Latest news with #F1GrandPrixofBelgium
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Audi F1 Reveals Huge Title Sponsor Ahead of 2026 Season
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Audi F1 team announced its partnership with Revolut, a financial technology company based in the U.K. that offers banking services. Audi is preparing for its debut on the Formula 1 grid in 2026 as the team transitions from Sauber into a new race team with the title of the German car manufacturer. A key part of any F1 team's success is the sponsorship money, and as the title sponsor for Audi's debut season, Revolut is set to finance the team's racing success. Revolut is a company that offers money exchange and transfers in England, allowing people to control their finances through accounts. A detail shot of an Audi F1 car after it was announced that Audi will join F1 as an engine supplier from the 2026 season prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of... A detail shot of an Audi F1 car after it was announced that Audi will join F1 as an engine supplier from the 2026 season prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 26, 2022 in Spa, Belgium. More Photo by"Audi is entering Formula 1 with a clear ambition: to use the platform as a technologically relevant and economically sustainable investment in the future of the Audi brand," Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG and Chairman of the Board of Sauber Motorsport, said in a statement. "We firmly believe in the success of our project, which we are approaching with a realistic attitude and a mindset of continuous improvement. "In Revolut, we have found a partner that shares our ambitions and attitude. Formula 1 is a global stage that offers us the opportunity to reach new target groups together and generate enthusiasm for our products." In an announcement from Audi, it was revealed that the Revolut Business platform will be integrated into the team's financial operations. "This is a monumental partnership for Revolut and the future Audi F1 Team," Nik Storonsky, CEO of Revolut, added in the statement. "We're accelerating towards 100 million customers, and we'll be bringing them into Formula 1 with unforgettable experiences at a pivotal time for the sport. "As Revolut continues to challenge the status quo in global finance, the future Audi F1 Team is set to do the same in motorsport. "With a shared outlook, global ambition and relentless drive for progress, this partnership will define what's possible in Formula 1." Banking or money management sponsorships are a regular occurrence on the grid. Most teams have a cryptocurrency or digital banking sponsor. While the team starts at a disadvantage as it opens up its facilities, they are working on a power unit for 2026 and will become a works team. For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Jeremy Clarkson Slams the FIA Over Belgian Grand Prix Delayed Start
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson ripped the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix race director after fans were denied wet-weather racing. The forecast for Sunday's race at Spa called for a good amount of rain to fall throughout the day. The race director delayed the start of the race due to rain, opting to wait and see if the rain stopped. After more than an hour, they finally got the race underway, though it was via a rolling start. The FIA Safety Car leads Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes and Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes on track during the F1 Grand Prix... The FIA Safety Car leads Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes and Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 27, 2025 in Spa, Belgium. More Photo byThe safety car did four laps as the cars swept the water off the track. Then it came in, and the pole-sitter, McLaren's Lando Norris, got the race underway. The cars used intermediate tires for the first part of the race and then switched to slick tires for the second portion. The wet tires were never used despite the amount of rain that poured on the track, with the FIA arguing that it was in fact the lack of visibility that was the issue, not the lack of grip. After the race, drivers and fans alike were left questioning the purpose of the blue-stripped tire and whether wet conditions would feature in any future race. Clarkson offered his thoughts on the delay of the race and called out the race directors. "Dear God in heaven. What is the race director at Spa doing?" Clarkson posted to X. Dear God in heaven. What is the race director at Spa doing? — Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) July 27, 2025 Clarkson is a well-known critic of the FIA and its decision-making processes. He is fond of the old-school racing approach when cars raced under intense conditions. The reality TV star wasn't the only one left wondering why the race was handled in such a way. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen also wondered why the drivers weren't allowed to race at the original start time. "It's a bit disappointing, because we spoke after Silverstone to be a little bit more cautious with the decisions," the four-time champion said. "But this was then the other extreme for me. Of course, between Turn 1 [La Source] and 5 [Les Combes] was quite a bit of water, but if you do two or three laps behind the safety car, then it would have been a lot more clear, and the rest of the track was, anyway, ready to go. "It's a bit of a shame. Of course. I knew that they would be a bit more cautious after Silverstone, but this also didn't make sense. "Then it's better to say: 'You know what? Let's wait until it's completely dry and then we just start on slicks.' Because this is not really wet-weather racing for me." Belgian Grand Prix Results
