Wednesday was a busy day in the Formula 1 news at F1MANIA.NET, with strong responses from the FIA, analysis from historic figures in the category, news about engines, and an important confirmation for the TL1 at the Abu Dhabi GP. Check out the complete summary of the day.
The FIA officially responded to Max Verstappen’s criticisms of the current ground effect regulation. The Dutchman had stated that modern cars “are not fun to drive” and have little development potential, but the entity rebutted, saying that the main objective of the concept is to ensure closer disputes and reduce aerodynamic dependence. The federation stated that the guidelines set for 2026 will follow this path and highlighted that driver feedback is considered, but not always decisive in the technical process.
In the paddock, Helmut Marko once again drew attention by comparing Isack Hadjar to icons of the category. The Red Bull consultant stated that he sees in the young Frenchman “traits of Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna”, highlighting aggressiveness, focus, and natural speed. Hadjar will take a seat in the main team in 2026 alongside Max Verstappen.
Thursday will also mark a special TL1 in Abu Dhabi, with nine rookies on the track. The session will feature names like Paul Aron, Kacper Sztuka, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and Oliver Bearman, among other young talents required by the rule that forces teams to give space to rookie drivers throughout the season.
The weather at the Yas Marina Circuit is expected to be hot and stable throughout the weekend. Forecasts indicate clear skies for the decisive session on Sunday, with high temperatures at the beginning of the night and a gradual drop throughout the race, a typical scenario for night stages in the Emirates.
At Alpine, the team is preparing for its last race using its own power unit, as from 2026 it will switch to Mercedes engines. The French team stated that the focus in Abu Dhabi is to end the current phase with dignity and maximize points before the structural transition.
Finally, a behind-the-scenes story: Honda tried to keep Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull with an engine offer, but the negotiation did not advance. The Japanese manufacturer wanted to guarantee the Japanese driver as a starter in the main team, but the agreement was not finalized, and Tsunoda will continue as a test and reserve driver in 2026.
