Formula 1 3 Days

Last updated: May 13, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Formula 1 Performance & Team Updates

Red Bull Racing acknowledged taking a "step forward" during the recent Miami Grand Prix, even as Max Verstappen suggested they remain behind the current benchmark teams, reflecting comments made by McLaren boss Andrea Stella regarding the tight competition among four outfits. Despite this perceived gap, Red Bull is targeting the Austrian Grand Prix as the point where the team expects to meet the minimum weight limit, a goal that Verstappen sees as a "light at the end of the tunnel" following a challenging start to the season. Concurrently, Verstappen is preparing for a non-F1 challenge, as he intends to drive the Winward team’s Mercedes GT3 car in the Nurburgring 24 Hours this weekend, an event expected to draw record viewership.

Calendar & Regulatory Outlook

The long-term structure of the Formula 1 calendar faces adjustments, as the cancellations of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia for the 2026 season due to Middle East conflict created a significant one-month gap, though both venues remain candidates to host races that year. Meanwhile, the technical direction of the sport is currently subject to internal conflict, as the debate over future engine regulations is fundamentally a contest for financial control within the championship stretching back five years. Separately, fans have an opportunity to engage directly with veteran driver Valtteri Bottas, as the 10-time Grand Prix winner will participate in an 'You Ask The Questions' interview session with Autosport scheduled for May 21st.