Little Hurricane. Chapter 19
This is a fictional story; don’t try to find overlaps with real events. A continuation of "Little Hurricane" by Nikita Savelyev for the readers of F1News.ru...
Chapter 19. A Slippery Spectacle
French women’s magazine. Article “Not the Weaker Sex.”
At the 1952 Olympics women paddled canoes and rode horses. Twelve years later in Tokyo we took part in a team sport for the first time: women’s volleyball was added to the Games. In a couple of years in Montreal the Olympic Committee plans to include women’s basketball and handball. Three years ago women’s football was granted official status. There are many examples like this. Year by year we are carving out our place in big sport.
Auto racing was no exception. Paris-born Valérie Demar is a full-fledged participant in the world championship.
This is a fictional story; don’t try to find overlaps with real events. A continuation of "Little Hurricane" by Nikita Savelyev for the readers of F1News.ru...
Chapter 19. A Slippery Spectacle
French women’s magazine. Article “Not the Weaker Sex.”
At the 1952 Olympics women paddled canoes and rode horses. Twelve years later in Tokyo we took part in a team sport for the first time: women’s volleyball was added to the Games. In a couple of years in Montreal the Olympic Committee plans to include women’s basketball and handball. Three years ago women’s football was granted official status. There are many examples like this. Year by year we are carving out our place in big sport.
Auto racing was no exception. Paris-born Valérie Demar is a full-fledged participant in the world championship.
Cadillac F1 consultant Pat Symonds spoke about the key differences between his team and other Ferrari customers...
Pat Symonds: "We have our own approach. We cooperate with Ferrari under a different model than some of our competitors. We take the engine and the gearbox cassette from them, but the entire gearbox unit, the rear suspension, the front suspension and, essentially, all the parts that some other teams buy from them we developed from scratch ourselves.
I am firmly convinced that you must steer your own destiny. If you rely on a supplier for everything, it will be difficult to win the World Championship."
Pat Symonds: "We have our own approach. We cooperate with Ferrari under a different model than some of our competitors. We take the engine and the gearbox cassette from them, but the entire gearbox unit, the rear suspension, the front suspension and, essentially, all the parts that some other teams buy from them we developed from scratch ourselves.
I am firmly convinced that you must steer your own destiny. If you rely on a supplier for everything, it will be difficult to win the World Championship."
For several months there have been rumours that former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner wants to return to Formula 1 by buying a stake in the Alpine team with the support of investors. But the Briton's path into the Enstone-based team is fraught with legal complications.
The team is owned by Renault, but there is a minority shareholder — the investment company Otro Capital, which is willing to sell its 24% stake for roughly $600 million.
According to Planet F1, under the team's articles of association Otro can sell its stake only with Renault's consent and only three years after the adoption of the articles. Those three years will expire in September 2026, so Horner will have to wait. However, other options could emerge in the meantime.
The team is owned by Renault, but there is a minority shareholder — the investment company Otro Capital, which is willing to sell its 24% stake for roughly $600 million.
According to Planet F1, under the team's articles of association Otro can sell its stake only with Renault's consent and only three years after the adoption of the articles. Those three years will expire in September 2026, so Horner will have to wait. However, other options could emerge in the meantime.
In an interview with RacingNews365, Formula E driver and former member of Red Bull's junior program Sébastien Buemi spoke about the difficulty of the task facing Red Bull...
Sébastien Buemi: "Developing its own power unit is an enormously complex task for Red Bull, and the result can only be truly assessed when you go out on track and compare it with others. You can judge reliability — see if there are problems — but to assess competitiveness you need rivals. You may think you've done something amazing, but then it turns out someone achieved more. The engineers have been working hard for months; we'll soon find out whether those efforts are enough."
Sébastien Buemi: "Developing its own power unit is an enormously complex task for Red Bull, and the result can only be truly assessed when you go out on track and compare it with others. You can judge reliability — see if there are problems — but to assess competitiveness you need rivals. You may think you've done something amazing, but then it turns out someone achieved more. The engineers have been working hard for months; we'll soon find out whether those efforts are enough."
