Author Archives: PressBox

Audi became the first Formula 1 manufacturer to use the FIA’s new Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities system, bringing an upgraded power unit package to the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. The FIA confirmed the rule-compliant update in its Friday power unit document after completing its initial assessment following the Canadian Grand Prix. The package included revised V6 components, new internal combustion engines and turbochargers, along with drivability-focused changes fitted to both cars at Audi’s facilities in Ingolstadt and Hinwil. The ADUO framework was created to help engine suppliers close the performance gap, and Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi and Honda are eligible to develop under it, while Red Bull was the best engine performer in the first period and cannot use the catch-up concessions.

Ferrari is preparing to follow with its first ADUO-influenced engine upgrade at the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, using its first token on a revised internal combustion engine. Ferrari power unit director Enrico Gualtieri said the update is relatively minor and worth less than 10 horsepower, adding that it will not change the competitive order on its own. Ferrari has described the package as part of a longer development program aimed at improving its engine performance and reducing the gap to Mercedes.

A more substantial Ferrari step is already mapped out for after the summer break, with a new or redesigned turbocharger expected to form part of the next package. Ferrari views that later update as part of its incremental approach to power unit development, with the broader target of closing the performance gap to Mercedes and Red Bull. Gualtieri said the factory is focused on getting improvements from the factory to the track as quickly as possible.

Hot, dry conditions are forecast to dominate the Austrian Grand Prix weekend at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, with Europe’s heat wave expected to push temperatures into the low 30s to mid-30s Celsius. Forecasts range from about 31.5C on race day to 35C on Saturday and Sunday, while track temperatures could climb above 50C. Little cloud cover and low winds are expected, which could make this the hottest Formula 1 race of the season so far.

The weekend is scheduled for June 26 to 28 and begins with Friday practice in sunny, dry conditions, with temperatures around 32C and no rain expected at the start of the event. Saturday’s qualifying day is also expected to stay very warm, around 33C, though early forecasts show a small chance of showers. Sunday’s race is projected to be around 33C, with some forecasts putting the chance of light rain at up to 40%, even as other outlooks call for stable weather and no rain through the weekend.

The heat raises reliability concerns at a circuit known for significant elevation changes, and teams are expected to keep watching the forecast closely as it may change before and during the event. Mercedes has already had multiple power unit failures this season, and Ferrari is bringing its first engine upgrade of the year to Austria. The race is round eight of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Lewis Hamilton arriving after his Barcelona win for Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli leading the championship by 41 points.

McLaren will trial an experimental upside-down rear wing during Friday practice at the Austrian Grand Prix, using the part as a test item rather than a race-ready upgrade. The component is part of a small aerodynamic update package for the MCL40, with the team also bringing minor refinements around the rear corners as it looks for incremental gains in the 2026 season.

The concept follows ideas previously seen on Ferrari and Red Bull, with Ferrari first drawing attention to the approach in winter testing and Red Bull later introducing its own version at the Miami Grand Prix. McLaren has not disclosed the details of its design, and the team said it will use the wing only on Friday unless factory analysis supports a return later in the season.

Technical director of applied engineering Neil Houldey said the updates are aimed at finding more performance and gathering data on the new-generation cars. He said Austria has historically suited McLaren and that the team expects its car and driver combination to be competitive at the front again, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri set to lead the effort. McLaren is also watching the weather closely, with possible rain seen as an early chance to learn more about the cars in wet conditions.

Lewis Hamilton arrived at the Austrian Grand Prix with Ferrari carrying fresh momentum after winning his first race for the team in Barcelona. The result ended Ferrari’s long winless run, gave Hamilton three podiums in the first six races of the 2026 season, and cut his championship gap to Mercedes from 66 points to 41. Ferrari now heads to the Red Bull Ring hoping that form can translate to one of the fastest circuits on the calendar, even though Austria has historically been a poor venue for both the team and Hamilton.

The weekend is also shaping up as a technical test for the frontrunners. Ferrari is planning a revised engine compression chamber for the SF-26 and believes it will improve straight-line speed, with simulation data and planned upgrades suggesting it can narrow the gap to Mercedes. Mercedes enters Austria as the pace benchmark but is trying to recover from a disappointing Spanish Grand Prix and recent power unit reliability failures, with countermeasures underway and the possibility of having to reduce engine performance. Team sources say Mercedes needs a clean weekend to support its title defense.

The Red Bull Ring should produce close racing because of its long straights, heavy braking zones and frequent overtaking chances, and McLaren is also viewed as well placed there, with Lando Norris having strong results at the track. Last year’s Austrian Grand Prix saw McLaren finish 1-2, with Charles Leclerc and Hamilton behind them, which adds more context to a race that could shift momentum among the leading teams and drivers.

