Daily News 19

Tag: Formula 1

  • Rivals Copying Ferrari’s F1 Aero Designs Is “a good reward” for Maranello

    Rivals Copying Ferrari’s F1 Aero Designs Is “a good reward” for Maranello

    Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur believes rival Formula 1 teams copying the SF-26’s innovative aerodynamic concepts is a “good reward” for the Maranello-based team.

    Ferrari entered the 2026 regulations cycle with a striking car featuring several notable areas of technical innovation. At winter testing in Bahrain, the team added a winglet to the structure behind the exhaust. Internally known as Flick Tail Mode (FTM), the device generates additional rear downforce at the cost of a small increase in drag.

    Ferrari introduced another concept the following day: a rotating wing nicknamed the Macarena wing, which flips 180 degrees between cornering and straight-line configurations.

    Ferrari’s exhaust wing copied by rivals

    The exhaust wing has been widely copied by Ferrari’s rivals, although the Scuderia’s design has proved difficult to fully reverse engineer because Ferrari developed parts of the rear of the SF-26 around the concept. The FIA has since banned the exhaust device for 2027 by closing the relevant loophole in the technical regulations, preventing similar designs from becoming increasingly extreme.

    Red Bull has also adopted the upside-down wing, while McLaren has tested its own version. McLaren began work on the project after seeing Ferrari’s design during testing, whereas Red Bull independently pursued a different concept.

    “We were disappointed not to pick that up as quickly as Ferrari did and then Red Bull,” said McLaren technical director Neil Houldey. “As soon as we saw it, we realised there was an opportunity there.”

    Speaking exclusively to Motorsport.com, Vasseur said Ferrari’s aerodynamicists and designers had received a boost from leading the development race. He has encouraged the team to embrace innovation and take greater risks.

    Asked whether rivals copying Ferrari’s exhaust wing and rear wing represented a compliment to Maranello, Vasseur replied: “I’m not there to have compliments. I’m there because I want to win. The best compliment for me is to go on the podium.

    “But yes, it’s true that for the guys in the team, to see Red Bull coming with the wing, and I think probably Red Bull started before seeing our wings, but the others starting to copy [it], or even the device on the exhaust, for the guys in the team who had the idea it’s a good reward.”

    Ferrari’s SF-26 emerges as a leading F1 chassis

    Despite Ferrari’s well-documented power unit weakness, the SF-26 can arguably be regarded as the strongest chassis in Formula 1. After a series of upgrades, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have both won a grand prix, at Silverstone and Barcelona respectively, while Ferrari sits second in the championship standings.

    The SF-26 was the first Ferrari designed under technical director Loic Serra. He was signed in 2023 but joined the team from Mercedes only at the end of 2024 after an extended gardening leave period.

    Vasseur said Serra’s delayed arrival and the time required to develop the 2026 car illustrated why it takes so long to transform an F1 team.

    “The frustration that you can have sometimes in F1 is that on the technical side the process is mega long, because you have a lot of inertia,” he explained.

    “For example, we started to discuss [with Loic] mid ’23 and he joined the team at the end of 2024. Then he’s focused on the car of ’26, and he’s still recruiting people to help him. It means that this process is about years, when on the other hand we want to get results next week.

    “I’m very, very pleased with the choices that we made, with the set-up that we have, and the collaboration that we have in the team. The team is strong. The collaboration is mega strong.”

  • Toto Wolff Says Kimi Antonelli’s 2026 F1 Progress Is One of the Biggest Surprises of His Career

    Toto Wolff Says Kimi Antonelli’s 2026 F1 Progress Is One of the Biggest Surprises of His Career

    When Toto Wolff met with the Dutch press at Zandvoort a year ago, Kimi Antonelli was enduring the difficult stretch that defined much of his European Formula 1 rookie season. The young Italian had shown flashes of brilliance in Miami and Canada, but those performances were followed by several challenging race weekends.

    At the time, Wolff described Antonelli’s first season in straightforward terms:

    “Sometimes there are brilliant moments that leave our mouths open, and sometimes we are pulling our hair out. But that is all in line with expectations.”

    Many paddock observers expected Antonelli’s 2026 campaign to follow a similar pattern. Instead, the Mercedes driver has combined his natural speed with a major improvement in consistency.

