As anticipation continues to build over the season ahead, let\u2019s bring you up to speed with the latest F1 news.<\/p>\n
Sergio Perez has been discussing his time at a Red Bull team which he claims exists for Max Verstappen, the driver who David Coulthard ranks ahead of Lewis Hamilton in his World Champion shootout, but does not consider the absolute greatest of all time. All this and more, so it\u2019s time for a closer look.<\/p>\n
Perez makes Max Verstappen, Christian Horner and Red Bull claims<\/p>\n
One of the drivers to fall victim in that Red Bull second seat, Perez claims that then-team boss Christian Horner told him from the very start: \u201cThis project was created for Max.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Perez went on to allege that whether he was faster than Verstappen, or slower, it was \u201ca problem\u201d.<\/p>\n
Read more \u2013 Sergio Perez talks Verstappen, Horner and Red Bull after \u2018hardest job in F1\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Max Verstappen beats Lewis Hamilton, but Senna the GOAT<\/p>\n 13-time grand prix winner David Coulthard was left with a tough choice, when asked to choose between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in a World Champion shootout.<\/p>\n He went with Verstappen over Hamilton, yet, F1 icon Ayrton Senna was picked by Coulthard as the GOAT.<\/p>\n Read more \u2013 Verstappen vs Hamilton: Coulthard chooses his GOAT in World Champion shootout<\/a><\/p>\n The Mika Hakkinen joke that went wrong<\/p>\n Speaking of Senna, his former McLaren teammate, Mika Hakkinen, recalled a joke he made which went down like a lead balloon with the Brazilian.<\/p>\n Hakkinen made the joke after out-qualifying Senna at Estoril in 1993, his \u2018I had the balls!\u2019 quip not well-received at all.<\/p>\n Read more \u2013\u00a0How a Mika Hakkinen joke backfired and left Ayrton Senna fuming<\/a><\/p>\n Mercedes addresses F1 2026 engine talk<\/p>\n Skip back to present time, and Mercedes has emerged as a popular pick to start Formula 1\u2019s new regulatory era strong.<\/p>\n Only, no firm evidence exists to support that theory, with teams and manufacturers in the dark over the strength of their rivals until the track action begins.<\/p>\n As such, Mercedes engine chief Hywel Thomas was left questioning: \u201cGod knows how the rest of the paddock knows\u201d the power which Mercedes will rock up with in Melbourne.<\/p>\n Read more \u2013 \u2018God knows how the paddock knows\u2019: Mercedes react to F1 2026 favourites tag<\/a><\/p>\n Haas makes VF-26 launch change<\/p>\n Soon enough, teams will begin taking the covers off their F1 2026 creations.<\/p>\n We will see Haas\u2019 VF-26 sooner than originally planned. The team has brought its launch date forward to avoid congestion with other teams.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n