McLaren surprise Mercedes as Max Verstappen makes trip to FIA stewards – roundup
The Japanese Grand Prix weekend is underway in earnest as we had the first practice sessions and McLaren raised a few eyebrows […]
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Alex Brundle explains Japanese GP energy tweak and its major impact on drivers
Alex Brundle has detailed what the energy tweaks introduced for qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix will mean for the drivers.The FIA confirmed ahead of the race weekend at the Suzuka Circuit that drivers will now only be allowed to harvest eight megajoules of energy, rather than the previously permitted nine megajoules. The adjustment has been introduced to reduce the amount of super […]
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Lewis Hamilton steals the show at Yokohama car meet as he rolls up in Ferrari F40
Lewis Hamilton surprised fans ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix as he arrived at a Yokohama car meet in a Ferrari F40.The Ferrari F40, estimated to be worth £4million, pulled up beside a Subaru Impreza and a Honda NSX sporting a wide bodykit at the Daikoku Parking Area in Yokohama. The iconic car was the last to be personally approved by Enzo Ferrari and it features a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V8 […]
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Oscar Piastri ‘on the back foot’ admits McLaren chief after double DNS
Oscar Piastri is on the "backfoot" according to McLaren team principal Andrea Stella after he failed to make it to the start line […]
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Aston Martin and Honda gather key vibration data but Suzuka pace gap remains concern
Honda’s chief engineer, Shintaro Orihara, said the power unit marque gathered useful data on how to reduce Aston Martin’s vibration issue […]
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Wheatley not joining Aston Martin at least for now
Aston Martin team ambassador, Pedro de la Rosa admits that Jonathan Wheatley could be joining the team but not just yet […]
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Suzuka transformed as F1 drivers barely brake through the Esses
The new-generation of Formula 1 cars have changed how Suzuka’s first sector is tackled: beyond the reduced downforce, which lowers cornering speeds, drivers now barely touch the brake pedal, because the hybrid system decelerates the car through transitions to maximise energy recovery in a key section.Over the years, Suzuka has fascinated thanks to the beauty of its layout, with medium- and […]
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Watanabe sheds light on Honda's predicament
Explaining his company's current predicament, Honda's Koji Watanabe reveals some of the reasons why it is so far behind […]
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Motor Sport - Magazine & News
Ferrari has emerged in front at the start of both 2026 F1 races so far, thanks to its turbo. Does it have enough to challenge Mercedes all season? […]
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Why David Coulthard believes F1’s April break is a lifeline for Aston Martin and Cadillac
David Coulthard has claimed that the April break formed by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will give some of the struggling Formula 1 teams the "chance to breathe".Now that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix are no longer going ahead in April, there will be a five-week break between the Japanese and Miami Grands Prix.“If we look at those that have […]
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F1 Japanese GP qualifying: Weather forecast, schedule and how to watch
Qualifying for the upcoming F1 Japanese GP has the potential to see the grid closer than ever in 2026. After Friday's sessions saw Oscar Piastri set the pace in second practice for the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, it revealed that Mercedes’ early dominance might be challenged in FP3 and in qualifying at Suzuka.After Mercedes locked out a 1-2 in opening practice, Piastri responded with a […]
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Jak Crawford admits Aston Martin AMR26 vibrations ‘not good’ after Suzuka experience
Jak Crawford admits that the Aston Martin AMR26 vibrations are not good for the drivers or car, but are "getting better" […]
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Cadillac upgrades working as expected at F1 Japanese GP
The Cadillac Formula 1 team has brought upgrades to the Japanese Grand Prix and although Valtteri Bottas doesn’t think they’re a gamechanger, he is still positive about the progress.Cadillac is making its F1 debut this year and, as expected, it has been a backmarker across the opening two rounds with Bottas and team-mate Sergio Perez out in Q1 of both Melbourne and Shanghai - where they […]
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McLaren adamant there will be no repeat of China failures in F1 Japanese GP
As championship defences go, McLaren's 2026 so far has been little short of catastrophic: Oscar Piastri has yet to start a grand prix, while Lando Norris didn't even get as far as the grid in China.Statistically Shanghai was the first time neither McLaren has started a grand prix since the 2005 US GP at Indianapolis, where it joined the other Michelin-supplied teams in withdrawing after the […]
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Honda president blames two year absence for Aston Martin struggles
Honda's Koji Watanabe has pointed to a two-year gap in the company's F1 history as the cause behind Aston Martin's struggles this season […]
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Motor Sport - Magazine & News
F1 cut Suzuka's energy limit by a megajoule, but the fundamental problem remains, says Mark Hughes […]
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Long-run analysis: Is Mercedes sandbagging in Japan?
