Motorsport News — Smoko News Sport

Wild, sad or just slow? What drivers expect from F1's low-battery racing at Monza

Monza's high-speed 5.5km layout has always been seen as the ultimate test of speed and horsepower in Formula 1, with a throwback layout that hasn't undergone too many dramatic changes over the last 50 years.In 2026, though? It's complicated. Long straights and high-speed circuits have had a…

Formula 133d ago

Esteban Ocon won’t get upgraded Ferrari F1 engine at Italian GP

Esteban Ocon has revealed that he will not have the ADUO2 version of Ferrari’s Formula 1 engine at Monza, as Haas’ only available unit will go to team-mate Oliver Bearman.The American team is heading into the Italian Grand Prix with a brand-new aerodynamic package, as announced by team principal…

Formula 133d ago

David Coulthard points to Aston Martin momentum shift after hitting "rock bottom"

Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has argued that Aston Martin has reached "rock bottom" and is now beginning its gradual recovery.Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, the 13-time grand prix winner drew comparisons to McLaren's previous slump before the Woking…

Formula 133d ago

Lightning McQueen debuts as F1 track vehicle at Italian GP

Disney and Pixar's Lightning McQueen has been spotted at Monza as a track vehicle for the Italian Grand Prix.The iconic animated race car's appearance is part of a newly announced multi-year extension between Formula 1 and Disney, expanding the "Fuel the Magic" campaign through to the end of…

Formula 133d ago

Penalised Kimi Antonelli to go "full attack" at Monza F1 home race

Mercedes Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli says he has "nothing to lose" at the Italian Grand Prix as he aims to recover from a big penalty for taking new power unit components.Following a string of reliability issues earlier in the year, Antonelli is switching to his fifth Mercedes power unit of the…

Formula 133d ago

Lewis Hamilton turns heads with Monza arrival in "dream" Ferrari F40 ahead of Italian GP

Lewis Hamilton made a striking entrance at the Monza circuit ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, arriving for media day behind the wheel of his newly restored Ferrari F40.Dressed in an all-black suit layered with a tan coat and flat cap-style hat, the seven-time champion turned heads in the Formula 1…

Formula 133d ago

FIA declares heat hazard for F1's Italian GP in Monza

Formula 1's governing body the FIA has declared a heat hazard for this weekend's Austrian GP, forcing drivers to either wear cooling vests or attach ballast to their F1 cars.Temperatures across Italy have soared once again in recent days, with a sixth heatwave of the summer affecting the country…

Formula 133d ago

Lando Norris launches race team, young driver programme

Reigning F1 world champion Lando Norris has launched his own race team and young driver programme that will compete across Europe's single-seater ladder from 2027.McLaren driver Norris joined forces with British karting team Fusion Motorsport to establish LN4 Fusion, which will compete in Formula 3…

Formula 133d ago

‘They think we're against the British’ - FIA president wades into F1 stewards debate

The Formula 1 stewards once again found themselves under the spotlight at the Dutch Grand Prix after handing drive-through penalties to Franco Colapinto and Arvid Lindblad.Both drivers were penalised for overtaking another competitor under yellow flags in the aftermath of Max Verstappen’s heavy…

Formula 134d ago

Five things to look out for at the F1 Italian GP

Formula 1 hosts round 13 of its 2026 campaign this weekend with the Italian Grand Prix, and there are plenty of talking points heading into Monza.It is the place where championship leader and home hero Kimi Antonelli must overcome a grid penalty due to an engine change on his Mercedes, so how will…

Formula 134d ago

Mercedes rules out ADUO engine upgrade at Italian GP as updated F1 power unit due in October

Mercedes was permitted one upgrade token under Formula 1’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities scheme, but has confirmed that Kimi Antonelli won’t race with an updated power unit at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.One of the biggest talking points heading into the Monza round is…

Formula 134d ago

Isack Hadjar to miss Italian GP as Yuki Tsunoda returns to Racing Bulls

Isack Hadjar will sit out this weekend's Italian GP at Monza as he recovers from a wrist injury he sustained during Formula 1's summer break. As a result, Liam Lawson will once again replace him at Red Bull and Yuki Tsunoda slots back into the Racing Bulls car.Hadjar sustained a wrist fracturing…

Formula 134d ago

Ferrari to introduce first ADUO update at F1's Italian GP

Ferrari will introduce an upgrade to its Formula 1 power unit at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix with it permitted under the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities system.This year, F1 introduced the ADUO system, which grants manufacturers extra opportunities to improve their engines…

