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.
Title: Williams Unveils Bold Las Vegas GP Livery with AI-Inspired Design – Updated 19:35 UK
Williams has revealed a striking new livery for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, marking its second special design in a U.S. race this season. The one-off look celebrates the team’s partnership with title sponsor Atlassian and highlights the squad’s growing use of its AI-powered assistant, Rovo.
Team principal James Vowles described the Las Vegas reveal as a fitting showcase for the collaboration, calling the city “one of the most tech-forward” places in the world. He emphasised that Atlassian is playing a key role in accelerating Williams’ technology transformation as the team aims to return to the front of the grid.
Chief Information and Analytics Officer Sorin Cheran explained that Rovo is helping Williams streamline its search through data, files, and information across the team’s systems. This, he said, enables faster upgrades and more efficient problem-solving—both crucial factors in the fight to regain competitiveness.
Williams sees its growing tech partnerships as essential to long-term ambitions, with Cheran reiterating the team’s ultimate target: fighting at the front and winning multiple World Championships.
Ecclestone Says Ferrari Move for Horner “Can’t Be Ruled Out” Amid Team “Chaos” – Updated 14:12 UK
According to Blick, former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has suggested that Christian Horner could yet find his way to Ferrari, describing the situation at Maranello as “chaos”. Horner officially departed Red Bull in September, having been replaced by Laurent Mekies earlier in the season. He is believed to be targeting a return to Formula 1, but only if it comes with greater power — potentially as a team owner or shareholder.
Speaking to Blick, Ecclestone joked about the rumours that he might buy a team with Horner, asking: “How old do I have to be before these rumours about me stop?” He also dismissed the idea of joining forces at Aston Martin, noting that Adrian Newey moved there because he ‘no longer wanted to work with Horner’.
While many top teams are off the table, including Red Bull, Mercedes, Williams, Cadillac and Aston Martin, Horner has held exploratory conversations with Haas and Alpine remains a realistic option due to his strong ties with Flavio Briatore. However, Ecclestone told Blick that Ferrari cannot be discounted, despite Frédéric Vasseur recently signing a new deal. As he put it: “I wouldn’t rule out Ferrari! It’s just chaos there. And boss Elkann is now even insulting his two drivers.”
How Verstappen Could Be Eliminated from the F1 Title Fight in Las Vegas – Updated 12:05
Max Verstappen enters the Las Vegas Grand Prix 49 points behind championship leader Lando Norris. While the title battle isn’t over yet, Verstappen could be mathematically eliminated this weekend. After a strong surge in the second half of the season that reduced his deficit from 104 points to just 36, Verstappen’s momentum stalled as Norris dominated both the sprint and the grand prix in São Paulo. Consequently, Verstappen’s gap to the lead has widened again, jeopardising his championship hopes.
With only two races remaining after Las Vegas, a total of 58 points will be available: 33 in Qatar due to the sprint and 25 in Abu Dhabi. The equation is simple: if Verstappen leaves Las Vegas 58 points or more behind Norris, his title chances will be over. Even if he remains mathematically in contention, losing more ground this weekend could prevent him from winning on countback in the event of a points tie, since Norris currently leads in both wins (7 to 5) and second-place finishes.
Several elimination scenarios are already on the table, and some have occurred multiple times this season. If Verstappen loses nine or more points to Norris — for example, if Norris wins and Verstappen finishes no higher than third — he will be out of the running. Other combinations include Norris finishing second with Verstappen no higher than sixth, or Norris finishing third with Verstappen no higher than seventh. In all other outcomes, Verstappen will keep his hopes alive heading into Qatar.
Despite his strong position, Norris cannot secure the title in Las Vegas. Even if he wins and Verstappen and Oscar Piastri score zero points, this would not give him a large enough margin to seal the championship. Norris could only clinch the crown in Qatar. However, he could lose the championship lead this weekend if Piastri wins and he scores one point or fewer.
All eyes now turn to Las Vegas, where one of the closest and most unpredictable championship battles in years could take another dramatic turn.
Alan Jones slams claims McLaren favour Norris over Piastri – Updated 09:55 UK
Alan Jones has dismissed suggestions that McLaren are favouring Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri in the fight for the 2025 title, labelling the rumours “complete nonsense” and “bullsh!t”.
