Last Updated on December 5 2025, 12:29 am
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.
Hamilton plots Ferrari overhaul after toughest season of his career – Updated 19:40 UK
Lewis Hamilton has announced that he will shake up his Ferrari team significantly ahead of the 2026 season, following a disastrous debut year with the team that has seen him go a record 23 races without a podium finish. Ahead of the Abu Dhabi finale, the seven-time world champion admitted that this year had tested his confidence more than any other in his Formula 1 career. However, he remains convinced of his own ability.
Hamilton said he had spent the season documenting every misstep, decision, and missed opportunity, which he will now review to inform changes for next year. Although he declined to name individuals, he strongly hinted that both his personal staff and Ferrari’s team personnel could be reorganised to enhance performance.
He explained that upcoming testing and factory meetings would inform his restructuring plan, which would focus on optimising communication and decision-making processes, as well as the utilisation of his wider team. Hamilton stressed that addressing his “surroundings” would be crucial in rebuilding momentum and getting the most out of Ferrari in 2026.
Verstappen Brushes Off McLaren ‘Games’: “All That Matters Is the Trophy” – Updated 18:10 UK
Max Verstappen is heading into the Abu Dhabi title decider unmoved by talk of McLaren using team tactics against him. Trailing Lando Norris by 12 points and holding just a four-point edge over Oscar Piastri, the Dutchman acknowledges the odds but refuses to be rattled by speculation over coordinated strategy from the papaya team.
With the championship so tight that even a Verstappen win wouldn’t guarantee the crown, questions have swirled about whether McLaren might choreograph their race. Verstappen, unfazed, said he’s focused solely on the prize: “When you’re sitting at home 20 years from now, you’ll still have that trophy on the cupboard. That’s all that matters.”
While Norris and Piastri insist no team-orders discussion has taken place, many expect McLaren to step in if Piastri falls out of mathematical contention mid-race. Verstappen, however, isn’t banking on anything: “We’ll see! I can’t look inside Oscar’s head… I really don’t know.”
As for his own chances, Verstappen remains realistic about McLaren’s form: “They have had the best car… This will be a good circuit for them as well. We just have to try and get the maximum out of our car.”
Three contenders, two teams, one final showdown — and Verstappen keeping his mindset brutally simple: focus, execute, and chase the trophy.
Helmut Marko admits Qatar misjudgement to Ralf Schumacher – Updated 13:10 UK
Following the Qatar Grand Prix, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko publicly criticised Kimi Antonelli, stating that it was “obvious” that the young driver had intentionally moved aside to let Lando Norris pass. Many fans were outraged by this, pointing out that Antonelli had simply lost control momentarily and had never intended to influence the outcome of the race. The comments sparked a strong backlash online, prompting Antonelli to change his Instagram profile picture due to the abuse he received.
In private, Marko admitted to Ralf Schumacher that he had misjudged Antonelli’s actions. Schumacher revealed that Marko had called him the following day to acknowledge his mistake and recognise that his public remarks had been inappropriate. Red Bull later clarified the situation on social media in an attempt to quell the controversy.
McLaren under pressure as Steiner warns of ‘unhappy’ team culture – Updated 10:45 UK
McLaren may have dominated much of the 2025 Formula 1 season, but according to former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner, the team is heading into the Abu Dhabi finale under a cloud of internal tension. With Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri still mathematically capable of winning the drivers’ title, Steiner claims that the real story lies in the mood inside the garage — and it isn’t good.
Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, Steiner said he believes “they are all unhappy, but nobody voices it because of the culture”. He suggested that McLaren’s environment discourages speaking out, even as recent errors have dramatically tightened the championship battle.
McLaren’s late-race error in Qatar handed Max Verstappen a crucial victory, leaving the Red Bull driver just 12 points behind Norris and four behind Piastri ahead of the final race. This mistake occurred just one week after both McLaren cars were disqualified in Las Vegas, an event which Steiner believes has quietly unsettled the team.
Despite having “the best car”, Steiner warned that McLaren are “always pushing it to the limit”, and suggested that the internal frustration will “spill out” if the drivers’ title ultimately slips away.
Despite his Ferrari nightmare, Hamilton ‘not quitting F1’, says David Croft – Updated 10:15 UK
Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft has dismissed rumours that Lewis Hamilton is considering retirement after his difficult first season with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion endured what he himself called a “nightmare” campaign in 2025, and the Abu Dhabi finale represented his last chance to avoid completing a season without a podium finish for the first time in his career.
Speculation over Hamilton’s future has grown following his cryptic post-race comments and obvious frustration with Ferrari’s uncompetitive car. However, Croft insists that the 40-year-old isn’t going anywhere: “He’s not quitting… he’ll be more energised, more focused, and more determined to put this season behind him.”
Sky colleague Craig Slater noted that Hamilton’s move to Ferrari raised concerns that he may have left Mercedes just before the 2026 rules reset. Meanwhile, Rachel Brookes highlighted how personally draining the season had been for Hamilton, quoting his own words: “I look in the mirror some days and I don’t recognise my reflection.”
Both Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc are eager to see the back of Ferrari’s troubled 2025 car. However, all signs point to Hamilton returning next year with renewed determination — provided Ferrari delivers a package capable of a comeback.
Toyota Gazoo Racing to become Haas’ new title sponsor from 2026 – Updated 09:45 UK
From 2026, Haas will rebrand as the TGR Haas F1 Team after striking a major title sponsorship deal with Toyota Gazoo Racing, which will expand the technical partnership first formed in 2024. The agreement will deepen Toyota’s involvement in Haas’s design, manufacturing, and simulator development. It will also see TGR take over the title sponsorship of the team’s driver academy, building on its recent testing support for Japanese talent, including Ryō Hirakawa, Ritomo Miyata, Sho Tsuboi, and Kamui Kobayashi.
Team principal Ayao Komatsu praised the strengthened alliance, saying that the collaboration has already delivered benefits behind the scenes and will continue to do so as the two organisations integrate their personnel, technology and long-term planning. Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda offered an emotional endorsement of the partnership, explaining that watching young TGR engineers and drivers “begin to believe in their own potential” convinced him that “Toyota has finally begun to move — really move”, and adding that working with Gene Haas and Komatsu will help “build a culture and a team for the future”.
This change brings an end to MoneyGram’s three-year, US$20m-a-season title sponsorship, which stabilised Haas following troubled commercial deals in the past. With Formula One’s commercial landscape evolving rapidly, Haas hopes that Toyota’s racing expertise and increased investment will lead to better performance and a stronger foundation for the future.
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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.
