Author Archives: PressBox

March 13, 2026

Mercedes’ W17 straight-mode puts Ferrari on back foot

Mercedes held a clear performance advantage over Ferrari going into the Chinese Grand Prix, driven largely by active-aero/straight-mode and differences in energy and engine deployment. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both said Mercedes showed a distinct edge after the Australian Grand Prix, with Hamilton putting the qualifying gap at about eight tenths and the race-trim deficit at four to five tenths; in another report he described Ferrari as roughly half a second per lap slower in race trim.

Observers attributed much of Mercedes’ edge to the W17’s straight-mode performance and how that system lets Mercedes deploy energy more effectively on flying laps, making their cars harder to clip on the straights. Formula 1 confirmed straight mode will be enabled at several sector pairs in Shanghai, and Hamilton urged Ferrari to work out how Mercedes achieved the “huge step.” George Russell’s dominant weekend in Melbourne — converting pole into victory after a near-0.8s pole advantage over non-Mercedes cars — underlined the gap.
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March 12, 2026

Márquez predicts 850cc bikes could match 2027 lap times

MotoGP’s 2027 regulatory overhaul, centered on a shift from 1000cc to 850cc machines, is being presented as a safety-driven reset that could nonetheless preserve or even improve lap times while reshaping competitiveness across the grid. Organizers and riders have said the aim is to curb extreme top-speed runs, which had approached roughly 360 km/h, to ease pressure on limited run-off areas.

Reigning champion Marc Márquez welcomed the displacement cut and predicted the smaller, lighter, less powerful bikes “could be similar, or even faster” on lap time, saying improved corner efficiency and greater maneuverability should offset slower straight-line speed. He described 2027 as a “season of continuous evolution” and warned adaptation would be uneven, noting “no one can guarantee they will have the best bike or adapt fastest.”

The 2027 package pairs engine downsizing with broad technical and commercial measures: tighter aerodynamic limits and bans on ride-height and other aero/ride aids (including the holeshot device), a ban or heavy restriction on prototype aero devices, and a mandated switch from Michelin to Pirelli as sole tyre supplier. Manufacturers have begun development and limited running: Honda released footage of its 850cc prototype after Takaaki Nakagami ran it at Sepang and called the bike “super light” and said he was “a bit surprised,” KTM and Yamaha have shown or run machines privately, and Ducati and Aprilia are targeting spring debuts. Teams say the rule change will alter the balance between electronics, mechanical aids and rider input and could reward manufacturers that invest heavily and start testing early; Honda technical director Romano Albesiano said the company believes it could hold an advantage thanks to development resources, pointed to mid-season Brno and Spielberg tests as opportunities to build strong setups, and warned the new bikes will “definitely pitch more” and be more challenging to ride. Taken together, the technical, safety and tyre measures are being framed as a strategic reset that ends the 1000cc era after 2026 and creates a competitive window in which setup work, early testing and rider adaptation are likely to determine who benefits most from the new 850cc regulations.
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March 12, 2026

Russell accuses Ferrari of blocking FIA start fix

George Russell publicly accused Ferrari of blocking the FIA from changing Formula 1’s start procedure ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, calling the team ‘selfish’ and ‘a bit silly.’

He tied the dispute to start problems at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, saying low battery levels on the formation lap—caused by the harvest-limit rule—had disadvantaged cars that qualified in the front half. Russell said the FIA wanted to remove the harvest limit to prevent repeats but could not implement the change because it required a super-majority of teams and Ferrari opposed it.

He noted that some Ferrari drivers had managed strong starts under the current procedure, and Lewis Hamilton described the revised start procedure as ‘exciting’ and expected it to improve as the sport transitions to the broader 2026 power-unit and chassis changes.
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March 12, 2026

Ferrari fits SF-26 with 180-degree flip wing in Shanghai

Ferrari will debut a radical rear wing—nicknamed the Macarena (also called the flip-flop wing)—on the SF‑26 at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai as part of an early-season technical development arms race. Team principal Fred Vasseur says the upgrade is part of an aggressive development program, and the team plans an evolved rear-wing specification by the Canadian Grand Prix in May; reports indicated three different specifications of the Macarena were sent to Shanghai for the sprint weekend.

