Racing Bulls ran their new VCARB03 on track at Imola on a limited demonstration/filming day. The team completed a short, wet-weather shakedown of roughly 15 km (three laps under Demonstration Event rules), running full-wet demonstration tyres; Liam Lawson was reported to have driven while rookie Arvid Lindblad observed. Morning teething issues were reported, and photographers quickly published the first images and spy shots of the actual race chassis following last week’s Detroit livery reveal that used showcars. The chassis name VCARB03 reflects the team’s Visa and Cash App sponsorship, and the outing also marked the first real-world appearance of the new Red Bull Powertrains–Ford engine.

Engineers used the Imola session for system checks, installation procedures, and initial data collection rather than any performance evaluation, and the team released few technical or lap-time details. Published images highlighted several styling and packaging features — a trapezoidal airbox, a nose that dives close to the front wing, narrow sidepod inlets, and pushrod front and rear suspension — which Racing Bulls said would carry forward to the Barcelona tests.

Limited filming rules constrained mileage and compound choices, so the focus was on reliability, installation checks, and producing promotional material rather than setup work. The team planned to return to Imola the following day for a longer promotional/filming session that could total about 200 km, with Lawson and Lindblad expected to share driving duties to build early mileage. The Imola outings were presented as a prelude to the official Barcelona pre-season test window, Jan. 26–30, and further preparation ahead of the competitive season.

Team boss Alan Permane has warned of frenetic development early in the new rules cycle; Racing Bulls is balancing an aggressive update plan with parts-production timelines as it moves from these demonstration runs into full testing and race preparation after finishing sixth in last season’s Constructors’ Championship.

Mercedes confirmed that long-serving director of car design John Owen has resigned and will depart the team over the course of the 2026 season. He will remain with Mercedes to support sign-off on the 2026 W17 and to hand over responsibilities before beginning a period of gardening leave later in the year; Owen has said he plans to take a break from F1 after the transition. The team described the exit as an orderly, planned transition aimed at preserving continuity on the 2026 programme.

Owen’s motorsport career began in the early 2000s at Reynard and Sauber before he joined the Brackley operation in 2007, later serving as principal aerodynamicist on Brawn GP’s 2009 title-winning campaign. Over his time at Brackley, he led the design of 17 F1 cars, including the recently completed W17, and was a central figure in Mercedes’ dominance through the hybrid era — notably the constructors’ run from 2014–21 and multiple drivers’ championships. Team statements thanked him for his long service and highlighted the cultural and technical role he played in the Silver Arrows’ success.

To ensure an internal, phased handover, Mercedes has promoted engineering director Giacomo Tortora to take on the director of car design duties while deputy technical director Simone Resta will oversee the wider design group, with Tortora reporting to Resta during the transition. The restructuring is presented as intended to maintain technical momentum on the 2026 car and provide continuity of leadership. Mercedes said the vacancy will be filled from within and that the handover will be managed across the season to protect ongoing development work while Owen moves toward gardening leave later in the year.

Honda and Aston Martin jointly unveiled the RA626H in a livestream and a Tokyo event. Honda presented it as its first power unit purpose-built for the 2026 technical regulations, highlighting a near 50/50 split between internal-combustion and electric power, a substantially larger battery pack, and expanded control electronics.

Honda deliberately limited visual disclosure — publishing photos from a single angle and blurring the lower side of the assembly — leaving integration details such as MGU‑K (kinetic) mounting, packaging, routing, and cooling choices hidden. Reporting suggests the design appears to abandon the MGU‑H (heat-recovery), though Honda did not explicitly confirm that.

The launch formalised a works partnership that has been in development since early 2023 and follows Honda’s winding down of its Red Bull supply relationship. Sources differ on the exact timing; this summary follows reporting that the supply relationship wound down in 2025. Aston Martin is confirmed as Honda’s sole customer for 2026 and will effectively operate as a works team, with Honda collaborating on the programme with Aramco and Valvoline.

Aston Martin boosted its technical leadership by appointing Adrian Newey to direct the technical programme; executive chairman Lawrence Stroll acknowledged the challenges the team faces preparing for the new hybrid era.

Both partners framed the RA626H as the competitive foundation for 2026 and used the livestream to outline ambitions and a clear on-track timetable. Aston Martin will carry out a five-day, behind-closed-doors test of the AMR26 at Circuit de Catalunya beginning January 26, hold an official car unveiling on February 9, run shakedowns in Bahrain on February 11–13 and 18–20, and start the season at the Australian Grand Prix on March 8.

Ferrari named WHOOP its official health and fitness wearable partner and will issue WHOOP devices to drivers and support staff to monitor sleep, stress, and recovery across the 24-round F1 season. WHOOP branding will appear on the car and driver apparel. Ferrari’s medical staff will integrate with WHOOP’s Performance Science group, led by Dr. Kristen Holmes, to deliver continuous insights on recovery, strain, and resilience, translating physiological data into actionable programs to improve physical efficiency, manage fatigue, and optimize recovery during F1’s relentless travel schedule and rapid turnarounds. Chief Racing Revenue Officer Lorenzo Giorgetti framed the move as an extension of Ferrari’s data-driven approach from the car to the “human factor.”

The agreement marks WHOOP’s first F1 sponsorship and extends the company’s presence in elite sport after prior deals with the PGA Tour and the Ryder Cup; the announcement also noted WHOOP’s 2021 valuation of $3.6 billion and more than $400 million raised in venture capital. The partnership was unveiled alongside an early reveal of Ferrari’s race suits and a preview of the SF-26 livery: Rosso Corsa with bold white accents and sponsor logos repositioned toward the neckline so the Prancing Horse sits prominently on the chest. Ferrari said the white-accent styling will carry across the SF-26 livery at the car launch on January 23 and across this year’s merchandise and team kit. By combining wearable health technology with the team’s medical expertise, Ferrari has formalized an integrated performance and recovery program designed to support on- and off-track performance throughout the season.

Aston Martin will stop supplying F1 safety cars after a five-year run that began in 2021. Its safety-car agreement expired at the end of 2025 and was not renewed.

The marque gave no official reason for withdrawing; reports pointed to financial, logistical, and competitive factors. Aston Martin said the assignment had helped amplify its return to F1 and expressed gratitude for the association.

Drivers had criticized the Vantage’s lack of pace versus Mercedes‑supplied equipment — a contrast noted by George Russell after the 2022 Australian Grand Prix and captured in Max Verstappen’s “green turtle” jibe. On-track results also weakened Aston Martin’s position: the team finished seventh of ten in the 2025 constructors’ standings with 89 points, while McLaren won the title. Aston Martin had upgraded the Vantage over time — power rose from about 506 bhp in the early edition to roughly 656 bhp in 2024, and a Vantage S with about 670 bhp and aero changes debuted at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix — but the changes were not enough to keep the deal.

Mercedes will be the sole supplier of both F1 safety and medical cars for 2026, consolidating the role under the AMG brand. Mercedes has supplied F1 safety cars since 1996 and has used the AMG GT Black Series as the standard safety car since 2022; it plans to deploy a 730‑horsepower AMG GT Black Series at all 24 rounds in 2026 alongside a medical car based on the Mercedes‑AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+. Bernd Maylander, the FIA safety‑car driver since 2000, will remain at the wheel during races.

The end of the split‑supplier arrangement hands sole operational responsibility to Mercedes, removes Aston Martin from that visible paddock role, and has prompted scrutiny of the costs, logistics, and competitive factors behind the marque’s decision to step back.