F1 Today | Andretti backs Hamilton for eighth title, Mercedes loses key man

23:03, 14 Jan

byKada Sarkozi

Mario Andretti backs Lewis Hamilton in an exclusive interview with GPblog; Mercedes loses a key man to a rival team. Recap the best stories of the day below!

Hamilton backed for eighth title as Andretti refuses to write F1 star off

Speaking exclusively to GPblog, 1978 F1 world champion Mario Andretti shared his thoughts on Lewis Hamilton's chances of winning an eighth world title.

The American firmly believes that the British driver could achieve great things with Ferrari after a difficult first season.

Read the full story here, and check out our first Andretti article as well!

Mario Andretti - Photo: Race Pictures

Mercedes loses another key man to a rival: top aerodynamicist joins Williams

The German has lost one of its leading aerodynamics specialists. Jan Tomaszweski joined Williams, GPblog can confirm.

Tomaszweski was a highly regarded part of the German team and has now started working for his new employers.

Alpine in Barcelona - What happened there?

After pictures on social media showed Alpine's trucks arriving at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, many assumed that the French team was set to complete its shakedown at the Spanish track.

However, that was not the case. GPblog has learned that the French team has partially arrived at the track to prepare for the first pre-season tests of the 2026 campaign, which will run from 26 to 30 January. Alpine is taking ample time to set up its garages and hospitality after the winter break.

Check out the latest episode of GPblog's F1 Paddock Update here!

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