    Antonelli has finished on the podium at every grand prix so far except Barcelona and Silverstone. He also leads the Formula 1 championship by 59 points over Mercedes team-mate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

    Asked by Motorsport.com whether Antonelli’s progress ranked among the biggest surprises of his long career, Wolff gave a clear answer.

    “Definitely,” he said.

    However, Wolff said Hamilton and Max Verstappen had already warned him last year that Antonelli possessed the potential to make such a breakthrough.

    “I think the great ones, they know,” Wolff explained. “You say it needs one to know one. And I think that when you listen to Lewis or to Max last year, they already said that he has the potential.
    “And that’s what we felt in the team too, looking at his previous records in karting and the junior formulas.
    “Nevertheless, to come out after the winter and just nailing it pretty much every single race is one of the big surprises in my professional racing career.”

    From ‘parachuted into F1’ to no longer being a ‘deer in the headlights’

    Wolff believes Antonelli’s rapid development is the result of more than technical factors. Although the 2026 car may suit his driving style better than the previous ground-effect machinery, Wolff also pointed to the driver’s personal development and ability to process information.

    “When I analyse it and ask myself what are the reasons that he had such a good reputation in the junior formulas and karting, I think it’s his processing power.
    “I think he just needed the winter to process it. Why was it good? Why was it bad? What do I need to do?”

    Wolff also credited the greater stability within Mercedes. Antonelli entered the new season in a familiar environment, with less uncertainty surrounding the travel, accommodation, team procedures and circuits.

    “And then to come into an environment that he already knew. He knew that flying to Melbourne would look that way. He knew the hotel. He knew the set-up. He comes to the track, and everything is as last year.
    “And that means that it just comes down to driving and preparation, rather than being a deer in front of the headlights, like in 2025, thinking what’s happening? But yeah, it’s still one of the very nice surprises.”

    The same factors help explain Antonelli’s inconsistent 2025 rookie season, Wolff said. The combination of established technical regulations, limited experience and intense external pressure created a difficult introduction to Formula 1.

    “What happened to Kimi last year is just what we predicted,” Wolff added.
    “You’re being parachuted into Formula 1. He was 18 under a set of regulations that was very mature. Most of the drivers were racing those cars for a long time and Kimi didn’t know some of the circuits.
    “And then there was this avalanche of media requests and pressure. Suddenly everyone who was part of your journey felt they needed to be with you or close to you. The demands were enormous.”

    Kimi Antonelli’s 2025 struggles were “what we predicted”, the Mercedes boss said.

    The 54-year-old Austrian said he faced widespread criticism for placing Antonelli in a Mercedes seat so early in his career. Wolff compared the decision with Helmut Marko’s choice to give Max Verstappen an early Formula 1 opportunity at Red Bull, saying both men had seen enough talent to justify taking the risk.

    “Everyone and their dog said to me that it was too early, that I shouldn’t have put him into Mercedes and that I should have done a smaller team.
    “Spa was probably one of the worst moments, but for me, I stood strong with him because I felt that it was exactly the year we needed,” Wolff said.
    “We’re only making the assessment after the second year. And the way he’s come out of the blocks this year is a surprise to everyone, and yes, to me as well.”

    Beyond Antonelli’s speed and performance on track, Wolff said the driver’s enthusiasm is now having a positive effect across the Mercedes team.

    “He is authentic, very open-minded, not political at all. He completely lacks that negative kind of thing. For him, it’s just all about performance on the track.
    “And he’s made all the English mechanics hug each other now, which is also new for us!”

  • How Ferrari Can “push until the end” With F1 2026 Upgrades

    How Ferrari Can “push until the end” With F1 2026 Upgrades

    Ferrari will continue developing its 2026 Formula 1 car until the end of the season, team principal Fred Vasseur has confirmed, dismissing suggestions that cost-cap restrictions could force the team to reduce its upgrade rate.

    The team has introduced a steady stream of incremental updates for its SF-26, helping Ferrari remain second in the constructors’ championship and enabling both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to win a grand prix this season.

    Ferrari’s development programme will continue at its home race in Monza this weekend. The team is expected to bring smaller aerodynamic improvements, along with its second engine update following the latest ADUO ranking.

