Overview
- Mercedes says it has skipped late‑season 2025 upgrades to focus resources on its 2026 car, citing lessons from the failed W13 concept in 2022.
- Alpine’s Steve Nielsen reports the team’s 2026 chassis is already assembled with FIA crash tests due in two to three weeks ahead of a January 26 test start.
- Pirelli’s Mario Isola says teams’ initial 2026 load and downforce simulations diverge widely and will not predict the competitive order, with a convergence expected in December inputs that guide compound choices.
- McLaren has requested an FIA clarification, per reporting, on whether Red Bull’s Brazil motor swap for Max Verstappen should count under the budget cap when done for performance rather than safety.
- Audi outlines a long‑term plan to challenge for titles around 2030 and calls for multi‑year regulatory stability, as F1 leadership signals a desire to keep the 2026 framework stable.