F1Weekly Podcast # 1129

AUDI FIRST TO TEST THEIR 2026 CAR IN BARCELONA! ANOTHER MEETING SCHEDULED OVER THE ENGINE LOOP HOLE ISSUE! TOTO WOLF CONFIDENT MERCEDES HAS DONE IT AGAIN! DAKAR RALLY FIRST WEEK HAS BEEN AN EXCITING FIGHT BETWEEN FORD, DACIA AND TOYOTA…AND FERNANDO SAYS… THIS WEEK’S NASIR HAMEED CORNER…MORE VINTAGE BANTER BETWEEN THE HOST AND NASIR…THIS WEEK WE HAVE PETER WINDSOR OF USF1 FAME…AND OUR BONUS…VENEZUELA’S OWN MILKA DUNO…BRAVO! Smiles for miles as Benavides brothers score historic multi-discipline double! We didn’t have to wait long for the 2026 Dakar Rally to serve up a slice of history in its second week. The fastest biker on Stage 7 was Luciano Benavides and the winner of the Challenger stage was his older brother Kevin! The siblings from Salta, Argentina were unbeatable on the 462 kilometres of dunes and fast tracks that stretched between Riyadh and Wadi Ad-Dawasir. A new chapter of the Dakar’s near 50-year history has been written, the first time a pair of brothers have won the same stage in different categories! Red Bull KTM Factory Racing biker Luciano Benavides got his second week of the Dakar off to the best possible start. Luciano is riding under his lucky number 77 and this victory on Stage 7 was the seventh stage win of his Dakar career. Things are really starting to add up for the Argentinian biker.   “It’s the first time in history that two brothers win in two categories on the same day. This is something incredible!” – Luciano Benavides Luciano was waiting at the Wadi Ad-Dawasir bivouac to congratulate his brother Kevin Benavides on the family’s second victory of the day. Kevin is debuting in the Challenger class after switching from two wheels to four. The elder Benavides brother won the Dakar bike race twice. Now he’s got his first Dakar stage victory behind a steering wheel. “I never dreamed something like this could happen, I’m so happy for this moment. It was tough to get this victory. When I finished the stage they told me that Luciano had also won! It’s a proud day for our family.” – Kevin Benavides Luciano Benavides is currently third overall in the bike race, but just 15 seconds behind Honda rider Ricky Brabec in second. Top of the pile is Benavides’s KTM team-mate Daniel Sanders who is over four minutes in front of his nearest rivals. The Australian refused to get sucked into any tactical battle on Stage 7. The day’s big mover in the Ultimate class was Mattias Ekström and his Ford Raptor T1+. A stage win for the Swede saw him climb from fourth overall at the Rest Day to hold second place tonight. Ekström scored his maiden podium finish 12 months ago and his sights are firmly fixed on the Dakar's biggest prize of all this time around. “When I got to the end the gaps were bigger than I expected, but still smaller than I wished. Now we’re second in the overall and there’s a lot of racing left.” – Mattias Ekström   Ultimate class leader Nasser Al-Attiyah goes into tomorrow’s 481-kilometre loop stage around the Wadi Ad-Dawasir bivouac with an advantage of 4m47s over Ekström. Al-Attiyah picked up some superficial damage to his Dacia Sandrider on Stage 7 that will need to be repaired before the next jumbo day of racing. “We hit a tree and that completely removed the left corner of our car. That will get fixed tonight.” – Nasser Al-Attiyah The most dramatic moment in the Ultimate class on Stage 7 was provided by Henk Lategan of Toyota Gazoo Racing. The South African had done enough on the way to Wadi Ad-Dawasir to take the overall lead from Al-Attiyah. Then a mechanical issue stopped Lategan in his tracks just shy of the finish line. The Toyota Hilux driver will start Stage 8 sitting fourth overall, now 7m21s behind his Dacia rival. “We were going so well today until we came to a bump and a dip. When we hit the dip it broke the damper. We had to stop to take the old one out and put the new one in.” – Henk Lategan A superb opening week for the Defender Rally Team rolled into the second week with another stage win in the Stock category. It was the Defender Dakar D7X‑R of Stéphane Peterhansel that set the pace giving Monsieur Dakar his third stage win of this Dakar. Peterhansel’s team-mate Rokas Baciuška was just 21 seconds off the Frenchman’s time and it’s the Lithuanian who maintains the overall lead of the Stock class. “For most of the stage the average speed was very high, but there was also a section of open dunes. It was a pleasure to drive this stage, it was perfect for the Defender.” – Stéphane Peterhansel In the SSV class there’s still everything to play for in fight for those podium spots. Portugal’s Gonçalo Guerreiro is laser-focused on recovering time lost in the first week and promoting himself from fifth overall to the podium on the remaining six stages. “This stage was completely flat out, I think it was the fastest stage until now. At one waypoint we lost two minutes and this put us behind some drivers. Overall, I’m happy with the stage we did. We were just one minute and a half down from the stage winner in the end.” – Gonçalo Guerreiro Also in the SSV class there was a much brighter start to the second week than the first week for Johan Kristoffersson. The eight-time World Rallycross champion is making his Dakar debut and the dune sections of the route are proving to be a highlight for the Swede.   “One puncture very early. We got the tyre changed quicker than before, but there’s still room for improvement. Today I really enjoyed the dunes. The rest of the stage was flat out on the limiter.” – Johan Kristoffersson The Dakar Rally has returned to Wadi Ad-Dawasir for the first time since 2022 and the comeback is looking epic. Tomorrow is the longest timed special stage of the 48th edition of the Dakar Rally. The 481-kilometre loop around the Wadi Ad-Dawasir bivouac encompasses a wide variety of terrain. Stage 8 is like a mini Dakar Rally raced over one single day with dunes, fast piste and a host of navigational challenges on the menu plus much else besides! Italian F4 Champion Kean Nakamura-Berta joins the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy Atlassian Williams F1 Team is pleased to welcome reigning Italian F4 Champion Kean Nakamura-Berta to the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy. The Japanese-Slovak driver has already demonstrated consistency and speed throughout his early career, with multiple karting titles to his name. Kean made his karting debut at seven years old, quickly going on to compete in international karting and securing both the 2021 CIK-FIA OKJ World Championship and the 2022 CIK-FIA OK European Championship. Graduating to single seaters at the end of 2023 in the F4 South East Asia Championship, Kean had an impressive debut campaign securing two pole positions and a podium, further adding to this with two race wins and six further podiums in the 2024 Formula UAE Championship. 2025 was a breakout year for Kean as he secured the Italian F4 Championship with nine wins and multiple podiums across the season. The rising star will challenge for the Formula Regional Middle East and Formula Regional European championships in 2026. As part of the Academy, Kean will have the team’s full support and guidance in nurturing his talent and developing his skills throughout his progression in the junior categories of motorsport.  The Academy supports drivers on every rung of the motorsport ladder, working with them on and off the track to develop the skills necessary to race at the top level. The Academy has a proud tradition of supporting young talent, which has most recently seen Academy alumnus Franco Colapinto graduate to an F1 race seat.  Kean Nakamura-Berta: “I’m very excited to be joining the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy this year. It’s a team that has achieved so much and has a vast history, and I’m proud to be part of it. Racing in Formula Regional will be a new challenge but one that I’m especially looking forward to. Thank you to everyone at Williams for believing in me, and I can’t wait to start this new chapter!” Sven Smeets, Sporting Director, Atlassian Williams F1 Team: “We’re thrilled to have Kean join the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy at this key moment in his career. He has shown a lot of promise, proving that he is capable of learning, adapting and ultimately winning championships. We look forward to working with him this year and will watch keenly as he hits the track.”

