F1 Fast Five: F1's new narrower tires debut in Barcelona test, De Meo set to face Alpine engine staff in critical talks, and other big updates

F1's new narrower tires debut in Barcelona test

Pirelli tested the new, narrower 2026 F1 tyres for the first time in Barcelona with an Aston Martin mule car driven by Felipe Drugovich. The front tires are 25mm narrower, and the rear tires are 30mm smaller, with the overall size reduced to 705-710mm. Although the 2026 rules are not final yet, the FIA allowed these tests to start collecting data without giving any team an advantage. McLaren and Alpine will also participate in future tests, while all other teams will join later in the development programme.

Click here to read the full article by Jonathan Noble (motorsport.com)

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De Meo set to face Alpine engine staff in critical talks

Renault Group CEO Luca De Meo plans to meet with disgruntled Alpine F1 engine staff at Viry-Chatillon after protests emerged against his proposal to end the decades-long F1 engine project. He wants to end the long-standing F1 engine project and switch Alpine to using Mercedes engines, which could save $90 million a year and make the team more competitive. The Viry staff, who have a long history in F1, strongly opposed this change and protested at the Italian Grand Prix. De Meo now needs to convince them that moving to Mercedes engines is the right choice for Alpine.

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

Hungaroring earns two-star FIA environmental award

The Hungaroring has earned a two-star environmental award from the FIA following this year’s Hungarian Grand Prix. The FIA assesses circuits based on sustainability, with stars awarded according to their environmental performance. The evaluation included areas like energy use, waste management, and air quality at the track. CEO Zsolt Gyulay said they are focused on staying sustainable during their redevelopment plans until 2026.

Click here to read the full article by Balazs Szabo (f1technical.net)

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Crucial talking points for Singapore GP

The Singapore Grand Prix, which is known for its challenging conditions and long duration, follows the intense Baku race. Red Bull’s recent issues, with Verstappen lagging behind Perez, could persist at this demanding track where they struggled last year. After a notable win in Singapore last year, Ferrari will rely on Sainz and Leclerc to perform well again. Alpine returns to Singapore with Briatore amidst ongoing controversies, and the addition of a fourth DRS zone might impact race strategies.

Click here to read the full article by Will Wood (racefans.net)

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Catch up on all the mid-season drama

A lot has happened during the mid-season, and these events have likely been either pleasant or unpleasant for both drivers and fans of Formula One. Adrian Newey joining Aston Martin was a major headline, and it brought much joy to Aston Martin fans. However, Williams dropping Sargeant was certainly disappointing. If you feel you’ve missed out on the drama so far, you’re in luck.