A few days ago, Jacques Villeneuve sparked a debate about what could be the best engine on the 2026 grid, with many viewing Mercedes as the favorite for the new regulations, given their dominance from 2014 to 2021 during the hybrid era.

However, according to the 1997 world champion, the Brackley team will not start the season with the same huge advantage as back then, as the other teams won’t be standing still this time.

The same question was put to Juan Pablo Montoya, who on the MontoyAS podcast raised a series of questions: “Much of what happened—because, as we were talking the other day, it’s like this: how are you going to know where the other teams are? How do you know where Audi will be? Where Ford will be? Where Ferrari will be?''

According to the former Formula 1 driver, two manufacturers could have an advantage at the start of the next championship: ''Personally, I’m sure it will come down to Mercedes and Ferrari—whoever comes out with the better engine.''

Daniel Ricciardo has finally lifted the lid on the story behind his famous ‘honey badger’ nickname – and this revelation may help explain the reason behind his F1 downfall.

The Australian first joined the grid with backmarker HRT in 2011 before stints at Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren and, most recently, Racing Bulls.

Between 2014 and 2018, Ricciardo established himself as one of the sport’s most exciting talents with daring overtakes and fearless racecraft, traits that earned him the ‘honey badger’ tag, precisely.

Speaking at Ray White’s Connect conference, Ricciardo explained how the animal became his alter ego: ''Honey badgers are cuddly and cute, super good-looking,” he laughed.

“But when something takes what’s theirs, they fight back, and I think that was sort of like my alter ego when I got behind the wheel.”