The Mexican Grand Prix is set to renew its F1 contract, silencing rumours the circuit would drop off the calendar after home driver Sergio Perez left the sport. Although the contract hasn’t been officially signed yet, government officials have confirmed in press conferences that it will happen next week. It is expected to be a three-year extension, as has been the case with the previous two contracts, which would see the race stay on the calendar until 2028. The race will still be funded via a private trust, having lost government funding back in 2018.
The event organizers of the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid unveiled the final version of the new Madring circuit. The 5.4km circuit consists of 22 turns and boasts some interesting features, like the long banked turn 12, which takes inspiration from Zandvoort. The organizers also released a digital onboard lap around the circuit. Construction is expected to begin next month as the venue gears up to take over the Spanish Grand Prix in September 2026.
General Motors has been approved as an F1 engine supplier for the 2029 season. The American automotive company, which will be running an F1 team under its Cadillac brand next year, will be supplying engines under GM Performance Power Units LLC. As part of this project, the company will be opening a new dedicated engine development facility in North Carolina next year. Until the power units are ready in 2029, the Cadillac team has already reached a customer agreement with Ferrari.
The F1 Commission discussed some ways to avoid engine manufacturers falling behind with the introduction of the 2026 power units. An example of this scenario is the start of the V6 turbo hybrid era in 2014, where engine manufacturers took many years to catch up to Mercedes. But with a budget cap coming into play for the engine development, it could become even harder for manufacturers that start on the back foot to catch up. As a remedy, it has been reported that teams agreed that engine suppliers who lag behind should be allowed to use additional dyno hours (the amount of time manufacturers are allowed to test their engines on the dynamometer rig) and some extra engine budget cap headroom. There needs to be a way to measure power unit performance instead of team performance to ensure that only engine suppliers are gaining an advantage.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has nominated Malcolm Wilson to replace the recently departed FIA Deputy President for Sport. As reported two weeks ago, Robert Reid left his role at the FIA after criticizing the organization over what he described as a “standards breakdown”. Wilson is a former British rally driver from the ’70s to the ’90s. He also founded the rally constructor M-Sport and was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to motorsport. FIA members will vote in June on whether Wilson is the best fit for the job.
Lewis Hamilton’s vegan restaurant chain, Neat Burger, has closed its final two UK locations. The restaurant was a joint venture between Hamilton and actor Leonardo DiCaprio that launched in 2019, serving “100 percent plant-based meals”. Despite having a global presence with stores in London and New York, the company had downsized to just two UK-based locations after reporting multi-million dollar losses year over year. The company’s 150 remaining employees are expected to lose their jobs.
It can be challenging for even the most avid fans to keep up with the fast-paced world of Formula One. The Weekly F1 Recap is a series published each Monday that breaks down the action, both on and off the circuit, into bit-sized pieces. It's perfect for casual and experienced fans alike.
