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F1 tried to kill aero tricks for 2026. Teams found new ones before the season even started. Let’s break down inwash vs outwash — and why it matters 👇 #F1 #F12026 #Formula1

@ThisIsFormu1a1 If this is a strategy from Mercedes to purposely give false information to mislead Leclerc then i love it. My favourite part of F1 - outsmarting your opposition in whatever way you (legally) can

🚨| Charles Leclerc exposes George Russell trick after Ferrari instruction: — Charles Leclerc revealed the tactics employed by Mercedes and George Russell during their battle for third place at the Japanese Grand Prix. Leclerc managed to secure the podium position after a fierce contest with Russell, having both overtaken Lewis Hamilton post-safety car restart. Speaking to media, Leclerc explained: “It was quite tight at some points, and they were also being quite cheeky because I think his engineer was telling him things on the radio.” — Leclerc described how his own engineer, Bryan Bozzi, countered the misleading instructions from Russell's engineer, Marcus Dudley: “My engineer was telling me what his engineer was telling on the radio, but he was doing the opposite, and that put me under quite a bit of pressure.” “At one point, I think they told me: 'Oh, he's being told to use everything in the back straight,' or vice versa, or maybe in the main straight, and then for four laps in a row, he was doing exactly the opposite of that.” — Despite the challenges, Leclerc managed to adapt and defend his position: “So, I understood it pretty quickly, and I could defend.” — Leclerc admitted to being caught off guard at one moment but enjoyed the competitive nature of the race: “But at one point I got surprised in the last corner, but it was quite a fun race.” — Reflecting on the race dynamics, Leclerc noted the impact of the safety car on their strategy: “Unfortunately, a little bit unlucky for us because of the safety car at the wrong moment.” “I don't think it would have changed our race significantly, but it made it a little bit more difficult for our second stint for sure.” #scuderiaferrari 🇮🇹 #georgerussell 🇬🇧 #charlesleclerc 🇲🇨 VIA: [RacingNews365]

@MotorsportiveHQ This is what a midfield reality check looks like. Not just chasing lap time, but chasing consistency across tyres, balance, and strategy execution. This will be a challenging season for them

🚨 WILLIAMS BOSS JAMES VOWLES issues STARK assessment after Japanese GP. 👉 Calls the pointless race "PAINFUL" and draws a "LINE IN THE SAND". The team must use the five-week break to make the car competitive for POINTS by the Miami Grand Prix.

@ThisIsFormu1a1 What’s interesting is he didn’t lack pace, he lacked control. That’s a very different problem, and a worse one for F1

🚨| Lando Norris highlights bizarre dilemma in Lewis Hamilton tussle: — Lando Norris expressed his concerns about the new F1 regulations after feeling hesitant to overtake Lewis Hamilton during the Japanese Grand Prix. Speaking to media, Norris criticized the rules, which emphasize energy harvesting and deployment, and warned of potential crashes due to varying power unit modes. “You have two sides of it. From a race point of view, we have more of the safety side, which might have been the cause of today.” — Norris described his challenging race at Suzuka, where he finished fifth after a late-race overtake on Hamilton. He admitted reluctance to overtake due to battery depletion issues. “There's the racing point of view, and honestly, some of the racing… I didn't even want to overtake Lewis, it's just the battery deploys and I don't want it to deploy, but I can't control it.” “So, I overtake him, and then I have no battery, so he just flies past. This is not racing. This yo-yoing, even if he says it's not.” — Norris emphasized the need for drivers to have more control over their power units to ensure fair racing. “When you are at the mercy of what the power unit delivers… the drivers should be in control of it, at least, and we're not.” #lewishamilton 🇬🇧 #landonorris VIA: [RacingNews365]

@MotorsportiveHQ How was the headline for this not "Furious George"?

🚨 GEORGE RUSSELL left FURIOUS after Japanese GP heartbreak. Convinced an earlier Safety Car would have handed him VICTORY at Suzuka. Instead, mistimed pit stop and TWO separate battery issues on his Mercedes dropped him to FOURTH. Teammate Kimi Antonelli wins and takes the 2026 championship lead. 🏁

@ThisIsFormu1a1 Classic Fernando — brutally honest, slightly exaggerated, but not necessarily wrong. It would probably help his mood if he was seeing any reward for the amount of time and effort he's put into AM, particularly in the twilight years of his career

