Why Alpine will use Mercedes gearbox for one season, Should Norris worry about Piastri's growth in 2025?, and other big updates

Why Alpine will use Mercedes Gearbox for one season

Alpine has decided to stop working on its own engine for 2026 and will use Mercedes’ engine instead. This move was made to help the team focus on other areas and save money, with plans to build its own engine again in 2027. Team principal Oliver Oakes clarified that Alpine would use Mercedes’ gearbox only for 2026, with plans to return to its own in 2027. He added that the team is balancing resources between 2025 and 2026 but aims to stay competitive, unlike some teams prioritizing 2026 development.

Click here to read the full article by Jake Boxall-Legge & Filip Cleeren (motorsport.com)

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Should Norris worry about Piastri's growth in 2025?

Oscar Piastri struggled to make a big leap in 2024, while Lando Norris led the team and fought for the title. Even though Piastri was behind Norris in races and qualifying, the numbers showed he improved, taking 44% of McLaren's points in 2024 compared to 32% in 2023. In his second season, he reduced the qualification deficit from 0.211s to 0.171s on average, showing clear progress despite being behind Norris. With one more big step likely in 2025, Piastri could challenge Norris for the world title if he closes the gap even further.

Click here to read the full article by Tim Kraaij (gpblog.com)

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2025 driver line-ups ranked worst to best

Eight of the ten Formula 1 teams have changed their drivers for 2025, and The Race's F1 team ranked them using the F1 points system. Racing Bulls ranked last because of doubts about rookie Isack Hadjar. Alpine also dropped a lot due to uncertainty over Jack Doohan. Aston Martin and Sauber followed, with Stroll lowering Aston's rank despite Alonso's skill. Sauber moved up three spots with Hulkenberg and Bortoleto. Haas and Williams ranked sixth and fifth. Ocon and Bearman made a strong pair for Haas, while Sainz's arrival at Williams made it the best midfield team.

Click here to read the full article at the-race.com

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Sainz's Dakar crash costs him 23 mins

Carlos Sainz Sr. rolled his Ford Raptor over during the Dakar Rally's 48-hour stage on Sunday, leaving him stuck in the desert. The crash happened 327km into Stage 2 after he was in eighth place and had passed the last checkpoint in 15th. His teammate, Mitch Guthrie Jr., stopped to help, and a video showed heavy damage to the back of his car. Sainz got back on track after losing 23 minutes, but it's not clear how badly his car was damaged.

Click here to read the full article by Mario Galan (motorsport.com)

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Verstappen takes on Doku in speed showdown

Max Verstappen, the fastest driver in the world, faces off against Jeremy Doku, the fastest player at Manchester City, in an exciting EA Sports FC and EA Sports F1 challenge. This is one of the biggest crossovers between FC and Formula One, and Verstappen had to admit he’s not faster than Doku.