Video from pre-season testing in Bahrain showed the wing’s top element rotating a full 180 degrees, effectively turning the flap upside down to reduce drag. Ferrari first ran the device on the penultimate day of testing with limited mileage and chose not to use it at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. In Shanghai the wing was positioned to operate along the circuit’s 1.1 km straight.

Rivals and Ferrari personnel framed the rollout as part of a rapid development battle. Lewis Hamilton said Ferrari ran the device “a full day or so” in Bahrain, praised Ferrari’s engineers for accelerating upgrades, and said he was keen to see its impact in China while warning the title fight will be decided by an ongoing “development war.” Hamilton also noted qualifying gaps of roughly eight tenths and race deficits of four to five tenths to Mercedes after Ferrari finished third and fourth in Melbourne following a pit-stop strategy blunder that likely cost a probable win. Others, including Lando Norris, have highlighted Ferrari’s strong cornering pace, and Ferrari has introduced other upgrades this season—including a smaller turbo intended to help race starts—as teams escalate technical development early in the season.
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March 12, 2026

VR46 nears multi-year Ducati supply deal

VR46 was close to re-signing with Ducati for the 2027 season despite exploratory interest from Aprilia. At a recent presentation in Rome, team principal Alessio “Uccio” Salucci said, “I never considered leaving Ducati,” and described talks with Aprilia as cordial. Aprilia’s outreach over the winter was led by CEO Massimo Rivola; Salucci told Motorsport.com he spoke with Rivola “two or three times.” Valentino Rossi also signaled confidence in continuing with Ducati as VR46 begins work toward a 2027 bike.

The team said it was on the verge of finalizing a multi‑year supply deal taking effect in 2027, with one report saying a three‑year 2027–2029 contract was expected to be finalized soon. Salucci described the paperwork as “very close” with only a few “small details” remaining, but warned a public announcement could be delayed while Ducati, Aprilia, Yamaha, KTM and teams negotiate a new manufacturers’/constructors’ agreement and broader commercial terms with MotoGP. Observers said the timing and final form of any 2027 supply arrangement remained contingent on those wider manufacturer–MotoGP talks and planned technical changes for 2027, including the move to the 850cc/Pirelli era.

Background context stressed VR46’s long association with Ducati. The team entered the premier class with Luca Marini, though sources differ on whether that step came in 2021 or 2022, and it replaced Pramac as Ducati’s main satellite team in 2025. Sources also differ on when formal factory support began (reports cite 2024 or 2025), but it is reported that Fabio Di Giannantonio has received the latest Ducati machinery and been run on factory‑spec equipment, while Franco Morbidelli has used a year‑old machine within the VR46 operation. VR46 has recorded race wins on the Desmosedici (most recently Marco Bezzecchi in 2023). Di Giannantonio and Morbidelli are out of contract at the end of this season, and the team reportedly pursued Pedro Acosta before he joined the official Ducati Lenovo squad.
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March 11, 2026

McLaren admits ‘nowhere near’ leaders, must fix aero, tires

McLaren conceded after the Australian Grand Prix that the team is “nowhere near” the front. Lando Norris said there was “zero chance at the minute” of matching the top teams, estimating McLaren were roughly 0.5-0.6 seconds per lap off the pace. He singled out Ferrari as having “the best car” with “unbelievable” cornering, pointed to Red Bull’s pace when Max Verstappen nearly caught him, and warned the team faces a long, tough season unless it closes the gap quickly.

Team data and commentary pointed to a complex package shortfall rather than a single cause. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said the team was “a little puzzled,” noting losses both on the straights and through certain corners and describing a performance gap of roughly 0.5-1.0 seconds that mirrored the near one-second qualifying deficit to George Russell. GPS analysis and team data highlighted straight-line time loss despite McLaren and Mercedes using the same power unit, and Stella added that limited information from Mercedes about their new engine hampered McLaren’s understanding.