Piastri led the championship earlier in the season, but Norris has outperformed him in every race since the Dutch Grand Prix. This, combined with McLaren’s policy of letting their drivers race freely, has fuelled claims that the team prefers its British driver.
Speaking to ABC, Jones dismissed the accusations outright. He said that teams don’t spend huge amounts of money travelling the world just to sabotage one car or benefit another, and insisted that both McLaren drivers receive equal treatment. He also defended McLaren CEO Zak Brown, stating that he would never deliberately disadvantage one driver.
The 1980 world champion said that conspiracy theories arise in almost every title battle, usually from people who “wouldn’t know one end of a car from another”. Jones believes that the idea of favouritism is simply fans looking for explanations when results don’t go their way.
Las Vegas and F1 Target New 5–10 Year Deal to Keep Grand Prix Through the 2030s – Updated 00:30 UK
Formula 1 and Las Vegas officials are discussing a long-term extension to keep the Las Vegas Grand Prix on the calendar well into the next decade. The current three-year agreement between Formula 1 and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is set to expire after the 2025 race, although a two-year extension has already been arranged for 2026–27. However, both parties now hope to secure a new agreement lasting five to ten years, which would potentially lock the event in until 2032 — or even 2037.
LVCVA CEO Steve Hill has confirmed that preliminary discussions are underway and that both parties are aiming to keep the race in its traditional pre-Thanksgiving weekend slot. According to race officials, a longer contract would enable greater investment in infrastructure, thereby reducing the disruption caused by constructing and dismantling the street circuit each year.
Las Vegas Grand Prix president Emily Prazer said that Liberty Media is expected to contribute funding for long-term improvements. This could include semi-permanent bases for lighting and other track components, enabling crews to install the necessary equipment much more quickly and minimise traffic closures. Last year’s inaugural race resulted in nine months of road disruption; this year’s construction period is a more streamlined four months, from September to Christmas.
Hill explained that permanent infrastructure would drastically cut setup time, noting that even simple fixtures, such as pre-installed bases for lighting stanchions, could eliminate lane closures on the Strip. The goal is to make the race more sustainable for the city and its residents while still delivering a major boost to tourism.
The LVCVA currently spends $6.5 million sponsoring the race and will contribute $10 million annually in 2026 and 2027. A new multi-year sponsorship agreement would likely accompany a long-term race contract.
With F1 having already invested around $500 million in the Las Vegas event, including the construction of the 300,000-square-foot Grand Prix Plaza, Prazer stressed that the series is committed to the city. However, long-term security is essential for further investment and continued growth.
Herbert Criticises Stewards Over Piastri–Antonelli Clash
Johnny Herbert has criticised the current Formula 1 stewarding guidelines after Oscar Piastri was penalised for his collision at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Piastri’s title hopes slipped further as teammate Lando Norris dominated the weekend, while Piastri crashed in the Sprint and finished only fifth in the race.
Speaking on the Stay on Track podcast, Herbert said he “never liked” the modern guidelines when he was a steward, arguing they over-complicate racing and focus too heavily on apex positions rather than real-world racecraft. Discussing the three-wide clash between Piastri, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and Charles Leclerc, Herbert insisted Antonelli went into the corner “too tight” and failed to leave enough space.
Herbert also argued both drivers were fully aware of each other’s positions—meaning the incident was more complex than the rulebook allows for—criticising F1’s tendency to “make up rules for racing” rather than trusting drivers’ instincts.
Perez says F1 break helped him rediscover love of racing
Sergio Pérez says that stepping away from Formula 1 gave him a new perspective on the sport. He admits that he did not realise how much he needed the break until he was forced out. After losing his Red Bull seat for 2025 and failing to secure another full-time drive, he said he finally realised how ‘automatic’ life in F1 had become, with constant pressure over contracts, results and the next race.
He described F1 as a “bubble”, saying that drivers fixate on performance and forget to enjoy the privilege of racing. Time away, he said, had reminded him of that joy and taught him his “biggest lesson”: to enjoy the sport rather than being consumed by it.
During his time off, he found himself still watching races and speaking to people in the paddock, and realised he missed F1 more than he had expected to. This growing desire to return, combined with Cadillac’s enthusiasm, convinced him to sign with the brand ahead of its 2026 debut, alongside Valtteri Bottas.
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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.
