ONE PHOTOGH, DECADES OF FORMULA 1 HISTORY

Last weekend’s Historic French Grand Prix became far more than a celebration of classic machinery — it felt like a reunion of the sport’s soul.

Legends from multiple generations gathered together in a moment dripping with nostalgia, from Alain Prost, Mika Häkkinen and Jacques Villeneuve to David Coulthard, Jean Alesi and Mark Webber, among others.

There was emotion everywhere at Circuit Paul Ricard. Pierre Gasly climbed into Jean-Pierre Jabouille’s iconic 1979 Renault RS10, reliving a landmark chapter of French motorsport history with Jabouille’s son, Victor, watching on.

©X/pierregasly

At 82 years old, Jacques Laffite also rolled back the years aboard the Ligier JS11/15 that carried him to victory at Hockenheim nearly five decades ago.

And perhaps most touching of all, the sons of Niki Lauda and Patrick Depailler took to the track in the very cars raced by their fathers – a reminder that Formula 1’s greatest stories never truly fade.

©GP de France Historique/Morgan Mathurin

- Fi.com

MUCH-MISSED ELEMENT OF F1 GRID REVIVED FOR MIAMI GP WITH STUNNING RACING BULLS LIVERY

Racing Bulls will race in yellow at the Miami Grand Prix, returning a much-missed colour to the F1 grid for the first time since 2020.

© Red Bull Contentpool
Racing Bulls

Racing Red Bullls have unveiled a vibrant yellow special livery for this weekend's Miami Grand Prix, marking the return of a much-missed colour to the Formula 1 grid for the first time since 2020.

The striking design, inspired by the Red Bull Summer Edition Sudachi Lime energy drink, will adorn the VCARB03 at the Miami International Autodrome, restoring yellow to F1's colour palette after a six-year absence.

Renault was the last team to field a yellow car before rebranding as Alpine in 2021, but that was predominantly black in later years.

recent memory, Jordan raced bright yellow cars during the late 1990s until the name left F1 at the end of 2005.

Before Red Bull owned the team that is now Racing Bulls, Minardi also ran a bright yellow car in 2000 due to its sponsorship with mobile network giant Telefonica.

This marks Racing Bulls' second one-off livery of the 2026 season, having already run a special white and pink design at the Japanese Grand Prix in March.

Due to the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix postponements, the Faenza-based squad has now deployed special liveries for half of the four rounds contested so far this year.

The reveal took place at Kiki On The River, a waterfront venue along the Miami River, where Red Bull wakeboard athlete Guenther Oka launched off a ramp and backflipped over the car whilst pulling away the cover mid-air. Drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad witnessed the unveiling whilst arriving on Ski-Doos.

Peter Bayer, CEO of Racing Bulls, said: "Miami has become a special place for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls to express who we are as a team. For the past two years, we've used this race to showcase something bold and unique, and this latest livery is no exception.

"The Red Bull Summer Edition livery brings a vibrant energy which reflects who we are as a team, creative and willing to push boundaries. We're very excited to give wiiings to the new seasonal flavour and bring the distinctive design to track this weekend."

The livery features bold yellow colouring complemented by citrus patterns on the team kit, capturing the textures found inside the sudachi lime fruit. The VCARB03 will hit the track in the custom livery when practice begins on Friday.

- RacingNews365 Staff

FIRST RACE IN 2005 AFTER TOBACCO ADVERTISING BAN

With the #hungariangrandprix this weekend, we're throwing it back to the 2005 race, the first event where Europe-wide tobacco advertising bans went into effect.

It was the last race to be sponsored by a tobacco brand, and five teams had to begin the transition to new sponsors.

FORMULA 1 WORLD CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP | 1975-2024

Formula One World Constructors Champions (1975 - 2024).

#FerrariF1, #MaxVerstappen, #LewisHamilton #LandoNorris, #Ferrari, #Max, #FBLifestyle

MOST WINS IN IMOLA | FORMULA 1

 

BRAZIL GRAND PRIX: WILLIAMS 'HURTING' AFTER THREE BIG CRASHES BY

F1.com

Williams boss James Vowles said he was "hurting" after the Formula 1 team suffered three costly crashes in Brazil on Sunday and dropped a place in the constructors' world championship.

Franco Colapinto and Alex Albon both crashed in qualifying at Interlagos, postponed from Saturday, with the latter driver unable to take part in the race because the mechanics were unable to rebuild his car in time.

Argentine rookie Colapinto then crashed again in the race, triggering red flags.

With Renault-owned Alpine finishing second and third with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly in a rain-hit grand prix, Williams fell to ninth in the standings with three rounds remaining and 27 points between them and eighth-placed RB.

"The nature of Formula One is that you can have some of the most incredible feelings and results, as well as some of the lowest moments that you can feel within a sport. I think it's fair to say this weekend is the second of those two," Vowles said.

