F1 2026: winter transition, development and pre season events

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Yes . A severe flu virus took MAX down.

He also had an important sim race planned, but he had to cancel that too..

Probably he hasn't had an anti 'flu jab, I believe it's recommended for over 65's over here. Hope he recovers soon but ppl like MAX are at more risk constantly meeting and greeting all sorts of folk from sponsors to fans.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Very

As I was saying in my previous posts and now confirmed by Marko that Horner should have been sacked from RBR much earlier in the season. MAX would then be holding the 2025 Drivers crown.
The teams' major shareholders acted far too late to save the day. Horner though appearing convincing up front was confused and didn't know what he was doing at Milton Keynes while entangled in the blondgate saga, old school are aways right.
What outgoing Marko said,
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/marko...r-im-convinced

[M5Rick]

MAX had to step in to defend Helmut when lies were spread about him in an attempt to oust him from the team.

[dfox]

Marko needs to just fade off into the sunset. We don't need to hear from him any more, honestly it would have been good if he shut his mouth about 5 years ago.

I really don't care about Horner and the drama around him either. Under his control Red Bull ascended from nothing to one of the greatest teams. There always comes a time when a leader like that needs to step down, and clearly he reached that point. Always hard to know when you're there. But he's gone now, let's just let the sleeping dog lie...

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by dfox

Marko needs to just fade off into the sunset. We don't need to hear from him any more, honestly it would have been good if he shut his mouth about 5 years ago.

I really don't care about Horner and the drama around him either. Under his control Red Bull ascended from nothing to one of the greatest teams. There always comes a time when a leader like that needs to step down, and clearly he reached that point. Always hard to know when you're there. But he's gone now, let's just let the sleeping dog lie...

Glad Horner is gone also. Marko was controversial but he was an exception eye for talent. Half the current grid is there because of him. Not a single other person in F1 is responsible for that amount of talent let alone the best driver in in the past 2-3 decades (maybe ever) and several other top tier drivers.
What I think upsets many of these other teams is that RB isnt even a car manufacturer yet came into F1 and really stuck it to them in a way most teams never could imagine let alone actually pull of. I mean look at Mclaren - they make cars and went decades without winning and of course will forever be scarred by the most egregious cheating scandal in F1 history. No one likes to be shown up the way RB has shown them up in unmistakable fashion. And even in a year where they arguably had one of the most undriveable cars Max still pulled off a season that people will never forget.

[3798j]

McLaren won the WCC in 1974...it didn't make a car for the public until 1992.
Vandervell (Vanwall) won the WCC...never made a car for the public.
Owen Racing (BRM) won the WCC...never made a car for the public.
Brabham won the WCC...never made a car for the public.
Tyrrell won the WCC...never made a car for the public.
Benetton won the WCC...never made a car for the public.
Williams won the WCC...never made a car for the public.
Two others, Brawn and Cooper, won WCC's but had a connection to a car manufacturer.

Marko being Marko right up to and beyond the end. Seems fitting that his last attempted hit job to ruin a person was actually to someone who deserves it.

Interesting that many here feel the current F1 drivers field is inferior/substandard (except for Verstappen) but at the same time laud Marko for creating it.

It was reported elsewhere that the day after the awards banquet Verstappen and his girlfriend were seen lunching at Cipriani's...obviously he's a fast healer.

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by HeelToeShift

Glad Horner is gone also. Marko was controversial but he was an exception eye for talent. Half the current grid is there because of him. Not a single other person in F1 is responsible for that amount of talent let alone the best driver in in the past 2-3 decades (maybe ever) and several other top tier drivers.
What I think upsets many of these other teams is that RB isnt even a car manufacturer yet came into F1 and really stuck it to them in a way most teams never could imagine let alone actually pull of. I mean look at Mclaren - they make cars and went decades without winning and of course will forever be scarred by the most egregious cheating scandal in F1 history. No one likes to be shown up the way RB has shown them up in unmistakable fashion. And even in a year where they arguably had one of the most undriveable cars Max still pulled off a season that people will never forget.

Ferrari needs a Marko / Lauda type. They have Jock Clear at the Driver academy but BFD. They need an older dude with clout to troll the whole team

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Probably he hasn't had an anti 'flu jab, I believe it's recommended for over 65's over here. Hope he recovers soon but ppl like MAX are at more risk constantly meeting and greeting all sorts of folk from sponsors to fans.

Donuts (!)

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Donuts (!)

Smoke screen from MAX while drip drip from Lando

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Ferrari needs a Marko / Lauda type. They have Jock Clear at the Driver academy but BFD. They need an older dude with clout to troll the whole team

They probably do. This field of drivers is the best there has been in F1 since 2004 without a doubt. They are faster, quicker, and driving cars that are much more challenging to drive while experiencing nearly 33% more g forces compared to 2004. The tracks themselves have also become more challenging as well. And you can see that the young guys are showing up a lot of the experienced guys.
I think this year was a paradigm shift. No one is talking about Nor but Max, who dragged a P10 or worse car to absolutely humiliate Pia and nearly pip the title from the guy who literally got coached from lap 1 to the last lap of every race, every corner, and needed blatant favoritism to beat a guy who has only been at the team for 2 years prior to 2025.

[Rono63]

Originally Posted by HeelToeShift

They probably do. This field of drivers is the best there has been in F1 since 2004 without a doubt. They are faster, quicker, and driving cars that are much more challenging to drive while experiencing nearly 33% more g forces compared to 2004. The tracks themselves have also become more challenging as well. And you can see that the young guys are showing up a lot of the experienced guys.
I think this year was a paradigm shift. No one is talking about Nor but Max, who dragged a P10 or worse car to absolutely humiliate Pia and nearly pip the title from the guy who literally got coached from lap 1 to the last lap of every race, every corner, and needed blatant favoritism to beat a guy who has only been at the team for 2 years prior to 2025.

Lando #1 WDC

McLaren two consecutive WCC

[M5Rick]

Outspoken F1 expert Peter Windsor spells it out to the ones still in doubt.

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Donuts (!)

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Smoke screen from MAX while drip drip from Lando

To bad F1 cars don't have front bumpers
Plus NASCAR's equivalent to a mic drop at the end

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

To bad F1 cars don't have front bumpers
Plus NASCAR's equivalent to a mic drop at the end

Ayia Napa Ayia Napa

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Outspoken F1 expert Peter Windsor spells it out to the ones still in doubt.

MAX - Charlie - Alonso at Le Mans in a Ferrari.
Damn (!) Who can beat that ?!?!

Honestly ...I would pray on my knees to see it happen (!)

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

MAX - Charlie - Alonso at Le Mans in a Ferrari.
Damn (!) Who can beat that ?!?!

Honestly ...I would pray on my knees to see it happen (!)

They can try but in this competition Kubica will be tough to beat

[Straykiwi]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Smoke screen from MAX while drip drip from Lando

There can be only one answer!

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Straykiwi

There can be only one answer!
Attachment 3873977

The Papaya water will be banned in 2026 (!)

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

The Papaya water will be banned in 2026 (!)

Luckily MCL will still have "Papaya Rules" screwing up their program

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Luckily MCL will still have "Papaya Rules" screwing up their program

Yeah . And each other

[Toad]

Wait, didn't MCL win this year

[Toad]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

...predictions before the new 2026 season starts

My prediction for 2026 is that when you look up the winner of the 2025 championship you will still see the name "Lando Norris"