Toto Wolff expects ‘full-on fight’ with Red Bull as Max Verstappen impresses
Toto Wolff believes Red Bull will be among Mercedes' main rivals in the 2027 Formula 1 season following Max Verstappen's recent resurgence.
The Red Bull star has won the last two races, with a dominant victory at the Singapore Grand Prix strengthening his team's position as one of the quickest on the grid.
Mercedes, meanwhile, are closing in on both the Drivers' and Constructors' championships, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli in contention to be named F1’s youngest-ever world champion at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, on the weekend of October 23-25.
However, Wolff expects a much tougher fight next season.
F1 news: Lewis Hamilton’s ‘painful lesson’ at Singapore GP highlights Ferrari mistrust
The 2026 Singapore Grand Prix will be one to forget for Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton.
The seven-time champion was in the run for a podium finish before a wrong strategy call saw him drop all the way down to P6.
However, the call did not come from the pit wall, but from Hamilton himself. While he has taken responsibility for the mistake, his decision raises questions about the level of trust between the driver and his team.
Here, Sports News Blitz sub-editor Nicole Powell reflects on Hamilton’s P6 finish and whether Ferrari’s culture may have played a part in his decision.
F1 news: Does George Russell need to toughen up as his title hopes fade?
The 2026 Formula 1 season has been a thrilling introduction to the 2026 regulations, despite the hiccups.
Mercedes have claimed their place as the fastest team, with their two drivers battling it out for the Drivers’ Championship title.
The teams chasing them are Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren. However, the fight for the Drivers’ title is entirely in the Silver Arrows’ corner.
F1 analysis: Bahrain GP in Malaysia - Five talking points including Russell, Antonelli and Verstappen
Formula 1 is heading back to Malaysia this weekend for what should be a really interesting Bahrain Grand Prix.
The race will take place at the Sepang International Circuit, which has not hosted an F1 race since 2017.
There are already quite a few things to look forward to, especially with the championship battle getting closer and the unpredictable Malaysian weather potentially playing a part.
George Russell is coming off a big win in Azerbaijan, while his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli is still leading the Drivers' Championship.
Max Verstappen is also looking for his first win of the season.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Elliot Desage looks at five things to look out for this weekend.
F1 news: Ferrari shut down Christian Horner noise and back Fred Vasseur
Ferrari have finally had enough of the noise surrounding Fred Vasseur, and quite frankly, it was about time.
The Scuderia have made their position crystal clear: they have “full confidence” in Vasseur and his team, and there is no reason for Ferrari to allow Christian Horner's interest in the job to derail their season.
The speculation intensified after Horner described Ferrari as “the dream” and suggested it was the only Formula 1 team he would consider joining without an ownership stake.
That was enough to send the rumour mill into overdrive, with Vasseur's position once again becoming a major talking point. But Ferrari's response should put an end to it.
F1 news: 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend schedule and race predictions
Formula 1 heads to the Baku City Circuit this weekend for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the championship battle entering the first round of a triple-header.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s F1 writer Juliette White provides everything you need to know ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, including the weekend schedule and our predictions for the podium.
F1 news: Why is the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday instead of Sunday?
This weekend will mark the 10th edition of the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. However, things will be a little different this weekend, writes Sports News Blitz’s Elliot Desage.
F1 news: Isack Hadjar confirmed as Max Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate for 2027
Red Bull have confirmed that Isack Hadjar will remain alongside Max Verstappen for the 2027 Formula 1 season.
The Frenchman joined Red Bull at the start of the 2026 campaign after an impressive rookie season with Racing Bulls, earning a promotion to the senior team after just one year on the F1 grid.
Hadjar has now secured his place for another season, with Red Bull confirming the news ahead of his return at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, writes Sports News Blitz sub-editor Nicole Powell.
Spanish GP: New Madrid F1 circuit to undergo changes after ‘boring’ debut
Madrid’s brand-new Formula 1 circuit is already set for a makeover after its debut race left drivers and fans underwhelmed.
The Spanish Grand Prix moved from Barcelona to the new Madring - a temporary layout mixing existing roads and permanent sections at the Ifema exhibition centre near the city’s airport.
The opening event delivered a processional race with almost no overtaking, despite drivers praising the track’s challenge over a single lap.
2026 F1 Spanish GP: Ferrari under pressure after Lewis Hamilton’s Madring brake failure
Lewis Hamilton’s Spanish Grand Prix ended after just six laps when a brake problem forced Ferrari to retire his car, with the team now investigating what caused the failure.
Sports News Blitz writer Noah Ngcobo looks at what went wrong for Hamilton, Ferrari’s response and the questions the incident raises for the team.
