Fast Five: Honda faces hurdles ahead of 2026 engine project, Norris pokes at Red Bull's dominance, and other big updates

Honda faces hurdles ahead of 2026 engine project

Honda faces a significant challenge in preparing for its new Formula 1 engine project with the Aston Martin team in 2026. After discontinuing engine supplies to the Red Bull F1 teams in 2025, Honda will exclusively supply Aston Martin. The unusual circumstances surrounding Honda's exit from F1 in 2021 and its subsequent commitment to Red Bull created complications. Honda's initial preparations for 2026 were compromised due to staff reallocation and resource limitations. The company is working on resolving the personnel shortfall and aims to enhance electrical technology and find sustainable fuel solutions. Despite the challenges, Honda benefits from its existing knowledge and key personnel from the 2015-2021 F1 project, providing a foundation for success in 2026.

Click here to read the full article by Scott Mitchell-Malm (the-race.com)

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Norris pokes at Red Bull's dominance

McLaren driver Lando Norris believes that the gap between McLaren and Red Bull in Formula 1 has narrowed, but it still boils down to small nuances that hold them back. McLaren improved its performance throughout the season, and Norris views their current car as an upgraded version of the previous one with similar driving characteristics and persisting issues. Despite recent successes, McLaren acknowledges they can't yet compete with Red Bull in terms of points and championships. Red Bull's consistency and focus on subtle details in areas like tire management and efficiency make them a formidable opponent, even on off days. Norris is more confident about achieving a pole position in 2023 than winning a race, and he anticipates further development for 2024 with McLaren's new wind tunnel.

Click here to read the full article by Andrew Lewin (f1i.com)

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Ranking the greatest American drivers

American interest in Formula 1 is growing, but identifying the top American drivers in F1 is debated. Notably, Bill Vukovich is excluded because he didn't race in Grand Prix events. Harry Schell was the first American in F1, showing promise with Vanwall and later podiums with Maserati and BRM. George Follmer debuted at 39, contributing to Shadow's development in 1973. Mark Donohue, an Indy 500 winner, had a podium in 1971 but tragically died in a practice crash. Masten Gregory achieved an F1 podium for Maserati and contributed to Cooper's Constructors' Championship win in 1959.

Click here to read the full article on planetf1.com

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Getting to know F1's genius car designer

Adrian Newey has amassed an impressive tally of more than 20 Formula One world titles to his name, making him one of the greatest race car designers in history. What's the secret behind his enduring success? But along with that title is a very pertinent question on what actually makes him really good. Join F1 TV's Sam Collins as he critically examines the reason Adrian Newey has consistently been so successful. Click here to watch the video.

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Hamilton reflects on his driving journey

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Veteran driver Lewis Hamilton talks about his career and how he became successful. He began racing RC cars at age 4, switched to go-karts at 8, and then moved up to cars at 17. Hamilton understands that his job is to deliver maximum results for the team and help lead the direction of the development of the team's car.