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.
Tears on the Pit Wall: Is This the End of the Verstappen–Lambiase Era at Red Bull? – Updated 22:05 UK
As McLaren’s Lando Norris becomes the Formula 1 world champion, Max Verstappen and Gianpiero Lambiase, one of the most iconic driver-engineer pairings in modern Formula 1, are facing an uncertain future after an emotional end to the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Lambiase, usually calm and unshakeable, was visibly in tears on the Red Bull pit wall, prompting widespread speculation about whether he will continue in his role for 2026.
While many assumed the emotion stemmed from Verstappen narrowly missing out on the championship, the truth is far more personal. Lambiase has endured a difficult year behind the scenes, missing both the Austrian and Belgian rounds due to private circumstances. Simon Rennie stepped in for those races, highlighting the strain Lambiase has carried throughout the season.
According to Motorsport.com, Red Bull has not yet finalised Lambiase’s role for 2026. Discussions include the possibility of shifting him into a senior trackside or operational position, allowing him to step back from the intense demands of race engineering, while remaining a key figure in Verstappen’s camp. Red Bull is taking a cautious, supportive approach, with insiders stressing that no rushed decisions will be made.
Verstappen paid a heartfelt tribute to his long-time engineer, defending him after the emotional scenes. “It’s been an emotional year… I’m very happy to be able to work with someone that passionate… I see him as my friend,” he said. Verstappen added that Lambiase “never gave up this season, even through the difficult times,” noting that he fully understood why his engineer was overcome at the chequered flag.
Whether Abu Dhabi marked the end of their legendary partnership remains unclear, but both men insist their bond will remain, whatever Red Bull decides for 2026.
Fernando Alonso’s Humorous Plan to Watch Abu Dhabi F1 Title Fight – Updated 12:20 UK
Fernando Alonso has revealed a light-hearted approach to keeping up with the 2025 F1 Drivers’ Championship battle during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Starting sixth on the grid for Aston Martin, Alonso’s main focus will be securing points to maintain seventh in the Constructors’ Championship.
The two-time World Champion joked about the abundance of screens around the Yas Marina Circuit, noting: “Turn 3, you have a screen in the middle of your view. Turn 5, a screen on the inside, Turn 7, on the outside, Turn 9, there are two — one on entry, one on exit. So, plenty of screens. It’s going to be a fantastic show for us.”
Despite the spectacle at the front between Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, Alonso intends to stay out of the title fight, aiming to finish in the points but “not in the news on Monday.”
https://streamain.com/en/unSt8hem1AxdwAW/watch
Lando Norris Reveals Father Was ‘Sick in the Toilet’ After Tragic Track News – Updated 11:30 UK
Lando Norris’ meteoric rise toward a first Formula One World Title has been one of the defining stories of 2025 — but behind his championship charge lies a deeply emotional family journey, The Mirror reports.
Norris leads Max Verstappen by 12 points heading into the Abu Dhabi decider, with his parents, Adam Norris and Cisca Wauman, trackside as always. But Lando has revealed just how hard the dangers of motorsport have hit his father over the years, especially after the tragic 2019 F2 crash that killed French driver Anthoine Hubert.
Recalling the moment as a 19-year-old rookie, Norris said the tragedy “threw my dad’s mind quite a bit, because he comes to all the races.” He added: *“He had to go to the toilet and be sick… He can’t watch my onboard footage at a normal race. He has to go somewhere and hide.”
Norris said he often tries to reassure his dad, but admitted, “I am more nervous about reassuring him now… The tragedy is still in my head.”*
The Norris family’s support has been constant since Lando’s karting days — a path funded largely by his father, whose £205m fortune came from selling a pensions firm and later launching Pure Electric. But despite his privileged upbringing, Lando insists nothing was simply handed to him. *“There’s many things that my dad has given to me… but it’s an investment, not a given,”* he said on the High Performance podcast.
