2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship: All the key moments from Event 1 at DreamHack It was a dramatic start to the 2026 Sim Racing World Championship season at DreamHack in Birmingham – here is a recap of the first three races. The 2026 Sim Racing World Championship kicked off over the weekend, with 21 of the best esports drivers battling it out over three races in front of a live audience at DreamHack in Birmingham. There were loads of overtakes, a couple of crashes, and plenty of drama, as Red Bull’s Jarno Opmeer earned an early lead in the Drivers’ Championship, with Alpine’s Otis Lawence and Williams’ Nicolas Longuet in hot pursuit. Here is a recap of the first three rounds of the season... Round 1: China The season kicked off at the Shanghai International Circuit in China, with plenty watching the drivers on stage in Birmingham for the first Qualifying session of the year. In standard Sim Racing fashion, the margins were razor thin, with the top nine separated by just over two tenths of a second. It was Frederik Rasmussen who took the first pole position of 2026, with Red Bull team mate and defending Champion Opmeer back in P5. Last year’s polesitter Ulas Ozyildirim and Williams’ Nicolas Longuet completed the top three. Rasmussen was in no mood to repeat last year’s poor championship start, holding off Ozyildirim on the final few laps to convert pole into an opening race victory. The Dane looked comfortable throughout as he carved through the field on his medium-to-hard strategy – with Ozyildirim and Alfie Butcher making up the rest of the podium. There was disappointment for Longuet after he suffered a slow start to come home in P8, while it was fourth for Red Bull’s Opmeer. Alpine’s Lawrence looked in
Apr 3, 2026 · via formula1.com
News Seppä rejoins Euro RX1 grid with ‘full focus’ on long-term career Buoyed by a promising performance on his FIA European Rallycross Championship debut on home soil at the KymiRing last summer, Anton Seppä will return to the series’ top-tier this year as he strives to set the foundations for a successful future in the sport. A graduate of the prestigious Flying Finn Academy – a national talent programme that has fast-tracked the careers of compatriots Esapekka Lappi and Sami Pajari, current FIA World Rally Championship contenders both – Seppä initially cut his teeth in karting and rallying circles prior to turning his attentions to rallycross in 2021. Immediately turning heads on the domestic scene, the Kouvola native went on to win the Finnish Championship’s V1600 class title in 2024 – an achievement that earned him a seat with Škoda Motorsport Finland and a step-up to the headlining Supercar category. He has continued to impress ever since – including first time out in Euro RX1. Showcasing his pace and maturity courtesy of a composed, confident display that belied his relative lack of experience, Seppä occupied fifth position at the end of the opening day at the KymiRing last August. The second-quickest time in Q4 subsequently secured him a front row start at the semi-final stage, only for contact in Turn Two to scupper his hopes of reaching the final. Just over seven months on and with a newly-built, facelifted Škoda Fabia at his disposal, he is looking to pick up from where he left off. “Euro RX of Finland last year was a really big deal for me and our team,” acknowledged the 20-year-old rising star. “It showed us that the speed is there and that we can hold our own at such a high level. It also gave us
Apr 2, 2026 · via fiaworldrallycross.com
The GMR-001, the Hypercar from Genesis Magma Racing, has been added to the game for free. Le Mans Ultimate before even starting a single race in the World Championship.Endurance (WEC). The Korean prototype will make its true competitive debut at the 6 Hours of Imola from April 17 to 19 — but players have been able to get behind the wheel since March 31. This remarkable achievement is the result of close collaboration between the engineers at Genesis Magma Racing and the developers at Motorsport Games. Far from simply creating a visual model based on official renderings of the car, the two teams worked together on suspension, aerodynamic balance, and gearbox data to deliver a handling model as realistic as possible. The sound of the 3.2-liter V8 Turbo—dubbed G8MR—has also been meticulously recreated from recordings made during the team's latest development tests. In the game, the GMR-001 sports the number 17, the number of the driver lineup of André Lotterer, Pipo Derani, and Mathys Jaubert, and the livery "liquid-metal" unveiled at the end of March, with its inscriptions in Korean Hangeul — “마그마”i.e “Magma” — identical to those that will adorn the real cars on the track. Spa-Francorchamps to celebrate the event The GMR-001 is the centerpiece of the V1.3 update for Le Mans Ultimate, which also introduces content ELMS, the Barcelona Circuit as DLC, as well as a Korean translation of the game — an acknowledged nod to Genesis Magma Racing's status as the first South Korean manufacturer to enter the WEC. To celebrate the car's arrival in the game, Motorsport Games launched the competition "GMR Sim to Sim" Daily online races on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, with tire wear and fuel consumption parameters specially designed for the event, will run until April 7th. The five fastest virtual drivers in
