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.
Piastri delivers statement sprint pole and jokes “nice to be back” after slump – 21:15 UK
Oscar Piastri sent a timely message in Qatar by securing pole position for the sprint race of the Qatar Grand Prix, ending a frustrating run of form with an impressive qualifying performance and a humorous celebration on the team radio.
After being tipped for the title following his win at the Dutch Grand Prix in August, Piastri endured a three-month victory drought, achieving just one podium in seven races, and saw his 34-point lead turn into a 24-point deficit to his teammate, Lando Norris. McLaren’s double disqualification in Las Vegas left him level on points with Max Verstappen.
But on Friday in Lusail, Piastri looked like his old self again. He wrestled the car through a wild moment at Turn 4 on his final SQ3 lap and still secured P1 ahead of George Russell. Norris, caught in traffic, had to settle for third place.
His team radio message spoke volumes. When engineer Tom Stallard told him, “Nice job, Oscar. That’s P1,” Piastri erupted:
“Ah, f**k yeah! Nice to be back. Thanks, everybody!”
In parc fermé, he doubled down on the relief: “It’s been a good day, which is nice for a change. Everything felt good, and it’s nice to be back on top.”
With the championship still up for grabs and Norris set to seal the title by finishing ahead of Piastri and Verstappen, the Australian’s sprint pole could not have come at a better time — hinting that the fight isn’t over yet.
Starting grid for the Qatar GP Sprint Race
| Position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 2nd | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 3rd | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 4th | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 5th | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull |
| 6th | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 7th | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 8th | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 9th | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 10th | Alex Albon | Williams |
| 11th | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
| 12th | Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| 13th | Gabriel Bortoleto | Stake |
| 14th | Nico Hulkenberg | Stake |
| 15th | Esteban Ocon | Haas |
| 16th | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 17th | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 18th | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 19th | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 20th | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
Aston Martin insider warns team is ‘out of control’ as Newey era begins – Updated 13:10 UK
Aston Martin’s internal turmoil has become public as Adrian Newey prepares for his first race weekend in charge at the Qatar Grand Prix. This week, the team announced that Newey had replaced Andy Cowell as team principal, with Cowell moving into a narrower role as chief strategy officer — a reshuffle that reportedly followed growing internal tension.
Lawrence Stroll insisted that the restructure had been mutually agreed, and praised both men. He said that Newey’s elevation would allow him to “make full use of his creative and technical expertise”. However, behind the scenes, the transition appears far less smooth.
According to Blick, one Aston Martin employee described the situation bluntly:
“Things are completely out of control here. We simply have too many chiefs on board.”
This reflects deeper concerns about a team that has undergone four leadership changes in four years, and which now has a crowded hierarchy including Newey, Cowell, Enrico Cardile, Eric Blandin, and Dan Fallows, who was recently sidelined. The influx of high-profile figures has reportedly created overlapping authority and internal friction.
Newey, widely regarded as the greatest car designer in Formula 1 history, is expected to lead a major technical overhaul ahead of the 2026 regulations. However, his appointment as team principal has raised questions about whether he is taking on too much.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown voiced this concern on The Sports Agents podcast, arguing that Newey should be allowed to focus entirely on car design.
“[Newey] can’t do it all,” Brown said. “He can’t design a race car and be a team principal and a CEO… I’d want him to be 100% focused on designing the car.”
The Race recently reported that seven staff members are leaving Aston Martin as part of a Newey-led shake-up. Some within the paddock believe that Newey’s role as team principal may be temporary, and that Stroll will eventually appoint a CEO-style figure to stabilise the operation.
For now, Newey is stepping into a team that insiders have described as chaotic and overloaded with senior voices, all while juggling major personnel changes and preparing for one of the most consequential regulation resets in modern Formula 1.
FIA and Drivers Review Standards in Qatar Meeting – Updated 10:00 UK
On Thursday, the FIA met with Formula 1 drivers in Qatar to review current driving standards and discuss the application of overtaking and defensive regulations. The session focused heavily on the Driving Standards Guidelines (DSGs), which were introduced in 2022 to clarify how rules are interpreted. The FIA emphasised that, while the DSGs are guidelines, not rules, they are crucial for ensuring consistency and transparency.
Drivers and stewards reviewed several recent case studies, including Piastri vs. Antonelli in São Paulo, Sainz’s clashes with Bearman and Lawson, Norris vs. Leclerc in Austin and Verstappen vs. Leclerc in Mexico, in order to gain insight into the decision-making process.
Key preferences expressed by the drivers included:
– stronger emphasis on yellow-flag discipline and potential extra safety measures;
– Support for post-race hearings when not all information is available during the race.
– Agreement that guidelines cannot cover every situation, making experienced driver stewards essential.
– Calls for clearer blue-flag expectations within the DSGs.
According to the FIA, the meeting was an ‘open and honest discussion in a very collegial atmosphere’, and the feedback will inform future DSG updates. However, no changes will be introduced for the final two races of the 2025 season.
Aston Martin’s Newey Restructure May Be Only Temporary – Updated 09:45 UK
According to Motorsport.com’s analysis, Aston Martin’s shock move to appoint Adrian Newey as team principal may not be a long-term solution. The report suggests that the restructure was largely designed to quell rumours surrounding Andy Cowell’s future, but that it may only be a temporary arrangement in practice.
One of the biggest concerns is whether Newey can realistically carry out the full workload of a team principal. Motorsport.com notes that it is ‘difficult to believe he could guarantee a presence at more than ten grands prix’ and adds that it is ‘just as hard to imagine Newey fully committing to glad-handing the media and sponsors’, responsibilities which are normally central to the role.
Due to this limited availability, the outlet reports that Aston Martin may still be evaluating other candidates, and that ‘the latest structure may be temporary’, pending the availability of high-profile figures on the market.
Mike Krack, currently chief trackside officer, is expected to handle team principal duties on race weekends when Newey is absent, ensuring the team remains operational while owner Lawrence Stroll and Newey review the leadership model.
Overall, Motorsport.com concludes that the current framework ‘may not be final’ and that further surprises at Aston Martin remain entirely possible.
Hadjar calls potential Verstappen partnership an ‘incredible opportunity’ – Updated 09:00 UK
Hadjar says he would embrace the challenge of becoming Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate in 2026, calling it “an incredible opportunity to learn”.
The 21-year-old rookie is widely tipped to step up from the junior team, Racing Bulls, to replace Yuki Tsunoda, with Red Bull expected to confirm their decision next week.
Speaking in Doha, Hadjar acknowledged the magnitude of the task and the potential impact of partnering with the four-time champion on his career. He openly admitted that he wouldn’t beat Verstappen right now, saying: “He’s better in every aspect — he drives better, makes fewer mistakes, and he has more experience.”
Despite this, Hadjar’s impressive debut season, which has included a podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix and 51 points so far, has firmly established him as a contender for Red Bull’s second seat.
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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.
