Motorsport News — Smoko News Sport

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…

Formula 136d ago

Exclusive - Fred Vasseur explains how he challenged Ferrari to take more risks

When Ferrari took to the track in February at the official start of winter testing in Bahrain, the Scuderia's 2026 challenger immediately turned heads.The SF-26 featured an intriguing vane behind the exhaust pipe on day one, internally named FTM, and the next day it debuted an even more…

Formula 136d ago

Williams called out for 'overpromising and underdelivering' amid 2026 F1 woes

Formula 1 broadcaster Will Buxton has called out Williams for "overpromising and underdelivering" in 2026, admitting he remains surprised by Carlos Sainz's decision to sign with the Grove outfit over Audi.Despite bold claims throughout 2025, Williams has struggled in the 2026 season. It arrived at…

Formula 136d ago

Fernando Alonso "saved" Aston Martin after difficult Dutch GP weekend, says Guenther Steiner

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes Fernando Alonso is solely responsible for Aston Martin's points finish at the Dutch Grand Prix.Aston Martin arrived at Zandvoort with a highly anticipated power unit upgrade package from its engine partner Honda, following other major car…

Formula 136d ago

Lando Norris discusses long-term McLaren future after committing to 2030

2025 Formula 1 champion Lando Norris says he would be "proud" to spend his entire F1 career with McLaren.The 26-year-old recently committed his future to the Woking outfit, signing a four-year contract extension that will keep him at the team until the end of the 2030 season.Speaking to Sky Sports…

Formula 137d ago

Carlos Sainz: Changes in drivers’ competitiveness could be down to F1 rules era

Carlos Sainz has theorised that Formula 1 drivers’ levels of competitiveness and performance swings have been dictated by the regulation changes.F1 underwent its biggest overhaul of rules last winter, with changes to both the chassis and engine, which moved grand prix racing away from…

Formula 137d ago

Ferrari faces Lewis Hamilton-Charles Leclerc management test after Dutch GP, says pundit

Former F1 TV pundit Will Buxton has questioned Ferrari's ability to handle the dynamic between seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.During an episode of the Up To Speed podcast following the Dutch Grand Prix, Buxton compared Ferrari's pitwall hesitation with Mercedes' quick team…

Formula 137d ago

Poor Red Bull comeback could have ended Liam Lawson's F1 career, says former F1 TV pundit

Formula 1 broadcaster Will Buxton has argued that Liam Lawson's career in the championship would likely have ended had he underperformed during his return to Red Bull at the Dutch Grand Prix.Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar was forced to sit out the race weekend at Zandvoort after sustaining a wrist…

Formula 137d ago

Bernie Collins issues stark Williams warning after Alex Albon-Carlos Sainz Dutch GP crash

Sky Sports Formula 1 analyst Bernie Collins has warned that Williams is in no position to absorb the financial and developmental damage caused by the collision between Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon at the Dutch Grand Prix.During an appearance on the Sky Sports F1 Show, Collins pointed to the severe…

Formula 137d ago

Kimi Antonelli credits 2025 struggles for stronger 2026 F1 campaign

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli has credited his tricky rookie Formula 1 campaign in 2025 with making him mentally stronger in 2026.The Italian driver holds a 59-point lead over his team-mate George Russell and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' standings. He became the youngest driver to lead…

Formula 137d ago

McLaren tipped to emerge as Mercedes' main threat by end of 2026 F1 season

Former Alpine Formula 1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer believes McLaren will establish itself as Mercedes' main rival by the end of the 2026 season.Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast alongside broadcaster Jake Humphrey, Szafnauer assessed the shifting competitive order at the front of…

Formula 137d ago

F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?

The details in a Formula 1 driver contract is highly-guarded information, but often the length of the deal is released to the wider world.Here is how long each F1 driver contract is believed to be and therefore what moves could be possible and when in the future.McLarenLando Norris – 2030The…

Formula 137d ago

Ralf Schumacher requires surgery after jet ski crash

What was supposed to be an entertaining evening ended in hospital for Ralf Schumacher on Saturday after the former Formula 1 driver was injured during TV entertainer Stefan Raab's celebrity jet ski world championship.Schumacher suffered a shoulder injury in a crash and will now require surgery.The…

Formula 137d ago

Lewis Hamilton 'didn't help himself' with Ferrari radio messages, says Guenther Steiner

Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner says Lewis Hamilton 'didn't help himself' with his frustrated team radio messages during the Dutch Grand Prix. The seven-time champion fumed on team radio, urging the Maranello outfit to allow him to pass team-mate Charles Leclerc, who was on a…

Formula 137d ago

Bradley Cooper transforms Monaco for 1962 grand prix "Ocean's Eleven" prequel shoot

Over the past week, three-time Grammy Award winner Bradley Cooper and a major film crew have been filming in Monaco, shooting scenes for the upcoming Ocean's Eleven prequel.With part of the story set against the backdrop of the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix, the famous street circuit was transformed back…

Formula 137d ago

"How can you allow this?" – Toto Wolff shares Niki Lauda story behind Lewis Hamilton's iconic F1 pole

When Toto Wolff held his annual media session with a select group of Dutch journalists at Zandvoort, one of the topics that came up was how a Formula 1 team can get the maximum out of a driver and, related to that, how much freedom a team principal should give a star driver.The most recent example…

Formula 137d ago

Lando Norris delivers verdict on McLaren 2026 F1 title fight

Lando Norris insists he remains entirely confident that McLaren can successfully make the necessary changes to its current challenger to fight for the 2026 Formula 1 championship.Speaking to Sky Sports after announcing his contract extension with McLaren until the end of 2030, the British driver…

Formula 137d ago

George Russell also set for F1 engine penalty – but Mercedes yet to decide when

Mercedes is deciding when George Russell will take an engine change penalty across the remainder of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with the team bracing for him to follow what Kimi Antonelli will face at the Italian Grand Prix.The F1 world championship leader is poised to serve a back-of-the-grid…

Formula 137d ago

Sir Jackie Stewart explains how improved F1 safety has changed racing

Three-time Formula 1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart believes modern grand prix drivers can be more aggressive racers by taking advantage of the series' vastly improved safety standards.Speaking in an interview with his grandson, Lucas Stewart, the 87-year-old reflected on his relentless push to…

Formula 137d ago

Guenther Steiner claims Mercedes has made George Russell's support role clear

Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner believes Mercedes will have informed George Russell that his role for the remainder of the 2026 season is to support Kimi Antonelli's championship campaign.While Russell arrived at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix as a clear favourite…

Formula 138d ago

Audi F1 power unit facility branded "second to none" by Rob Smedley

Former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley has lauded Audi's Formula 1 power unit headquarters, declaring the German manufacturer's engine department as "second to none".Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast alongside host Jake Humphrey and former Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer…

Formula 138d ago

Sergio Perez "had conversations" with other F1 teams - but never thought of leaving Cadillac

Sergio Perez revealed that his management had held talks with other Formula 1 teams about a potential 2027 switch, but he wants to remain part of Cadillac to help drive the team forward.It had been rumoured that Perez's management team had been in discussions with Williams about a drive, should…

Formula 138d ago

Isack Hadjar shares injury update as he targets Italian GP Red Bull return

Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar is "hopeful" that he will be able to return to the Formula 1 grid for the Italian Grand Prix after a wrist injury forced him to sit out the Dutch Grand Prix.Hadjar sustained the injury during the summer shutdown. Despite missing Zandvoort's final F1 race, the driver…

Formula 138d ago

Haas completes latest TPC test as focus on 2027 F1 driver line-up decision grows

Haas has completed its latest Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) run with Ryo Hirakawa, Leonardo Fornaroli and Rafael Camara in action, as focus on its 2027 Formula 1 driver line-up increases.With the 2027 F1 silly season picking up speed since the end of the summer break, Haas is one of the few teams…

Formula 138d ago

What Lando Norris' contract extension means for McLaren and Oscar Piastri

With what is undoubtedly coming with a salary befitting a world champion, Lando Norris has put pen to paper to a deal tying him to the Woking-based team until 2030, with options for multiple additional years after that, taking Norris into his 30s.Imagining Norris wearing a different-coloured race…

Formula 138d ago

Ferrari urged to back Lewis Hamilton as Guenther Steiner issues team order warning

Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner believes Ferrari must establish clear rules of engagement and back Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc if the Maranello outfit wants to stay in the 2026 championship fight. Ferrari's internal dynamic came under scrutiny after the Dutch Grand…

