Motoring News

Honda has managed to produce a MotoGP bike that feels “naturally fast” and “nice to ride”, but a lack of grip and peak performance is holding it back when it matters the most.
That is the assessment of HRC’s factory rider Luca Marini after what’s been a subdued start to the Japanese manufacturer’s 2026 campaign.
During the opening two rounds in Buriram and Goiania, Honda ...Keep reading

In the second free practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix, McLaren driver Oscar Piastri set the pace with a 1m30.133s, finishing around a tenth clear of the two Mercedes drivers, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
However, anyone hoping for a close fight at the front or a McLaren breakthrough should be cautious. In the decisive long runs at the end of the session – completed on heavy ...Keep reading

Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner believes Mercedes will face threats from other teams this year due to the high rate of development in the 2026 season. 
After the first two rounds of the season, Mercedes leads the constructors' standings with 98 points, 31 points more than Ferrari in second. George Russell won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and Chinese sprint ...Keep reading

The F1 Sim Racing World Championship is back for another season of action, with Round 1 kicking things off as the sim racers prepare to tackle the Chinese Grand Prix.

The drivers and teams report back on all the action from Friday practice at Suzuka ahead of the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix.

McLaren ended Friday on top at the Japanese Grand Prix, but how do the reigning champions stack up compared to their rivals?

Alex Brundle has identified a weakness for Mercedes Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli, as he finds himself battling against his team-mate George Russell in the 2026 championship. 
The Italian became the second-youngest driver to win an F1 race at the Chinese Grand Prix, and his part in the drivers' championship battle has since become a hot topic of conversation. 
While Brundle applauded ...Keep reading

Lewis Hamilton has fired back at those who criticised him during the ground effect era.
The seven-time champion has bounced back after a difficult few years in the championship. Hamilton struggled to adapt to the ground-effect era cars as he seemingly failed to bond with the change in driving behaviour. On top of this, he was also tasked with adjusting to his new surroundings at Ferrari after ...Keep reading

Ferrari is "just not quick enough" to trouble the front of the grid, thinks Lewis Hamilton, as the Scuderia hopes fixing its car balance will get it ahead of 2026 Formula 1 rival McLaren in Japan.
Charles Leclerc and Hamilton finished fifth and sixth in second practice on Friday, shipping around seven and eight tenths respectively to session leader Oscar Piastri in the McLaren.
Over half of ...Keep reading

Ollie Bearman has branded Kimi Antonelli's maiden Formula 1 win as "very special".
The Briton watched his former Formula 2 team-mate clinch his first grand prix victory at the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit, which he claimed gave him confidence that he would be able to reach the same milestone one day.
"We text. We sent each other a message after the race," Bearman ...Keep reading

Jorge Martin is still not fully fit as he embarks on the third round of the 2026 MotoGP world championship. Given that the venue for that race is COTA, the most physical circuit on the calendar, it's little wonder that the Spaniard is downplaying his chances.
"Honestly speaking, I felt a bit of pain after the race in Brazil [last weekend]," Martin told media in Texas. "I'm not at 100% still ...Keep reading

2009 Formula 1 champion Jenson Button has tempered expectations after McLaren's Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets in FP2 ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. 
While the Australian driver edged out the dominant Mercedes drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, in the second practice session at Suzuka, Button argued that the Brackley outfit will likely be holding some performance back.
"We ...Keep reading

Max Verstappen was left disheartened by the performance of his Red Bull on the first day of running at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton admits he 'feels like I've got a bit of a North Star' to aim for after struggling for confidence with his Ferrari during Friday practice ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

George Russell admits that McLaren's pace during Friday practice for the Japanese Grand Prix was "a little bit of a surprise".

Oscar Piastri finished Friday's running ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix with the fastest time, the McLaren driver posting a 1m 30.133s in Free Practice 2.

Lando Norris was left to rue a “pretty bad day” after experiencing technical issues during both of Friday’s practice sessions at the Japanese Grand Prix, with the day bringing mixed fortunes for McLaren amid Oscar Piastri setting the pace in Free Practice 2.

Oscar Piastri topped the times in Free Practice 2 for the Japanese Grand Prix, beating Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.

Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets in the second practice hour ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, the McLaren driver leading the way from the Mercedes pair of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.

McLaren is expecting no changes to the 2026 Formula 1 pecking order despite a very strong showing in second practice at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
The Woking outfit, which has won the last two titles, controlled FP2 via Oscar Piastri, whose world champion team-mate Lando Norris finished fourth amid issues with his hydraulics.
It was nonetheless some much-needed positivity for ...Keep reading