F1 News Today: Christian Horner contact revealed as team ‘swoop' for axed star

Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen has revealed that he remains in contact with former boss Christian Horner.

Verstappen shared in his end of season Viaplay interview that it has been 'difficult' for the duo to share the same bond over the phone following Horner's immediate sacking from Red Bull back in July.

Verstappen and Horner had previously built up a great relationship, with the Brit having been the champion's boss since 2016.

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Haas linked with return for axed F1 star and it's thanks to Toyota

Haas F1 team are being linked with a swoop for axed Alpine star Jack Doohan as his future at Alpine remains unconfirmed.

Doohan was displaced from his role at Alpine just six races into his rookie season, sitting out the rest of the 2025 championship entirely.

But with Doohan linked with a move to Super Formula for 2026, a partnership between Haas and Toyota has meant the Australian driver is also being linked with a return to F1 in a reserve driver role.

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FIA forced to make F1 qualifying change for 2026

The FIA have been forced into a qualifying rule change for the 2026 F1 season.

For several years, the format for grand prix qualifying has remained the same, with five drivers being eliminated from Q1, five drivers from Q2, before a shootout between the 10 remaining drivers for pole position.

However, the arrival of two more drivers in 2026 means that format has had to be tweaked, with the FIA Sporting Regulations confirming that, while there will still be three sessions - Q1, Q2 and Q3 - there will be six drivers being eliminated from the first two sessions.

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Ralf Schumacher claps back over 'jealous' Lewis Hamilton claim

Ralf Schumacher has hit back at accusations of being 'jealous' of Lewis Hamilton's success.

In a recent interview with German media, Schumacher responded to a question over whether he is affected by drivers attempting to beat the record of his legendary brother Michael, who won five consecutive drivers' championships.

Michael's record remains unmatched after Verstappen was beaten by Lando Norris in 2025, but his brother Ralf shrugged off suggestions the preservation of the record is meaningful to him, calling claims that he is jealous of the likes of Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton 'complete nonsense'.

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F1 chief had yacht CONFISCATED but you will never guess how he got it back

Bernie Ecclestone has recalled the time infamous F1 team boss Flavio Briatore's yacht was confiscated by authorities, and the unusual route which led to recovering it.

The 95-year-old was speaking to German newspaper Bild last year when he recounted the story, having begun discussing the 'four real friends' he's had in his life.

And there is an incredible story about the way in which they managed to get it back that is rather telling of the life of an F1 supremo.

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I think people are wrong about Max Verstappen

Let’s start this one off with a simple proposition.

He might not have won the championship, but 2025 was the year that Max Verstappen showed he’s finally matured as a racing driver.

That’s something that a lot of pundits said in the second half of last year, with even departing Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko saying of the Dutchman on his way out the door: “He hardly ever has any lapses or outbursts, which were, of course, present in the early stages.”

It’s also...unconvincing.

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Zhou Guanyu signs for Cadillac

Former full-time F1 driver Zhou Guanyu has joined a new team for 2026, days after leaving the position as Ferrari's reserve driver.

Zhou previously raced full-time in F1 with the Sauber team, driving for the Hinwil-based outfit for three full seasons.

However, after a 2024 season in which he only managed to score four points from 24 race weekends, Zhou was axed from the team and snapped up by Ferrari as a third driver, behind Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

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