On the morning of Friday, January 9, the highest level of security was in effect at the track in Barcelona. Audi — the first of the championship entrants — brought a new car onto the track as part of a filming day permitted by the rules.
The secrecy was justified. Everyone was keen to prevent any leaks and to avoid giving rivals any information about the current state of affairs or any technical details. Fans will have to wait a little for the first photographs of the new Audi, which so far has no official name.
According to Spanish observers, the car went out on the track for the first time shortly after 10:00 a.m. The first lap went smoothly, with no apparent problems, and the team then worked through its program. Both main drivers took part in the tests.
Audi has not yet commented on the car’s first outing on the track.
The secrecy was justified. Everyone was keen to prevent any leaks and to avoid giving rivals any information about the current state of affairs or any technical details. Fans will have to wait a little for the first photographs of the new Audi, which so far has no official name.
According to Spanish observers, the car went out on the track for the first time shortly after 10:00 a.m. The first lap went smoothly, with no apparent problems, and the team then worked through its program. Both main drivers took part in the tests.
Audi has not yet commented on the car’s first outing on the track.
With a camera in every phone, it's hard to keep anything secret, even at a closed test track under conditions of secrecy.
The first images of Audi's new car from today's shakedown as part of a filming day in Barcelona have appeared on social media. The footage shows the car taking several corners, but because of the distance and the technical camouflage no details can be made out.
Congratulations to Audi on their debut! These are the first laps of a car with an Audi engine in the history of Formula 1.
The first images of Audi's new car from today's shakedown as part of a filming day in Barcelona have appeared on social media. The footage shows the car taking several corners, but because of the distance and the technical camouflage no details can be made out.
Congratulations to Audi on their debut! These are the first laps of a car with an Audi engine in the history of Formula 1.
On January 22, the FIA will convene engine specialists.
At the end of last year a controversial situation arose when it emerged that Mercedes and Red Bull had taken advantage of a loophole in the 2026 regulations to improve engine performance and restore the compression ratio to the 2025 value — 18:1 instead of the 16:1 allowed in 2026. Later the FIA stated that they had no complaints against those manufacturers, since the regulatory requirements were met and the compression ratio at ambient temperature corresponded to the required value when the measurement methodology was followed. This position by the FIA raised questions from Ferrari, Audi and Honda — they asked for clarification because, in their view, any engine operating with a compression ratio above 16:1 could be illegal, which would formally allow a protest to be lodged after the very first race of the season.
At the end of last year a controversial situation arose when it emerged that Mercedes and Red Bull had taken advantage of a loophole in the 2026 regulations to improve engine performance and restore the compression ratio to the 2025 value — 18:1 instead of the 16:1 allowed in 2026. Later the FIA stated that they had no complaints against those manufacturers, since the regulatory requirements were met and the compression ratio at ambient temperature corresponded to the required value when the measurement methodology was followed. This position by the FIA raised questions from Ferrari, Audi and Honda — they asked for clarification because, in their view, any engine operating with a compression ratio above 16:1 could be illegal, which would formally allow a protest to be lodged after the very first race of the season.
The McLaren presentation will take place on February 9.
The reigning world champions, McLaren, were the last to announce the launch date of their new car.
The new MCL40 will be shown last — on February 9 at the Bahrain circuit before the start of testing. The team will livestream the ceremony on its social media channels and on its website. Fans will hear comments from Zak Brown, Andrea Stella, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri — and will see the car's livery.
The reigning world champions, McLaren, were the last to announce the launch date of their new car.
The new MCL40 will be shown last — on February 9 at the Bahrain circuit before the start of testing. The team will livestream the ceremony on its social media channels and on its website. Fans will hear comments from Zak Brown, Andrea Stella, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri — and will see the car's livery.
