F1 2026

Speedster said:
Except now the cars aren't going fast, they have to slow down to charge the battery. But then again you won't know that we've had this conversation because you don't have the courage of your own convictions - you'd rather delete your posts.
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One could see this sht show coming in canada where they slow down on the back straight just before the fast chicane.

An accident like what we saw in Japan was predictable and borderline negligent.

There will be sweeping changes purely from a liability perspective alone.
 
FlashSA said:
Better plan: FIA accepts defeat and ditches these 50/50 power units. The FIA sources a standard V8 engine for all teams to use so long while the teams switch to rapidly developing their own V8 ahead of 2028 introduction.

Surely that's doable?

(I suppose a generic engine won't simply fit into the chassis of each team as the chassis has probably been designed around the engine mountings?!)
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No team will accept this.

Audi, Cadillac, Ford and Honda will immediately withdraw. They are only in F1 because of the increased shift to electrification. They may even sue the FIA/Formula 1 over the costs they have already sunk into their engine programmes. Cadillac have built two new factories because of F1, and one specifically for their PU.

Telling Ferrari to put another engine in the back of their car would be blasphemy. I'd imagine Merc won't appreciate that either.

And yes, the chassis are designed around the PU, as well as the gearbox, rear suspension and hydraulic system, so a RBPT-Ford won't just plug into the back of a Ferrari.
 
Long-time mechanic to Max Verstappen set to leave Red Bull. (https://www.pitpass.com/82413/New-blow-to-Verstappen)

The four-time world champion, already struggling with a car he finds undrivable and regulations he finds unworkable, has been dealt a fresh blow with the news that Ole Schack is leaving the Austrian team.

After first entering motorsport in 1999, the Dane worked his way up the ladder until he joined Jaguar in 2004. He remained with the Milton Keynes outfit as it morphed into Red Bull, working with David Coulthard from 2005 to 2008 and Sebastian Vettel from 2009 to 2014.

Now, Schack, who has worked with Verstappen almost from the outset and has become one of the Dutchman's inner circle within the team, and who has never missed a race with Red Bull, is set to leave.


His departure is the latest from the troubled team and is said to be a symptom of the issues within the outfit as morale continues to sink.

Despite the fact that the Horner-saga hung over the team throughout 2024, Red Bull got through it. However, the sacking of the team principal last summer, and the subsequent departure of Helmut Marko has taken its toll.

It is thought that Schack is aiming to remain in F1 and will now face a period of 'gardening leave', however, more importantly, it comes at a critical time for a team which is joint sixth in the standings with Alpine, and only two points ahead of its sister team, its best result thus far being Isack Hadjar's sixth in Melbourne.

Hadjar gave some insight into the mood within the team recently when he was asked about morale.

"It's not good," he admitted. "But everyone's got their heads down to understand what's going on. Hopefully, the next version of the car really makes an effect."
 
caroper said:
Long-time mechanic to Max Verstappen set to leave Red Bull. (https://www.pitpass.com/82413/New-blow-to-Verstappen)

The four-time world champion, already struggling with a car he finds undrivable and regulations he finds unworkable, has been dealt a fresh blow with the news that Ole Schack is leaving the Austrian team.

After first entering motorsport in 1999, the Dane worked his way up the ladder until he joined Jaguar in 2004. He remained with the Milton Keynes outfit as it morphed into Red Bull, working with David Coulthard from 2005 to 2008 and Sebastian Vettel from 2009 to 2014.

Now, Schack, who has worked with Verstappen almost from the outset and has become one of the Dutchman's inner circle within the team, and who has never missed a race with Red Bull, is set to leave.


His departure is the latest from the troubled team and is said to be a symptom of the issues within the outfit as morale continues to sink.

Despite the fact that the Horner-saga hung over the team throughout 2024, Red Bull got through it. However, the sacking of the team principal last summer, and the subsequent departure of Helmut Marko has taken its toll.

It is thought that Schack is aiming to remain in F1 and will now face a period of 'gardening leave', however, more importantly, it comes at a critical time for a team which is joint sixth in the standings with Alpine, and only two points ahead of its sister team, its best result thus far being Isack Hadjar's sixth in Melbourne.

Hadjar gave some insight into the mood within the team recently when he was asked about morale.

"It's not good," he admitted. "But everyone's got their heads down to understand what's going on. Hopefully, the next version of the car really makes an effect."
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I have a feeling Max does not even see out the year.
 
dotdan said:
I have a feeling Max does not even see out the year.
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Thats just plain nonsense

He is contracted till end of 2028.

After that he will probably send it in gt3 which he has been setting up on the side
 
Heisenborg said:
Thats just plain nonsense

He is contracted till end of 2028.

After that he will probably send it in gt3 which he has been setting up on the side
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He has performance clauses he can exercise. Unlikely a mid-season departure although I believe June/July is the cutoff.
 
quovadis said:
He has performance clauses he can exercise. Unlikely a mid-season departure although I believe June/July is the cutoff.
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The clause that everyone was thinking he would invoke around the time that chatter about him going to Mercedes was flying around, was that if he isn't within a certain number of points of the leader by the Summer break (this year, it's after Hungary on the 26th of July), he could leave. Not sure of the T's & C's though of said clause. He could maybe leave, but not be allowed to go a rival team or something.

I wouldn't be surprised if it is the same. Red Bull though has traditionally been strong in midseason development. So if the car comes on song later in the year, he could be persuaded to stay, even if he isn't in title contention.
 
Agent_Smith said:
The clause that everyone was thinking he would invoke around the time that chatter about him going to Mercedes was flying around, was that if he isn't within a certain number of points of the leader by the Summer break (this year, it's after Hungary on the 26th of July), he could leave. Not sure of the T's & C's though of said clause. He could maybe leave, but not be allowed to go a rival team or something.
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If RB does not improve that car and he starts finding a little enjoyment out of it by the summer break, I think he goes on gardening leave and goes and does other things.

He has FU money, multiple world titles, sitting with 71 wins, been in the sport for over 10 years and he is very vocal about the thought of retirement due the current regulations.

Max is a very straight forward guy and does what he says. Not pussy footing around and now with a lot of his long time team leaving, I don't think he is a very happy dude atm.

My opinion is that he takes a sabbatical for a year, go do the endurance racing, check where the landscape is at come end of next year and make a decision then. Both Hamilton and Schumi got most of their titles in their 30's. He still has time on his hands to come back for another run.
 
Apparently he insisted on doing the clause in his contract back in 2022 in fear of the new regulations. He saw the writing on the wall back then.

If he is not in the top 2 of the drivers standings come July, he can walk without penalties
 
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