Author Archives: PressBox

Audi driver Nico Hulkenberg defended F1’s new hybrid engine rules, saying, “If you don’t like it, you don’t have to watch,” and urging the sport to prioritize modernization and sustainability over nostalgia. The regulations shift power units to an almost 50/50 combustion-electric split and were designed to attract manufacturers and keep F1 relevant as the auto industry focuses on sustainability. Hulkenberg, 38, noted Audi has joined as a full works team this season and said the opening three races produced entertaining racing.

The rules have drawn complaints about heavier energy-management demands, qualifying that some say is less challenging, a perceived loss of the sport’s traditional sound, and large closing-speed differentials that could raise safety concerns. Organizers and the FIA introduced tweaks ahead of the Miami Grand Prix to reduce excessive battery management and address closing speeds, but reports differ on their effectiveness and some sources say the adjustments had only limited impact. Hulkenberg also pointed out that manufacturers’ priorities have shifted since the rules were signed off in 2022, which makes quick technical fixes harder.

F1 leadership and teams have signaled further recalibration for 2027, described variously as moving toward a roughly 60/40 combustion-to-electric balance or making hardware changes to bias the mix nearer 55/45 in favor of combustion. The sport has not ruled out longer-term changes, including discussion of a possible return to V8-style engines around 2030-31. Hulkenberg said he is a fan of the older V10 and V12 sound but questioned whether reverting to past engine formulas would keep F1 relevant, framing the debate as a choice between nostalgia and the need to adapt so the sport remains a viable business and entertainment product.

Ralf Schumacher told Sky Deutschland’s Backstage Boxengasse podcast that Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso should consider retiring “to give young people a chance” and urged Ferrari to promote Oliver Bearman. Schumacher framed the remarks as opinion intended to spark discussion about veteran drivers making way for younger talent and possible mid-season or end-of-season moves. Bearman, a four-year member of Ferrari’s driver academy who impressed during a loan at Haas, could already challenge, or even be better than, Charles Leclerc and, in Schumacher’s view, might offer more to the team than Hamilton.

Former engineer Aldo Costa said Hamilton’s bid for an eighth world title now looked unlikely, arguing drivers tend to decline at 41 and calling Leclerc an “extremely strong” teammate. Hamilton, 41, is in his second season at Ferrari after leaving Mercedes at the end of 2024 and earned his first Ferrari podium with a third-place finish in Shanghai earlier this season. He was outpaced by Leclerc in Australia, Japan and Miami and had won only one head-to-head with Leclerc so far this season; his Miami result ahead of Leclerc came only after Leclerc received a post-race 20-second penalty. After four rounds Hamilton trailed championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 49 points and sat eight points behind Leclerc. Leclerc has seven podiums and one pole this season.

Fernando Alonso will turn 45 in July, recently became a father and is out of contract with Aston Martin at the end of the season; he has said he will decide “sometime in the summer” whether to extend his contract or race elsewhere. Separate reports also noted Alonso had publicly called for Hamilton to consider retirement. The combination of veteran contract uncertainty, public calls for retirement and suggestions to promote young drivers such as Bearman has kept succession planning at Ferrari and the wider generational shift in Formula 1 in the spotlight.

Andrea Stella said McLaren’s strong Miami weekend reinforced the belief the team can still defend its drivers’ and constructors’ titles, but he urged caution, calling the result “a breakthrough” and warning “it was only the fourth race.” He stressed McLaren must keep developing the car and framed Miami as an important step rather than proof the title defense is assured, and he said the team “definitely” intends to defend its constructors’ crown.

McLaren’s recovery followed a difficult start to the season marked by reliability problems and a double non-start for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in China. The team introduced its first major upgrade package to the MCL40 in Miami, where Norris won the Sprint and the upgraded cars produced a double podium in the Grand Prix, finishing second and third. After four rounds McLaren sat third in the constructors’ standings on 94 points, 86 points adrift of leaders Mercedes, with Norris fourth and Piastri sixth in the drivers’ table.

Stella publicly backed his driver pairing, saying McLaren “probably fields the strongest driver pairing” in Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri and arguing that if they remain consistently together they could pose a major threat. He also praised 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli, noting Antonelli’s three wins in the opening four races, a Miami hat-trick, and a surprise points lead, and credited Antonelli’s driving, consistency and close work with his engineers. Stella acknowledged Mercedes’ W17 has outpaced McLaren’s MCL40 early in the year, underscoring the need to make the car faster to fully capitalize on McLaren’s driver strength.