Apr 2, 2026 · via autohebdof1.com
Verstappen to race in Nürburgring 24h Qualifiers following "super enjoyable" NLS 2 - Benjamin Crundwell - 15 hours ago - 4 min read Max Verstappen will race in the Nürburgring 24h Qualifiers on 18th and 19th April, following his feature in NLS 2. As Formula One faces increasingly drastic backlash by fans and drivers for their new regulations, Max Verstappen completing side quests in sportscars is promoting alternate forms of racing for fans who are yet to venture outside the world of single seaters. Verstappen confirmed the rumours in March that he and the Verstappen.com team would be racing in the Nürburgring 24h this year with Winward Racing and Mercedes. To prepare for the event, he took part in NLS 2 with Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella. Although he was not planning on it, the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix has allowed Verstappen to race in the two Nürburgring 24h Qualifier events on the 18th and 19th April with Lucas Auer. The events are the main ones used during the NLS (Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie) season for teams to gain experience and licences for the 24 hour race. Both races will involve a 90 minute qualifying session and a four hour race. Predominantly for Verstappen.com, the qualifiers are a great chance to fast track their position in Top Qualifying for Nürburgring 24h (the equivalent of Q3 in F1). Verstappen’s adventures at the Nürburgring started last May, when he took part in a Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) test session under the alias ‘Franz Hermann’ with fellow Team Redline sim racer Chris Lulham. The test took place in the Verstappen.com-sponsored Emil Frey Ferrari 296 GT3. Due to the dangerous nature of the track (nicknamed ‘the Green Hell’ by Jackie Stewart in 1968), specific licenses are required to race on the Nordschleife.
Apr 2, 2026 · via dive-bomb.com
The Alpine ELF Cup Series starts a new era - A new format, new tyres and integration into the French FFSA GT Championship: the Alpine ELF Cup Series is reinventing itself in the 2026 season. - Fourteen drivers across seven Alpine A110 Cups are set to kick off this new era at the Easter Cups races at the Circuit Paul Armagnac in Nogaro. - Thanks to the prize awarded for winning the Alpine ELF Cup Series, Léo Jousset will step up to the FFSA GT French Championship behind the wheel of an Alpine A110 GT4+, where he will aim to win the 'SRO GT Academy' scholarship reserved for the best Junior driver. 02 April 2026 Contested on Europe's finest circuits since 2018, the Alpine ELF Cup Series is revamping its format for its ninth season by joining the FFSA GT French Championship grid. Behind the wheel of the Alpine A110 Cup, competitors will race in two-driver crews in a 'semi-endurance' format, with two one-hour races per round. More accessible, this format involves a greater strategic element and the introduction of Pirelli tyres, a first in the history of the series. A plethora of contenders To usher in this new era, the Alpine ELF Cup Series boasts a strong field, with several drivers capable of challenging at the sharp end. Having won the title with Léo Jousset, the Race Cars Consulting team looks to defend its title with Paul Roques, who comes from the ranks of the French F4 Championship. The 20-year-old French driver will team with Anthony Fournier, a two-time Gentlemen category title-winner in 2022 and 2023, before teaming with other drivers throughout the year. Chazel Technologie Course will attempt to reclaim the crown. Their line-up includes Romain Monti, third in the general classification last year, and Rodolphe Wallgren, 2018
Apr 2, 2026 · via media.alpinecars.com
