F1 2026

Why has it gone so wrong for Aston Martin?​

When Aston Martin's new Formula 1 car first appeared in testing at the end of January, it drew admiring glances up and down the pit lane.

In its all-black temporary colour, the car not only looked menacing, but also noticeably different from all its rivals. It included the sort of innovations that have become famous from design legend Adrian Newey, installed as managing technical partner at Aston Martin since March last year.

But reality bit hard as soon as the car started to run. It was already late, and it managed just four laps on its first day in Barcelona before conking out at the entrance to the pit lane.

Aston Martin's fortunes have barely improved since.
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www.bbc.com

Aston Martin: Why they are in trouble before 2026 season starts

The combination of Adrian Newey, Honda and Fernando Alonso was highly promising but Aston Martin are in trouble. Andrew Benson explains why.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
How the FIA will use AI to police one of F1's most controversial subjects in 2026: https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/...most-controversial-subjects-in-2026/10800288/

"Starting this season, a new system called ECAT will monitor track limits at every corner via an advanced platform that uses AI to interpret each car's behaviour on track

The core concept is named "Every Car All Turns (ECAT)", the idea being that the system interprets a car's behaviour by measuring it against a reference model. By cross‑referencing this information with the micro‑sector timing data, RaceWatch can understand what happened at that specific point on the track and flag the episode for a possible review.

"If a car deviates from the ideal line, it will potentially cover more distance," says Bentley. "That allows us to see a difference in the sector time and go back to understand where it went off track or what happened. The idea is to use all the data, enrich it with the available video and trace these elements, so that the system tells us what is happening instead of having to look for it manually."

"The goal is to take the system to the next level. It works across the entire track, all the time, so it can automatically understand what's going on. This is the evolution of what we're trying to do go from a manual process to semi-automatic process, with still a manual element to it because you have to evaluate strikes and black-and-white flags".

The FIA actively works with circuits to improve coverage and to identify the best camera placement, but this isn't always possible and varies from track to track. However, with this new system, cameras, while still important, are no longer the only foundation of the analysis.

The system can now detect a potential track‑limit infringement purely from positioning data: if it shows an abnormal deviation, if the car enters a virtual zone drawn on the track, or if its trajectory strays too far from the ideal racing line, RaceWatch can generate an alert.

"It's allowed us to move up a level, manage all the cameras in one place, distribute the process in the computer vision and process other elements that we've had available in one place," says Bentley. "So basically, we can automatically flag when a car goes off track because the positioning data changes, or use geofencing: we can draw chicanes and virtual zones on the track that trigger an alert if a car enters them. All of this will already be operational this year, we've been working on it throughout 2025." ..."
 
Naks said:
How the FIA will use AI to police one of F1's most controversial subjects in 2026: https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/...most-controversial-subjects-in-2026/10800288/

"Starting this season, a new system called ECAT will monitor track limits at every corner via an advanced platform that uses AI to interpret each car's behaviour on track

The core concept is named "Every Car All Turns (ECAT)", the idea being that the system interprets a car's behaviour by measuring it against a reference model. By cross‑referencing this information with the micro‑sector timing data, RaceWatch can understand what happened at that specific point on the track and flag the episode for a possible review.

"If a car deviates from the ideal line, it will potentially cover more distance," says Bentley. "That allows us to see a difference in the sector time and go back to understand where it went off track or what happened. The idea is to use all the data, enrich it with the available video and trace these elements, so that the system tells us what is happening instead of having to look for it manually."

"The goal is to take the system to the next level. It works across the entire track, all the time, so it can automatically understand what's going on. This is the evolution of what we're trying to do go from a manual process to semi-automatic process, with still a manual element to it because you have to evaluate strikes and black-and-white flags".

The FIA actively works with circuits to improve coverage and to identify the best camera placement, but this isn't always possible and varies from track to track. However, with this new system, cameras, while still important, are no longer the only foundation of the analysis.

The system can now detect a potential track‑limit infringement purely from positioning data: if it shows an abnormal deviation, if the car enters a virtual zone drawn on the track, or if its trajectory strays too far from the ideal racing line, RaceWatch can generate an alert.

"It's allowed us to move up a level, manage all the cameras in one place, distribute the process in the computer vision and process other elements that we've had available in one place," says Bentley. "So basically, we can automatically flag when a car goes off track because the positioning data changes, or use geofencing: we can draw chicanes and virtual zones on the track that trigger an alert if a car enters them. All of this will already be operational this year, we've been working on it throughout 2025." ..."
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It would be cheaper to install pressure switches around each corner and connect these sensors to Home Assistant
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/2027024677890072744

"Great simulation of the Ferrari Döner wing posted on LinkedIn by Dominik Bolasko. There are still some irregularities in this simulation, like the wing profiles being different than the actual Döner wing, but it looks to be one of the more accurate sims I have seen so far. One very interesting aspect of this simulation is the magnitude of the flow field disruption from the intermediate sail position.