Cadillac is set to bring a substantial upgrade package to the Austrian Grand Prix as it looks to cut its gap to the Formula 1 midfield and score its first points of the season. The planned changes include new sidepods, a revised floor and other bodywork updates for the MAC-26, with the team aiming to use them at the Red Bull Ring.

Team principal Graeme Lowdon said the new parts should help Cadillac sustain its progress, even as a demanding schedule and back-to-back races have made logistics and development harder. Cadillac has already moved through a rapid upgrade cycle, with changes to the rear wing and exhaust in Monaco, followed by additional rear wing and cooling updates in Barcelona.

Sergio Perez described the coming package as a “good, big” update and said the factory has been working “flat out” on development. Valtteri Bottas said reliability remains the team’s most urgent concern after back-to-back DNFs, but he said the team is learning from each weekend and is encouraged by its steady progress. Cadillac has trimmed its qualifying deficit from 4.1 seconds off pole at the start of the year to 2.9 seconds in Barcelona, where it also cut the gap to Aston Martin to about one second. Perez finished 14th in Barcelona, while Bottas said he is optimistic about returning to a track where he won in 2017 and 2020 and took his first Formula 1 podium and first front-row start in 2014.

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has urged Fernando Alonso to stay in the championship for as long as possible, saying the 44-year-old still has the ability to compete at a high level if he is given the right car and project. Domenicali, who worked with Alonso at Ferrari, said Formula 1 needs heroes and declined to speculate about retirement, even as Alonso’s future continues to shape the 2026 driver market.

Alonso, in his 23rd Formula 1 season, said after the Barcelona race that it could be his last appearance at that circuit, though he later clarified that did not necessarily mean he would leave the sport after 2026. He has said he expects to decide on his next step by the summer break. His current Aston Martin contract runs through the end of 2026, and his future is being watched closely as the team has underperformed despite heavy investment.

Options being discussed include Alonso staying with Aston Martin or making a return to Alpine, where he won both of his world titles. Juan Pablo Montoya has cautioned him against leaving Aston Martin, pointing to a possible step forward when the Adrian Newey-led AMR26 package arrives later in the summer. Alonso remains a central figure in the market, still commanding respect across the paddock and viewed as a key part of Aston Martin’s long-term push to become title contenders. Barcelona will not return to the calendar until 2028, while Alonso is scheduled to race in Spain again at the new Madrid Grand Prix in September.

Formula 1 and the FIA approved a new set of rule changes on June 23 that reshape both immediate race operations and the sport’s longer-term engine direction. For the rest of the 2026 season, Boost Mode will be partially restored in wet or low-visibility conditions, but only to keep power delivery steady on straights. Its overtaking function will stay disabled for safety reasons. The FIA also revised Heat Hazard rules so the declaration can be made separately for sprint races and main grands prix, with notice required 24 hours before an event. Depending on conditions, the safety response will use either cooling vests or added ballast for drivers.

The council also approved a broader power-unit framework for 2027 and beyond after initial plans drew criticism from drivers for leaning too heavily on energy management in qualifying. The revised regulations shift Formula 1 away from an even split of combustion and electrical power, to 58-42 in 2027 and 60-40 in 2028. Fuel flow will rise by 5% in 2027 and 13% in 2028, while energy harvesting will increase and electric output will drop. The FIA said the changes are meant to make qualifying more flat-out while preserving racing quality.

The package also includes slightly shorter race distances at some circuits, fewer reconnaissance laps when needed, and pre-season testing for the 2027 cars will expand from three days to four. The FIA said the longer testing period reflects the complexity of the current-generation cars and aims to reduce the need for major hardware changes. The engine debate is already looking further ahead, with Formula 1 also discussing what formula should follow in 2031. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has pushed for a return to naturally aspirated V8 engines with only a minimal hybrid system, while stakeholders have shown some openness to reducing electrification and reexamining the combustion engine.

Round eight of the 2026 Formula 1 season takes place at the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg from June 26 to 28, with two practice sessions on Friday, final practice and qualifying on Saturday, and the 71-lap race set for Sunday at 3 p.m. local time, or 14:00 BST. The weekend comes after Lewis Hamilton won in Barcelona for Ferrari, his first victory for the team, which cut Kimi Antonelli’s championship lead to 41 points after Antonelli retired late in Spain. George Russell and Lando Norris also finished on the Barcelona podium, and warm, dry weather is expected in Spielberg, with temperatures forecast around 31.5C to the low 30s, a factor that could shape tire strategy.

Viewers in the UK can watch every session on Sky Sports F1, stream through NowTV and Sky Go, and see free highlights on Channel 4. BBC coverage will run across Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app, BBC iPlayer, the Chequered Flag podcast and YouTube. In the U.S., Apple TV will offer free weekend coverage, while F1 TV Pro and F1 TV Premium will carry every session live, along with live timing on F1.com and in the F1 app.

The Austrian Grand Prix weekend will also include Formula 2 and Formula 3 action, with practice, qualifying, sprint races and feature races on the support bill.