Motorsport News — Smoko News Sport

Laurent Mekies credited with ending Red Bull's second seat "curse"

Formula 1 broadcaster Will Buxton believes team principal Laurent Mekies has removed Red Bull's second seat "curse" by replacing the Milton Keynes outfit's historically ruthless environment with a more supportive team culture.Red Bull has struggled to find a team-mate for four-time champion Max…

Formula 15d ago

Valtteri Bottas reveals causes of his Azerbaijan F1 horror show

Valtteri Bottas has offered theories behind his off-colour Azerbaijan Grand Prix performance, suggesting that damper degradation was giving his Cadillac increasingly poor ride characteristics through the race.The Finn endured a struggle through the weekend at Baku, largely cemented to the bottom of…

Formula 15d ago

Toyota denies 2027 WEC deal with Esteban Ocon

Esteban Ocon’s Formula 1 options are gradually running out, and Toyota will not provide one in the WEC.After Haas officially announced this week that it will end its partnership with the 30-year-old Frenchman at the conclusion of the 2026 season, media speculation has been rife over where Ocon’s…

Formula 15d ago

Honda secretly introduced second F1 ADUO upgrade in Madrid

Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe has revealed that Honda actually introduced its second ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) upgrade as early as Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix, with the upgrade focused on the power unit's turbocharger.Aston Martin and Honda…

Formula 15d ago

Guenther Steiner jokes Christian Horner Ferrari talk is good book publicity

Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has dismissed the possibility of Christian Horner and Fred Vasseur working alongside each other at Ferrari.Speculation regarding Horner's future intensified after he told The Times he would consider a leadership role at the Maranello outfit…

Formula 15d ago

Kimi Antonelli has "spooked himself" amid F1 title pressure, says Naomi Schiff

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli has "spooked himself" and must "get out of his head" to avoid crumbling under the pressure of the Formula 1 fight, according to pundit Naomi Schiff.The Mercedes driver arrived at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a commanding 81-point lead. But that advantage was…

Formula 15d ago

George Russell details F1 drivers' Langkawi boys' trip ahead of Bahrain GP in Malaysia

Mercedes driver George Russell has shared details of a boys' trip to Langkawi, which included a local go-karting race, ahead of this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.Taking to Instagram, Russell posted photographs of the trip with six other Formula 1 drivers: Oscar Piastri, Alex Albon…

Formula 15d ago

F1 pundit says drivers are "complicit" if they stay silent on fan abuse

Formula 1 broadcaster Will Buxton says drivers who fail to publicly condemn toxic online abuse from their supporters are "complicit" in the behaviour.2025 F1 champion Lando Norris's heat-of-the-moment comments following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix led to a wave of backlash online from Alpine driver…

Formula 15d ago

Five things to look out for at the F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia

Formula 1 heads to the middle point of its current triple header this weekend with the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia serving as round 16 of the 2026 season.It marks the first time that F1 will race in the country since 2017 as a result of the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, which forced Bahrain…

Formula 15d ago

Review: What Formula 1 Fans Can Expect from "Schumacher '94"

With "Schumacher '94 – The Birth of a Legend", streaming provider Netflix is releasing its second "Schumi" documentary on October 2, 2026, following "Schumacher" (2021). We were able to watch the new film ahead of its worldwide release. Here is what Formula 1 fans can expect from "Schumacher…

Formula 15d ago

Alex Brundle questions McLaren F1 upgrade after Azerbaijan GP disappointment

F1 TV pundit Alex Brundle has questioned whether McLaren's latest Formula 1 upgrade package is already destined for the "bin".The Woking outfit arrived at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a big upgrade package. But the reigning champion suffered a pointless weekend.2025 Formula 1 champion Lando…

Formula 15d ago

Mercedes braced for tougher strategy calls as George Russell closes on Kimi Antonelli

Mercedes will have to thread the needle keeping its strategy calls fair to both drivers amid George Russell's title resurgence, team boss Toto Wolff has acknowledged.After having to adapt his driving style to the new cars for 2026, Russell has been edging back towards his best form in recent races…

Formula 15d ago

Five contenders to replace Esteban Ocon at Haas for F1 2027

The news is finally out that Esteban Ocon will leave Haas at the end of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign following a disappointing time with the American outfit.He joined for 2025 and considering his then eight seasons of experience, including four podiums and a victory in Hungary, Ocon was viewed as a…