Formula 134d ago

On this day: Michael Schumacher beats Alain Prost’s F1 victory record

On 2 September 2001, Michael Schumacher surpassed Alain Prost’s record of 51 Formula 1 victories, winning the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.Prost had been the record holder since 1987, when he matched Jackie Stewart’s tally of 27, and went on to clinch nearly as many wins from then on…

Formula 134d ago

"We want to see Franco Colapinto" - Argentinian president pushes for F1 return

Argentina's government is clamouring for a Formula 1 race, but any talk of a return to Buenos Aires is premature at best.Argentinian president Javier Milei vowed he was going to push to bring F1 back to the country after a nearly 30-year hiatus, surfing on the popularity of Alpine driver Franco…

Formula 134d ago

Qatar says it is "safe" and hopes to keep F1, MotoGP races despite Middle East conflict

Losail International Circuit and the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) are continuing preparations for the Qatar Formula 1 and MotoGP grands prix, despite the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.The conflict involving the United States, Israel…

Formula 134d ago

Red Bull confirms hire of key Aston Martin engineer as Lambiase replacement

The Red Bull F1 team has confirmed it has hired long-time Aston Martin engineer Tom McCullough to replace McLaren bound Gianpiero Lambiase as head of racing.Lambiase will join McLaren by 2028 to become its chief racing officer, reporting into team principal Andrea Stella. The Briton is currently…

Formula 134d ago

Pirelli unveils unique trophies for 2026 Italian Grand Prix

Pirelli has revealed the trophies for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, continuing a multi-year partnership with the Pirelli HangarBicocca Museum of Contemporary Art, which is entering its sixth year.Created by the artist duo known as Vedovamazzei - Stella Scala and Simeone Crispino - the trophies…

Formula 134d ago

McLaren to run rotating F1 rear wing in Italy, calls it H-wing

The McLaren Formula 1 team will introduce the H-Wing, its own version of the rotating rear wing, at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza.McLaren had been working on its own interpretation of the upside-down rear wing, which rotates 180 degrees between cornering mode and straight mode, for…

Formula 134d ago

Haas updates car for Monza as Oliver Bearman remains "sceptical" of VF-26 performance

After starting the 2026 Formula 1 season strongly, Haas admits that it has been overtaken and out-developed by its rivals this year. However, team boss Ayao Komatsu and driver Oliver Bearman both remain hopeful that it can catch back up with the pack “soon”.Haas has traditionally started the season…

Formula 135d ago

Rivals copying Ferrari F1 aero designs "a good reward" for Maranello

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur says rival teams copying its innovative Formula 1 designs is a "good reward" for Maranello.Ferrari came into the 2026 regulations cycle with a striking car, the SF-26, which featured a number of intriguing areas of innovation.At winter testing in Bahrain, the team…

Formula 135d ago

Toto Wolff surprised by Kimi Antonelli's 2026 progress: He’s "No longer a deer in the headlights"

When Toto Wolff held his annual media session with the Dutch press at Zandvoort a year ago, Kimi Antonelli was in the middle of the struggles that characterised the European part of his season. The then-rookie showed some moments of brilliance in Miami and Canada, but those were interspersed with…

Formula 135d ago

How Ferrari can "push until the end" with F1 2026 upgrades, and why it will

Ferrari will "push until the end" of the 2026 Formula 1 season with car upgrades, team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed, as he shrugged off suggestions the team will have to slow down its development because of cost cap limitations.Ferrari has rolled out an impressive number of incremental upgrades…

Formula 135d ago

Ferrari unveils Michael Schumacher-inspired F1 livery for Italian GP

Ferrari has taken the covers off a one-off livery for its Monza home race, paying tribute to its most successful driver Michael Schumacher.The Ferrari SF-26 driven by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will turn extra red for the occasion, losing the white tone on the engine cover. Hamilton's and…

Formula 135d ago

Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx: A friendship that has endured for almost 60 years

Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx were remarkably versatile even by the standards of their generation, competing and succeeding across multiple disciplines. Having won some of the biggest prizes in motorsport between them, both can look back on their journeys with immense pride. But competition was…

Formula 135d ago

Kimi Antonelli reveals how he is staying grounded in 2026 F1 title fight

Current Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli has opened up about how he is keeping himself grounded in the 2026 title fight.In only his second season in F1, Antonelli became the youngest driver to lead the standings with back-to-back wins in China and Japan. Since then, he secured four more…

Formula 135d ago

George Russell "has to win" Italian GP to keep F1 title hopes alive, says former driver

Mercedes driver George Russell must secure a victory at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix to keep his championship ambitions alive, according to former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer.Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Palmer assessed the title picture following a dramatic Dutch Grand Prix at…