Formula 138d ago

One detail of Lando Norris' McLaren extension has F1 fans talking

One main detail of Lando Norris's contract extension with McLaren has caught the attention of Formula 1 fans, who have branded the deal as "well deserved".The reigning F1 champion signed a contract extension to remain with McLaren until at least the end of 2030. The 26-year-old, who secured his…

Formula 138d ago

George Russell treats Mercedes team members to special Silverstone karting event

Following Mercedes' double podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, George Russell rewarded staff from the team's Brackley and Brixworth bases with a private karting session at the Silverstone Circuit.Mercedes confirmed the outing via social media, posting on X: "Swapping the W17 for the kart. All…

Formula 138d ago

Lando Norris extends McLaren deal until F1 2030

Lando Norris and McLaren have agreed to a long-term contract extension, keeping the world champion at the Formula 1 team until at least 2030.On Saturday morning McLaren announced it had tied Norris to the team until 2030, with multi-year options to further extend the 26-year-old's stay. Norris…

Formula 138d ago

Mercedes bemused why it was “rubbish” through high-speed corners in Dutch GP

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin rated the team’s pace through Zandvoort’s high-speed corners as “rubbish” and is looking for answers on its inconsistency between both stints and drivers in the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix.After a strong start to the Zandvoort weekend, with…

Formula 138d ago

Zak Brown explains why he chose to attend Washington D.C. IndyCar race over Dutch GP

Zak Brown had his eyes on Zandvoort while in Washington D.C., but of course, the McLaren Racing CEO can't be in two places at once.Brown joined Will Buxton for a interview with SPEED this past week, where he explained why he decided to attend the first-of-its-kind IndyCar race over the Formula 1…

Formula 138d ago

James Vowles reveals Williams' "huge number of projects" to fix 2026 problems

Williams team principal James Vowles says the Grove outfit is running a "huge number of projects" to rectify development mistakes made last winter that are still compromising its 2026 campaign.Speaking in his post-race The Vowles Verdict debrief following a difficult Dutch Grand Prix, Vowles said…

Formula 139d ago

Naomi Schiff points to Red Bull advantage after Dutch GP driver change

Red Bull's driver swap at the Dutch Grand Prix has renewed paddock discussions about two Formula 1 teams sharing the same ownership.Following a wrist fracture sustained by Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar ahead of the Zandvoort race weekend, the Milton Keynes outfit called up Liam Lawson from sister…

Formula 139d ago

Ferrari to deliver upgraded F1 engine at Italian GP

Ferrari will use its ADUO-permitted upgrade on its engine for the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, while also bringing aerodynamic updates and track-specific parts for its home round.Following reliability checks and the announcement of Ferrari being over 4% behind on the Additional Development and…

Formula 139d ago

Kimi Antonelli reveals special Mercedes gesture after maiden F1 win

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli has revealed the team allowed him to keep the original winner's trophy from his maiden Formula 1 victory.Speaking to GQ Magazine in a 10 Things F1 Driver Kimi Antonelli Can’t Live Without feature, the Italian showed the original trophy he received on the podium…

Formula 139d ago

Sergio Perez: I want three more years with Cadillac

Sergio Perez reckons that he has "maybe three more years" before he reaches his sell-by date in Formula 1, and wants to devote that to helping the Cadillac project move forward.The Mexican found himself out of F1 at the end of 2024 when he was released by Red Bull, following a difficult campaign…

Formula 139d ago

Ukraine files complaint to FIA ethics committee after Russian ban lift

Ukraine has lodged a formal complaint to the FIA ethics committee following the lift to the ban on Russian competitors in international motorsport.The Ukrainian Automobile Federation (FAU) requested an urgent investigation into the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF) on Thursday, stating it is in…

Formula 139d ago

Ferrari pays tribute to Michael Schumacher with special Italian GP race suits

Ferrari has officially revealed the special Formula 1 race suits that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will wear at the team's home Italian Grand Prix, paying tribute to the legacy of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.The Maranello outfit is currently preparing for its home race at Monza…

Formula 139d ago

BMW explains why it’s not interested in F1 entry

BMW has cited a lack of opportunities for technology transfer as the key reason why it is not interested in joining Mercedes and Audi in Formula 1.The Munich-based manufacturer has remained absent from F1 since it sold its majority stake in Sauber in 2009, despite the series’ growing popularity…