Newsweek
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
F1 Insider Sees Mekies Changing Red Bull's Max Verstappen-Only Culture
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former Mercedes Formula One driver and Sky Sports F1 presenter Nico Rosberg has revealed that Laurent Mekies' Red Bull appointment to replace Christian Horner has uplifted Yuki Tsunoda's form, in a team that was "for Max Verstappen" and which "only cared about Max Verstappen." Horner, who served as the team's CEO and team principal for 20 years, was ousted with immediate effect after the British Grand Prix. Mekies was deemed the most suitable successor to Horner, given his impressive track record with Red Bull's junior F1 team, Racing Bulls. Rosberg was present at Spa-Francorchamps for last weekend's Belgian GP, where he noticed a motivated Tsunoda, given the presence of Mekies, with whom he shares a good rapport. Several reports suggested that Verstappen was given more preference over his teammates under Horner's leadership. Tsunoda is currently Verstappen's third teammate in the last 12 months. Sergio Perez faced significant challenges in 2024 with the RB20 F1 car, which eventually led to his ousting after the season finale. Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps... Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 27, 2025 in Spa, Belgium. MorePerez's replacement, Liam Lawson, also faced similar challenges, resulting in his demotion to Racing Bulls after the first two races of the 2025 season. Tsunoda earned his Red Bull promotion at his home race in Suzuka, replacing Lawson. However, he too faced difficulties with his new team's F1 car. Red Bull reportedly designed its car around Verstappen, which caused his teammates to struggle. Rosberg pointed out that Tsunoda looked more motivated with Mekies last weekend. Notably, the Japanese driver qualified P7 for Sunday's race at Spa, his best qualifying result with Red Bull thus far. This was after Mekies decided to use the upgraded floor on Tsunoda's RB20, which was kept as a spare for Verstappen. Revealing that Tsunoda is receiving the attention he needs from a team principal since Mekies took over Red Bull, Rosberg said on Sky F1: "He has now really empowered Yuki Tsunoda this weekend. He has given him the new upgrade, that he can have the new floor himself as well, not just Verstappen. "He gives him a thumbs up and a smile after sessions. After qualifying, they connected as Yuki was driving in. He saw Laurent on the pit wall, giving him a big smile and a thumbs-up. "That makes a huge difference to a driver when suddenly, he sees that he has the support from the team. Whereas before, he said, I heard that he felt like he was on a bit of an island on his own, in a team that was for Max Verstappen and they only cared about Max Verstappen. "Now, Laurent straight away is also caring about Yuki." Could this be the start of a new era at Red Bull under Mekies? Related: Yuki Tsunoda Handed Last-Minute Upgrade by Red Bull's New Team Principal
Newsweek
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Red Bull Makes Position Clear on Max Verstappen Contract After Mercedes Links
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Red Bull Racing's senior advisor, Helmut Marko, has confirmed that Max Verstappen will race for the team in 2026. The statement arrived amid Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff's confirmation during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend that George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli will form the team's Formula One driver lineup for the 2026 season. Considering Red Bull's dwindling performance due to the challenges on the RB21 F1 car, Verstappen was speculated to move to Mercedes for the 2026 season, the year when F1 enters a new era of regulations. Russell stated last month that his contract extension was on hold due to Mercedes' ongoing discussions with Verstappen. Despite the strong links, it is reported that the exit clause in Verstappen's contract will not be triggered, given the low likelihood of him dropping from P3 to P4 in the 2025 Drivers' Championship before the summer break. Thus, the four-time world champion will remain at Red Bull in 2026. Notably, his multi-year Red Bull deal ends at the end of 2028. Verstappen's close ally at Red Bull, Marko, has confirmed that the 27-year-old driver will continue racing for the team next year. Speaking to as quoted by ESPN, the 82-year-old advisor said: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing walks in the paddock during the Sprint/qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 26, 2025 in Spa,... Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing walks in the paddock during the Sprint/qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 26, 2025 in Spa, Belgium. More"Yes, I can confirm that Max Verstappen will drive for Red Bull in 2026." Russell's and Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes contracts expire at the end of 2025. Wolff was keen to sign Verstappen for the long-term future, but he has now ruled out that possibility. Revealing the drivers who are Mercedes' priority for its 2026 driver lineup, Wolff said: "Discussions have been taking place over the last weeks and months, so they are all up to date. "The direction of travel is that we want to continue with George and Kimi. That is the first priority. "But you can't look past someone like Max and the plans he has for the future. We did that, but I don't think there will be any big surprises." Russell revealed an open-minded approach when discussing Mercedes' interest in signing Verstappen, and spoke about his intention for the future. He said: "I'm not talking with anybody else and any teams who have shown interest. "I have been quite open to say my intentions are to stay with Mercedes. That's always been clear. And I am loyal to Mercedes. They gave me this chance to get into Formula 1. "There haven't been any hard feelings with any of the talks that have been going around, especially around Max. Because, like I said on numerous times, why wouldn't teams be interested in Max? "If every driver had no contracts for next year, Max would be number one for every single team. And that's understandable. But ultimately, there are two seats for every race team. "I knew if I continue to perform as I'm doing, my position would not be under threat whatsoever. So, I feel in a good place. "We're in no rush to do contract negotiations. We want to win together. Especially Kimi and I being team-mates now – we're getting a result like today, both junior drivers from Mercedes, we're both doing the job in terms of performance. Why would you want to change something that's working?"
Newsweek
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
George Russell Reveals Shock 'Big Meeting' At Mercedes After Belgian GP
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. British driver George Russell revealed that Mercedes held a meeting at the team's factory on Monday to determine the cause of the issues with the W16. Over the past three races, Mercedes has failed to reach the top four, resulting in the team's slide. The Brackley-based team secured a double podium and a race win in Canada, alongside a sprint race victory in Miami. Since starting the European swing, Mercedes hasn't been close to matching that performance, not even sniffing a podium. George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team arrives in the Paddock prior to the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 26, 2025... George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team arrives in the Paddock prior to the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 26, 2025 in Spa, Belgium. More Photo byRussell revealed that the team will meet at the factory and figure out what has caused these problems, which seemingly came out of nowhere. "Yeah, it was pretty underwhelming, to be honest," the Brit told Sky Sports F1. "Because we tend to favour the cooler conditions. So we couldn't have really asked for better weather for us. But we've just had no pace recently. We need to sit down, all of us. "We're going to have a big meeting this week with all the designers and engineers. To sort of understand the decisions we've made in recent weeks or months. And why we've gone backwards. So hoping for some improvements in Hungary." Russell finished fifth in the Belgian Grand Prix, but he did get lucky after Lewis Hamilton qualified poorly. Hamilton showed much better pace in the race, and had he not been so far behind at the start, Russell's spot would have been in danger. At Silverstone, Mercedes were truly nowhere as Russell got P10 in his home race. Things are far worse for Kimi Antonelli. The 18-year-old lacks confidence in the car and appears to be dealing with immense pressure. He has failed to qualify for Q2 on several occasions and looked visibly distraught during a media session after qualifying in Spa. "Kimi's had a few tough weekends, but he's getting a lot of engineering support from Bono, and the engineers on that side of the garage," Shovlin told the media. "We as a team are well aware that the thing that we need to focus on is the weaknesses in the car, not the bits that Kimi's struggling with. "The fact is that George is leaning on all his experience, quite a bit of it, driving difficult cars to get the qualifying laps out of it." Mercedes will have three weeks after the upcoming race in Hungary, due to the summer break in August, which should allow the team to reset and regain its bearings. For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