In the second free practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix, McLaren driver Oscar Piastri set the pace with a 1m30.133s, finishing around a tenth clear of the two Mercedes drivers, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.However, anyone hoping for a close fight at the front or a McLaren breakthrough should be cautious. In the decisive long runs at the end of the session – completed on heavy […]
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Mercedes warned of F1 threat as Guenther Steiner predicts "tremendous" development rate in 2026
Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner believes Mercedes will face threats from other teams this year due to the high rate of development in the 2026 season. After the first two rounds of the season, Mercedes leads the constructors' standings with 98 points, 31 points more than Ferrari in second. George Russell won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and Chinese sprint […]
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Lewis Hamilton radio message reveals ‘confidence’ issues with Ferrari car
Lewis Hamilton said he had "no confidence in the car" after the first two free practice sessions of the Japanese Grand Prix […]
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Is table-topping McLaren really fastest after early promise at F1 Japanese GP?
Lewis Larkam crunches the numbers on where McLaren really stacks up in the Japanese Grand Prix pecking order after a promising start at Suzuka […]
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McLaren reveal Lando Norris battery failure fix after Chinese GP chaos
McLaren boss Andrea Stella has revealed the fall out following his team's double-DNS at the Chinese Grand Prix […]
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Kimi Antonelli faces George Russell challenge as Alex Brundle spots weakness
Alex Brundle has identified a weakness for Mercedes Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli, as he finds himself battling against his team-mate George Russell in the 2026 championship. The Italian became the second-youngest driver to win an F1 race at the Chinese Grand Prix, and his part in the drivers' championship battle has since become a hot topic of conversation. While Brundle applauded […]
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“Better off driving at 99%” in qualifying with new F1 cars
Formula 1 drivers say going quicker in the corners can make them slower over a qualifying lap due to a quirk of the new power unit rules […]
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Seven things we learned from F1 Japanese GP practice
Despite a major gap in the calendar coming up, F1 teams have already brought significant performance upgrades to Suzuka […]
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The surprising data revealing where McLaren diverges from Mercedes
Oscar Piastri’s fastest practice time in Japan on Friday was fascinating not for the fact it beat Mercedes but because of how it was achieved […]
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Lewis Hamilton fires back at critics after Ferrari F1 resurgence in 2026
Lewis Hamilton has fired back at those who criticised him during the ground effect era.The seven-time champion has bounced back after a difficult few years in the championship. Hamilton struggled to adapt to the ground-effect era cars as he seemingly failed to bond with the change in driving behaviour. On top of this, he was also tasked with adjusting to his new surroundings at Ferrari after […]
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The worst part of what F1 2026 has done to Suzuka
There is still a glaring problem over one lap at Suzuka despite the last-minute F1 rule change […]
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Journalist responds to Max Verstappen Suzuka ejection as online abuse revealed
A tense Suzuka media moment with Max Verstappen sparks a candid response as the journalist details their disappointment and fallout […]
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Where Ferrari thinks it stacks up in Japan after mixed Friday
Ferrari is "just not quick enough" to trouble the front of the grid, thinks Lewis Hamilton, as the Scuderia hopes fixing its car balance will get it ahead of 2026 Formula 1 rival McLaren in Japan.Charles Leclerc and Hamilton finished fifth and sixth in second practice on Friday, shipping around seven and eight tenths respectively to session leader Oscar Piastri in the McLaren.Over half of […]
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Japanese Grand Prix: FIA Team Representatives Press Conference
Today's team representatives press conference with Koji Watanabe, Ayao Komatsu and Andrea Stella […]
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Hamilton glad old cars are gone: ‘Bouncing was a nightmare – except for Red Bull’
Lewis Hamilton also said he is pleased to disprove criticism from "certain individuals that hadn't had anywhere near the success that I'd had." […]
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Ollie Bearman explains why Kimi Antonelli’s first F1 win was "very special"
Ollie Bearman has branded Kimi Antonelli's maiden Formula 1 win as "very special".The Briton watched his former Formula 2 team-mate clinch his first grand prix victory at the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit, which he claimed gave him confidence that he would be able to reach the same milestone one day."We text. We sent each other a message after the race," Bearman […]
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What caught George Russell by surprise in Friday practice at F1's Japanese GP
Early championship leader George Russell was surprised by the pace of Mercedes' F1 rivals […]
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Jenson Button blames Nico Rosberg for Lewis Hamilton rivalry in Sky F1 exchange
Jenson Button’s verdict on Nico Rosberg versus Lewis Hamilton made for an awkward Sky F1 moment at the Japanese Grand Prix […]
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A warning for Colapinto
Stewards hand Franco Colapinto a warning, as no further action is taken against Liam Lawson, Alex Albon or Lewis Hamilton […]
