F1 Today | F1 drivers' GPDA appeal and encouragement for Verstappen ahead of 2026

22:01, 19 Aug

Updated: 22:20, 19 Aug

byLuke-John Buckle

Missed out on August 19's Formula 1 news? Catch up here with the top stories of today!

Encouragement for Red Bull ahead of 2026

Red Bull have endured an underwhelming season in Formula 1 so far as reigning world champion Max Verstappen has won just two races this year.

The Dutchman fended off both McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Japan, while a bold move at the start gave him victory in Imola.

The Austrian team have been left floundering as McLaren continue to set the pace and march towards their second consecutive Constructors' Championship.

There will be a change within the Red Bull team for 2026 as they will not race with Honda power and instead compete with engines developed in collaboration with Red Bull Powertrains and Ford.

The American giants are returning to F1 for the first time since 2004, and F1 race winner Juan Pablo Montoya is optimistic about the engines prospects.

"On the engine side Red Bull have the right people,” the former F1 driver commented during an interview on a gambling site."The question is: have they come together in time to build the engine?

"I think they might surprise people with the power unit and that it might not be as bad as people think it is.”

F1 drivers' GPDA appeal

Karting is a vital step on the road to Formula 1 and acts as an entry-level for aspiring racing drivers to hone the skills in racecraft and car control.

The 20 drivers in Formula 1 have made a joint appeal about concerns within the karting world.

"They come up with floors, and with different kinds of wings and downforce settings," GPDA chairman Alex Wurz explains during an exclusive interview with GPblog.

"We all said, this is absolutely insane, because karting is so cool, and all of it will just make it more expensive and perhaps more dangerous. We see no benefits to the sport, only downsides. Everyone will want to buy those downforce parts, but its not for the better of sport or drivers."