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.
With the 2026 Red Bull decision approaching, Helmut Marko has compared Isack Hadjar to Senna and Schumacher – Updated 19:20 UK
Marko has offered his strongest hint yet that Hadjar is set for a promotion to Red Bull in 2026, describing the young Frenchman as having a rare ability akin to that of Senna and Schumacher. Speaking on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Marko said that Hadjar becomes competitive within just a few laps on unfamiliar circuits — a trait that he says he has previously witnessed in Formula 1 legends.
Hadjar has consistently impressed throughout his rise from F3 to F2, delivering strong performances even at tracks he had never raced on before. A notable example is his standout debut at Suzuka, where he qualified seventh and finished eighth. While the comparison to all-time greats is striking, Hadjar arguably doesn’t need to be the next Senna to earn the Red Bull seat.
With Liam Lawson struggling alongside Max Verstappen earlier in the year, and Yuki Tsunoda’s form tailing off — including finishing last in Brazil — Hadjar has emerged as the clear favourite for the second Red Bull seat in 2026. Marko’s comments suggest an announcement may be imminent.
Max Verstappen is planning his future home around an upgraded racing simulator – Updated 18:15 UK
Verstappen has admitted that he is already thinking about how his next house will be designed, specifically to accommodate a much larger and more advanced home simulator rig. Speaking on the Securing the Win podcast, the four-time world champion explained that the professional simulator at Red Bull’s Milton Keynes base had inspired him to create a dedicated space at home for serious sim work.
Verstappen spends long days in Red Bull’s simulator carrying out setup testing, correlation work and race-weekend preparation. Although he acknowledges that it can be repetitive, he believes it is crucial for performance, emphasising that drivers and simulator teams must collaborate closely to respond to changing track conditions or unexpected car behaviour.
He also joked that he deliberately avoids checking how many hours he logs on his personal simulator. He said that he refuses to turn on the counter at home because he suspects that the number would be “too much” by the end of the season.
Piastri to miss crucial FP1 in Abu Dhabi due to rookie rule – Updated 15:50 UK
Oscar Piastri will miss the first free practice session at the Abu Dhabi season finale, as he must complete his second mandatory rookie handover of the year. FIA rules stipulate that each non-rookie driver must relinquish their seat twice per season. As Piastri has only done so once in 2024, he must fulfil his final obligation at the final race of the season.
As he took part in FP1 in Las Vegas, this automatically rules him out of fulfilling the requirement there. Qatar is also unavailable due to its sprint weekend format, leaving Abu Dhabi as the only option. This could be costly for Piastri, who is still in contention for the title, while rivals such as Lando Norris and potentially Max Verstappen will gain valuable setup time in FP1.
McLaren have not yet confirmed who will replace Piastri for the session, but reserve driver Pato O’Ward is considered the leading candidate for the Abu Dhabi FP1 outing.
Leclerc’s manager approached repeatedly as 2027 transfer rumours grow – Updated 14:42 UK
There has been growing speculation about Charles Leclerc’s long-term future at Ferrari, with journalist Leo Turrini claiming that Aston Martin has “repeatedly contacted” Leclerc’s manager, Nicolas Todt, regarding a potential move in 2027.
Leclerc has remained loyal to Ferrari since joining in 2019, but repeated missed opportunities, including a second winless season in three years and an underperforming 2025 car, have fuelled doubts. With new regulations due to come into effect in 2026, the coming year could be pivotal for his hopes of becoming a world champion in his prime.
Turrini notes that, with Adrian Newey-designed cars and Honda engines set to be introduced in 2026, Aston Martin is positioning itself as an attractive future destination, especially as Fernando Alonso approaches the end of his career. With the 2027 driver market already taking shape behind the scenes, Leclerc is among the key potential movers, alongside Max Verstappen. His future decisions are expected to have a significant impact on the wider landscape.
Stirling Moss’ children locked in legal battle over £20m estate – Updated 11:30 UK
The children of Formula 1 legend Sir Stirling Moss are embroiled in a bitter legal dispute over his £20 million estate following the death of his third wife, Lady Susie, who passed away in 2023 without leaving a will. Widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers never to win a world championship, Moss had left the bulk of his estate to Lady Susie when he died in April 2020 at the age of 90.