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!… HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MICHAEL SCHUMACHER…57 EVERYBODY GOING TO WANT TO KNOW WHAT MAX THINKS OF THE NEW CARS!…FOR SURE. LOGAN SARGENT BACK IN THE DRIVERS SEAT FOR THE 24 HOURS OF DAYTONA… FLAVIO BRIATORE EXPLAINS TO THE UNIVERSE WHY FERNANDO’S 2005 CHAMPIONSHIP WAS MORE THAN SPECIAL….HE BEAT SCHUMACHER TWO YEARS IN A ROW…IT WAS BIG!! THIS WEEK’S NASIR HAMEED CORNER…MORE VINTAGE BANTER BETWEEN THE HOST AND NASIR…THIS WEEK WE HAVE GIANCARLO FISICHELLA! BONUS INTERVIEW...MARIO ANDRETTI AT LAGUNA SECA. Flavio Briatore, the former boss of F1 legend Fernando Alonso, has explained the wider importance of the Spaniard's 2005 world championship win. Alonso is a two-time world champion, having claimed back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 with the Renault team, beating seven-time champion Michael Schumacher in both of those years. He has since gone on to compete for another 20 years - barring two seasons off for 'retirement' - and has now raced in more grands prix than any other driver in F1 history. Alonso is still going strong at the age of 44, and is hoping to once more challenge for podiums and race wins in the near future with Aston Martin. But now, his former boss has taken us all back to 2005, when Alonso became the youngest champion in F1 history at a time after a seven-win season. "He replaced a world champion and many criticised him for being young and inexperienced, but I believed in him," Briatore said in a new DAZN documentary titled Bravissimo. "I was sure he was special. Over time you realise that he wasn't just special, he was something more than that. "In 2005 we not only won a world championship, we also introduced Formula 1 to Spain. It was the moment when everyone truly got to know Fernando Alonso. Not just because he won the world championship, but because of how he won it; we did it with authority." Can Alonso win another race? Now 44 years old, Alonso's hopes of claiming a third world championship title may be fading away, but he could still claim a 33rd career grand prix victory. Alonso has not won a race since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, but does have a contract that runs until the end of next season, and may even go on beyond that. The Spaniard has said that, if Aston Martin provide him with a car that's fighting for race wins in 2026, he'll be happy to retire, but if they're still struggling for top 10 finishes, he may well carry on beyond that. Alonso's driving ability is still there compared to his rivals, out-qualifiying his much younger team-mate Lance Stroll ahead of a grand prix on all 24 occasions in 2025. Sharp rocks cut deep into the convoy during frantic first stage of the 2026 Dakar Rally. The 2026 Dakar Rally began to stretch it’s legs on Stage 1 with over 300km of racing over the rock fields surrounding Yanbu. Perilous terrain was waiting to take a big bite out of the convoy as they were plunged into the deep end at the world’s toughest rally. Let’s see who managed to keep their heads above water… It was Guillaume de Mévius and Mathieu Baumel who put the hammer down hardest on Stage 1 of the Ultimate class battle. The duo dodged all obstacles in their path, bringing their MINI JCW Rally 3.0i back to the Yanbu Start Camp Bivouac in first place overall. It’s an incredible achievement considering their participation at this Dakar was thrown into serious doubt when Baumel was forced to have his right leg amputated last year. 'Winning a stage always feels good, but it wasn't really our strategy for the day. Tomorrow, Mathieu and I will be opening and I'm very happy about that. With Mathieu on my right, I'm not worried about opening a special.” – Guillaume de Mévius Nasser Al-Attiyah got his Dacia within 40 seconds of De Mévius’s front-running vehicle. The Qatari gave us an insight into his tactics for tomorrow’s 400-kilometre special stage that will bring the convoy to Al-Ula. “We were pushing, but then we saw Seb with two flat tyres so tried to take it easy. Then Guillaume passed us and we stayed behind him all the way. Tomorrow I will start three minutes behind Guillaume and we can push.” – Nasser Al-Attiyah Also finding themselves in a strong position to attack on the mountainous tracks that await tomorrow are the four Ford Raptor T1+ crews. Mattias Ekström, Carlos Sainz, Nani Roma and Mitch Guthrie Jr. all find themselves in the Top 10 and will be out to turn the screw on Stage 2. “There’s 25 really fast drivers and 14 days of racing so you have to take care of your own business while keeping an eye on everybody else.” – Mattias Ekström Rally organisers placed a pitstop midway through the stage for four-wheel competitors due to the sheer amount of sharp rocks on the route. Top drivers including Sébastien Loeb, Toby Price, Cristina Gutiérrez, Laia Sanz, Henk Lategan and Seth Quintero all got their tyres sliced on Stage 1 as the Dakar showed its teeth during the first long stage of 2026. “It’s like driving on razor blades out there!” – Seth Quintero Leading the charge for the debutant Defender team in the Stock class on Stage 1 was Rokas Baciuška. The Lithuanian set the Stock category’s fastest time to create a piece of Dakar history. Baciuška is now the only World Rally-Raid Championship driver to win stages in Ultimate, Challenger, SSV and now Stock divisions. “There’s a lot of dust out there because the Stock category starts each day at the back. I’m used to driving in the dust from my days driving SSV so that might help me out this year. Tomorrow will be another tough day so we’ll see how we deal with it.” – Rokas Baciuška First to leave the Start Camp Bivouac this morning were the bikers with the leading contenders hitting the stage at 8am. Prologue victor Edgar Canet of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing maintained his impressive pace to make it back-to-back stage wins. 20-year-old Canet is making his debut in the Dakar’s RallyGP category for elite bikers and it’s so far, so good for the Catalan. “I did a good job with the navigation, I just got lost for a little bit. You need to take care in the rocks not to destroy yourself or destroy your bike.” – Edgar Canet Also taking a spot on the Stage 1 podium was Canet’s KTM team-mate Daniel Sanders. The 2025 Dakar champion kept his head despite being attacked by sandstorms while racing for over three hours. “It was really windy and my helmet was catching a lot of wind so it was hard to focus.” – Daniel Sanders Harith Noah and Mohammed Balooshi both endured tough days on the bike. Indian rider Noah was airlifted to hospital in Riyadh due to back injuries following a crash. We wish Harith a speedy recovery