More\u00a0Drive to Survive snippets and social media clips make up Wednesday\u2019s F1 news, as we begin to look ahead to the new season starting.<\/p>\n
Red Bull discussed the new power unit rules, footage of a frightening crash for Williams\u2019 reserve drive emerged, as did a fan-filmed clip from Lando Norris\u2019 night talking through his season at the Hammersmith Apollo.<\/p>\n
Red Bull wants \u2018gloves-off\u2019 PU development battle<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Red Bull Powertrains\u2019 technical director, Ben Hodgkinson, spoke about the rate at which teams can develop their power units, and what he would really love to see if a \u201cgloves-off fight\u201d without restriction.<\/p>\n Power unit manutactureres [PUMs] are operating under a budget cap from the 2026 season, and will be able to upgrade their machinery at certain intervals, with the new ADUO system giving any lagging manufacturer the opportunity to catch up.<\/p>\n If he had his way, though, Hodgkinson would like to see each PUM fight as hard as it can without restriction.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0Red Bull boss calls for \u2018gloves-off\u2019 F1 2026 engine fight<\/a><\/p>\n Norris quips Hamilton title tally \u2018should have been eight\u2019<\/p>\n Lando Norris, with tongue most likely firmly in cheek, was filmed at an event looking back at his title-winning season at the Hammersmith Apollo.<\/p>\n While talking about Lewis Hamilton and his belief the seven-time champion would be back to form this season, the mere mention of being a \u2018seven-time world champion\u2019 brought chuckles and shouts of \u2018eight\u2019 from the London crowd, to which Norris responded \u201cshould have been eight.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0Lando Norris quips Lewis Hamilton \u2018should have been eight-time champion\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Lucky escape in frightening crash for Williams reserve<\/p>\n Williams reserve driver, Luke Browning, was involved in a high-speed crash at Suzuka while testing for the new season in Super Formula.<\/p>\n Around a wet track, onboard footage showed Browning suffer a huge snap of oversteer mid-corner, potentially from aquaplaning, before careering into the barriers and taking to the air, eventually landing upside down on the other side of the catch fence.<\/p>\n Williams confirmed to PlanetF1.com their junior driver was okay after the incident. Another crash where we thank our lucky stars for the halo.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0Williams reserve escapes high-speed Suzuka crash at 130R<\/a><\/p>\n Bearman: Haas looked at \u2018heavy\u2019 Ferrari wing solution<\/p>\n Ferrari\u2019s innovative rear wing solution raised a lot of eyebrows in its five laps on track, and Haas driver Ollie Bearman revealed the team looked at something similar.<\/p>\n However, the weight implications of adding the rotating rear wing assembly is what made his team decide against it.<\/p>\n Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed it was undecided whether or not that rear wing would run in Australia, or a more traditional solution.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0Bearman explains why Haas rejected Ferrari\u2019s \u2018heavy\u2019 rear wing gamble<\/a><\/p>\n Jack Doohan reveals frightening death threats<\/p>\n Former Alpine driver Jack Doohan revealed that he needed an armed escort at last year\u2019s Miami Grand Prix, over threatening messages he received online.<\/p>\n Doohan was subject to social media abuse in the run-up to the race, as pressure grew on him to maintain his seat while Franco Colapinto was waiting in the wings.<\/p>\n Scarily, he reveals in the new series of\u00a0Drive to Survive that \u201cserious death threats\u201d came his way, prompting a police escort.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0\u2018My limbs will be cut off\u2019 \u2013 Jack Doohan was forced to enter Miami paddock under armed guard<\/a><\/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