race control room undergoes high-tech overhaul ahead of Abu Dhabi GP – Updated 08:00
The Yas Marina Circuit, where F1’s most infamous title decider took place in 2021, has undergone a multimillion-dirham transformation ahead of next month’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in an effort to avoid another 2021 ‘debacle’. The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix became one of Formula 1’s most controversial moments when a late-race decision by race control led to a one-lap shootout between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen overtook Hamilton on the final lap to claim his first world title, sparking global outrage and prompting a major overhaul of FIA race management.
The newly rebuilt race control room, dubbed the “nerve centre” of the track, is now one of the most advanced in motorsport.
Overseen by Circuit Safety and Operations Director Stuart Latham, the upgraded hub features 55 live camera feeds, dynamic touchscreen control and integrated cabling. Its sleek design is intended to reduce stress and improve decision-making during high-pressure moments. “We didn’t just meet FIA standards — we exceeded them,” said Latham.
Officials can now control flag panels remotely, deploy safety cars in seconds and monitor every inch of the circuit with unprecedented precision. The overhaul aims to eliminate clutter and confusion — a symbolic fresh start after the controversy of 2021 that defined the venue.
Yas Marina’s general manager, Ali Al Beshr, said that the project reflects the UAE’s commitment to remaining “at the forefront of global motorsport”. With McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri locked in a title fight, the revamped facility could once again play host to a championship-defining moment in December.
Piastri admits that the team orders at Monza were “not the most helpful” as his title bid collapsed – Updated 00:30 UK
The Australian driver has admitted that McLaren’s controversial team orders at Monza may have been “playing on his mind” during the Baku weekend, which derailed his Formula 1 title challenge. Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, the Australian driver said that the decision to let his teammate, Lando Norris, pass him for second place after a slow pit stop was “hard to move past” and contributed to a mental spiral that led to his crash-filled Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Piastri called Baku “the worst weekend I’ve ever had in racing”, explaining that mechanical issues, tricky tyres and overdriving had all contributed to a “perfect storm” of frustration following Monza. Despite his candour, Piastri said the experience had been “useful” in building his resilience, adding that “everyone in racing has a disastrous story”.
Now 24 points behind Norris with three races to go, Piastri faces an uphill struggle to keep his fading title hopes alive, though he insists that the lessons he has learned from his mistakes could prove invaluable in the long term.
Grill’d has apologised after fans blamed the ‘burger curse’ for Oscar Piastri’s slump in the Formula 1 championship – Updated 00:20 UK
The Australian restaurant chain jokingly apologised to fans for ‘cursing’ Piastri after his title challenge collapsed. The company launched a promotion offering fans free burgers whenever the McLaren driver reached the podium, dubbed the ‘Piastri 81 Burger’. However, since the promotion’s relaunch five races ago, Piastri has failed to finish in the top three.
After the campaign was amended to reward fans if Piastri simply finished a race, he promptly crashed out of the São Paulo sprint, fuelling online jokes about the ‘Grill’d curse’. The company later posted on Instagram: “We never meant to create a burger so delicious it could change the course of F1 history.”
Meanwhile, Piastri’s manager, Mark Webber, has urged his driver to dig deep, saying that the 24-year-old needs to find ‘strength of character’ to bounce back. Despite his current struggles and dwindling hopes of winning the title — he is now 24 points behind Lando Norris — Webber praised Piastri’s seven race wins in just his third season in Formula 1, calling his rapid rise ‘pretty unprecedented’.
David Coulthard will roar through Adelaide in a Red Bull Formula 1 car to celebrate the 40th anniversary – Updated 00:10 UK
The Formula 1 legend will return to the iconic Adelaide Street Circuit later this month to drive Red Bull’s RB7 at the bp Adelaide Grand Final, which takes place from 27–30 November. The Scottish driver, who first appeared at the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide in 1995, will take part in a series of high-speed demonstrations to mark the circuit’s 40th anniversary.
He will be joined by former Red Bull Toro Rosso driver Scott Speed, who will pilot the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls car as part of Red Bull’s lineup. Throughout the four-day event, fans will witness both F1 machines twice daily, including in a special “speed comparison” showcase alongside legendary motorsport and road cars.
Coulthard, now a Red Bull ambassador and Formula 1 commentator, said he is eager to relive the atmosphere of the circuit, calling Adelaide “an incredible motorsport city”. This event concludes the 2025 Supercars season and promises fans an up-close look at the Red Bull garage, exclusive autograph sessions and a celebration of four decades of Australian motorsport heritage.
Tickets available via Ticketmaster.
Audi unveils striking F1 livery and ambitious plan to win titles by 2030 – Updated 00:05 UK
The R26 Concept, Audi’s first Formula 1 livery, showcases a bold mix of Titanium, Carbon Black, and signature Audi Red. Unveiled in Munich, the car marks the beginning of a new design era for Audi and signals its intention to become a title contender in Formula 1, rather than just a participant.
CEO Gernot Döllner made it clear that the German giant is entering Formula 1 “to win”, and former Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto outlined a three-phase plan to take Audi from challenger to champion. The team will officially debut in 2026 after taking full control of Sauber, with the first race car set to launch in January next year.
Audi views Formula 1 not only as a sport, but also as a strategic investment, combining global visibility, youth outreach and technological innovation under cost-cap stability. With backing from sponsors such as Adidas, bp and Revolut, the project aims to combine design clarity with racing ambition as the brand aims to secure its first F1 titles before the end of the decade.
COMMENT BELOW & CHECK BACK ON THIS PAGE THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR UPDATED NEWS
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.