"We've had three incredibly large crashes in just a few hours from one another and have a tremendous amount of work to get ourselves back on top of our spares situation before we go to Las Vegas in just a few weeks' time."

Vowles said he had watched the race through to the end, despite Colapinto crashing before the half-distance, because he wanted "to make sure I remember today because this isn't what I want us to be feeling in the future."

Albon said it had been a tough few weeks with the team now in a challenging position.

"I really didn't expect the incident in Turn One to happen, so we need to take a proper look to figure out what happened," he added.

"It's disappointing as it would've been a great opportunity to score points, as we knew coming to Brazil there is always a chance for crazy races, however it's our competitors who've been able to capitalise on this."

- Reuters 

ALPINE F1 TEAM: RENAULT WON'T SELL 'FAMILY JEWEL' - LUCA DE MEO

Luca de Meo has said Alpine is not for sale. Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images

 Renault chief executive Luca de Meo has said their "family jewel" Alpine Formula 1 team is not for sale after the company confirmed its engine production will end after next season for financial reasons.

In an interview with L'Equipe, the Italian defended the strategy of Alpine racing from 2026 with a power unit provided by another manufacturer, most likely Mercedes.

The move, announced this week, will end nearly half a century of Renault engines in F1, with the French manufacturer powering Williams, Benetton, their own team and Red Bull to 12 constructors' titles.

De Meo said Renault were spending €200-250 million ($220.5-275.7m) a year on engine production at the Viry-Châtillon facility outside Paris, while buying an engine from another manufacturer would cost less than $20m.

He added that Renault was at a disadvantage to other teams in having chassis and engine factories in separate countries, with the team based at Enstone in central England.

"At Enstone they are very independent, used to working under different colours. I should have re-grouped everything but it would have been in England. Hard, no?," De Meo said.

De Meo said former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore had been brought in to revitalise the F1 project, not oversee a change of ownership.

"I read that he was tasked with packaging the project to eventually sell the team. It's completely false," he said.

"Every fortnight I get calls from financiers, eccentrics, who want to enter F1. They know that after 2026 it will be much more expensive.

"I won't sell, I'm not stupid. Being in F1 is essential for the Alpine brand. We are in a closed club. It brings credibility for the brand among motor racing fans. We don't need the money."

De Meo said most fans focused on the team and drivers rather than the engine, citing championship leaders McLaren who are winning and attracting sponsors while using a Mercedes power unit.

Alpine, whose investors include Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds and NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, had become "invisible" -- ninth of 10 teams, with vanishing marketing benefits, De Meo said.

"Two more years like that and the project would have deflated completely," De Meo said.

- Reuters 

RENAULT TO STOP MAKING F1 ENGINES AFTER 2025 SEASON

 

Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524

Photo by: Alpine

Renault will end Formula 1 engine production at their Viry-Chatillon factory after the 2025 season, with the French carmaker's Alpine team set to race with power units made by another manufacturer.

Alpine announced in a statement on Monday that the facility outside Paris, which employs more than 300 staff, would become a 'Hypertech' centre of engineering. It will include the establishment of an 'F1 monitoring unit.'

"Formula One activities at Viry, excluding the development of a new engine, will continue until the end of the 2025 season," the statement said.

"Each employee affected by this transformation project will be proposed a new position within Alpine Hypertech."

Alpine said the F1 monitoring unit would "aim to maintain employees' knowledge and skills in this sport and remain at the forefront of innovation for Hypertech Alpine's various projects."

Alpine, ninth in the championship after repeated changes of leadership, are the only team using Renault power units. Their F1 chassis factory is in Enstone, England.

Employees at Viry accused Renault management in August of wanting to buy in Mercedes engines from 2026 to reduce direct costs from $120 million to $17m.

"We fail to understand what justifies dismantling the elite entity that is the Viry-Chatillon factory and betraying its legacy and DNA by implanting a Mercedes heart into our Alpine F1," the works council said then in a statement.

"The announcement of the end of the development and production of French power units for Formula One is a nonsense."

There was no immediate reaction to Monday's announcement and there was no mention of any deal with Mercedes in the Alpine statement.

There has also been speculation that Renault could sell the team, although executive advisor and former boss Flavio Briatore said in August that would not happen.

"Creating this Hypertech Alpine centre is key to Alpine's development strategy and, more broadly, to the Group's innovation strategy," Alpine CEO Philippe Krief said in the statement.

"It is a turning point in the history of the Viry-Chatillon site, which will ensure the continuity of a savoir-faire and the inclusion of its rare skills in the Group's ambitious future while strengthening Alpine's position as an 'innovation garage.'

"Its racing DNA remains a cornerstone of the brand."

F1 constructors championship leaders McLaren use Mercedes engines, as do Williams, Aston Martin and Mercedes' factory team.