GMR-001 Hypercar launches in Le Mans Ultimate with online competition As Genesis Magma Racing and the GMR-001 Hypercar prepare to join the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) grid at the 6 Hours of Imola later this month, the virtual version of the team’s first car has already been added to the line-up on Le Mans Ultimate. Team’s engineers work closely with game developers The addition of the GMR-001 Hypercar, which is available now for free to all players, comes after a close co-operation between Genesis Magma Racing and Motorsport Games, the developers of Le Mans Ultimate, the Official Game of the FIA World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans. The two groups worked hand-in-hand to model the car directly from Genesis’s own renderings of the design. Engineers have also provided data and feedback on the suspension settings, aerodynamic balance and gearing of the GMR-001 Hypercar to create a realistic handling model for the car’s launch – which comes before the car’s competitive debut, an impressive first for Le Mans Ultimate and a major accomplishment in any racing simulation. In game, the GMR-001 Hypercar carries the #17 and ‘liquid-metal’ based livery first revealed on March 31. The livery carries the same traditional Korean Hangeul lettering for ‘Magma’ – “마그마”. – that will be seen on the real cars. The sound of the car’s G8MR 3.2l Turbo V8 engine completes the package, created with recordings of the motor from some of Genesis Magma Racing’s latest development tests. The GMR-001 Hypercar is the headline of Motorsport Games’ V1.3 Update for the game, which also features the addition of ELMS content, including the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as part of a DLC, as well as a number of smaller additions and fixes. The Update also introduces a Korean translation of the game, supporting
Apr 2, 2026 · via motorsport.hyundai.com
GMR-001 HYPERCAR LAUNCHES IN LE MANS ULTIMATE WITH ONLINE COMPETITION The GMR-001 Hypercar has been added to the base game car lineup in Le Mans Ultimate, the official games of the FIA WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans The car’s arrival before its first real-world race is the result of close coordination between Genesis Magma Racing engineers and Motorsport Games’ developers To mark the introduction, players will be able to compete in daily races with the fastest drivers winning a visit to Genesis Magma Racing’s workshop and session in the team F1-bred simulator in the “GMR Sim to Sim” competition LE CASTELLET, France, April 2, 2026 — As Genesis Magma Racing and the GMR-001 Hypercar prepare to join the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) grid at the 6 Hours of Imola later this month, the virtual version of the team’s first car has already been added to the lineup on Le Mans Ultimate. Team’s Engineers Work Closely with Game Developers The addition of the GMR-001 Hypercar, which is available now for free to all players, comes after a close cooperation between Genesis Magma Racing and Motorsport Games, the developers of Le Mans Ultimate, the Official Game of the FIA World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans. The two groups worked hand-in-hand to model the car directly from Genesis’ own renderings of the design. Engineers have also provided data and feedback on the suspension settings, aerodynamic balance and gearing of the GMR-001 Hypercar to create a realistic handling model for the car’s launch – which comes before the car’s competitive debut, an impressive first for Le Mans Ultimate and a major accomplishment in any racing simulation. In game, the GMR-001 Hypercar carries the #17 and “liquid-metal” based livery first revealed on March 31. The livery carries the same
Apr 2, 2026 · via newsroom.genesis.com
A bicycle in a training session would sound bizarre to a NASCAR driver, considering it doesn’t even run at a fraction of the speed of the actual cars on the track, right? But it was these two wheels that enabled Lee Pulliam to complete his preparations for the O’Reilly Auto Parts debut with JR Motorsports earlier at Martinsville. His 5th-place finish came through extreme hard work in training, which even ended up making him nauseous. Watch What’s Trending Now! Racing sims have become a large part of driver training now. Most of the young drivers on the Cup Series field spend hours practicing on these sims; however, the motion sickness can be rather unforgiving. “When I first went there and did it that first session, I threw up four times at Pratt and Miller. I’d run outside and throw up, and it was all I could do to drive a car,” said Pulliam in his recent appearance on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast. Training on a simulator was difficult, but he used his experience and figured out a solution to solve his nausea problem. “I brought my bike with me because I had heard that, whenever you throw up, you jump on a bike, it’ll help you [regain your] equilibrium,” said the 37-year-old. Seemingly, that worked for him. At the same time, he started using virtual reality glasses even while playing video games, to help him get used to the motion sickness in the racing simulator, and it ended up helping him. View this post on Instagram “The next time I got an emotion rig, I was perfectly fine. I had zero issues. I never got out of the car, did the full session. And then I was like, that’s amazing,” Pulliam told Dale Earnhardt Jr. This was essential for Pulliam.
