Formula 1 News of the Week – April 11, 2026
While the Formula 1 grid enjoys a rare five-week break in the calendar, the news cycle has continued at full speed. From Audi’s candid assessment of their first season challenges to Daniel Ricciardo’s reflective interview on the end of his F1 career, and from a major engineering departure at Red Bull to significant Formula 2 calendar changes, there is plenty to catch up on. Additionally, F1.com has looked back at nine drivers who made a rapid rise through the ranks—including current championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Here is everything you need to know as the paddock prepares for the Miami Grand Prix.
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🎯 Binotto Reflects on Audi’s ‘Biggest Challenge’
Mattia Binotto, Head of the Audi F1 project, has given an exclusive interview reflecting on the team’s journey so far and the scale of the challenge facing the German manufacturer in their debut season.
When Binotto took over the reins at Sauber to lead the Swiss team’s transformation into Audi’s works factory operation, he knew the path to the top was steep. Having spent more than three decades at Ferrari—working his way up to lead their engine department and later run the operation as Team Principal—Binotto understands what it takes to build a winning programme. During his time at Ferrari, he witnessed Michael Schumacher win five consecutive World Championships, a run that only came after a 21-year wait since the team’s previous title.
That perspective on patience and long-term development is crucial for understanding Audi’s current position. The team has exceeded many expectations in their first season, with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto showing competitive pace and the power unit performing reliably. But Binotto’s reflections serve as a reminder that building a championship-winning operation from scratch takes time—and that Audi are playing the long game.
😔 Ricciardo Opens Up on F1 Career Coming to an End
Daniel Ricciardo has given a candid and reflective interview about the conclusion of his Formula 1 career, revealing that he is “grateful” Red Bull made the decision to remove him from his Racing Bulls seat for him.
The Australian’s F1 career came to an abrupt end following the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, when he was replaced by Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls for the remainder of that season. It was an emotional conclusion to a journey that began with HRT before joining Toro Rosso for the 2012 campaign. Ricciardo was promoted to the senior Red Bull squad for 2014, where he scored seven Grand Prix victories, before spells at Renault (2019-20) and McLaren (2021-22) followed.
However, it was at McLaren that his career began to show signs of faltering. Ricciardo was unable to match the pace of teammate Lando Norris, and the team opted to part ways with him at the end of 2022, with compatriot Oscar Piastri coming in as his replacement—leading to a first spell on the sidelines.
Returning to Red Bull in a reserve capacity initially, Ricciardo made his comeback to the F1 grid in 2023 with the then-named AlphaTauri team, replacing Nyck de Vries. But his racing return was halted when he broke his hand in a practice crash at Zandvoort—a “nothing accident” that sidelined him for 10 weeks.
“I’ve never really hurt myself racing all these years and I have a silly crash,” Ricciardo reflected. “Is this a bit of a sign? Should I quit while I’m ahead really?”
He pushed through, racing on into 2024, but his final season yielded just three top-10 finishes in 18 races, while teammate Yuki Tsunoda managed seven. The Red Bull family, known for making decisive decisions regarding their driver line-ups, ultimately called time on his career.
Ricciardo admitted that being let go twice in a few years had taken a lot out of him. “I had put a lot of my soul into it and I did feel pretty exhausted by it,” he said. “In reflection, I was grateful that they made the decision for me. I think it would have been hard to be like ‘I’m done’.”
He acknowledged that he had lost “a little bit of something” and that it was okay to admit it. “I knew it was becoming harder for me and I had to dig really deep to pull out a result that I was proud of,” he said. “Last year, my retirement year, I gave myself a lot of time to reflect on my career, to be at peace with it.”
Ricciardo ultimately finished his F1 career with eight Grand Prix wins—seven with Red Bull plus his famous victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix with McLaren—across 257 starts. Following his departure, he is now a Global Ambassador for the Ford Racing Division, a move confirmed in September last year.