Hywel Thomas's three factors of competitiveness
Many believe that Mercedes engines will again turn out to be the best when the regulations change, but Hywel Thomas, managing director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains, prefers to think they are a step behind…
Hywel Thomas: "To be honest, right now I don't know what power we will be able to use in the first race. I can't imagine where rivals get that information from when they consider us the favourites.
Yes, it may happen that one manufacturer will dominate, although the regulations are written to avoid that. There are certain constraints that force you to act in a particular way — with them the likelihood of someone seriously getting ahead of you is reduced. But someone might find a loophole in the regulations, read the rules differently, discover something remarkable that no one else has found.
Many believe that Mercedes engines will again turn out to be the best when the regulations change, but Hywel Thomas, managing director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains, prefers to think they are a step behind…
Hywel Thomas: "To be honest, right now I don't know what power we will be able to use in the first race. I can't imagine where rivals get that information from when they consider us the favourites.
Yes, it may happen that one manufacturer will dominate, although the regulations are written to avoid that. There are certain constraints that force you to act in a particular way — with them the likelihood of someone seriously getting ahead of you is reduced. But someone might find a loophole in the regulations, read the rules differently, discover something remarkable that no one else has found.
Honda plans to unveil a new power unit developed for Aston Martin F1 on January 20 in Tokyo, but the Japanese engine builders are already drawing attention to the upcoming event.
On their social media pages they shared a close-up photograph capturing individual parts of the race engine, and the caption to the image can be translated as: "Anticipation is building."
In addition, yesterday at the Tokyo Motor Show there was a presentation by Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation, during which a video was shown that, against the sound of the new power unit, displayed its silhouette in backlight.
Koji Watanabe: "2026 marks a new era for Honda together with Aston Martin F1. At the end of this month the first joint tests will take place in Barcelona, and today we are pleased to showcase the sound and silhouette of the new power unit, the development of which continues."
On their social media pages they shared a close-up photograph capturing individual parts of the race engine, and the caption to the image can be translated as: "Anticipation is building."
In addition, yesterday at the Tokyo Motor Show there was a presentation by Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation, during which a video was shown that, against the sound of the new power unit, displayed its silhouette in backlight.
Koji Watanabe: "2026 marks a new era for Honda together with Aston Martin F1. At the end of this month the first joint tests will take place in Barcelona, and today we are pleased to showcase the sound and silhouette of the new power unit, the development of which continues."
At the end of the first week of January, Lewis Hamilton celebrated his 41st birthday — he usually spends this time of year at his ranch in the Colorado mountains.
After a three-week break, the seven-time world champion delighted fans with a series of photos showing the various activities he enjoys on holiday — snowboarding, socializing with friends, and in two shots we see him with an impressively large buffalo.
But most importantly, all these photos are accompanied by a decidedly life-affirming message to fans, the text of which is worth reproducing in full:
“Another return. I am incredibly grateful for this break. It's a time when I switch off from everything, recharge my batteries and can find inner peace. The time I spend with my family and friends, we rest together and have a great time — it's everything I so badly needed after a very tiring year.
In this rapidly changing world we are constantly pulled in different directions, and when you truly manage to disconnect from it all, you feel the most joyful feeling.
I know the Year of the Horse is coming, and the Year of the Snake is behind us. A time of change is coming. Something new is beginning; let's try to grow, and let what held us back remain behind. What doesn't help you — it's all excess.
There will be things you won't get rid of immediately; that will take time, but everything starts with the very first step. Even if it seems that chaos reigns in the world, I hope that all of you are trying to live life to the fullest. Be yourselves, never forget who you are.
I've learned that; many of you told me that in 2025, and I will never forget it! Your support means a lot to me — know that I'm with you, you are not alone. So let's take at least one step every day and keep moving forward.”
After a three-week break, the seven-time world champion delighted fans with a series of photos showing the various activities he enjoys on holiday — snowboarding, socializing with friends, and in two shots we see him with an impressively large buffalo.