Apr 2, 2026 · via essentiallysports.com
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news. "One stick movement = 10 pushups" - GameSir teases a controller with four back buttons and up to 40kgs of adjustable stick tension for April Fools, but its commitment to the bit is puzzling me Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter As a gaming hardware journalist, this is always the most dangerous day of the year to check for news in the morning. April 1st always brings us some fun "fake" concepts because of April Fools', but I always think it's interesting to see what various gaming brands think would be funny to throw out at fans for a laugh. GameSir, for example, has chosen to play on some of the features fans have been crying out the loudest for. "Introducing GameSir Cyclone 4", said a post on GameSir's social media (We haven't had a Cyclone 3 yet). "The tempest we've been calling for is here". Honestly, GameSir is so prolific at releasing a new best PC controller contender each month, I genuinely believed it was launching something. Introducing GameSir Cyclone 4. 🌀The tempest we've been calling for is here🕹️ ✅4 back buttons: Choose one of your 4 teammates to mute on the fly, act before he starts it. ✅4 Face Buttons: Super accurate input, when you press the A button, the A will
Apr 2, 2026 · via gamesradar.com
- Primary Subject: Screamer Arcade Racer - Key Update: Five reasons to play the arcade racer Screamer - Status: Article - Last Verified: 2026-04-01 - Quick Answer: Check out five key reasons why you should consider picking up the arcade racing game, Screamer. Screamer is an absolute treat to play. If you're tired of sim racers and want an arcade-like experience to hold you down until Forza Horizon 6 hits the streets, I highly recommend you check it out. Our review emphasizes what makes it such a standout in an incredibly busy period for gaming. Beyond that, I'd also like to chime in and state five reasons you should consider picking it up as your next racing experience. Five Reasons You Should Play Screamer In short, Screamer is made for those madly in love with arcade racers who want something mechanically deep, with a particular aesthetic reminiscent of 90s anime and cyberpunk dystopias. Here are my five biggest reasons why Screamer could become your next obsession. Demanding Yet Addictive Gameplay At a surface level, it might seem like just another arcade racer, but the system mechanics at play in Screamer are highly addictive. The learning curve (no pun intended) to master its twin stick racing, managing the energy gauges that let you boost and perform other cool mechanics like an attack that will explode enemies in contact, all while trying to keep at the front of the pack, makes for such a satisfying gameplay loop. It won't be easy to become good at it, but once you do, there's a whole world of players ready for you to take on via online mode. Each Racer Has Their Own Set of Skills Instead of tinkering with a specific car's stats, you'll instead pick from over a dozen racers to compete in
Apr 1, 2026 · via racinggames.gg
Colapinto to drive F1 car on streets of Buenos Aires as Alpine driver prepares for historic road show During a gap between races, Alpine's Franco Colapinto will take part in a historic road show on the streets of his home city of Buenos Aires in Argentina. Franco Colapinto is set to become the first Argentinian to drive an F1 car on the streets of Buenos Aires, with the Alpine racer confirmed to take part in a historic road show in April. Colapinto will get behind the wheel of the 2012 E20 F1 Car – which ran during the Enstone-based team’s guise as Lotus but will sport a full Alpine livery for the event – in the Palermo neighbourhood on April 26, in his home city of Buenos Aires. “Driving at home in a Formula 1 car will be one of the most special moments of my life,” said Colapinto upon the announcement. “It's my way of giving back, even just a little, for all the support and love I've received since I was very young, which pushes me every day to keep dreaming of achieving all my career ambitions. “Every message, every flag, and every cheer has always been there. This is for all of you, to enjoy this special moment together.” As part of the event – known as Mercado Libre presents: Franco Colapinto Road Show Buenos Aires 2026 – Avenida del Libertador and Avenida Sarmiento will be transformed into a 2km street circuit, where two official show runs will take place. Unique fan and guest experiences, a fan forum and music acts, plus other exciting activities are also set to feature in the day’s festival, which will be institutionally supported by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires. It comes as the 2026 F1 season embarks on
Apr 1, 2026 · via formula1.com
