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.
Bearman Just Two Points from Race Ban After Abu Dhabi Penalty – Updated 20:40 UK
Oliver Bearman will enter the 2026 Formula 1 season under intense pressure after a penalty in the Abu Dhabi finale pushed his super licence tally to 10 points—just two shy of an automatic race ban. The rookie was punished for making “more than one change of direction to defend his position” while battling Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, earning a five-second time penalty and an additional penalty point that ultimately cost him a top-10 finish.
Bearman’s situation is now precarious, with his earliest expiring licence points not dropping off until midway through the Canadian Grand Prix weekend in May. Under F1’s strict penalty system, 12 points within a 12-month period trigger a mandatory one-race suspension — a sanction last applied to Kevin Magnussen in 2024, which ironically led to Bearman’s first F1 outing with Haas.
Visibly frustrated after the race, Bearman questioned the stewards’ ruling. “I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to break the tow anymore, so that’s strange,” he said. “I’m not sure why I was penalised. I moved to break the tow, which is one thing, and then defended my position. I left Lance space. Some of these rulings, we need to understand why they were made.”
With the 2026 season approaching, the 18-year-old will need to tread carefully—another minor misjudgement could sideline him at a critical moment in his F1 development.
Marko Set to Leave Red Bull: Fresh Upheaval Looms for Verstappen – Updated 18:10 UK
Fresh reports claim that Helmut Marko will leave Red Bull at the end of 2025, marking yet another major shake-up at the team. TJ13 reported on this paddock whisper late last night READ HERE. According to The Telegraph, the long-time motorsport advisor has decided he will step away, while BILD suggests CEO Oliver Mintzlaff had been anticipating a “fresh start” for the organisation next year.
The news follows Marko’s own comments in Abu Dhabi, where he said his future was a decision he would “make myself.” If confirmed, his departure would become Red Bull’s second major leadership exit in the span of a year, after Christian Horner was removed mid-season and replaced by Laurent Mekies following the British Grand Prix.
Marko’s exit would also carry major implications for Max Verstappen. The Austrian has been central to Verstappen’s career since the junior ranks, and the pair maintain a uniquely close bond. Verstappen has previously said that if Marko left the team, he would “follow,” a statement made during last year’s internal power struggle that placed Marko’s role at risk.
As Red Bull faces yet another potential restructuring, the question now turns to what this means for the triple World Champion—and whether the stability he once relied on is beginning to slip away.
Norris Celebrates Wildly with Girlfriend After Clinching First F1 World Title – Updated 13:00 UK
Lando Norris marked his first Formula 1 World Championship in unforgettable fashion after securing the title by finishing third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Despite Max Verstappen winning the race, Norris’ points advantage held firm, giving the Briton the crown by just two points.
The celebrations began almost immediately. Norris was seen swigging champagne and leading the crowd in renditions of classic songs as McLaren teammates, family members and fans joined in. The 26-year-old was visibly emotional, breaking down in tears while still in the cockpit before climbing out to embrace his parents.
His girlfriend, model Magui Corceiro, shared the moment too, giving the newly crowned champion a congratulatory kiss as the celebrations intensified. Surrounded by loved ones and McLaren staff, Norris partied late into the night—fitting for a driver achieving motorsport’s ultimate honour.
Somerset honours new F1 World Champion with ‘Lando Lane’ renaming – Updated 12:10 UK
A street near Bristol has been renamed ‘Lando Lane’ to celebrate Lando Norris becoming the Formula 1 World Champion. The signage has been installed at Clarks Village in Street, Somerset, the town where Norris went to school for nine years at Millfield, and first began karting at the age of seven.
Clarks Village centre director Chris Davis called Norris a “local hero”, and said the renaming is their way of commemorating “this incredible achievement from one of the region’s favourite sons.”
Lando Lane is located off Farm Road, between Apple Court and Orchard Square.
World Media Hails Norris as New F1 Champion, and Accuses Him of ‘Lying’ About One Thing – Updated 10:45 UK
Lando Norris’ first Formula 1 World Championship has sparked a wave of international praise — and one light-hearted accusation. As global newspapers celebrated the McLaren driver’s nerve, composure and emotional breakthrough in Abu Dhabi, Spain’s Mundo Deportivo suggested Norris had “lied” when he previously claimed his biggest life goal was simply “to be happy,” not to become world champion. According to the paper, the Briton only downplayed his ambition to ease media pressure.