    Ferrari maintains its 2026 F1 upgrade plan

    The performance gap between teams has narrowed significantly, particularly at circuits where the 2026 power units have less influence. Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari were separated by just one tenth of a second in sprint qualifying at Zandvoort, while three tenths has regularly been the difference between pole position and the third row of the grid.

    Teams that can continue adding performance late in the season therefore retain an opportunity to make substantial progress in the championship. However, they must balance wind-tunnel development with cost-cap restrictions and the resources needed for the 2027 car project.

    Speaking exclusively to Motorsport.com, Ferrari chief Vasseur said the Scuderia had no concerns about the cost cap and would continue its aggressive development programme.

    “The strategy is that we will continue to push until the end,” Vasseur said. “We have a plan. We have no issue with the cost cap, we are following the plan and will continue like this.

    “It’s true that you have different strategies. You have McLaren coming each three or four races with a big package on the car, and we are more trying to bring upgrades each race but much smaller. But at the end, in terms of cost, it’s the same.

    “What is challenging, probably, is that we are still developing with 11 races to go, and I think a crash like Max [Verstappen] in Zandvoort is huge in terms of cost cap [for Red Bull]. It’s difficult to anticipate the number of crashes that you could have until the end of the season.”

    Ferrari explains its frequent smaller upgrades

    Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull have all introduced significant updates this season, while Mercedes has fallen behind in development. Mercedes’ next major package is scheduled for October’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, with rival teams having closed the gap in recent weeks and months.

    Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said the team “hasn’t got the money to put developments on the car” beyond its current plans. However, he also suggested Ferrari and other rivals could eventually have to slow their development after bringing so many new parts to the track.

    Vasseur declined to assess Mercedes’ strategy without a full understanding of its approach. He did, however, explain how Ferrari has efficiently delivered such a high number of upgrades.

    “I don’t want to speak about Mercedes because I don’t understand, but with McLaren it’s a bit linked to how you develop in the wind tunnel and the capacity of production,” the Frenchman said. “We found our best approach by almost bringing upgrades each race. One week it’s mechanical, one week it’s aero, and we are continuing like this. It’s fitting with our capacity of production, with our wind tunnel capacity, and it’s going well.

    “Now, if McLaren want to do things differently, it’s because they have good reasons to do it. The set-up of the teams is different; the configuration is different. But at the end of the day, over a season we are almost following each other in terms of development.”

  • Ferrari Reveals Michael Schumacher-Inspired Livery for Home Grand Prix at Monza

    Ferrari Reveals Michael Schumacher-Inspired Livery for Home Grand Prix at Monza

    Ferrari has unveiled a special one-off livery for its home race at Monza, paying tribute to seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher.

    The tribute marks 30 years since Schumacher joined the Scuderia and 20 years since his final victory for Ferrari, which came at the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix.

    Schumacher won five of his seven world titles with the Maranello-based team and claimed five victories at Monza in Ferrari red, in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006.

    Ferrari’s Schumacher tribute at Monza

    Ferrari had already revealed bespoke race suits for current drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The suits feature Schumacher’s logo and the seven stars he wore on his helmet to represent his seven world titles.

    On Tuesday morning, Ferrari followed up by showcasing a Schumacher-inspired car livery, again highlighting the tribute details alongside its usual 2026 design.

    Ferrari said this week’s wide-ranging tributes were inspired by Schumacher’s “impact on the racing world” and “his enduring mindset”.

  • Ferrari Unveils Michael Schumacher-Inspired F1 Livery for Italian Grand Prix

    Ferrari Unveils Michael Schumacher-Inspired F1 Livery for Italian Grand Prix

    Ferrari will run a special Michael Schumacher tribute livery at its home Formula 1 race in Monza, marking the 30th anniversary of the German driver’s first season with the team.

    The Ferrari SF-26 driven by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will feature an even redder appearance, with the white section removed from the engine cover. Both drivers’ number decals will use a retro font, while Schumacher’s signature will appear between the numbers and title sponsor HP’s logo.

    The car will also feature gold detailing on the BBS wheel rims and Schumacher’s trademark white stars on its nose. Hamilton, Leclerc and Ferrari’s entire trackside team will wear specially designed clothing for the occasion.

