Honda vows that the company’s recent historical financial loss will not impact its F1 operations. The reported loss of roughly $2.7 billion in the 2025 fiscal year is the highest since the car company first hit the stock exchange in 1957. According to CEO Toshihiro Mibe, the poor financial performance is largely related to the company’s electrification investment, which has failed to fully pan out. Although the automotive company is taking cost-cutting measures, such as halting a $11 billion plan to build electric cars and batteries in Canada, the motorsport division will remain unchanged. This comes at a time when Honda is struggling on the F1 grid, with their power unit significantly behind competitors.
Max Verstappen participated in the Nurburgring 24 Hours but was plagued by mechanical woes. The race saw a massive 159 cars start the race, with Verstappen driving the #3 Mercedes AMG with Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, and Daniel Juncadella. The team was leading the race, despite a scary trip through the grass and a nail-biting battle for the lead. But things turned sour for the team in the final four hours, being forced to make lengthy repairs for a driveshaft issue. Although the team returned, their chance at victory was gone. This was Verstappen’s first taste of the Nurburgring 24 Hours, having participated in other GT3 events around the circuit this year in preparation.
Former FIA head of aerodynamics, Jason Somerville, has officially joined Alpine. It was announced that Somerville would be joining the team in November last year, but he had to complete a six-month notice period. During that time, he was still working for the FIA but had been moved to non-F1 projects. Most recently, Somerville was instrumental in the development of the current 2026 F1 regulations. He initially began his motorsport engineering career in sports cars, where he was hired to work on Williams’ sports car programme. From there, the company transitioned him to their Formula One team. After leaving to join Toyota and then Renault, he returned to Williams in 2011. He joined the Formula One Group in 2017, moving to the FIA in 2022.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has contacted the FIA president in protest against Mercedes’ potential acquisition of Alpine. It has been reported that a 24% stake in the Alpine F1 team may be sold to Mercedes, which recently became the team’s engine supplier. The fear is that this could give Mercedes a competitive advantage, similar to the relationship between Red Bull and Racing Bulls, which has spanned decades. Mohammed Ben Sulayem has previously spoken about the potential for regulation.
Pirelli conducted a tyre test at the Magny-Cours circuit with the help of Pierre Gasly. The two-day test was primarily used to evaluate Pirelli’s intermediate and wet tyres, thanks to the circuit’s sprinkler system, which allows the track to be artificially wet. The first day saw dry runs in the morning before testing the full wets in the afternoon. The second day began with wet tyres in the morning and transitioned to intermediate tyres in the afternoon. Gasly was the sole driver to participate in the test, logging 900km of running across both days.
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.