‘A lot of progress in a short space of time’ – Why Cadillac had their 'strongest race so far' in Japan Cadillac may not have any points to show for their efforts, but they have already ticked off several milestones in the opening races. Cadillac have come a long way already in 2026, even though the Formula 1 season is just three rounds old. The recent Japanese Grand Prix weekend was their best collective performance yet and, in the space of less than a month, the American squad have already made major strides. The fact that both Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas have finished two successive races is no mean feat. While it may be a matter of baby steps, the weekend in Suzuka marked a significant step forward in terms of progress, which puts them in an exciting position to build on heading into the rest of the year. What happened in Japan? Cadillac arrived in Japan with the hope of replicating their latest achievement from the Chinese Grand Prix, where they ticked off their first double car finish despite making contact on the first lap. Things didn’t get off to the greatest start, however, as Perez sustained damage in FP1 after he and Williams’ Alex Albon made contact. The fixes were relatively straightforward and crucially, neither Cadillac driver suffered any reliability problems throughout the Free Practice sessions – this allowed them to instead focus on their performance and set-ups, and they headed into Qualifying feeling encouraged. Unfortunately, issues with energy deployment limited the team to P19 and P20 on the grid with Perez leading. Although they found themselves 1.279s away from getting into Q2, the team took it as a positive that they outqualified both Aston Martins for the first time. They then opted to split the strategy
Apr 1, 2026 · via formula1.com
Max Verstappen: Martin Brundle tells The F1 Show he doesn't think Red Bull driver will quit F1 amid car complaints Listen to the latest episode of The F1 Show as the Sky Sports team look back at all the dramatic moments and key talking points coming out of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend; Max Verstappen's future and Kimi Antonelli's back-to-back victories were among the key topics discussed Wednesday 1 April 2026 16:54, UK Martin Brundle says he doesn't think Max Verstappen will quit Formula 1, so long as the four-time world champion "can get a car that pleases him". Verstappen said after Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix - the third race of the season - that he is seriously considering his future in the sport amid his dissatisfaction with the new cars introduced for 2026. The biggest rule change in F1 history saw new power units and chassis introduced, with an attempt to make the sport more sustainable, resulting in greater reliance on electrical energy. - F1 2026 Calendar | F1 2026 Standings | F1 Gossip Column - Download the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more📱 - Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 The cars have so far split opinion among the drivers, with Verstappen consistently the most outspoken critic. Others, such as seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, have praised the more exciting racing the cars have produced. Speaking on the latest episode of The F1 Show podcast, Sky Sports pundit Brundle said: "I would hugely miss his talent. "His generational speed and car control is something that very few people in the history of motorsport have had. It's quite extraordinary." Verstappen's future proved a major topic of discussion on the latest episode of The F1 Show, released to listen
Apr 1, 2026 · via skysports.com
Doohan’s racing plans for 2026 revealed as Haas reserve secures endurance deal Jack Doohan will combine Haas F1 reserve duties with an endurance racing opportunity. Haas reserve driver Jack Doohan has confirmed his racing plans for 2026, with the Australian due to take on the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) endurance competition. Doohan, who lost his Alpine F1 seat in early 2025 and joined Haas a couple of months ago, will represent Nielsen Racing in their #24 LMP2 Oreca machine, joining Briton Ed Pearson and Israeli Roy Nissany. His deal comes in time for the start of the 2026 ELMS season, with the 4 Hours of Barcelona opener – at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – due to take place on April 12. “I’m really excited to be back racing in 2026 and to be joining Nielsen Racing for my first season in LMP2,” said Doohan. “It’s a new challenge with a lot to learn, but I’m confident we’ll get up to speed quickly with such a strong team around me. “With Roy Nissany and Ed Pearson, we have a great mix of experience and hunger, and I’m looking forward to building strong chemistry and pushing for results. “The Oreca 07 is a fantastic car and a very different challenge, and I can’t wait to get started in the European Le Mans Series.” Haas have two reserve drivers on their books for 2026, with Doohan conducting duties alongside Japanese endurance star Ryo Hirakawa. Given that Hirakawa will race in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship on alternating weekends to the ELMS, Haas will always have a back-up driver available. Next Up Related Articles - Who impressed our Power Rankings judges in Japan? - BettingAntonelli’s rapid betting market shift explained - Listen to F1 Nation's Japanese GP review - Four-time F1 champion
Apr 1, 2026 · via formula1.com