Aston are due to switch to Honda in 2026 when the sport introduces a new power unit, opening up a potential customer vacancy with Mercedes.

- Reuters 

TOTO WOLFF: MERCEDES OPEN MINDED ON F1 ENGINES FOR ALPINE

Toto Wolff said a new team will be a good learning opportunity for Mercedes. Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto via Getty Images

 Mercedes have told Renault-owned Alpine they are "open-minded" on supplying Formula One power units from 2026 should the French manufacturer decide not to make its own, team boss Toto Wolff said on Friday.

Renault are known to be assessing their future as an engine manufacturer, with a new era starting in 2026 and requiring hefty investment.

There has been speculation Alpine could become a customer of Mercedes but Wolff told reporters at the British Grand Prix that it was a complicated situation.

Mercedes currently supply their own factory team, Williams, Aston Martin and McLaren with engines but Aston will be Honda powered from 2026.

"We like the thought of replacing Aston Martin with another team because of the sheer learning you're doing," said Wolff.

"We're set up as an organisation that the more power units the better it is in terms of accelerating some of the developments or the reliability.

"So this is where it is. It didn't go beyond the point of exchanging opinions or having exploratory discussions. I think Alpine will take a decision soon on whether they want to continue with their Formula One engine programme or not.

"Only when they have taken that strategic decision we would dive into our agreements. But we are open-minded and that's what we have told them."

Alpine, the only team to use Renault engines, are under-performing and only eighth in the standings with nine points.

McLaren boss Zak Brown said what was good for Mercedes High Performance Powertrains (HPP) was also good for his team but felt a decision would need to be taken before the August break.

Williams boss James Vowles said the more engines being used, the more learning was being acquired to benefit all the teams using the power unit but also cautioned that time was tight.

"We have been working alongside HPP in order to get the concept right for 2026 already for many, many months," he added. "So whatever you do, you are going to be six to 12 months behind the three other teams.

"That's quite penalising in the grand scheme of things... there's going to be areas where you're going to be compromising on. There's a tremendous amount of work getting '26 right and the smallest decision on layout can actually have quite a large impact."

- Reuters 

ENGINE SUPPLIERS | FORMULA 1

EVOLUTION OF RENAULT FORMULA 1 | 1977-2011

 

EXCLUSIVE: MOTOR RACING-MASSA'S LAWYERS SEEK COMPENSATION FOR LOST 2008 F1 TITLE

Reuters 

Lawyers for former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa have started legal action against Formula One bosses and the governing FIA seeking substantial damages resulting from an alleged 'conspiracy' that denied him the 2008 championship.

The Letter Before Claim said the Brazilian, now 42, was robbed of the title through actions at the highest level that cost him tens of millions of euros in lost earnings and bonuses.

It said Massa had instructed lawyers in Britain, Brazil, the United States, Switzerland and France.

A Letter Before Claim is a required formal legal notice before court proceedings can be initiated.

There was no immediate response from the FIA and Formula One to a Reuters request for comment. Formula One is currently on an August shutdown.

NIGEL MANSELL | WILLIAMS FW14B | RENAULT RS3C/RS4 3.5 V10. GP SILVERSTONE 1992.

 

AP

RALLYING RENAULT'S DACIA TO TAKE ON DAKAR RALLY WITH LOEB AND ARAMCO E-FUEL

Reuters

Dacia, the low-cost brand of Renault (RENA.PA), said on Monday it will participate as a manufacturer in the Dakar Rally in 2025 with a prototype running on synthetic fuel produced by Saudi Aramco (2223.SE) and driven by Sebastien Loeb.

MARVEL FAN OCON GETS AN INVITE FROM DEADPOOL

Reuters 

Alpine driver Esteban Ocon is already reaping the rewards of Ryan Reynolds investing in the Renault-owned Formula One team after securing an invite to join the Hollywood star in filming for 'Deadpool 3'.

Reynolds was announced on Monday, along with fellow actors Rob McElhenney and Michael B. Jordan, in a group of investors taking a 24% equity stake in the Enstone-based former world champions.

EVOLUTION OF RENAULT F1 CARS

F1 LIVERY HISTORY | RENAULT

 

FORMULA 1 RESULTS 2020

 Results

Final

Pos	Driver		Time	Pts
1		L. Hamilton Mercedes·#44	1:28:32.430	26
2		V. Bottas Mercedes·#77	+5.783s	18
3		D. Ricciardo Renault·#3	+14.320s	15
4		D. Kvyat AlphaTauri·#26	+15.141s	12
5		C. Leclerc Ferrari·#16	+19.111s	10

F1: FERRARI BEATS MERCEDES ON DAY 2 OF TESTING | CIRCUIT DE CALALUNYA

Ferrari are set to become a force in the coming season as they managed to beat Mercedes on day 2 of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain...

F1: THE NEW FACE OF RENAULT | RS18 | 2018