The dispute has pitted his daughter, Allison Bradley, against her half-brother, Stirling Elliot Moss, with Allison reportedly taking the matter to the High Court. Probate office papers show that three-quarters of Moss’s £22.08 million estate was initially intended for Elliot, with Allison due 25 per cent. The lack of a will from Lady Susie has left both siblings contesting their inheritance, reigniting family tensions.
Throughout his career, Moss was a pioneering figure in Formula 1, winning 16 races and finishing on the podium 24 times between 1951 and 1961. He was forced to retire in 1962 after crashing at Goodwood, which left him in a coma for a month and partially paralysed for six months. His legacy remains significant: a 1955 Mercedes that he drove was auctioned for £43 million earlier this year, setting a record for a Grand Prix car.
Pirelli reveals tyre choices for the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix – Updated 10:45 UK
Pirelli has confirmed the tyre compounds for this weekend’s race, sticking with the familiar C3 (hard), C4 (medium) and C5 (soft) combination. The Las Vegas Strip Circuit features a blend of tight corners and long straights, making tyre warm-up and management a key focus for teams and drivers.
Each driver will have two sets of hard tyres, three sets of medium tyres and eight sets of soft tyres available, plus intermediates and full wets if conditions demand. As usual, those who reach Q3 will receive an additional set of soft tyres, and at least two slick compounds must be used in a dry race.
Pirelli notes that, for the third consecutive year, cooler evening temperatures will influence tyre behaviour, particularly during qualifying. Although sessions start slightly earlier in 2025, helping with warm-up, the preparation lap before a flying lap remains critical. Updated tyre construction for this season should also reduce degradation, which was particularly high for the medium compound last year.
The decision not to bring a softer trio of tyres stems from the persistent risk of graining in Las Vegas. Despite improved tyre durability, Pirelli believes that using a softer compound would negatively impact performance too much, particularly given that the circuit is already known for its challenging surface temperatures and rapid track evolution.
Flood watch issued ahead of Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend
A flood watch has been issued for the Las Vegas Valley as heavy rain is expected at the start of the week, raising concerns about potential flooding. The alert will remain in effect until at least Wednesday, by which time conditions are expected to improve, meaning that the Grand Prix weekend should be able to go ahead without major disruption.
Although Las Vegas is not designed to handle significant rainfall, the expected showers are still below the city’s typical November averages. Friday’s sessions begin during the evening in Europe, with FP1 and FP2 set to take place under mostly cloudy skies. There is a 31% chance of late showers, light north winds of up to 6 mph and humidity of around 67%, which could leave the track slightly damp initially.
Saturday morning will see lingering showers, but these are expected to clear well before the evening sessions begin. It will be cold but dry, with temperatures around 7°C, an 11% chance of rain, north-westerly winds at 11 kph, and humidity at 61%.
Sunday’s race day looks set to be the most stable, with partly cloudy skies, temperatures around 7°C, and virtually no rain expected. Light northwesterly winds and moderate humidity should provide ideal conditions for the Grand Prix to proceed uninterrupted.
Ferrari marks 20-year Puma partnership with Las Vegas GP tribute
Ferrari is set to celebrate, what they self describe as, a significant milestone at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will unveil a limited-edition team kit to mark 20 years with Puma. Instead of the usual single shade of red, the Las Vegas apparel features three distinct colours, each representing a significant period in the team’s history.
One colour pays homage to the deep burgundy livery used at the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix, which marked Ferrari’s 1,000th Formula 1 race. Another shade is the iconic red of the 2007 car, driven by Kimi Räikkönen to secure Ferrari’s most recent drivers’ championship. The final shade reflects the 2008 season, when Räikkönen and Felipe Massa delivered the Scuderia’s last constructors’ title.
Together, these colours form a visual tribute to the partnership’s key moments, giving Ferrari a unique look under the Las Vegas lights.
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