🔧 Lambiase to Leave Red Bull for McLaren in 2028
In a significant behind-the-scenes development, Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will leave Red Bull when his current contract expires in 2028, joining McLaren as Chief Racing Officer.
Lambiase—known to many as GP—has worked alongside Verstappen since the Dutchman was promoted to the Red Bull team from Toro Rosso in 2016. The pair have experienced many highs and lows together, including four World Championships and 71 Grand Prix victories.
Starting his F1 career as a data engineer for the Jordan team in 2005, Lambiase became a race engineer during the squad’s guise as Force India before moving to Red Bull in 2015. Initially acting in the same role for Daniil Kvyat, his partnership with Verstappen began in 2016. More recently, he also took on the role of Head of Racing at Red Bull while continuing to race engineer Verstappen.
A Red Bull statement confirmed the departure, noting that Lambiase “is a valued member of the team” and that until his planned departure, he continues in his roles as Head of Racing and as Race Engineer to Verstappen. “The team and he are fully committed to add more success to our strong track record together,” the statement added.
Lambiase is not the only figure from Red Bull to join McLaren in recent times. Rob Marshall became Technical Director, Engineering & Design at McLaren in 2024, while Will Courtenay started in the role of Sporting Director at the beginning of 2026.
When Lambiase joins McLaren, he will take on the role of Chief Racing Officer with a view to freeing up some of the duties currently managed by Team Principal Andrea Stella. A McLaren statement explained that the role already exists within the team’s structure with overall leadership of the race team—duties currently managed by Stella in addition to his role as Team Principal.
McLaren described Lambiase as the “latest hire designed to strengthen and support the talent pool” at the team, reaffirming their long-term commitment to confirming their position as a championship-winning team. The team’s ability to attract top talent like Lambiase, Marshall, and Courtenay, alongside the retention of existing personnel, is described as “a testament to the strategic vision and culture” embodied at McLaren under the leadership of Zak Brown and Andrea Stella, both of whom are also on long-term contracts.
🏁 Miami and Montreal to Host F2 Rounds in 2026
Formula 2 has announced that Miami and Montreal will host Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 calendar, alongside Formula 1—marking the first time the championship will race in North America.
The opportunity for Miami and Montreal to join the F2 calendar has come about following the news that the Sakhir and Jeddah rounds would not take place in April due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East.
The FIA Formula 2 Championship will go to Miami, USA, on May 1-3 for Round 2 of the 2026 season, followed by Montreal, Canada, on May 22-24 as Round 3, before returning to Europe starting with Monte-Carlo, Monaco, on June 4-7.
Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1, welcomed the announcement. “While it has not been possible to go ahead with the two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia this month, and we look forward to being back with our passionate fans there as soon as possible, it is great news for our fans, the drivers and the teams that Formula 2 will be racing in Miami and Montreal,” he said.
“It is going to be fantastic to restart the racing in a few weeks’ time and to have F2 alongside Formula 1 as we return to the US for the first time this season.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem noted that the addition of these new rounds ensures the F2 championship remains strong and balanced. “Bringing the championship to North America via Miami and Montreal for the first time marks an important step in its continued global growth, strengthening the pathway alongside Formula 1 and connecting with new audiences,” he said.
Bruno Michel, FIA Formula 2 CEO, added: “We always love to race in Sakhir and Jeddah, and we wish them well and look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow. We are now going to Miami and Montreal for the second and third rounds of the 2026 season, respectively.
“It was not an easy thing to do, but bringing F2 to North America for the first time is really fantastic. It’s something we have been wanting to do for a long time, and it enables us to ensure we’re back racing as quickly as possible. It will be a great new challenge for our teams and our drivers, who have all welcomed the news with enthusiasm.”
⚡ 9 Drivers Who Shone in F1 After a Rapid Rise
With current championship leader Kimi Antonelli making headlines as the youngest driver to ever head the World Championship standings, F1.com has looked back at nine drivers who made a rapid rise through the ranks and went on to impress in Formula 1.