But most importantly, all these photos are accompanied by a decidedly life-affirming message to fans, the text of which is worth reproducing in full:
“Another return. I am incredibly grateful for this break. It's a time when I switch off from everything, recharge my batteries and can find inner peace. The time I spend with my family and friends, we rest together and have a great time — it's everything I so badly needed after a very tiring year.
In this rapidly changing world we are constantly pulled in different directions, and when you truly manage to disconnect from it all, you feel the most joyful feeling.
I know the Year of the Horse is coming, and the Year of the Snake is behind us. A time of change is coming. Something new is beginning; let's try to grow, and let what held us back remain behind. What doesn't help you — it's all excess.
There will be things you won't get rid of immediately; that will take time, but everything starts with the very first step. Even if it seems that chaos reigns in the world, I hope that all of you are trying to live life to the fullest. Be yourselves, never forget who you are.
I've learned that; many of you told me that in 2025, and I will never forget it! Your support means a lot to me — know that I'm with you, you are not alone. So let's take at least one step every day and keep moving forward.”
Hans Herrmann: 1928 – 2026
Today flags are flying at half-mast above the headquarters of Mercedes‑Benz and Porsche – the two German companies and their motorsport divisions are mourning Hans Herrmann, the famous German racing driver who died yesterday at the age of 97.
He was the last of those who, in the 1950s, raced for the factory Mercedes Formula 1 team, was a teammate of Juan Manuel Fangio, and stood on the podium at the 1954 Swiss Grand Prix – the last time the race was held at the Bremgarten circuit.
In some unfathomable way Hans Herrmann survived an era when motorsport was the province of people willing to risk their lives every time they got behind the wheel of a racing car.
Interestingly, his first "civilian" profession was as a pastry chef, but it was not that highly respected trade, which he had successfully learned in Stuttgart in his youth, that brought him world fame, but motor racing.
Today flags are flying at half-mast above the headquarters of Mercedes‑Benz and Porsche – the two German companies and their motorsport divisions are mourning Hans Herrmann, the famous German racing driver who died yesterday at the age of 97.
He was the last of those who, in the 1950s, raced for the factory Mercedes Formula 1 team, was a teammate of Juan Manuel Fangio, and stood on the podium at the 1954 Swiss Grand Prix – the last time the race was held at the Bremgarten circuit.
In some unfathomable way Hans Herrmann survived an era when motorsport was the province of people willing to risk their lives every time they got behind the wheel of a racing car.
Interestingly, his first "civilian" profession was as a pastry chef, but it was not that highly respected trade, which he had successfully learned in Stuttgart in his youth, that brought him world fame, but motor racing.
Ferrari took a different approach in developing the SF-26.
Formula 1 teams are starting one after another to intrigue fans in advance, posting mysterious photos of their 2026 cars that reveal little, or audio files with the sound of the new power units.
At Ferrari, as usual, they started differently – so far they have only announced the index assigned to the new chassis, previously known as "Project 678."
"A new era begins with the SF-26!" announced the team from Maranello. But the Italian press is already speculating about what this car, built under the leadership of Loïc Serra, will be like.
As Gazzetta dello Sport writes, at the Scuderia, when developing the concept of the next-generation chassis, they went a different way, abandoning many solutions previously used that proved insufficiently effective.
Formula 1 teams are starting one after another to intrigue fans in advance, posting mysterious photos of their 2026 cars that reveal little, or audio files with the sound of the new power units.
At Ferrari, as usual, they started differently – so far they have only announced the index assigned to the new chassis, previously known as "Project 678."
"A new era begins with the SF-26!" announced the team from Maranello. But the Italian press is already speculating about what this car, built under the leadership of Loïc Serra, will be like.
As Gazzetta dello Sport writes, at the Scuderia, when developing the concept of the next-generation chassis, they went a different way, abandoning many solutions previously used that proved insufficiently effective.
Italian F4 champion Ken Nakamura-Berta has become a member of the Williams Junior Academy.