from his injuries. Meanwhile, Balooshi also suffered an accident during the stage, although he was able to bring his Honda CRF 450 to the finish line. “At the refuelling a doctor tried to fix my finger and knuckle. I rode this 300km stage unable to grip since kilometre 20. I just tried to survive. This is Dakar!” – Mohammed Balooshi There was plenty of rock and rolling in the Challenger class with Dania Akeel arriving to the finish of Stage 1 with the driver’s side door ripped off her Taurus T3 Max. Despite some superficial damage to the machine, both Akeel and her BBR team-mate Kevin Benavides stayed within 10 minutes of early category leader David Zille. “I’m not sure what happened with the door because we didn’t hit anything. Maybe there was something loose. We had one puncture so we lost some time changing the tyre. It was also very dusty with so many Ultimate cars around us. But that’s part of the game. Thanks to my co-driver Sébastien for a great stage.” – Dania Akeel After today’s 305-kilometre loop around Yanbu it’s still very tight at the top of the SSV class. Francisco ‘Chaleco’ López won the SSV race at the Dakar in both 2019 and 2021. After Stage 1 in 2026 the Chilean is just four minutes off leader Xavier De Soultrait, with Gonçalo Guerreiro a further 30 seconds behind. “We need to keep working hard to reach the finish of this rally. It was very tough on the rocks today so I’m happy with the time we posted.” – Francisco ‘Chaleco’ López Showing grit and determination worthy of the Dakar was eight-time World Rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson. The Swede did not get his Dakar debut started as he wanted when his Polaris RZR Pro R ended up on its roof during the Prologue. However, Kristoffersson dusted himself down and took his place on the start line of Stage 1. Despite eating a lot of dust, the rookie recorded the day’s 13th best time in the SSV class. For tomorrow's Stage 2 the convoy depart Yanbu and the shores of the Red Sea, heading inland towards the treasures of Al-Ula. Competitors hoping to establish an early race rhythm will be frustrated by the constantly evolving terrain under their wheels. Every brief section of flat out speed is quickly followed by a technical section over the rocks. As with Stage 1, a midway pitstop has been added for four-wheel competitors to attend to any punctures suffered on the rocks. ULTIMATE – Top 3 plus selected 1. G. De Mévius (BEL) / M. Baumel (FRA) – MINI 03:07:49
 2. N. Al-Attiyah (QAT) / F. Lurquin (BEL) – Dacia +00:40
 3. M. Prokop (CZE) / V. Chytka (CZE) – Ford +01:27 
4. M. Ekström (SWE) / E. Bergvist (SWE) – Ford +01:38
 6. C. Sainz (ESP) / L. Cruz (ESP) – Ford +01:54
 8. N. Roma (ESP) / A. Haro (ESP) – Ford +02:37
 9. M. Guthrie Jr. (USA) / K. Walch (USA) – Ford +02:50 
10. S. Loeb (FRA) / É. Boulanger (FRA) – Dacia +03:01
 11. L. Moraes (BRA) / D. Zenz (GER) – Dacia +03:34
 15. C. Gutiérrez (ESP) / P. Moreno (ESP) – Dacia +05:00
 16. T. Price (AUS) / A. Monleón (ESP) – Toyota +05:17
 17. H. Lategan (ZAF) / B. Cummings (ZAF) – Toyota +06:57
 18. S. Quintero (USA) / A. Short (USA) – Toyota +07:18 
26. L. Sanz (ESP) / M. Gerini (ITA) – Ebro +16:26 STOCK – Top 3 plus selected 1. R. Baciuška (LTU) / O. Vidal (ESP) – Defender 4:04:59 2. R. Basso (FRA) / J. Menard (FRA) – Toyota +06:49 
3. A. Miura (JPN) / J. Polato (FRA) – Toyota +08:18 4. S. Peterhansel (FRA) / M. Metge (FRA) – Defender +48:49 BIKE RallyGP – Top 3 plus selected 1. E. Canet (ESP) – KTM 03:27:42 2. D. Sanders (AUS) – KTM +01:05 3. R. Brabec (USA) – Honda +01:37 5. L. Benavides (ARG) – KTM +05:08 44. M. Balooshi (UAE) – Honda +58:48 102. H. Noah (IND) – Sherco +24:45:40 CHALLENGER – Top 3 plus selected 1. D. Zille (ARG) / S. Cesana (ARG) – Taurus 03:32:50
 2. P. Spierings (NED) / J. Van Der Stelt (NED) – Taurus +00:42 3. N. Cavigliasso (ARG) / V. Pertegarini (ARG) – Taurus +02:03
 7. K. Benavides (ARG) / L. Sisterna (ARG) – Taurus +09:08
 9. D. Akeel (KSA) / S. Delaunay (FRA) – Taurus +09:56 SSV – Top 3 plus selected 1. X. De Soultrait (FRA) / M. Bonnet (FRA) – Polaris 03:38:45
 2. A. Pinto (POR) / B. Oliveira (POR) – Polaris +03:34 3. B. Heger (USA) / M.Eddy (USA) – Polaris +03:48 4. F. López (CHI) / A. León (CHI) – Can-Am +04:02 5. G. Guerreiro (POR) / M. Justo (BRA) – Polaris +04:33 13. J. Krisstoffersson (SWE) / O. Floene (NOR) – Polaris +19:16

TALK OF THE TOWN IS… THE FIGHT IS BETWEEN RED BULL / FORD AND MERCEDES… CAN FERRARI AFFORD TO MISS THE BOAT AGAIN?… BUT WAIT…WITH ADRIAN NEWEY IN CHARGE ISN’T ASTON MARTIN THE FAVORITE? ABSOLUTELY NO FAN FARE FOR RENAULT’S DEPARTURE FROM F1 ...SHAMEFUL…….AND…FERNANDO ALONSO EXPECTS TO SKIP ALL THE CRAP AND GO RIGHT TO THE TOP! THIS WEEK’S NASIR HAMEED CORNER…MORE VINTAGE BANTER BETWEEN THE HOST AND NASIR…THIS WEEK WE HAVE RICHARD DUTTON OF FORTEC MOTORSPORT. For over 30 years Fortec Motorsport have been one of the leading lights in single seater racing, both at home and in Europe, helping develop young drivers such as Charles Leclerc, Daniel Ricciardo and Juan Pablo Montoya into future F1 stars. Under the guidance Richard (and his son Oliver), over the past three decades the team have established a proven track record of success in the junior formulas. It is owned by former racing driver Richard Dutton, who started working for the team in 1993 before buying the outfit two years later. It began racing in Formula 3000 and has grown to become one of the biggest single-seater race teams in Europe. The Daventry-based squad has vast experience in competing in Formula Renault 3.5, plus Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, FIA European Formula 3 Championship, F4 British Championship, GB3 Championship, and GB4 Championship. Since 2016 it has regularly won races in Britain’s top single-seater categories and challenged for titles, while also propelling Tom Gamble and Johnathan Hoggard to the Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award. Fortec Motorsports driver profile consists of many strong names and the team prides themselves on maintaining a great relationship with their drivers. The team’s most recent F1 graduates are Oliver Bearman, who made his Scuderia Ferrari debut in the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and Luke Browning, who is a member of the Williams Driver Academy. With a strong pedigree in motorsport and consistent success in developing talented young racing drivers, Fortec Motorsports remains a top choice for young drivers wishing to further their motorsport career. The team takes great pride in preparing all of its drivers both mentally and physically for the demands of top-level motorsport and, as they grow and develop as part of the team, are able to rise through the ranks with ease.