Now, as he stands on the brink of becoming Britain’s next F1 world champion, Norris credits his parents for keeping him grounded and focused. *“One thing that my mum and dad have done very well is keep me grounded… not get carried away in any way.”*
P16 Again for Hamilton: History Repeats? – Updated 09:50 UK
Charles Leclerc delivered another committed qualifying performance to put his Ferrari fifth on the grid for the Abu Dhabi finale, while teammate Lewis Hamilton suffered a fourth straight Q1 exit, and will start only 16th. The contrast underlined Leclerc’s ability to extract pace from the unpredictable SF-23, something Hamilton has struggled with all year.
Adding a twist of irony, Hamilton’s P16 starting spot is the same position Nicholas Latifi held in 2021, before the late crash that swung the world championship away from Hamilton and towards Verstappen. As the 2025 title decider looms, Hamilton once again starts from the grid slot that once shaped his legacy – READ MORE ON THIS
Stella Confident Abu Dhabi Title Fight Will Stay “Fair and Sporting” – Updated 09:20 UK
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella says he expects the Abu Dhabi title decider to be fought “within the boundaries of sportsmanship and fairness”, as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri line up behind polesitter Max Verstappen for the 2025 championship showdown.
With Verstappen on pole and the McLaren pair starting P2 and P3, Stella believes Norris will prioritise caution at Turn 1, noting: “I think he will just be relatively prudent… He’s in a very strong position.” With Norris needing only a podium to seal his first world title, Stella stressed that smart decision-making would take priority over aggression.
Stella also dismissed concerns that Verstappen might try tactics similar to Lewis Hamilton’s infamous 2016 “backing up” manoeuvre, arguing that McLaren’s two-car presence near the front gives them flexibility: “We have more options to play… It’s good that we are there with two cars.”
Reflecting on his own experience in the dramatic 2010 title decider, Stella said the magnitude of the moment remains unchanged: “You always want to make sure that you enter these events, remembering that it’s a privilege to be part of this page of history… Independently of the outcome.”
Marko Backs Verstappen to Complete ‘Hunter’s’ Comeback in Abu Dhabi – Updated 09:15 UK
Helmut Marko is placing all his chips on one outcome in Abu Dhabi: a Max Verstappen title triumph. With Verstappen entering the finale 12 points behind Lando Norris and four ahead of Oscar Piastri, Marko believes the Dutchman’s momentum — five wins and eight podiums in the last nine races — has put him in the perfect position to strike.
“Let’s put it this way, I’m fully going for a win for Max, in every respect,” he told Kleine Zeitung, making clear that he’s betting on both the race victory and the World Championship.
Marko joked that the Red Bull camp’s internal wagers are leaning heavily toward Verstappen, referencing a costly past mistake: “Helmut learned his lesson, never bet against me!” Verstappen once laughed after taking pole in Abu Dhabi. This time, Marko says he won’t be making that error, insisting that “the role of the hunter is more pleasant”, as Verstappen chases down Norris in the standings.
Still, Marko admits Red Bull enter the finale at a disadvantage.
“McLaren has two drivers who can still win the title, we only have Max. So, it’s a difficult starting position for us,” he said, adding that the team themselves contributed to the points deficit with setup missteps earlier in the year. But win or lose, he believes 2024 has already been “an incredible season.”
Asked whether this finale compares to the explosive 2021 showdown with Lewis Hamilton, Marko said the energy was entirely different. “Back then, everything was much more tense… almost explosive,” he reflected, citing the Silverstone crash and the fiercely charged rivalry. This year’s fight, by contrast, is intense — but cleaner, calmer, and potentially just as historic for Verstappen.
Abu Dhabi 2025 Starting grid
1 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2 Lando Norris (McLaren)
3 Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
4 George Russell (Mercedes)
5 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
6 Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
7 Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
8 Esteban Ocon (Haas)
9 Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
10 Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
11 Ollie Bearman (Haas)
12 Carlos Sainz (Williams)
13 Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
14 Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
15 Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
16 Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
17 Alex Albon (Williams)
18 Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
19 Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
20 Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
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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.
