Welcome to TJ13’s daily rolling F1 news and comment. Here you’ll find all the latest stories, rumours and paddock whispers. We’ll be updating this page all day as the news breaks, so be sure to check back regularly for the latest updates straight from the F1 circus. And don’t forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page.
Adrian Newey becomes Aston Martin’s team principal – Updated 23:00 UK
Aston Martin has announced a significant change to the leadership of its Formula 1 team, effective from 2026. Adrian Newey will become team principal, succeeding Andy Cowell, who will take on the role of chief strategist.
The team describes this as a joint decision aimed at strengthening the team’s technical and operational direction in anticipation of the new 2026 regulations, at which point Aston Martin will become a works team in partnership with Honda. Newey, who joined the team in March, will oversee overall team leadership, while Cowell will focus on optimising the technical partnerships with Honda, Aramco, and Valvoline. Aston Martin is currently eighth in the Constructors’ Championship and hopes that these changes will make it more competitive in the next regulatory cycle… READ MORE ON THIS STORY
Mercedes has figured out why Kimi Antonelli got that weird penalty for a false start – Updated 12:05 UK
Mercedes reckons it’s figured out why Kimi Antonelli got a five-second penalty for a false start at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The penalty was given after Antonelli appeared to move before the lights went out, which meant he dropped from fourth to fifth on the road. But he was later promoted to third after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified. Trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin explained that this incident was different from a standard jump start, where a driver drops the clutch early to gain an advantage.
Mercedes says that Antonelli had the clutch fully pulled and was following standard procedures. He moved forward a little bit – about two centimetres – when he lifted his foot from the brakes just before the lights went out. Shovlin reckons the car’s movement might’ve been down to vibration or torque in the driveline, not driver error. He said that the FIA’s detection systems are super sensitive and can spot even the smallest movement, which is why the penalty was given even though Antonelli started correctly.
Red Bull is counting on Verstappen to offset 2026 engine concerns – Updated 10:05 UK
Red Bull is pushing ahead with its all-new 2026 Formula 1 power unit, despite persistent rumours in the paddock suggesting that the project may be falling behind rivals, especially Mercedes.
With upcoming regulations demanding that the hybrid system supply 50% of the car’s total power, all manufacturers are facing significant challenges in terms of battery deployment, energy recovery and optimisation throughout a race.
Despite its huge investment in the Powertrains division, including high-profile hires from Mercedes and technical support from Ford, Red Bull remains coy about where it stands relative to competitors. While Helmut Marko avoided providing specifics, he insisted that the team’s greatest strength is not mechanical, but rather Max Verstappen himself.
Marko hinted that Verstappen’s ability to drive at full speed while managing the complex energy systems in his mind will give Red Bull a decisive edge under the new rules, which require far more driver input in energy management. The 2026 cars will also feature active aerodynamics and a new ‘override mode’ for short bursts of power, creating a steep learning curve for the entire grid.
Chief engineer Paul Monaghan admitted that the project had been ‘immense’ and that major components were already in production. However, getting everything to work reliably, even in simulation, remained a major challenge. Nevertheless, Red Bull expects to be ready for the first private test in Barcelona at the end of January.
Monaghan says the team is confident that the car, the engine and, especially, the drivers — Verstappen in particular — will keep Red Bull competitive in 2026, even if the transition to the new regulations proves challenging for everyone.
Mick Schumacher plays down the dangers of IndyCar as he commits to switching in 2026 – Updated 08:30 UK
Mick Schumacher has confirmed that he will join IndyCar with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2026, taking the number 47 that he used in Formula 1. Following a successful test last month, Schumacher described the move as a deliberate return to pure formula racing, stating that it is the “best option” for his career at this time.
Despite the switch, Schumacher insisted that his Formula 1 ambitions remain alive. He stressed that IndyCar does not close the door to future Formula 1 opportunities and argued that many top drivers maintain ties to F1 while racing elsewhere.
Addressing concerns about the perceived dangers of IndyCar, particularly its high-speed ovals, Schumacher played them down. While acknowledging that motorsport is inherently risky, he argued that IndyCar has become much safer and that he is accepting the challenge “consciously” for the love of racing. He added that he had sought the opinions of a variety of people before making his decision, ultimately concluding that he wanted to commit fully to the US series.
Vettel reveals the ‘only advice’ he gave Hamilton before his switch to Ferrari – Updated 08:15 UK
Reflecting on his own time at Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel revealed the single piece of advice he offered Lewis Hamilton before the Briton joined the team in 2025: learn Italian, and learn it properly.
Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Vettel questioned whether Hamilton could truly ‘get the people’ at Ferrari so early in his tenure, suggesting that understanding the team’s deeply Italian culture requires more than just basic language lessons.
Vettel, who joined Ferrari in 2015 after his championship run with Red Bull, admitted that he had made a “crucial mistake” by not mastering the language during his time at the team, despite taking classes. He believes that fully integrating into Ferrari requires spending time in Italy and developing genuine connections with the workforce, many of whom speak limited English.
Hamilton, who is enduring what he has called his “worst season ever” and is approaching a full year without a podium finish, may face similar challenges. Having spent his entire career with UK-based teams, adapting to the environment at Ferrari, both on and off the track, has proven difficult.
Vettel stressed that speaking excellent Italian is key to understanding the culture, building trust and unlocking the team’s full potential. Hamilton is under contract until 2027, so he has time, but after a troubled debut season, it remains to be seen whether he will succeed.
Vasseur tells Hamilton to “calm down” after Vegas frustration – Updated 08:00 UK
Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has urged calm after Lewis Hamilton publicly criticised his Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend as “horrendous”. Despite Ferrari achieving a double-points finish on Sunday, the chaotic, rain-hit qualifying session left Charles Leclerc in ninth place and Lewis Hamilton in 20th place, his worst career result. Both drivers made strong recoveries in the race, Leclerc moved up to fourth and Hamilton to eighth, later being promoted to second and sixth after McLaren’s disqualification, but Hamilton remained deeply unimpressed.
Speaking after the race, Vasseur said he completely understood Hamilton’s frustration, but stressed that emotions were running high in the immediate aftermath.
“Let’s calm down,” he said, explaining that Hamilton had shown strong pace in FP1 and FP2, and that Saturday’s setbacks shouldn’t be the sole basis for judging the weekend. He acknowledged that starting last made the race “always difficult”, but insisted that the team had still produced a “decent” first stint before struggling on the mediums later on.
With Ferrari currently in fourth place in the Constructors’ standings, 53 points behind Mercedes and 13 points behind Red Bull, Vasseur emphasised the need to maintain focus for the final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. “We have to come back next week with more determination and focus and avoid making mistakes,” he said. “Everybody wants more, Charles, Lewis, the team. The only way to achieve that is to work harder.”
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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.
