Verstappen doubts he can beat McLarens in Jeddah race, F1 could scrap key part of 2026 engine plan, and other big updates

Verstappen doubts he can beat McLarens in Jeddah race

Max Verstappen isn’t feeling confident about beating Oscar Piastri’s McLaren at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, even though he’s on pole by just 0.010s. Piastri’s McLaren has been faster all weekend, and Verstappen says his long runs and tire management aren’t great, especially on the medium tires. He worries Red Bull won’t be fast enough, especially with the warmer temperatures. Piastri, however, remains optimistic, believing that the race's multiple DRS zones give him a good shot at challenging Verstappen, especially after being stuck behind him in Japan.

Click here to read the full article by Filip Cleeren & Ronald Vording (motorsport.com)

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F1 could scrap key part of 2026 engine plan

F1 is thinking about changing the engine rules for 2026 to stop cars from running out of energy during races. The plan is to lower the battery power from 350kW to 200kW in races, changing the power mix to 64/36 instead of 50/50. This would help use the battery power over a longer distance, especially on straights. While some, like Red Bull's Christian Horner, support the change, Mercedes' Toto Wolff opposes it, as he feels there’s not enough data to make this decision now.

Click here to read the full article by Jon Noble (the-race.com)

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Albon questions Williams' qualifying strategy

Alex Albon has criticized Williams' qualifying strategy after not making the top 10 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. He was out-qualified by teammate Carlos Sainz, who started in sixth. Albon missed the top 10 by just seven thousandths of a second because he was put on a different plan and didn’t get a tow. Albon expressed frustration, feeling the team should have been in the top 10 and believes the timing of their strategy was questionable.

Click here to read the full article by Nick Golding & Ian Parkes (racingnews365.com)

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Haas' Sakura special at the Japanese GP

It all began with Haas F1 showing off its special Sakura livery at the Japanese Grand Prix. Round 3 of the Formula One season took the team to Suzuka, Japan—a home race for Team Principal Ayao Komatsu. And yes, there were plenty of moments to remember as Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman took in the event's sights, sounds, and unique vibe.

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Inside Alpine’s controversial driver decision

Before Red Bull made headlines by changing its driver line-up just two races into the season, there was already another big decision that caused drama before the 2025 F1 season even started. In that case, a new driver was facing rumors that his time in F1 might end after only a few races. But even with all the talk and a couple of serious crashes, Doohan has managed to hold onto his seat—at least for now.