Kimi Antonelli tops the list. The 19-year-old Italian was spotted by Mercedes during his karting career and signed to their Junior Programme at age 12. He bypassed Formula 3 entirely, moving straight to Formula 2 in 2024, and was promoted to a Mercedes race seat for 2025 after Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari. After a solid but unspectacular rookie campaign, Antonelli is now flourishing in his sophomore outing, converting two pole positions into victories during the opening three rounds and claiming a historic championship lead.
Kimi Raikkonen took an unconventional route. After multiple karting successes and only 23 car races, Raikkonen was given a test by Sauber. Despite critics questioning whether he was ready, the Finn scored a point at his maiden race in Australia. The rest is history: one World Championship, 21 wins, and a host of memorable moments.
Max Verstappen remains the youngest-ever driver to race in Formula 1, making his debut at 17 after bypassing GP2 (now Formula 2). The Dutchman has since claimed four World Championships and 71 wins, becoming one of the sport’s most successful drivers ever.
Fernando Alonso had only a brief stint in single-seaters before being snapped up. A standout performance in International F3000 at Spa-Francorchamps caught the eye of future Minardi boss Paul Stoddart, and Alonso made his debut in 2001. Two World Championships, 32 wins, and 430 Grand Prix starts followed.
Lance Stroll won the Italian F4 Championship in his first year of single-seaters, then dominated Formula 3 European Championship with 14 wins. He jumped straight to Formula 1 in 2017 aged 18, becoming the youngest rookie to stand on the podium at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Valtteri Bottas bypassed GP2 after winning the GP3 title, moving instead into a full-time reserve role for Williams before earning a race seat. He went on to collect 10 wins and 67 podiums, finishing second in the World Championship twice with Mercedes.
Jacques Villeneuve took an unusual route, racing in American CART and winning the Indianapolis 500 before switching to Formula 1. He finished second in the championship in his rookie season and won the title in his sophomore outing in 1997.
Oscar Piastri did not skip a category but his rise was record-breaking: back-to-back championships in Formula Renault, Formula 3, and Formula 2—the only driver in history to achieve that feat. He has since won multiple Grands Prix and fought for the title in 2025.
Arvid Lindblad is the most recent example. Signed to the Red Bull Junior Team in 2021, he progressed from Italian F4 to Formula 3 to Formula 2 in rapid succession, becoming the youngest race winner in both F3 and F2. He made his F1 debut in 2026 with Racing Bulls and scored a points finish in his maiden race.
📊 The State of Play
With the five-week break continuing, the next race on the calendar is the Miami Grand Prix on May 1-3. This will be followed by the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on May 22-24, before the European season begins in Monte-Carlo.
Formula 2 will join the Formula 1 support bill at both Miami and Montreal, marking the championship’s first-ever visit to North America.
On the personnel front, the confirmed departure of Gianpiero Lambiase to McLaren in 2028 represents a significant long-term change to the Red Bull engineering structure. While the move is nearly two years away, it signals McLaren’s continued investment in top talent as they aim to cement their position as a championship-winning team.
🛣️ What’s Next: Miami Awaits
The five-week break is nearing its end. The paddock will reconvene in Miami at the start of May for the first North American race of the 2026 season. With Mercedes leading the championship, Kimi Antonelli making history as the youngest-ever championship leader, and the midfield battle intensely competitive, the Miami Grand Prix promises to deliver more answers about the true pecking order.
All eyes will be on Max Verstappen and Red Bull to see if they can turn their season around, on George Russell to respond to his young teammate’s success, and on Aston Martin to show any signs of recovery from their nightmare start.
📰 Sources:
- 🔗 EXCLUSIVE: Binotto reflects on Audi’s biggest challenge – Formula1.com
- 🔗 Ricciardo opens up on F1 career coming to an end – Formula1.com
- 🔗 Lambiase to leave Red Bull for McLaren in 2028 – Formula1.com
- 🔗 Miami and Montreal to host F2 rounds in 2026 – Formula1.com
- 🔗 9 drivers who shone in F1 after a rapid rise – Formula1.com