Formula 15d ago

Cadillac fix cooled F1 brakes by 100C – Valtteri Bottas

Cadillac has reduced its front brake temperature by 100C, Valtteri Bottas has revealed, curing one of the nascent Formula 1 team’s Achilles’ heels.Brake overheating has been a major issue with the MAC-26, forcing Bottas into retirement in Hungary, Monaco and Austria, with the problem also taking…

Formula 15d ago

Toyota’s replacement plan if Ryo Hirakawa lands Haas F1 seat

Toyota junior Esteban Masson is primed to move up to the manufacturer’s Hypercar squad next year should Ryo Hirakawa leave the World Endurance Championship to race for Haas in Formula 1.Toyota’s 2027 WEC line-up remains in flux, as the TGR bosses wait for Haas to finalise its replacement for…

Formula 15d ago

Esteban Ocon to leave Haas at the end of F1 2026

Esteban Ocon will officially leave Haas at the end of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign with his replacement yet to be announced.The 30-year-old joined the American squad from Alpine for 2025, but a very disappointing 18 months means the one-time grand prix winner will depart Haas after just two…

Formula 15d ago

How Carlos Sainz bounced back from the most difficult moment of his F1 career

Baku can never be just another place for Carlos Sainz. When we spoke to him on the eve of the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix last week, the Spaniard had only just arrived in the city and his thoughts inevitably went back to 12 months ago, having claimed his first podium with Williams.It remains one of…

Formula 16d ago

Was Baku really Max Verstappen's best chance to win in F1 2026?

When Max Verstappen walked into the Red Bull hospitality on Friday for his Dutch Formula 1 media session – which in Azerbaijan, incidentally, consisted of just two Dutch journalists – the message was clear. The Baku City Circuit offered Red Bull its best opportunity to win a race this year, but…

Formula 16d ago

How Isack Hadjar injured his wrist during F1 2026 summer break

Isack Hadjar broke a bone in his wrist while training during the 2026 Formula 1 summer break, forcing him to sit out the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort and requiring Red Bull and Racing Bulls to reshuffle their driver line-ups.The will-he-won't-he question of his return then provided fodder for…

Formula 16d ago

McLaren Racing and Edward Jones join forces in multi-year F1 and IndyCar partnership

In a joint announcement, McLaren Racing and Edward Jones revealed a new multi-year partnership designating the St. Louis–based firm as the Official Private Wealth Management Partner across both Formula 1 and IndyCar. The agreement establishes a long-term, year-round presence across two of global…

Formula 16d ago

“I fear something bad is going to happen soon” – 2026 F1 cars are “too dangerous”, Sergio Perez warns

Sergio Perez says he fears “something bad” might happen due to the speed differential between cars with Formula 1’s new machinery.This was a major topic early in the 2026 season, especially after Oliver Bearman had a mammoth crash in the Japanese Grand Prix. The Haas driver lost control of his car…

Formula 16d ago

Fernando Alonso extends Aston Martin contract into F1 2027

Fernando Alonso has finally confirmed that he will continue with Aston Martin into the 2027 Formula 1 campaign, ending all speculation surrounding his future.For months the 45-year-old had been answering questions about whether or not he will stick with F1, given his then Aston Martin contract…

Formula 16d ago

What's next for Williams after Baku B-spec yields mixed fortunes

If there is a definition of a mixed bag, that's what the Baku weekend was to Williams. It progressed to Q3 for the first time in 2026, but didn't start there due to a grid penalty for Carlos Sainz. It scored points for the first time since Monaco, with some fortune, but also saw Alex Albon crash…

Formula 16d ago

Esteban Ocon: “I’m one of the best, and I’m not afraid to say it”

Haas Formula 1 driver Esteban Ocon has always vocally expressed belief in his ability, and he now feels vindicated by his Azerbaijan Grand Prix result.Eighth position in Baku marked Ocon’s highest finish of 2026 in a campaign where the Frenchman was often held back by inconsistency in the way Haas’…

Formula 17d ago

McLaren Racing reportedly set for historic $1billion revenue milestone

McLaren Racing is projected to become the first Formula 1 team to surpass $1billion in annual revenue, according to a report by Sky News.The report states that McLaren Racing Ltd's accounts for the 2025 calendar year will be filed this week. Sources indicate the Woking outfit will declare revenue…

Formula 17d ago

Williams F1 announces huge K-pop star TZUYU collaboration

Williams has announced that K-pop artist TZUYU will record the official theme song for its ongoing partnership with the global anime property DAN DA DAN.Following a mixed weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Carlos Sainz collected one point with a 10th-place finish and Alex Albon crashed…