HONDA HAS RELEASED THE SOUND OF THEIR 2026 MOTOR GOING THRU ALL EIGHT GEARS WHILST… MERCEDES GAVE US A GLIMPS AT HIGH RPM’S,  I MUST SAY….SOUNDS GOOD!! HE WHO ADAPTS QUICKLY TO THE NEW CAR WILL SUCCEED. RED BULL WITH MERCEDES ARE UNDER SCRUTINY OVER COMPRESSION RATIO’S ... AUTOSPORTS 50 DRIVERS LIST IS BIZARRE TO SAY THE LEAST… THIS WEEK’S NASIR HAMEED CORNER…MORE VINTAGE BANTER BETWEEN THE HOST AND NASIR…THIS WEEK THE GIORGIO PIOLA INTERVIEW PART2. THANK YOU. Celebrating 75 Years of Formula 1 at the Pebble Beach Concours. To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Formula 1, the 2025 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance traced the full history of Formula racing — from cars representing its origins in Grand Prix racing through to cars on the starting grid today. The 1910 Benz 21/80 Prinz Heinrich Renn Wagon makes its way down Highway 1 on the Tour d’Elegance. Origins of Formula 1: Grand Prix 1906–1940 While the cars in this class were exhibited rather than judged, they were not at all static: two out of the seven cars participated in the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance. These cars included the 1910 Benz 21/80 Prinz Heinrich Renn Wagon and the 1927 Delage Type 15 S8 Grand Prix. This class demonstrated the elegance and attitude that came from these racing greats that played a role in the rise of Formula 1. 75th Anniversary of Formula 1: 1950-1973 class Restored in 2010 to its 1967 Watkins Glen specification, the 1967 Lotus 49 Formula 1 took First in Class for the 75th Anniversary of Formula 1: 1950 to 1973. Its engine, the Ford Cosworth DFV, became the most successful Formula 1 engine in history, winning 155 Grand Prix. This car also drove over the ramp a second time to receive the Tony Hulman Trophy, which is awarded to the most significant open wheel race car. Another standout moment for this class was the first American-built F1 race car, the 1960 Scarab Formula 1, in motion on the Tour d’Elegance.  

NORRIS HAS PICKED UP HIS TROPHY AND MAX CALLED IN SICK… THIS WEEK’S RUMORS….OSCAR TO FERRARI AND LECLERC TO MCLAREN BUT…I’M SURE THIS IS FAKE NEWS SO…LET’S GET TO… THIS WEEK’S NASIR HAMEED CORNER…MORE VINTAGE BANTER BETWEEN THE HOST AND NASIR HAMEED…THIS WEEK WE HAVE THE GIORGIO PIOLA INTERVIEW PART 0NE THIS WEEK AND PART 2 NEXT WEEK…   FIA, Formula 1 Group and all 11 race teams officially sign the ninth Concorde Agreement, securing strength and stability for the sport in pivotal five-year agreement. - Multi-year Concorde Governance Agreement signed by the FIA, Formula 1 Group and all 11 teams, securing the World Championship through 2030 - Paves the way for a more professionalised sport and represents a new era of collaboration between the FIA and Formula 1 Group - Long-term commitment enhances sporting reliability, global reach and stability for teams, fans and broadcasters. The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, and Formula 1 Group, the Commercial Rights Holder, have today announced the signing of the Concorde Governance Agreement, a crucial contract defining the regulatory framework and governance terms of the FIA Formula One World Championship until 2030. This follows the announcement in March that the 2026 Commercial Concorde Agreement had been signed by all the teams and Formula 1 Group. Together, these agreements constitute the ninth Concorde Agreement, representing a major step forward in the professionalisation and global development of the sport. First introduced in 1981, the Concorde Agreements are designed to promote sporting fairness, technological innovation and operational excellence, and align all key stakeholders around a shared vision for structured governance and continued growth of the sport. Each iteration of the Concorde Agreements has shaped the FIA Formula One World Championship into the global spectacle it is today. The ninth Concorde Agreement announced today marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration between the FIA and Formula 1 Group, who have worked together to write the next chapter in Formula 1 history, demonstrating mutual respect, transparency and shared purpose between the two organisations. It confirms the participation of all FIA Formula One World Championship teams, including the incoming Cadillac Formula 1 team, through the end of the decade, and provides a stable foundation for the sporting and technical evolution of the sport. The Concorde Agreement underscores the commitment of the FIA, Formula 1 Group and all teams to continue growing and developing the sport, and to keep driving the momentous expansion it has seen in recent years. The new contract enables the FIA to invest further in improved race regulation, race direction, stewarding and technical expertise for the benefit of the Championship, and means the sport can continue to evolve, providing exciting technological innovation and sporting action for fans, broadcasters and partners, all within a stable and structured regulatory framework. Combined with record viewership growth, a dynamic race calendar, and increasing engagement from younger audiences, the FIA Formula One World Championship enters this next chapter with unprecedented momentum. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said: “The ninth Concorde Agreement secures the FIA Formula One World Championship’s long-term future and I am proud of the dedication that has been invested in this process. I would like to thank Stefano Domenicali and his team in what has been a strong collaboration, building a framework grounded in fairness, stability, and shared ambition. This agreement allows us to continue modernising our regulatory, technological, and operational capabilities, including supporting our race directors, officials, and the thousands of volunteers whose expertise underpin every race. We are ensuring that Formula 1 remains at the forefront of technological innovation, setting new standards in global sport.” Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1 Group, said: “Today is an important day for Formula 1. As we celebrate seventy-five years of this incredible sport, we are proud to write the next chapter in our long and amazing history. This agreement ensures that Formula 1 is in the best possible position to continue to grow around the world. I want to thank the President of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem and all the teams for the collaboration and determination to achieve the best results for the entire sport in our discussions. We have a huge amount to be proud of, but we also are focussed on the opportunities and exciting potential for Formula 1 in the years ahead.”  

