Mercedes struggle on soft tires in Melbourne, F2 teams caught in illegal testing scandal, and other big updates

Mercedes struggle on soft tires in Melbourne

George Russell and rookie teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli struggled with soft tires at the Australian Grand Prix despite a strong performance on harder compounds. Russell finished 10th in FP2, competitive on medium and hard tires but unable to extract pace from the C5s, which left him nearly a second behind Charles Leclerc. Antonelli finished 16th after a shaky lap and admitted he was still learning how to handle the tricky C5 compound. Both drivers know that without a breakthrough overnight, Mercedes could be in for a frustrating qualifying session.

Click here to read the full article by Phillip van Osten (f1i.com)

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F2 teams caught in illegal testing scandal

Three Formula 2 teams—DAMS, Rodin Motorsport, and Trident—broke the rules by drilling holes in the diffuser to change airflow and measure air pressure. This illegal modification led to penalties for all their drivers, even those who didn’t use it. Six drivers will now get a 10-place grid penalty in both Australian races and lose a day of testing in Bahrain. The FIA also recommended banning these teams from applying for permission to use similar sensors during Bahrain testing.

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

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Bearman frustrated by FP1 crash

Oliver Bearman crashed in FP1 of the Australian Grand Prix after running wide at Turns 9 and 10 and hitting the wall. He was not hurt, but his car was too damaged to run in FP2, even after the team tried to fix it. Bearman said he pushed too hard too soon and apologized to his mechanics for the extra work. Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu said it was a tough day, and the team still needs to figure out its problems.

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

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Inside Ocon’s Haas training routine

Every Formula 1 driver prepares for the season in their own way, and Esteban Ocon is no exception. He takes us behind the scenes at Haas' training center in Annecy, France. Gaining weight while maintaining peak fitness is a challenge for every driver—but for Ocon? Well, take a look and see for yourself.

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Hamilton recreates childhood sensational film

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off has been one of Hamilton’s favorite movies since childhood. To pay homage to the iconic film and celebrate his first season with Ferrari, he teamed up with Paramount Pictures, Dawn Apollo Films, and Large Eyes—bringing in the legendary Edward Norton and using cutting-edge technology to recreate a classic scene. Click here to watch the video.