- Primary Subject: Battlefield REDSEC — Red Bull Supermoto Gauntlet - Key Update: Battlefield is testing the waters of racing with a weapon-free, dirt bike elimination event that has fans calling for permanent vehicle-focused modes. - Status: Confirmed - Last Verified: April 1, 2026 - Quick Answer: Players are trading guns for dirt bikes in a limited-time racing mode that many find to be a refreshing, high-octane break from traditional combat. Players want Battlefield to expand with more racing modes following the release of a time-limited Red Bull Supermoto event. For the next two weeks, players can swap the weapons and gadgets for dirt bikes as they race against each other across three different courses to compete for in-game rewards. Available in Battlefield's free-to-play REDSEC mode until April 14, Red Bull Supermoto Gauntlet is a sole test of your driving skills. No guns, no rocket launches - just pure racing fun. While it's unfamiliar territory for a game like Battlefield, initial player impressions have been surprisingly positive, with some even suggesting that it should add more racing modes in the future. "This is a fun mode, I wish it could be expanded with more racing modes or even vehicle-only combat elimination modes on the real large maps," one Reddit user stated. Another player commented, "This redbull MX event is AWESOME!!" Although sections of the Battlefield community have some reservations about the mode's implementation and its lack of polish, others don't see the harm in trying something a bit different. "I am all for it, why not have some racing in Battlefield as a limited mode? You can always just not play it if you don’t want to," someone suggested. Meanwhile, Red Bull Supermoto Gauntlet is also providing players with a welcome breather from the traditional shooter experience. "Ngl this mode
Apr 1, 2026 · via racinggames.gg
Max Verstappen Unveils the Rebirth of Team Redline: Introducing Verstappen Sim Racing! In a dramatic shift that has sent shockwaves through the e-sports community, Formula 1 superstar Max Verstappen has officially announced the rebranding of his sim racing team. Formerly known as Team Redline, the squad will now proudly bear the name Verstappen Sim Racing—a move that perfectly encapsulates the essence of the racing legend himself. Verstappen, a four-time world champion, took to social media to share his excitement about this new chapter. “Sim racing is a huge passion for me outside of F1, and Team Redline has been a fundamental part of that,” he declared. “Transitioning to Verstappen Sim Racing feels completely natural. We’re integrating everything we’ve accomplished with the broader Verstappen Racing platform.” This rebranding is not just a name change; it signifies a deeper commitment to nurturing real-world racing talent from the sim racing arena. A prime example of this vision is Chris Lulham, who has been handpicked by Verstappen himself to compete in GT3 events after four years with Team Redline. Lulham wasted no time making waves in the GT World Challenge Europe, where he clinched victory in the prestigious 24 Hours of Spa in his category. Additionally, he secured the Gold Cup titles in both the Endurance and Sprint championships, showcasing the effectiveness of Verstappen's strategy in fostering talent. Founded in 2000 by Dom Duhan, Team Redline has established itself as the most successful sim racing team globally. The squad boasts an impressive trophy case, including back-to-back titles at the Esports World Cup in 2024 and 2025, as well as championships in the PESC series in 2022, 2024, and 2025. Their triumph in the 2025 IMSA Esports Global Championship GTP with BMW further cements their legacy as leaders in the digital racing realm. Verstappen's new
Apr 1, 2026 · via motorcyclesports.net
Feature Campos Racing’s Noel León is tackling his maiden season in FIA Formula 2 in 2026 and has made a strong start to the campaign. The Mexican driver secured a podium at the first time of asking in the Championship, finishing P2 in the Melbourne Sprint Race to kick off the year. But, away from the track, the Campos driver talks to us about what he gets up to away from the circuit and why making time to relax is more important than ever. “I do a lot of karting, a lot of simulator at home, but non-racing related, but, I think it's pretty important to have something away from driving to do. Probably you would think that when I'm at home, when I'm doing simulator, when I'm doing all this kind of stuff, I'm thinking always of the race weekends, or a test, anything like that. “But to be honest, now it's kind of like my relaxing thing. So I jump into the simulator, I do some races, I try to not care about the result and that’s nice. So, I just have fun and it clears my mind. That's why I don't have more stuff to do outside of racing. Because for me, the simulator is the thing that comes to my mind and resets me. So it's not like you're in an F2 car at all times, even when you're not in an F2 car. When I go to the sim, I just enjoy it and try to have fun.” “Obviously time with friends and family is always nice. But it's obviously tricky to go home a lot during the season, especially with F2 being the busiest season I’ve done. “But probably three times per year I go to Mexico - January, August and December. When I
Apr 1, 2026 · via fiaformula2.com