NORRIS IS 2025 F1 WORLD CHAMPION! MAX WINS THE FINAL RACE OF THE GROUND EFFECTS ERA CAN OSCAR PIASTRI TAKE THE F1 CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT SEASON? FERNANDO VERY HAPPY WITH P6 AND WILL ADRIAN NEWEY GIVE HIM HIS THIRD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP? SO MANY QUESTIONS SO LITTLE TIME…2026 COULD GIVE US A NEW TOP TEN! WILL MAX STILL BE ABLE TO DOMINATE? AND CAN MCLAREN KEEP THEIR CHAMPIONSHIPS?…WILL MERCEDES BE BACK? OR…WILL LCH AND FERRARI BE THE NEW DOMINATORS OF FORMULA 1…ONLY IN THEIR DREAMS?…WE SHALL SEE… THIS WEEK’S NASIR HAMEED CORNER…MORE VINTAGE BANTER BETWEEN THE HOST AND NASIR HAMEED…ON USF1 THE INTERVIEW IS…F1WEEKLY LISTENER FROM SWEDEN LARS KORNBRINK! LANDO: “I found a good rhythm with the car halfway through the season and I feel like I've been able to find confidence in myself, in my ability not just to win races but to go and fight for a world championship. “I've certainly had some fortune this year but I've certainly had a fair share of tough moments – especially at the beginning, [there was] a lot I struggled with and lost a little bit of belief early in the season. “More for myself at that point, it was nice to prove myself wrong in a way at times, starting off in Monaco Qualifying and a few moments after that. The second half of the season I've really been able to show to myself what I could do, what I was capable of doing.” MAX: “I’m very proud of the whole Team and I’m so proud of the incredible turnaround that we had. We never gave up and always believed we could turn things around and never stopped trying. We could have very easily just have given up, but we kept pushing, looking for improvements and always believed. This season has been a massive rollercoaster, with lots of tough moments and feelings, but I’m so proud of everyone and we have really come together as a Team. The turnaround in the second half of the season was incredible and pretty crazy that we could do that and we kept overcoming a lot of things as a Team. Today has been a lot of fun, especially winning the race in such a dominant way. We had an incredible weekend and did everything as best as we could, so ultimately I feel good today. Although not winning a championship by two points looks painful, going back to Zandvoort we were behind by over 100 points, so am very proud of what we have achieved. Of course, for Lando this is something very special and I hope he enjoys it a lot. The first Championship win is the most emotional one and it is something you dream of since you were a little kid. His family are here and I hope he enjoys tonight with his Team. Finally, I wanted to thank the whole Team in the factory and on track: we never gave up and always believed. I am very proud of the people that I work with, they are my second family. OSCAR: “Honestly, pretty good. I knew that going into today I needed the stars to align to win the championship. “Ultimately, I tried my best and put myself in the best position I could to try and win the race and give myself the best opportunity, but it wasn’t to be. I think we can be very proud of the season we’ve had. “On a personal level, it’s obviously not quite the ending that I wished for but I think when you look at the season as a whole, I’m very proud of the work that I’ve been able to put in and my team have been able to put in to make so much progress from last year. I’m looking forward to plenty more fights in the future.” FERNANDO: "It is great to finish the season with a strong P6 here in Abu Dhabi. Our race pace hasn't always matched our qualifying recently, so a solid Sunday here feels very good. It's been a challenging year, and I want to thank the whole team for their hard work all season. We'll enjoy a break, then switch our focus to preparing for the big changes next year. And congratulations to Lando on his first World Championship; it is a special moment for any young driver, and he deserves it."

MCLAREN GIVES MAX THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING! NORRIS KNEW THAT MICKEY DEE HAD JUST F…ED UP OSCAR ON THE EDGE OF TEARING UP AND, FERNANDO HAPPY TO BE IN THE POINTS!  NASIR HAMEED CORNER HAS THE USUAL BANTER AND MORE ON THE USF1 FIASCO! LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates on arrival in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit on November 30, 2025 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) MAX: “I feel great, I am really proud of that one. We made the right call as a Team there to box: it was definitely what made us win the race today, as I felt like we were not on the same level as McLaren in terms of pace. When a safety car comes in it can shake up the grid and that was a great opportunity for us to then win the race. We did a very good job as a Team and I was very proud of us, especially as we nailed the strategy. In Abu Dhabi, we have nothing to lose and we are going to give it everything that we have. Of course, we are relying on another crazy race like we had today, but we are going in there with positive energy. We need to maximise the car and be as competitive as we can. We will stay focused, try and have a good time and hope that we start the weekend well.” LAURENT MEKIES: “We can definitely be happy with that one. The pace in the car steadily improved from Friday night when we were in a tricky position, to tonight when we could fight with the McLarens, which is a testament to the Team once again. Of course, the decisive moment was the call to come in under the Safety Car and it was another great call from our strategy team here and those working back in Milton Keynes. From there on, Max didn't put a foot wrong, drove two incredible stints, taking great care of his tyres and managed to create a solid gap to the McLarens, which drove us to this most welcome race win! Yuki managed to recover to score points and his pace was promising at the end of the race once outside of the DRS train. We'll need to perform again in Abu Dhabi and we will have absolute focus on getting the car into a position where Max can fight at the front and look ahead. What happens behind him is not something we can control." CARLOS: Extremely happy! We had a very strong start and from there we executed a perfect race with strategy, tyre management, pit stops and communication. By the end of the second stint, I saw Piastri struggled to overtake me on fresh tyres, and at that moment I realised we had to go for the podium. I was pushing to the limit of the car but 6 laps to the end something suddenly broke! I started losing a lot of lap time in sectors 1 and 3 but I managed to keep it together and bring it home for P3! Today’s result is testament to the team’s hard work; I knew we were taking the right steps and, despite some difficult race weekends along the way, I had full confidence in what we are doing. I’m extremely proud of everyone, we deserve this P5 in the Constructor’s Championship, and I look forward to finishing the season on another high in Abu Dhabi! Let’s go. JAMES VOWLES: Exceptional. Really fantastic performance from Carlos and the team when it counted and every detail adds up. Getting on the podium by milliseconds really is such a just reward for the incredible work the whole team is putting in this year. I was proud of Carlos and the team when we got our first podium in Baku; the second is a dream come true, but perhaps more importantly at a track that was almost our worst last year. And we've come back, we've reinvented ourselves and the result is there for everyone to see. For Alex, we will come back fighting in Abu Dhabi. We haven't got it all together this weekend, but I'll reiterate that his performance across the season is why we've secured fifth in the constructors' championship today. And more so than that, his pace is still there. We just need to bring it all together.  Finally, fifth would have been a dream come true just 12 months ago when we were languishing in ninth in the Constructors' Championship. Thank you very much. LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing Second placed Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren Third placed Carlos Sainz of Spain and Williams and Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer of Oracle Red Bull Racing on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit on November 30, 2025 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Lars Baron/LAT Images) OSCAR: Clearly we didn’t get it right tonight. I drove the best race that I could as fast as I could and there was nothing left out there, so I tried my best. It wasn’t to be tonight unfortunately. “I think in hindsight it’s pretty obvious what we would’ve done. I’m sure we’ll discuss it as a team. “It’s not all bad, obviously,” Piastri said. “It’s been a really good weekend. The pace has been very strong but obviously it’s a little bit tough to swallow at the moment. “I’ll just try and drive how I did this weekend, that’s all I can do. I obviously need a lot of things to go in my direction so I’ll just try and be as fast as I can and put myself in the best position possible and see what happens.” FERNANDO: "Two points yesterday and six today exceeds our expectations for this weekend. After the early Safety Car, we committed to the two-stop strategy along with everyone else. We didn't have the pace to fight ahead tonight. We got a bit lucky with the DRS train of cars and with how difficult it is to overtake here. We also got a bit lucky with the spin mid-race, because on another circuit maybe I would have ended up in the gravel. The points are a welcome boost in the battle in the Constructors' Championship as we head into Abu Dhabi." Martins wins in Lusail as Fornaroli seals 2025 Formula 2 title! Leonardo Fornaroli: It sounds amazing. I didn’t have many expectations because it was a new  car and my first time working with an English team, so it was a bit scary but their mentality since  day one – I understood I made the right choice to go with them. Every day they were able to  make me feel at home. We had so much fun over the season and they were able to give the right  suggestions to help me improve, to make me feel better after a mistake or a bad  race or moment. Also, having Roman as a teammate this year, we’ve known each other for three  years, as we were together at TRIDENT, but in different categories. He has good experience in  Formula 2, so I was able to learn a lot from him, and he made me improve as well. To achieve this now, it’s a massive relief, and it's a big boost of confidence, because I was able to show what I'm capable of, and also I'm quite happy about how the season went. For sure, there were some mistakes I could have avoided, some for inexperience and some were just my mistakes, but it's part of the game. The Championship is very competitive. You always have to be at the limit to score good results. So mistakes can happen, but nevertheless, I learned, was able to improve, and now to finally win this Championship, it's a massive relief. It was a dream for me to become Champion with one round to go so I could race and experience the race with a lot less pressure. But still, I will do the best I can, because the fight for the Teams’ Championship is still on. So I will push as much as I can in Abu Dhabi, and try to still improve.  

