The Formula 1 news on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, highlighted the behind-the-scenes of TV in Brazil, internal team movements, and a police case involving a former Brazilian driver.
Globo announced the hiring of Mariana Becker as a commentator and revealed its complete transmission team for open TV in the 2026 Formula 1 season. The coverage will feature Everaldo Marques on narration, Felipe Giaffone and Christian Fittipaldi as guest commentators, and Mariana Becker analyzing directly from the paddock, in addition to Renata Silveira as a reporter and Edgard Maciel de Sá on reporting. The network will have exclusive Formula 1 coverage on open TV after years away from the category.
Off the track, former driver Antonio Pizzonia was arrested in the United States under circumstances still being investigated. According to him, the case was a misunderstanding involving a ride-hailing car, and the Brazilian stated that he is well and cooperating with the authorities. The episode gained huge repercussions among fans and media, especially due to Pizzonia’s past in Formula 1.
Another case from the weekend had an emotional conclusion: Jules Bianchi’s kart, stolen in December during an event in France, was located and returned to the family. The relic is considered an item of enormous emotional value by the family and the driver’s fans, who died in 2015 after the accident at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
In the sporting and technical aspect, teams continue to adjust their discourse for the new regulation. Ford, Red Bull’s partner in 2026 power units, reduced expectations and reinforced that the priority is to develop a competitive project in the medium term, not necessarily dominate from the start of the new technical cycle. Meanwhile, Ferrari denied rumors of delays and stated that the SF-26 is on schedule, preserving Maranello’s confidence in preparation for the Australian Grand Prix.
Ending the day’s movement, McLaren confirmed that Nyck de Vries will continue in 2026 as a simulator driver, a strategic role in fine-tuning the car and supporting the lead drivers, something increasingly relevant in the current Formula 1 context.
