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Formula 1 will see a significant change to its safety car and medical car arrangements from the 2026 season, with Mercedes becoming the sole supplier after Aston Martin confirmed it will step back from the role. This marks the end of a partnership that began in 2021, when Aston Martin and Mercedes started sharing responsibility for providing safety vehicles on the grid.

The decision was first revealed by The Race and later confirmed by Aston Martin, which stated that the agreement had simply concluded at the end of the 2025 season. While no detailed explanation has been offered, it is believed the move may be driven by commercial considerations rather than performance or operational concerns. Aston Martin also stressed that the partnership had been valuable during its early years back in Formula 1.

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Max Verstappen will take Daniel Ricciardo’s old ‍racing number three next season now that Lando Norris has put number one on his McLaren as Formula One world champion.

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Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli and IndyCar racer Pato O’Ward will be McLaren’s reserve drivers this season, the reigning Formula One champions said on Thursday.

Italian Fornaroli, 21, joined McLaren last month in ⁠a test and development role and will continue those duties supporting Britain’s world champion Lando ‍Norris and Australian teammate Oscar Piastri.

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Formula One fans will be hearing a lot about Boost, Overtake, ‍Active Aero and Recharge in 2026 after saying farewell to DRS, the drag reduction system that provided an extra burst of speed for overtaking.

The Liberty Media-owned sport announced revised terminology on Wednesday to accompany the start of a new engine era and what it is calling the biggest ever overhaul of the technical regulations.

The cars will be thinner and lighter with narrower tyres and a 50/50 split on internal combustion, using sustainable fuel, and electric power.

“In this ⁠new generation, the drivers have more power in their hands than ever before,” Formula One said in a statement.

“Critical decision making over energy deployment, regeneration and conservation puts even greater responsibility on them.

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China’s Zhou Guanyu has joined Cadillac ‍from Ferrari as reserve driver for the Formula 1 debutants this season, the General Motors-backed team announced on Monday.

The 26-year-old raced in 68 grands prix with Swiss-based Sauber from 2022 to 2024 and has been managed by Cadillac team principal ⁠Graeme Lowdon.

US-owned Cadillac, the 11th team on the grid with experienced Finn Valtteri Bottas and Mexican Sergio Perez as race ‍drivers, will be using Ferrari engines when they debut in Australia ‍in March. Cadillac also have American former IndyCar driver Colton Herta, who will compete in F2 this year, ⁠as test driver.

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The Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimao will return to the Formula 1 schedule on a two-year agreement for 2027 and 2028, organisers announced on Tuesday.

The race was previously held at the Algarve circuit in 2020 and 2021 during the Covid pandemic, with both editions won by Lewis Hamilton.

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Formula One has offered fans an early glimpse into the future with the release of official renders for the 2026 car, marking the beginning of a major new chapter for the sport. These images showcase a machine that looks noticeably different from the cars racing today and signal how deeply the upcoming regulation changes will reshape Formula One both on and off the track.

An overhaul of Formula One technical regulations is scheduled for the 2026 season, and it is designed to push the sport toward a stronger balance between close racing and real world innovation. The changes touch nearly every area of the car, from the power

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Max Verstappen will race with a new car number in the 2026 Formula 1 season, switching to No. 3 following approval from both the FIA and former holder Daniel Ricciardo. The move marks a notable change for the four-time world champion, who has spent most of his career associated with No. 33 and, more recently, No. 1 as reigning champion.