Severe front-tire graining after only a few laps compounded the problem, masking some pace and forcing two-stop strategies that left McLaren more than 50 seconds adrift of the winner. Most sources put Norris about 51-52 seconds behind Russell, though one report cited a 35.5-second gap. Outside analysts flagged the need for aero and package upgrades — Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle said McLaren “need an aero upgrade” — and Stella warned corrective upgrades will take a few races to arrive. The result was George Russell’s victory and a Mercedes 1-2 in Melbourne; Oscar Piastri, who had topped FP2 and shown early weekend pace, was unable to start after a reconnaissance-lap crash, leaving McLaren with only Norris to assess the deficit.
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March 11, 2026

Gravel, Macedo Tied; Title Fight Moves to Kennedale

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returns to Kennedale Speedway Park for the Cowtown Classic on Friday–Saturday, March 13–14. The two-day stop occupies the spring slot at the track southeast of Fort Worth for a third consecutive year and is part of the series’ schedule. The series, officially sponsored by NOS Energy Drink and often billed as ‘The Greatest Show on Dirt,’ will stage sprint-car competition at Kennedale. As background, the World of Outlaws first raced in Texas on March 18, 1978, at Mesquite’s Devil’s Bowl Speedway.

The early championship is tightly contested: after six races David Gravel and Carson Macedo are tied atop the standings. Gravel has recorded four podiums this season and finished 11th at Talladega, while Macedo opened the year with five straight top-five finishes and holds a 3.67 average finish.

New driver–team pairings have already produced winners this season, including Spencer Bayston, Sheldon Haudenschild (KCP Racing) and Donny Schatz (CJB Motorsports). Past Kennedale winners since the series debuted there in 2024 include Carson Macedo, Giovanni Scelzi and Buddy Kofoid. Fischer Motorsports’ Garet Williamson is a dark-horse to watch after posting four top-10s in six races and a season-best fifth at Talladega, and local Texas drivers Sam Hafertepe Jr., Marcus Thomas and John Carney II also figure to try to exploit home-track advantage.

Preview coverage frames the Kennedale weekend as an event-level highlight for the series and a potential momentum swing in the early title fight.
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March 11, 2026

Liberty Media drops Phillip Island for Adelaide circuit

MotoGP officials confirmed a major calendar overhaul as Liberty Media, MotoGP’s new owners, will replace Phillip Island with a planned Adelaide circuit as part of a push for more city-center events. Liberty announced Phillip Island will no longer host the Australian Grand Prix, though reports differ on the timing — the announcement cites a change “from 2027,” while some reports say Phillip Island was removed from the 2026 calendar. Some outlets suggested Adelaide could take the season-finale slot while Valencia moves into the middle of the season.

The move provoked widespread criticism from riders, commentators and fans; commentator Keith Huewen called the loss “tragic.” Organizers acknowledged the decision has created uncertainty for local communities and supporters.

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta defended the overhaul on safety grounds, saying “safety comes first,” and citing an increased number of accidents at Phillip Island and persistent wind and rain concerns. He said safety — not location alone — will determine which venues remain on the calendar, warning that Madrid’s IFEMA layout lacked required safety conditions and that Suzuka, while “a beautiful circuit,” could not remain under current safety standards. Organizers and circuit designer Jarno Zaffelli described the planned Adelaide layout as urban but not a true street circuit: Ezpeleta called it a “safe, non-street race,” and Zaffelli said it would not be a “true street circuit.” Liberty Media has signaled further calendar changes as it modernizes and globalizes MotoGP’s schedule, identifying at least one other unnamed circuit for removal; the dispute frames a broader clash between a push for more city-center events (and some street-style proposals) and defenders of traditional high-speed venues, with venue design and safety at the center of the debate.
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March 11, 2026

Chinese GP Starts Six-Sprint Run in Shanghai

The F1 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai (March 13–15) is the season’s first sprint weekend and the first of six sprint events. Key session times (Shanghai / UK): Friday practice 11:30 / 03:30; sprint qualifying 15:30 / 07:30; Saturday sprint 11:00 / 03:00; Saturday qualifying 15:00 / 07:00; Sunday Grand Prix 15:00 / 07:00.

Teams will have only a single hour of practice before sprint qualifying under the sprint format, producing a compressed schedule for teams and drivers.

U.K. viewers will be able to watch every session live on Sky Sports F1 (streamable via Sky Go; subscriptions from £22/month), with free highlights on Channel 4 and live text coverage on Crash.net.
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