McLAREN DISQUALIFIED FROM LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX! VERSTAPPEN NOW HAS A REAL SHOT AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP. DID LCH SIMPLY HAVE A SENIOR MOMENT? THE FIA DEFEND F1 MARSHALL INTERVENTION AND...FERNANDO DOES NOT LIKE THE VEGAS GRAND PRIX IN. NOVEMBER! THE NASIR HAMEED CORNER HAS MORE CLASSIC F1 HISTORY AND, OUR INTERVIEW...CARLOS BOBADA , ATLANTIC SERIES TEAM OWNER. MAX VERSTAPPEN: “Everything went really smooth today and we did well to keep the tyres alive. It was great to get the win here and we had a very good day. The last few laps were very strong, we made no mistakes and had good communication with the pit wall throughout. Our start was really good and Lando was a bit late on the brakes. It was important to get ahead as we were able to then do our own thing and stay really consistent. During the race, the Mediums felt better than expected and we did a decent stint first which made things easier when we got on to the Hard compound. It was a good race for us, we had good pace and everything worked really well. For the next few races we just need to do the best we can and keep trying to win as many races until the end of the year and maximise everything we can. I had fun out there today.” LAURENT MEKIES, CEO & Team Principal “Everyone in the Team and back in Milton Keynes can be proud. The car was fast at a track where we struggled a bit last year and this weekend no one had time to properly prepare because Thursday's practice was somewhat disturbed, as was FP3. The car was fast, our tyre management was up to the job and our execution was very strong. When Max needed to push, he did and was able to bring more to the table. This is a race like no other with the low temperatures and the track layout and tonight, Max and the Team mastered it. As for the start, Max is unbeatable when it comes to this sort of move, so we are no longer surprised! But there were a few critical moments in the race, when George pitted while we and Lando stayed out, but everyone managed it to perfection. As for Yuki, we paid the price for what happened yesterday. Today, we made it, a win is a win, so now we will reset and look ahead to Qatar with the same objective of extracting everything from our package.” George Kurtz becomes co-owner of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team through minority acquisition in Toto Wolff ownership entity, appointed Technology Advisor. Business innovator and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner invests in the future of the Mercedes- Las Vegas, NV, and Brackley, UK – November 20, 2025 – The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team and George Kurtz, CEO and Founder of CrowdStrike, today announced that Kurtz has become a co-owner of the team and been appointed Technology Advisor. Through his personal acquisition of a 15% minority interest in the ownership entity controlled by Toto Wolff, which holds one-third of the team in partnership with Mercedes-Benz and INEOS, Kurtz joins Mercedes-Benz, INEOS, and Toto Wolff in the team’s long-term ownership group. Kurtz also joins the team’s strategic steering committee alongside Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG Ola Källenius, INEOS Group Founder and Chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and Toto Wolff. The governance of the team remains unchanged, and Wolff continues in all existing executive roles. Kurtz is an accomplished endurance racer and globally respected business leader who has built the most successful AI cybersecurity company of the modern era. As an entrepreneur, technologist, and S&P 500 CEO, he's established and scaled world-class innovation and teams. Kurtz’s combination of experience uniquely spans cybersecurity, large-scale technology operations, and professional motorsport. In his advisory capacity, Kurtz will support the team’s innovation and technology strategy, with a focus on the intersection of competitive motorsport, data analytics, and performance. He will also work to grow the team’s ecosystem across the U.S. and global technology sectors, and to secure competitive advantage and investment from new tech partners. "Winning in racing and cybersecurity requires speed, precision, and innovation. Milliseconds matter. Execution counts. Data wins,” said George Kurtz, CrowdStrike Founder and CEO. “Technology is reshaping competitive advantage and human capability everywhere, including motorsport. I'm excited to help the team securely accelerate forward.” Kurtz’s ownership builds on years of strategic partnership since CrowdStrike became a Global Partner with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team in 2019. This strategic partnership continues, with CrowdStrike providing AI-powered cybersecurity solutions that protect the team's technology infrastructure. Welcoming George Kurtz to the team, Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff commented: “George’s background is unusual in its breadth: he’s a racer, a loyal sporting ambassador for Mercedes-AMG, and an exceptional entrepreneur. He understands both the demands of racing and the realities of building and scaling technology businesses. That combination brings specific insight that is increasingly relevant to the future of Formula One.” ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO, ARTISTS EQUITY AND WHISPER TEAM UP WITH MARK STEWART PRODUCTIONS FOR ADRIAN NEWEY F1 DOCUMENTARY. Silverstone, UK, 20 November 2025: – Aston Martin Aramco, The Whisper Group and Mark Stewart Productions (MSP) today announced an exciting collaboration with Artists Equity to deliver Turbulence: The Greatest Mind in F1® (working title), a documentary telling the incredible story of Adrian Newey, the world’s greatest ever race car designer, as he sets out on his ambitious journey of  advancing Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team to the front of the grid. The documentary will be produced in collaboration with Aston Martin Aramco and F1®. With an extraordinary 12 World Constructors' Championships and 14 World Drivers' Championships to his credit, F1 fans revere Adrian as an era-defining genius. Turbulence follows Newey into the next chapter of his career after he surprised the motorsports world at the beginning of 2025 by leaving Red Bull to join Aston Martin Aramco. Given his unprecedented run of success over the last three decades, the expectations and pressure as he joins Aston Martin Aramco are sky-high. With exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the team’s Silverstone campus, the film will follow Adrian as he attempts to design a World Championship challenging car for the relentlessly ambitious British brand, led by owner Lawrence Stroll. This contemporary narrative will be intercut with scenes exploring the triumphs and heartbreaking tragedies of Adrian's truly astonishing career. Turbulence will transcend motorsport and explore universal human themes of ambition, sacrifice, tragedy, and redemption. Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team: “When Mark Stewart approached me about making a docu film, whilst flattered I was initially not sure whether to accept. However, one of the touching things about my 2017 autobiography is the number of letters I have received, relaying how much the book had sparked their interest in and appreciation of the design and engineering that goes into racing cars, how interactive the car design is with the drivers, and how much success is about mindset. “Hopefully this film can portray the passion, the working practice, the strength of mind that is involved in bringing an F1 car to the grid. The film charts the challenges I have faced in joining a new team in early March to prepare for what is arguably the biggest regulation change in F1 history. It also delves into the story behind my career up to this point and how it has helped to prepare me for this enormous challenge. “It's been a wild ride so far, but F1 never stands still. I hope that the film will capture some of that  restless energy, and our constant drive towards improved performance.”  