    Ferrari to display Schumacher’s iconic cars at Monza

    The tribute livery draws inspiration from the F310 that Schumacher first raced for Ferrari in 1996. That car will be displayed throughout the Monza weekend alongside his final Ferrari, the 248 F1 from 2006, and the F2002, which became Schumacher’s and Ferrari’s most dominant car.

    Schumacher’s former team-mate Rubens Barrichello and close friend Sebastian Vettel, who also drove for Ferrari, will drive the F2002 around Monza on Saturday and Sunday for a lap of honour celebrating his legacy.

    “Michael’s time at Ferrari was about much more than just wins and titles: his relentless pursuit of perfection, attention to detail, discipline and ability to be a true team player helped create a culture that became one of the defining characteristics of the Scuderia,” the team stated.

    “Thirty years later, that culture remains part of the way Ferrari approaches competition today. Monza is therefore the ideal place to celebrate this legacy, not just by looking back at what was achieved, but by recognising values that remain part of Ferrari today.”

    Schumacher is Ferrari’s most experienced driver, having started 179 races for the team between 1996 and 2006. The 57-year-old German is also Ferrari’s most decorated driver, winning five of his seven world championships with the Maranello-based team between 2000 and 2004.

    During Ferrari’s highly successful era under Jean Todt and Ross Brawn, Schumacher recorded 72 wins and 58 pole positions for the team.

    Source: www.motorsport.com

  • Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx: A Friendship That Has Endured for Nearly 60 Years

    Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx: A Friendship That Has Endured for Nearly 60 Years

    Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx built two of the most distinguished careers in motorsport history, achieving success across Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, endurance racing and rally raid. Yet their enduring friendship may be just as remarkable as their racing records.

    When the two legends joined Motorsport.com for a special double interview, the video call felt like a reunion between old friends. Andretti and Ickx first met at the 1968 Mexican Grand Prix and later became team-mates at Ferrari in both Formula 1 and the World SportsCar Championship. Nearly six decades later, their admiration and affection remain as strong as ever.

    “You have to explain to me how you stay in such good condition, because you look good,” Ickx said of Andretti.

    “I understand, yesterday you won [IndyCar’s Freedom 250] and you finished on the podium. You have many reasons to smile. We hope at Genesis to be like you.

    “You are amazing, my dear Mario. It brings me some emotions to think that what we did more than almost 60 years ago – yes, almost 60 years ago.

    “You are the most famous driver – the celebrated, the iconic Mario Andretti. I had the fortune to share with you, it was yesterday, I believe, 1972, in a Ferrari 312 PB. So thank you very much.”

    Clearly touched by Ickx’s praise, Andretti replied:

    “No, thank you. You were the best.”

    Endurance racing brought Andretti and Ickx together

    Jacky Ickx, Mario Andretti, Ferrari 312 PB
    Photo by: Rainer Schlegelmilch / Getty Images

    The mutual respect between Andretti and Ickx helps explain why they became such a formidable partnership. They first shared a garage in 1971, when Ferrari paired them across a dual programme in Formula 1 and sportscar racing.

    Reliability limited Ferrari’s results in F1, but both drivers claimed a victory. Andretti, who was not competing full-time, drove Ferrari’s 312B to victory on his debut outing for Enzo’s team.

    Their partnership flourished in sportscar racing. Their similar physical dimensions simplified the work for Ferrari’s designers, while their trust and understanding made them exceptionally effective as team-mates. Ickx even allowed Andretti to qualify the car according to the American driver’s preference.

    Ferrari dominated the 1972 season, with Andretti and Ickx winning four of the 11 races they contested together. Their victories came at Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Brands Hatch. Ferrari skipped Le Mans after deciding that its Formula 1-derived engine was not suitable for a 24-hour race; with the Daytona event reduced to six hours that year, Andretti and Ickx would otherwise have been among the leading contenders at La Sarthe.

    Andretti said sharing a car in endurance racing brought the pair closer and laid the foundation for a friendship that has endured ever since.

    “Long-distance racing taught me a lot,” he said. “You’re sharing the moment with someone else to do the same thing.

    “There’s no bigger pleasure when you’re in victory lane together with your partner. The ones that have accomplished the same thing for you – and with you.

