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Max Verstappen's future in Formula One has been thrown into doubt after his long-time engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, announced that he will be leaving Red Bull to join McLaren in 2028. Lambiase has been a crucial part of Verstappen's team since 2016, playing a key role in his four world championships.The news is a significant blow to Red Bull, as Lambiase's departure comes at a time when Verstappen has been expressing disenchantment with the current F1 regulations. The Dutch driver has been vocal about his frustration with the focus on energy management, which he believes has made the racing less enjoyable.Verstappen's contract with Red Bull runs until 2028, but performance-related escape clauses could allow him to exit before then. The team has been going through a period of change, with several key figures leaving, including Christian Horner as team principal, Adrian Newey as chief designer, and Jonathan Wheatley as sporting director.Lambiase's move to McLaren will see him take on a role supporting the team principal, Andrea Stella. The British-Italian engineer has been a close ally of Verstappen, and their partnership has been highly successful. Their radio interactions during races have been closely followed, showcasing a strong professional and personal bond.The departure of Lambiase and other key figures has raised questions about the future of Red Bull and Verstappen's commitment to the team. With the current regulations and the competitiveness of the Red Bull car, Verstappen's future in F1 is uncertain.

Formula One has endured a turbulent opening to the season under its new regulations. The sport's governing body, the FIA, is now proposing changes to address safety concerns and driver dissatisfaction. Nikolas Tombazis, the single-seater director for the FIA, is at the heart of the process and is confident that F1 can adapt successfully.Tombazis acknowledges that the new rules have provoked a strong reaction, with some drivers expressing discontent. Oliver Bearman's 190mph crash at Suzuka has raised concerns about the safety of the new regulations, and the FIA is taking a cautious approach to making changes. "Every accident at high speed is always a little bit of a shock," Tombazis says.The FIA is discussing potential changes with teams, powerunit manufacturers, and the commercial rights holder. Meetings are scheduled for April 20 and May 3 to decide on changes to the regulations, which could include adjustments to the parameters of energy recovery and deployment. Tombazis emphasizes that safety is the top priority and that the goal is to find a balance between safety and competitiveness.The new regulations have been a topic of debate, with some drivers, such as Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, expressing dissatisfaction with the current formula. The FIA is working to address these concerns while also ensuring that the sport remains safe and competitive. "We're not expecting people to sugarcoat their comments," Tombazis says, but he is hopeful that a broad consensus can be reached.

Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, secured a historic victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, becoming the youngest driver in Formula One history to lead the world championship standings at just 19 years old.Antonelli's win was marked by a remarkable recovery from a poor start, where he initially dropped to sixth place. However, a mid-race safety car, triggered by a crash involving Haas driver Ollie Bearman, allowed Antonelli to gain a crucial advantage. He capitalized on the opportunity by pitting immediately after the safety car deployment, emerging at the head of the pack.As the race concluded, Antonelli expressed his delight, telling his team, "The pace was unbelievable today." He crossed the finish line ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, with his teammate George Russell finishing fourth.This victory marks Antonelli's second consecutive win, following his first Grand Prix victory two weeks prior in China. The 19-year-old Italian's championship lead after just three races underscores his impressive performance in the early stages of the season.Other notable performances included Lando Norris of McLaren in fifth place, and Max Verstappen, who finished eighth after starting from 11th on the grid. The Formula One season will now take an extended break until the Miami Grand Prix on May 3, with the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races canceled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Max Verstappen, the Dutch Formula One driver and four-time world champion, expressed his frustration with his Red Bull car after qualifying 11th for the Japanese Grand Prix. The car has been struggling with new regulations that split power 50-50 between conventional and electrical sources.Verstappen described the car as 'undriveable', citing issues with turning mid-corner and oversteering on entry. 'The car never turns mid-corner, but at the same time this weekend, it's just oversteering a lot on entry. It's really difficult, unpredictable,' he told Sky Sports F1.In contrast, Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes secured pole position with a fastest lap of 1min 28.778sec, followed by teammate George Russell and McLaren's Oscar Piastri. Antonelli, 19, became the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history two weeks ago in China and has now secured back-to-back poles.Russell, who leads the early championship standings, was 0.298sec behind Antonelli and acknowledged struggling with his car during qualifying. 'I've been really comfortable with the car this whole weekend, it's just in qualifying something didn't quite feel right,' he said.The Japanese Grand Prix promises to be an exciting race, with Mercedes showing dominant form in dry conditions at Suzuka. Verstappen, who has won at Suzuka for the past four years, will look to bounce back from a difficult start to the season.

Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, continuing Mercedes' dominant start to the new Formula One season. Antonelli's impressive lap time of 1 minute 28.778 seconds edged out his teammate George Russell by just under three-tenths of a second.The result marks Mercedes' third consecutive front-row lockout, with their nearest competitor, McLaren's Oscar Piastri, over three-tenths of a second behind. Charles Leclerc took fourth for Ferrari, while Lewis Hamilton qualified in sixth.The performance is a significant boost for Antonelli, who currently trails Russell by just four points in the drivers' championship. His consistent pace and confidence in the car have made him a strong contender in the title fight this season.In a surprising turn of events, Max Verstappen was knocked out in Q2, managing only 11th place with his teammate Isack Hadjar qualifying in eighth. Verstappen's struggles with the Red Bull car were evident, with him describing it as 'completely undriveable' during qualifying.Antonelli's pole position sets him up for a strong challenge in the Japanese Grand Prix, but he can expect competition from the fast-starting Ferraris of Hamilton and Leclerc.

Renowned Formula One journalist Giles Richards was ejected from a Max Verstappen press conference at the Japanese Grand Prix, a rare occurrence in the sport. The incident stemmed from a question Richards asked Verstappen at the end of last season regarding an incident involving Verstappen and George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix.Verstappen had collided with Russell's car during the Spanish Grand Prix, resulting in a 10-second penalty that dropped him from fifth to 10th place and cost him nine points. When Richards asked Verstappen about the incident during the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen took umbrage, suggesting Richards was biased and only focused on negative aspects of his performance.Richards recounts that when he encountered Verstappen at the Japanese Grand Prix, the Dutch driver refused to speak until Richards left the press conference. Despite attempts to clarify the situation, Verstappen remained resolute, telling Richards to 'get out'.The incident has sparked a heated debate about driver-journalist interactions in Formula One, with many colleagues expressing shock and concern for Richards' wellbeing. While Richards admits to feeling uncomfortable about being the story, he emphasizes the importance of asking difficult questions in his line of work.Richards has covered Formula One for over a decade and has interviewed Verstappen on multiple occasions, describing their interactions as generally friendly and good-humored. He hopes that he and Verstappen can have a better relationship in the future.