VEGAS THE LAST BIG PARTY OF THE F1 SEASON, CAN NORRIS CONTINUE DOMINATING? WILL PIASTRI THROW IN THE TOWEL? AND… FERNANDO CAN’T WAIT FOR THE 2026 CAR! THIS WEEK’S NASIR HAMEED CORNER…MORE VINTAGE BANTER BETWEEN THE HOST AND NASIR HAMEED…THIS WEEK’S INTERVIEW…STEVE ROBERTSON…KIMI RAIKKONEN’S MANAGER. Olivier Jansonnie named Head of Stellantis Motorsport, Jean-Marc Finot to retire. VERSAILLES, November 17, 2025 – Olivier Jansonnie is appointed Head of Stellantis Motorsport, effective 2026, January 31st. He will report to Emanuele Cappellano, Head of Enlarged Europe, European Brands and Stellantis Pro One. Olivier will replace Jean-Marc Finot who has elected to retire, they will work together during this transition period.   A graduate from Centrale-Supélec, Olivier Jansonnie is rich in more than 25 years of international experience in motorsport leading technical teams in different categories from LMP1, Hypercar, DTM, WRC, WRX and Cross-Country. Starting his career at Peugeot Sport in 1998, Olivier moved to Mitsubishi in 2003 leading the development of the Lancer WRC, then contributed as freelance to many programs in WRC or Endurance for Peugeot, including Le Mans 2009 win. In 2012, he became head of vehicle development at BMW, supervising Design Office, Aerodynamics development and Quality engineering for all BMW Group motorsport activities. Back to Peugeot Sport in 2016 as Technical Director & Automotive Project Director, he led the technical team for Peugeot Sport programs: Cross-Country (Dakar), WRX and e-WRX. Since 2020, he leads the Endurance program for Stellantis Motorsport while being the team principal of the Peugeot Total Energies Team. “I am pleased to have Olivier Jansonnie leading Stellantis Motorsport in Europe. His strong expertise and wide knowledge of all racing activities will play a critical role in supporting each brand involved in motorsport. I want also to thank Jean-Marc Finot for his dedication to build and develop a strong Stellantis Motorsport team, achieving many victories, 2 world titles and enabling the development of iconic high-performance vehicles across many brands.” said Emanuele Cappellano.   “Motorsport has always been a cornerstone of the automotive industry, shaping the legacy of Stellantis brands through iconic victories. As we enter a new era of global championships, my mission is clear: to cultivate talent and expertise that will keep our brands at the forefront of innovation and performance. I extend my gratitude to Jean-Marc Finot for his support and Emanuele Cappellano for his trust. Backed by our passionate, competitive, and talented teams, I am ready to take on this challenge with determination and make our colors shine brighter than ever,” said Olivier Jansonnie. Jean-Marc Finot is an automotive and motorsport expert having held multiples positions at Peugeot, PSA, PSA Motorsport then Stellantis Motorsport between 1986 and 2025. During his longtime career in the Group from the 205 GTI to the 9x8, he tuned the 80’s Peugeot GTI, developed the 406 chassis before being head of PSA chassis engineering, then head of Innovation. At Stellantis Motorsport, he won two Manufacturer and two driver titles in Formula E for DS, launched the Endurance and Le Mans program for Peugeot, restarted motorsport activities for Citroën, Lancia, Opel and Maserati, developed the Customer Racing business while supporting the creation of high-performance vehicles platforms for Abarth, Alfa-Romeo, Lancia, Opel, Peugeot, DS and Maserati. His retirement will be effective 2026, Jan 31st. LUKE BROWNING TO HIT THE TRACK IN ABU DHABI FP1 AND YOUNG DRIVER TEST Atlassian Williams Racing is pleased to share that Williams Racing Academy Driver Luke Browning will drive Alex Albon’s FW47 in the first free practice session at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and will participate in the end-of-season Young Driver Test. Luke joined the Williams Racing Driver Academy in April 2023 following his stand-out 2022 season where he secured the GB3 Championship and won the 2022 Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award. Since joining the Academy he has continued this upward trajectory, winning the Macau Grand Prix in 2023, also taking pole position and the fastest lap, and finishing the 2024 FIA Formula 3 season in third with two race wins and a podium in Monaco. As part of the Williams Racing Driver Academy’s proud tradition of giving young talent a path into F1, Luke has regularly driven in the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) and simulator programmes with the aim of preparing him for the future. He has balanced this with a successful FIA Formula 2 campaign, currently occupying third position in the standings and going into the final two races of the season in a fierce battle for the title. Luke Browning: “It’s going to be an unforgettable weekend in Abu Dhabi fighting for the Formula 2 title while getting back behind the wheel of the FW47, and it’s a challenge I’m going to relish. The Young Driver Test will give me a final opportunity to help the team prepare for 2026 and I’m looking forward to being part of a Formula 1 weekend for the last time this season. Thank you to everyone at the Driver Academy and Williams for the trust once again.” Sven Smeets, Sporting Director, Atlassian Williams Racing: “Luke’s development continues to impress us, and we are looking forward to closing the season with him behind the wheel of the FW47. We have an incredibly talented group of drivers in the Williams Racing Driver Academy, and it is important for us to give them the opportunity to progress as they move up the ladder. These final sessions of the season will give Luke another valuable chance to learn from Alex and Carlos, the wider team, and further embed with our trackside operation as he looks towards a bright future.” Mighty Sunbeam 1000 HP to Make Post-Restoration Debut at 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance  Harry Segrave beside the Sunbeam 1000 HP. (Photo: Courtesy of the National Motor. Museum) PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA (November 12, 2025)­­­­ — The mighty Sunbeam 1000 HP, the first car to achieve a land speed record of 200 mph, has been asleep for over 90 years. But a team of restorers at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, England, is now in the process of gently waking this giant—and if all goes as planned, the restored beast will make its US debut at the 2026 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance before attempting a centennial run at Daytona the following spring.    “The process of restoring a one-off car like this takes real dedication,” noted Concours Chairman Sandra Button. “There is no pattern to be followed. It takes time and research, effort and expertise. We are thrilled to know that the National Motor Museum intends to send the restored car to Pebble Beach, to share with enthusiasts here.”   The Sunbeam 1000 HP was built to compete in the race for speed. The 100 mph barrier was first broken in 1904, and then it took more than two decades to reach 150 mph—a record Malcolm Campbell achieved in July of 1925 at the wheel of a Sunbeam 350 HP. The Sunbeam 1000 HP, crafted around two of the marque’s powerful 22.4-liter Matabele aero engines placed to the fore and aft of the vehicle, came into being less than two years later and proved to be revolutionary. Driving it on the smooth sands of Daytona Beach on March 29, 1927, Harry Segrave recorded a speed of 203.79 mph.   “This car has been at Beaulieu since before I was born and feels like a member of the family, but one I never expected to run again,” said Ralph, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. “Watching the restoration take place has been fascinating as it has revealed so much I never knew about the car. It will be quite a thrill to have the car at Pebble Beach and is a great opportunity for us to wave the flag for the National Motor Museum!” The car’s restoration is now well underway. The rear engine has already been disassembled, re-machined, restored, and refitted into the frame—and it was first fired up before an adoring crowd at the Beaulieu International Autojumble in early September. The museum team is now focused on restoring the front engine. When that, too, is back together and in place, the bodywork, which has already been restored, will be reinstalled.   “Over the last three and a half years, the Museum’s team have worked tirelessly to make the mighty Sunbeam 1000 HP roar again, with help from a wide range of supporters, stakeholders and heritage engineering specialists,” said Jon Murden, Chief Executive of the National Motor Museum. “Having experienced the first of the car’s remarkable engines running once more, we are all now thrilled at the prospect of the Sunbeam returning to the United States for the first time in a century.”   John, the second Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, was a motoring pioneer, who campaigned for the rights of early motorists. In the 1950s, his son Edward founded what is now the National Motor Museum to honor him, and that museum shares a long history with the Pebble Beach Concours. Edward first showed a car—his 1913 Alfonso Hispano-Suiza—at Pebble Beach in 1981, and the following year, he donated the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy, which the Concours presents annually to the best British car shown on its competition field. Ralph, the current Lord Montagu, was in attendance at the Concours this year.   To learn more about the National Motor Museum and its efforts to restore the Sunbeam 1000 HP, go to www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/USA.

NORRIS BEGINS NAILING THE FINAL NAILS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP!...PIASTRI LOOSING INTEREST…MAX DRIVER OF THE DAY AND...FERNANDO READY FOR LAS VEGAS. THIS WEEK'S NASIR HAMEED CORNER, WE KEEP IT SIMPLE WITH SOME DUKE OF DIJON AND NASIR BANTER! It was a dominant performance from Lando Norris as he claimed his seventh victory of the year, following up on his victory in the sprint race with another 25 points on Sunday, extending his championship lead to 24 points over Oscar Piastri. Early race incidents would leave Oscar Piastri with a shock penalty and lead to the retirement of Charles Leclerc through no fault of his own. And in unexpected fashion, Max Verstappen would grab fans' attention following his conversion of a pit-lane start all the way to a P3 finish, grabbing a podium on a day many fans would expect his championship shot to slip away from him. None of the top ten were able to get past each other in the initial portion of Lap 1 except Liam Lawson on George Russell, with Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari having the weakest start of any on the grid, dropping four places into 17th. A loss of control from home favorite Gabriel Bortoleto in the Sauber occurred only halfway through the first lap, causing the 21-year-old to hit the barriers, bringing out a safety car and ending his race. The safety car was brought out for the third time in a row at the Brazilian Grand Prix, lasting for three laps and coming in on Lap 4. There was more chaos immediately, as Charles Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri went three abreast at Turn 1 after the Italian struggled to keep up with Lando Norris' pace following the restart. Piastri and Antonelli would collide, sending the Mercedes into Leclerc's Ferrari and causing the Monegasque racer to lose both a tire and incur suspension damage, ending his race prematurely. Unable to continue, Leclerc's Ferrari would pull over and bring out a Virtual Safety Car, with the McLarens of Norris and Piastri leading from the Mercedes of Antonelli and the Racing Bull of Isack Hadjar. Laps 14 and 17 would see ten-second penalties applied for both Yuki Tsunoda and Oscar Piastri, with Tsunoda's given for an incident with Lance Stroll and Piastri's for the aforementioned crash after the safety car restart. Verstappen, who had taken an early pit stop to change from hard tires to mediums, found himself up to seventh by Lap 19 thanks to Hadjar and Pierre Gasly entering the pit lane. Seventh turned into fifth by Lap 21, the Dutchman having gained 15 places in the first third of the race and looking impressive as he looked to restore his championship ambitions. LANDO: “It was an amazing race, and it's nice to win here in Brazil. It's an amazing track with amazing fans. This one was for one of my mentors, Gil, I hope he'd be very proud. “It was a great win, but to be honest, seeing how quick the competition was  today, it's clear we’ve still got work to do. I'll go back, see the team, congratulate them and see what we can do better. Looking ahead, I'll keep focusing on myself, keep my head down, ignore the noise and keep pushing.” MAX: From pitlane to podium, this weekend has completely turned around for me, something that I didn't think was possible. The start of the race was very hectic and I picked up a puncture early on from a load of debris on the track which meant that I pretty much had to start the race again. The Team used the right strategy from start to finish which allowed me to get through all of the traffic very efficiently. I definitely had to send it a few times to get past the other cars but I love doing that and ended up having an unexpectedly fun race. Overall it showed that we had really good pace today and that the grip was much better than the last couple of days. The atmosphere at Interlagos was amazing and it really spurred me on. I am so proud of the Team and would like to thank them for all of the hard work that they put into making the changes post Quali last night. SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 09: Race winner Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren Second placed Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Third placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Mark Norris, Director of Commercial Trackside Operations at McLaren on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 09, 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) We kept pushing and took multiple risks this weekend because we never want to settle for second and we didn't give up. To start in the pitlane and finish P3 on the podium only 10 seconds off P1 was incredible. Now all we can do is keep fighting hard over the final few races of the season and do the best that we possibly can whilst trying to find as much performance as we can extract from the car. A huge congratulations to Kimi as well, he drove amazingly well which will have given his confidence a huge boost which is great for any rookie!" Alex Albon: It was a good race for the fans today but unfortunately for us it was a bit of a race to forget. We had good pace when we could show it. We've struggled with pace all weekend but seem to have recovered a little bit today. In the end what took us out of contention for points was that I think we stayed out too long on the first stint and we never really recovered from there. In the last stint we were quick and were fighting our way back up the grid and just missed out on a point at the end. It's frustrating that our rivals scored points today, but we will regroup and look forward to a better weekend in Las Vegas. Carlos Sainz: Not the day I was hoping for. Once I got squeezed on turn 1, I had considerable damage to the car and my race was compromised from there. We managed to stay in the hunt for points most of the race but after a slow first stop and compiled with the damage, that was it unfortunately. Time to go back home and see what we can do in these types of circuits, as Qatar will also be a challenge. A few races to go, so we cannot relax. Let’s keep going.