🚨| Alonso rips into Formula 1 cars with scathing verdict: — Fernando Alonso criticized the current Formula 1 cars, suggesting that nearly half of his team could drive them. He expressed disappointment over the diminished challenges at the Suzuka Circuit. Speaking to media, Alonso remarked: "It's gone. I told you in Bahrain the chef could drive the car now. Maybe not the chef, but 50% of the team members I think, at least, can drive in Suzuka, because as I said a few times already the high-speed corners now became the charging station for the car." — Alonso elaborated on how the current regulations have altered the driving experience, reducing the need for driver skill. He explained: "So you go slow there, you charge the battery in the high speed and then you have the full power on the straight. So the driver's skill is not really needed anymore." "You just need to back off the throttle or turn down the battery and you charge the thing. So no more challenge in the high speed." — The two-time F1 world champion also criticized the nature of overtakes in the current racing environment, warning of potential incidents similar to Oliver Bearman's. He noted: "The overtakes we see now are unintentional. Suddenly you find yourself with more battery than the car ahead and either you crash into them or you pass them. It's more of an avoidance move than a proper overtake." #fernandoalonso 🇪🇸 VIA: [gpblog]

@ThisIsFormu1a1 Alonso basically called it: when overtakes are driven by battery delta instead of driver skill, you get unpredictable speed differences—and that’s where danger creeps in. And it’s not just “faster vs slower,” it’s judging sudden 50kph swings mid-straight, travelling at 300+ km/h!

🚨| How Alonso warned of Bearman-style crash even before lights out at Suzuka: — Fernando Alonso had already cautioned about the potential crash risks posed by the new regulations before the Japanese Grand Prix. Speaking to media, Alonso highlighted the dangers of speed differences between cars, predicting that drivers would either pass or crash, as seen in Oliver Bearman's incident. “The overtakes we see now are unintentional. Suddenly you find yourself with more battery than the car ahead and either you crash into them or you pass them. It's more of an avoidance move than a proper overtake.” — Alonso further elaborated on the lack of traditional racing maneuvers due to the new regulations. “It's not about taking a risk, braking later than someone, or trying something different through a corner - whether that's around the outside or the inside. Now you either have less battery than your rivals or more battery, and you either overtake or get overtaken. So there's no real variation in the racing.” — Oliver Bearman, after the incident, reassured that he was physically okay and described the crash as a freak accident caused by a massive overspeed of around 50 kph. He emphasized the need for a full review to understand the incident. — Bearman also mentioned that concerns over large speed deltas had been discussed with fellow drivers and stewards, stressing the need for greater awareness and adaptability. — The incident served as a clear example of the dangers introduced by speed differences not previously seen in Formula 1, with drivers having effectively warned the FIA about the risks. #fernandoalonso 🇪🇸 #olliebearman 🇬🇧 VIA: [gpblog]

@HillF1 F1 might be creating a bigger safety risk by trying to control everything. When drivers are forced to lift unpredictably, the danger shifts from speed to surprise. An unintended consequence nobody wants, especially the drivers!

I think we have a safety issue. Cars suddenly slowing at high speed is highly dangerous.

@MotorsportiveHQ For new fans: qualifying is supposed to be flat-out. If drivers are lifting for rules instead of limits, something’s off in the system.

🚨 MAX VERSTAPPEN CALLS OUT FIA OVER SAFETY RULES 👉 Following Oliver Bearman's crash in Japan, Verstappen criticizes qualifying regulations as "confusing and potentially dangerous." He argues that complex rules forcing drivers to lift are being justified by safety, leading to over-regulation.

@MotorsportiveHQ The problem isn’t just safety — it’s unpredictability. When energy deployment dictates pace, drivers lose the ability to race naturally. But any chanhes need to be very carefulky considered and well thought out. Nobody wants a season with changes every couple of races

🚨 F1 DRIVERS PUSH FOR BATTERY ROLE REDUCTION Key meeting scheduled for April 9 to address safety and racing concerns. Teams oppose mid-season changes, with significant updates unlikely before 2027.

@ThisIsFormu1a1 Interesting tension here: Vasseur says energy mismanagement, Hamilton says the system itself limits pushing. Both can be true — and that’s what makes this era tricky.

🚨| F1 | Hamilton: “The gap from Mercedes is huge. With these rules, qualifying is not pleasant.” — Lewis Hamilton expressed his dissatisfaction with the current qualifying rules, noting the significant performance gap between Ferrari and Mercedes. Speaking to media, Hamilton remarked: “Yesterday I struggled, but today it was better. Today in Q1 we did well, I was feeling more and more at ease, but we are really far away at the moment. We're not strong enough.” — Ferrari's team principal, Vasseur, suggested that Hamilton may have mismanaged energy during crucial laps in Q3. Hamilton acknowledged this perspective, adding his own insights: “The qualifying lap... is pretty on the limit. Especially in the first sector, but then once you get to turn 6 you can't push hard, because you have to save battery power. From this point of view, it's definitely one of the least fun circuits, as you have to keep your maximum power all the way around. I don't think this aspect is a particularly pleasant part of the competition.” — Hamilton also commented on the potential lack of overtaking opportunities during the race, attributing it to both the track's nature and energy management issues: “This is not a track where we usually see a lot of overtaking, so I think there may be less than last year's race. But I hope, in reality, that there are.” “Turn 1 may be a possibility because it's in the straight mode zone. But I don't know, there's a long straights first, so you get to the first corner with practically no energy.” #lewishamilton 🇬🇧 #mercedesamgf1 🇩🇪 VIA: [motorsport IT]

@ThisIsFormu1a1 Interesting that he mentions “the engine doesn’t like it” — these regs are punishing drivers who push the wrong way. It’s not just speed, it’s how you access it.

