MAX VERSTAPPEN WARNS OF "HEAVY GARAGE TIME" AHEAD OF BARCELONA 2026 TESTING
Max Verstappen predicts 2026 testing will be a "garage session" as Red Bull Ford faces its first reliability hurdles. Read more.
For the past decade or so, Formula 1 teams haven’t really worried about reliability. They had the last set of rules pretty much figured out.
But 2026 changes everything. The new engine rules shake things up, and honestly, this is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing pre-seasons we’ve seen in a long time.
Red Bull, for one, has plenty on its plate. They’re running a brand-new engine, and there’s a lot to sort out.
If that engine doesn’t perform, you can bet Max Verstappen will start weighing his options. He’s all about winning, and these 2026 rule changes are the biggest threat to his run with Red Bull since he joined.
Fans said the same about Racing Bulls’ car when it first hit the track at Imola in the rain. Liam Lawson was out there collecting Red Bull’s first real data in a private session, but things didn’t go as smoothly as anyone hoped.
Verstappen called it—more time in the garages. Racing Bulls ended up stuck after just one lap, tinkering with the car for a while before they could finish their 15 km shakedown.
Ford’s helping Red Bull out by speeding up production and keeping things simple—no juggling multiple teams or setups. Still, that first day with the new engine was rough.
Verstappen actually predicted this at the Red Bull launch in Detroit last week. He figured testing would mean more time in the garage than on the track. “I think during the first tests in Barcelona starting on 26 January, we’ll be spending more time in the garages than out on the track,” he said. None of us has any idea about the new car or the engine. Hopefully, we’ll all be a bit wiser after the two tests in Bahrain in February.”
So, when was the last time reliability was a real issue in pre-season testing? Fans should probably buckle up for 2026, because those problems are coming back. The championship’s been almost too reliable and predictable lately.
A little drama makes things more interesting. It puts the pressure back on teams to develop and adapt.
Remember 2014? Some teams could barely keep their cars running with the new 1.6-litre V6 engines, and most people weren’t huge fans of those changes either. The cars got quieter, and the tech took a big leap forward. This time, though, the changes aren’t quite as massive, so the adjustment shouldn’t hit as hard.
KIM KARDASHIAN AND LEWIS HAMILTON SPOTTED ON ROMANTIC EUROPEAN TOUR TOGETHER
Kim Kardashian and F1 star Lewis Hamilton are turning heads across Europe as insiders reveal Kim's "Russell Wilson" nickname.
Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton are the latest celebrity duo making waves, and apparently, Kim’s already got a cheeky nickname for him. The two have been spotted out together in the Cotswolds, London, and Paris, just enjoying themselves and turning a few heads in the process.
Word is, Kim’s close friends are spilling a few details about this new romance. One insider claims Lewis isn’t looking to settle down right now, but Kim still has a special name for him—she calls him “her Russell Wilson”. If you know the reference, it’s a nod to NFL star Russell Wilson, who married singer Ciara after her high-profile breakup with rapper Future. Friends say Kim thinks of Lewis as a “sophisticated upgrade” from her ex, Kanye West.
Kim and Kanye—now legally known as Ye—were married from 2014 to 2021 and share four kids. Their co-parenting relationship is famously complicated.
Kim’s reportedly a bit anxious about how Kanye will react to her new thing with Lewis, considering Kanye and Lewis were friends back in the day. One source told the Mail, “They’re both cautious about Kanye’s feelings since he and Lewis go way back. Kim’s living for herself these days, but she doesn’t want to poke the bear. They know this could set Kanye off, so they’re keeping it light and just having fun for now.”
Kim and Lewis first crossed paths years ago at GQ’s 2014 Men of the Year Awards. Back then, they both showed up with their now-exes—Kim was with Ye, and Lewis was with Nicole Scherzinger.
Kanye even had Lewis over for Easter one year. He talked about it: “Lewis Hamilton’s over at my house, and we’re playing some music in my studio. We’re having Easter brunch—my wife’s family, my friends, everyone’s there. And everybody’s like, ‘What is this music?’ and I’m like, ‘It’s Lewis Hamilton’s music.’”
Since splitting from Ye, Kim’s dated Pete Davidson and moved on. Kanye’s remarried, too—this time to Australian architect Bianca Censori.
Those two have been in the headlines a lot, usually for their wild fashion choices. Things got especially wild when Bianca showed up at the Grammy Awards in a see-through gown. She arrived in a black fur coat but ditched it to reveal a sheer dress that left little to the imagination. People at the event were definitely stunned.
FERRARI SF-26 COMPLETES 121 LAPS IN HISTORIC LEWIS HAMILTON-LECLERC BARCELONA DEBUT
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc completed a "productive" 121-lap debut for the Ferrari SF-26 during 2026 testing in Barcelona.
Ferrari kicked off its on-track work for the 2026 Formula One season with a steady first day at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc split driving duties in the team’s bold new car, and the whole thing felt like the start of a new chapter.
With the 2026 rules shaking up both the chassis and the power unit, Ferrari didn’t chase lap times. They zeroed in on checking systems, making sure their data lined up, and ironing out any reliability kinks. The weather threw a few curveballs—rain, some dry patches—but even so, they got through their plan and stacked up plenty of laps.
Leclerc seemed upbeat after his first taste of the new machine. He said it felt good to get back behind the wheel and start figuring out the car, even if the focus was just on systems and not raw speed. “We came here to understand how everything works,” he said. “With the weather mixed up, today was all about checks. We finished what we set out to do, and the car did what we expected. It’s a solid start and a decent base.”
Hamilton, now officially in Ferrari red, felt the same. For him, it was a busy day—lots of on-track time, plenty of new things to get used to—but he called it productive. “We got good mileage, learnt a lot, and didn’t hit any big issues. That’s what matters with so many changes coming in. This gives us a strong platform for the next few days.”
Ferrari’s Head of Track Engineering, Matteo Togninalli, stressed how important it was just to get through the day cleanly. “Given the conditions, it went well for us,” he said. Rain or not, they racked up the laps and—most importantly—avoided any real reliability problems. That’s the top priority when you’re shaking down a brand-new car and engine.
Performance talk? Still way too early for that. Right now, Ferrari’s just learning how this new car behaves, gathering data, and building up bit by bit as the days go on—keeping their focus squarely on themselves.