All DRS flaps naturally have a hysteresis with respect to flow recovery and attachment on flap closure. Hysteresis, in the simplest terms, is the difference in the value you get from the same device in one setting compared to another. In this case what we are looking at is the downforce the wing give you before opening, and after opening.


So why would you have hysteresis? Well the flow will take some time to recover snd reattach after a big geometry change bringing back the full load (downforce) to the rear of the car for the braking zone. This exists for all cars that have a flap geometry change like this. However, the magnitude of the flow disruption can further delay this recovery causing the car to not re-establish the full load potential in the first phase of braking.


So, I could certainly believe that the hysteresis for this type of wing would be greater than that of a conventional flap because of how much flow disturbance you have from that intermediate sail position. Meaning the rear of the Ferrari on initial braking could have some nervousness as the flow takes more time to re-attach and recover the load on the rear wing.


In fact, this is exactly what Dominik found in his simulations (image 2). I did speak with someone with a team, and this was one aspect they indeed had considered as a negative to this design when they first saw it. It’s possible that’s part of what was being tested when they ran it during testing in Bahrain. "
 
Ama-Zing Rabobi said:
Very sad given Lawrence has invested so much and done all the right things, except this one that is a biggie and unfortunately impossible to have forseen.
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Impossible to have foreseen potential issues with Honda F1 engines?!?! Seriously?

Dropped Merc engines for Honda for new 2026 regulations was high risk, always was.
 
Ama-Zing Rabobi said:
What planet are you on? Ford was a bigger gamble by a margin. Honda have been in F1 for some time now nd have won 4 world championships in the past 5 years. Pull the other one mate.
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Aren't all those previous Honda engineers now Ford (RBPT) engineers?
 
racingnews365.com

FIA adjust F1 regulations after Mercedes engine controversy

The power unit compression ratio saga has been met with a fresh update as the FIA updates its regulations.
racingnews365.com racingnews365.com

The FIA has confirmed an update to its technical regulations that has seemingly brought a resolution to the compression ratio saga.

Mercedes has been subject to intense scrutiny from other power unit manufacturers after it emerged it had found a trick with its engine ahead of the sport's new era.

As the sport's governing body sought a compromise, it confirmed that compression ratios must now be measured at 130 degrees Celsius as well as the traditional ambient-temperature testing that had previously been the sole compliance standard.

These new checks were due to come into effect at the start of August, following an agreement at a recent F1 Commission meeting - but it appears those plans have been scrapped.

Now, the new engine inspection rules will come into effect on June 1.
 
Fck just renewed my superbra membership but have no idea whoes going to win hahahahhahaahhf1.JPG
 
www.the-race.com

Pirelli cancels Bahrain F1 test due to safety concerns

Pirelli has cancelled its two-day Formula 1 tyre test amid the escalating international situation between the United States, Israel and Iran
www.the-race.com www.the-race.com

Pirelli has cancelled its two-day Formula 1 tyre test amid the escalating international situation between the United States, Israel and Iran, with further potential disruption to the start of F1’s 2026 season to come.

Pirelli had an unusual wet tyre test planned for February 28-March 1 in Bahrain (using sprinklers) before F1’s Melbourne opener with Mercedes and McLaren, but that’s now been cancelled for security reasons. On Saturday, Iranian forces said they had struck a US naval base in Bahrain.

“The two days of development tests for wet-weather compounds, scheduled for today and tomorrow at the Bahrain International Circuit, have been cancelled for security reasons following the evolving international situation,” a spokesperson from Pirelli told The Race.
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Also

Lots of people will be travelling through Abu Dhabi and Qatar, including myself early next week, where the airspace is currently closed.

There’s enough time for this to be resolved or for alternative arrangements to be made, for people to get to Australia without it being a problem. But if it continues, and people start getting into early next week and not being able to travel, that is when they will struggle to get there for when they need to be.

Beyond that, there’s the prospect of races in that region that you cannot currently travel to and are being subject to military strikes. It’s impossible to know how long that will continue.

F1 is due to race in Bahrain and then Saudi Arabia in April, and both places have closed airspace right now. It will at least be on the radar at a very high level that this needs to be monitored.
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