F1 news: Ferrari’s Monza mess casts long shadow over Madrid GP weekend
Formula 1 arrives in Madrid this weekend (September 11-13) for the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit, but the focus remains firmly on the lingering fallout from Ferrari’s disastrous Italian Grand Prix.
At Monza last Sunday (September 6), Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc collided on the opening lap.
The pair ran side-by-side through the first chicane when Leclerc’s defence at the exit of Turn 2 forced Hamilton onto the gravel, dropping the Briton from fourth to tenth.
Leclerc then crashed heavily at the Parabolica on Lap 2 and retired. Hamilton recovered to a frustrated sixth as Mercedes locked out the top two places with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
Hamilton later called it “far too late” for Ferrari to give him priority over Leclerc in the championship fight, having slipped further behind title leader Antonelli.
F1 news: George Russell faces reality check as Kimi Antonelli takes control at Mercedes
As Formula 1 heads to Madrid this weekend (September 11-13) for the first Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring, the Mercedes garage is still dealing with the aftermath of Monza.
Kimi Antonelli’s charge from 19th to victory at the Italian Grand Prix, overtaking team-mate George Russell in the closing stages, has left the Briton 66 points behind in the championship.
Russell started second and looked set for a strong result, but the young Italian’s pace and strategy call sealed another statement win for the title leader.
It was the clearest sign yet that this season belongs to Antonelli.
Lewis Hamilton's 'No Rules' Ferrari remark raises bigger questions after Monza
Lewis Hamilton's blunt assessment of Ferrari after the Italian Grand Prix has raised questions about how the team manages its drivers, but his comments were about more than one incident at Monza.
In this article, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo examines what Hamilton’s comments reveal about Ferrari’s approach to managing the rivalry between their two drivers.
Lewis Hamilton takes responsibility for frustrated radio and media comments at Dutch GP
Lewis Hamilton has admitted he did not show the best version of himself during the Dutch Grand Prix after a series of frustrated radio messages and post-race television comments directed at Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion finished fourth at Zandvoort, just behind George Russell, and felt time lost behind team-mate Charles Leclerc ultimately cost him a shot at the podium.
F1 news: Liam Lawson to replace Isack Hadjar for Dutch GP as Yuki Tsunoda returns
Formula 1 returns to action for the Dutch Grand Prix at the Zandvoort circuit after the summer break, but one Red Bull driver will not take part in this weekend’s action.
Isack Hadjar has been replaced by Liam Lawson ahead of the Dutch GP after the Algerian-French driver was sidelined by a wrist injury.
Formula 1 2026 mid-season review: The biggest winners, losers and surprises so far
The 2026 Formula 1 season has reached its halfway point, and the first campaign under the sport's new regulations has already delivered plenty of storylines.
Mercedes have emerged as the class of the field after getting the new rules right from the start, while 19-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli has established himself as the championship favourite in just his second season in Formula 1.
Ferrari have also taken a significant step forward, Red Bull have struggled to keep pace with their rivals and Aston Martin have endured a disappointing first half of the year despite high expectations.
With 11 races complete and 12 still to come, here's a look at the biggest talking points from the 2026 season so far.
Red Bull appoint former Mercedes talent chief Gwen Lagrue to lead Junior Programme from 2027
Oracle Red Bull Racing have confirmed the appointment of former Mercedes talent chief Gwen Lagrue as the new head of the Red Bull Junior Programme from 2027.
Lagrue will take over leadership of one of Formula 1's most successful young driver academies, succeeding Helmut Marko, who has overseen the programme for more than two decades.
During his time at Mercedes, Lagrue played a key role in identifying and developing young talent, including current Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.
Formula 1 confirms Malaysia return as Sepang added to 2026 calendar for Bahrain Grand Prix
Formula 1 has confirmed that the Sepang International Circuit will return to the calendar later this year after Malaysia was announced as the host venue for the postponed Bahrain Grand Prix.
The race, officially titled the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, will take place from October 2-4, filling the gap left after the original Bahrain event was postponed earlier this season due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The revised schedule remains subject to final agreements and approval from the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
Lewis Hamilton confident Ferrari can fight for 2026 F1 title ahead of Hungarian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton says he believes Ferrari can challenge for the 2026 Formula 1 world championship after the team's strong progress during the opening half of the season.
The seven-time world champion has enjoyed a much stronger campaign after a difficult debut season with Ferrari in 2025.
Speaking ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton praised the work done by the Scuderia while insisting there is still more to come.
F1 news: Five drivers to miss Hungarian GP FP1 as teams hand rookie opportunities
Formula 1 teams will give five rookie drivers valuable track time during the opening practice session for this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri among the regular drivers sitting out.
Under Formula 1 regulations, every team must run a rookie driver in each car at least twice during the season.
With the championship heading into its final race before the summer break, several teams have chosen Budapest to complete one of those mandatory sessions.