The driver, who has Japanese and Slovak roots, won several karting titles, made a successful debut in the junior formulas, and in 2025 won the Italian Formula 4 championship, taking nine victories over the course of the season. In 2026 he will compete in the European and Middle Eastern Formula Regional series.
Ken Nakamura-Berta: "I am very excited about the opportunity to join the Williams Academy. This team has achieved tremendous success and has a rich history, and I am proud to become a part of it. Thank you to everyone at Williams for believing in me. I look forward to the start of this new chapter!"
The driver, who has Japanese and Slovak roots, won several karting titles, made a successful debut in the junior formulas, and in 2025 won the Italian Formula 4 championship, taking nine victories over the course of the season. In 2026 he will compete in the European and Middle Eastern Formula Regional series.
Ken Nakamura-Berta: "I am very excited about the opportunity to join the Williams Academy. This team has achieved tremendous success and has a rich history, and I am proud to become a part of it. Thank you to everyone at Williams for believing in me. I look forward to the start of this new chapter!"
Rovanperä debuted in New Zealand's Formula Regional.
This weekend in New Zealand the winter season of the local Formula Regional got under way; the full name of the championship is the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy. In short, the "Oceania Trophy."
We told you about the plans of Finnish driver Kalle Rovanperä to compete in this series to prepare for his debut in Japan's Super Formula, and today the two-time World Rally Champion received his baptism of fire in single-seater racing. If in the first race he finished second-to-last, 17th, in the second he fought for points and finished 11th, which is progress.
"So, it all begins!" Kalle shared on his social media pages. "My first weekend in single-seaters is underway.
This weekend in New Zealand the winter season of the local Formula Regional got under way; the full name of the championship is the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy. In short, the "Oceania Trophy."
We told you about the plans of Finnish driver Kalle Rovanperä to compete in this series to prepare for his debut in Japan's Super Formula, and today the two-time World Rally Champion received his baptism of fire in single-seater racing. If in the first race he finished second-to-last, 17th, in the second he fought for points and finished 11th, which is progress.
"So, it all begins!" Kalle shared on his social media pages. "My first weekend in single-seaters is underway.
Sainz Sr.: It's a miracle the engine held up.
Today is a rest day at the Dakar rally; crews are regaining strength, and team mechanics are servicing the vehicles that have already endured colossal stresses over the past week. It is also very important to plan and set the tactics for the second half of the supermarathon.
Carlos Sainz sits fourth in the overall classification, trailing the leader, Nasser Al-Attiyah, by less than 12 minutes. In an interview with the Spanish newspaper Marca he summed up the main results of the first week of the rally-raid and shared his plans for the remaining seven days.
"I’m very glad I even made it to Riyadh," Carlos admitted. "Today I’m in an even better mood than yesterday because, after analyzing everything and listening to the team’s opinion, I understand: it’s a miracle the engine held up and that I was able to get to the stage finish where they fixed everything for me.
Today is a rest day at the Dakar rally; crews are regaining strength, and team mechanics are servicing the vehicles that have already endured colossal stresses over the past week. It is also very important to plan and set the tactics for the second half of the supermarathon.
Carlos Sainz sits fourth in the overall classification, trailing the leader, Nasser Al-Attiyah, by less than 12 minutes. In an interview with the Spanish newspaper Marca he summed up the main results of the first week of the rally-raid and shared his plans for the remaining seven days.
"I’m very glad I even made it to Riyadh," Carlos admitted. "Today I’m in an even better mood than yesterday because, after analyzing everything and listening to the team’s opinion, I understand: it’s a miracle the engine held up and that I was able to get to the stage finish where they fixed everything for me.
Aston Martin intrigues the public and the press
The 2026 season is drawing closer, and very soon everyone will see the new cars and be able to judge the scale of the changes that will come to Formula 1 with the switch to next‑generation machinery.
The factory Audi team, formerly Sauber, has already held a filming day at the Barcelona circuit, although, of course, their RS‑26 was shown only in wide shots and from a distance.