🚨| Oscar Piastri shoots McLaren warning to Mercedes at F1 Japanese GP: — Oscar Piastri expressed optimism about McLaren's progress, noting they are getting "closer" to Mercedes after securing a second-row start for the 2026 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix. Speaking to media, Piastri remarked: “I think qualifying has been okay this year, but nice to get into the top three. We clearly don't have the pace or the grip to match Mercedes still, but we're getting closer, which is the most important part.” — Reflecting on his qualifying performance, Piastri acknowledged the challenges faced during the session but remained positive about the outcome: “I think it was pretty well executed. The final lap of Q3 was a bit of a mess, but apart from that, I think we built into things well.” “I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted from the car after FP3, and I think we did a good job of achieving that. And then also how you have to drive—yeah, you've got to do some interesting things. So I think just staying disciplined on that worked well.” — He also commented on the unpredictable nature of the qualifying session and his expectations: “Everyone seemed to chop and change a bit through qualifying. We didn't look great in Q1, and then in Q2 we came alive and managed to hold that pace. I thought the Ferraris were going to be on pole at one point, so it was all a bit of a mixed bag, but I'm happy to end up in P3.” — When asked about the potential for pole position, Piastri was realistic about the limitations: “Maybe a tiny bit, but it's always impossible to know. I think especially with these cars, like Kimi said, it's very easy to think you're going faster and doing the right thing, and you end up going slower because the engine doesn't like it.” — Looking ahead to the race, Piastri remained focused on gaining experience and achieving a strong result: “I mean, not necessarily, but you don't know what you don't know until you're in the situation. So yeah, I've tried to learn as much as I can from watching the races and even through practice.” #oscarpiastri 🇦🇺 #mcLarenf1 🇬🇧 #mercedesamgf1 🇩🇪 #f12026 VIA: [motorsportweek]

@MotorsportiveHQ Honda admitting this publicly is unusual—they usually try to shield teams—but the scale of the problem clearly leaves them no choice.

🚨 HONDA ADMITS KEY FAILURE BEHIND ASTON MARTIN'S 2026 STRUGGLES. 👉 Years away from Formula 1 have caused severe reliability problems. Vibration issues and race-ending failures are crippling the team's start to the season.

@MattP1Gallagher Leclerc cooking in the corners but losing on the straights highlights how these cars are reshaping skill—cornering mastery is more important than ever.

Charles Leclerc absolutely cooking these new regs after quali: "I honestly can’t stand qualifying, it’s a f***ing joke! I go faster in corners, throttle earlier, for f***’s sake, I'm losing everything in the straight!"

@MotorsportiveHQ Super-clipping sounds technical, but it’s basically drivers running out of electrical energy mid-corner — meaning they’re flat out but still slowing down. That’s why it looks so odd at Suzuka. Read more: tinyurl.com/Super-Clipping

🚨 Lewis Hamilton and George Russell CRITICIZE F1 'super-clipping' at Japanese GP. 👉 Calling it BAD for racing at Suzuka. Honda reports progress with Aston Martin, but Red Bull's struggles need a 'miracle'.

@ThisIsFormu1a1 Switching teams in modern F1 isn’t plug-and-play. Different aero concepts, braking feel, even communication styles can take a season to click. Adapting across eras is also one of the hardest things in F1, and he’s doing it again at 40+!

