F1 2026 - Round 2 - China - Shanghai 🇨🇳

F1 wanted to diversify the engine manufacturers and have been chasing Audi for years. Audi were not going to join F1 unless the sport introduced new engine regulations featuring more electrical influence which they planned to do with their road cars which is to increase the share of electrical power in their road engines.

From 2022
Markus Duesmann, chairman of the Audi board, said on Friday that the German car company had officially registered as a power-unit manufacturer in F1.

Duesmann added Audi's decision had been made because of new rules that feature an increased electrical component in engines and fully sustainable fuels.

Duesmann said the increased proportion of power from the hybrid part of the engine matched with Audi's decision to move towards being a fully electric manufacturer

F1 changed the rules so dramatically to appease Audi in alot of peoples views.

Solid lap from Antonelli but I fully expect him to be passed by Russell and Hamilton into turn 1. Awful for both Redbulls to be out qualified by Gasly, can't see Verstappen troubling Mclaren

These regs could drive verstappen out if this is the direction F1 is going.

F1 is just a better spectacle with Hamilton in the mood and on form. Likewise Verstappen.

He doesn't seem like the type to hang around for the sake of it, not when he has other interests that require his attention.

This is probably worse than DRS, at least DRS used detection points which penalised a mistake from the car behind or gave the car in front an advantage for driving quicker.

the new regs were designed specifically to attract more manufacturers to the sport - and they all had input.
considering Cadillac, Audi & Ford joined, and Honda reconsidered leaving, I’d say F1 see that part at least as being a huge success.

I’m just not sure I’ll be buying a new car based on their participation in F1

Good morning. Bad omen for Ferrari this morning in F1 Academy, Alba Larsen went wide on the final corner from a safety car restart leading the pack and dropped what was a near sure win.

and Piastri too

Six cars out of the pitlane, different meaning usually when people rush out of the pitlane