    “We all depend on each other to minimise the mistakes – and make no mistakes – to be able to bring it home.

    “You’re sharing your victory in a different way when you’re driving in long-distance races. We’re both in the same seat during the race at one time or another and we’re both experiencing exactly the same thing. That’s something that brings you together.

    “Jacky, specifically, from the long-distance racing factor, I did most of my long-distance races with him. That’s why I said he’s my best buddy, my best team-mate.”

    Andretti and Ickx remain connected by motorsport

    Following his Ferrari career, Ickx became one of the most successful sportscar drivers ever. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans six times, along with the Spa 24 Hours and Bathurst 1000, before moving into rally raid and winning the Dakar Rally on his third attempt.

    Andretti also achieved nearly every major goal he set for himself. His victories included the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500, while he also won the Formula 1 and IndyCar championships.

    Although both drivers have retired from active competition, their passion for motorsport remains undiminished in their 80s. Andretti, patriarch of one of America’s biggest racing dynasties, works as a director for Cadillac’s new F1 team. Ickx is a brand ambassador for Genesis Magma Racing and recently drove the GMR-001 at Paul Ricard.

    Their lives are now divided by geography, with Andretti based in Pennsylvania and Ickx spending much of his time in Africa. That distance has done little to weaken their relationship. They continue to follow each other’s careers and want to see the other succeed.

    “I’ll be watching with interest,” said Andretti. “I wish you guys all the very best. Whatever your endeavours are, maintain your objectives and always go for the sky.”

    “I wish you to enjoy life in your projects,” Ickx adds. “We are in very good company. We are lucky to still be active, to be in good health.

    “We are very lucky, Mario. I keep in mind these days the years we have shared together, where we have shared long-distance racing.

    “Of course, I follow you in your championships, F1, IndyCar, NASCAR, Midget.”

    Mario Andretti, Jacky Ickx, Ferrari 312 PB
    Photo by: David Phipps / Sutton Images via Getty Images

    As the interview ended, Andretti and Ickx said goodbye. They could have spent the hour revisiting their greatest victories, but the conversation repeatedly returned to the time they shared both on and off the track.

    “You have been a real friend and such a talented driver,” concludes Ickx. “I was tempted to say I love you, but you’re not supposed to say that.

    “Mario, stay safe, please,” he adds. “Stay safe. And thank you very much for your friendship.”

  • 5 Drivers Most Likely to Win the Italian Grand Prix

    5 Drivers Most Likely to Win the Italian Grand Prix

    We examine the betting market to identify the five drivers most likely to win at Monza.

    Source: www.formula1.com

  • Kimi Antonelli Reveals How He Is Staying Grounded in the 2026 F1 Title Fight

    Kimi Antonelli Reveals How He Is Staying Grounded in the 2026 F1 Title Fight

    Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli has revealed how he is staying grounded while competing for the 2026 world title.

    In just his second F1 season, Antonelli became the youngest driver to lead the championship standings after consecutive victories in China and Japan. He added four more Grand Prix wins before the summer break, putting the 20-year-old Italian at the centre of the title battle early in his career.

    Antonelli currently leads his Mercedes team-mate George Russell and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton by 59 points.

    Antonelli remains focused in F1 title fight

    During the summer break, Antonelli said he and his family celebrated his achievements without allowing the championship lead to dominate their lives.

    “We watched some of the races on TV while eating dinner. We still talked about F1, but it was in a nice way, just reminding us what we achieved,” Antonelli told F1.com about his summer break.

    The Mercedes driver said maintaining perspective would be crucial as the season progresses.

    “You need to be happy about it, but at the same time not get carried away from it and still maintain focus. The job is not done yet. We’re only halfway through and there is still so much that needs to happen and so much to be achieved.”

    Tennis star Roger Federer attends the Pirelli Hot Laps event. Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

    Roger Federer advice helps Antonelli relax

    Antonelli also discussed advice from tennis great Roger Federer, who encouraged him to “always be yourself and be able to enjoy it as well”. The Formula 1 driver said that guidance had helped him adopt a more relaxed approach behind the wheel.

    “When you understand that you also have to enjoy it as well, it makes the difference, because it helps you to, I feel like at least in my case, drive more relaxed, enjoy the driving more, feel more the car, and then the performance just comes much easier,” Antonelli continued.

