With six days of testing in Bahrain now complete, ESPN pores over the data and speaks with paddock sources to predict F1’s running order for 2026.
Category: Formula 1
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Max Verstappen vs. F1’s new rules: Every complaint this season — and our verdict
Amid a wave of complaints from F1 four-time world champion Max Verstappen, ESPN’s Nate Saunders examines every one and gives his verdict on whether they are warranted.
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Alpine denies Colapinto ‘sabotage,’ slams abuse
Alpine has written an open letter refuting “completely unfounded” fan allegations that they have been sabotaging the car and competitive chances of their Argentinan driver Franco Colapinto.
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McLaren’s Stella calls on F1 to prioritise safety
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has called on Formula 1 to prioritise safety concerns surrounding the sport’s new regulations after Haas driver Oliver Bearman was lucky to avoid a serious injury in an accident at the Japanese Grand Prix.
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Verstappen’s trusted engineer to join McLaren
Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will join McLaren at the expiry of his Red Bull contract, assuming the role of chief racing officer.
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Max Verstappen’s inner circle is unravelling — and so are Red Bull’s hopes of keeping him
The departure of Max Verstappen’s longtime race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will add fuel to the inferno that is building over the four-time world champion’s immediate F1 future, writes ESPN’s Nate Saunders.
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Who’s really fastest in 2026? F1’s new rules are confusing the pecking order — and the drivers
Formula 1’s new era was always going to bring questions, but its first week of serious running has raised more than most. With one more preseason test in Bahrain still to come, ESPN makes sense of a fascinating three days in Sakhir.
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Ferrari impress as Leclerc leads F1 testing times
Charles Leclerc ensured Ferrari ended preseason testing in style with a scintillating set of late laps in Bahrain that will increase hype around the Italian team’s 2026 chances.
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F1 Academy adds races after Saudi cancellation
The all-women F1 Academy has added extra races to their existing schedule in Montreal and Austin to account for the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in April.