It is no surprise that shortly afterwards some “spy photos” of the new car began circulating online, but they were quickly followed by articles whose authors analyze those images and promptly insist that they are fakes generated by artificial intelligence — albeit rather clumsily.
In the time remaining before the tests in Barcelona and Bahrain begin, teams will be working intensively to refine chassis and power units, trying to win a race against time, of which there is ever less.
The 2026 season is drawing closer, and very soon everyone will see the new cars and be able to judge the scale of the changes that will come to Formula 1 with the switch to next‑generation machinery.
The factory Audi team, formerly Sauber, has already held a filming day at the Barcelona circuit, although, of course, their RS‑26 was shown only in wide shots and from a distance.
It is no surprise that shortly afterwards some “spy photos” of the new car began circulating online, but they were quickly followed by articles whose authors analyze those images and promptly insist that they are fakes generated by artificial intelligence — albeit rather clumsily.
In the time remaining before the tests in Barcelona and Bahrain begin, teams will be working intensively to refine chassis and power units, trying to win a race against time, of which there is ever less.
Plácido Domingo visited the Fernando Alonso Museum in Oviedo.
Plácido Domingo, the world-famous Spanish operatic singer and conductor, visited the Fernando Alonso Museum in Oviedo and shared his impressions on his social media pages.
"With great joy I visited the Fernando Alonso Museum, of our remarkable driver, a two-time world champion, and my guide was his father, José Luis Alonso, a completely charming man. I experienced the strongest emotions; I was overwhelmed with pride!" commented the legendary tenor.
The driver himself was not in Oviedo at the time; Fernando is currently at a training camp in the Dolomites preparing for the upcoming season.
At the end of January Plácido Domingo will turn 85; his artistic career has spanned more than six decades, during which he has performed over 150 operatic roles.
Plácido Domingo, the world-famous Spanish operatic singer and conductor, visited the Fernando Alonso Museum in Oviedo and shared his impressions on his social media pages.
"With great joy I visited the Fernando Alonso Museum, of our remarkable driver, a two-time world champion, and my guide was his father, José Luis Alonso, a completely charming man. I experienced the strongest emotions; I was overwhelmed with pride!" commented the legendary tenor.
The driver himself was not in Oviedo at the time; Fernando is currently at a training camp in the Dolomites preparing for the upcoming season.
At the end of January Plácido Domingo will turn 85; his artistic career has spanned more than six decades, during which he has performed over 150 operatic roles.
Mika Salo: Bottas has an advantage over Pérez
Mika Salo, along with the entire Finnish motorsport community, is delighted that Valtteri Bottas is returning to the World Championship as part of Cadillac F1. At the same time, the former driver is realistic and warned that one should not expect any spectacular results from the new American team yet.
"To be honest, I don't expect much from the new team," Mika told Ilta-Sanomat. "It isn't strong enough to contend for wins, but from time to time in certain situations it will be able to achieve decent results.
Valtteri is in a favorable position in the sense that in 2025 he worked with Mercedes as a reserve and test driver, and he had the opportunity to work behind the wheel of a race car. He is aware of how preparation for the new season went — unlike Sergio Pérez, who spent almost the entire year on a beach in Acapulco.
Mika Salo, along with the entire Finnish motorsport community, is delighted that Valtteri Bottas is returning to the World Championship as part of Cadillac F1. At the same time, the former driver is realistic and warned that one should not expect any spectacular results from the new American team yet.
"To be honest, I don't expect much from the new team," Mika told Ilta-Sanomat. "It isn't strong enough to contend for wins, but from time to time in certain situations it will be able to achieve decent results.
Valtteri is in a favorable position in the sense that in 2025 he worked with Mercedes as a reserve and test driver, and he had the opportunity to work behind the wheel of a race car. He is aware of how preparation for the new season went — unlike Sergio Pérez, who spent almost the entire year on a beach in Acapulco.