    He contrasted that mindset with the pressure of forcing performance and explained how finding positives in difficult moments can support his development.

    “Instead of when you’re chasing it, and you’re driving tense, it’s a big difference. But of course, trying to be yourself and always focusing on the goal and always also try to see the positive, even in the bad situations. Even when something goes bad, there’s always a positive. That can be found, and that can help you to grow.”

  • George Russell “has to win” Italian GP to Keep F1 Title Hopes Alive, Says Former Driver

    George Russell “has to win” Italian GP to Keep F1 Title Hopes Alive, Says Former Driver

    George Russell must win the Italian Grand Prix to keep his Formula 1 championship hopes alive, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer has warned.

    Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Palmer assessed the title battle after a dramatic Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. McLaren’s Lando Norris won in dominant fashion, finishing ahead of Mercedes teammates Kimi Antonelli and Russell.

    Antonelli is set to receive an engine penalty at his home race in Monza, creating an opportunity for Russell to reduce the gap in the championship standings. However, Palmer believes a strong result for Antonelli could put the title beyond Russell’s reach.

    “He could win it because the way that he’s been driving, I think Mercedes are the sure-fire favourites for Monza still,” Palmer said of Antonelli. “But when you reference Max’s comeback wins, that’s largely against Checo, isn’t it? Who was a lot further away from Max’s pace than George is of Kimi’s. And George was better in Zandvoort.

    “I know he still didn’t put the race together. He had two bad first laps that set him apart. And his race pace wasn’t quite as good as Kimi’s either. But I don’t think in a clean race Kimi will come from 10th or 11th to beat George if George is anywhere near form from pole position.

    Palmer expects strategy, safety cars, engine performance and reliability to play important roles at Monza, where Russell will need to capitalize on any advantage created by Antonelli’s grid penalty.

    “With strategy differences, safety car involvements, it’s going to be tough on components across the board. Power units are going to be singing. Reliability’s not going to be easy at Monza.

    “If Kimi wins in Monza with a grid penalty, he is champion. I’ll go as far as saying that. It’ll be such a crushing blow. He will have won his home race with a load of overtaking, huge aplomb, and it will suck the life out of George to not take points out of him in Monza. George has to win this.”

    Antonelli currently leads the Formula 1 standings with 242 points. Russell is second on 183 points, level with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

  • Lewis Hamilton Reveals Ferrari F40 Restoration Project After Selling His Entire Car Collection

    Lewis Hamilton Reveals Ferrari F40 Restoration Project After Selling His Entire Car Collection

    Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he has acquired a rare Ferrari F40, fulfilling a lifelong dream. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion shared the news alongside photos of the classic supercar undergoing what appears to be an engine-out restoration.

    “My very own F40. This is the car of my dreams and has been for as long as I can remember,” Hamilton wrote. “As a kid I dreamt of having one. When I joined Ferrari last year I made sure to have one with me on my first day at Maranello. That’s how much it means to me.

    “These cars are works of art and incredibly rare, so when I found this one, covered in dust after being sat in a garage for over thirty years, I knew I had to bring her home.

    “First to Maranello, where the master engineers and mechanics at the factory worked for weeks to bring her back to life. Massive thank you to everyone who had a hand in this project. This has truly been a dream come true.”

    The Ferrari driver also hinted that he could share a behind-the-scenes look at the restoration process, potentially through his YouTube channel.

    “I can’t wait to share more with you all. Stay tuned…” he teased.

    Hamilton’s post, shared on Monday 31 August, had already received more than 278,000 likes.

    Hamilton had been searching for a Ferrari F40

    The 41-year-old driver confirmed in 2025 that he had sold his entire car collection, although he said at the time that he was still hoping to acquire a Ferrari F40.

    Speaking ahead of the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Hamilton confirmed that he had parted ways with his impressive collection. It was understood to have included a Pagani Zonda 760 LH, a Mercedes-AMG Project One, a Ferrari LaFerrari and a 1966 Shelby Cobra 427, among other cars.

    “I don’t have any cars anymore,” he said at the time. “I don’t have any cars, so I got rid of all my cars. I’m more into art nowadays. If I was going to get a car, it would be the F40. But that’s a nice piece of art.”