Formula 135d ago

Lewis Hamilton reveals Ferrari F40 restoration project after selling entire car collection

Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he has acquired a rare Ferrari F40, fulfilling a lifelong ambition of his.The seven-time champion shared the news alongside photos of the retro supercar undergoing what looks like an engine-out restoration."My very own F40. This is the car of my dreams and has been…

Formula 135d ago

Lando Norris's 2026 F1 title hopes face crucial Monza test, says James Hinchcliffe

Former IndyCar Series driver and F1 TV analyst James Hinchcliffe says McLaren's performance at Monza will dictate whether Lando Norris can realistically challenge for the 2026 championship title.Norris will arrive at the Italian Grand Prix on the back of two consecutive wins at the Hungarian and…

Formula 135d ago

Guenther Steiner: Lewis Hamilton has chance of eighth title if Ferrari makes one call

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes Lewis Hamilton has a genuine, albeit small, chance of securing a record-breaking eighth Formula 1 championship in 2026, but insists Ferrari must throw its full support behind the Briton to make it happen.Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner…

Formula 135d ago

Carlos Sainz to launch first Fifty Five merchandise collection ahead of Madrid F1 race

Carlos Sainz has teased a merchandise collection ahead of his home race, the highly anticipated Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.With Formula 1 preparing to hit the streets of the Spanish capital for the first time in September, the Williams driver is building hype for his home crowd. Taking to social…

Formula 135d ago

Carlos Sainz could extend F1 career until 2040

Williams driver Carlos Sainz believes he could stay in Formula 1 until he’s 45 years old – the age he will be when the 2040 season gets under way.Currently competing in his 12th F1 campaign, the four-time grand prix winner will celebrate his 32nd birthday on Tuesday and is the sixth-oldest driver…

Formula 136d ago

A year without a win – The ugly statistics of Oscar Piastri's 2026 F1 season

31 August 2025. Oscar Piastri won the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, extending his championship lead over McLaren team-mate Lando Norris to 34 points. Red Bull's Max Verstappen was 104 points behind and seemingly out of contention.Over the remainder of that season Piastri didn't win another grand…

Formula 136d ago

Fred Vesti delights fans with Mercedes V8 demonstration run in Singapore

Mercedes Formula 1 reserve driver Fred Vesti has completed a live street demonstration run in Singapore.The run took place as the headline attraction of the adidas Orchard Ignition festival on Sunday 30 August, organised in partnership with Mercedes-AMG, adidas and global partner BABYMONSTER.Vesti…

Formula 136d ago

Fernando Alonso earns Michael Schumacher comparison from Jenson Button

2009 Formula 1 champion Jenson Button has likened racing against Fernando Alonso to battling Michael Schumacher.Writing in his Jenson's Journal for Aston Martin ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, Button reflected on Alonso's career as the paddock waits to see if the Spaniard will commit to another…

Formula 136d ago

Kimi Antonelli reveals "different mindset" for F1 Italian GP return

Kimi Antonelli returns to the Italian Grand Prix this weekend armed with a 59-point lead in the drivers' championship and a completely different mindset to his troublesome home race debut in 2025.In 2025, he suffered a messy race at Monza, in which he was handed a five-second penalty for a clash…

Formula 136d ago

Lando Norris insists he has not changed since F1 championship win

Lando Norris insists that achieving his lifelong dream of becoming a Formula 1 champion has not changed who he is as a person, though it has brought a sense of calm and confidence in the car.The McLaren driver reflected on his title success during an interview with Sky Sports, which was filmed…

Formula 136d ago

Sergio Perez trying to help hire lure F1 personnel to Cadillac

Sergio Perez has stated that he's tried to 'influence' some of Cadillac's hires in its first Formula 1 season, and has offered feedback on potential targets for the team to headhunt.The arrival of an 11th outfit in Formula 1 has expanded the job market within the championship, but this naturally…

Formula 136d ago

Ferrari "can't leave more points on the table" with race execution

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has called on his squad to keep improving its race weekend execution as the margins between Formula 1's 2026 frontrunners continue to shrink.Having focused a large part of 2025 on the new regulations, Ferrari has fielded a competitive car in the SF-26, which it…

Formula 136d ago

The underlying upgrade that boosted McLaren's performance jump

McLaren’s win in Zandvoort, its second in a row after Budapest, highlighted a key point: the updates introduced on either side of the summer break did more than restore the aerodynamic load the car had been missing. They also enabled the team to take a decisive step forward.At the Barcelona Grand…