Formula 17d ago

Lewis Hamilton honours Roscoe with touching tribute one year after his death

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has shared a touching tribute to his late dog Roscoe on the first anniversary of the English Bulldog's passing.Hamilton has taken to social media to honour the memory of his famous bulldog, Roscoe, exactly one year after his passing. The much-loved…

Formula 17d ago

Max Verstappen was "nightmare fuel" for George Russell in Baku, says Alex Brundle

F1 TV pundit Alex Brundle says Max Verstappen relentlessly hunting down George Russell in the closing stages of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was "nightmare fuel" for the Mercedes driver.While Russell had built a commanding lead, the safety car neutralised the field and he found himself with Verstappen…

Formula 17d ago

Colton Herta aiming at F1 by 2028: 'I still have a chance'

“It would be foolish to sit here and think that I will be on the pace right away, that I will be on the pace and ready to win in my first race. I may be older, but speed-wise, these guys are just as fast as anybody out there.”This was how Colton Herta viewed his gamble of a Formula 2 switch from…

Formula 17d ago

Why Mercedes thought Max Verstappen was "on some sort of massive bungee cord" in Azerbaijan GP

For the first half of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, George Russell was able to build a gap beyond 10 seconds to the chasing pack, as the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar struggled to pass Oscar Piastri's McLaren.That picture altered abruptly when the safety car was deployed after Alex…

Formula 17d ago

George Russell Baku F1 win sparks "cracked the code" theory

Former IndyCar Series driver and F1 TV pundit James Hinchcliffe believes George Russell may have unlocked the performance of his Mercedes machinery, questioning whether the Briton has "cracked the code" to gain an edge over his team-mate Kimi Antonelli.Russell dominated the Azerbaijan Grand Prix…

Formula 17d ago

How was Valtteri Bottas so much slower than Sergio Perez in the Azerbaijan GP?

There may never have been, so far in the 2026 Formula 1 season, such a stark contrast in intra-team performance as between Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.Bottas was outqualified by 1.632s on Friday, albeit hindered by a yellow flag, and his woes persisted deep into…

Formula 17d ago

Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash

Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has defended Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach following a costly multi-car collision at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.Colapinto triggered a Turn 1 pile-up during a safety car restart at the Baku City Circuit. Misjudging his braking point, the…

Formula 17d ago

What made Red Bull so fast in the Azerbaijan GP after Max Verstappen’s qualifying issue

Red Bull might consider the FIA’s assessment that it has the strongest power unit as a blessing and a curse, but at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix it was key to its first double Formula 1 podium.After fixing Max Verstappen’s ill-behaving internal combustion engine after qualifying, an issue that…

Formula 17d ago

Has George Russell hit his stride too late? 'With this form I would have been in the fight'

A pole-to-flag victory in the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix provided further evidence that Mercedes is starting to unlock the best version of George Russell - but is it too little, too late?The 28-year-old took his eighth grand prix victory and his first career grand slam in Baku, by leading…

Formula 17d ago

F1 pundit slams Franco Colapinto's "outrageous" Baku crash but rejects Lando Norris's race ban call

Former McLaren mechanic and Formula 1 pundit Marc Priestley has branded Franco Colapinto's Turn 1 collision at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix "outrageous", but dismissed Lando Norris's demand for the Alpine driver to face a race ban.Colapinto went for a move down the inside into Turn 1 during a safety…

Formula 17d ago

Sebastian Vettel gives update on F1 future as he opens up on life after retirement

Four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel has discussed a potential future role within the championship, though he is not actively approaching teams for opportunities.Speaking on BBC's Chequered Flag Podcast following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the German opened up about his life…

Formula 17d ago

Lando Norris apologises to Franco Colapinto over F1 race ban comments

Reigning world champion Lando Norris has apologised to Franco Colapinto for demanding a race ban for the Alpine driver after the collision at Formula 1’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.Colapinto caused a pile-up at the lap 36 restart by locking up into Turn 1 of the slippery Baku street circuit, which…

Formula 17d ago

Flavio Briatore apologises to Lando Norris after Azerbaijan GP crash

Alpine's Flavio Briatore has publicly apologised to Lando Norris and McLaren following the collision at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that brought the 2025 Formula 1 champion's race to an end.The clash happened during a safety car restart in Baku when Franco Colapinto locked up on cold tyres into Turn…

Formula 17d ago

Why McLaren was so much slower than Mercedes on Baku's straights

For all the talk of rivals catching Mercedes, which has held fire on its more significant upgrades until next weekend's Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, the Brackley team has been able to weather the storm by excelling on some of the most power sensitive circuits like Monza and Baku…