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2026 Japanese Grand Prix practice in pictures
Pictures from the first day of practice for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka […]
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Jenson Button tempers expectations after Oscar Piastri tops Japanese GP FP2
2009 Formula 1 champion Jenson Button has tempered expectations after McLaren's Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets in FP2 ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. While the Australian driver edged out the dominant Mercedes drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, in the second practice session at Suzuka, Button argued that the Brackley outfit will likely be holding some performance back."We […]
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Japanese Grand Prix: Practice team notes - Audi
It's been a bit of a mixed Friday […]
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How close McLaren really looks to Mercedes at Suzuka
Crunch the numbers and McLaren is both closer and further away from Mercedes than it first appears […]
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Honda boss says Newey comments a 'misunderstanding'
Adrian Newey said earlier this month he was unaware about Hondas inexperience before their full return to F1 as an engine manufacturer; watch final practice for the Japanese Grand Prix at 2.30am ahead of Qualifying at 6am live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event on Saturday […]
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Fernando Alonso ‘super happy’ as he shares heartwarming personal news at F1 Japanese GP
Fernando Alonso speaks for the first time after the birth of his first child […]
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Max Verstappen admits ‘big problems’ after Red Bull struggles in Suzuka practice
Max Verstappen admits Red Bull has "big problems" after slumping to P10 in practice at the Japanese Grand Prix […]
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McLaren: We’re still behind Mercedes and Ferrari despite topping FP2 in Japan
McLaren is expecting no changes to the 2026 Formula 1 pecking order despite a very strong showing in second practice at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.The Woking outfit, which has won the last two titles, controlled FP2 via Oscar Piastri, whose world champion team-mate Lando Norris finished fourth amid issues with his hydraulics.It was nonetheless some much-needed positivity for […]
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Japanese Grand Prix: Practice team notes - Pirelli
The new asphalt is overall smoother than the surface laid in 2025, yet it still offers good grip […]
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Japanese Grand Prix: Practice team notes - Cadillac
Today was a pretty good day […]
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Japanese Grand Prix: Practice team notes - Red Bull
You can see from our pace that the car isn't performing to the usual standards that we set ourselves […]
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Has ‘super clipping’ really killed F1’s fast corners? Suzuka speeds analysed
Alexander Albon says Formula 1 no longer has any high-speed corners. Does the data from Suzuka bear that out? […]
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Everything John Elkann said about the Ferrari F1 team in rare open letter
John Elkann has his say on Ferrari's recent F1 performances in an open letter […]
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John Elkann admits Ferrari F1 ‘fell short of ambitions’ in fresh 2025 criticism
John Elkann delivers a blunt Ferrari verdict after a difficult 2025 season for Lewis Hamilton and the team in general […]
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Japanese Grand Prix: Practice team notes - Racing Bulls
Performance wise, we're right in the thick of the midfield battle. A tenth either way could put us top or bottom […]
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Why Ferrari's 'Macarena' F1 wing didn't dance in Suzuka
Ferrari brought its so-called (by team boss Frederic Vasseur) 'Macarena' wing to the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix. But ahead of free practice on Friday, it decided to not to use the innovative rotating rear wing flap, even though there were enough spare parts in the Suzuka garages to build two cars. The SF-26s will therefore contest the third round of the calendar with no major changes […]
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Fernando Alonso shares update after birth of first child ahead of Japanese GP
Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso has shared an update after the birth of his first child.The 44-year-old driver arrived late at the Suzuka Circuit for "personal family reasons", which have now been confirmed to be the arrival of his child with his partner, Melissa Jimenez."I’m a little jet-lagged because I landed this morning, but here we are," Alonso told DAZN Spain after the […]
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'I had the snaps!' - Hamilton figuring out Ferrari 'north star'
Lewis Hamilton was sixth in both Friday practice sessions at the Japanese Grand Prix, while McLaren appear to be pole position contenders against Mercedes; watch final practice at 2.30am ahead of Qualifying at 6am live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event on Saturday […]
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Lewis Hamilton pinpoints where Ferrari is “just not quick enough” at F1 Japanese GP
Lewis Hamilton concedes Ferrari is lagging behind its F1 rivals at the Japanese Grand Prix […]
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Japanese Grand Prix: Practice team notes - Mercedes
We've had a fairly straightforward first day. The car ran reliably and we've been able to get through our planned work […]
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Japanese Grand Prix: Practice team notes - Williams
Overall a very productive Friday […]
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