Across the UK, the tone was triumphant, with The Guardian calling his drive “brave” and “nerveless,” while The Sun and Daily Mail highlighted his emotional celebration with family and partner Magi Corceiro. Italian outlets focused on how McLaren’s strategy and Norris’ tenacity edged Verstappen by just two points, ending the Dutchman’s era of dominance.
Spanish papers celebrated Britain’s “return to supremacy,” while Dutch media lamented Verstappen’s narrow defeat, despite winning the race. In Austria and Switzerland, headlines praised Norris’ steel under pressure, and his ability to withstand Verstappen’s charge in a tense three-way finale.
Across Europe, one message was clear: Norris is the new champion — and, in the eyes of the international press, he earned it through composure, consistency, and the performance of his life.
King Charles congratulated by Shaikh Isa after McLaren and Norris seal historic F1 double – Updated 10:30 UK
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has received a congratulatory cable from His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa, Deputy Chief Executive of the Supreme Council for Environment, celebrating McLaren’s landmark triumph in the Formula 1 World Constructors’ Championship, and Lando Norris’ victory in the Drivers’ Championship.
Shaikh Isa hailed the achievement as a historic milestone for McLaren, marking the first time in 27 years that the team has secured both World Titles in the same season. SOURCE
Pérez Drops Iconic Meme as Norris–Tsunoda Fight Sparks 2021 Flashbacks – Updated 09:30 UK
Sergio Pérez delivered a perfectly timed social-media moment during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, posting a meme that instantly reignited memories of his legendary 2021 defensive masterclass against Lewis Hamilton. As Yuki Tsunoda tried — and failed — to hold off Lando Norris in a battle with major title implications, Pérez shared the famous Avengers: Endgame meme of Thanos saying, “Perhaps I treated you too harshly,” a playful nod to his past at Red Bull and the standard he set four years ago.
Back in 2021, Pérez famously delayed Hamilton for two crucial laps, despite being on worse tyres, allowing Red Bull to create the strategic opening that helped Max Verstappen win his first world title. Tsunoda couldn’t replicate those heroics, losing the position and later receiving a five-second penalty for weaving, while Norris was cleared over his aggressive overtake.
How McLaren’s Split-Tyre Masterstroke Secured Norris the World Championship – Updated 09:15 UK
McLaren left nothing to chance in Abu Dhabi, delivering a brilliantly layered strategy that neutralised Red Bull, protected both its drivers, and ultimately delivered Lando Norris his first Formula 1 World Title. While Norris entered the finale as the favourite, the team still had to navigate the complex dynamics of a three-way title fight, one in which Oscar Piastri also remained a genuine contender.
The team’s core tactic was deceptively simple: start Norris and Piastri on different tyre compounds. Norris opened on mediums, giving him the flexibility to shadow Max Verstappen closely, while Piastri launched on hards, with the clear intention of running long and capitalising on any disruption, such as a Safety Car. This dual approach maximised McLaren’s strategic options and ensured that, no matter how the race unfolded, they remained in control.
A critical early twist came on lap one, when Piastri executed a Turn 9 move to overtake Norris for P2. Yet the positional switch didn’t damage McLaren’s plan; if anything, it strengthened their hold over the race.
Both drivers kept Verstappen within sight while denying Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc a clear chance to interfere. As tyre degradation increased after Lap 10, McLaren made the decisive call to pit Norris first, pre-empting any Ferrari undercut. Norris delivered an exceptional in-lap, and, despite rejoining in traffic, sliced through the midfield with barely any time lost.
One of the defining moments was Norris’ high-risk overtake on Yuki Tsunoda on Lap 24, a move that cleared the final obstacle between him and the third place he needed for the championship. From that point onward, the race shifted into execution mode. When Ferrari launched a late undercut attempt by pitting Leclerc on lap 40, McLaren instantly responded, bringing Norris in one lap later and shutting the door on Ferrari’s last strategic threat. Norris’ switch to fresh hards provided the consistency he needed to maintain control of the final stint.
Piastri, meanwhile, completed an outstanding 40-lap opening run on the hards, giving McLaren even more strategic security. But, with no Safety Car intervention, his outside shot at the title slipped away, leaving him to consolidate another podium finish.
In the end, McLaren’s plan worked to perfection. Norris, the more consistent driver across the season, turned their meticulous strategy into a championship-winning performance. It was clever, controlled, and ruthlessly efficient, the kind of execution that wins titles.
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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.
Am I the only one who watched the Grand Prix to feel Tsunoda was harshly penalised while Norris was granted a wish by the ‘steward fairies’ by NOT penalising him for going off track and gaining an advantage … maybe because they feared a backlash? SOME rules are just guidelines – others are clear cut!