Wednesday, November 12, was a busy day in Formula 1. Audi unveiled the concept of the car that marks its debut in F1 in 2026, Toto Wolff confirmed negotiations to sell part of his shares in Mercedes, while Lando Norris kept his feet on the ground after winning in Interlagos. There were also behind-the-scenes stories from Gabriel Bortoleto and a sincere account from Max Verstappen about his relationship with the Brazilian public.
Audi revealed the R26 Concept at an event in Germany, previewing the lines and philosophy of the project that will take over the Sauber structure starting in 2026. The brand highlighted the integration of the chassis and power unit, as well as an visual identity that anticipates its arrival as a team and engine manufacturer. On stage, Jonathan Wheatley — future team principal — spoke of building a culture of resilience and “daring to redefine what a racing team can be,” signaling the ambition of the new operation.
The optimism was reinforced by Mattia Binotto, currently the technical leader of the program, who defined the goal of “fighting for championships by 2030” as a long-term objective, typical of works projects, and which aims for consistency beyond the first regulatory cycle of 2026-2029.
On the Mercedes side, Toto Wolff revealed that he is negotiating the sale of part of his stake in the team, but guaranteed that he will remain in command and in the day-to-day operations of Brackley. The corporate movement does not change the sports structure and was described as a natural adjustment after a decade at the helm of the project.
On the tracks, Lando Norris — championship leader — preferred caution after his win in Interlagos. The Briton emphasized that the title fight is tight and that “every hundredth” in the Q1, Q2, and Q3 sessions can mean starting from the front or dropping several positions, reinforcing the absolute focus on execution in the last four stages.
Gabriel Bortoleto, on the other hand, reported that he received direct support from Nico Hülkenberg after the setbacks in his first GP of São Paulo. The advice from his teammate was valued by the Brazilian as part of the adaptation process in his debut year, especially in a high-pressure weekend at Interlagos.
Max Verstappen commented on the “turnaround” in his relationship with the fans in Brazil after the podium in Interlagos, highlighting the atmosphere of the autodrome and the warmth of the public in the grandstands. The Dutchman stated that the positive reception motivates him in the decisive stretch of the season, in which he seeks to shorten the gap to the leaders.
In summary: Audi accelerated its narrative for 2026 with a car concept and ambitious goals; Mercedes, under Wolff’s leadership, signaled sports continuity despite shareholder adjustments; and in the front peloton, Norris keeps a cool head, while Bortoleto accumulates learning and Verstappen leaves Interlagos with high morale. Tomorrow, we’ll keep an eye on the next movements on the grid towards the end of the season.