Just over one second separated the Porsche Coanda Esports Racing Team from a win in the iRacing Sebring 12 HR endurance race. Car #91, helmed by Charlie Collins and Alejandro Sanchez, were consistent frontrunners throughout the 12 hours but lost out only to the newly renamed Verstappen Sim Racing team and their drivers Florian Lebigre and Gustavo Ariel. Both cars featured the The red, white and blue colour scheme, inspired by the GT1, was a fan favourite in Florida on March 21. Throughout the iRacing Sebring 12 HR, the team were very much in contention for the overall win. After a strong qualifying, the #91 car was just 0.036s off pole, with the #92 entry 0.265s behind the top spot. Collins lined up third on the grid, and quickly took second away from Verstappen Sim Racing’s Diogo Pinto on the opening lap. The pair traded places but ultimately Collins held second place come the first round of pit stops, entering the pit lane just a second after race leader Lebigre. Porsche Coanda then were able to go a lap longer on their second stint, briefly leading the race just before the two hour mark. The offset strategies saw Collins and Sanchez run in first place multiple times across the 12 hours, but were unable to best Verstappen Sim Racing’s number five entry although just 1.069 seconds separated them across the line. It wasn’t as successful a day for the second Porsche Coanda entry, although still a strong result for the #92 car driven by Josh Rogers and Dayne Warren who both started and finished eighth and still on the lead lap. Rogers in particular will be setting his sights even higher for future events having won the iRacing 12 Hours of Sebring in 2020 and 2022. The prize for winning
Apr 1, 2026 · via racing.porsche.com
Martin Brundle explains Max Verstappen retirement theory as F1 star considers quitting The Sky Sports pundit has reacted to comments made in the wake of Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix Don't Miss Most Read Latest Martin Brundle remains unconvinced that Max Verstappen will abandon Formula 1, provided the four-time world champion secures machinery capable of satisfying his competitive demands. The Sky Sports pundit shared his perspective on The F1 Show podcast following Verstappen's remarks at Suzuka, where the Dutchman revealed he was giving serious thought to his long-term involvement in the sport. "Do I think he'd just walk away from F1? No, I don't, providing he can get a car that pleases him," Brundle stated. The 28-year-old's comments came after the Japanese Grand Prix, the third round of the current campaign, as he expressed deep dissatisfaction with the new-generation cars introduced this season. The 2026 regulations represent the most significant overhaul in the sport's history, introducing new power units and chassis designed to improve sustainability through increased reliance on electrical energy. Driver opinion on the revised machinery has been divided, with Verstappen emerging as the most outspoken detractor of the changes. The Dutchman maintains his concerns centre on the cars prioritising energy management over traditional racing skill and raw pace. Martin Brundle remains unconvinced that Max Verstappen will abandon Formula 1, provided the four-time world champion secures machinery capable of satisfying his competitive demands |GETTY In contrast, Lewis Hamilton has offered a more favourable assessment, with the seven-time world champion praising the more thrilling wheel-to-wheel action the new regulations have generated. Brundle acknowledged the magnitude of potentially losing Verstappen from the grid. "I would hugely miss his talent," he said. "His generational speed and car control is something that very few people in the history of motorsport have had. It's quite
Apr 1, 2026 · via gbnews.com
Max Verstappen is making noise again – but this time, it’s not from the front of the grid. After another frustrating outing in Japan, whispers of a shock Formula 1 exit have erupted into full-blown debate, and now Martin Brundle has waded in with a characteristically sharp take. The Sky F1 pundit – a man who has seen F1 legends come and go for decades – isn't buying into the Dutchman’s gloomy narrative. While Verstappen argues that the sport’s new regulations focus too much on energy management and not enough on raw driver skill, Brundle suggests the broken record is starting to skip. “Max is very unfiltered, always has been and he’s talked a lot for a long time about not being in this for the long haul, ‘I’m not going to be hanging around here in my forties’, or whatever,” Brundle remarked on The F1 Show. “Max would say it’s getting a bit boring now. I think it’s getting a bit boring with what he’s saying. Either go or stop talking about it, because it is what it is. You’ve got to make the most of it.” Despite the tough love, Brundle isn't blind to what the sport would lose if the Dutchman actually walked. “I would hugely miss his talent, his generational speed and car control is something that very few people in the history of motorsport have had. It’s quite extraordinary,” he admitted. However, the former Grand Prix driver was also quick to point out the cold reality of the business. “Nobody’s indispensable in this business, I’ve seen a number of amazing people come through this sport and are no longer with us, or have worked on to something else, and the sport carries on. Murray Walker would be one of them,” Brundle said. The speculation regarding
Apr 1, 2026 · via f1i.com