🚨| Lewis Hamilton fires back at critics after Ferrari F1 resurgence in 2026: — Lewis Hamilton has responded to critics following his resurgence with Ferrari. The seven-time champion faced challenges adapting to the ground-effect era and adjusting to Ferrari after joining in 2025. Despite these hurdles, Hamilton has shown a return to form in the 2026 season, currently sitting fourth in the drivers' standings and achieving his first podium with Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix. Speaking to F1, Hamilton remarked: “When you have difficult years, there's lots of questions all over the place. Ultimately, I saw certain individuals who hadn't had anywhere near the success that I'd had talking negatively, as they continue to do so today.” “It felt great to be able to come back and come into this season and start off strong to be able to show that I still have what it takes to compete at the front and I'll continue to try and show up and deliver in that way.” — Ferrari is emerging as a significant competitor to the dominant Mercedes, though Hamilton acknowledges there is still progress to be made. He shared insights into the team's efforts to close the gap: “Already through the last couple of weeks, I've been messaging with the head of aero, for example, and I'm like, 'Hey have you seen this? Have you seen that on that car?' So the communication is really great.” “Everyone's flat out pushing, and it's really inspiring to see whenever you work within a great organisation, and you go and see back at the factory, and you see in the office everyone heads down, just flat out pushing for every millisecond.” “Those are the bits that I love the most about this sport and that I wish people got to see. That's where you get inspired, and you come back, you're like, 'OK, the guys are really on it.' So, I'm excited for the next couple of months.” #lewishaamilton 🇬🇧 #scuderiaferrari 🇮🇹 #f12026 VIA: [motorsport]

@Motor_Sport Hadjar staying flat but still losing 53 km/h shows how brutal this is — the car decides your speed as much as the driver does now.

F1 drivers are losing between 40 and 50km/h between entry into Suzuka’s famous 130R corner and braking for the final chicane due to “super clipping” 😲 Telemetry showed Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar lost 53km/h despite remaining on full throttle through 130R during FP2.

@MotorsportiveHQ The Hamilton–Rosberg rivalry wasn’t just drama… it was structural. Two title contenders, same car, zero excuses, that’s what made it explode. Button’s saying: don’t expect fireworks unless BOTH drivers are fighting for the same thing every weekend.

🚨 Jenson Button POINTS FINGER at Nico Rosberg for infamous Hamilton rivalry. 👉 "A similar dynamic WON'T happen with Russell and Antonelli... because Rosberg isn't involved." His on-air comment during Japanese GP coverage sparked AWKWARDNESS and revived the feud discussion.

@ThisIsFormu1a1 Interesting he points at qualifying — that’s where fans feel the problem most. If drivers can’t push flat-out, it risks removing that raw “edge” people expect on Saturdays.

🚨| Toto Wolff rejects 'boring season' fears as Mercedes sets early pace: — Toto Wolff dismissed concerns that Mercedes' dominance could lead to a boring season, with the team securing 1-2 finishes in the first two races. Speaking to media, Wolff insisted: “The first two races paint a completely different picture. I'm not worried that it could get boring.” — Wolff emphasized the competitive nature of the season, highlighting the performance of other teams. He remarked: “We have good pace, but so does Ferrari. McLaren will come and the others will also learn the topic of engine management quickly.” “We see extremely exciting and spectacular racing not only at the front between us and Ferrari, but also in the midfield with the most overtaking manoeuvres.” “What we can perhaps still work on is the qualifying format, where we should go back a bit with the energy management. This is being worked on.” — Wolff acknowledged the mixed reviews of the new engine formula, particularly from drivers further down the order. He explained: “It's not everyone who is upset, but some drivers who have problems with the complex e-management.” “But the main target group is the fans, and over 90 percent of them think that we now have entertaining racing: entertaining and exciting.” — Wolff stressed the importance of balancing traditional and new fan expectations. He concluded: “You have to change again and again in sport. You should respect both: the opinion of the traditionalists, who would like to see the sport as it used to be, and that of the new fans, who say: 'We actually like it the way it is now, and it should stay that way.'” #kimiantonelli 🇮🇹 #mercedesamgf1 🇩🇪 #f12026 VIA: [PLANET F1]

@MotorsportiveHQ The big shift here isn’t just setup—it’s how drivers spend energy lap by lap. Get it wrong, and you’re not just slower… you’re a sitting duck on the straights.

🚨 LIAM LAWSON warns of PUNISHING consequences in F1's new strategic era. The 2026 cars demand a RADICAL SHIFT from setup to strategic energy management. ❌ Mistakes now carry SEVERE PENALTIES, making adaptation a difficult, ongoing challenge. The racing is FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT under the new regulations.

@RBRHub This feels like a classic case of parts improving peak performance, but making the car harder to drive consistently. Fast on paper ≠ fast over a lap.

Paul Monaghan (Chief Engineer at RBR): “You can see from our speed that the car is not performing to the usual standards we set for ourselves and our lap time is not good. It was quite challenging, but we have identified a number of issues with the car and we need to work particularly on improving the balance and grip. Now it is about confirming all the problems and understanding them well enough to make effective adjustments for tomorrow.” “The upgrades we brought are quite substantial, so thanks to everyone at the factory for getting them here, as that was a huge effort. The upgrades work, but now we need to sort out the other aspects of the car. As always, we will try to figure out what went wrong and work on understanding the issues, fixing them, and sending the car out on the track tomorrow.”