Saudi Arabia could buy an F1 team, Imola may not be on the calendar in 2026, and other big updates

Saudi Arabia could buy an F1 team

Prince Khalid said Saudi Arabia is interested in buying a Formula 1 team, even though it might be difficult. The country has already spent a lot on motorsports, with companies like Aramco and Maaden sponsoring Aston Martin and the Public Investment Fund helping with Formula E. This weekend’s race is in Jeddah, but a new track in Qiddiya is being built and will likely take over in the future. Prince Khalid also said Saudi Arabia wants to host the first race of the season because the timing works better for their weather and ticket sales.

Click here to read the full article by Mark Mann-Bryans (motorsport.com)

‍

Imola may not be on the calendar in 2026

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has questioned whether Imola will stay on the calendar after this year, as its contract ends in December. Monza has a long-term deal, but Imola’s future is uncertain due to the growing demand for races in other countries. Domenicali praised Imola’s role during the pandemic but said having two races in Italy is becoming harder to justify. He will soon decide whether to keep Imola, considering requests from other nations.

Click here to read the full article by Rachit Thukral (crash.net)

‍

Why Bahrain ruined Verstappen’s chance to repeat Suzuka win

Max Verstappen said the Bahrain track worsened Red Bull's problems and made it hard to repeat his Suzuka win. The abrasive surface in Bahrain intensified these problems, which were less noticeable at Suzuka due to the track's smoother surface. Despite winning in Japan, Verstappen admitted the Suzuka setup wasn't ideal, and Bahrain highlighted Red Bull's car weaknesses more clearly. Christian Horner acknowledged that while setup adjustments helped in Japan, Bahrain revealed deeper issues that will take time to resolve.

Click here to read the full article by Dan Lawrence (motorsportweek.com)

‍

Did Bahrain ruin Ferrari's Gamble?

Ferrari finished the Bahrain GP in fourth and fifth, which disappointed Charles Leclerc, who felt their best wasn't enough for a podium. The team's strategy of starting on medium tires didn't give them a clear advantage, and Leclerc struggled to close the gap to Russell. Just as Leclerc was getting close to overtaking Russell, the Safety Car came out, forcing Ferrari to adjust their strategy. Vasseur believes their original plan was solid, but the Safety Car's timing changed everything and ultimately cost them a better result.

Click here to read the full article by Gianluca D'Alessandro (motorsport.com)

‍

How McLaren has leveraged Red Bull's flexi-wing knowledge

McLaren has been at the center of the flexi-wing debate, but Paolo Filisetti points out that their rivals helped start this trend. Even with stricter rules on wing flexibility, McLaren’s MCL39 has kept up a strong performance, especially in the Bahrain GP. The car’s wings are legal and pass all the necessary tests while being fast on straights and stable in corners. Rob Marshall, McLaren’s technical director, who came from Red Bull, helped create similar strategies at Red Bull before bringing them to McLaren.

Click here to read the full article by Paolo Filisetti & Samuel Coop (racingnews365.com)