Motorsports
Brazil Bound Max Eyes Samba Hat-Trick
Sao Paulo, Brazil — Max Verstappen is heading to Brazil chasing both history and momentum. The Red Bull ace may trail championship leader Lando Norris by 36 points, but with three wins at Interlagos already under his belt, few doubt who the man to beat will be this weekend.
The 28-year-old four-time world champion has claimed victories at the São Paulo Grand Prix in 2019, 2023, and 2024. Last year, he stormed from 17th on the grid through heavy rain to win, while Norris could only manage sixth. This time, the tables have turned — it’s Verstappen doing the chasing.
Norris leads McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri by a single point after his Mexican triumph, but Verstappen’s resurgence has been remarkable. Three straight wins and six consecutive podiums have cut what was once a 104-point gap back in August. And if there’s one track that seems to bring out the best in him, it’s Brazil.
“It’s a special place for me,” said Verstappen. “Not just because of the races, but also because my family-in-law is from here. It can rain hard, and that always makes for crazy races like last year.”
The Dutchman’s partner, Kelly Piquet — daughter of Brazilian legend Nelson Piquet — recently gave birth to their daughter Lily. Verstappen has been spending time with the Piquet family before race weekend and will don a Brazil-themed helmet for the event.
“I love the old-school nature of the track,” he added. “There’s a lot of history and good memories for me here.”
McLaren, meanwhile, are holding steady after shifting focus to the 2026 regulations. Norris’ victory in Mexico was a timely boost, and Piastri believes he’s regaining his rhythm after a mid-season dip.
Team principal Andrea Stella said the squad has learned how to “extract performance more consistently” after a few scrappy weekends. “I don’t think any of the remaining tracks will necessarily favor one of our drivers,” he said, noting Verstappen, Ferrari, and Mercedes as late threats in both the drivers’ and constructors’ fights.
McLaren has already locked in the constructors’ title with 713 points, but behind them, Ferrari (356), Mercedes (355), and Red Bull (346) are locked in a tight battle for second.
“We’re still in the fight for P2,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. “We lost ground in Austin and Mexico, but we can hit back in Brazil.”
Interlagos has been kind to both Mercedes and Ferrari in the past. George Russell took his maiden win there in 2022, while Lewis Hamilton — now with Ferrari — famously triumphed in 2016, 2018, and 2021. Hamilton, recently engaged to Alexandra Saint Mleux, will be looking to add another Brazilian highlight to his career.
With rain again on the radar, fans can expect the kind of unpredictable, high-drama spectacle that São Paulo is known for — and Verstappen will be hoping that, once more, the magic of Brazil swings his way.
George Russell put Mercedes on top again in Shanghai after taking pole for the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race, with teammate Kimi Antonelli completing a front-row lockout. Russell set a 1:31.520 lap in Sprint Qualifying, while Antonelli went 0.289 seconds slower to seal second place. Lando Norris placed third for McLaren, with Lewis Hamilton fourth for Ferrari.
The result gave Mercedes another strong statement after its winning start to the 2026 season in Australia. Russell said the car felt “amazing” and added that it had been “a real joy to drive,” pointing to the team’s momentum from Melbourne into a very different track in Shanghai. Formula 1’s official results also showed Oscar Piastri fifth and Charles Leclerc sixth behind Hamilton and Norris.
Antonelli, still in only the early stage of his Formula 1 career, said the pace was there but admitted he did not fully put the lap together on soft tires. Even so, his lap was enough to help Mercedes lock out the front row for Saturday’s 19-lap sprint, putting the team in prime position to collect more points.
McLaren stayed close enough to remain a threat. Norris said he was pleased to finish ahead of both Ferraris after they had looked strong through much of Friday. Piastri backed him up in fifth, which gives McLaren two cars inside the top five for the short race.
Ferrari, meanwhile, remained in the mix but could not match Mercedes over one lap. Hamilton said the car felt good overall but pointed to straight-line speed as one area where Ferrari was still losing ground. Leclerc ended up sixth, keeping both Ferraris on the first three rows.
Red Bull had a far rougher session. Max Verstappen could manage only eighth, with Isack Hadjar down in 10th, while Oliver Bearman split the two Red Bulls in ninth for Haas. Earlier in the day, Russell had already set the pace in the weekend’s only practice session, again ahead of Antonelli, which underlined Mercedes’ control of Friday running in China.
German carmaker Audi has revealed its first Formula One car ahead of its full factory entry under the sport’s new 2026 rules, laying out a long-term target to fight for titles before the decade ends.
The car, called the Audi R26, was shown in Paris and introduces the brand’s first-ever single-seater. The livery carries a mostly grey finish, with Audi’s four rings highlighted in red on the rear wing. The team said the design aims to stand out visually while keeping a clean and restrained look.
Audi enters Formula One after taking over the Sauber operation, which will run under the Audi name from 2026. The transition keeps continuity on the driver side, with Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto staying on after racing for Sauber last season.
Project head Mattia Binotto said the incoming technical regulations offered the right entry point for the brand, allowing Audi to build its programme around a clean-sheet rule set.
Team principal Jonathan Wheatley described the car as the product of years of work across Audi’s facilities, while stressing that the unveiling marks only the beginning. He said the focus now is on building habits, systems, and a competitive mindset that improve with every race weekend.
Like the rest of the grid, Audi’s new car will not make a public debut straight away. Initial running is scheduled for closed tests next week at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where teams will begin early validation work ahead of the 2026 season.
Audi becomes the latest major manufacturer to commit fully to Formula One, joining the championship at a time when new engine rules and sustainability targets are reshaping the sport’s long-term direction.
Mercedes has confirmed that chief designer John Owen will leave the Formula One team later this year, ending a long run at the Brackley-based outfit that dates back nearly two decades.
Owen, 52, joined the team in 2007 when it was still operating as Honda. He stayed through the dramatic transition to Brawn GP, which stunned the paddock by winning both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships in 2009. When the operation became the Mercedes Formula One Team, Owen remained a central figure in its technical structure.
During Mercedes’ dominant era from 2014 to 2021, the team secured seven drivers’ titles and eight constructors’ championships. Owen’s work in car design placed him among the key architects of that success.
Mercedes said Owen has decided to step away from Formula One and will begin a period of gardening leave later this year. The team added that he will remain involved during the transition period to ensure continuity.
His role as director of car design will be taken over by Giacomo Tortora, who currently serves as engineering director. Deputy technical director Simone Resta will oversee the design group as part of the restructuring.
The announcement comes as the Formula One season approaches. Pre-season testing begins next month in Bahrain Pre-Season Testing, ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 8.
Mercedes said Owen’s departure was amicable and acknowledged his long-standing contribution to the team’s competitive history.
