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Who slept worst last night: James Vowles

Williams boss James Vowles was saying all the right things during the build-up to the sweeping regulation change for the 2026 Formula 1 campaign. “There can’t be a focus on now,” he told Bloomberg at the end of ‘24. “There has to be an absolute focus on the future. That won’t be the same up and down the grid, they’d be more telling you ‘next year’s our championship year’ ...Keep reading

racingnews365.com·Jan 24

Max Verstappen outlines 'very important' factor ahead of new F1 regulations

Max Verstappen has outlined that a "very important" factor this season will be drivers’ ability to "adapt quickly" to the new cars, as Formula 1 introduces its new power unit regulations. F1 has introduced its biggest regulatory change, featuring power units consisting of a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrical power. With changes also made to the cars’ dimensions, the championship is set for a very different look from 2026 onwards. These changes have seen the entire paddock start from scratch, in particular Red Bull, which for the first time in its history has become its own power unit supplier. For all 22 drivers, entirely new systems need to be understood not only from the perspective of driving the car, but also in terms of energy deployment and battery management. Verstappen has often been praised for how quickly he gets on top of difficult situations, perhaps handing him a small advantage ahead of the new campaign. Asked how the new regulations could benefit him, Verstappen told Bloomberg : "I honestly have no idea. "I haven't even done that many laps in the simulator. So for me, I will just see what happens when I sit in the car. "I think what is always very important as a driver is that you can adapt quickly to the situation that you're in, if that is on a current car that you've known for a long time, or a completely new car. "You just need to be able adapt quickly, learn quickly as well, because the cars will evolve, I think, also very quickly. But yeah, I'm not too stressed about that, to be honest."

racingnews365.com·Jan 22

Max Verstappen downplays new F1 regulations 'shock'

Max Verstappen has downplayed the severity of Formula 1’s new power-unit regulations for the upcoming season, saying they do not come as a "shock" due to the amount of preparation time on offer. From 2026, F1’s power units will consist of a 50/50 split between electrical power and internal combustion, representing the championship’s biggest step yet towards electrification. Given the scale of the regulations, all teams had a major focus on this year during last season’s campaign. Williams opted against introducing any significant upgrade packages in 2025 to focus on the new regulations, while Ferrari made the call at the end of April. Red Bull was one of the last teams to end development of its package from last year, yet Verstappen has insisted the Milton Keynes-based outfit is prepared. Discussing the size of the new power-unit regulations, Verstappen told Bloomberg : "I mean, you know that even heading into that season, right? So it’s not like it comes as a shock. "The team is prepared for that, and it’s also a bit of a new challenge. I enjoyed the cars the last three years, but at the same time sometimes, yeah, it doesn’t hurt to have a bit of a change. "Yeah, it can also really upset, of course, the grid. You don’t know. So yeah, we’ll see how that goes." In addition to the new regulations, Red Bull has become an F1 power-unit supplier for the first time in its history, producing engines for itself and sister outfit Racing Bulls. To aid the challenge, it is receiving technical support from Ford as part of a major partnership with the American manufacturer. Asked what it means to work with Ford, Verstappen said: "It’s a great opportunity as well. I’m just excited to get started. "There is a massive heritage in racing as well. So, yeah, I think everyone is just now very keen to get started."